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

System

:jwe have completed:j

mandco

hope everyones safe and well with no major damage from the weather

chrissyg congrats on completion :T must be a huge relief its finally sorted
hismissus enjoy your london trip. sorry to hear about your dad hope the chemo brings him some relief and you get a chance to make some great xmas memories
fiesty sorry your having such a tough time and are having to let your stock go so cheap hope you manage to recoup some of your investment.
junior-j sorry you ended back in hospital hope your feeling better soon
wuvvies hope thing settle with dd soon pigpen has some great advice and it really does help to vent/cry with people who understand
pigpen hope you get a chance to rest & are feeling better soon

thanks to everyone who post pics

sad to hear about nelson mandela

been one of those weeks where you seem to be constantly on the go but don't really seem to have done much(lots of school stuff which tends to be very time consuming) so very glad its the weekend though that means we're a wk into dec already :eek:

anyone got any recipes for must make xmas baking type goodies they would like to share? I make the usual cupcakes, cookies ect with the kids but thinking I'd like to try something different this yr

blue_eyed_girl

his_missus wrote: »

ChrissyG - I just use Boots own brand permanent in dark brown. It's just a touch darker than my natural hair colour but it covers the greys well.

Thanks for the heads up about taking a packed lunch. We're staying in a self catering apartment in london (worked out slightly cheaper than B&B/travelodge etc. and you have a bit more freedom/space) so that shouldn't be a problem.

I have put one of the Boots permanent colours on my friends hair and she was delighted with it. She went for medium brown - I think it was a bit darker than she would have ideally liked so she said the next one would be a light brown. I think it was a good price too. She will probably be booking me in for either this weekend or next so that Santa doesn't see any grey hairs.



b_e_g

System

We have been to a local christmas Fayre it was mostly tombolas but there was a stall of handmade earrings so i treat myself and dd won a bottle of wine shame she is ;
a] underage
b] on epilepsy meds

I guess it will be down to mum to "suffer" and drink it;)

I took the plunge and bought a hair dye now ive got to find the courage to do it myself ! may find my courage at the bottom of the wine bottle:rotfl:

blue_eyed_girl

CHRISSYG wrote: »

:jwe have completed:j

So pleased for you. :T When will you be moving?


b_e_g

blue_eyed_girl

Bought some of the xmas day food this morning and bunged it in the freezer. We got a couple packs of stuffing, sausage and bacon rolls, Auntie B's roasties with goose fat, roast parsnip, button sprouts. Haven't decided on what meat to have yet - not great lovers of turkey. Me and DS don't do xmas pud (DH loves it) so we have to sort something nice out just for us two. Trying to get things that are ready just to go straight in the oven to make things a bit easier.

Ordered Lewis and Cooper hamper for a very dear friend who lives away. Mum and I combine our gift to him so that it comes within our budget (just - with a bit of a squeeze)

Received a card today from a lady who I used to work with 30 odd years ago. She moved away but we exchange cards each xmas - she is usually the first one I receive. Her card came today and she had a note in it to say her hubby died in May. I posted my card to her during the week so they have probably crossed. Really feel as though I should write to her to pass on my sympathy to her but I always seem to struggle with the right words.

Not going very far tomorrow as I am going to try and get the place sorted and we may get the tree up over the weekend. :j



b_e_g

Sequeena

I have not been here in so long, life just ran away with me. How are you all? We have been so busy but we're hoping to start winding down now we're getting close to Christmas.

I am practically done with my son's presents. I just need some craft stuff. My OH is done. My little cousin's are done I just have to get some cars or something to go with the eldest's toys (£10 spend on all I have about £4 left in his budget. He has a Thomas watch and wallet set and a santa skipping rope from £land). The only person I'm struggling with is my nan. This is going to be her last Christmas as she's very poorly and I really don't know what to get her. I'd rather something sentimental than some smellies or something as there's just no point, she probably won't get to use it. Any ideas? I was thinking photos of me, OH and my son but it doesn't feel like much to give her.

Food wise I have the meat in the freezer along with pigs in blankets, stuffing, nibbles etc. Upstairs I have 1 bottle of bucks fizz, a bottle of amaretto, tins of chocolates/sweets, crackers, chutney etc so we are just about done. I just want more nibbles as Iceland have half off theirs at the moment then closer to the time I want a chocolate pannetone (sp) and a dessert which I'll order from OHs work

quidsy

I use john frieda mousse hair colour to maintain my "natural" blonde locks. lol I like it cause it just shampoos on.

Morrisons are doing giant smoked or unsmoked gammons, I got a huge one that serves 20+ for 21 quid. best before date of 7th Jan so don't even have to freeze it. Just in case anyone was looking

System

blue_eyed_girl wrote: »

So pleased for you. :T When will you be moving?


b_e_g

We moved out to a council bungalow in June

Ruth_honey

CHRISSYG wrote: »

We have been to a local christmas Fayre it was mostly tombolas but there was a stall of handmade earrings so i treat myself and dd won a bottle of wine shame she is ;
a] underage
b] on epilepsy meds

I guess it will be down to mum to "suffer" and drink it;)

I took the plunge and bought a hair dye now ive got to find the courage to do it myself ! may find my courage at the bottom of the wine bottle:rotfl:

Suggest not doing it while tipsy! A good tip I use is putting Vaseline around your hairline and ears to stop the dye staining your head! And use old towels for a while afterwards (I bought a cheap head towel from savers/poundland before) as it will leak for a while when you wash your hair.

blue_eyed_girl wrote: »

Bought some of the xmas day food this morning and bunged it in the freezer. We got a couple packs of stuffing, sausage and bacon rolls, Auntie B's roasties with goose fat, roast parsnip, button sprouts. Haven't decided on what meat to have yet - not great lovers of turkey. Me and DS don't do xmas pud (DH loves it) so we have to sort something nice out just for us two. Trying to get things that are ready just to go straight in the oven to make things a bit easier.

Ordered Lewis and Cooper hamper for a very dear friend who lives away. Mum and I combine our gift to him so that it comes within our budget (just - with a bit of a squeeze)

Received a card today from a lady who I used to work with 30 odd years ago. She moved away but we exchange cards each xmas - she is usually the first one I receive. Her card came today and she had a note in it to say her hubby died in May. I posted my card to her during the week so they have probably crossed. Really feel as though I should write to her to pass on my sympathy to her but I always seem to struggle with the right words.

Not going very far tomorrow as I am going to try and get the place sorted and we may get the tree up over the weekend. :j



b_e_g

Iceland have some nice looking joints. Gammon, hog roast, lamb...

How sad about your friends hubby. I would write to her. I know it's hard to find the right words, but really all that counts is that she knows you're thinking of her. Believe me, it means so much.

Just watched another Christmas film on Sky (on demand) called Naughty or Nice. It was pretty good.

Gave the hamper to the library staff today. They seemed to really appreciate it. Staff even came out of the back room to say thank you. The other ladies in the cross stitch group were impressed with what I got for the money. Each gave £1.50 and I bought some coffee sachets (poundland), Twinings hot chocolate (£1.99 in Aldi) and some Twinings teas (£3 on offer in tesco). Had money left over, so put that towards paying for our coffees today and so we only had to pay 7p each for our coffee and biscuits. :T

Then we had our Christmas lunch over at the pub. Yum yum! Mulled cider in Wetherspoons is way cheaper than in Brighton. And a bigger glass.

Must research stuffing flavours this weekend. My fave bit about Christmas dinner! I like three or four different ones.