Santas challenge 2017

Katiehound

I'd be inclined to phone Link rather than e-mail as you will get an immediate reply- only one office manager so e-mails can sometimes be overlooked (in my experience). The number is displayed on their website

Just had a thought, do any members of your family, whom you see regularly, live near a collection centre ? You've got several months to solve this problem....

VintageHistorian

Like Katie said, give them a call. You might actually find the Area Receiver list grows a bit once October hits as that's when they launch the appeal properly, last year I only signed up as a Receiver in September so was a bit late to the game.

Last year a school that was a 20 minute drive away phoned me 2 weeks before the collection time to ask if they could drop them off with me, which I said yes. They then phoned a week later to apologise, they'd received over 200 boxes from students and families so had had to arrange a collection themselves! Very glad they didn't try to drop that many round mine, DH might have been a bit annoyed XD

chanie

I have just gone through my present stash for my link boxes. I want to do 2 of each.

So far I have:
Toothpaste (children were given small tubes from the dentist!)
A pack of playing cards
3 note pads
3 pairs of Xmas socks

Happy_Kitties

Managed to pick up some domino sets cheap for the link boxes but finding that I am running out of room very quick when trying to put a box together. Been sellotaping up the bits for the first box. Have got my mum knitting aswell.
Could really do with a pound shop just for extra bits. The rate I'm going it will extend into 3 family boxes.
Need to finish wrapping some birthday presents but not in the mood, I think the weather doesn't help but have been more efficient than normal with birthday cards which reminds me I also have to send one for an old school friend tomorrow and still need to write a letter to another which I'm very behind with.
Will get there in the end.

Katiehound

If you can lay your hands on mens shoe boxes size 9-10 there is a fair amount of room. You learn to cram things in & throw away unneccessary packaging! I banded the lids on mine with thrown-away royal mail ealstic bands! and then selotaped many many times!

I had a good time at a car boot sale yesterday:
5 pairs of work gloves for £1.50,
3x small colouring books packs with little pencils 20 pence each (pencils for the 2019 store!)
sewing boxset: 28x 50m thread spools & 28 x 25m thread bobbins £1.
Perfect to split for the kits
4 place cutlery set- still in (stained) box £2
4x duvet covers for £4.50 for the doggy duvets.
Small card guillotine £1.25
and a few oddments (like ball of wool ) @ 10pence
I just love rummaging in the 10/ 20/50 pence boxes!!:j
Came home well pleased with the booty

Today I found calculators- they are labelled dual power- work with solar or batteries. Only 2 in shop! Need 2 more (£1.99 for the two)

I think I have pretty much everything then except 4 x packs cards.

I'm torn between making the duvets because the things are taking over big space and the shoe boxes which also take up space... but.... once packed are managable.
Sold 3 duvets at dog training tonight, 4 large ones to deliver to PO tomorrow - then need to sew more for dog groomers- asap - as none in stock. Might do a swap at PO- large for smaller!

May has turned into a meet friends month. When home I might go for lunch once per month. This month: 3 x tea, 2 x dinner. Hopefully taking another friend to lunch this week, and another for tea next week: not a skinny month then!!

Today I took a pair of glasses (4 years or more old)into Specsavers with broken arm ready for their charity box. Bouquet for them, phone call to tell me specs are mended!

Happy_Kitties

I'm getting there. Just need some flannels, combs, sewing bits, pencil sharpener, rubbers and some sweets and then I think I can put together my first couple of boxes.
Worried that if I have my surgery, when I get the date it is going to happen fast-i'm going to be out of action for several months so want to make sure that I have as much prepared as possible.

Katiehound you did well with a really good haul on Sunday. I can't manage a car boot these days but have been keeping an eye out for bargains. I got a big pack of assorted pens down to £2 with another 10% off this morning so have checked them all and put them into bundles ready for the boxes.

It is really nice to be doing something a bit different this Christmas, my DD and I very much believe in karma and random acts of kindness after one Christmas I had took my DD to Morris@ns, DD was only young. Had got DD in the car, loaded in the shopping and had just got my wheelchair in when a lady that I had never met before gave me a Christmas plant selection in a basket she had just raced in and bought just to say 'Happy Christmas'.
We've never forgotten that act of kindness

Katiehound

Just a note about the sweets- they have to have a BB date of June 19. (I think this is because some boxes are kept for distribution a bit later in the year)
The sweets on sale in Aldi at present are March 19.
I think in the past one country did not want sweets- might have been Ukraine-so omitting them is not a problem.
I shall not be putting them in this year.

Have you managed to find a way to deliver the boxes?

The intention is to get 4 or 5 boxes packed completely asap! (before I go mad tripping over the bags full of stuff mingling with duvets & material!!) My house looks like an out post of Steptoe & Son!!

So my 'list' for the w/e is:

• hacking back in garden & repotting with my 'free' bag John Innes No3
• sewing more duvets
• file or shred banking blurb
• pack boxes. Not sure when calculators & cards will be in stock.
• Car boot Monday am

Good thing I don't write lists because it just might be that none of that happens and I decide to read a new book in the sun :cool:

Yes random acts of kindness are delightful.
My month hasn't quite been that but I have really enjoyed catching up with different friends and treating them to tea / lunch/ dinner out. It's nice to play 'lady bountiful' !! from time to time.

The last (14th) 1/4 of duvet is about to go in machine. Folk will think this is a chinese laundry. Luckily one of the 2 duvets collected on Tues is pristine.
Off to sew a cover or two!

Happy_Kitties

Haven't had a chance to ring Link yet.
I used ur idea Katiehound for the t-lites using the left over glass pudding ramakins only for the cat to break one this morning.........guess I will have to buy another box of the puddings.....well they are on a special!
The sweets, I have been looking at the BB dates but have eaten the ones I had. I will see what room is left in the boxes.
Everything is coming together well for them and I'm going to hunt out some shoeboxes on Tuesday.

Was lucky while doing cat food shopping in Tesc@ on Friday. They had Christmas book sets with cuddly toy down to £1.50 so picked up 3. One for my cousins DD, one for charity and one spare. Also picked up a fantastic pencil case set down to £1.25. They need to be packed away today but will prob wrap the pencil case set today before it is tucked away. Still need to hunt out the last birthday present to send off on Wednesday and then it's a birthday break until October.
This year is moving so fast and it will be Christmas before we know it.
I cannot believe DD has finished her first year at uni, it was only yesterday that we were moving her in but she is back on Saturday for the summer.

Katiehound

Hurrah!
3 of the 4 OAP boxes done!- all except the wrapping paper. I discovered that bars of chocolate have a much longer shelf life than boiled sweets- Sept 19! I had 3 bars in the cupboard so just need to buy one. Not sure if I will put sweets/chocs in the family boxes.

Yesterday opened a carrier bag I had been given with hats and scarves- ugh- pickled with cigarette smoke! Very speedily handwashed and rinsed with strong smelling soft rinse. Today I opened a bag containing curtains- from the same source, I guess. I couldn't tell from the smell if it was pickled with smoke or cat wee!:eek:Yuck. Curtain no 2 now rinsing.

Tomorrow I am planning another carboot visit, then take garden waste to the tip..... not sure if I can keep up with the excitement!

Anglea

Hi everyone, good luck with the gift boxes, I had to laugh at Katiehound's expression 'pickled' regarding the various smells inside the bags.



Years ago I used to do the Love Darg in The People's Friend (handmade gifts which were distributed to hospitals etc) as well as various other Christmas campaigns, your posts have brought back memories.



As usual I've got a variety of special occasions in June and I haven't got anything ready AT ALL and there's a gift I have to buy/make and send this week which is very tricky as I've got an important meeting to attend and other things which are going to take up time.



I attempted to make a gift months ago then sidelined after it went wrong assuming I'd have plenty of time to buy/make something else yet I've had a lot of expected and unexpected things in between and now I'm going to be in problems.



I could have gone to a music festival this weekend but I cancelled as the weather had been bad plus it would have been arkward timing because of what was happening at home so even though I had some free time I completely forgot about the upcoming birthday.