* Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas * - It's the 2019 Christmas Chatter Thread

lazysheep

CHRISSYG wrote: »

Anyone remember the fudge recipe from a while ago ? It had condensed milk , 500g chocolate , knob of butter and flavorings BUT was there anything else ?

Is it this one that you posted a couple of years ago? easy fudge

kerri_gt

Sorry to hear your eldest DD is having a horrible time nic2075 it's such a hard age to be. You're doing all you can by reassuring her, and focused on enjoying her dance. All you can say is that he is obviously insecure in himself and name calling is a bad way of expressing this because he feels she is somehow 'better' than him. Perhaps he regrets dumping her now but doesn't know how to say so.
In short...he's an idiot.

Haven't been on this thread much since Xmas, unfortunately due to family illness Xmas 2018 did not go as planned, Xmas eve was spent booking flights, Xmas day was somewhat reserved and the three days after (including Boxing Day) was spent at airports or hospital. So the nice relaxing time OH especially was in desperate need of didn't happen. Still, on the upside, it was the most relaxed I've ever been cooking Xmas dinner as there was too much other stuff going on. Had the turkey not already been defrosting I think we'd have postponed Xmas dinner. Still, it was tasty.

So, we're not sure what we're doing this year but we might well go away somewhere. Bit too early to decide that but we'll see.

whitesatin

Haven't been on here for a while but just saying hello. Christmas went well enough despite me dreading it because of not seeing all of my grandsons due to their parents splitting up and an unexpected operation to remove my gallbladder. I coped with the guests that I did have. This year we just bought for the children (there or not there), which worked well, with the promise to indulge ourselves with a nice weekend away when the weather gets better.
I save £50 per month towards Christmas but often found myself dipping into it but I've just discovered I can buy premium bonds online, in multiples of £25 so I'm doing that this year. I know there's only a slim chance of a win but at least I can't get my hands on it easily, lol.
I can't believe we are already quite a few weeks into this year - Christmas will be upon us before we know it!!

StokieBecks

£260 in the christmas account and £75 in our local shopping centre saving scheme (the latter is more for me but no doubt there will be some presents I pick up with it)

Also have just spent a fair chunk on ordering a new sofa and two footstools (which will be used as extra seating when people visit) - it is only the second big expense we have forked out since we moved in together in 2014 as we mostly managed to furnish courtesy of friends and family for little so don't feel bad about the spend.

Hope everyone is ok. Am fed up of the cold and ice - some of our pavements are still lethal. Hopefully spring will soon be here. Did notice the other day our daffodils are starting to come up so hope the cold hasnt ruined them

mrsinvisible

Another week flies past, blink, missed it!! Boots sale Friday, drum roll please.....l did NOT go. (applause, standing ovation and scattering of flowers!!) The old hands on here will understand how amazing this is, but l gave myself a stern talking to, and accepted that times change and the majority of those l bought goodies for now have children, and partners and its time to stop toiletries and move to family friendly for adults and presents for the littlies.
I still have about 3 years worth of toiletries in the presents cupboards, so no one will go short.
Got some lovely pjs for DGN and Ns, for this year, and dressing gowns for the 3 stepgrandnibs, so not doing so badly. Christmas savings are going well, and over £100 in shrapnel.
Nic 205 so awful for your DD, you are right to encourage her dancing, hope things improve soon for her.

Peppapig

Yay, well done MRSINVIS, great self control.

NIC I’m so sorry to hear what a rotten time your DD is having but it sounds like you’re taking a sensible approach. I think these things are often motivated by jealousy and I hope she can ride it out. When you grow up you think you’ve left all the anguish of teenage life behind and then you go through it all again with your children.

I too have started putting away for next Christmas but I have one fund for Christmas and birthday presents and Christmas expenses in general. I did it this year and it worked well so my plan is to repeat the success.

I’m wondering if we should maybe do what MRSINVIS is doing and just buy Christmas presents for the children, although I’m not sure where the cut off point would be, 18 or 21. If we do it as under 21 there will still be 9 grandchildren with one more due in July. I think I might sound the family out. We could maybe do a secret Santa for the adults that are going to be together at Christmas.

kerri_gt

Peppa we stop 'kids' at 18. OH is from a large family so there's a lot of DN's. We thought 18 was fair as by then they are a) legally adults b) all at different stages doing different things, some are still studying, or looking at uni, some are off doing apprenticeships and others are working full time. They get a larger than usual £ for their 18th birthday then that's it.
My aunts / uncles did the same, although as adults I now but for one aunt / uncle but that's out of choice.

That still leaves us 5 under 18s this year DN-wise, plus I buy for a couple of friends children, so that takes it up to 9. If we still bought for the doled ones we'd be looking at another 6 on top of that :eek:

StokieBecks

Popped into our boots today as I was passing and there was lots of xmas stock this time last week...can tell everyone was waiting for the 70% sale as today what was a full corner of stock is very much depleted :rotfl: - nothing I wanted though.

SSUPER

Hello. Just to say reading this has got me all motivated for Christmastime. I put £35 on an Asda card and if I get it to £280 by November they will give me £15. So thanks for this thread.

murie

Nic- teenage boys can be horrible, my DD went through pretty much the same thing in year 10.
As you say - she has her dancing to focus on, but please keep an eye on her situation and if necessary make an appointment with the school. I hope the immature little *** grows up sharp and leaves her alone x.

SSUPER wrote: »

Hello. Just to say reading this has got me all motivated for Christmastime. I put £35 on an Asda card and if I get it to £280 by November they will give me £15. So thanks for this thread.

Ooh you just reminded me that I started a savings card at Asda at the weekend! I had an issue a month or so before Christmas and customer services gave me a gift card with £5 on it which has just been knocking around in the bottom of my bag, I decided to put a my change from the weekly shop each week onto it (within reason lol). Hopefully by Christmas I will have enough for all our goodies.
Ive also started saving 50p coins (although since I started they seem to be in scarce supply).

Nothing Christmassy going on at the moment so Ive not posted but I have been reading along x