Swagger Inn 179 - It's looking very Autumnal out there, time to get the winter coats out...

[ApricotCrush]

Yet more domestic witterings...

Back again. 4 hours later and DS is now the proud and suitably awe-struck owner of a glittery festive xmas tree hat, re-enforced with cut up plastic milk bottles because I (strangely) didn't have any whale bone to hand to shore up the material
I'm tempted by the holly LetUs - I have some green and red left still. But realistically, no. It's too late for that. I'm already sitting with the back massager going because I've spent too long hunched over the hat attaching baubles. I don't think can face setting up again for more at this hour!

25,000 photos Apricot!! OMG, no wonder it's taken you so long. That's some achievement!

FFS at work LetUs - I was on a call with someone where we were trying to sort something out and just ended up shrugging - the relevant people who need to move it on are off for Christmas now, so it will have to wait.

Morning wenches.

Tut at you not having the whalebone Helen. Honestly, you should have foreseen the need. Festive hat sounds excellent 😁

Am showered, washing up done, one lot of washing done, some gifts under the tree, and plan to wrap the last few that were only bought in the last week. Although I’ve just realised I haven’t borrowed my tape and dispenser from work. Hmm there’s not that much to actually wrap so I shall womanfully power through.

Quick visit to nearby village this morning and then I shall start LovelyMIL’s scarf. I’ve also decided to make cookies that I’ve never done before and I’m missing an ingredient. If they turn out okay, I shall make more on Christmas Eve.

Have lovely days wenches.

I feel tired just reading that list LetUs!

I've managed a lie-in without weird dreams and am scoffing a bowl of porridge. I ought to get the christmas cake done today, and also have shopping to do, and tidying. It's cold and misty<nto> outside, and I think I need to light a fire,

Morning...just.
What a hive of activity in here!
I have already wrapped all presents, so am feeling more relaxed than normal at this stage and have been lounging around all morning.
Need to get up and hang the washing out then brave the shops to get the pastry that I managed to forget to buy. Then back home to make a gingerbread. Suspect the most difficult part may be getting DC to tell me what they'd like for dinner tomorrow as it's our 'Christmas' dinner before we go our separate ways for the actual festivities.

Afternoon. Nice day with lots of sun. It’s still fairly light, so that’s an improvement on the last few days.

Gosh Helen that’s amazing. It reminds me of when I was young and I’d go to our market on a Saturday morning and buy some fabric. My Mum and I would then make me one if those full circle skirts that were fashionable at the time and I’d go out in it in the evening. Glad DS was appreciative.

Re the photos. About half of them were already on the computer, it was the ones before digital cameras that had to be scanned. Anyway they’re all done now.

Hope the scarf is going well LetUs and Fancy has her Christmas meal with the DC sorted.

Also hope WW is alright.

Evening all. The hat survived its day out with DS, but bits did have to be secured with sellotape after a couple of hours. I didn't get round to making the cake, so that's tomorrow's job now. But I did get most of my presents wrapped <fist bump with Fancy> I'm also hoping to do some mending tomorrow while the sewing machine is out, but we also have to clear the dining table for eating, so there's an immediate conflict there.

Hope that the menu has been sorted Fancy <pinches gingerbread>
I'm imagining LetUs knitting a massively long scarf for MIL - think Tom Baker's Doctor Who scarf

Morning all. It was sunny when I got up, but a big bank of cloud has rolled over from the east, so I think that's the end of the good weather :( Doing the mending will be harder since I was hoping for sunlight to make is easier to see what I'm doing (unpicking black stitching on black material Ho hum - have a good day all!

Morning wenches.

Up from about 5.30. Thought I might as well get a couple of hours to myself. Scarf is done. Not quite as long as the Tom Baker one 😄. Decided to do mittens too. Have knitted many pairs of mittens before but never crocheted any so I’m giving that a go.

That sounds very similar to working with dark yarn Helen - I need proper daylight!

What a lovely memory Apricot. We used to have a smashing little fabric shop in the town centre but it went years ago. BigSis used to do for herself what your mum did for you - buy fabric, make skirt, wear it that evening.

<pinches some gingerbread> enjoy your festivities Fancy.

Cookies weren’t bad but I’ll bake them for a couple of minutes less next time. Final presents are wrapped so that’s me done. Woohoo!

Have lovely days wenches.

Evening all. Urgh LetUs - that was an early start But at least you made good use of the time. I go up and did the chores, then went back to bed. That was a bad use of the time. But I've go the cake in the oven and the main batch of mending has been done, so the day hasn't been a write-off. Need to go and prep pudding now though.

<pinches more gingerbread>

5.30 Letus

Well done on the hat Helen.

25.000 photos Apes

I'm better but not completely, trying with some digestive medicine and hope it works.

Visited a colleague today for lunch and she also had made Pavlova for dessert, first time I had that. Drove home in the dark, not a fan of that.

I also used to make some of my own clothes as a teenager, can't be bothered now though.

Evening. Cloudy day but no rain. I need sunlight to work on black or navy, whether sewing or knitting.

Gosh, you are all very industrious, I’ve done bugger all of any use today. Must get myself into gear tomorrow and finish stuff off or I’ll be in a panic.

Glad you’re feeling better WW.

Have a good evening all.

Evening wenches.

Mittens also finished so that’s everything done for LovelyMIL.

Well done on the mending Helen. I reckon smugness is allowed.

Pleased to hear you’re on the mend Wicked, and hope it continues. Mmm pavlova. Driving in the dark is urgh.

It’s rare you’re not busy Apricot so I think a more relaxed day is entirely deserved.

Morning wenches.

Monday but it’s fine because only one more work get up! No doubt there will be shenanigans because of disorganised bosses with poorly/incorrectly issued instructions who have finished for the break but hey ho and a ho hey.

Here’s to restful and happy days for wenches.

Have super days wenches.

Afternoon all. I thought I'd posted, but obviously not!

Sunrise was a nice delicate golden colour, and since then I have been mostly peering at a computer screen. That is all.

<Paddington Bear Stare> at LetUs work.

Afternoon. Another dark and dismal day. I did a Lidl shop this morning and also had to get a few forgotten things from Sainsbury's. Absolute chaos at both. Queues for a parking space and for trollies. Anybody would think it's Christmas!
And I've still forgotten something. Not that I'm cooking anyway, we're going to DD's on Christmas Day and going out on Boxing Day. DS did it last year, but his dining room is now the Lego Room.

Hope everyone has had a good day.

Daaaaaaaaaaark.

I did a load of washing and it got less wet on the line, but nothing approaching dry. The sheet also got dirty again - I need to wash the washing line,. FML, etc. <bores self to tears>

I have spent the afternoon stalking people researching online for work-purposes.

I need to do a small shop still too - luxuries like veg and milk . Hopefully that won't be too hideous. DH is going full on for pigs in blankets and chipolatas. I cannot be arsed with the vast amount of over-catering that Christmas seems to involve. #Grinch

<puts up defensive perimeter around the gingerbread>

Dark indeed, but the days are now getting longer - yay!

Had a lovely dinner with DC last night - very unChristmassy food , presents and some quizzing afterwards. DD stayed over & we did very little today beyond lolling around. I made the most of a clear afternoon & walked with her to the station when she left & then dropped into the shops for vital supplies - port and crackers for cheese.

Glad you've survived the pre-Christmas supermarket apricot, always a hellish experience.

You did the posh & organised version of what we did - we went jumble sale & car boot sale cruising on Sunday mornings & then adjusted our bargains on a Friday after a pre-clubbing afternoon nap before wearing them out that night. Lurid 70's nylon dresses were a particular favourite, to be worn over leggings & teamed with DMs. Happy days

Fingers crossed for continued improvement ww

Lot's of over-catering indeed helen - but if you're lucky, loads of leftovers so you don't have to visit shops or do much cooking for daaaaays.

Hope work wasn't too annoying letus?

We have watched Oppenheimer. Was v. good, but I'm a bit tired now.
<eyes up gingerbread defences>
<skulks off>

Morning wenches.

<steals schematics for gingerbread defences to consider later>

Have heard from two different supermarket employees that Christmas Eve is usually very quiet if you need anything. Obviously not a massive sample group but sounds plausible.

That sounds a lovely time with the DC Fancy.

Work was the usual. No responses from bosses to emails with things they need to check. Anyway, last day! We’re getting Christmas Eve off!

<studies schematics with wenches who are not Fancy>

Have lovely days wenches.

Morning all. Very cloudy here, so it was extra dark & depressing this morning - there's been no change through the morning, it's still v. gloomy.

My recollections of Christmas Eve is that it's been relatively quiet in the supermarket. And dirt cheap if you go late - one year DH and I raided Tesco at the InLaw's and were were picking up thing for pennies, it was mad.

<peers over LetUs shoulder at schematics>
<nods furtively towards 'night ops' equipment stashed under the bar>
<wanders off whistling innocently>

Afternoon. Dark and dismal here too. We did a final visit to Sainsbury's earlier to get things I forgot yesterday and DH wanted some booze. Much less busy today. I'm definitely not going out again hopefully. Then I started two trifles, one for DD for Christmas Day and one for us for after.

<considers limbo dancing under the gingerbread defences>
<perhaps not>

Have a lovely evening all.

Evening wenches.

I’m freeeeeee (until Monday) but freeeeeee!

I drive past a few supermarkets on my way to work. Car parks for a couple of them at around 8.15 this morning were already rammed. No matter as I wasn’t going near them.

😁At Apricot having second thoughts re limbo

Have made the second mitten of a pair to take to community charity place with other bits and bobs I’ve done. Am hoping they’re open tomorrow.

<starts knitting balaclavas in black for no reason whatsoever>

Evening all.
<stretches and practises 'manoeuvering though laser beams' exercises>

I have done all the shopping - hurrah! Except I forgot the parsnips - argh. I had to buy more marzipan because the packet in the cupboard was best before 2015, which means it was probably bought and forgotten about in 2013 This is a tactical mistake, because apparently (I had forgotten) that marzipan should be left to dry for 24 hours (at least) before icing. Arse. I was not planning on spending Xmas eve doing the icing. Or shopping for parsnips.

In other news, it has been dank and cold all day, and the highlight has been a dog walk with a friend, whose Xmas card I left at home

<tests gingerbread defences for a live current>
<tries on balaclava>

Morning wenches.

Why am I ironing - or just finished it - in what looks to still be the middle of the night?

<lobs parsnips at Helen> be nice if it was that easy. Nothing useful to say re marzipan.

Taking some more knitted things to community tearoom today. Must not have cake. Will make cookies this afternoon.

<wipes gingerbread crumbs off balaclava>
<wonders if cheese is unguarded>

The cheese is never unguarded 😁

Me and the gingerbread are in a secret location 👀