* It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year * - It's the 2016 Christmas Chatter Thread

vulpix

Hi,

Welcome BBB,I think everyone has pretty much covered all options for your Advent calendar but how about those little individual Lego figures? I was reminded of those as I happened to go in an Azda yesterday just as they wheeled 2 trolleys of reduced toys near the door.I got a Lego superhero/something or other set reduced from £15 to £7.I buy a little something for an 8 year old boy and I think it will join all his other Lego.

I also picked up some reduced earrings and reduced socks either for stocking fillers or DD2's birthday in September.I also bought some dog biscuits to make things for the Xmas craft stall (still undecided as to do one) and some amaretti to put away.Well they were put away in a different way as we opened them last night and made a big dent in them.

I have broken the back of my jingle bells craft but it will be finished weather dependant.If it stays fine I will be in the garden,so it needs rain to be finished.

I almost broke Mr V on Wednesday.We hired a still saw to cut out some ugly concrete round posts and tidy up some stone slabs. He wouldnt let me have a go,it was very heavy though.He was a broken man by the evening!I can crack on now with building a bigger retaining wall.

GCSE results! So stressful. I heard on the radio yesterday that people have to sit maths and English 'till they pass.Goodness that's a worry. DD2 is not academic yet not deemed special needs (autism spectrum)goodness knows what we will have to do with her as she has to stay in education until she is 18.We cannot all be academic.We need practical people too.

The cost of school uniforms!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! luckily this year we have got away with new trousers and black pumps which they all wear whatever the weather,no coat either! They are not allowed to take a coat into lessons.They do have a locker but to go and retrieve the coat at the end of the day would possibly mean missing the bus home.

I am just waiting for the washer to finish them I'm off to build a wall.

Have a nice weekend. Vx

FeistyFidget

Mrs_Ryan wrote: »

Hi all
Harrods Xmas shop was amazing! I was shocked at how reasonably priced everything was compared to Selfridges. I bought- 2 x baubles with 'Harrods 2016' in glitter on them, one for my mum and one for my friend's mum that she asked me to get; a classic green vinyl Harrods shopping bag also for friend's mum; a teddy bear tree decoration (for me! ), a cream and gold cup for my mum, and some Christmas biscuits for my other friend. While I was there I got OH some teabags as a refill for the caddy I've bought him and I bought mum a caddy with some teabags just as a souvenir of London. I spent £75 (although really only £45 as I got £30 back from my friend) so I think I did pretty well!

I went to the Harrods Christmas shop in 2010 and bought the most adorable gingerbread mr and mrs hanging decorations. They are very treasured and I love seeing them come out year on year!

vulpix wrote: »

helloeeeeee,only me from over the sea as they say.

Nice bunting Free.I was one of the people who said they would finish a UFO. I can't remember what it was! It may have been making new sofa back cushions. I have done that.I got all my craft stuff out yesterday afternoon as I was home alone,spread it all over the sitting room and my DD1 phoned to say she and BF were visiting!Just shoved it up a bit so they could sit down.

I intended to start my jingle bells craft but found something else I was waylaid into making for a church I don't attend.Spent all evening on it,nearly done.I have decided what I am going to make,just need to get on with it. I feel a bit guilty if it isnt actually chucking it down that I'm not in the garden.I am a bit stuck now as I need to hire an angle grinder to trim some concrete before I can build another wall.Once that's done she says casually like it won't take weeks,I can lay the stone to make the top patio.

It doesn't rain but it pours.My Mum's friend has snitched on her.She has been passing out and falling over.When she comes round she cannot see for a while.She has agreed to go to the optician but point blank refuses to go to GP. I am working on her. This has been happening for a year!!!!!!!!!!!

I am thinking that I will make some edible gifts later in the year.Rosemary olive oil.marmalade,gingerbread etc.

Laters,Take Care V xxx

P.S way to go for your daughter Chrissy. Congratulations and commiserations where appropriate for everyone,sorry just not got time to reply individually.x

I really hope your mum listens to sense V

Pinksteps wrote: »

Hi, very much better today thanks. For those not on IG she was a very poorly dog on Friday night/Saturday morning and a trip to the vets showed she had gastroenteritis. She had lost a lot of blood very quickly in a short time but after 3 injections and lots of stomach tablets and antibiotics she is nearly back to herself, naughty as ever. The vet seems to think she had picked it up from the seagulls here (forever pooping in the garden). But over the worse thank you all for asking and I'll put a pic on IG to show how she is today.

Oh Peppa, those FB groups, so many pretty things. I only bought one item so far but was looking at a skirt and DS said "you have over twenty", good job he has not looked in the other wardrobe with my dresses and bags :rotfl:

Poor Teddy I'm glad she's on the mend though!

mrsinvisible wrote: »

Old age and poverty takes its toll!!! Another reminder of advancing age arrived yesterday in the disguise of a new mobile phone......... Apparently it does everything but bath the baby, but l will never know, because the blasted volume control only goes from whisper to mumble, hope they honour their 14 day return/exchange promise.
Peppa, pants about your neutrophils hope for better news for next weekxxx
Oh, Murie you did make me chuckle with your 'grown a pair' comment. hope the gender issue is not a problem for him.
Mandco pick your own is a lovely activity, and strawberries are lush right now. Hedgerow picking also, is fulfilling, free blackberries, sloes, damsons, crab apples, elderberries, and so on, so lucky where l live, they are all easy to get. Glass jars are at a premium just now!

I am very envious of all your hedgerow picking! We phoned several PYO last week and as Free predicted they were all picked out :mad: I wanted to make lovely strawberry jam for hampers etc. I know I could go blackberry picking with the mini monster as I made jam for gifts a few years back doing this BUT the jam wasn't very well received. It seems that like me most people prefer strawberry jam!

BishyBarneyBee wrote: »

Thank you, that's a pretty good idea. The boxes are about twice the size of a matchbox so a nail varnish will fit perfectly. I was thinking of sending off for some free samples of make-up etc, not quite sure where to go for these so I think a 'Google' is on the cards.

If she's a girly girl and you get stuck on freebies, superdrug have their own brand of make up called MUA. It's cruelty free and pretty good quality, even better is that a lot are just £1 each, so you could get plenty of bits.

How is everyone coping with the heat? Little My is hating it and not sleeping at night. In fact we are lucky if we can get her down by 9.30pm and up at 6.30pm with at least 4 wake ups between. Tired doesn't even come close!

I think I found my beautiful advent calendar, but it's £42 unpainted and I'm worried It's a big expense with no-where to put it

Cherry24

BishyBarneyBee wrote: »

Hello, I am very happy to have stumbled upon your thread as it looks great fun. I would love to pick your brains if it's not too cheeky of me. I have one of those refillable wooden advent calendar thingys that I picked up from Hobbycraft. This seemed a good idea at the time but I am trying to think of items to fill it with suitable for my 25 year old daughter, don't want to take the easy route and go for too many chocolates and also want to keep it fairly inexpensive (max £1 per item if possible). Would anyone have any ideas? I would be so grateful, thanks.

Lip balm, pin badge, mints / tic tacs, small christmas dec, fortune cookie, mini soap, magnet, nail stickers, scratchcard, wax melt, hair clip, pocket mirror, hot choc sachet, novelty Christmas earrings.

murie

BBB- just remembered that poundworld (not poundland) are doing yankee festive scents candle tarts 2 for £1 and they usually do small burners there too. Obviously the burner wouldn't fit in the drawer but you could do a little gift tag for that day saying look under the tree or so and so. You could do 5 days for £3 if you get 4 tarts.

vulpix

Doh, BBB just realised that your daughter is an adult,I don't think lego will work !

I have had a telephone conversation with GP about Mum.She is having full blood tests and ECG then an app with GP.She has agreed to go but doesn't know I have spoken to the Dr.

Going out soon for a meal.Laters Vx

freespirit66

Evening everyone, i havent been on as DD1 has had the week off and we have been doing lots of gardening and decluttering and i have been shattered, fibro still playing up. I finally got one of my survey payouts and got an LED cinema lightbox for DS it was on his wish list for £33 i got one at HB for £9.99, a mirror that was on his list at £22 i got nigh on exactly the same in HB again for £2.49 and an Andy Warhol pop art print on order so i have nearly finished him now. They are wrapped and put away. I cant remember all what i have read now so if i have left you out its not intentional

PEPPAPIG aww im sorry my lovely your chemo was cancelled again, im crossing everything it will all go ahead on tuesday, no way are you cheating with your project i cant wait to see it

MURIE i am still giggling at the GSD in a mini :rotfl:

FEISTY im so glad you checked before going i just know how long it takes to get out with babies and then for you to get there and you couldnt pick any. I cant believe your blackberry jam didnt go down well, i would have loved that, some people eh?? Hoping you get some extra sleep tonight, hang the expense it will last for years and years to come and be extra special that you bought it for little mys first christmas x

VULPIX glad your mum has agreed to the tests, hopefully everything will be ok but its better to check (says i hahaha) Wow i wish i was like you in the garden, this heat has just been sapping my strength out there this week

04624181 congrats to your sis on her exam results

BBB hi and welcome to our thread

MANDCO i hope the dentist went well yesterday and your problems fixed properly

Peppapig

Aw thanks FREE, DH has promised to cut out the new seat base for me at the weekend so I should just get it finished in time! Well done on your HB purchases, a great result.

BBB, MRSINVISIBLE's suggestions have reminded me that I did a herbal tea advent calendar for DD and sister a couple of years ago (did all different hot chocs for DD2 as she doesn't like herbal tea) and Twinings did individual tea bags in little packets for 20p each. They were available on line so if you haven't got a shop near you could be worth checking the website (unless she doesn't like herbal teas of course). Asda (other supermarkets are available) do various different hot chocolate sachets that are reasonably priced too.

FEISTY lovely to see you posting - hope all is ok in the Fidget family and that DH is feeling more positive.

VULPIX you're a whirlwind of activity! Hope Mr V is soon fixed lol. Glad you've had a chat with GP - hope the tests show up what's wrong with Mum and it's something that can be easily treated.

Babysitting the little DGSs tomorrow from mid afternoon til about ten o'clock so will get to put them to bed and read the bedtime story. Hope they sleep though, pretty sure I'll be exhausted by their bedtime. Last time we visited I spent quite a bit of time playing Woody and Jessie (Toy Story) with older DGS (4) which involved quite a lot role play as he was Woody and I had to be Jessie. Good opportunity to practice my signing though as youngest DGS (2) is autistic and non verbal - loud but non verbal lol, bless him.

mandco

fiesty pickwellfarm still have loads of strawberries its about an hour from poole though so not sure if its doable. Re the advent calendar look at it as an investment and while the initial expense seems high its will be cheaper in the long run and will make a great family tradition piece. I love the reusable wooden ones and they can look lovely as a decoration too.

Freespirit some great bargains there
spent over 2 hours at the dentist today need a root canal so she numbed it and asked me to wait so she could see another patient while it worked over an hr later I finally went back in and it had been so long she had to numb it again so now its worn off my gum is so sore and the worst part is I have to go back in 2 weeks to get it finished.

Much as I enjoy some sunshine its far too humid no-ones sleeping well so the kids are really grumpy and the poor chewy doesn't know what to do with himself. Need to find a groomer and get him trimmed I think.

could do with some extra funds for xmas and I know some of you do surveys just wondered which sites were worth a go?

christmas has arrived at Hobbycraft http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/christmas

murie

Feisty- advents calendars are an investment. ours are 21 years old and still going strong. The kids will take them with them when they leave the nest and will use them to continue the tradition with their own families- think of it that way and the initial investement isn't so very bad x


Vulpix- hopefully Mr V is feeling less broken this morning x


Peppa- enjoy babysitting and the extra signing practice. Looking forward to seeing the chair x


Free- yup the heat really has a lot to answer for, I like the nice weather but not the heat. We've al been grumpy cus of lack of sleep this week in our house. Wow those are good bargains! DS will be pleased. Glad you managed to cash out at last- it takes for ever especially when you have seen something you want to get with it.




mandco- OUCH!!!!Hope its not as sore today x I use pinecone, valued Opinions (although I do get a bit mad with them). a postal survey where I receive transponders and send them back (this depends on your post code though) and a new one which is very good - it requires you to record and upload 15 second video opinions on surveys they send through. Usually they are 25p a time but some are up to £1.50 and I have had a couple for costa and Starbucks for £5! This is the most lucrative for me and I have cashed out £80 in the last 4 months. Its referral only though so pm me if you are interested (Im not trying to gain from this I promise).


No! No! No!- I shouldn't have looked at the Hobby craft link!!! I NEED to pay them a visit now and buy everything!( Im not going to though as I have enough craft stuff to open a craft warehouse let alone a craft shop!) Thanks for the link it really makes me feel Christmassy when I see the stock coming into the shops.


I am looking for a Buzz Lightyear for DD's BF for Christmas. He had a very difficult childhood and has always taken his Toy Story Woody with him wherever he has been placed (even on proud display at Uni) but he never had a Buzz and he would love one. I'm not willing to pay silly money for a doll and I have looked everywhere (no more than £20) and they go for silly prices on eb*y. Im going to trawl the charity shops but if anyone knows or has seen any offers could they give ne a shout please?


Enjoy the weekend everyone x

princesskitty29

Hi all, I’ve tried to read back as best I could but sorry if I’ve missed anything! It’s been lovely reading some of your Christmas traditions, I may have to pinch a few! The one thing I’m not sure about is what to eat on Christmas Eve evening. I know in the grand scheme of life it doesn’t really matter, but I’d like to have some sort of tradition. Obviously we have roast dinner on Christmas day and then we have a buffet on Boxing day so it would be nice to do something different. Sometimes I like the idea of cooking a special meal (goodness knows what) but then sometimes I like the idea of doing what you do freespirit and getting a McDonalds! Ho hum I’ve got a few months to think about it! I bought myself a Christmas book in a charity shop the other day, it’s The Xmas Factor by Annie Sanders so that’s my Christmas reading sorted! I’m trying so hard to get stuck into my Christmas prep but I’ve got lots of things to organise for the house move, we need lots of stuff like curtains, blinds, a new bed etc etc and that’s taking over!

freespirit our house is actually built now and they are working on the inside. We’ve recently been told that our house is scheduled to complete in the last week of September – I truly hope this does happen as it would be lovely to think we only have a month to go! We will get two weeks notice of a completion date so we’re just waiting now!

Feisty Little My is so adorable! Bless her. I love the little board about her, I wish I’d done little things like that! I am so sorry to hear DH was so unwell but glad you are getting back to normality. It must be so upsetting to think he will be having another op on her first Christmas or birthday, but hopefully it will help him be able to spend better quality time with her afterwards. I think you’ve made the right decision regarding work for you, I know it will be tough on the purse strings but some things are more important than money sometimes. And anyway there’s lots of money saving ideas to be had on here! Oh I do feel your pain, Wiggle was a terrible sleeper for the first 14 months. Everyone kept telling me it gets better and I struggled to believe them, but one day it did just get better. I remember waking up after the bad nights and wondering how I was going to get through the day, but you just do. You always get to the end of the day! Sometimes I would just leave the housework, if Wiggle had a half hour nap I would just sit and have a cup of tea to recharge the batteries. Try to take care of yourself whenever you can.

newthrift I haven't started decluttering yet! You're putting me to shame! I’m sure you are really emotional about your brother leaving, but the good thing about living in the digital age is it makes the world a smaller place. You will be skyping him no end I’m sure, I know it isn’t the same but it is wonderful to be able to see the person you are talking to even if they’re miles away!

Hello Karrie! Your advent activities box sounds lovely. I am doing something similar, I am hoping to find a wooden advent calendar with little pull out drawers and I am going to put an activity on a slip of paper and put one in for each day. As for a Christmas Eve hamper, I managed to find a lovely lidded wicker basket for £4 in a charity shop so it’s worth keeping your eyes open for something like that. Alternatively I know people who wrap an empty box with Christmas paper each year, you don’t have to store it all year either!

CHRISSYG well done to your DD, big step!

GTQ oh dear it sounds like you need a new status update!

vulpix I hope you manage to get things sorted with your mum.

murie Picturing you in the car with the dog is making me giggle!

Hello BisheyBarney! I would have suggested all the things that have already been suggested. Happy hunting!

mandco That’s terrible being made to wait like that so the numbness wore off, what were they thinking? It’s bad enough having to have treatment like that. I hope you’re ok.