* Step into Christmas * & 2020 - It's the 2020 Christmas Chatter Thread

Lookafterthepennies2020

Hi All  
Just stumbled across this thread and will be following along, I love the run up to xmas more so than the day I think and I am known as Mrs Xmas at work lol as I'm always banging on about it   
I have made a small start of about 6/7 presents so far, I am focusing on quality rather than quantity this year.  
@nic2075 would you mind sharing your ginger gin recipe please ? I am thinking about having a go at making my sister some as a gift this year x 

Peppapig

Welcome LOOKAFTERTHEPENNIES, I’m the same, it’s all about the run up for me. Christmas Eve is my favourite day, Christmas Day is ok and by Boxing Day I’m over it. 🤣

freespirit66

Afternoon everyone, we had to pop out yesterday so I had a few little bits on my list for Thumper just stocking fillers I’d seen advertised online at HB, MATALAN and B&M nothing in stock! It’s so annoying, why advertise??

MANDCO that’s sad that tazs school didn’t support him, it’s so worrying isn’t it? Yes I think a lot of autistic kids struggled and found it really hard to understand what the heck is going on, it was hard enough for adults to process it all, let alone little ones, and even more the kids who needed structure to their day. DD2 had to do a visual storyboard every day and his favourite thing was being allowed to go for a walk. But it had to be his choice of walk lol (they have a few different versions) but it made him happy. 

VULPIX yes I’d love to stay!! Yes I’m not surprised MH was so bad, it was just so surreal at first and overwhelming and a lot of people were isolated. I remember we were all so worried about you, but look at you now!!

LOOKAFTERTHEPENNIES yes a lot of us on here are the same, love the run up to Christmas and Christmas Eve, and all the preparation involved

rachsecret

Totally agree about the run up being the best part...all the prep days, gift wrapping crafting, Chrimbo film watching etc is lovely! I know lots of people say why start so early with the preps, but my theory is that it prolongs the feel good factor. I might start in January next year!
I'm also interested int he ginger gin, or any gin recipe. I am going to start picking some blackberries on my daily walk and will bung them in the freezer with the intention of when I get enough using to make Blackberry gin.

I did my present audit yesterday and found more than I expected squirrelled away. I still need to get quite a lot, particularly for those people who are 'hard to buy for', including DH and DS. 
@mandco Thanks for the heads up re prices rising. I need to get my order in. Can I ask where you get yours from?
@Peppapig your bauble idea sounds lovely; I'd love to see a photo when you have done them. I have done marbling many years ago but used enamel paints and they tool ages to dry so intrigued that spray paints can do the job and dry faster. Also love your idea of 'lessons learned' and will definitely pinch that for this year

princesskitty29

I haven’t managed to get any more Christmas shopping yet, I’ve been looking online but haven’t come across much. I feel a little bit guilty about not physically going to the shops as I know the high street is struggling anyway, and I wonder if lockdown has converted more people to online shopping. I’m starting to think that the high street will perhaps start shrinking and that it might go back to more specialist shops over time. I went into Tesco the other day – my first time inside a supermarket since the 18th March! I went at 6:30am so it was relatively quiet and I’m glad I did as they’ve removed the one way system so it’s a free for all and I’ve heard it’s awful when it’s busy with no social distancing at all. I’d like to go to a garden centre, we need some bits and bobs and also one of the ones I go to has The Works in it which I always enjoy browsing around. It’s funny because I didn’t go anywhere during lockdown so it feels like such a big deal going out and about, once I’ve done these things I know I’ll feel better about it!

 

Hello and welcome Lookingafterthepennies!

 

rachsecret thanks for the link to that website, there’s some lovely stuff on there. I ignore the people that moan at me for starting Christmas prep early, I agree that for me it is something I really enjoy so why not spend my time doing it?

 

Peppa lets vow to be better with our local attractions! I imagine I’ll be at Wrest Park a lot over the holidays as we now have membership and it’s relatively quiet so not too stressful. I don’t know about the bauble dipping but it sounds good! I do hope you’ll be able to visit your mum properly at Christmas, I’m sure that would mean so much to you.

 

vulpix I do like commenting on other people’s posts but I do worry it makes my posts really long! Here is the link to the Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/princesskitty29/jingle-bells-for-christmas-nuts/ If you’d like to join me and Peppa and be able to pin to the board then you just need to DM me your email address and I can send you an invite to join.

 

mandco Wiggle is mad about Lego, we’ve bought him a passenger train set that I imagine he will want to spend most of his time building on his actual birthday! Then we’re hoping to go to Legoland at some point during the week depending on the weather. You have to book so hopefully it will be quieter than usual. Fingers crossed that Taz gets better with the new situation, it must be hard when the routines change.  It’s a shame you felt you had no choice but to homeschool, you’d think there would be enough support in this day and age.

 

FREE!!! So good to see you here again! We missed hearing all of your news! I’m sorry to hear you’ve been struggling but happy to hear you were able to stay home with your family. Wiggle struggled at the end of lockdown too so he went back to school and was all the more better for it. I hope Thumper copes ok going into the summer holidays, I bet he misses his routine. I love Smuggy McSumgface – perhaps you should change your name on here!   

Treasurequeen

Christmas books  out this year 

- finding love at the Christmas market by Jo Thomas out 12th November 
- the Christmas invitation (paperback) by Trisha Ashley out 29th October 
- Christmas shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella out 1st October 
- Christmas with the variety girls by Tracy baines out 15th October 
- Christmas angels by Rowan Dobson out 5th November 
- Christmas for beginners by Carole Matthews out 29th October 
- one more for Christmas by Sarah Morgan out 29th October 
- The Winter Garden - Heidi Swain (1st Oct)
- I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday - Milly Johnson (end of Oct)

Treasurequeen

Welcome Lookingafterthepennies. 
Welcome back Free I’m sorry to hear you’ve been struggling. 
Anyone on here have sparks loyalty card  there are some freebies for some members. This week I got Percy pig sweets free. They had a long date on them so will go in a stocking as a filler. I’m trying to avoid shops as I’m struggling with the masks, got a visor to wear as I keep passing out wearing the mask. I think this year I’m going to try to stick with online shopping and small independent shops. I still haven’t managed to pick up any gifts yet my present box under the bed is looking empty. My Christmas planner is coming to end so I am going to add my own pages, I have had it five years. 

Peppapig

FREE I’m the same, I find that the stuff that Home Bargains and B&M advertise is never available in our local branches and you can’t order online at B&M😡

Thanks for the book list TREASUREQUEEN.

I’ve had a first try at the bauble dipping, suffice to say I won’t be displaying my efforts 🤣. I shall give it another go though because I did rush at it a bit with a container that turned out not to be watertight, a plastic bauble and some old, almost empty spray paint 🤦🏼‍♀️. I was really impressed that it comes out of the water virtually dry though.

I soaked and baked two lots of pine cones this morning and apart from nearly letting the first lot burn, I’m really pleased with them. I’ve got another couple of lots to do but I’ve run out of white vinegar so I’ll leave them outside and do them after my shopping comes next week.

All in all it’s been a bit of a festive morning. DH is feeling cold today and suggested putting the heating on. I’m in vest top and cropped trousers (also known as my pyjamas) and I’m really hot. I’ve suggested he wraps himself up a bit 🤣.

Hope everyone has a good day.

freespirit66

Afternoon, I’m sitting all cosy and snug with my yankees burning, listening to the rain, Bliss!  Diesel finally got his nails clipped today, bless him, the groomer said she has done loads since she was allowed to reopen.  Watched some of Qvc Christmas yesterday, disappointing as usual. I think the good old days have gone forever unfortunately. 

RACHSECRET I just say to them, but I’m not running around in December, I can sit back and enjoy the festive season, soaking it up and not fighting for a car park space or wrestling grumpy shoppers in long queues 

PRINCESSKITTY I haven’t been inside a shop either for months, my DD1 runs in for me (well I say runs, queues then tries to stay away from everyone). I was watching the queue for HB and was appalled by the staffs lack of SD from customers, even barging through the door at the same time instead of waiting!! I have PM you on Pinterest with my email. Bless Wiggle, they do need the stimulation that school gives them. Haha that’s funny, I would get trolled if I changed my username to that 🤪

TREASUREQUEEN oh that must be awful to keep passing out with face masks on. Two more to add to your Christmas book list:
The Winter Garden - Heidi Swain (1st Oct)
and
I Wish it Could be Christmas Everyday - Milly Johnson (end of Oct)

PEPPA Yep our nearest branches don’t have some things at all!! But still advertise, I don’t know why they can’t do online ordering. I’m glad it’s not just me getting antsy 😂 How weird the baubles come out dry?? It’s so muggy here today it’s horrible

mandco

Princesskitty I remember the lego days we used to spend hours xmas day building them with ds. Leogland sounds like a great idea - we usually do days out for the kids birthdays as is hard to arrange anything bigger with friends during August.

Treasurequeen sorry to hear you are struggling with the masks it must be pretty scary to think about going anywhere if you are likely to pass out hope the visor is more successful. 

Freespirit glad you managed to get diesel into the groomers dd has been doing a pretty good job on chewie with the clippers but he could do with a proper going over and nail trim
B&M & home bargains do drive my a little nuts they advertise all these offers but never have them and I find they can be very hit & miss on what they do have. I haven't been to either since march but dd went last week she got a few bits but said a lot of the things we'd usually get were not available.

Peppa  I guess trial & error is the thing with homemade crafts - they make it look so easy in the tutorials. Good to hear that it works though even if you were less than impressed with the outcome this time round and at least now you have an idea on whether or not is worth investing in the materials.

The provision for additional needs in schools seem to vary so much some are amazing but unfortunately for us our school was terrible- in fact they failed their last ofstead assessment for special need provision. We tried for a long time but In the end for my sanity and Taz's MH leaving was really the only option and hard as its been it was totally the right choice and he's doing so much better(excluding the current situtation) 

The crafting stuff I ordered came I was disappointed as the wreath rings I ordered were nothing like the picture and not really what I want but its not worth the hassle of sending back so I'll make them work. I think that is my biggest issue with ordering online as you never really know until something arrives what its actually like and returns are not always easy/worth doing.

Finally got to see the grandkids in person which was fantastic though they have changed so much.