santas Challenge 2016... Gifts, chat, challenges

mum2one

Hope everyone ok. Apologies not been around just seems to have been mad Since we got back.

Slowly getting sorted for xmas, now have presents one step closer,,, now spread between car, bedroom and under the dining room table, the great plan is start sorting at the weekend, then wrap again.

At rough guess it's just mum and Miss hoodie need to get, Miss hoodie having a phone, (3 way split me /mum / miss hoodie).

Been knitting thou has been a slight disaster...

Knit myself the camper van bedspread... only for the dog to stick his claws in ... now has stitches pulled all over...

Then I thought knit a cardigan....
I added a couple of inches to it.... something went wrong... I know have a knee length navy cardigan..... it does look nice....

We've got some xmas fayres coming up, got 4 booked in b4 we go to Prague... mad rush, xx

Katiehound

Huge thanks for the knitting pattern!

I'd given my friend one of the completed stockings (made last year) and she asked for the pattern......erm.... not a booble hat!

mum2one

It's all been fun here. 3m sat morning sat in a&he, bless her heart miss hoodie came with mum didn't realise dropped cup off bedside unit went to grab it.... next min there blood everywhere, cut into palm on right hand, gone down to the tendon so I have a bendy finger, my left hand - side of the palm - went down to the fatty tissue, steri stripped up, got to go back Tuesday to the hospital. Now sporting fingerless gloves for extra padding....

....

On a positive note took miss hoodie xmas shopping on Friday, managed to get her kitted out for winter clothing, a few little treats (whoops) - thou I can highly recommend marks and Spencer's own brand cream liquor- Yule log - £6 a bottle (instead of £12) it is lush... never tried it b4 so got 2 - Dont like it can go for an xmas prezzie... no way..

We hot Sainsbury's for there double up, had £30 points, they made a boob so they gave me £5 worth of points to say sorry... we had a beaut black lace dress for miss hoodie, slippers for me, 2 cds and 2 bottles of wine - all cost me £2.

Tonight sorted all the xmas prezzies out, with my stash miss hoodie has done over half her xmas shopping, she even offered to pay me for them...and done 40 people - there's about 15 people's presents - token presents to say thank you for everything you've done this yr.

40 people
Spent £270
Proper price £702

Worked between boots 70% sale, Argos clearance page, few bits from morroco, craft fayres.

Got to wrap them -won't be for a week or so.

Knitting is now on side - hoping can start again soon.

"....hope everyone ok xxxx

mrs-moneypenny

Ouch mum2one hope you are not in too much pain now and everything heals well.

Wrote my school cards out yesterday and need to get the family overseas ones done so they can get posted.

Been in work this morning so playing catch up with a few bits now.

mum2one

Part '2 of the prezzies, sorted - - a few littl,e bits needed for a food hamper then be ready to wrap...

Think the next plan will be cards - start them next week xx

Katiehound

Oh dear, you do like to be the drama queen, eh!!!! Don't want to do things by halves, that would be sooo boring.

Really sorry to hear that you have been to war, do hope it heals up quickly and that you're not in too much pain.

mum2one

Santas challenge - November

With just over 4 weeks to xmas -now is the crucial month.

Weekly....
Break any tasks down into weeks so you know when done you can tick the box and move on..

Where am I...
Not just yourself, but family and also arranging to meet people if your going to do the round robin present run.

Doctors / chemists
With xmas falling over a weekend then the doctors will be closed for the Monday and Tuesday. Take into account any repeat prescriptions / regular reviews
Out of hrs... all areas have out of hours service - but they generally don't issue repeat prescriptions, so allow plenty of time to get items.

Home remedies...
Everyone's emergency kit is different -a few thoughts...
Paracetamol / ibuprofen
Plasters
Indigestion
Throats sweets
Wet wipes
Allergy tablets
Sickness / diarrhoea reliefs

Batteries
Not just for the remote control - - any gifts

Fuse box / water stop pipe
Check you can locate both items, store a torch by the fuse box

Smoke alarm...
Use Christmas as the time to change the smoke alarm battery, even if it has been collecting dust throughout the year, it's still had some life taken out of it,,, a small investment for a life saver.

Spare presents...
Ideally have a men's / ladies present /box of chocolates

On-line delivery
If your ordering anything on line check the delivery dates ...

Time out...
With all this hustle and bustle make sure you take some time out for you...

Cash points...
Again on line with banks closing for 4 days... it may be cash machines not always being filled up...
As always check that's no one is behind you...

Money...
Some employers etc may process money early for Christmas, which in one way is great... but take into account maybe instead of lasting 2 weeks / 4weeks --- in reality it has to last 2 1/2 weeks /5 weeks....

Petrol...
Some supermarkets do open on Boxing Day... but try to keep the tanks as full as you can

Car checks..
Pressure on tyres, screen wash, anti freeze, -

Anti freeze / scraper - keep one in the car, and spare set at home...

Miss hoodies corner...
Couldn't be that mean and put on a cleaning challenge...

Xxxx

chanie

I've had a bit of a Black Friday blow out!

We wanted to buy the children computer tablets for Xmas and they were on offer today with a £60 saving, so I snapped them up.

I told Mr C that I wanted a new handbag for Xmas. The bag of choice has sold out online and in most stores, so I wanted to pick it up before it sold out. I popped to the store today and they were doing 20% off.

I've saved nearly £80 on stuff I was going yo buy anyway, so I'm pleased.

I still have about 1/2 dozen presents to buy. I'm slightly dissapointed in myself, as I wanted to have bought all presents (except for the children) by now.

mum2one

Chanie - sounds like you had some great bargains, and ur well organised...

We're getting there slowly spent 2 NGOs wrapping presents, put them back into carrier bags but have out in gift bags ready to give,,,

We have some good news (tues) - saw the surgeon over my knee - gd news I don't need to have any surgery on my knees, the nine structure is in excellent condition although the knees have absolutely no muscle in place, but with physio and the exercise machines I do at the gym - "could take 5yrs ... but get 75% muscle structure in place,

Today,... take my Aunt and Uncle to the supermarket,,,, wait in car, gets a tap in the window,,, (totally engrossed on iPlayer) got a flat tyre...

Call the Aa... they came in hr and half,,, changed the tyre, by this time I had to get them home in a taxi....

They put the spare on, then took the car/tyre to a true depot - they checked it for me, gd news no puncture - /slow leak from the alloys. they fixed it for me... cost.... free... gave them £5 to out in the coffee pot..

Then 2ngt - use the local park and tide - late ngt shopping - went to catch the bus home (7.30pm) shops were open to 8pm.... so had to get a taxi home - got to rescue the car 2mor,.. xxx

crazy-cat-lady_2

Bet you'll be relieved to get it back in this weather. I forget how cold I used to get before I had my car and I was on busses four hours a day.

I went a bit mad in the sales. On the up side I have all Zoe's bitthday and Christmas presents for next year. I'll get a start on everything else in the Boxing Day sales. But at least it's a good start.

Being lazy wrapping this year. A lot of things will go in giftbags with tissue paper. I have loads in anyway. And as she's so young for unwrapping, all Zoe's will go in the giant jute Santa sacks I got.

Tree and decorations all up. Feeling ready for it all now.