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

Gettingtherequickly

Good morning! We appear to be all very busy at the moment, wonder why, something happening?

Have you got someone coming to stay Mrs I?

Glad you got your mojo back Free.

My place looks looks like a bomb site :eek: The hall currently has a neat row of bagged Christmas cakes which are going this weekend, the spare rooms are awash with bags half completed for the families in need, everything is wrapped, just need to finish adding the more personalised elements to each bag. At the moment, all the bags have stuff common to them all, toiletries, tin of biscuits (M&S shortbread, 1/2 price with staff discount on top as one of those in the charity works there, so I was very happy with that!), box of candy canes, couple of fleece blankets, chocolate coins, loo paper(!), hopefully this will allow them to spend money otherwise spent on these on something specific to them as a family. After that, I have bought hoodies for the older kids, age appropriate toys for the younger ones and something for the parents. Hope that will make for a better Christmas for them all.

Had weigh in last night, had aimed to maintain for the week as I knew what was ahead, eating out 5 times was not conducive to maintenance! Got on scales to see the gain:( Got told it was 2 1/2 lb off, have been floating on air since, so chuffed. My goal is to maintain for next weigh in in new year. Wish me luck!

Was supposed to go to the Christmas market/festival near me last Sunday, couldn't make it as my friend came up to me. 5 days after opening, it closed, with a huge amount of complaints. Saw on FB that the Times wants to do a piece about it. Just as well I didn't go!

StokieBecks

As other half's workplace was closed again today due to icy roads that hadn't been gritted (slightly unexpected I think) I've made use of him being home and finished the last bit of wrapping and managed to sort out the Christmas cupboard and everything is now in bags ready just to lift and put in car when it is time to deliver. All sorted into bags per house so that's it I feel organised now...just have to find time to do the drop offs but we will get there :rotfl:

freespirit66

Afternoon everyone, I received a lovely homemade card this morning, whoever it was thankyou very much its really pretty

:bdaycake:HAPPY BIRTHDAY 3FORHOLIDAYS :bdaycake:

3FORHOLIDAYS congratulations on the new job what a lovely start to the new year

MRSINVISIBLE yayyyy hope you all have lots of fun

GETTINGTHEREQUICKLY your Christmas presents for the families sound fab, I am sure they will be very much appreciated, its a lovely thing to do for them. Well done on the weight loss sending lots of maintenance vibes to you

StokieBecks

Happy Birthday 3for! Hope you have been spoilt.

Peppapig

Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday 3FORHOLIDAYS
Happy birthday to you
:bdaycake:_party_:beer:

Peppapig

GTQ well done on the pressies for needy families, I'm sure they'll make a world of difference. I thought for a change this year I'd 'buy' bales of hay and straw and a barrow of carrots for the donkey sanctuary and I'm just doing a box of goodies for the cats at the local RSPCA. I'm always wary of donating to the big charities because I hate the constant stream of requests for more money that follow. I did homeless charities a couple of years ago (I like to change each year, spread the love lol) and they still keep writing to me. Something local like you do sounds like a really good idea.

STOKIE sounds like it's all under control at your place. I do a similar thing although most of those I won't see over Christmas have been delivered now.

FREE so glad the Christmas vibes are back.

Sent DH to deliver the Christmas cards to our new neighbours this morning. We haven't actually met some of them yet so I've not addressed theirs to anyone. The neighbours we do know are all very nice so hopefully the others will be too. I've no idea if they send cards to each other but we'll soon find out.

3forholidays

Thanks for the birthday wishes everyone - much appreciated!

Another year older......but still as Christmas crazy as ever! :xmastree:

Have some :bdaycake: and a :coffee: - it is a guilt free treat!

Peppapig

3FORHOLIDAYS you've twisted my arm, just tucking into a choc chip muffin

Coxy11

Hi all,
Made huge progress today. I used up the last day of my annual leave (we are not allowed to carry any over). Took the train three stops to Bromley and got some underwear for DD in Primark and also a couple of bits for me (ooops). Got some table mats and a runner in Wilko and a DS game for my nephew. Also posted our cards finally.
Got home for lunchtime and then popped down the road to Tesco for some more wrapping paper, then spent about two hours wrapping up before the kids got back from school. This is the first year I havent left it until Christmas Eve after the inlaws have left and I'm feeling merry. This means I may get to relax a bit more and may even get to watch some tv that night! I have realised DDs presents are mostly tiny (make up, lip balm, books) whereas the boys have large gifts. Might need to grab a gift of the week from boots etc to make it look even. Does anyone else feel the need for balanced sized gifts or am I a bit odd?!
DH, DD and DS1 are all out tonight, so DS2 and I got the other tree out of the loft and I've now set this up in the dining room window at the front of our house. I've also finally made a list of food we need for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I've a Tesco shop coming tomorrow which has fresh stuffing, red wine and Buck's Fizz on it, so a few less bits to get next week.
No delivery slots left after 21st here, so I will be sharpening my elbows for the mayhem!
Happy birthday to 3 x
Coxy x

Spendless

Well another weekend and Mr S has gone to another works party 100 miles away for the 2nd consecutive weekend.

This means that for Dec, we went away weekend 1, he's been away for the next 2 and next weekend includes Xmas Eve.

The week I took off work late November to get things done, I never managed to do anything because DD was off school ill.

I have no tree up. Haven't bought a single Christmas card let alone written any and have very little for DH.

:(:(

l have told DH I can't do another December doing everything myself. I took a week off on purpose because of how busy last year was, only for it not to work out.

DD wants to go to a shopping mall today, but I've said no because, it will be too busy, there's nothing I want from there and I've got too much to do at home.

Thankfully all the rest of the family presents are bought and around 95% wrapped and what I do have left to buy, I know exactly what it is and where I'll get it. It's my works xmas 'party' tonight but I'm not going. It's a pub crawl which I don't fancy doing this close to Christmas. :eek: in the next town and I just can't find the time to do something that really doesn't appeal.