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

nic2075

Thank crunchie it's Friday! Ive hard a trying week. Just sat down witha glass of wine

Im looking forward to a weekend away with my girls. They are dancing up north, so I booked a Travelodge for the Sat night. My wee boy is staying woth his dad this weekend. Planning to go up early and take the to the big park in Dundee then go for ice cream, before heading to the hotel to watch xXfactor in bed. It an early start on Sunday (6:30am) up to do buns in their hair.

Hope you are feeling better Freespirit? X

freespirit66

Evening everyone, thankyou MURIE, NIC, TREASUREQUEEN i have been on the beechams today so hopefully it wont hang around for long. I have got my 1st Diabetes workshop tomorrow and am absolutely dreading it, i am hoping i will feel too ill to go, but i know its just an excuse really.

FeistyFidget

Peppapig wrote: »

MANDCO, you cat eats puppies?:eek::eek::eek: (only joking) :rotfl:

Welcome to the thread SARE65, you've def come to the right place. There were lots of alcohol recipes/suggestions a couple of years ago (nit from me, I'm useless at anything like that) so hopefully some of the others will be along soon to reincarnate them.

MURIE hope the decorating is going or has gone well. I'm decorating too but only in 12th scale lol (DGD's dolls house, it's a Christmas pressie so counts as a festive activity too)

ELLIE have a fab weekend.

FREE hope you're ok, ditto FEISTY.

Apologies to all, I have read everything but retained very little so I think I must go back to posting every day so I don't miss things out. I think I've decided on my SNOW project but must remember to actually get on and do it. Once I've had the idea I tend to think I've done it!

I've decided that this year I'm going to try and organise a Christmas donation project for our local animal rescue services. A vet surgery in another area did it last year and it was really good so fingers crossed I can do it here. It's basically like the shoe box gifts but animal food/toys. I've written to the local rescue who are fully supportive of it and also the local RSPCA who haven't replied yet. Marketing and publicity are not my strong points but I thought I might be able to get some free space in our local magazine (advertising thing really but they do sometimes give space to charity things) and maybe put a letter through doors in our street and notices in the local shops. I'll contact the local paper too. Must admit I'm feeling a bit wobbly about it all but hopefully I'll be ok once I get going. It's been quite a while since I organised anything now I'm not working which is why I wrote to the organisations straight away - if I've told them I want to do it I can't back out.

I'm here! Things are a bit manic in the feisty house as we are having a log cabin built in the garden next week ready for me going back to work in October. Lots of stressful budgeting and I'm afraid to say that after 2 years of being debt free, we've had to get a credit card to fund it BUT the poor wee monster is in need of a bedroom and currently it's my office. I'm trying to see it as an investment (and the fact It will double as a sewing/hobby room ) but it's still a bit daunting.

Your animal rescue donation drive sounds fab :T I cannot promote facebook enough for this sort of thing. Pester all friends and family into sharing every few days and although it's extra faff for you, it may be worth offering to pick up local donations on a particular day. A family friend does a drive for the homeless shelter every year and she's always a huge success.

murie wrote: »

Hellooo- Im back!


Decorating 99.9%done, just mirrors on chimney breasts left to re hang, they are really heavy though so its a 2 men one co-ordinating woman job lol. I can honestly say I do not want to see another paint brush or roller for a looong time!! I am totally wiped out, arm is in bits but overall am very pleased with the results. I now have co- ordinating cat and dog- both are a walking paint chart for Dulux!


I haven't read back yet but its good to see that everyone is cracking on with their various projects, be it back to school, tiny decorating and charity organisation and de cluttering.


Peppa- hope all went well, that's a lovely idea that you are organising (but don't forget to delegate when needed x).


Sare Don't know about sloe gin but rhubarb vodka is lush and so easy- just sugar and rhubarb in a bottle, shake it every day for 2 weeks, strain and then imbibe- lovely!


Free- hope you feel better soon and less miserable. The cupcakes looked good even if they were a 'mare to do. No more baking for me for a while me thinks- in fact no more anything for a while while I try to recoup a bit of energy.


Mrs I and Vulpix- everything OK, you are very quiet. (unless you are on holiday etc).

Ooo I'd love to see some pics!

Free, I hope you're feeling better tomorrow, try not to fret lovely xxx

I've finally started buying for Christmas!!!!! We keep 'borrowing' from the penny a day challenge pot, so I'm having to put huge amounts in at the end of every month I want one of those.com had a special 6 items for £35 with free delivery earlier this week and I've managed to get 4.5 people completely done (although we are massively cutting back this year). I've also cornered the hubby and made him commit to choosing his friends gifts from the aforementioned sale. Usually he leaves it to the last minute and ends up getting them each a £15/£20 bottle of spirits :mad: Not this year though :beer:

mandco

Peppapig wrote: »

MANDCO, you cat eats puppies?:eek::eek::eek: (only joking) :rotfl:
.

:rotfl: I really should check my wording

Great idea re the animal rescue donations they rely so heavily on donations and xmas tends to prompt people into giving a little more than usual good luck.

Freespirit hope your feeling better soon. I know the idea of the diabetes clinic is daunting but please try and go it really is worth while in the long run.

Feisty the cabin is an investment which will make life easier in the long term so well worth it in the long term.

Popped to tesco today to pick up some last minute bits for taz's birthday and they had xmas chocs/sweets & cakes out - the kipling winter warmer & gingerbread whirls are both back this year

murie

Free- clear your inbox Mrs!!

mrsinvisible

Morning, I am a big brave soldier, so there! Actually I am a wimp, but this week one of my wobbly teeth began to ache/throb/screampainfully, so I went, all by myself, with nobody, alone to the dentist and had it extracted. l am almost phobic in my fear of all things dental, so the dentist who knows me well actually laughed when, on being asked about injections, l told her she could stand on my head and pull the tooth through my 'jaxie' just get it out. So l have had a sore mouth for a couple of days. Oh, and there was blood so l am entitled to sympathy, no, no, more than that, come on, awwwww that's right.
Glad to hear from you, Feisty, view it as an investment, rather than a debt. And Free, hope the diabetes class comes and goes well.
Nice to see more newbies posting, hello, have a hug and a biscuit, and a glass of sloe gin. I have made sloe and damson gin in the past, but the only gin made with dried fruit (sultanas) was not so successful.
I was gifted a few pounds of plums and a whole bag of bramley apples, and had gathered a load of brambles so have had a jamfest and have frozen the rest for future use.

vulpix

Hello Folks.

Mrs I,awww sympathy sent.Jamfest sounds ace.I just haven't got enough hours in the day to go blackberrying unfortunately.Homemade is sooooo much nicer.

Free,same.Positive vibes for the diabetes class.If it helps it has got to be a good thing.

Fiesty,I agree,money well spent.

Murie,I am in awe with the decorating,whenever I decorate it drags on because I don't enjoy it.I still have 2 door frames to do from when I did the kitchen months ago.I have had the paint tins on the side for weeks now to try to shame me into getting my finger out.Nope,not working.Well I will do it now! MIL is having a royal visit.So when it rains and I cant do the garden I will bite the bullet and do it.

I have been putting all my time into the garden and we almost have a completed wall.Another day should do it.Tomorrow me n Mr V intend to start divorce proceedings/make 2 fence panels from the walls of the old shed.Today we are taking stuff to the tip,broken flags n giant balls of concrete which we cut off the other week.I WILL MAKE THIS GARDEN IF IT KILLS ME/and Mr V!The thing is I keep changing my mind.Build something/alter it/completely change it.Rome wasnt built in a day.

Peppa fantastic idea.How about local radio.Ours does community adds for free.

The tiler is coming in a week,yikes it's been a long wait.I am also changing the sink in the new kitchen.I just dont like the belfast sink.I am having an unfashionable stainless steel one with a draining board.This means new work top (not MSE at all)

I have never made flavoured Gin/Vodka.I tried lemoncello once.I don't know what it should be like but I don't think mine was right.I had a friend who made plum brandy and that was delish.So thick like sherry.

I won a vintage pokemon clock on eeeeebay last night for DD1's BF Christmas/Birthday.He will be 24 in October and both of them are into pokemon go in a big way.Just Mr V left now and very selfishly he has a birthday the week before Christmas.So far he has a book from halfcost which cost @29p!!!!! Socks?

We are having a trip into the smoke today so always keep my eye out for bits for Christmas.I feel like I need to start making lists.I love a list,particularly Christmas ones.

Mwah xxxxx

FeistyFidget

mrsinvisible wrote: »

Morning, I am a big brave soldier, so there! Actually I am a wimp, but this week one of my wobbly teeth began to ache/throb/screampainfully, so I went, all by myself, with nobody, alone to the dentist and had it extracted. l am almost phobic in my fear of all things dental, so the dentist who knows me well actually laughed when, on being asked about injections, l told her she could stand on my head and pull the tooth through my 'jaxie' just get it out. So l have had a sore mouth for a couple of days. Oh, and there was blood so l am entitled to sympathy, no, no, more than that, come on, awwwww that's right.
Glad to hear from you, Feisty, view it as an investment, rather than a debt. And Free, hope the diabetes class comes and goes well.
Nice to see more newbies posting, hello, have a hug and a biscuit, and a glass of sloe gin. I have made sloe and damson gin in the past, but the only gin made with dried fruit (sultanas) was not so successful.
I was gifted a few pounds of plums and a whole bag of bramley apples, and had gathered a load of brambles so have had a jamfest and have frozen the rest for future use.

Oh MrsI, you were very brave I hope you have a lovely dentist, I hate having to work with the rude/grumpy git dentists as when we have phobic patient's it makes their fear all the worse! Be a good lass and make sure you follow your post op instructions to the T, believe me when I say you don't want a dry socket!

Vulpix, I may have had a mini heart attack when I first read starting divorce proceedings :rotfl: Your garden will look amazing! I really hope you will share some photos?

Good luck today Free! x

Gettingtherequickly

Sorry, have had a busy old week, so just had a quick skim. Welcome to the newbies & hello to those catching up.

The Lion King was fantastic, friend of a friend is on parents committee at school so got cheap tickets. Including paying for school coach to take us, it cost me £32, had no idea where I would be sitting, so checked on actual cost when I got home, £85! Think I can safely say I had a bargain:) We were sitting by aisle and as parts of it involved the cast coming from the back to the stage, it was amazing to have them singing literally beside us. She has organised Aladdin in November, so another one to look forward to.

Trying to get started with a vengeance on shopping now, bought slippers in Primark, so another thing of the list, had a bargain buy as as past a newly opened shop, bought a lovely, warm, soft jumper for my cousin for a fiver. We grew up together so both families consider each other as siblings, was chuffed at that buy.

Bought my cards, but does anyone else find it annoying that most boxes only have one picture? I used to buy my cards in Costco, they were a little more expensive but every single one was different & handmade so I didn't mind paying a little bit extra, but even they, although must admit that I not looked at this years, have been leaning towards 1 type of card.

sammy_kaye18

Evening all
I have been busy de-cluttering. Not that the boyfriend and kids have been very helpful. I was going to make a start on the kitchen tomorrow but judging by the level of help I have just had trying to put the cushion covers back on the sofa after washing them - I think Ill leave it to Tuesday when I can be at home by myself with my music. :mad::mad::mad:

Still haven't started cleaning the bedrooms yet so haven't found my nans cross stitch Im thinking after this big clean it might be the plan to do that solidly for the month - it will be done fairly quickly - its just finding the time to sit and do it.

Pinksteps - I did get your PM and will ask the doctors when I next go. Funny enough I recently started taking a multivitamin so Im now wondering whether to stop it again. Hope your feeling better

Free - feel better soon

MrsI - Im not a fan of dentists but I am on the list for a route canal or an extraction - tbh Id rather they took the tooth! Hope your mouth isnt too sore.
Also Im another jam maker but here in Wales they seem a bit slow this year so we have already made one batch of bramble jam and will be going out re-collecting tomorrow. I also have a tub of frozen ones in the fridge that will become apple and bramble pies at a later date - probably into the winter when we need a vitamin boost

Which reminds me - I need to get vitamins for the kids before all the lurgies start doing the rounds!

04621 - hope your feeling better too hun. And there is nothing more satisfying than crossing off a list! I have been known to add things to lists just to cross them off again :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Right I am off for the evening now. I didnt get to sleep very well last night since our fire alarm decided at midnight that it no longer wanted its battery to be its friend. Me and hubby couldnt figure out how to open it to shut it off so neither of us has slept well. Then at 7am it all became clear, hubby took the neanderthal approach and ripped half of it off to find a note saying if the pack starts to beep, cut the black wire and ring this number as soon as possible for a replacement.
Wire cut and no beep :T:T Ill ring on monday