* Walking in a Winter Wonderland * - It's the 2015 Christmas Chatter Thread

girlinayellowdress

Has anyone else received a marks and spencer Sparks card? I got mine today and registered it, you collect reward points like other shops but then you go online to claim an offer, there was a choice of 4 and I claimed the free percy pigs if you spend over £15 instore. As I buy our goats milk in there anyway it is never difficult to spend that amount. So the chosen offer gets loaded onto the card. Sorry I've not explained very well but I was watching Fatboy and Donna on EE

kaya1991

Just got back from a 13-hour day at a work event, eek!

Only one day to go until the weekend, phew. I've got a very chilled weekend planned, and might do a little bit of Christmas shopping.

Hope you're all having nice evenings

vulpix

was it jj who wanted marvel comic merchandise? sainsbury's have a good selection.

freespirit66

Evening everyone, i have had a good day today, popped to HB and got the rest of the dogs christmas presents, got some hot choc sachets for stockings for 10p each, got 7 bottles of handsoap to put in my winter cleaning stash, they will easily last until the end of january, and cashed in £10 survey money in amazon vouchers and ordered DS guinness book of records for his stocking, so a good few things crossed off the lists! Tomorrow i am cleaning the outside of the house, the windows and the front door, it should have been done weeks ago on organised christmas, but i couldnt face being out the front alone :eek::eek: so DD1 has a week off she is going to wash her car while i do that, i will be so chuffed it has turned into a frog for me, all in case one of the neighbours starts talking to me!! Social Anxiety me???? Nah!!!!!!

ELLIE oh god its horrible when you are stuck in hospitals for hours on end, glad it wasnt bad news! :mad::mad: to the parcel being left in the rain for hours, what if you hadnt seen it and it had been out all night grrrr! Glad your stuff wasnt ruined!

CLUMSY oh how annoying!! I would complain and say it wasnt your fault you lost the discount! Amazon are pretty good sorting out things like that

NOODLES not very helpful sorry but the only thing i can think of is chocolate or a christmas copy of a magazine that is to do with an interest of his, i always buy my son a copy of FILM for his stocking??

FOXHOLES that is a very good price, thankyou for the tip

MANDCO oh thankyou will try and get to one before the offer runs out, we popped to costco today but i stayed in the car with the dog, and let DD1 run in there, it was heaving and i really didnt fancy it, so will pop one evening when its much quieter

MURIE that is who i cashed my amazon voucher with today as well! Fab bargains for your mum!

3FORHOLIDAYS aww bless you, i expect you will hear a few tales about them both!

PINKSTEPS ooh thankyou will look into that aww poor old Donna, i just wanted to give her a big hug!!

KAYA oh my goodness you will need a chilled weekend you will be fit for nothing at this rate, i prescribe lots of hygge!

VULPIX ooh i saw them today as i was flying past the aisle they looked pretty cool, i had only run in for a christmas magazine for my weekend away so didnt stop

FeistyFidget

princesskitty29 wrote: »

Hi all, not having the best of weekends in our house. I was on my own for the whole of yesterday as DH went to watch the British Masters golf tournament at Woburn, which is fine, but on his way home he got in to an altercation with some travellers. He wasn't hurt but there were lots of nasty threats made to him so he was quite shaken up. Then today PC World told us that they recovered our data from our laptop but the hard drive is broken so will need replacing and they don't have the software to reinstall Windows for our particular laptop so we'd also have to buy the disc for it, so basically it'll cost around another £150. However when we got home it turns out not all the data was recovered and we've lost some precious photos including Wiggles first birthday. DH also lost some spreadsheets that were really important to him. I am NEVER EVER calling Microsoft support again! We are ridiculously worse off than when I called them in the first place! Last night and today put DH in a foul mood today, quite understandably, but on a selfish note I've found it difficult as I've been on my own with Wiggle for 6 days with no company during the days so I was really looking forward to spending the day with DH. I know it'll all blow over in time. We've decided to buy a new laptop and this time we will be backing up regularly and sorting out one of those cloud storage things.

Oh Princess, what rotten luck for you all I'm so glad that DH was ultimately okay, but it's so awful when you get abuse from others over nothing!
Losing photos is so painful. I vowed last Christmas to start using physical photo albums and printing them off. In fact, DH bought me a beautiful Kraft paperchase scrapbook that I planned to fill with our memories from 2014, I got as far as choosing photos to print, writing all text and gathering keepsakes to include (greetings cards etc) but didn't get round to putting the bloody thing together. Your ordeal has made me remember just how precious a physical copy of these memories are, I will try and find some time once maternity starts to get it done
I hope DH has perked up. I too have had many instances where I've been looking forward to quality time with DH, only to have it ruined due to his foul mood. It doesn't happen often, but when it does it really grates!

MoneyMission2015 wrote: »

Oh I agree with that Free, I just want to do Christmassy things all year round. When one Christmas ends I am already thinking about the next Christmas :rotfl:


You are right, some people just like moaning I think. The good thing is they are not in the office today as they work funny shifts whereas I just work pretty normal hours, so I hopefully won't see them this week.


Peppa - we have been pretty good with our Christmas cupboard so far, although one of the tubs of chocolates has been opened. I don't mind that too much though as I did buy 4 and there's all the other chocolates too!! I don't think we need much more chocolate now so I'll just concentrate on the savoury snacks now and then I think the Christmas cupboard will be sorted.


Princesskitty - I hope you manage to retrieve some photos from somewhere. I've lost photos in the past because of computer glitches and it makes me sad to think of those lost photos . As much as I love my technology there are 2 things I still prefer to have hard copies of and those 2 things are books and photographs We have hundreds and hundreds of digital photos but every so often I will go through them and get them all printed off. I remember when I was younger and we'd be at my nans and get all her photos out of the cupboards and look through them all. There's just something about holding a photo in your hand. It's the same with books. Yes Kindles and e-readers are good, but I just prefer to actually hold a book in my hands.


I've not ordered any Christmas presents for a few days. I need to have a think of what else I need now because I've got quite a bit sorted so I think I need to have a proper think about what is left to get otherwise I'm going to end up with things I didn't need in the first place :rotfl:

We are in the middle of converting an understairs cupboard into a pantry and I plan to have a huge area for our Christmas food stash! It probably won't be used too much this year, but I'm getting all excited just thinking about it :rotfl:

junior_j wrote: »

Hello you lovely lot.

Yesterday was a BAD pain day for me. I thought I could solider through but just going up to the bathroom left me close to puking and drenched in sweat. My lovely mum looked after me so well. Including picking up my prescription , got me new pjs and picked me up innocent orange juice and Apple juice. When I felt upto eating she made me food and got me cold flannel for head. Bless.

i have loved reading everyone's xmas routines. Ours will be different this year as bro has moved out. But usually we get up open stockings in bedrooms together (me auntie mum and bro) we come downstairs , on goes the fire and xmas music. We have coffee and meds and all open presents (we open one each all at same time) then clear up and have breakfast eggs or bacon and toast plus more coffee or baileys lol. We spend the day playing with new gadgets , have a nap eat choco all help with xmas dinner. Then my closest friend comes round for presents and she stays . We watch usual Xmas stuff and pig out all day it's simple , chilled but lovely.

My mum has actually asked for a specific Xmas present. A bells candle which apparently after its burnt away leaves a bit of jewely. £12.99 on website plus pp anyone had one? Or know a code? I will get It this week plus hopefully two more stocking fillers and a pandora charm. My brokers first Xmas moved out plus he will a daddy by Xmas so want to get him stuff to open which is just for him so he doesn't miss out lol. Usually get him clothes smelliest and novelty stuff but he's maxed out on all that now.

Xx hugs to all

Oh JJ, so sorry you are feeling so bad lovely. Sending you gentle, healing hugs and wishes xxx

pinknfluffy28 wrote: »

Good evening everyone, I hope you are all well, healthy, and not over spending (too much!).

I have absoloutly no hope of catching up, we have been without internet for almost a month, and this thread is flying, so forgive me for anything important I may have missed.

The good news is... We are in our new home!!! :j:j:j:

We are so happy, the whole close are very friendly, most have been here all their adult lives, a few for 50+ years, since the houses were built, and everyone looks out for one another.

The house itself is beautiful, so much more space (I even have a designated Christmas stash cupboard above the stairs), and we are just about unpacked. New carpets are down, lounge is being decorated/flooring layed next week. It feels like home

On the Christmas front, I have very nearly done. Last few bits for dd's ordered and awaiting delivery. Have also pre-ordered the harry potter colouring book for dd1, and doctor who colouring book for dd2 from amazon. Hoping they come down a bit in price before release date, otherwise they will be the first items I have paid full price for :eek:

Sorry for the long post, I have missed you all xx

Pink, big congrats on moving :T You are an inspiration to me! (6ish weeks to go for us!) I'd love to see a pic of your Christmas stash cupboard, I know I'm sad :rotfl:

freespirit66 wrote: »

Evening everyone, not sure if these pics will come out as i am using another browser but if not i will redo on my normal browser, let me know if anyone cant see anything











RUTHHONEY just for you haha they dont look so good in the daytime or all singly taken but you get the gist!
Have you got any pics?

PINKNFLUFFY congratulations on your new home i hope you will all be very happy there. Thankyou for the tip off about the HP colouring book i might order that for DS to help him relax, for his stocking, and i hadnt even heard of it

MONEYMISSION i have seen a thread about buying for men recently not sure if there will be any ideas for your dad on there

04624181 wow good for you that is a fab mistake to have happen!!! My nerve is particularly bad atm especially in bed, do you think it could be the weather?? I never even thought of that

DUMPLING ooh thankyou for that will have a look

CHERRY welcome back glad you had a lovely holiday

Free, these are absolutely fab decorations! I am a bit disheartened that we don't get to do Halloween in our new house this year. We have always lived in flats, so it was pointless decorating or putting out pumpkins as in 8 years we never had one trick or treater! This year I wanted to decorate the storm porch and give out the sweets! But as we still aren't in, it's not going to happen. Fingers crossed the house doesn't get egged as people may think we are just being mean :eek:

lazysheep wrote: »

Saw in the local news today that our John Lewis has put their Christmas decorations up already - didn't want to read the comments as I was sure it would be full of people moaning about how 'it's not even December yet'

Also the guy on the radio yesterday afternoon was saying he thought he had seen the new JL Christmas advert - cute orangutan, fairground rides, sentimental, soft music etc then saw at the end that it was for an energy company which made me laugh so loud I was glad noone was in the car with me at the time :rotfl:

Still trying to think of what to get my friend's children for Christmas - they vary in ages and there's 5 kids between the 2 of them (they only have to buy for me!) so need to get my thinking cap on or alternatively text them so they don't bite my head off for mentioning the festive word 'this early'..

Sorry to buck the trend lovelies and say something truly awful as a self confessed Christmas nut, but I too think it's too EARLY to have all the decorations and most of the Christmas bits out. I always think it spoils some of the magic a bit for the children and I think by December I've become a bit immune to it from over-exposure. Please don't boot me out

kaya1991 wrote: »

Free - love the decorations, very spooky!

It's day 3 of my new job and I'm knackered. I agreed before I started that I would work 8.30-5 instead of 9-5.30, because I'm much more productive early in the day, but so far I've ended up doing 8.30-5.45, argh! People keep putting meetings at the end of the day, by which time I'm zombie-like and totally unable to think anymore. It's a shame, because it's casting a real shadow over the job. Any idea what I can do? I don't want to be seen to be rocking the boat this early, but there's a reason I requested the hours I did! We have offices abroad, so I was thinking about suggesting I work 8-4.30, but I don't want to get stung even worse and end up doing 8-5.45! Hmm...

Changing jobs also means I've lost a huge chunk of the holiday I saved up for the end of the year in my old job. I was planning on taking a couple of weeks off over Christmas, but it's not going to happen now Not feeling too great about this job in general at the moment, so I've not been in a brilliant mood this week.

Still, The Apprentice starts in an hour - I know lots of people find it horrendous, but I can't resist!

Oh Kaya, I'm sorry the new job is not working out so well with longer hours. Perhaps a polite email to the powers that be is in order? You could just state that you are more than happy to work slightly later than arranged until you have found your feet, but you need to know if this is to be a permanent arrangement as you didn't agree to this? Although I'm very good at dishing out the advice, but pants at taking it! I'd probably just carry on and get more angry and bitter about the situation as I hate confrontation that much :rotfl:

freespirit66 wrote: »

Evening everyone, i have had a good day today, popped to HB and got the rest of the dogs christmas presents, got some hot choc sachets for stockings for 10p each, got 7 bottles of handsoap to put in my winter cleaning stash, they will easily last until the end of january, and cashed in £10 survey money in amazon vouchers and ordered DS guinness book of records for his stocking, so a good few things crossed off the lists! Tomorrow i am cleaning the outside of the house, the windows and the front door, it should have been done weeks ago on organised christmas, but i couldnt face being out the front alone :eek::eek: so DD1 has a week off she is going to wash her car while i do that, i will be so chuffed it has turned into a frog for me, all in case one of the neighbours starts talking to me!! Social Anxiety me???? Nah!!!!!!

ELLIE oh god its horrible when you are stuck in hospitals for hours on end, glad it wasnt bad news! :mad::mad: to the parcel being left in the rain for hours, what if you hadnt seen it and it had been out all night grrrr! Glad your stuff wasnt ruined!

CLUMSY oh how annoying!! I would complain and say it wasnt your fault you lost the discount! Amazon are pretty good sorting out things like that

NOODLES not very helpful sorry but the only thing i can think of is chocolate or a christmas copy of a magazine that is to do with an interest of his, i always buy my son a copy of FILM for his stocking??

FOXHOLES that is a very good price, thankyou for the tip

MANDCO oh thankyou will try and get to one before the offer runs out, we popped to costco today but i stayed in the car with the dog, and let DD1 run in there, it was heaving and i really didnt fancy it, so will pop one evening when its much quieter

MURIE that is who i cashed my amazon voucher with today as well! Fab bargains for your mum!

3FORHOLIDAYS aww bless you, i expect you will hear a few tales about them both!

PINKSTEPS ooh thankyou will look into that aww poor old Donna, i just wanted to give her a big hug!!

KAYA oh my goodness you will need a chilled weekend you will be fit for nothing at this rate, i prescribe lots of hygge!

VULPIX ooh i saw them today as i was flying past the aisle they looked pretty cool, i had only run in for a christmas magazine for my weekend away so didnt stop

Ooo Free, did I miss the post about your weekend away? Where are you going?

Well we are still plodding along! We have a provisional moving in date of 27/11/15, it's almost 2 weeks after I was hoping for, but DH is being sensible and allowing for the kitchen/bathroom to run over. Sadly we won't be in before then (baring a miracle in the next two weeks of the fitters saying they've had a cancellation!) as we've had to arrange the flooring to be fitted after the kitchen/bathroom and they are also booked up a good few weeks in advance. I'm focusing on this as a huge positive (that we have a date) and I'm just trying to organize the small amount of bits I can do to keep me hands on and busy in the house. Still no doors on in any of the rooms, BUT the new central heating system went in yesterday and after 6 weeks with no hot water at the house it is fab to finally have it back!

I did a video walkthrough of the house last week, but my phone messed up and I can't find any free software to edit it and put it on my blog to share with you lovelies! It's my mission for the weekend

Still no Christmas prep here! We have our £100 love to shop vouchers, but I went to stave off spending them until we have used all other vouchers/discounts as I'm hoping we will have a small amount left to buy some jr bits.

I hope everyone is well! Sending hugs and well wishes to those that need them

mrs-moneypenny

Morning all

Love the Halloween deccys
Hugs to all that need them, sounds like life is not playing fair with some so I hope it all improves.
Still working on stocking, and need to start wrapping soon if I'm taking it over mums at half term.
Watched New Year's Eve the other night - almost a Christmas film, was quite enjoyable.
Started my Christmas reading, I'm rereading 12 days of Christmas to get me in the mood for the new trisha Ashley book. I've treated myself to that its on preorder for next week.

elliew8

Morning...10 weeks to go ahhhhhhh
Thanks Murie, that's a brilliant idea especially for the OH stocking
Free you're so organised, we haven't even thought about windows and doors yet!
Just booked some free tickets to Ideal Home Christmas show they're on the MSE newsletter FYI, getting excited for that as I've never been before
Nothing much else Christmassy happening as we're going to Mallorca tomorrow to organise our wedding!
We've also agreed to turning the heating on when we get back so I'll be using my last damp towel tonight lol although the cat has been sitting on my legs for warmth which has been lovely and I know she'll abandon us for the windowsills with the radiator right beneath her lol

Cherry24

04624181 - Your post reminded me, my friend has made a guess the moustache game for Christmas that she said she would send me at some point. Sounds quite fun and she's assured me that Tom Sellock is definitely in there.

Clumsy - It's so annoying when that happens. I don't know why they can't just mark it as sold out to avoid disappointment.

Ellie - Hope you have a fab time in Mallorca and congrats on your upcoming nuptials.

If anyone sees any good offers on Highland Park whisky, please let me know. The OH has now decided that it's his new favourite (even though we have a cupboard full of other varieties).

andie5

Hi everyone - I hope you don't mind me joining your Christmas chat!! I've been reading this thread for a couple of years now and LOVE all the planning and organising. I'm half way there with present buying (I would have been a bit further if I hadn't eaten some of the chocolates - I knew I shouldn't have picked them up so early lol!!)
Anyway I'll be able to pop on here now and again so I don't get moaned at for talking about Christmas already.
I joined the M&S Sparkle card today like Pinksteps, got it in the post last night and that looks like it'll have some good offers. I got 20% off online shopping but it expires today and I don't need anything at the minute.
Hope you all have a good weekend, will catch up next week.

BBRosie

Hi all,

Having an absolute nightmare, somehow got deleted from the system so only got paid for 2 shifts last week but also got all my holiday which I needed for christmas! Arghhhhh. Don't think I'm getting paid at all next week as they won't have fixed it by the cut off on sunday. So frustrating as going to have to ask my parents to bail me out if I don't get paid

On christmassy note.. Wrapped up DDs stocking items, accidently bought way more than space available so will get both DD and DSD bigger ones as I suspect I have way too much for DSD's too!

Also ordered a playmobil 123 set and DSD's tablet.


Hugs to all who need them.