❄❄ Let It Snow ❄❄ :: Christmas 2012 Chatter Thread

LalaGomay

I think they do various Father Christmas train ride things all over the country. Anywhere that still has a running steam train probably does it. I know there are a couple in Somerset.

Obviously might not be Polar Express themed, or necessarily as good as that one looks, but still pretty fun!

Possession

chirpychick wrote: »

I'll keep my eyes peeled for you!



WOW! That's really amazing! Good on you!!
Will you tell them do you think, that you also donated money to charity on their behalf or keep it to yourself?

It is really hard sometimes to not try and keep up with everyone else I think. Sometimes I do get a bit upset (like a few weeks ago when everyone pulled me back up) I assume it is only human nature, I wouldn't beat yourself up over it.



I found some pine cones that had ribbon attached to the top and a bunch of those hung on the front door instead of buying a wreath - which would be good if you usually buy a wreath each year. Or a nice craft to do with children and hang them indoors.

I am also newly addicted to Pinterest so am going to also have a look

Re: Polar express - sounds amazing!

oh and them trays made out of sweets look brilliant! Do they sell those sweets in this country? I like the candy canes might be nice to do for our niece and nephew.

I found a few things so I'll try to post them here bit by bit - I love Pinterest but i have to ration myself, LOL! I was thinking of those pinecones to hang from light switches, I'm sure we have some already and I have lots of nice ribbon. I have a hard glass bead wreath which goes on the front door every year and has managed not to get to stolen yet..

Snugglebunny8

ChripyChick; I agree, you are always such a kind and generous person and so positive, which I know helps me if Im a bit down in the dumps! so I'm sure it does others too - am so sorry to hear you have had such a rotten year, and the same to others who are going through it too - it's lovely that everyone on here supports each other xxx

My3Girls, what a lovely, generous and warm thing to do! *sends you a hug for being lovely too*

you are absolutely right both of you, what does it matter if you don't have an extra chair or whatever, family and friends are far more important - sometimes I bring myself up short and think of the people we lost in the last few years; I look at my kind hearted wonderful kids and my amazing hubby and slap myself for feeling down cos the weather is grim!!! My hubby was close to losing sight in one eye after accident and with ops from an incredible surgeon he's now A1 again, my best friends teenage daughter was diagnosed with horrible illness, had long surgery and was touch and go, but shes so strong shes now up and about and doing so well ... thats the kind of thing that's more important, sometimes takes a hard knock to realise it

I think the most important thing is that when people are awful and really hurt you, not to let it turn you into the same, but to be even kinder and more geneourous than you were before, that way they can never win *shuts up now*

In The Works they have some really lovely wall calendars which have a matching diary in the pack, for £2.99 but 3 for £6, great bargain if you have a few to buy for, they have cats, dogs, horses, dolphins and various landscapes etc, really nice quality too or you could split the pack and give diary to one person and calendar to another

Snugglebunny8

If you aren't too sure about the Halo items, they might be the sort of thing you could give to the appeals they do locally where you buy an extra toy and hand it in to local point ? (ours was I think 'Have A Heart' appeal where you could drop an unwrapped toy into an Asda store and they would distribute them to hospital wards and local kids in need?)

noodles86

Snugglebunny8 wrote: »

If you aren't too sure about the Halo items, they might be the sort of thing you could give to the appeals they do locally where you buy an extra toy and hand it in to local point ? (ours was I think 'Have A Heart' appeal where you could drop an unwrapped toy into an Asda store and they would distribute them to hospital wards and local kids in need?)

Oh yeah our local Wilkos and shopping centres did this too, I've got rid of dd's naff birthday presents this way lol x

SugarSpun

LalaGomay wrote: »

Does everyone get an advent calendar each for their kids then?

I only have one child, but when I have two there'll be a sweetie each plus the day's activity. It's a fairly sized string of stockings so plenty of room.

msgigglewick wrote: »

are halo toys classed as war toys? and what about childrens story books? i know it says no novels but i think the ones we have are silly fact ones or comic type ones?

I would think Halo toys might be classed as war toys, anything that is weapon-related can be upsetting for children who've grown up in war. A friend of mine has done a lot of work with post-war kids in Sierra Leone and it is surprising the things they find trigger flashbacks or distress. Story books might be good if they are only pictures - but many of these kids won't speak or read English.

Our shoeboxes tend to contain: soap wrapped in a washcloth, toothbrush (sometimes a family pack of toothbrushes if H&B comes through at the right time), magic gloves for long-term use, warm hat, box of HB pencils with pencil sharpener plus ruler for older children/box of coloured pencils plus sharpener for younger ones, notepad or two, soft toy, bouncy ball and a mini jigsaw or game.

EDIT: we also include a Christmas card, in which I write Merry Christmas! in as many languages as Google can teach me and space allows

msgigglewick

Snugglebunny8 wrote: »

If you aren't too sure about the Halo items, they might be the sort of thing you could give to the appeals they do locally where you buy an extra toy and hand it in to local point ? (ours was I think 'Have A Heart' appeal where you could drop an unwrapped toy into an Asda store and they would distribute them to hospital wards and local kids in need?)

Oh brilliant i'll have a look out for them then.. i'd so rather them go to someone who will be very grateful to them rather than just being left sat doing nothing.

chickywiggle

spacecadet1 wrote: »

The Weardale railway are having the Polar Express train over the Christmas period.

ohh that looks amazing - but too far for us and :eek: at those ticket prices. definatly a once in a lifetime treat.
we'll more then likly be going to the national railway museum in York. This was last years but 2012 hasn't been released yet.

Possession wrote: »

Isn't this clever?
http://tuttobellablog.com/2011/12/19/diy-serving-tray-2/

very prettty


been in my local Boots today and they are re-merchandising for Christmas (well it looks like a car boot sale and there are lots of gaps and the baby stuff has been moved which normally means a christmas re-merch).

Melon78

Hi everyone,

Am doing really well with shopping so far, but am stumped with DH's nieces. Normally we I've them money but tbh I'd rather give them a gift (as it'll hopefully save us a bit of money )

They're 18 and 16, eldest is currently job hunting and youngest is in 6th form. Budget up to £20 each max.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

p-pincher

Hi Everyone

No Christmas bits in our Wilko yet, Booooo I was gutted, Plenty of empty selves though so hoping that its here by the weekend.

Loving the Moshi calenders but not a hope in hell of shelling that type of money out. I feel posh when I buy the Kids a Thorntons one and get the name iced on it. Loving the Disney shop on though but £24 for 2 is pretty steep but the fact that I can reuse it is swaying me. Might nip in the Disney Store tomorrow to see when there getting their Christmas stock out.

Really need to pull my finger and trying to work out what I need to get. The hardest thing is trying to get people to tell me what they want (or the kids in some case). Me and my two friends buy each others kids a dvd between them as we've each got 2 each. Text them both to see what their kids would want but got replies back asking me to stop harassing them about Christmas , ha ha reminded them we've only got three more paydays :eek:.

Picked up 4 pairs of onsie pjs from Primark reduced to £2 to £3 each so the Xmas eve hamper has officially started.

Ive budgeted one really nice Xmas treat for a weekend in December but having a hard time deciding what to do. Thinking of the Santa Special Train on the Great Central railway. Gotta make my mind up soon cos really want something booked, not really keen on pantos which was my sisters idea xx