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!

74

Monday AGAIN!!!

70 I really like the sound of a limoncello pannetone. I will keep my eyes peeled in Sainsbos. Although I have a traditional end November trip to a big garden centre with my friend and we normally buy our pannetones there as they have a lovely Italian food section.

Impressed with all the cross stitching.

Morning!

It's my Monday off today, so I'm just eating breakfast after taking the dog out.

I have a day of light housework today. I was going to clean the lounge carpet but it's not really windy enough to be able to then help dry it quickly. If the wind / sun situation improves later I'll do it then. I'm then making beef rendang for dinner.

It's Booths book day for Meeces today, so I'm looking forward to her thoughts later on. 😁

I've ordered a new pre-lit wreath , my old one was looking sadder each year,
DH said "oh it's just the batteries" but even buying four brand new ones ( the hefty chunky ones) I noticed last year some of the lights had died so it is time to retire it from the front door .
It can go in the back garden maybe and I'll put a ribbon over the dodgy bit .

I am a very happy poster thanks to Fluffy. My Booths book came this morning and I tucked it in the car and had a browse while I was waiting for school to finish (I deliberately got there early to give me time). And I’ve gone through it in more detail this evening.
I want all the puddings, including the tiramisu cake even though I don’t like coffee

70 how long did your wreath last?
Ours is maybe 15 years old and I can’t decide whether to replace it or not. It’s not at all stylish - it has a little nest, 2 robins and has lost a few berries. And it had no lights so 2 years ago I added some coloured ones to it.
It’s very cheerful but not sure whether to attempt to be an actual grown up and get a nice thick one with warm white lights and a big ribbon….

73

Morning!

It's our wedding anniversary today, not that we celebrate it overly! I need to write my card to DH when I get to my desk. 😁

I got soaked to the skin taking the dog out. It's drying now though, obviously. 🙄

I'm glad you like the book, Meeces, it's lovely, isn't it? I don't really buy huge amounts from it, particularly as I've ordered my meat from an organic butcher online this year. It's nice to get a few bits though.

Happy Anniversary Fluffy and your DH. Did you go for a romantic or funny card?

I think of the Booths book a bit like the Christmas editions of magazines. I like reading but I’m not really going to try most of the recipes or take their gift suggestions seriously especially when they’re ridiculous like spending £150 on slippers for someone

I’m having a very ‘meh’ day at work. Busy but not madly so but I can’t settle to anything as I need to do stuff on 3 different projects. Can’t wait to log off so I can craft…

Happy Anniversary @NoWordForFluffy

Meeces I think it's about 15 years for this wreath (the soon to be banished to the back garden one) so it's done well. I always take the batteries out before it goes away , battery leak is the death knell of decorations !

Romantic card, Meeces. (It was the only one in M&S I even vaguely liked!)

I'm with you on the Booths book. A lot is aspirational rather than something I'm ever likely to buy / cook!

I had lots of meetings / training today. My head is battered. I'm reading my book club book tonight as it's book club at work tomorrow lunchtime. Then we're doing a murder mystery night after work, which should be fun.

72

How funny Fluffy - I had my book club last night. We've been going 15 years so we talk more about kids and gossip these days than the book!!

I'm not working today so gym then I am starting a clothes clear out and getting loads of stuff on Vinted to make a bit of Christmas money. Even enough to cover the stockings would be nice.

Morning!

Wow, 15 years? We're only on about our 7th book (4th for me as I joined the team more recently), so a way to go before we get to that!

It is a bit chilly this morning, which made for a pleasant walk to the station. I hate walking to the station for work when it's hot / humid as I get sweaty before I've even got to work. Grim!

I don't do Vinted, other than buying the very occasional thing. I don't have loads of stuff to sell either as I don't really buy much. I'm definitely not target market! 🤣🤣

I love Vinted. I don't sell on there, but I sometimes buy myself a jumper or two. Mostly my new addiction is buying clothes for my granddaughter. I have just bought some Christmas outfits.

I buy a fair bit for LO on Vinted, and we re-sell stuff too. Works well for Christmas clothes, Halloween costumes etc. This year we’ve made enough from last years Halloween and Christmas clothes to buy this years costume, Christmas PJs and a Christmas jumper, although the selling fees are a bit of PITA so I’m going to try via fb marketplace first for a while.

Im having a late start to my work day as my car is in the garage for its MOT and LO as an appointment this morning. I’m up and ready but we aren’t leaving the house until 8:30 and I won’t get to the office until 9:30.

House is cold which was nice for me as I got up for a wee then got to snuggle back in to the warm bed.

Finally started my cross stitch card yesterday. Only did a tiny patch but it’s better than nothing!

71

Morning!

I used to sell stuff on Facebook when the kids were little and we were getting new Christmas stuff each year. Then it all got to be too much effort and we just sent everything to a clothes bank at my in-laws' church instead.

I hope your car passed its MoT, Meeces.

It was warm and windy for the dog run this morning. He was on one and was trailing scents the whole time. I'm not sure his nose was raised from the pavement much at all! He's knackered now! 🤣🤣

I think I am going to give the kids a bin bag each and force them to fill it before end November as I am sure half the stuff in their wardrobes doesn't even fit them anymore.

Got some tubes of smarties for the stockings today.

Thank the Lord mine are way past the outgrowing clothes stage. I do have a couple of bags of my clothes that need to find a new home but DH used a collection service the last time we had a clear out so I think he's going to contact them.

I had to nip into town to pick something up for DS and was accosted by a very persistent man trying to get me to sign up to something. I told him No before he started his spiel and he just carried on. "I only want a minute of your time, my lovely" ha! I definitely had my RBF on so I said

1. I'm not your lovely
2. Do you always ignore a woman when she says No?

and then I stomped off! I hate getting accosted by people trying to sell me stuff - you can't walk from one end of the street to the other in this town without it happening a couple of times.

70

I'm glad I nabbed the 70 countdown for my nickname obvs

Morning!

I'm just back from the dog run. He went a way I'm not keen on this morning, as he wanted to go to the park! 🤣

I did book my Sainsbury's delivery for 23 Dec before I went (I always have a 'spare' order booked which I then go into and amend the date of, rather than choosing stuff to hold my basket; I at least know I'll get a shop containing stuff we use if I did forget to amend it, rather than two bottles of fizz or something!).

Thankfully the forecast has changed from wet to dry today, so we have washing out. The wind has dropped though, so I'm not sure how well it will do!

Morning all.🎄🎄

10 weeks to go!!

On a festive note, a robin flew into the living room this morning, dive-bombed the dopey dog, pooped on the window sill and perched there as if waiting for me to open the window!😄 So cute with their dark beady eyes. He didn’t panic at all, just sat waiting.

Also, Tesco last week were “ offering” Terrys chocolate orange at 95p - down from £2.95 😱 When the hell did they become that price??

Im starting my countdown with my Christmas add-ons this week, got a Quality Street going in the trolley. We do one Christmassy food or drink each week til the big shop on 22/23rd. DS is way Achaean of me, and started his as soon as the puddings came in the shops. I’ve taught him well!🤣

I kept looking for the 95p chocolate oranges but have yet to see them - maybe they were online only? Cant bring myself to buy them full price now.

I just ordered my turkey, its eye wateringly expensive but farm reared, organic, dry hung yada yada yada. We get the same every year and it is always absolutely beautiful plus will do sandwiches and turkey curry. DH and DS will pick it up on Christmas Eve so I can do the Nigella salt brine.

We have a robin which has started to visit us every day. It sings its little heart out to persuade us to put more food out (which we do, obviously!).

I've got a garage full of Christmas snacks etc. I've been buying them for a while.

I added some of the 'Occasions' food to my 23 Dec Sainsbury's order for our Christmas Day buffet. I have stuff from Booths to go with that and I did my cheese order a while ago. I'm waiting for the large gammon to go on offer at Sainsbury's as well. I think we had 'gammon watch' on here last year! 🍖 👀

It's definitely coming together.

@Magnoliasunrise

You may be right about the Terrys choc orange only being online ( thats where I saw it) but hells bells at the full price - and i think they've shrunk!😡

And they taste different!

I paid £1.80 each for ours. But used Nectar points, so it didn't sting as much!

DS likes Terrys Chocolate Orange , only the original ones though .
I have to go into town and take some things to the Charity Shop so I'll have a ponce around Sainsbury .
I've got my Hallowe'en sweets , so that's all sorted .
DH has booked the Sainsbury delivery slot .

We need a trip to Costco so I'll see what gems they have ., though its for binbags and loo roll then all the other essentials

69

Late one for me after nodding off on the sofa!

Not much planned for the weekend, thankfully. Might see about building my new greenhouse!

I had to drive DS to training early doors coz his bike brakes failed. I am off to the gym shortly anyway, nice to get it out of the way.

I used to have a robin who was a regular visitor but not seen it for a while. Will keep my eyes peeled now.

Definitely have to have Terrys chocolate oranges - they are a staple of the stocking but i will be reluctant to pay more than £2 each.

Can we have a Terrys chocolate orange watch as well as Gammon watch please?