*The Holly and the Ivy* and the You Know What 2013 Chatter Thread.

Peppapig

Pinknfluffy - so glad your business is doing well, bet you're really glad you took the plunge now.

Fenna - I think buying pressies to be opened on Christmas Eve is a great idea - most people still have things to open on Christmas Day. Plus Christmas Eve is my favourite day - all the anticipation and still the big day itself to come. Boxing Day isn't good for me usually because it means a whole year till we do it all again!

04624181 - sorry if this is way off the mark but have you tried a TENS machine to help with the pain? I'm only suggesting because my husband has really bad pain with his arthritic knees and has tried all the usual prescription painkillers without success. For a few years now he's had controlled medication for pain (Fentanyl patches) but even they don't help when it's bad. Since he's used the TENS machine he's definitely found it takes the edge off of it when it's really bad and makes it bearable when it's moderately bad.

After the lovely craft and vintage fair yesterday, went to a boot sale this morning (buying not selling) and had another lovely morning pottering around. Picked up an unopened game for £5 which will be half of a Christmas present for one of the many children we're buying for. It's a bit like Buckaroo except you feed a plastic pig with burgers and when it's had enough it sort of explodes. Sounds pretty disgusting but I thought an 8 year old boy might find it amusing. Also got a brand new, metal, desk-top football game for £2 which will go towards BIL's pressie from DD2. She's having 'issues' with our efforts to have a £5 limit on all the adult pressies so I'm hoping to show her it's possible if you look in the right places. DD1 has no such problems and has almost completed her shopping - just as well really as her DS2 (our DGS2) is due at end of November. Also picked up a dolls buggy for £2 for DGD because hers has broken and got beaten to some nice cufflinks by my sister. Hope I've used the right abbreviations or that last paragraph isn't going to make much sense!

stephyt23

Thank you Linz4383 for saving me a bit more money :T


Alja – It’s a nice idea to do hampers, wish I’d come on here before practically finishing everything but lesson learnt for next year. They do make things look a bit more interesting I think. That’s why I thought I’d make a movie box rather than just wrap up a DVD.



PeppaPig – sounds like an interesting game :rotfl:. I’m sure you’re right that an 8 year old will love it.



I’m off to the Allergy show next month so hoping to pick up some things for my Nan (I have no idea on abbreviations for family members) who is celiac (plus a couple of bits for myself I hope as I’m lactose intolerant).

Snugglebunny8

fenna wrote: »

hey guys, been lurking for ages now, I used to post but I have moved house etc and things have got very hectic. Always have time for christmas and this thread though. I was wondering what your thoughts are on me giving christmas eve presents rather than presents on christmas day. Because all of the presents that I want to buy are most suited for christmas eve than after, like christmas PJs, candle, blankets etc, and I think it is too late to use on christmas day. I want to make a sign that states they must open on christmas eve. I wont see any of them on christmas morning anyway because it will just be me and my partner then we will all meet up later. please let me know what you think. I cant afford to do presents for xmas day and xmas eve and I think it would be a nice change.

what a lovely idea! for me Christmas Eve is my favourite part of Christmas and Ive always got hubby and the kids a CE pressie - I agree totally that Christmas themed bits can be a bit late for Christmas Day - I always burn Yankee christmassy candles from mid November adn give things like Christmas blankets and pjs for Christmas Eve to my kids, as its all about the build up and anticipation, I think giving Christmas Eve presents is wonderful idea :j:T

Snugglebunny8

04624181 Im so sorry to hear about the pain you must by in, sending you (gentle) hugs xxxx

I got an email from Ocado saying 'happy 2nd anniversary' of shopping with them, giving me £10 of free chocolates!, it takes it off the bill and I can use it for loads of different ones, so ordering big box of Maltesers, After Eights and another one when I can decide, excellent freebie choccies for the stash!

fenna

hey all, thanks stephyt23, peepapig, and Snugglebunny8 I needed the reassurance because I wasnt sure, they will all have presents from other people to open anyway and I think the xmas eve presents will put them in good stead for the xmas morning

Mrs Cullen - thanks for this, I will definately need this for my xmas eve pressies.

linz4383 - thanks for that, will get that for my Partner, he is mad on that film too

OMO - what a bargain, well worth the money and I am sure he will love it

Peppapig - I know what you mean, because I was so into it last year, on christmas day I was quite deflated because I knew it was over. So I did lots of sale shopping to help me.

bunty109

So I got myself a pad today to write everything I buy down on. Nice and small so it sits in my handbag. OH gets a discount on gift vouchers for the likes a of M&S etc so I am going to take a look at the website it's linked to through his work and see what might be worth buying to save on Christmas things.

I am getting there and feel so much better than last weekend!

Own_My_Own

bunty109 wrote: »

So I got myself a pad today to write everything I buy down on. Nice and small so it sits in my handbag. OH gets a discount on gift vouchers for the likes a of M&S etc so I am going to take a look at the website it's linked to through his work and see what might be worth buying to save on Christmas things.

I am getting there and feel so much better than last weekend!

I'm really glad you are feeling less stressed :T

bunty109

Own_My_Own wrote: »

I'm really glad you are feeling less stressed :T

Thanks OMO. I don't think work and the return to school helped, but children are getting older now and only the youngest needs worrying about on the whereabouts front. The return to school has been ok (probably because I thought it would be way worse than it was)!

Snugglebunny8

glad its going well Bunty! Ive been a bit better on the going-back-to-school front this time, feel a bit unsettled as when I do overtime now it means I leave before the children get home (I normally pick to the eldest as her school is further away) and dont finish until 10, DH insists they are fine (as do they) as they are older now etc but for me it feels sad because Ive always been there to take them, pick them up, always been there when they get home for a sandwich and a chat - I feel sad that Im not always able to be now but at the same time I do realise Ive been very fortunate indeed that Ive worked from home all these years, and always been there - such a shame that my home working position has now dwindled down to almost nothing because of outsourcing and takeover, but it is what it is am adapting to it - and working on my own for so long I really enjoy dealing with customers and working with some lovely people

I miss my family at the weekends, but today DH came in for some bits, and then a lovely suprise my DD has taken up running so she did her run via the store this afternoon and popped in to say hello and give me a hug!

bunbun2

sorry been lurking the past few days...not intentionally just never seemed to have the time to post.

I am not going to try and mention people individually as I don't want to leave anyone out so I will send hugs to those who need/ want them and promise to keep on track from now on

my throat is now fine - I have no idea what caused it. I am so tired at the moment though not helped by being back at school and the alarm going off at 6.30:( I am wondering whether I should start taking the menopause tablets again as although the hot flushes have stopped the brain fog is back

there is a possibility of DH getting some supply work at the local catholic school. it is really good school and will be so convenient.

my ds1 came into the room last night with a blanket and said I have a spider what should i do with it? He then dropped it and it ran under the settee:eek:

it is my DS1's birthday tomorrow, I can't believe he will be 15. I still have his card to make and the cake to decorate. I will do them whilst he is at school tomorrow.