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

Peppapig

I remember many years ago when my cats were kittens (they're sadly both long gone) they targetted the felt robbins on the tree every night. Nothing else, just those. A few bit the dust but I've still got four of them, albeit they're a bit more bedraggled than when I bought them lol. I think of the kitties every time I look at them.

VULPIX good suggestion, a soulful face and 'could you just get me......' sounds like a great idea. Wonder how long I can get away with it?

FeistyFidget

vulpix wrote: »

Good morning Christmas People

This time next month...

I went out with Mr V yesterday to Leicestershire. Just for the drive as he had a short meeting to go to.There were lots of lorries on the road with fresh Christmas trees on:)

The decorator is coming next Monday to do the porch,hall,loo,stairs,landing.So no putting up decorations for me yet.I cannot wait,I think about it a lot.Last Christmas the house was a building site so we only had a make do tree.I will go overboard this year to compensate.Trouble is I have loads of artificial trees which are mostly the wrong shape,size for this house.I am itching to get them out to see if I need to release them and get new ones.

FF I may be imagining this but is there a digital photo frame you could give your Mum.I think I have seen one in someones house where the pics changed every so often. If I had grandchildren I would love something like that. It sounds like it could be quicker to set up than an album.Well obviously not for me haha,I would be like a chimp writing the works of Shakespeare!

Nice photo Peppa.No worries about your fatigue, it passes so enjoy it whilst you can. I made the most of it "can you just".Though to be honest mine has gone but I still enjoy getting help.;)

Crumbs is that the time,need to get out of bed!

Laters Vx

newthrift wrote: »

GTQ – I feel exhausted just reading everything you need to cram it. I would of said fudge could be made a good week ahead if kept in a sealed container in the fridge.

Peppa – Love the Christmas socks.

Mrs Ryan – My DH is having an electric toothbrush off his mum and seeing you mention toothpaste and brush heads might be something I can get him as a stocking filler – thank you

Murie – Glad you enjoyed the Christmas market.

Fesity – What about an in the middle gift for your mum and making her a 2017 calendar of little one? Or as Vulpix suggests they do have digital photo frames and you could put a few pictures on, they are cool.


Jealous of you all putting your trees up this weekend. I don’t think I’ll have time and I do usually do it on 1st Dec (which luckily is my day off), but DH has said he will get my decs down from the loft ready so I may be able to sneak a few smaller bits out
Went on my annual christmas shopping day with mum yesterday and I'm delighted to say it was a success. All that is left is something else for BIL, a token gift for my cousin, 3 boxes of biscuits for aunties/uncles, plus a couple of ediable perishables I can't buy until closer to for two hampers. Most are completely finished so I can start doing a bit of wrapping.
Christmas cards are almost done, just a few left to write which really need completing ASAP, feel a tad behind but getting there.

Can't believe this time in one month it will be the eve :snow_grin

Thank you both for the wonderful suggestions! I am tempted with the digital frame, but know my mother will be asking me to update it every 5 minutes and I don't have the time (such a meanie I know ) I may go down the route of a calendar for both mums and Nan. As part of my business I make magnets, coasters and keyrings, so I could also make her some of those and a frame :T

Cherry24 wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Started wrapping using my hessian and quite pleased with the results. Quite happy to have a year off using sellotape.

Have a dilemma regarding the tree this year. In our old house, we shut the lounge door at night so that the cats couldn't get to the tree as they like to eat it! This year, our new house is all open plan so don't have the option to do this. This is making me think I would be better putting the tree up as late as possible which is a bit unfestive but don't know what else I can do.

I am very intrigued about the hessian! Could you share some pictures?

Would the cats tolerate being shut in another part of the house overnight? Failing that I think the modular play pen is a brilliant idea, unless of course they are climbers?

Franalamadingdong

Ooh, just caught up with all the goings on. Realised I can't find the candles for the advent ring at work! Argh!! Might do a detour into town after the dentist before picking up the boy from school. I think our tree might go up on the 30th, I finish early on a Wednesday and DS has an after school club. I need to rearrange the lounge furniture before putting up the tree to a) make room for the tree and b) I get bored every few months. I have sorted DS's Christmas day outfit and got the bloody Christmas jumper school wants us to pay for them to wear. I'm a bit annoyed with the school at the moment and their endless grabbing and demanding. The jumper is cool and looks roomy so we'll probably get 2 years wear out of it. But last week it was wear something spotty to school and donate this and that and the other, and sell these raffle tickets, bring in a plate of cakes, etc. My DS does not have any spotty clothes and I'm not going out to bloody buy any given i know it'll be Christmas jumper day soon.

I sometimes feel the endless ticking of the boxes takes the fun and meaning out of Christmas and I love lists and ticking things off!!! Maybe I am just in a mood?!

Peppapig

Only one month to the big day!!! Can't believe it's nearly here.

Getting a bit overtaken by Project Santa Paws boxes, can barely get into downstairs loo now and have started encroaching on the utility room. I definitely didn't think the storage through lol. Plus I also still have all the pressies for the Christmas Day dinner thing at step DD's church and of course all the pressies for the family, the huge tree still in its huge box and also a flat pack dressing table for DGD! Hoping DH will be well enough today to put up the shelves I bought yesterday so I can at least get the spare room straight as have DD and DGD staying this weekend. Hopefully said dressing table will be going home in DD's car on Sunday and tree will be going up next week so that should help. I'm not someone who copes well with clutter so I'm trying to 'keep calm and carry on'.

FRANALAMADINGDONG I know what you mean, sometimes it feels like there's some sort of charity day every week and sometimes it's just not possible to support everything. It was easier when I was a child and it was collecting milk bottle tops and donating no longer played with toys.

FEISTY we ordered a digital photo frame for my mums birthday but the thought of having to remind her how to use it every day and keep popping down there every time she touched the wrong thing changed our minds and we sent it back lol. DD is doing her a calendar instead.

DOMRAVIOLI I'm so sorry but I had to laugh at the picture of FIL knocking the paint over and then standing in it. :rotfl::rotfl: Good job the floor is coming up. Sounds like you've got a busy time coming up. You too VULPIX.

FREE hope the family are recovered from the horrible virus and that you haven't gone man down too.

Seeing my oncology consultant this morning and should hopefully be discharged back to the surgical team for monitoring so fingers crossed. What on earth will I do with all the free time when I'm not at the hospital two or three times a week? I'm planning to start walking with my sister again next week so I can start building my fitness up again. Only a couple of times a week and not if it's raining lol. Don't get the impression I'm some sort of gym bunny, when I say walking I mean more strolling through the woods with her and her dog. Once my balance is back to normal and the weather is a bit warmer I'm planning on some gentle cycling too.

Happy Friday everyone.

murie

Peppa- hope all goes to plan this morning x. I'm the same with clutter, I get all this stuff and have all these brilliant ideas then I have to live with the consequences-no space to move.
GTQ- have you resolved your visitor issue?
Chrissy I bit the bullet and went to asda opticians and have ordered varifocals.
Framalamadingdong- it was like that when my kids were at school too, it does get a bit much over time. Luckily now they are grown up they have to put their hands in their own pockets lol!
Feisty- go with the less techie option if its going to be another pressure on you to have to keep sorting it out. It is a good idea though.


The Christmas card swap list has gone very quiet Im tempted to pm everyone their 'swappee' so they can exchange details as it seems no on else wants to join- what do you think? If anyone is interested in exchanging cards, pm me and I will put you on the list.

System

Murie- I hope to be picking up mine soon.

Anyone else unimpressed with the Black Friday deals ? Theres nothing i want but theres also nothing to tempt me . The only item i have bought is a card from Moonpig , theres a huge range with 50% off.

Gettingtherequickly

Shattered.com today. Was unexpectedly told on Wednesday that I had been included in the ticket list for Matilda last night. It was very good and I have a new best friend! Everyone was really surprised at it, she is only 4 but took a shine to me, so much so that when we met her dad at the theatre, I had to tell her to say hello to him, but she still held my hand while she was giving him a hug And everyone in the theatre knows that my friend's 7 year old DGS reads lots of books!

Have booked Tuesday off work, so I can be a bit more relaxed about doing things at home knowing I have all day Tuesday. Will take the opportunity to make my friends Christmas cake that day. She is a pain as she doesn't like, raisins, sultanas or currants, so I am not sure if using any other fruit will mature as well, hence having to make her cake this late.

We started selling the raffle tickets for our charity at the weekend, draw will be the Sunday before Christmas so we thought that if we manage to raise about £200 we would be really pleased. £145 for first weekend, we are over the moon that we will be able to make those in need have a better Christmas. We were going to have the prizes on the table outside the hall but it was raining, so they were on display inside. Everyone was impressed at how much was in each of the hampers and the amount of people who have said they want to win my cake (only hope it will be ok :eek:) As I kept telling them, there is a lot of prize for 20p!

Not sure about the lodger:mad: Was gobsmacked as the peanut butter had been taken from 1 trap but it didn't trip:mad::mad: Will look into things and lay more traps over weekend. However, my most important thing for the weekend is the last Grand Prix of the season. I so hope Nico wins, do not like Lewis at all:o

Cherry24

Thanks to everyone regarding the cat advice. I have tried spraying a cat repellent spray on the tree before. It smelt of oranges which apparently they don't like but it didn't work. Regarding a fire guard / gate solution, although I think this would be a good idea for most cats, mine are prolific climbers. My OH's parents were looking after them once, they turned around and one was physically climbing up the wall to the ceiling by clinging on and hooking his claws into the wallpaper! I can't lock them away as they cry all night. They are siamese so are very loud.


For the person who wanted none romance Christmas books, I have a few on my to read list:
A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories - Louisa May Alcott

Round the Christmas Fire: Festive Stories - Nancy et al Mitford, Laurie Lee

Christmas Days: 12 Stories and 12 Feasts for 12 Days - Jeanette Winterson


Also, here is a pic of the hessian wrapping.

Cherry24

p.s for those interested in the above...

I got the hessian from: Ebay Hessian

The thick red twine from here: Ebay Twine

Gift tags from here: Etsy Gift Tags

Peppapig

CHRISSY I must admit I didn't wait for the Black Friday deals, I bought my printer last weekend.

CHERRY the hessian pressie looks very exciting.

GTQ good news re the raffle and glad your cake is being admired.

Well I saw consultant but not discharged yet as a couple of my blood markers are abnormal so I have to have a CT scan to rule out disease and more bloods in four weeks. He's happy for me to have my PICC line out next week though so that's good. I'm trying to be laid back and not panic so good job I'll be keeping busy for the next few weeks. Scan should be just before or just after Christmas.