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

mrsinvisible

will this rain ever stop? it got so bad yesterday that l started to do the indoor decorations for Christmas. So far l have done the vestibule and the hall, started the living room and ran out of steam so that is todays task, (along with the washing, ironing, vacuuming and so forth.) Don't l have an exciting life?
Exciting or not, it is certainly a busy one. l almost PMSL yesterday, watching a red squirrel, he ran along the fence at the bottom of the back garden, the wind kept blowing him back, then he jumped to run up the trunk of one of the conifers at the end of the fence, and the wind caught him and blew him backwards, he missed the tree, landed on the patio, shook himself and 'sauntered ' up the garden, as if saying 'who saw me?'
A warning of flooding, ''especially in Cumbria'' on the news just now, that's us then. Christmas music is called for, yes?
Get well messages, congratulations on new babies and grandbabies, stay well vibes, I love the name, Alexander.

Peppapig

Ha ha Vulpix - showing your age there with the Valerie Singleton. For me John Noakes, Peter Purviss and Valerie were Blue Peter and it was never the same once others took over so I'm showing my age too lol.

Free that centrepiece is beautiful. Hope you're all soon fighting fit.

Whitesatin that's a lovely name, my little DGS is Jude Alexander.

MrsI I wish we had red squirrels here - I've only ever seen one on the Isle of Wight some years ago.

Christmas Dec day for me today so Smooth Xmas and lots of singing. Happy Saturday one and all x

04624181

Its only 20 sleeps until the big day!:j:j
13 sleeps until the kids finish so need to get my christmas to do list done and dusted before they finish.

Clumsy42-I hope you feeling better today. I have a terrible memory too due to meds I take. Very frustrating, hope you ok x
Whitesatin-thats fantastic! what a bargain! I may take a little trip down myself x Alexander is a lovely name xx
nic2075-sounds like a fantastic night, I love Elf! Hubby and son off to basketball today so dd and I are going to have a pamper afternoon, going to get the foot spa out for her and do her nails.Tonight is going to be a christmas film night. We are at church all day tomorrow. After service there is christmas lunch and raffle so should be a lovely day.What you got planned?
peppapig-Glad your dd liked the cabinet, have you any pics we can see please? Sounds like you got a better deal cancelling your QVC order. Im sure we have not forgotten something important but its still a little niggle at the back of my mind. I have wrote list after list checking it twice lol xx
pinknfluffy28-Oh no, I hope you get better soon. Lots of antihistamine and that cream calomine lotion has been a godsend when kids are poxed up x I like that you have seen the silver lining that you can wrap for a few days kids free lol x
freespirit66- I am so sorry you have been poorly, everybody seems to have been with some bug/virus at the minute. Hopefully that means we will all be fit and well for christmas. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Your centrepiece, you are very talented x
Vulpix=Hi hope you ok xx
MrsInvisible-Hope you ok and the weather has eased up for you, the winds here last night were very bad. I was still awake at 2.30am listening to it howling down the street. Christmas music is always called for, husband surprised me by putting a christmas cd on last night in the car.

The church christmas evening went very well last night, The kids loved it. The minute to win it games went down a storm! Everybody was laughing and having fun. Exactly what we wanted x
I so love it that I have been so organised that I can enjoy this time now. People laugh at me being Christmas Crazy but planning is important. Every year I learn something new about my family and friends as I have the TIME to spend with them as I am not caught up in the mass panic buy craziness x This is the first year I am so involved with church so obviously this christmas has an even more special meaning to me and my faith x x
People ask do I get depressed in January as its all over- The answer is NO!!! That is my preparation time for next year! SALE SALE SALE time for gift wrap, cards stocking fillers,elf gifts etc lol xxxx

princesskitty29

Hi all, feeling Christmassy here today as we started the day with a North Pole breakfast and then put the tree up and finished the decorations. I do like my decorations, but considering i'm Christmas crazy they're very understated! A mum friend of mine said the other day that she can't wait to see my house decorated as she knows how much I love Christmas, but I think she'd be disappointed! Must try harder next year! Wiggle was helping put a few decorations on the tree when I was decorating it, but since then he hasn't really bothered with it so long may that continue! I had visions of him pulling it over! We watched Santa Claus the Movie last night, The Grinch is on in the background whilst i'm typing this and tonight we're watching The Muppets Christmas Carol with a yummy hot chocolate. It's definitely starting to feel like Christmas.

ellie I hope you have a wonderful time in London this weekend.

whitesatin wow fab food bargains! And what a lovely name for your new DGS.

pinknfluffy oh no chickenpox?! I do hope it clears up quickly for you, it must be driving you mad!

freespirit i'm so sorry to hear you've been so poorly, how horrible. I hope you're on the mend now. What a fab centrepiece! You are so good at all of this stuff. I really need to do more, my decorations need some ooomph! How is your DD now after her operation?

mrsinvisible love your squirrel story! How lovely to have red squirrels near you, they're beautiful.

fiesty I hope you and DH are settling into your house well and haven't had any more trouble from the neighbours.

murie

Free- so glad that you are back and feel up to posting- I was getting a bit worried. Hopefully your energy levels will be back to normal by Christmas x That centre piece is beautiful! I love the stag in it! See - you are Martha Stewart after all!


Whitesatin- my DN is called Alexander- a very handsome name I think!


MrsI- bet that squirrel was embarrassed! I ran out of steam when I was decorating too!


046481281- pamper afternoon sounds brill.


Pinknfluffy- oh no-chickenpox are horrible! Hope you get over it soon x I had it when I was 20 (the weekend I was supposed to go and collect my wedding dress!) and I remember feeling sooo ill.


Ellie- have a fab time x


princesskitty- Im sure your decorations look lovely! Does wiggle love the lights on the tree? Mine used to love them!


Peppa- yup- John Noakes Val Singleton and Peter Purves for me too (plus Petra and Shep!).




I went to Aldi today and brought a couple of packs of the ready made irish coffee in glasses- 2 in a box for £3.99. They were £4.50 a pack at the Good Food show last week! They will finish off the kids Christmas eve packs with one left over for DH. Now I think I am finally sorted!


DH and DS are off for a father and son bonding session (aka a big meat filled feast!) Not my thing at all so Im going to watch Elf before I go out to fetch DD from work at about 9.30. Im looking forward to it!




Enjoy your Saturday everyone, take care x

kiss_me_now9

Well it was my work christmas do last night so I didn't get home til 4am Very drunk So my plan for today is to sit and watch Christmas movies, tidy up the living room and my bedroom to make way for the tree and plan some pressies!

So far I've got my Mum mostly sorted, my sister a little bit sorted, my Dad half done and my BIL half done. I was going to make both couples a gingerbread house or something but actually I think I might just do a hamper for them (obv. sister and BIL live together alone and I'm moving out in January so my parents will get the house back!). I'm thinking bottle of wine/bottle of ale, popcorn, some kind of popcorn bucket?, DVD, some nice smelling candles.... any other ideas? Budget would be about £15 for each hamper.

vulpix

Re old blue peter,what was the cat called?Remember Rags the pony and Fred/a the tortoise.It was called Fred but it then laid an egg and became Freda.I have a photo of me holding it,I think it lived at Skegness Zoo and we were on holiday in the 60's.JASON!!!!!!!!!!! that was the cat's name.

I like the name Alexander quite a lot as it is my sons name!It never dates and if its shortened its still nice.

It is wild here too,I have got to go out very soon and would rather stay at home.Mr V and dd2 are in a Christmas show which is to raise funds for a local hospice in memory of a couple of local men.

Squirrels. I came home one day when I lived in the lakes and thought we had been burgled.The house was trashed.Squirrel nutkin had paid us a visit through an open window.

Gotta go,best wishes to poorly people Vx

MrsCD

whitesatin wrote: »

Good afternoon, all. Just got back from town with bagsful of food bargains. We were meant to be going out for a meal this evening but decided not to so went to M&S to buy some bits and pieces instead. The lady was reducing lots of stuff so I filled the trolley with all sorts of tasty bites for this evening. But even better, she was reducing lovely little salmon blinis, and mini toast/cheese bites so I filled a second trolley with a view to freezing to have before Christmas lunch as people arrive. I got lots and it all cost only £24 so I was ecstatic. As I will have people here all day and evening, I am going to take a daily trip to M&S at around this time of day and linger till I see stuff being reduced, e.g. quiches etc., then stick them in the freezer. Funny how things always taste better when you know they are a bargain, lol.

M&S often have ys first thing on a morning at the MetroCentre. I do the same - stock up as much as I can afford.
Got to move. DD is singing in a Christmas concert tonight and I need to get ready.

freespirit66

Evening everyone, still feeling awful but thankyou for all your get well wishes, and thankyou for the nice comments on my pic, i hope nobody thinks i am big headed posting them, dont for one moment think i am up myself (i am in fact the very opposite) i just like sharing what i have been up to on here. I went to Morries and bought my beef joint for NY day today they are on offer for £4 a kg and the reviews are very good. I spoilt myself with another christmas starbucks as well, its tomorrows advent activity but i am going to curl up on the sofa tomorrow and hopefully get rid of this horrid cold

04624181 glad you are pleased with your new highlights and that you and everyone else had fun at your church christmas event last night.

ELLIE lol at the vicars christmas card i hope you have a wonderful christmassy weekend in London

CLUMSY im glad you got your essay finished, i hope you had a nice relaxing afternoon yesterday, you deserve it!

WHITESATIN your YS bargains sound fab! Aww im glad DD labour went well and you have a gorgeous little DGS, thats a lovely name, and i hope you have a great time at the French markets

NIC your evening sounds perfect Elf and hot choc

PEPPAPIG im glad DD loved her cabinet you upcycled for her, all your hard work was worth it! I saw a sign today for christmas trees and wooden reindeers i did wonder if they have made some like yours and are selling them! John Noakes and 'Get Down Shep' :rotfl:

PINKNFLUFFY oh honey i hope you arent feeling too awful with those itchy spots, good job it wasnt last weekend before you went away!! Get better soon!

VULPIX haha i remember Valerie Singleton we are showing our age :rotfl:I also remember Fred/Freda the tortoise :rotfl:omg i can only imagine what the squirrel got up to in your house :eek:

MRSINVISIBLE i love the red squirrel story and i hope you arent affected by the floods!!! We have had awful weather down here with winds and rain

PRINCESSKITTY im sorry to hear wiggle is ill again, bless him! Glad you had a fab NPB, we had our tree up when i had thumper this week and he didnt take any notice of it either, i bet it will be different when he comes back from NY and sees all the lights and shiny hanging things on it though!! I have put up ceiling decs this year just for thumper because i know he will love them i havent had decs on the ceiling for years as they went out of fashion!! She is still in pain so its not good! But she has an appt with the consultant again in 5 weeks, hopefully they can sort that and the new problem they found while she was under GA

MURIE aww you lovely lady, thankyou still feeling carp that stag was £1 from poundland :rotfl:Ooh those ready made irish coffees sound good i will have to try and get some, i do love my irish coffee but irish whisky is so expensive i dont often have them anymore. I hope you have had a lovely day watching elf and pleasing yourself

KISSMENOW aww a nice gentle day for you then! I hope you arent feeling too delicate! Prescription for lots of christmas movies

MRSCD have a lovely time at the concert and good luck to DD

aliaslotte

Finally finished everything for Christmas today. Feeling really happy....

All cards are written.
All presents are wrapped and bagged up (bags for home, bags for different sets of friends etc).
I have even done the presents and cards for the four birthdays that surround Christmas (two on the 19th, one on the 29th, one early January).

We don't have any decorations or anything up yet - they tend to go up a bit later on - but I'm glad that the gift side of Christmas is sorted for another year. :j

I have also checked my spreadsheet and I'm pleased with the cost...
I buy things all year long, including a big burst of buying in January (eg, with the Boots sale), and keep a spread sheet to keep track...

51 presents in total (48 bought, three brand new things that I regifted).
Total RRP: £474.04.
Total Spend: £181.36
Saving: £292.68