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

rachsecret

Thanks @StokieBecks  I will definitely add the family quiz idea to my list and will also make some ’snack packs’ for the family with mince pies, pop corn and a mulled wine sachet and doorstep drop them the day before. Might also have everyone wearing their Christmas jumpers too to add to the festive spirit!

@princesskitty29 some lovely ideas for my Christmas events so will definitely be using some of those. Food for the birds is a nice one and the game night too. Will also be doing your North Pole breakfast idea too that you mentioned on another post. I’ll need to adult-fy it a bit but Dh and DS are pretty used to going with the flow with my mad cap ideas. I really miss having young children around at Christmas. It makes everything so magical! I work in education though so get a really good magic fix when we celebrate Christmas there.

@mandco loving that you’re having a halloween tree! Make sure you share your photos! lol

Also will be nicking your idea of Christmas themed dinners. 

This week I have also booked a drive in Christmas movie for DS and I. 

I am off for half term shortly and will be earmarking a day to spend wrapping gifts and watching Christmas movies which will help me get all Christmassy. I know it is early but wrapping is such a mammoth task I like to break the back of it in October so that I can spend the run up doing other things. And…I just like wrapping and decorating gifts too lol.

The advent calendar for DS is going well too thanks to all your ideas. I have a wall mounted wooden Christmas tree that I will hand each gift bag on which should look pretty. 

@nic2075 I know what you mean about it being a cosy kind of day. It’s really blustery outside here and I’ve got my cosy PJ day thing going on as a result

princesskitty29

Well my Lakeland order arrived yesterday but no one was here so the courier chucked it over our back gate! It had my Christmas biscuits and a coffee machine in as well as a few other bits! The box had broken open and some of the biscuit tubes are dented. It landed at the other end to the coffee machine so I just hope it’s ok. I’m going to call Lakeland as I’ll need replacement biscuits but it’ll just be delivered by the same guy again! The coffee machine is just a compact one cup one so not a big massive thing otherwise everything would have been crushed. He has in the past thrown packages over our back gate but it’s always been things that are obviously clothes from Next etc, but this was a big, heavy Lakeland box so why he thought it was a good idea I don’t know!!

 

Anyway I had a lovely afternoon with a friend yesterday browsing the Christmas display at a local garden centre and having a coffee. I made my in laws stockings last year as they were going to be on their own on Christmas day but they are coming to us this year (if the rules don’t change again!) so I thought I might do them stockings again. I bought them both some festive pocket tissues to go in and my MiL a cute robin teabag holder yesterday. I also bought some The Snowman chocolate covered mallows as a treat for the boys nearer the time, like popping one in Wiggle’s lunchbox.

 

freebird yes nothing wrong with a second hand book! One year I made a friend a book hamper and I wanted to get the book ‘The Book Thief’ to go in it, I was going to buy it new but came across a copy in a charity shop that looked brand new so I got her that one.

 

GTQ I really hope you can see someone for Christmas, but if not then certainly indulge and spoil yourself! You really deserve it as you are so giving to others.

 

mandco I bet the children are really excited about the tree and it’s definitely something different for Halloween!

 

chanie your buckets of sweets under the tree sound lovely, I bet the children love them!

 

nic fingers crossed for you that you are ok, although I’m sorry you have to stay in just as the holiday starts! I love the idea of distracting with crafts and food!

 

Treasurequeen I bought Simply Christmas, and whilst I’m not usually a fan of general Christmas magazines I’m quite enjoying this one and feel there’s lots of content for my own personal taste.

 

rachsecret I tend to find most adults enjoy these things too, it’s just something a bit different and speaks to their inner child! I’m going to carry on doing these things even when my boys are adults!

aimeemum

I hope no-one minds me joining in a tad late - It's taken me a while to get into the swing of planning this year, and I'm about 2 months behind where I would normally be, but here I am! I have spent this morning making lists, budgets and plans, and now I'm well and truly in the Christmas spirit......a bit sad but my boys wont let me watch The Nightmare Before Christmas as apparently it's too early.  
Anyway, I'm now officially on the lookout for bargains and ideas, have a budget that I will have no choice but to stick to, and a very exciting couple of months ahead. First port of call is eldest's 11th birthday on the 26th then (hopefully anyway) we're away for half term - actually going on his birthday which he's very excited about! - then back in time for halloween and bonfire night I have already bought a couple of things (literally, I think I've got 2 jars of mincement, a box of shortbread and a decoration I found for a friend a few weeks ago so ordered so as not to miss it) but now is the time to really get cracking! 
Hope everyone is well and I'm looking forward to joining in the festivities  

vulpix

Hi aimeemum,welcome you sound like you belong here on the Christmas thread.Loving a list too.I am a big fan of a list.
I must apologise to Beshki for changing your name into something a bit Russian last post.
PK your afternoon out sounds lovely.Atmosphere and purchases,perfect.
I went shopping today.There are no shops where I live so have to travel any direction to get retail therapy.I went south today haha.I did get some fancy ciders for Mr V ,either Birthday or Christmas.Not sure yet.
Strangely I am struggling for ideas for DD1.At the moment she has earrings and vegan chocolate.Everyone else is finished or I have ideas for.
I have started on Christmas food now.Trifle sponges etc.I need to get stuff in the freezer used up to make room for goodies.
I need to get a fair bit done before my operation at the end of the month just in case I am not up to it afterwards,and a possible lockdown of course!
Take care Vx

Redredrobin

I was hoping the lockdown would be eased soon in the north east but that looks less likely so I’m going to have a quick trip up tomorrow to deliver their Christmas gifts . 

All I need to get gift wise is hubby’s iPod which I will get later maybe there will be a decent Black Friday deal , I can hope . 

aimeemum

Thanks vulpix - I was on the 2019 thread a lot but this year (as I'm sure everyone can appreciate) it's taken me longer to get into my spirit that usual. Well and truly in it now though - the boys being at home (we're home-edding this year) is making it harder to prep, watch the odd movie etc like I would have done in years past. Right now we're in the middle of a topic about 'Autumn' and next week we move on to Halloween celebrations so I think it will all start to feel real after that. 
I'm the same with the travelling too....I live in a tiny village and the nearest shop is 4 miles away. The 'big' shops are in York which takes 40 minutes on a good day! I love a good shopping trip so I need to pencil myself a day out onto the calendar on one of hubby's days off. 

mandco

NIc  fingers crossed your test comes back neg - Its not much fun having to isolate for 2 weeks we had to do it for dd so you have my sympathy I guess the a small consolation for you is the kids are off so no school to worry about and the weather is pants so staying in and snuggling up indoors seems much more appealing 

Princesskitty you must have been fuming with the delivery driver - I know they have a lot of orders to get through but there is absolutely no excuse for what he did esp when it was so obviously item that could be damaged- Fingers crossed you get it replaced quickly

I usually go out once a week  either sat or sun and try to pick up as much as I can but didn't happen this weekend as ended up having one of my granddaughters to stay - sdd booked an early last minute weekend away for their anniversary in case we get locked down. It was great to see her but wow she's a handful as they pretty much let her run riot at home .The tree is up but not decorated yet as she kept trying to knock it over and pull off the branches.
Did pick up a couple of bits with my tesco shop for the xmas box - they finally put out the xmas free from so got taz's advent calendar and a F/F salted caramel choc sponge.
Superdrug have some discounts on their xmas gifting range - mostly not great deals but got dd the dog face mask set for her stocking

ordered a couple of games from the entertainer - they have some elf themed games around £5 

Almost finished the grandkids presents - (other than any last minute buys) just need to find a storage chest for the dressing up clothes and some tights to go with their dresses - you wouldn't think it would be so hard to find tights but struggling to find their sizes in the right colour/style.  

The entertainer have started their gift returns policy - primark is meant to be starting theirs this week I was told from the 13th? but that needs to be confirmed.(really hoping they get their xmas stock in this week)
anyone know of any others?

vulpix

Nic totally missed your post about isolating,sorry.Hope you made the most of it.
Same for Pk.Delivery driver out of order there.In what reality is chucking a parcel over a fence ok!
Mandco you are always on the ball with your shopping,i will have a look at Superdrug,Thank you.
RR same for you with being organised with your shopping.I hope by the time Christmas comes things will have eased somewhat and we can see our families.Strange times .
Vx

aimeemum

I did some good work today - or I feel like it anyway. 
I put together my November and December diary sheets with all hubby's days off and the things I want/need to get done on them. I then called my Mum and booked us in for 'mini-Christmas' for the 1st December. At the moment we're all going but as we're a family of 5, that takes us above the rule of 6, so we'll see. Hubby may have to stay home (probably a good idea anyway given he's in contact with so many people) if things get worse, and then I'll stay home when we visit his side of the family, should we get that far. I then went on the hunt for a gift for them to get before we go and I found a couple of likely candidates. 
Just got the rest of the list to complete now

Spendless

OMG so many posts to catch up on -lol.
Last night we were put on High for covid. I'm visiting my parents today before rules kick in tomorrow. Teenage daughter back to being unable to see friends, this may seem 'nothing' but school issues following a time when she lost her friendship group ended up with her under the children's mental health service due to experiencing suicidal thoughts and it doesn't take much to unsettle that despite how further on she goes in recovery. It's my MIL's funeral later this week, one of the new rules in is only 15 at a wake, though upto 30 at the funeral service. We have family driving some distance to attend. I'm going to the venue later with my sis in law to discuss options. 
On a Christmas note, has anyone else noticed the lack of Christmas gifts in the shops? Boots is especially noticeable. I'm buying 3 less presents this year so have been able to buy a lot from usual stock rather than Christmas items.