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

aliaslotte

Hey all...

Not been on for ages, so am very much out of the loop. I blame a mixture of things - starting my new job a few weeks ago being one and being under the weather ever since being the second. I seem to have a very weak immune system at the moment and am catching every little thing that is going. Even my teeth have decided to play up; a week of putting up with the pain drove me to the dentist for the first time in 10 years [after a terrible experience that I felt had scared me for life] - back there again on Tuesday. Joy!

Anyway, I am struggling to feel Christmassy this year. I'm not sure why. I've done a few different sets of Christmas markets, am fully involved in the school nativity and even endured a "dress up for Christmas" day at work on Friday. But I am still feeling a bit meh. I might go decoration shopping tomorrow after work [or maybe later in the week, as Mondays are a late finish due to the after-work staff meeting]. I think that might help, maybe.

In school, we set up the Christmas tree and let the children go wild with the decorations, so we now have this up in the room...

Yesterday, I also did all my Christmas wrapping. I've really had to cut back this year, due to the two months spent unemployed [and the fact I don't get my first paycheck for my new job until the end of the week - a full month after starting, which has been painful lol]. But, I think I have bought sensibly and I am glad [once again] that I started early. Checked my spreadsheet - the gifts have an RRP of £332.07 and I spent £136.17. Not bad, as that's a saving of 58%.
Here is a picture of just a few, as the rest are already stashed away for the end of the month...

Oh, I got hold of some cellophane from a local craft shop. Not sure how good the price was but I had a ton left over and it only cost a £1 for the roll, so I'm happy enough with it. It will just help secure everything in my Mum's hamper - it shouldn't all fall out when she unwraps it now.

Finally, this is my partner's "stash". His birthday falls just before Christmas, so we are having a few days of chill time before the holidays, as we cannot spend them together. He hasn't done too badly, to be honest lol...

Birthday - 50ml One Million & personalised mug.
Christmas - the "pamper hamper" I've talked about before, plus a 'Thor's hammer' t-shirt and a Minecraft annual, because he is a big kid.
Total RRP £127.10. Total spend £87.80 [saving 30%].

nic2075

I'm just heading to bed for a very early night. Shattered after my late night last night.

Pinksteps, I'm shocked of the nasty ness of your mums neighbours, they should be ashamed of themselves! Glad you can rise above it and realise they aren't worth blithering about. X

Love seeing all the decorations and tress.

My to do list this week is to

Do mock shopping list for Christmas Day so we can all put money in the kitty to buy the food etc

Wrap presents and get them hidden.

Write cards and get them posted.

freespirit66

Evening everyone, went food shopping and spent afternoon watching xmas films

My tasks this week are:

1) Deep Clean Bathroom
2) Wrap xmas eve hamper and american food hamper with cellophane
3) Sort rest of CS/Decluttering in Conservatory
4) Buy stamps and post cards
5) Hand out rest of cards

pigpen wrote: »

TY all...
I had a tantrum.. I even bossed DD2's bf to help with the tidy up mission.. and I cried and stressed at OH.. he hugged me and sent me out for an hour with the Pixie.
When I got home he had put up the curtain pole and put away his tools. DD2 had loaded the DW and swept the kitchen and her and her bf had tidied and cleaned the front room and they had brought the tree downstairs and put it up so asked me to do the lights.. it is waiting for baubles now...
Obviously my epic strop was due... I'm wondering what else is due for me to have that meltdown!





Marvin and the Cobwebs...

PIGPEN glad you have a tree up it looks lovely, and love marvin the reindeer, hope you are feeling a bit brighter now

fluffysox wrote: »

Finally caught up with all your posts. Love all the Christmas decoration pics.
Pigpen- I feel for you I am constantly tidying and never seem to be tidy. And I only have one toddler to blame. Saying that I did a deep clean of downstairs this week in preparation for decs. Dragged tree in out of garage and stand is missing. We have searched high and low. Even emptied shed. No joy! Its only a year old. 6'6" pre-lit and expensive So we are buying a real tree tomorrow. Stand will hopefully turn up by next year.
Been aboard the Santa Express today it was great, DS was thrilled
Also wrote about half our cards so some progress. Need some decorations up!!

FLUFFYSOX aww glad DS enjoyed the santa express, you wait as soon as you put real tree up you will find the stand haha

Morgy9 wrote: »

Hello peeps just flying through ... still no deep clean but the elves are here getting up to mischief . Was the OHs birthday today so I always wait til that's out of the way before we put decs up. so deep clean of living room tomorrow and decs and lights up. Latest I've ever been - still need to do xmas cards eek.
Small glitch on Friday ready made pastry - so may be worth a try - in Tesco xmas mag there are money off coupons (2 sets one expired 2/12 but other runs from 3/12). Anyhow one is for £3 off a £12 spend on dairy. Apparently fresh pastry is classed as dairy (not frozen). Jusroll have buy one get one free at Tesco so buy 8 packs (they are £1.50 each). Till thinks you have spent £12 but really its only £6 (bogoff) but the coupon works too minus £3. Therefore 8 packs pastry for £3. (6-3=3) (Sorry the smilies are not working). So worth doing if you need to catch up on the home baking.
I caught my thumb in the airing cupboard door and its very sore and will lose nail so wasn't looking forward to trying to make pastry this year so this is a godsend and mse. Just got to dig out my 20p mincemeat from the cupboard. HTHS
Ladies .... don't peek too early ............ kick off your shoes read a mag do something non Christmassy .... You've all worked so hard this year.
Sending hugs to everyone who needs one - commiserations on nuisance cats in the tree.
Hope everyone stayed safe in the gales.
forgot to say OH broke glass door to the cooker and they don't make replacements so need to find new gas cooker and get it installed before xmas eek........ Men ,,,,,,,pft.

MORGY ouch your thumb sounds sore, hope it heals soon, what a nightmare needing to get new oven and fitted before xmas thanks for the pastry tip

Own_My_Own

BettiePage wrote: »

Is there a thread on here with photo's of everyone's xmas trees and decorations?

I found this one.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4335743

And a 2014 one !!!!
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4335743

pixtotts

Pigpen - I love your tree! especially it's bottom heavyness

Tree no 1 of 4 done today (Grans)


trying to talk my mum into a red and white tinsel free tree in the lounge... not sure how well it's going, my mum loves tinsel, i hate the stuff
x

freespirit66

debndot wrote: »

Hi all, so many pages to catch up on, sorry if I miss quite a few bits but there is so much.
Pigpen I'm glad you got your tree up and hope you get some help with all your other bits,
OMO your decs look lovely so chic and beautiful,
Feisty, hope you have a lovely festive day and get lots done
We have decs up now but the place is still a mess, its very depressing, dh has had a fab first week in his job and as per usual is showing them all how its done, he really is very good and he does enjoy it which is great. In the past 2 weeks we have had a sickness bug and are now full of cold so not much has been sorted. I finished the christmas shopping last night on amazon as I didn't realise how much I still needed to get.
I've been feeling very down lately and finally talked to dh about it the other day, don't think he realised how bad I was but felt better after a cha, just need to ride the next few months out and hopefully everything will come together.
We actually ordered a turkey from the local butchers this year in the end as I didn't trust mr Ts to actually deliver it, I had images of the shopping turning up Christmas Eve morning and no turkey or meat, so thought it better to go to the butchers to save stress.
I do hope the festive feeling is starting to appear for everyone, with all the hard work everyone has put in I do hope everything falls into place and is enjoyable.
This week I'm wrapping presents, baking as the freezer is finally starting to empty and organising when we can visit everyone so I can make sure I can make everything as fresh as possible for their hampers.

DEBNDOT aah my lovely no wonder you are feeling down if you have all had sick bug then colds, sending you hugs and hope you feel better soon

CHRISSYG wrote: »

Ive decided to have a bit of a "me" day next Sunday , im going to visit my parents in Durham for the day on my own ,it will be nice to have a few hours away.
I can listen to my music on the journey instead of Dr who theme tunes:eek: for 2 hrs each way ! Barry manilow/westlife here i come

My ear is still very sore but on a brighter note the cheque came from the house sale yesterday :j:j:j WHY aren't banks open on Saturdays cant deposit it until tomorrow after work.

Oh CHRISSY we all need me time it keeps us sane in this manic life

pigpen wrote: »

OMO.. I have lost my rat on a stick somewhere is the pit so haven't been able to gather the Halloween decs but I shall sort something soon.. I have some old odd bedsocks which I can attach to my broom and use to dust them away so I'll do that when I find floor to walk on!


My littlies are baubling the tree.. they aren't very tall.. can you tell???

PIGPEN that is the cutest thing i have seen for ages bless em

freespirit66

FeistyFidget wrote: »

Omo I demand you join me on the New Years resolution of being more selfish! You poor love, you really deserve to see some of that caring, consideration back!

Today is my festive day! I plan to bake gingerbread and fragipane mince pies, watch Arthur Christmas, do some wrapping and make my nails festive! Decs are going up Friday, so I really need to deep clean the flat! The two bathrooms took over two hours last Sunday, it was shameful

Hope you have had a lovely festive day and got all you wanted to do done, thanks for the playlist

pigpen wrote: »

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10152042038923518&notif_t=like


My tree decorators!

OMG even cuter watching them do it haha

mrsinvisible wrote: »

Sorry, didn't post yesterday as I had a (for me) busy, organised day. Yep, I made a list of all the things l needed to do but didn't want to, and gave myself 30 minute bursts per task, after 2 tasks a 15 minute coffee break and then off to go again. As a reward when each task was finished I got a biscuit with my coffee! (god, how sad, but it worked and l got loads of horrid stuff done.)
Today l ache all over, lol.
OMO so glad you got your decorations done, it looks festively elegant. and your DD too, sorry is hard at her age, so another biggie.
Pigpen, wowser tree, and l agree spray the cobwebs gold and tell everyone how expensive and unique they were.!
Nanamia , sorry about the sleep fairy, dreamland tonight l hope.
I took photos of my decorations but l couldn't get them on the screen, will have to have another go.
I need to go shopping tho, now, as l hear that Tesc* have Aberlour whisky on special offer.
My two Christmas bashes were both good, but what a party pooper l have become. Ready for home and bed by 9 30! (pm that is too).
Coffee and toast then shopping and back to deliver local cards.

MRSINVISIBLE its not sad, i have to do daft things like that to make myself do things, rewarding myself haha

freespirit66

Ruth_honey wrote: »

Just spotted on Twitter that there's an Elf-a-long this afternoon! At 3pm, start your DVD of 'Elf' and watch it along with hundreds of others across the country...
The cat bought this DVD for DH last Christmas and we've not seen it yet, so I might join in.

Got some brownies baking in the oven. Might be for gifts, or could be a tasting batch

Haha RUTHHONEY we did that this afternoon, i saw it was happening on twitter

Pinksteps wrote: »

More positive today, thanks to my mothers neighbours pi$$ing me right off. I've never got on with them but always had to be "pleasant" as my mum and dad had to live next door. I did go about 6 years ignoring them but called a truce when my dad was ill. Well this morning I received a Christmas card which was individually bought [not part of a pack]. It showed a fireplace with an empty armchair next to it with a small single present on it. Inside it was written hee hee! Well considering my dad passed away in March I cannot even bring myself to repeat the the language that left my lips earlier. And these excuses of humans are in their eighties. Showed my middle DS just incase I was being over sensitive and his reaction was the same.
God there are some ar$€holes in this world.
I called my mum to check what her card was and it was normal, so that is one blessing.
Made me decide that Christmas is back on in our household, especially for my dad's memory.
Sorry, needed to rant and get it out my system.

Oh PINKSTEPS that is downright b****y nasty, it doesnt matter how old they are if they are nasty they are through and through all their lives, sending you hugs x

Artytarty wrote: »

Sorry for just jumping in here! may I ask to chat a bit from time to time.
I'm having seven in the house over Christmas period, five family, one girlfriend and one chinese boy. There will be ten for Christmas dinner and boxing today.
A yesterday oh and I dido the tree and today we put up the outside lights.
I also made yet more mince pies.the just one a day , I. Just have about four dozen now.

ARTYTARTY we would love you to come on and chat whenever you like

freespirit66

choccymoose wrote: »

Tasks for this week, wrapping

Finally decided to put the fake tree up, and found all our old decs which I thought we had sold. Really pleased as they red and gold

Fire surround still needs platering, but hopefully that will be done Tuesday, let that dry then wallpaper and paint. I have painted the other 3 walls ready. Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Went to the Christmas market in Exeter yesterday and less than a week before we board the POLAR EXPRESS .

Have my windows wide open trying to get the house cold so I can light the fire ! Curse you mild December not even wearing a jumper at the moment !

CHOCCYMOOSE glad you can see the end in sight, love all the piccys

msgigglewick wrote: »

waves...guess which silly moo has put her back out and locked her jaw all from coughing from a chest infection...rolls eyes... spent most of the day in bed either asleep cause of codiene or scared to move cause it hurts....
i need to wrap pressies tomorrow so shall get ironing board out and try my best... hopefully its just muscular and not the disc again....
plus side dh is home this week..hes 40 on wednesday, so got help around house and dd1 is currently cooking everyone roast dinner.
hope everyone is well. shall have a read back. throws mince pies and snowballs to all

MSGIGGLEWICK oh hope you feel better soon my lovely, btw i am loving your elf pics are they pages for a scrapbook?

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Your on it. We post them as we put them up. So there is a quite a few posts in between them. But if you go back about a week and skim read you will find the ones posted.
Pinksteps I'm bl00dy fuming for you. Pm me their address and I'll drive over there. I'm in the mood for a good row. Not that they would get a word in.
The market was worse than I expected. I just don't know why this council bother. No Christmas music. No Santa. Just 16 normal Market stalls. A total shambles.
It used to be on the main road through the town on the same night that the lights were turned on. Now because they made that a bus only road they can't close it. So it had to be on a side road the day after the switch on. I expect the stall holders that used to come just don't bother anymore.
So that's another thing I won't bother doing next year.
I can just hear myself as a old lady going on about how good things used to be when the kids were young. And how things went down hill after the Millennium.
' You know, we used to have Christmas Markets and Garden Centres that were worth visiting. Not like today. They used to have lights and a Santa. And there was things you actually wanted to buy. It was very festive. They were the good old days ! ' :rotfl::rotfl:

Oh OMO what a shame, its such a waste of time isnt it

PINKSTEPS wow they are unbelievable! why would he want to hit you !!!!!!, grrrr:mad:
FEVERTOTELL oh glad you have had a lovely weekend and feel a bit brighter, have a great week, very busy
ALIASLOTTE lovely pics i really like your wrapping paper sorry you are feeling a bit meh, you are probably catching every germ going in school with kids
PIXTOTTS love your nans tree

choccymoose

Finally caught up again :j

Pigpen your tree is lovely as are the littlies decorating it. Would have been such a shame for that not to have happened, totally understand where you were coming from.

Am really enjoying looking at everyones christmas decs, so different but effective and lovely too, from the sparkly lights dangling from the ceilings to the stags in their own winter woodland and the odd christmas cobweb too, I am with the others, spray them gold lol.

Meat ordered and food for our christmas eve get together, which is a secret shhhhh. I have a stalkerish friend who gets possessive of me if I socialise with other friend s! Its getting really annoying now to be honest! Aghhhhhh

Think I will go and wrap, while the plaster of Paris creations dry, keep the pics and news coming