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

Peppapig

nic2075 wrote: »

Just put of curiosity, has anyone ever used Ancestry Uk? I signed up for the free trial, but getting no where. I'm in Scotland and a lot of the marriage rolls etc are listed in England and Wales. Is there a trick to using it better? I've searched both sides of my family and only found one listing in a phone book. Nothing that can take me further back then my grand parents. X

I've used Ancestry a lot in tracing my family (both sides) and DHs paternal family. It's been really interesting but you do get to a point where you just can't go any further because the records aren't there - you have to move to parish/local records after that. Having said that, I'm in England so finding records for Scotland and Northern Ireland may be much more difficult and I wouldn't know. It does seem like the birth and death records are for England and Wales. There is a help bit on the front page where you can email them questions so I think I'd probably do that before committing to any money and check if there are any Scottish records you can access through them. I do the monthly subscription and cancel and opt back in as and when I need to so you could perhaps try that if you decide to give it a go. Good luck.

whitesatin

Just sneaked in a very early Christmas weekend. I cooked a lovely meal last night and we drank a bottle of wine between my husband and I. Afterwards we watched the movie, Nativity, not sure if he had recorded it for me or if it was on catchup. A bit daft but nice all the same.

Today my husband was out with his sister and my daughter's husband was away so she brought the boys round and we had a roast chicken dinner before clearing the table and covering it with a plastic cover. The reason was that we decided to get down to painting the ceramic nativity scene and Christmas decorations I bought for them in the John Lewis sale in January. The five year old was very careful and proud of what he had done, the three year old was so excited and everything ended up the same colour but so what! I played Christmas music on Spotify and we had a lovely afternoon. My daughter has taken the crib home to complete on her own to display at Christmas. I know it is early but we really had a lovely afternoon, lots of photos to treasure. They are going to have a tree in their bedroom for the first time and the things they painted will have pride of place.

Peppapig

Whitesatin that sounds like a fabulous weekend. I know exactly what you mean about the three year old and everything being the same colour lol. It's so lovely watching them having a good time though isn't it and that sort of family time is priceless.

Ruth_honey

Looks like Lidl have the cellophane wrap in from Thursday. Note to self-must not buy any more!!!

fluffysox

Ruth_honey wrote: »

Thought I'd make a list of the Christmas kindle books that some of us may be interested in reading. Of course, a lot of these might also be available as paperbacks too, but some are kindle exclusives.

The Christmas party-Carole Matthews
Twelve days of Christmas-Trisha Ashley
The night before Christmas-Scarlett Bailey
The gift-Cecelia Ahern
Meet me under the mistletoe-Abby Clements
Winter Wonderland-Belinda Jones
Calling Mrs Christmas-Carole Matthews
The charm bracelet-Melissa Hill
A winter flame-Milly Johnson
A merry little Christmas-Julia Williams
Six geese a-laying-Sophie Kinsella*
Christmas at Rosie Hopkins' sweetshop-Jenny Colgan
A gift to remember-Melissa Hill
The Christmas bake-off-Abby Clements*
The Xmas factor-Annie Sanders
Coming home for Christmas-Julia Williams
Humbugs & Heartstrings-Catherine Ferguson
Christmas without Holly-Nicola Yeager
The snow globe-Kristin Harmel*
Skipping Christmas-John Grisham
The Christmas list-Chrissie Manby
Christmas at the beach cafe-Lucy Diamond
One hundred Christmas proposals-Holly Martin

:xmastree::xmastree: :xmastree:

*currently free

I'm currently reading "A sixpenny christmas". Its really good. Got it in a charity shop recently Set in Liverpool and Snowdonia and chuckled last night as the characters talked about getting a bus to where I live to walk along the shore

IrishRose12 wrote: »

I bought one on Asda online for £5 :T just have to find the time to go collect it now lol.

Miracle on 34th street is on Sky 1 again today if you're like me and missed it last night:o So my plan is to sit and wrap up he presents for the children in my class while watching that .
I know I had a different plan for today but screw that one:rotfl:

Older kids are off to their cousins today for a sleepover (they don't start back to school till Tuesday) and heard over on Hot UK Deals that the Argos 3 for 2 .

Thanks for the asda tip and the argos one too!

MrsChristmas wrote: »

As Mr Christmas left for work this morning he asked what my plans for the day were. I suppose you'll be "Putting up the Christmas decorations now Halloween is over?!" :rotfl:
Nope but I am going to make a start on sorting the house out room by room now our little elves are back to school & planning where the decorations are going & what else is needed for the display.
My plans for the dinning room are my new Bethlehem lights wreath on the mirror & it's matching garland running underneath on the radiator cover (both are in clear lights) I'd really like a pair of matching small trees in pots either side of the cover with clear lights too but we'll see. On the table opposite I'm going to sit a Yankee Christmas jar in a wreath as the centre piece. Haven't decided if I'm going to add my own decorations to these yet?
Quidsy that mincemeat sounds delicious. It's something I'd like to have a go at making myself but I have a few jars of 10p sale mincemeat to use up from last year, this year if you see what I mean!
Am desperate to get up into my loft too but we need to buy a ladder as the room the hatch is in was decorated a few months ago & I'm not having peoples foot/hand prints on the wall as they haul/scramble themselves up/through!
Last week I went on a football trip with one of my little elves & was able to finish Twelve Days of Christmas on the coach so if anybody would like me to send it to them, just drop me a PM.
Simo429 Hope your bunny is feeling better & able to come home today.

Was hoping someone maybe able to help me, I have a dilemma with eldest DDs stocking. She has decided she doesn't like chocolate oranges but I'd already brought them... ages ago when they were £1 in Tesc0s offer to go at the bottom of everyone's.
As DDs stockings are almost identical I need an alternative & was hoping for something similar, chocolate & ball like... she does like mint chocolate if that's any help! So if anyone's seen any mint chocolate shaped balls/oranges (mint Matchstick boxes are too big) or have any ideas & could point me in the right direction that would be great.
Many thanks

Home and bargain had tin baubles 49p each and really pretty too. They unscrew across the middle so you could fill with your own sweets.

mrs-moneypenny

fluffysox, i really enjoyed a sixpenny christmas, it was in the holiday house we stayed at in summer so i had to read it. felt weird reading a christmas book on the beach LOL.

once ive finished chocolate wishes ill start on my christmas books

hope all are well

FeistyFidget

Gettingtherequickly wrote: »

What are your thoughts on this?

I generally give token gifts to those in my Arabic class but was getting a bit stuck on what to do this year. Suddenly thought this morning that I have small loaf tins so what about making Christmas cakes? Do you think that we need to conform to square or round cakes?

I won't be able to feed some for religious reasons, but I will simply decorate/wrap them differently, although I am not sure what to do to keep them moist enough.

Strong cinnamon tea to feed it with could be nice?

Always_after_a_bargin wrote: »

Omg sat here in tears. Eating a chocolate orange while watching that. :rotfl: yes a chocolate orange I stole from the christmas stash ha ha. Beautiful advert but john lewis never get it wrong x

pinknfluffy28 wrote: »

Holidays are coming!!!

Who else saw it? x

Oh my goodness, that advert was fab

fluffysox

dropsofjupiter wrote: »

I've had such a hectic week at work I'm still catching up (only a week behind now! ) but just wanted to say B&M have white pre-lit 3ft-ish trees for £6.99

and congratulations to Freespirit on baby Max, though it's been so long now he's probably walking

Hugs to all xx

Oh thanks bargain!

fluffysox

Woohoo caught up!
So this week, bought quite a few toddler toys from a local lady via facebook. New would be approx £100. These are immaculate, and I paid £14. Basically DS2 has just had his first birthday, he plays with big brothers toys too so really don't need anything for him, but I want him to have a similar amount of gifts to DS1 who is 3 1/2 and wants "evryfink" lol.
Also Book People order arrived including a set of 10 winter themed picture books. These will be used for advent for my boys along with charity shop christmas books, some put away from last year, dvds and other goodies. I will wrap and they will be to both boys each day to share. DS1 can unwrap, then we will read together.
Wanted new baubles for my tree. Bought two six packs of vintage print ones from the big H&B in New Brighton today. (Red mix) They had lovely purple ones too but my living room has red accessories. Also some gorgeous felt decorations for the tree. And Some vintage style hanging signs for the wall that are so sweet. Got a navy blue wooden one that says "If snowflakes were kisses I'd send you a blizzard" with white swirls and snowflakes on it. I love this quote so bought it. Will try to get some pics for you all soon
Also got "grow your own snowman" and "grow your own xmas trees"
They look fab!

Chrissy G I love the bannister idea!

freespirit66

Evening everyone, i survived the drive to the airport but after the nosebleed i popped to sainsburys and backed into a flipping post in DD2s brand new BMW company car :eek::eek: it was absolutely pi**ing down, the car park was heaving and it was getting dark, i saw this space and thought perfect, reversed and felt a bump just assumed it was the kerb, got out and it was the post :mad::mad: i was so mad at myself, luckily when i got home there was no damage as far as i can see, but i still felt awful, anyway it was all ridiculous as the Heathrow was the most dead i have ever seen it, so although had to lane swap there wasnt anyone else around haha so i got away with it! DD1 had fab time and have been hearing all her stories, sounds fabulous but too hot for me. I had DD2 and OH and bubba over for sunday lunch as DD1 hadnt met him yet, and it was lovely, a nice family meal, that DS cooked and christmas films on the tv what more can i want in life :rotfl:DD2 has been diagnosed with slight PND so we are all rallying around to help her, but i am so glad that she isnt bottling it all up, and is being open about her feelings, its the first step in the right direction. Loads of festive, christmassy adverts on itv tonight, my first coca cola advert sighting :xmassmile:xmassmile

VULPIX thankyou for the PM that was very thoughtful of you and i have PMd you back

MOJOWORKING aah im glad your DD enjoyed her lantern parade and you had dry night for it, wow so you have seen your first decorated house I am shocked at the behaviour of people abusing the foodbanks its disgusting! And to arrive in taxis :eek::eek: and am even more shocked at people complaining about the bl**dy make/brand of food they get, crikey i would have to bite my lip and i wont say boo to a goose :mad:

CHRISSY oh that poor girls face, it is awful that is so funny you have put the picture of the bannister, DD2 was just saying this afternoon that she pinned it from me and wanted to do it, i cant either as i am in the bungalow club as well:(

KISSMENOW glad you are feeling a bit happier today i have wanted to make macarons for ages but always been a bit scared, but you have inspired me to have a go, fingers crossed

CAV ooh that hamper sounds blooming lovely

NIC i have used Ancestry UK, i found it really good but most of my relations are in England and Wales, i must admit the Irish person i was looking for i cant find at all

PIXTOTTS ooh it sounds like you have big decisions to make my lovely, only you can decide what is better for you in the long run, and like you say now is the time to decide when you have no commitments, would you regret it more if you never tried than if it didnt work out?? I hope they have got the person on cctv and your friend gets justice

04624181 im so sorry you are in pain with your back again honey and hope that they find out quickly what is causing it and sort it for you

WHITESATIN aah what a lovely day you have had

RUTHHONEY oh i hope i can get to a Lidl before they run out i am completely out of cellophane, thankyou