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

FeistyFidget

CHRISSYG wrote: »

I have no need for this BUT if there's one there it "may" fall into my basket.

Oh my goodness, beautiful and such a fab price! My only concern would be the children (not that we have any yet) peeking in the drawers and maybe the treats disappearing? Or is that just me?

msgigglewick wrote: »

Oh and i don't know if you've used any vinyl before but its best to let it sit for at least 24-48 hours after applying so the glue dries... dunno where i read that too but it works... also if you miss place it or need to clean the item you're putting it on.. surgical spirit is fab for getting rid of the glue stuff it leaves on.

Thank you so much for all the info :beer: I did use vinyl on a Wizard of Oz glitter glass that I made for myself a few months ago, but it's too pretty to use, so has been banished to the back of my craft cupboard

nitnurse-not2 wrote: »

Hi all newbies, lurkers and returners:santa2:
Hugs and healing thioughts to those who need them:grouphug:


I was unable to get on here at the weekend:mad: but have now caught up:D

Mrs Christmas. I thought you meant everyone on the thread starting a tradition together.:eek: Now that WOULD be a challenge:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Pixtotts. Try adding cinnamon/ nutmeg or allspice to a regular biscuit dough

Feisty Fidget. I have used sherry, Bacardi, rum, whiskey, brandy and port in varying mixtures/ amounts and all of them are fine. I have never used coconut rum but it may give your cake a Caribbean feel. You could maybe substitute some raisins or sultanas for apricots or dates to make it a bit different. As long as your fruit/ dry ingredients and wet ingredients come to the same totals as in the recipe you can pretty much swap what you like……I have read further and see you have gone for rum:beer:…..Delish:D:D

On the pressie front, I have been struggling to find a gift for my son and his partner but I’ve now got the perfect thing for them.:j:j:j
It is most certainly not MSE but they are expecting my first grandchild in April so I am booking a 4D scan, complete with photos and a DVD.:D:D:D:snow_grin
You can have up to 5 "guests" at the scan so that will be my son, me and hubby and the “inlaws”. I’m just going to buy the voucher then we can all plan the date after Christmas.


It feels a bit mad to spend so much but they are worth every penny- and I have been stashing money for months so what better way to spend it than on a lovely couple.

Wish you all successful shopping and planning
See you soon
:santa2:

Thank you so much for your reassurances, I feel a bit happier now :j The recipe I am using is from my Good Housekeeping baking bible and actually has figs, prunes, dates, apricots, sultanas and raisins in! I've soaked in a combination of (mainly) dark rum, topped up with coconut rum and will then feed it with the leftover coconut rum. In truth, it's being MSE as it saved me just under £10 on ingredients by using what was in the cupboard :money: And I do like coconut rum

Buzzybee90

Hello everyone!

That advent calendar looks amazing!

I have a quick question - I'm new to star gifts, I've only bought the S&G one before, does anyone know which set will be the Sanctuary star gift? Around how much will it be? I see last years was £19.

I have made the mistake of buying two bottles of Sanctuary already (a few days ago) online, can I take these back in store? It was in the 3 for 2 offer so I'm not sure how what would work!

Any advice? x

Peppapig

weeclick wrote: »

Ive already warned her we will be taking a trip to town for new decorations although just cheap ones as we have kittens - I dread to think what the tree will end up like! (they are a handful)

Ha ha Weeclick, I've still got three little stuffed robins that I bought about 25 years ago when I had two gorgeous little kittens. There were originally 6 but you can guess what happened to the others. The ones that are left are a bit bedraggled but I just can't part with them, they hold such happy memories. The strange thing is they never bothered with any of the other tree decs, just the robins lol. :rotfl:

Mrs Christmas, I think the idea of a new tree ornament each year is really lovely - I wish I'd started it years ago. I remember years ago someone I worked with bought me a tree ornament as a Christmas gift (bit like a secret santa but not secret). At the time I thought it was a strange pressie but I still have it and every year it goes on the tree and every year I remember the person who gave it to me even though we weren't particular friends.

Feisty, the glass is lovely - you're right far too nice to use. That's why I don't buy candles that are really lovely to look at - I just can't bring myself to burn them. I've got an angel one that I got as a present and I've had it years, I just treat it like a Christmas decoration.


Got to go food shopping today (my least favourite type of shopping, especially in school holidays) but when I get back I'm going to sort out all the Christmas presents and do some wrapping. Have DGD coming for a couple of days tomorrow so need to get them out of sight!

lazysheep

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

Hello everyone!
I have a quick question - I'm new to star gifts, I've only bought the S&G one before, does anyone know which set will be the Sanctuary star gift? Around how much will it be? I see last years was £19.

I have made the mistake of buying two bottles of Sanctuary already (a few days ago) online, can I take these back in store? It was in the 3 for 2 offer so I'm not sure how what would work!

Any advice? x

The only thing I can suggest is to have a read through this thread as there are loads of Boots experts on that thread!

Buzzybee90

lazysheep wrote: »

The only thing I can suggest is to have a read through this thread as there are loads of Boots experts on that thread!

Thanks so much - hadn't even seen that thread.

Ruth_honey

freespirit66 wrote: »

RUTHHONEY haha great minds think alike, i did the very same yesterday when i got paid for a survey, i thought s*d it i have got all the christmas presents with my other survey money so i am going to treat myself, i just couldnt make my mind up whether i wanted it in paperback or kindle but cba trying to make it up to £10 for free postage so went with the kindle, i got Jenny Colgans Christmas at Rosie Hopkins Sweet Shop, and Carole Matthews The Christmas Party and Summer of Daydreams, what did you treat yourself to? Hope you feel better soon

I was the same! Dithering over the 3 for £10 paperback offer (I already have/read quite a few that took my fancy in there) or wondering if I should go for kindle books because it's here instantly and doesn't take up space. Ended up getting The Christmas Party (will read that one as soon as I've finished the library book I'm reading), Coming Home For Christmas by Julia Williams and Humbugs & Heartstrings by Catherine Ferguson. I think I got that Jenny Colgan book from the library a few weeks ago. They were selling off old stock, so I got that, One Day and a couple of others for £1! :j

Feeling a bit better today, so I'm going to wander up to tesco and get some shopping done. Hope the rain stops soon...

Peppapig

Feisty, forgot to say thank you for the suggestion of the 99p store for the drawstring bags. Although I didn't see any of the hessian ones in there they did have some nice felt ones (Santa and reindeer) that were just the right size so I bought 2 of each which means wrapping for the four hampers is sorted. :beer:

freespirit66

Ruth_honey wrote: »

I was the same! Dithering over the 3 for £10 paperback offer (I already have/read quite a few that took my fancy in there) or wondering if I should go for kindle books because it's here instantly and doesn't take up space. Ended up getting The Christmas Party (will read that one as soon as I've finished the library book I'm reading), Coming Home For Christmas by Julia Williams and Humbugs & Heartstrings by Catherine Ferguson. I think I got that Jenny Colgan book from the library a few weeks ago. They were selling off old stock, so I got that, One Day and a couple of others for £1! :j
Feeling a bit better today, so I'm going to wander up to tesco and get some shopping done. Hope the rain stops soon...

RUTHHONEY haha what are we like??? Now i am dithering over whether to read The Christmas Party or Calling Mrs Christmas first :rotfl::rotfl:glad you are feeling a bit better today x

FeistyFidget

Ruth_honey wrote: »

I was the same! Dithering over the 3 for £10 paperback offer (I already have/read quite a few that took my fancy in there) or wondering if I should go for kindle books because it's here instantly and doesn't take up space. Ended up getting The Christmas Party (will read that one as soon as I've finished the library book I'm reading), Coming Home For Christmas by Julia Williams and Humbugs & Heartstrings by Catherine Ferguson. I think I got that Jenny Colgan book from the library a few weeks ago. They were selling off old stock, so I got that, One Day and a couple of others for £1! :j

Feeling a bit better today, so I'm going to wander up to tesco and get some shopping done. Hope the rain stops soon...

Speaking of books, a HUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEE thank you to Ruth_Honey who sent me Twelve Days of Christmas weeks ago. I finally found time to start it Monday, and I'm just over halfway through. Such a good read! So who would like it next? It's our Christmas travelling book that quite a few of us have already read. The only rules are that you should be happy to pay for postage when sending it onto the next person

Ruth_honey

freespirit66 wrote: »

RUTHHONEY haha what are we like??? Now i am dithering over whether to read The Christmas Party or Calling Mrs Christmas first :rotfl::rotfl:glad you are feeling a bit better today x

Go for the new book first. I'll hopefully be starting it soon, so it'll be like a read-a-long! The Jenny Colgan book I've got is Christmas at the cupcake cafe. It's a hardback or I'd post it to you after I read it.

Eta-glad you're enjoying it, Feisty.

Went overboard in tesco & struggled to carry it all home. Got a meal in the slow cooker for tea. Gammon in cider with pineapple chunks, potatoes and carrots. It's very filled, so I'm guessing it'll do for tomorrow as well.