Well done Zoo! I'm so glad that you got some sleep and I'm amazed by everything you have achieved today whilst grieving 
. In circumstances such as these, it is a blessing to have dc/Zoolets for whom one has to keep going. Do take it steady though
Muppets hope your dp is feeling better. Sorry to hear about landlord's extremely poor timing!
Wow Knitting you certainly have the decluttering bug! I must follow in your footsteps. Determined to get rid of all unnecessary junk in this house in the NY. Congratulations on lightening the load! And how lovely about the camelias! Hope your dd didn't come to any serious harm wrangling with the rufflette on high!
Good luck with all the guests Purple. Some of mine are arriving tomorrow and some on Christmas day itself. Parnsip soup is my favourite!
Extravagant wing flaps to Cotswold Blue Honu Afreshstart Toostressy Whoknows Newchick Celeste Cag and everyone else.
As for Christmas prep:
washed and dried more sofa covers
wrote a load of cards yesterday (local ones) and posted them
got my hair cut but haven't quite managed to dye it yet so will look like an old grey mare for Christmas 
did veg and fruit shop
stayed up until the early hours wrestling with rock hard almond paste; ended up just covering the tops of the cakes and not the sides because it was so impossible to roll out.
Had a cheery morning putting up all the decorations:
gathering in holly and ivy from garden
sticking up cards
setting up tree
decorating mantelpiece
sorting out sideboard
setting up nativity scene in fireplace.
(just need to put baubles on tree now, hang angel above creche and decs are finished)
Had a not so cheery and rather draining afternoon visiting dd's teachers (a few more meetings tomorrow). As anticipated, she has basically failed most of her exams. All the teachers said that her being ill at exam time didn't really make much difference and that she seems very passive and disengaged in class 
and that she is in danger of failing obligatory state exam which happens in all schools across the country end of second year of secondary. January term will be her last chance basically. We've tried understanding. We've tried stern. We've tried encouraging. I really don't know what to do for the best any more frankly [rubs knuckles in to eye sockets].
Encountered Ostend fish man on way home and bought cod, so that is now baking in oven (felt we could all benefit from some nourishing brain food).
Tonight: ice tops of cakes (making one extra for a friend).
Tomorrow: mad mass bed-making and supervising handy-man replacing dog-gate. Cooking for guests. Present-wrapping. Last final local cards (to deliver on foot). A few presents to deliver locally.
Keep going everybody!