* Rocking around the Christmas Tree * - It's the 2018 Christmas Chatter Thread

Peppapig

Crumbs SPENDLESS your poor DD. Children/teenagers can be so cruel and self confidence takes a lot more time to be built up than it does to be destroyed. I’m so glad she was finally able to let you in to what was happening and well done you for realising what a big deal it is. I hope she goes from strength to strength and can eventually put it all behind her. Sorry to hear about your job but I’m a firm believer in ‘as one door closes another one opens’ so good luck in whatever new path you take. I love Les Mis, great choice!

kerri_gt

Hey spendless I think I might have seen you post on one of the other forum pages about your DD and her boyfriend? If it was you then I'm sure they will be supportive for each other in a way only peers can be, and it's good she's making friends at her new school and at least isn't locking herself away and managing a social life of any sorts after everything she's been through.
Another fan of Les Mis here (the stage show...the film was ok but nothing compared to the west end)

Had a busy day here doing 'stuff', batch cooking (roast chicken and a lamb hotpot a la hairy bikers), have dinner planned for tonight, tomorrow and Monday at least. Only really need to buy sarnie fillers for OH and some fruit in the week. We're on a tight budget this month so I'm really trying to meal plan well.

In terms of Christmas prep I've ordered our Xmas dinner for this year and am a little over excited about it to say the least. It's frozen from Cook! So I need to collect next week and somehow store it in the frezer but it's such a weight off my mind to know, bar the roast spuds and cranberry sauce (which was sold out) its all done, they had 15% off this weekend, hence my order. It's not the cheapest way to do it, but with 15% off it's comparable to the likes of M&S and after rushing about the shops whilst ill last year I have decided to opt for the easy life this year.

mandco

spendless sorry to hear dd has had such a tough year teens can be so cruel glad things are improving for her now though.

[QUOTE=Peppapig;74997986
On the gingerbreadtheme, is it supposed to be crisp like a biscuit when it’s cooked or more chewy like a cookie? I might try the Ikea dough as I’m a bit challenged in the cooking arena (as you might have guessed from the question).[/QUOTE]

it can be either though most is the harder version. The harder crisp type is better for building with as it holds shape much better but personally I think the softer version is nicer for eating.

Aldi have lots of xmas baking stuff in managed to get the 3d snowman cake tin - its pretty small but decent quality for £3.99

tesco have 1/2 price on xmas gifts

Saw the argos xmas ad today and though it was pretty meh

Peppapig

Totally agree KERRI, stage show hands down!

alja

Just caught up as I've been away from here for a week or so... loving all your plans!


I've managed to complete my OH's presents now! So pleased. We're sticking to a £30 budget seeing as we're going on holiday in December anyways. Helps to keep the costs down a little.


My parents' foodie hamper could probably be done as it is, so I'll just add anything that really takes my fancy from now on to ensure I don't go overboard.


I have lots of bits for my mum now, just need more for dad. Guys are always hard to buy for, but I'm sure I can fill out his pressies with more ales and he'd be very happy... I'm after some ruby port for him too.


Last to finish off will be the last few bits for OH's mum, his nan and his oldest brother and gf and their newborn. I have a couple of clothing gifts for the little one from the M+S sale a few weeks ago, but I'd like to add a toy or two... toys are so expensive though! And not a lot of choice for very young babies...


I hope you're all having a lovely weekend. We might go to fireworks or to see Bohemian Rhapsody at the cinema tonight or tomorrow, which should be fun.

Coxy11

Hi all,
Doing okay here. Went to B00t$ yesterday for the points event. Got DD's electric toothbrush, some 3for2 make up for DS1's gf, tin of fudge for FIL, body sprays for niece and game for nephew. Those three on 3for2. Got DD's sprocket delivered to local shop for collection this week, so that's her main present done. Went to T's for food shop and got Michael Caine book and Billy Connolly book for FIL/MIL and girls book for another niece. Also got tablecover and napkins for 23 December when the family are coming for a Christmas buffet (normally do Christmas Eve but I expect I'll be working that day).
Paid in 5 x bags of coins plus some notes from my sealed pot (£103) another £419 to be paid in but bank only accept 5 bags on any one day.
Need to get on and write Christmas cards - will aim to do that this week.
Spendless your post really resonated with me as DD went through a similar time 2 years ago. We too used the camhs service but were discharged after only 2 sessions. DD goes to school in a different borough and we couldn't get the services to link up. Thankfully her school have a counsellor/safe zone which she made use of. I hope DD is much happier in her new school and that the bf is kind to her - she doesn't need any more drama xx
Have a good day all,
Coxy

kerri_gt

Alja I might skip the toy for a newborn if I were you. They really are too little to need anything like that at that point and I bet lots of bits will gradually creep into the house anyway. My best friend has a little boy who will be 3mts at Xmas and I'm getting him some sleep suits, those kind of things are always handy and you can spoil the kids more when they're older and know what Christmas is about. Just a thought?

I know what you mean about guys being hard to buy for, I've got my brother some beers from a local brewery and we agreed a few years ago to just do socks a a fun gift to open but I always feel I should get him something else. However I also buy for their kids (obv) and fun lunch gift like a selfie set or something they can all do, so they don't really go short overall.

princesskitty29

Hi all, i've had a quick look but don't have the time to properly catch up, it seems as though you're all doing well with Christmas prep! I went Christmas shopping yesterday and got a few things off my list so i'm definitely making inroads. Wiggle made some adorable Christmas cards at school so we're going to order some of those and then i'll get cracking on starting to write them. I'm planning to wrap some presents tonight, i'm thinking with some Christmas music in the background and a hot chocolate! Or the Gavin & Stacey Christmas special which I think i've seen 100 times in the last few weeks! Anyway just a quick catch up, i'm definitely going to try to get on here more often as i'm really missing all the Christmas chatter! x

Mrs_Ryan

Hi everyone
Just got back from the pressie run- presents now delivered and I have finished my Xmas shopping!!! I bought quite a bit when I was at home- mostly for OH although I bought some nice coffee for my friend (who loves posh coffee) and some local tea, biscuits and chocolate for the rugby player I sponsor. I also bought a lovely Swarovski bangle for my mum as an extra gift and I had to buy an emergency gift for my best friend from my mum when my best friend decided to tell me she had bought something for my mum at the last minute! I just bought a Lush box though- bestie was happy with that and mum (for once) didn’t moan about the cost and just paid me back!
OH’s final list of gifts:
Clarks shoes (reduced from £99 to £49 in the sale)
Leicester Tigers book from charity shop (only £8- selling for £55 elsewhere)
Box of Nandos sauces (Boots 3 for 2)
2 x boxes Whittards tea
Pogues CD (reduced in HMV)
Box of chocolate Brazil nuts (Boots 3 for 2)
Dove for men set (Boots 3 for 2)
Giant 1 litre bottle of Nando’s sauce (the other ones won’t last him 5 minutes I got this from Debenhams in the 10% off and Mum has a Debenhams card so she got extra money off and I paid her)
Tub of Ham and mustard flavour pork scratchings (also from Debenhams- see above)
Cookie Monster pj’s from Asda
Gillette Hydro Razor, blades and Nivea for Men sensitive shaving gel (all on offer in Morrisons)
FCUK boxers (I bought these from Boundary Mills outlet shop- three pairs for £12.99 which I didn’t think was too bad)
6 pairs of Pringle sports socks (again on offer from Boundary Mills)
Ben Sherman watch (Boundary Mills sale)
£20 B&Q voucher
Countryfile calendar
I’ve also paid for his birthday present though- £136 on return flights to Belfast for us both then a hotel. He’s getting nothing else

lazysheep

Alja - as someone who currently has a newborn (well 18 weeks!), he doesn't have the coordination etc to really be able to play with anything yet and we're only getting his first 'toys' for him for Christmas as he'll be 6m then. So if you do get a toy it would likely not be used for a while and would just have to be stored somewhere. What about a board book/story that they could read 'together' - such as the 'That's not my...' or 'Guess how much I love you' etc?