*Stop The Cavalry* It's The 2014 Christmas Chatter Thread

Hanley25

Hi all. I had an ok Xmas this year. Everything seemed to go wrong mostly the dinner! Forgot the pigs in blankets, all the way through cooking I kept saying there's something missing. Remembered them after we'd started eating. The roasties were still raw even though they'd been in for an hour and a half! Think they were too low down in the oven. All in all it was they first time in years that I didn't enjoy my Xmas dinner. I did it all again on Friday and it went much better which kind of made up for it. The kiddies had a brill time though and that's what counts.

I've bought a notebook and started my 2014 lists. I have 15 adults and 15 children to buy Xmas and Bday pressies for. DH is one of 8, 5 of whom are 18 and under plus he has 3 nephews. I'm one of 4, 2 of whom are under 18 plus I have 2 neices and a nephew. I have drawn up a rather shocking budget and so will be trying to cut down as much as possible.

I have 3 adult birthdays and 1 child (my youngest sister will be 14) in January so I'm looking for some cheap gift sets. Has anybody seen any?

I made up some hampers this year which the recipients loved but worked out that I could have saved a fortune just buying gift sets so I'm reluctant to do it again next year.

Also not sure if anyone remembers I was asked to stitch the invites for SIL's wedding. Well she set a date this month. 25th April she wants 34 invites done by the end of Feb and has only just decided on the colour scheme! So I'm in a mad panic over that. I may be MIA more than usual over the next 2 months while I get them done!

Anyway wishing you all the best for 2014. Chat soon.

freespirit66

CazD2008 wrote: »

Hi All!
OMG this thread excites me so much lol I'm looking forward to Christmas 2014 already wahoooo! Have been MIA for a while, I sloped off towards the end of last year as became really busy with various things!
Personal goal for 2014 is to finally become pregnant after trying since oct 2011! Found out in June this year that I have Polycystic ovaries and low progesterone, we have been referrd to the assisted conception unit at Birmingham Womens Hospital so really hoping they will be able to help and 2014 will be our year!
Hope everyone had a fab christmas and hers to 2014!
Caz
Ps my birthday is 30th august!xx

CAZ i so hope this is your year x

7roland8 wrote: »

Love your hanging baubles Nanamia - tried it one year but they got all tangled when I took them down so never bothered again.
Love all the decorating - took pictures this year and put them all into a sliideshow.

7ROLAND8 love the slideshow

Ruth_honey wrote: »

Thanks for setting up the new thread, OMO. I'd been curious what you were planning to call it.
Can't believe we're already on page 9 and it's not even New Year's Eve yet! I'm not a fan of new year either. I find it very sad and usually go to bed before midnight. The last year that I did something was just drinks round my mum's a few years ago with DH and mum's boyfriend, but that was quite nice. Partly because mum's birthday is New Year's Day.
I have given up reading Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe. I really wanted to enjoy it, but got to page 239 (so I gave it a good go!) and I'm just not liking the characters and the plot wasn't great. Shame, as I hate not finishing a book, but what's the point in wasting my precious reading time?
Not ventured into the sales yet. Did buy some coffee syrup and a DVD on amazon and have been tempted to treat myself to a corset from a website, but talk myself out of it before I check out. I hate that it's £10 extra for a bigger size-even though the corset is in the sale at £19, so overall it's still good value.
So, what's your favourite memory from this Christmas? I think mine was seeing how happy Blossom was with her new toy. She was happily playing with it for ages. It made us both smile.

RUTH_HONEY i very nearly bought Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe today, ooh my favourite memory was playing games on boxing day and laughing so much about how thick we are at games :rotfl:

freespirit66

I had to go to sainos this morning, omg i couldnt believe it just inside the door was a great big crowd, pushing and pulling and grabbing, i wondered what the heck was going on thought it must be something good, wandered over and it was C H O C O L A T E !!!!!!!! Lindt bears, selection boxes etc i couldnt believe it xmas was only a few days ago for gods sake seriously what is wrong with people, you cant even keep it til next christmas :eek:

his_missus wrote: »

Hi all,
just a quickie, hate trying to read and post on my tablet, usually endup losing what I've typed with my fat fingers.
bought 5 packs of 7 cards for 25p each, 2 5m rolls of wrap for 50p each, a pack of 30 small, square cards (to use as tags) for 50p and a box of 8 crackers for £1.75 from Mr As this morning.
nanamia - I still have the lurgy meaning I can't visit dad as I don't want to infect him. His meds have been upped again and mum's discussed with us whether it's fair to put dad through more chemo....unfortunately, I don't think it is
I don't like NYE either, haven't done since the novelty of staying up wore off in my mid teens - I like my early nights too much

Aaah that is sad about your dad, sometimes enough is enough isnt it, sending you lots of hugs, hope you get better soon so you can spend as much time as possible with him x

Hanley25 wrote: »

Hi all. I had an ok Xmas this year. Everything seemed to go wrong mostly the dinner! Forgot the pigs in blankets, all the way through cooking I kept saying there's something missing. Remembered them after we'd started eating. The roasties were still raw even though they'd been in for an hour and a half! Think they were too low down in the oven. All in all it was they first time in years that I didn't enjoy my Xmas dinner. I did it all again on Friday and it went much better which kind of made up for it. The kiddies had a brill time though and that's what counts.
I've bought a notebook and started my 2014 lists. I have 15 adults and 15 children to buy Xmas and Bday pressies for. DH is one of 8, 5 of whom are 18 and under plus he has 3 nephews. I'm one of 4, 2 of whom are under 18 plus I have 2 neices and a nephew. I have drawn up a rather shocking budget and so will be trying to cut down as much as possible.
I have 3 adult birthdays and 1 child (my youngest sister will be 14) in January so I'm looking for some cheap gift sets. Has anybody seen any?
I made up some hampers this year which the recipients loved but worked out that I could have saved a fortune just buying gift sets so I'm reluctant to do it again next year.
Also not sure if anyone remembers I was asked to stitch the invites for SIL's wedding. Well she set a date this month. 25th April she wants 34 invites done by the end of Feb and has only just decided on the colour scheme! So I'm in a mad panic over that. I may be MIA more than usual over the next 2 months while I get them done!
Anyway wishing you all the best for 2014. Chat soon.

HANLEY you will laugh about it in years to come im sure , oh blimey that is a lot to get done, good luck x

Ruth_honey

freespirit66 wrote: »

CAZ i so hope this is your year x



7ROLAND8 love the slideshow



RUTH_HONEY i very nearly bought Christmas at the Cupcake Cafe today, ooh my favourite memory was playing games on boxing day and laughing so much about how thick we are at games :rotfl:

If you have the kindle app/a kindle then maybe download a sample first? Or if you buy it on kindle, you can return it within 7 days. Was thinking of getting the new Bridget Jones book, but some people have slated it, so might get it, read it and if I'm not enjoying it, get it refunded. Never done this before for something I just didn't enjoy, but people have said it's ok to do so.

I had C@TCC as a library book, so not out of pocket. It did have lots of good reviews, so I was surprised I didn't enjoy it.

I meant to play some board games over Christmas, but just didn't get round to it. Got Despicable Me Monopoly still in its wrapper from JULY! :eek: This week has flown by. DH has been off all week and I don't know what we've done to fill our days!

mrs-moneypenny

i can recommend the 12 days of christmas as a nice easy romantic read, it has family history, cookery christmas traditions and romance in it. rather predictable but easy enough with likeable characters

springdreams

I love your decorations Nanamia.

Nanamia wrote: »

Spring Dreams I'm going to have to have animation finding lessons from you! You are so clever I love them. Are you anxiously awaiting results now? Are they due soon? xxx

Thank you. I make great use of Google - just put the word animated in front of whatever graphic you are looking for.

The exam results are usually sent out just before Easter, but they will be coming out on 4 March this year. Just over two more long months to wait ...

FeistyFidget

Free spirit, how can people be snatching up chocolate?!? We've got boxes of the stuff left!

freespirit66

Ruth_honey wrote: »

If you have the kindle app/a kindle then maybe download a sample first? Or if you buy it on kindle, you can return it within 7 days. Was thinking of getting the new Bridget Jones book, but some people have slated it, so might get it, read it and if I'm not enjoying it, get it refunded. Never done this before for something I just didn't enjoy, but people have said it's ok to do so.
I had C@TCC as a library book, so not out of pocket. It did have lots of good reviews, so I was surprised I didn't enjoy it.
I meant to play some board games over Christmas, but just didn't get round to it. Got Despicable Me Monopoly still in its wrapper from JULY! :eek: This week has flown by. DH has been off all week and I don't know what we've done to fill our days!

Ooh i didnt know that you could do that, thanks for that, am still reading With Love at Christmas atm, i really like it. Ha i havent seen that version of Monopoly how funny! We were playing LOGO which the kids absolutely love and QI a game i bought DS a couple of years ago

freespirit66

FeistyFidget wrote: »

Free spirit, how can people be snatching up chocolate?!? We've got boxes of the stuff left!

FEISTY i know so have we and i cut down again this year!!!!!! You should have been there it was ridiculous, actually i should have filmed it :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:Hope you are feeling better today x

hollieinbloom

Hello! would love to join in on this thread Been lurking and finally thought I should post! Birthday here is 19th of March

I have been planning ahead for Christmas 2014 and bought wrapping paper, christmas cards and some half price decorations for the tree. I have saved all the Christmas gift bags we got and stashed those away and boxed up all bows and tags left over. I might see if I can get another bag of bows in the sale then that should be enough! Also ordered the gruffalo's child sounds book on Amazon for £3 which will either be for DD's birthday or Christmas.

I buy presents for 8 people at Christmas. 7 adults and then my daughter. I have a spreadsheet ready with names and present ideas and prices etc. I have popped a notebook in my bag which I will jot down present ideas into when people say "oh I'd like one of those". To save money, I'm putting the pennies from my main bank into a separate saving account and loose change into money tins.

Feeling very organised but I can imagine come next November I will be feeling a little panicked! This year was very organised but I kept feeling like I'd forgotten something even though I hadn't!.

I'm off to bed now, got a rotten cold and OH has fallen asleep next to me so best take him off to bed. Night all! x