santas Challenge 2016... Gifts, chat, challenges

mum2one

(widths / lengths / weight - maximum for the size)

Letter / Greeting card / Personal letters / postcards / bills
100g 24cm x 16.5cm x 5mm

Large Letter / A4 documents / Certificates / cd / dvd in case / large greeting card / standard card - but with badge
750g 35.3cm x 25cm x 2.5cm


Small Parcel -
Ladies boots,portable speaker etc (most ebay parcels)
2kg 45cm x 35cm x 16cm


Medium Parcel -
Gifts, shoes, heavy or bulky items
20kg 61cm x 46 cm x 46cm

xx

Anglea

Thanks for all the information about latest sales etc everyone.

I have no idea what chocolate brussel sprouts are if anyone can enlighten me.

Thanks for the postal info mum2one and the latest challenge.

Whenever I go on a trip out of the village I always put a £20 note in my shoe in case of emergencies.

Kettle descaling - would like some tips. I tried using white vinegar - didn't work although it has done in the past. So bought packs of descaler - didn't work either other than making the stainless steel base nice and shiny but it still has a very thick ring of limescale.

What shall I try now?

mum2one

Anglea wrote: »

Thanks for all the information about latest sales etc everyone.

I have no idea what chocolate brussel sprouts are if anyone can enlighten me.

Thanks for the postal info mum2one and the latest challenge.

Whenever I go on a trip out of the village I always put a £20 note in my shoe in case of emergencies.

Kettle descaling - would like some tips. I tried using white vinegar - didn't work although it has done in the past. So bought packs of descaler - didn't work either other than making the stainless steel base nice and shiny but it still has a very thick ring of limescale.

What shall I try now?

I use to get descaling stuff from Wilko, the last couple of times used white vinegar - boiled it, makes a better job.

xx

crazy-cat-lady_2

Christmas baking..
I don't make my own cake but have made two big batches of chutney ready for Christmas. One regular apple and one Christmas chutney, which if I do say so myself, smells gorgeous. It's apple and cranberry with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and had star anise sitting in it while it cooked.
Also made a practice run batch of fudge which turned out well. Never made it before. Plan to try rum truffles which will be decorated like little Christmas puds. And made some choc desserts yesterday which I might use at Christmas, which are basically an exact knock off of the little gü choc puds (only bigger and with spiced rum).
Also my sage is coming along nicely ready for being cut and dried for stuffing. I've dragged out the Christmas recipe books for new ideas to try while I have time on my hands now during Zoe's naps.

Money..
While I wish I had more of it, especially now I know how far maternity leave pay DOESN'T stretch, I have thankfully been saving and buying throughout the year so I'm a lot further along with food, presents and general prep than usual.
I admit I blew the bank last month buying decorations and other bits, but I'm bahaving again now.

cards..
I have hundreds, literally, from buying them cheap. Both multipack types and specific "husband", "both of you" types. I do usually buy a few packs of Cat's protection cards a year still. But that's a crazy cat lady thing

I have now borrowed your emergency money idea. Great plan as I'm often left stuck and trying to find a cash machine. I must say that it may not always be an emergency, but I rarely carry cash. So this is a great idea.

Christmas catalogues. Woo! Already had my dogalogue (catalogue for guide dogs) always the first of the year. Boots should be out in 2 weeks. That's my biggie and what I get excited about. I always get two copies. One to look though and keep nice and one to scribble all over and put post it's in for when the big sale starts. I know. I'm weird.

i desperately need to tackle the wardrobe clear out. That will have to be over a few baby nap times. It's a mess and I have no idea what's lurking in the back of it. Narnia wouldn't be a surprise. I'm getting back to my usual size now so maternity clothes can start to go and I need to find my jumpers. So that's a biggie on the to do list.

winter nights..
I was brought up in a house with lots of power cuts so always had to have lots of candles, torches and batteries. This has stuck with me. And after we had a three day power cut on and from Boxing Day last year (the river near the house flooded and collapsed a bridge which in turn made a gas line explode) I am definitely prepared!

me time.. I've made a start on all the Christmas books on my kindle. There are now 31. A lot of which are pre release copies I need to review and some left over from last year. But it's getting me even more giddy and festive. Especially when I have a monster, over the top hot chocolate while I read. Again, baby's nap time.

not too long to wait now and the big guy in red will be coming down our chimneys. Hope you are all getting festive and staying well.

Flowfy

What a lovely post crazy cat lady. I can tell you are a 'younger me'. I do the boots catalogue thingy and lots of other things like you. plus.... i have 7 cats.

My present buying is coming along too. I even wrapped 6 of them on Monday. I baked St Stephen's Day Muffins this morning. They were out of the Christmas Bake off book. Basically Christmas Pudding, spicy, boozy muffins. They will go in the freezer. I also made a bolognese and Lasagne for the festive freezer too.

Might do a bit of knitting tonight. I am knitting a few stocking fillers, that got mentioned last year (Hogwart's Scarves) for my daughter and her boyfriend. (I hope they don't see this post) Plus I am crocheting some cat toys for my fur babies this year.

I went to my local 'The Range' yesterday (Rochdale) with a list I had taken off the website but unfortunately it wasn't out yet, just piles of boxes, empty shelves and staff scratching their heads. I am taking my son later to Manchester, so I might have a nosy there. He is a musician and is playing in London next week. I am going down to see him, so might get something 'fabulous darling' from the west end before i go to the Royal Albert Hall. Its rushing towards it, isn't it

crazy-cat-lady_2

Flowfy wrote: »

What a lovely post crazy cat lady. I can tell you are a 'younger me'. I do the boots catalogue thingy and lots of other things like you. plus.... i have 7 cats.

A younger you. I love that. I'm honoured to be.

What cat toys are you making? I usually crochet a good few cat blankets for a local rescue. If you're Rochdale you aren't that far from me, I'm near Bury. I haven't had as much time this year, so not made as many. But I still have time to crochet toys! For my own furbabes as well as for the rescue. Last year our crochet group made a big hamper that got dropped off at the rescue with blankets, food, toys and other bits. It's funny how many people who are crazy cat ladies are also crazy crochet ladies. I only have the two, Gizmo (my avatar), and Jack. Though I would have a houseful if I could.

I'd never heard of St Stephen's day muffins before. They sound great. I take it you don't feed them repeatedly like a Christmas cake? I always say I'll try, but always end up buying one. Maybe I'll try a little one this year. There's only me and one or two family members who eat Christmas cake. My husband doesn't really do cakes, so whatever I make I usually end up having to eat by myself. It's torture, I don't know how I cope

Flowfy

crazy-cat-lady wrote: »

A younger you. I love that. I'm honoured to be.

What cat toys are you making? I usually crochet a good few cat blankets for a local rescue. If you're Rochdale you aren't that far from me, I'm near Bury. I haven't had as much time this year, so not made as many. But I still have time to crochet toys! For my own furbabes as well as for the rescue. Last year our crochet group made a big hamper that got dropped off at the rescue with blankets, food, toys and other bits. It's funny how many people who are crazy cat ladies are also crazy crochet ladies. I only have the two, Gizmo (my avatar), and Jack. Though I would have a houseful if I could.

I'd never heard of St Stephen's day muffins before. They sound great. I take it you don't feed them repeatedly like a Christmas cake? I always say I'll try, but always end up buying one. Maybe I'll try a little one this year. There's only me and one or two family members who eat Christmas cake. My husband doesn't really do cakes, so whatever I make I usually end up having to eat by myself. It's torture, I don't know how I cope

My nearest Range is Rochdale but I live on Saddleworth Moor I love Bury. I often can be found there, purchasing Meat or Black puddings off the Market.

My cats are Basil, Willow (nicknamed Flowfy, which as you can see, is my name on here, because she is Fluffy and Lovely), Bramble, Hank, Blizzard, Lottie and Pigwidgeon. 4 of them are rescue cats. Basil, Flowfy and Blizzard, I had as kittens though, but they are 5-7 years old now.

I just get my crochet patterns off youtube, and follow the tutorials. It started because i made some cute pumpkins for a display for my windows and the cats wouldn't leave them alone. I am making pokemon's and other stuff for them at christmas. I would like to make a cat blanket out of that very thick wool. I might at some point as well.

The muffins are just like regular muffins. There is more cake mixture than pudding. You crumble the christmas pudding in the batter at the end. I think it is supposed to be made on Boxing Day out of left over Christmas Pudding. But I am all passion spent on Boxing Day, after usually facing the Lush and Boots Sale at 9am in Manchester. Lol. So I will have them ready to eat. I have seen a nice pasta recipe with leftover turkey, ham, chestnuts and a cheese sauce which i will make when i get in, from the sales.

crazy-cat-lady_2

You're brave if you do the big Market Street Boots sale. It's chaos. I used to go for the 75% sales when they did them in January. It started getting a bit too smash and grab for me, so I do Boots and Lush online. Lush in person would be a lot less frustrating than the site I imagine. Last year it was down for 4 hours and continually crashing. Had to sit reloading and hoping I'd get something. In the end I got everything I wanted, but it took a long time.

bambibear

This year (in fact today) I've decided to do my own adverts. I don't need too small as I'm going to wrap them myself and attach them to various areas around the house (garlands, tree,etc) but they do need to be cheap (or even free). Any ideas would be appreciated. The recipient's are 52 male, 22 female and 20 male.
I already managed to get a few pairs of cufflinks from China in Amazon, batman, etc. and they're good quality and cost literally less than a couple of quid each.

bambibear

crazy-cat-lady wrote: »

You're brave if you do the big Market Street Boots sale. It's chaos. I used to go for the 75% sales when they did them in January. It started getting a bit too smash and grab for me, so I do Boots and Lush online. Lush in person would be a lot less frustrating than the site I imagine. Last year it was down for 4 hours and continually crashing. Had to sit reloading and hoping I'd get something. In the end I got everything I wanted, but it took a long time.

I did Debenham 70% this year for the first time and and got loads of things, touch screen gloves, fluffy hot water bottles etc. The Boots one is getting mad. Will Def try Debenham again.