Woooooooahhhhh, we're half way there! Countdown to Christmas 2026 (thread 2)

[NoWordForFluffy]

183

Phew, it's a scorcher!

Happy birthday to 70's DD. Best date for a birthday ever!

Ddog ( sadly no longer with us💔) cracked me in the face and gave me 2 black eyes and a broken nose.
She may be gone but my scars live on…😟

What kind of dog was she? It's bad enough when our lab gets me on the shins. I imagine my nose would lose that battle also!

Fully grown German Shepherd, aged 9 at the time of the “gbh”
Dopey as hell, she jumped up as I sat down, caught me between the eyes, knocked me down, then stood over me whining cos I was crying with pain😵‍💫

The black eyes took 3 ruddy weeks to fade, and I can still see the scars where my nose broke.

Miss her every single day, she was so daft and loving.♥️

Yep, kid injuries are lovely. I’ve had a collection 😂
I did also get a bruised rib and lots of amazing bruises as a teenager after our (soft but very stupid) bull terrier got excited and ran through me to get to his dinner. Literally ran into my legs and knocked me flying into the kitchen worktop
I honestly think he was so excited he didn’t register me at all.

I am struggling for motivation today. I have so much work to do and I can’t be bothered!

DD sent me a message about an Advent Calendar ( Beauty one) . She doesn't actually want it, she had a look and said there was a lot she wouldn't use.....but it is Rudolph Day so she's having a look.
I bought an advent calendar last year ( single brand to tr6 out new scents) it was 'ok' but made me realise I only like one scent from the Range.
DS and DD bought me a collection of items for my birthday, ones they picked ( I gave them a few hints) then wrapped nicely.
I think that would work better for DD , no Drawer of Doom then .

That's my Christmas thinking for today then 🤣

ooh that reminds me I got a St Eval advent calendar in the Boxing Day sale! It's in the garage and I'm looking forward to lighting it every day.

122

Morning. I’m on my way to the office on a delayed train. Not sure anyone will notice I’m late though, office attendance has dropped off a cliff due to summer holidays so I doubt many people will be in (and if that’s the case I’ll go home early and finish the day at home).

I had a little nose on Rex London last night and have saved a few things I think LO would like. It’s hard though as they’re small things and I’m trying to avoid buying little things that he’ll like then forget.

Pearl I read through the Nigel Christmas Chronicles thread yesterday ahead of my annual intention to join the read along that I most likely won’t keep up with and I think they mentioned a St Eval advent calendar.

I’ve started having a picture one over the last few years and I really enjoy them. Just annoyed that a chocolate one costs £2-3 and pictures only is £7+.

My mum always buys my kids picture only Advent calendars even though they're 17 and 14 but they love them still. Although DM said they're quite hard to find now.
I had the OK Beauty Box one the last two years which I have loved.

Morning. We walked round Stocks reservoir this morning. It took a bit longer than I'd hoped, but we did it in the end. It's 8 miles and we didn't tell the kids how far we were going before we set off else they'd have refused / moaned from the start. 🤣🤣

Other than some ridiculous moaning at times from DS, we got round it unscathed. We came across an injured sheep though, which was sad. I reported it online, as I googled what to do and it came up with a government agency page to report. Hopefully it's being located now and helped (probably put down, but at least it won't be in pain).

The dog is super-tired now, it has to be said. 😴

Meeces, our office attendance is shite during the holidays too.

121

Fluffy super impressed that you got your kids to walk that far.

I just managed to successfully give cat his tablet and he ate some food so yippeee.

It's raining here!! Can't remember the last time it rained. The garden is looking slightly less brown. Might start thinking about what bulbs to plant soon.

I hope your cat is on the mend, Magnolia. I don't envy you the tablet situation!

By the time the kids realised how long the walk was, it was as far to go back as it was to carry on! DS did plenty of moaning at various points, but he could've been worse. 😬🤣

It's meant to rain here today at some point, starting at lunchtime, I think.

Everyone is still asleep here. Even the dog. Clearly the exertions of yesterday keeping them asleep! Shame it didn't work for me!

I have been staying low the past week or so family upsets sadly which really affected my mood and I've felt pretty sad however have given myself a shake and stern talking to so onwards and happy thought of Xmas.

Went into Abergavenny today and bought some lovely Welsh Xmas cards from the Cancer research shop in town. Also treated myself to more "coins" for my Hot Diamonds necklaces in their latest sale.

Grace If you’ve been to Abergavenny today you’re probably not too far from me (I’m maybe half an hour away) 👋
I had a job at the market cafe there as a teen but haven’t been there in ages. Is it still old fashioned and lovely?
I’m sorry you’re having a hard time. Can you do something cosy and relaxing today?

Fluffy I’m also impressed you got the dc to walk so far. I think my niece would explode from complaining if I tried it with her and LO moans and asks to sit on DHs shoulders if we go anywhere 🙄

I’m having a cow of a day in work. People are being uncooperative and my system is being super slow and I really need it working at top speed.
Am going to push on for another half hour then give it up as a bad job.
I have a catch up booked tomorrow with someone who is recruiting for their area with a view to see if I want to apply…..

@NoCheesesForUsMeeces, sorry your day is so frustrating. I hate it when our system is slow waaaaay too often really. Definitely give it up soon if there's no hope!

Interesting re the catch up. Similar work area or a change?

Weirdly, the kids walked for miles when they were small (old photo attached from the Lake District). Then we stopped doing it as much (probably when I had the allotment and our weekends were either cleaning or weeding).

So we are very much out of practice. But since we've now joined Forestry England (yes, sorry, I didn't answer; like NT for woodland) and the local wetlands, we need to get it going again. Especially as the dog had a great time, what with all the sniffing and marking opportunities!

The market hasn't changed a bit meeces however today sadly was one of the few days there wasn't any kind of full market just 3 or 4 stalls selling cakes and cheese. We popped into Trago on our way home and they had an artisan market which had several more stalls so I had a mooch around there for 10 mins. Abergavenny is all pedestrianised these days so that was nice and we had toasties at a street cafe outside what used to be WHSmiths.

We had lunch in Usk on Friday with our oldest friends who live Ross way so thats half way for us so its perfect to meet up there.

120 Morning from a very dark, wet and dare I say it, Christmassy Wales.
It’s been hammering down for the last half an hour. I’ve got work to do today to get my brig project over the line. Most people have sent me what I need to it’s chasing then essentially putting docs together into a report type thing and for that I need background noise. Would it be weird to have a CCF in the background?

Fluffy The catch up re recruitment is a similar role to what I do now but in another field. No point in being mysterious, I do compliance/risk type stuff for one area and this would be doing more risk and analysis work but in IT/cuber/tech. Not sure it’s the best idea as um rubbish at tech stuff but would probably future proof my work for a while.
And I'm annoyed where I am, I’m mid pay review because I requested a raise, they’ve changed the structure and it means I work on my own a lot of time. I didn’t think I’d mind but it’s a bit lonely.

Grace we love Usk and Ross. Both lovely areas (but £££ to buy a house)!
Not sure if they still do it but Usk castle use to sell the most amazing real Christmas trees and the Secret garden (garden centre) does nice things all year round.

120

Morning!

We are on the way home (we're almost back). With the dog's car sickness, we have to go home before he's eaten, so we just get up, pack the car, then leave way before the 10am checkout.

We travelled through some shocking rain on the other side of Preston which then just suddenly stopped like a switch was flicked!

Despite doing two small loads of washing while we were away, we have a load to do when we're home. Obviously!

Meeces, we were typing at the same time!

I was trying to find a Christmas film last night at the cottage, but didn't succeed. So I fully support you finding one!

We are home now. Washing on, fridge and freezer food put away and cups of tea being had. We'll take the dog out shortly before doing any more.

I kept the topside joint from the farm shop out in the fridge to defrost and we'll have that on Sunday.

Husband just lost his job. He’s got until march but it’s not what we hoped for. Another nail in the coffin that’s been the last 12 months. He won’t leave until march and hopefully he can find a new job and bank the redundancy money. But I feel rather on hold again! Christmas might be a budget version I didn’t imagine or he might be ok. Who knows?

Sorry to hear that @FurForksSake Fingers crossed something comes up.

Also sorry to hear youve been down in the dumps @Gracesquirrel

I recommend lighting a candle having some chocolate and a bit of you time.

I've just been irl shopping and got some white wide legged jeans from M&S for £10.

We've got a garden party to go to tomorrow but it looks like the weather will be rubbish so I'm not sure what to wear. My mate has an outdoor gazebo type thing so we will definitely be outside whatever the weather. Might be glitter and wellies.

So sorry to hear that @FurForksSake not what you need at all, fingers crossed he finds something really quickly.

We've started getting the christmas decorations in at work and I’m excited because of my discount! 25% makes a difference.

Really sorry to hear that @FurForksSake fingers crossed he finds something even better and you get to keep the redundancy money as a bonus.

I somehow managed to plan, and prep tonight's slow cooker tea and set it for low and slow only to check it after 3 hours and find it stone cold because I forgot to turn the electrical socket on doh 🙄so its now on "high" and we'll have to eat a little later.

Fluffy I resorted to a favourite of mine (Christmas Inheritance on Netflix, true predictable cheesy stuff) and it lifted my mood.
We also had to go into the attic and to reach what was needed DH had to hand me a Christmas box which is he did with a ‘don’t even think about it’ look on his face 😂

For that sucks! Fingers crossed he finds another relatively easily.
A budget Christmas can force you to be quite creative though. Can we help? Pretty sure we’ve all had lean Christmases (I know I have had bare bones ones too).

Magnolia I believe glitter and wellies is the festival look so don’t scoff at it!

Grace that’s easily done. At least you prepped!

Im just calling LO for tea. We’ve been in his room. He’s been playing and I’ve beeb sorting out his clothes. He tried on last winters PJs and they’re halfway up his shins and some of his long sleeve tops are too tight to wear so I’ll be getting rid of some stuff asap (although he hates this and keeps asking to keep them).

119

Morning!

I'm awake far too early, but needed the bathroom so had to get up briefly. Annoying!

We had a really nice Chinese last night, but it was way more than I'd usually eat, so I'm suffering a bit now. I'm also out for lunch with a friend in Liverpool later. 🐷 🐷

We're due awful weather today, so not an ideal plan to go to Liverpool. But it was sunny when we made it! Liverpool paths have a weird / annoying habit of holding water when it rains so you end up paddling everywhere. 😫

Meeces, I'm impressed you remember the names of the CCFs you watch. I watched a few last year and have no idea which they were! I'm glad you did watch one though.

Realised I didn't say that I'm sorry to hear about your husband, Fur. Are there similar employers where you are for him to move to? Hopefully he finds something else soon.