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

[Deleted User]

Part of Christmas arrived on Saturday and part in the afternoon yesterday.  We've decided to get the grandchildrens presents in now so whatever happens between now and Christmas at least we'll have some nice things to give them so the little granddaughter who is 1 in the middle of next month has a balance bike for her big present, a wooden pizza as a little one and we've ordered a set of Montessori wooden stacking figures for her too and I've found a very simple little wooden open fronted furnished dolls house with a wooden doll family which will be ordered this week.  Eldest grandson so far has a projecting torch that is about space and a mythical creatures magic painting book, second eldest grandson has a Melissa and Doug set of canine companions, a projector torch about sea creatures and a Narwhale and underwater magic painting book, baby so far has a rather snazzy new rucksack with brightly coloured fishes on and will also get Montessori wooden stacking figures and another nice thing, eldest is the one I need some input about so either lego or playmobil or possibly both and then a main present and another smaller one and a main for the middle boy.  Baby will get a sand and water play table for outside for his big present.  Nice to have had the focus of being on this thread earlier on which made me think and do about getting ready, thank you all.

rachsecret

I use the gifts out of my beauty advent calendar that I don't use/know someone else will appreciate more as fillers for crackers. I also make mini bottles of Sloe Gin for each guest with a tag with their name for a place setting. 
This week I have taken delivery of lots of Christmas books. Cooking ones, craft and some general ones that cover Christmas traditions. They were from an online second hand bookstore https://www.musicmagpie.co.uk/store/. Never used them before but they were heap and delivery was good. Currently trying to avoid using Amazon where possible due to their dodgy policies on shipping of live lobster etc. 
One of the books in particular is great and focuses upon an 'eco-Christmas' (The Christmas Book by Sheherazade Goldsmith. 
Also been buying plenty gifts but really seem to be struggling for the 'men' of the family (Uncle, Cousin etc)  this year.....Any ideas would be welcome!
Agree with other posters on here with regards to the lack of bargains about. Most usual shops eg Next, Debenhams, M&S, John Lewis have had very little in their sales this year of interest. 
I've made a huge Kilner jar of Blackberry vodka for going in Christmas hampers this week, 9 jars of jumble berry jam and 8 jars of plum jam will also be fobbed off on folk for add on gifts too. 

StokieBecks

I decided to start a little  christmas notebook and wrote down everyone on the list and also what bits I already have. I had forgotten a couple of bits so am a bit further ahead  than I thought.


Other half and I have decided we will probably get each other  six small silly things for a stocking but there is nothing we really want or need so said we will donate what we would have spent on each other to the local wildlife centre that is really struggling at the moment  as visitor numbers are largely restricted due to Covid guidelines and this is the time of year they would be making the money to tide them over the quieter winter months 

Struggling with the nieces/nephews this year they are  20, 17, 13, 10 and 8 now

I got deals for my calendars as always and ordered them early as they normally take a few weeks to arrive - this year they have arrived 9 days after ordering. But least it is another thing ticked off 

Waiting for a couple of bits off Ebay to put in some night in boxes. Will get the perishable bits  for those closer to the time.

Ordered a birthday gift off Etsy and was dispatched really quickly but when it arrived they had personalised it wrong. Messaged with photos to ask for a replacement but so far  nothing else received so if it doesn't arrive it todays post I will be moaning to them again as it's been over a week since they promised me it would be sent as a priority

Redredrobin

Lovely to see the chatter picking up pace.

     Christmas is almost sorted just 2 more items for Dd's lucky dip advent and i have even made her a Christmas sack to put them in . Getting hubby an iPod but will get that nearer to Christmas , then just the pooch who i am leaving until the very last minute as hes not been well and to be honest I'm not sure he will be around then ! He has a mass removed last week and they called during the op to say he had others in his arm pit area so they removed them too . He gets his stitches out Friday and hopefully by then the analysis of the lumps might be back and we may have a clearer picture of whats going on .

     Had a fairly unpleasant weekend at work , there's an older male who is always causing issues because he seems to think only his opinion matters and what he says is law! He was so bad Saturday i put a formal complaint in , then Sunday he was even worse so in went another one . I am mid 50's and haven't experienced such bullying since school . I have found out that 3 other staff members have also logged formal bullying complaints yesterday  ,he only picks on the females which i think shows his character in all its glory .He is already under a final written warning for his behaviour from last October which lasts 12 months so hopefully he wont be around much longer . I'm not one to wish  losing their job on anyone but i will make an exception in his case. You could be 1.9mtrs away from him and he would still cause a fuss because its not 2 !! We have a lovely team who really gel well together but he is such an  a** that no one wants to be there .

Anyone shop at Lidl and downloaded the new app ? used mine for the first time yesterday and got money off vouchers to use in-store . The app is called Lidl plus .

Beshki

Will have a look at the Lidl app, Thanks for that. 

Re the Dunelm water bottles, they seem to be available only for delivery & not click and collect. Does anyone know if this is because they won’t have them in store just yet? If so I might hold out as £3.95 delivery is over half of the cost of the product. 

Treasurequeen

Got half of my grandads present today, a recycled metal robin ornament that goes on top of a fence post. The shop had a sale on so got it reduced. I had hoped to get him another one but there was only one left. 

Where red I live the block of flats has lost all hot water and heating in all areas. So my flat has no hot water or heating it’s not the first time this has happened. Last year we had no heating or hot water in the sub zero conditions we had for a week. Hoping it’s not going to be long this week. It’s been a nightmare. It’s a new build block of flats  council owned but has been so bad everything seems faulty. 

Treasurequeen

Tea pigs have got an offer on at moment two cold infusion kits for £15.00 https://www.teapigs.co.uk/products/cold-brew-bottle-kit?_ke=eyJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJzYW1hbnRoYS5ob3VzZTk0LnNoQGdtYWlsLmNvbSIsICJrbF9jb21wYW55X2lkIjogIkw0OHhobSJ9

Gettingtherequickly

I'm another one who started my list at the weekend and discovered I was a bit further ahead than I thought.  I have to be very careful as I may not be able to get home (they have increased numbers and restrictions are increasing also, my mum hates it, thankfully she doesn't have any mental health issues, but she has said that if she had, even her depression would have depression, found that very difficult as there are so many worldwide living alone who don't have close family who must find the thought of going through this again really difficult), so any gifts will need to be able to keep until next year, so everything will have to be practical. I have got my first Avon pamper pack on order (well a lot of bits which I will make into a hamper!), had a delivery yesterday of stuff which I needed for myself and bless her, my friend had put some samples in it. Not sure what to do with them, but will keep them all together and see what is what nearer Christmas. May put them in as extras in the makeup bag I bought my niece.

Not really into the swing of things, all of this uncertainty is confusing, desperate for a break, not had any time off at all yet. Currently thinking about going to Rome for a long weekend middle of Sept, but will have to wait until nearer the time so see if I can book it. Ridiculous that I could possibly go there, but can't get home for a break as there are isolation restrictions!

rainbow_791

I am not sure if it will help anyone but Boots have some great offers on, I have just ordered a Liz Earle set for £17.60, there are three introductory sets for £17.60 which sell for about £50 elsewhere. Ended up getting two for gifts https://www.boots.com/sitesearch?searchTerm=Liz%20Earle%20Your%20Daily%20Routine%20Introduction%20Kit%20

C_J

Just stopping by to say that the items I ordered from AliExpress a week ago have already started arriving - I’m surprised (I thought it would take months!) and delighted. The little wooden musical boxes which play “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”, which I bought for my teacher-daughter to give to her primary school class are absolutely smashing.