* I wish it could be Christmas every day * - It's the 2017 Christmas Chatter Thread

creative_gal

Morning all.


Well, on Sunday, I managed to get back to the garden centre where I brought the wrong book. It was already heaving even early on, and the poor girl on customer services was swamped. I wanted to do a straightforward swap, which was ok'ed, and dashed over to roughly where I remembered the stand being, only to find no books for the correct name! I got a refund for the wrong book instead, but have now got myself into a bit of a pickle, as we visited a different garden centre later in the day to try and find a replacement, and unfortunately, Megan is not a name that is stocked in this range of books! I did look at personalised Christmas decorations for the youngest, but my Dad wisely pointed out that in future years, that could lead to resentment as decs come out every year.


I brought my Christmas cards last week and am planning to write them sometime this week. I've also requested a half day today if it's quiet, so that I can try and finish at least most of my Christmas shopping.(I'm finding going out at the weekends and looking rather too stressful due to the crowds.)

Oakdene

Bore da pawb, from a wet & murky West Wales...

Manically busy in work, but going to Cardiff next weekend to do a bit of socialising & will squeeze in some final Christmas shopping. Would like to get a small handbag for my mam which will finish the main Christmas shopping off.

The subject of secret santa was brought up in work yesterday... do you do it in your work? We have a £5 limit & you have to buy a present that starts with the first letter of the recipients name. Makes for some fun items...

Peppapig

CREATIVEGAL that's awkward. What about one of those services where they personalise the book for you? It might be more than you want to spend but I Googled Personalised Christmas Books and there were some quite nice ones for around the £10 mark. Not sure what the lead in time is for getting them though. Good luck. I can never get ready made personalised things because we have a Macie and although you can get Maisie I've never seen Macie.

nic2075

Morning, nice to see the thread really ramping up.

Ive been busy with work and the girls dance lessons. They are in a show in Jan, so it's lots and lots of choreo to learn.

My tree is going up on the 25th of nov. Simply because it's the only day I have free. We are busy every other weekend and evening, plus it takes all day to transform my house into Santas grotto. :santa2:

Ive been loving all the cheesy films on Chriatmas 24. I know some of them are pretty rubbish and the same story over and over, but they are so feel good. I save all the 'real ' xmas movies (Elf, white christmas etc) for Dec. the Polar express and Its a Wonderful life saved for christmas Eve. Can't wait.

rae123

CREATIVEGIRL - oh no that's so annoying! Really like the idea of the personalized books though, something they can keep rather than the usual chocolate!
OAKDENE - we don't do it in my work but that's because the company I work for is Jewish run, so only myself and one other colleague actually celebrate christmas! they still do a christmas meal which is really nice!
NIC2075 - I know what you mean, I watched one on Christmas 24 the other day and actually guessed the whole plot correctly after watching the first 15 minutes haha!

Myself and my boyfriend are going to the Manchester Christmas markets this weekend. Really excited because they are the best ones in our neck of the woods! Also going to see Justice League for the midnight showing on Friday (not christmasy but really excited about that anyway!). We're going to get a real tree this year because we don't have much space in our apartment for storage, and I think we are moving pretty soon after Christmas so the less stuff we have to take the better!

mrs-moneypenny

Oakdene we have a secret santa around the same amount first year I got the headmaster 3 gifts in one gift bags each labelled with a number saying the order they had to be opened in. The first parcel contained a stress ball with a note saying the idea was to release stress by squeezing it but it could just as easily work by throwing it at the person causing you stress, the second was a book I picked up a cheap used but great condition copy from Amazon called "getting the bugg*#s to behave" writing by an educational professional on how to get the best of your students. The last gift was a small bottle of wine saying if neither of the first two worked a small glass of alcohol was acceptable at the weekend but should not be used on too regular a basis. He found the gift hysterical and said it was his best present ever. You don't have to spend a great amount to make a good gift it's sometimes just having the time to plan it, obviously with secret santa it depends on who you get and their likes or interests.

sammy_kaye18

rae123 wrote: »

Also going to see Justice League for the midnight showing on Friday (not christmasy but really excited about that anyway!).

Jason Momoa is in that film - he plays Aquaman and is the exact reason I am going to see it - just dont tell the husband! :D:D

nic2075 wrote: »

Ive been loving all the cheesy films on Chriatmas 24. I know some of them are pretty rubbish and the same story over and over, but they are so feel good. I save all the 'real ' xmas movies (Elf, white christmas etc) for Dec. the Polar express and Its a Wonderful life saved for christmas Eve. Can't wait.

I have two films taped on my V+ box ready for a quiet day - I have to pick up a last piece for my sister in laws bag today and shes done and some money to get others done as well so I plan on using one of my days off next week to sit, wrap a few presents and watch a christmas movie.......:T:T and like you I save Elf, The Santa Claus, Polar Express, The Grinch for December!

Quiet here today - went to the doctors about my missed monthly's :eek: its been 2 months now and 2 months prior to that and am now being tested for PCOS.......so bloods on Wednesday :-/ Been advised as well to shift some weight so that is my new goal to try and make a start with that.

Nothing festive done here today other than I sent decorations to my Texan swap people yesterday so fingers crossed they get that intact and am about to get ready for work :-)

adventureofmemories

Afternoon everyone!

I just sorted out the bag full of christmas presents that I've purchased over the last few months and have written down what I have got for everyone as well as allocating items that I have purchased or have been given to me but no longer wanted to people.

By allocating these unwanted items I've managed to give my dad an extra present and create most of a mini-pamper pack for a cousin for free - my fiance's work gets a lot of products in for their PR side of the business and the girls there always gives me expensive stuff for free.Most of it i don't use as I'm not interested in most of the products but I won't turn them down as it helps a little with Christmas :A

She isn't actually my cousin by the way. Shes my auntie's-by-marriage niece and I refuse this year to spend a lot on them and their family as they only spend £2.00 or less on me. I don't mind the socks and chocolate but I spent £5+ on each of them a few years ago. They are quite tight with me & my sister - I don't get on with them.

I've purchased £25 giftcard for all the couples in the family apart from
mine & his parents. I'll buy a little box of chocolates/biscuits but that's all they are getting.

The kids are getting a few items from me , I've gone for "looks expensive but its actually very cheap"
good old amazon, ebay & primark :rotfl:

StokieBecks

Afternoon

Had a nice day with my Mum on Monday. But not really any further along with Christmas bits. Trying to hold off now until pay day as done some overtime that will cover the last few bits I need to get. I did buy some tinsel but not sure it's right for the tree...will wait and see what it looks Iike with all the decorations. Might have to put up with it for this year.

No secret santa at my work as far as I am aware. Certainly not on the checkouts anyway. Bit hard to coordinate really when folks don't always work same shifts so could end up with someone you don't work with.

Hope everyone is ok.

nic2075

not having a very good day today. It's been 5 years since my Mum died. This seems to be the worst have felt. Not sure if it's the realisation that 5 years is a long time. Bit I have just felt so sad all day. I took a nice hyacinth to the cemetery after work, and felt a bit better after a 'chat' with mum.
But was left feeling even worse after a stand off with another parent in a car. I had the right of way but she decided she wasn't moving to let me past, we both sat for a few minutes, I couldn't go anywhere either. She was laughing and just shrugging! Eventually the cars behind me moved off so I could reverse a bit. But it Left left me feeling so angry. Every day there is something that enrages me at the school. Folk parked in the drop off/pick up zone for a start. I think I'll need to tell the kids to walk home for a bit. I am a curteous calm driver, but the school makes me so mad. I only drop them and pick them up as I get back into the village just before 3pm, and drop them on my way to work.

Off to have a gingerbread latte and to watch something festive to calm me down.