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!

They were so sweet - background to this is that I am a big guinea pig lover, I had indoor guinea pigs for over 40 years so DS grew up with piggies and by extension Capybaras so this was a bucket list experience. Up to now I haven't had the chance to do it as none have been accessible unlike the Big Cat ones I've done, but this one is accessible so I shall be booking to do it myself next year! But yes they are very gentle very very much like their smaller cousins and they are free to choose whether they want a fuss or not but its a bit like a Capybara spa day they get fed tasty treats and then get scratched and tickled and if you do it right they go all boneless and lay down and roll onto their sides for tummy rubs 😍 DS loved it.

He was less impressed when I sent him this pic of my desk .... 😂

Love the desk Grace

Theres a definite chill here today. I’ve just had a cuppa and put a cardigan on to warm up.

We’re not allowed to get food from M&S. We went to a big one last year to pick up a C&C order and DH suggested we have a wander and pick up (and I quote) “a few nice bits.”
We ended up with a trolley full, spent ££££ and it was a bit unnecessary.

We get a turkey from a farmer friend and everything else from Aldi and Sainsbury’s. No online shopping either - DH likes to pick his own veg and has zero patience for subs and I like mooching around the aisle of random stuff in Aldi and the clothes and seasonal aisle in Sainsbury’s.

Hope physio goes well Fluffy

I'm back from my holiday and ready to crack on. DS has eaten all the frozen bits and bobs I left for him so I've got room in the freezer to start a festive stash.

For the last three years I've ordered a boneless turkey breast from the butcher and specified 2-3kg and received around 6kg! I've ended up cutting it into three pieces and freezing two and of course the extra cost is not insignificant. So I decided I wasn't going to chance it again and have ordered an M&S turkey crown and the pine cones. I picked up a Christmas order form from the butcher this morning and he's doing turkey crowns! I'm sticking with M&S though - not least because the £50 deposit is non refundable 😬 I'm not sure how many people will be here for Christmas dinner - DD2 and her partner may be eating at his parents but I'm pretty relaxed about that. They'll definitely be here for Boxing Day so I think it's only fair that his parents get to spend some time with him.

DH bought part of my Christmas present while we were away - it's L'Occitaine stuff and it's always much less expensive to buy it abroad than here in the UK.

DS goes back to uni on Thursday so I'll be able to make a start on deep cleaning the bedrooms and getting everything in order upstairs. Not exactly the Christmas clean-along but getting there.

Sounds like you are getting very organised Woolly

I booked my M&S collection slot today and picked up the Christmas food magazine on way home from work, it really is food porn. I'm having a cuppa and making a list (and checking it twice). Funnily enough on the "5 moments of M&S magic" page it says "you may have been counting down already" They don't know the half of it!!!

Ahhhh, Magnolia, the M&S catalogue is just an amateur hour one compared to Booths!

I was actually toying with the idea of getting a Booths catalogue next time I'm up north just to see what I'm missing 🤣

You should come to one near me; we can have a mini Booths meet! It's not so far from Bolton if you come past Wrightington and through Parbold. 🎅 🎄

ETA: I commuted to Bolton every day back in the day!

93

We can do a mumsnet thread Booths party!!!

It is definitely heading into Autumn, it was dark when I got up this morning. I quite like watching it get light though and looks like a nice day today.

Ooh, I can feel the from here if we do that! (The more the merrier though!)

I agree that it's very autumnal out there. Dark, damp and bloody spider webs everywhere. At face height. 🤢

We went to see Six tonight and it was so good! Edinburgh was packed. It just gets crazy in autumn with visitors. I don’t mind though.

Made a start on my daughter's Christmas presents today. Getting a vinyl collection together for her 🙂

92

Morning!

It's very autumnal today. Apparently 7° when I took the dog out, and heavy dew on the grass. It's brightening up now and looks like it will be a lovely day ahead.

The dog took me everywhere, so we did 7km and I'm knackered now! 🤣 And then I accidentally stuck my head in a spider's web and almost got one of those chunky stripy spiders in my face when I got home. 😫😫😫

It's going well! 🤣

Ocado Xmas slots have been released and you get free delivery if you are on the delivery saver plan (they email you a code) its a £90 minimum spend tho. I've booked a slot with 2 expensive bottles of whiskey as place markers.

Not feeling 100% today so DH is going to visit mil without me as I don't want to pass anything on to her if this turns out to be more than just an off day.

Catlady that's a very good present idea.

Fluffy I am shuddering thinking of spider web attack - i dont mind spiders but would not like webs in my face.

Grace hope you feel better soon.

I’m not enjoying the changeable weather at the minute. Was cold and grey this morning so I bundled up a bit but I’ve needed to peel layers off as the day has gone on and after hanging washing on an airer in the conservatory I have a full on hot flush 🥵

Sounds like a rubbish start to the day Fluffy - hopefully it’s getting better!

LO is having a tough time at school now we’re a few weeks in and my health is all over the shop and I’m having random tests etc so that’s the focus for now meaning Christmas is being pushed down the list a little.

91

Rudolph Day
I wrote a post about spider webs but obviously my computer decided to self censor and removed it ....

I don't have an issue with spiders. Wouldn't want to hold one but I'll do a Bath Tub Rescue

Happy Rudolph Day!

I put a loo roll 'ladder' in the bath for spiders, but I definitely won't pick one up. We also let cellar spiders live in the house as they scare the house spiders away!

I'm not doing anything Christmassy today. I am making two batches of mince pies at the weekend though, so there is Christmas intention upcoming. My dad is being vicariously Christmassy on my behalf, as he's going to M&S for me to pick up a food brochure which I'll get from them tomorrow. They're only about 400m from M&S, so it's handy for him to pop into.

I am not a fan of spiders and my son is even more phobic than me which is saying something. I had a giant house spider sat on the wall looking at me a couple of weeks ago and I went across the road to get my neighbour to get rid of it 😂

Dad is a good egg @NoWordForFluffyhe does love a mooch to M and S on the best of days and he does enjoy Christmas food.

I am not doing anything Christmassy because I am at work and currently filling in the 'anonymous' staff survey.

Ah yes, the 'anonymous' survey which asks you so many questions about your job that it's impossible not to ID you (though they clearly also know anyway)!

At least the spider was on the wall and not galloping across the floor towards you. 😱

Exactly that Fluffy. I am all for the don't agree or disagree option today 😄

I was glad about that as well.

They're only about 400m from M&S, so it's handy for him to pop into

Oooh <envy
I'd take an M&S over a Booths TBH (Washes sacriligious mouth out with soap)

Good House Keeping magazine is next on my lookout list .after the M&S Food mag .

I prefer Booths as you don't get as many shopping zombies in there! I hate trying to get around M&S. It takes us about as long to get to either, and Booths has parking (and an Aldi and a B&M next door).

I felt a bit scammed by Booths when we went a year or so ago. I’d only seen their Christmas book (courtesy of Fluffy a few years ago) so was under the impression they were smaller and more traditional looking than a supermarket.
Would still go back to see their Christmas offerings if we were nearby though!

why you’re braver than me. And I know I’ll get flamed on mn but house spiders are treated as an invader here. I wouldn’t sleep knowing I’d seen one but it had disappeared <shudder> but I hate bugs in general and feel like if they get into my house I should be allowed to dispose of them.
I leave them alone outside though.

I ordered the Smyths catalogue so that came the other day and LO had a lovely evening last night going through it with a pen. Very old school.
Will do the same with the Argos book and the M&S one when I get them.

Very little happening here festive-wise. I may put on some orchestral Christmas music while I’m working later but that’ll be it I think.
Currently at the drs (again) so they can run more tests and take more blood. I feel like a moany old woman 😂

I have the M&S Food Christmas paper copy . (I know it's online but I like a physical copy)

That's my Rudolph Day contribution.
And I got some socks for DS Dec 1st Box