Santas challenge 2017

Happy_Kitties

katiehound i can't believe dishwasher man is still giving u the runaround:(
I listen to Rylan on a Saturday but only catch bits of the first hour before I get on the road so missed hearing u!

Anglea hoping that the boiler is working now. Sounds like good planning in progress on Christmas food

chanie cue a visit to Lidl for the mini stollen . I remember u saying about the Christmas runner, it only seems like yesterday u were on holiday.

Managed to wrap the babies bits last night and all popped into a gift bag ready. Also wrapped some chocolates. If they are wrapped i don't eat them!!!!! I've also started to get some foodie bits in. Chocs for the DD and the family that I don't like so they are safe!

Also managed to pick up some buffet food that I think DD will like as she is a cheese addict. It was reduced so went straight in the freezer. I always tend to pick up a few buffet bargains around this time. I think with the buffet food being out a tad too early and people not fully in the swing of everything then there is always spare buffet food being reduced, especially in tesc@.
Even with the promotions they put on it still works out cheaper. The only problem I have is I only have so much freezer room and it's back to being full

I have collected savings stamps this year so will go shopping with DD next month. I always like to have extra in so it lasts us into January as by then I've had enough of shopping and if there is bad weather I don't need to worry.

Anglea

Hi everyone.

Katiehound, thanks for your reply about your cruises. Were you always like this - travelling then coming home for a while? I have relatives that are constantly travelling (on land) and they do extreme sports holidays as well whereas I just like to be home but I enjoyed holidays a very long time ago but got fed up of it and now I have sick parents and son in a group home so I need to be on hand.

That's unbelievable about your dishwasher saga.

My friend usually buys all our the food/drink in advance as she can stash it all at her house as I have to find room for extra food as both boys and sometimes one of them brings a gf here for Christmas holidays She also buys extra meat and cooks it at her house for us for the days after the 25th. I've got a lack of cupboard/storage/freezer space.

I've bought friend a birthday gift from a craft fair, then only bought myself a few things (large bouquet of flowers) and I wasn't feeling well (got emergency dentist next week) with this really bad tooth/tmj problem plus it was horrendous weather so couldn't deal with looking round more stalls but I'm pleased with what I bought. Her birthday is on Winter Solstice.

I'm thinking of also doing a large card (not as the birthday card but seperate) along the lines of the 'open when' envelopes I made before which she loved, but this one is going to be anecdotes about her thoughfulness towards me and also my family.

crazy-cat-lady_2

Hi everyone. I feel like i haven't been on here in forever. It's been one of those, everything has come up and gotten in the way any time i meant to check in. So, having a massive read and catch up now.

Evenings are the only time i get to sit and be online and i've been making (and thankfully selling) jewellery and other bits quite a lot recently, so everything has gotten away from me.

Also, massively behind on christmas now too..after starting off so well. We go away soon too, so i really need to kick myself up the bum and get a move on. Urg. I could scream. Next year, i'm not to get complacent and think i can relax because i'm ahead!

Thankfully i'm NOT behind on the crocheting in the evenings. All the scarves for the homeless project and the cat blankets for the local rescues are made, bagged and ready to go. One tiny thing sorted. Now i can stock back up on wool and make a start for next year.

Hope everyone is ok. Going to read back the last 10 pages i've missed!

Happy_Kitties

Anglea ur friend sounds lovely and i'm sure she will appreciate anything u do for her birthday. Sounds like a great friendship good luck with the dentist hope everything goes okay for u

CCL it's lovely to see u posting. Everything will come together I'm sure. I think we all feel like that at some point. Christmas can be overwhelming for sure.
I'm currently trying to do/avoid parcelling up presents ready to send. It's the bit I hate but im going away in the middle of the month and I will start stressing if they don't get done. If I can get 2 maybe 3 sent out on Friday I will be a very happy bunny . I'm trying to stash some boxes now as come December they will be like gold dust and I need to squeeze some birthday presents into 2 of them as well.

I managed to pick up a different buffet food (still cheese) reduced and just managed to squeeze it in the freezer but forgot to take more cat food to the drop off point:(
No sign of a toy collection point yet.might take a trip to Morries to see if they are doing one

I'm really beginning to feel festive now. Tree going up quite late this year. Always used to put it up on the 1st but will wait for DD to come home and wait until we are back from Poland. Do have some bits out now which I am happy with when the youngest cat isn't kidnapping them!

StokieBecks

Sorry to intrude just wanted to say Happy Kitties that all Morrisons stores should have a toy collection point by their customer service desk/kiosk now.

chanie

I’m feeling festive, too.

We are going to buy our tree this weekend and put it up next weekend. We normally put our tree up the second weekend in December, but we are busy that weekend. OH said he was going to raid the pound shop for decorations as DD wants lots of decorations this year.

crazy-cat-lady_2

We are going away for a few weeks til just before Christmas. So I am thinking I won’t put the tree up. Just the garlands and all the bits for the fireplace. The cats will destroy or climb the tree if i’m not about to stop them.

Ooh Happy Kitties, going anywhere nice? I think that’s why I’m stressing and feeling behind now. I usually have the whole time at home for the big rush and anything last minute. I don’t think year. Got everything wrapped I could today. Still a few bits to try and get. But a little less flustered today. I think I need a proper organised to-do list and have a think and not panic too much 😆

Anglea

hi everyone, welcome back Crazy cat lady.

I haven't started doing anything, it seems to be one thing after the other either house related, parents, or me.

Toothpain - seems I have an abcess and need a tooth extraction after having an emergency dentist appt and with other preplanned appts (before the extreme pains) for a filling and other work its going to be expensive as private as can't get a NHS dentist.

Fortunately my friend has done an online shop this morning for more of the Christmas food and that leaves me just to get extra things for the boys visit, one is coming on 24th for only a few days but no idea about the other as he's always going overseas often the week before Christmas and arriving here then going straight back to the airport for another trip.

I've got other son here visiting now from the group home so I'll do replies another time.

I had some extraordinary news (mix of shocking and very surprising) last weekend from the ex husband which I'm still trying to process. I probably won't say anything to him over the weekend (as I'll see him both days with my son) but I will have to another time.

Happy_Kitties

StokieBecks many thanks for letting me know about Morries. Still haven't had chance to go but hoping to on Sunday/Monday . Its a popular store where I live and gets really packed especially at Christmas

Anglea hoping that it wasn't bad news and I hope u get the tooth sorted. The abcess sounds nasty but ur friend really lovely

crazy cat lady off to Poland for the Christmas markets. Anywhere nice where u r going? It's lovely to do these things but it can get a bit manic just before Christmas

Managed to send/deliver 8 lots of Christmas presents today. One parcel was over the 2kg weight. I thought I had put enough postage on for a medium parcel but the only way I could send it would cost £15. Considering the contents only cost £12 I said no, dragged the parcel home and split into 2 parcels which cost £6 in total which I had in stamps. It's the one bit of Christmas I don't like-the parcels
Also popped a couple of cards in the post but don't send many these days.
2 parcels left 2 send.

Been dropping a few more bits off at the animal food collection point. It was stuffed full this morning.

Also have decluttered a few bits that I'm hoping to drop off to the CS shop in the morning. Hoping they will sell for Christmas to raise a few pennies for them
All Christmas chocs now bought (I've hidden some from myself:A shoved to the top of the cupboard at the back so I can't reach-needs must!!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:) and won a bottle of prosecco on the way out of Tesc@ in a charity tombola so was a happy bunny:j

crazy-cat-lady_2

Ooh nice win on the prosecco! I am on G&T. A lovely comper friend (from the forums here) sent me a little selection of different Gins! What a star. I’ve been feeling rough for the last week of so. Bad cough that doesn’t want to shift. So having one or two tonight. Knock myself out so I can sleep 😂

Miami for us for a few days and then 2 weeks around the Caribbean on a cruise. New ship, so it should be a lovely treat. But I hate flying and it’s the first time flying with the little one. So also kind of dreading it. Once feet are on the ground I’ll be fine.

I know what you mean about parcels. I’ve been having a bit clear out. Lots of bags for the charity shops and eBaying anything that will sell for extra pennies. I made a make shift size tester thingy. And I weigh everything. But every now and then I’m off on something. Such a pain. I haven’t posted many cards yet. I always do send them. But seems less and less people send them back each year, either laziness, cost or the environmental factor. But it’s sad. I always loved getting cards and it makes me wonder now if I should bother.

Oh I bet the Christmas markets there will be amazing. I’ve made it to the Manchester ones quickly this year, but not the usual massive day out at them. Hope you have a brilliant time.