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

C_J

Beshki, we give a gift to my son-in-law's parents as we see them fairly often (well, we used to, pre-Covid!!) and this year I have bought them a cheesemaking kit which cost about £20 from Amazon. It's a fairly basic introductory kit for making soft cheeses but looks quite good for the money and was something a bit unusual.

Redredrobin

Spendless - really not looking forward to tier 3 but needs must . The shopping madness has begun already . Took the pooch to the vets this morning for his repeat prescription the vets was unusually quiet today however the Tesco I passed had a queue at least 50+ people deep and that was almost an hour after opening !

Spendless

Slippers to me along with other clothing gifts, are a personal taste thing. Some like a new pair every year, others only want replacements when their last pair have had it. Some like mules, others prefer (or need to wear) full backed ones. Do you know enough about their tastes to get them? Could your OH give some more ideas of ther lifestyle or likes/dislikes since they are his/her immediate famiy? My parents, before they retired, Mum was a hairdresser and Dad a bus driver for a special needs school. You could never buy them alcohol or chocolates/biscuits for Christmas due to the amount they'd receive from clients and the parents of school children. 

StokieBecks

Don't let me go to The Range ever again     
£65 lighter now thanks to my Mum lol.  Bought two advent gonks , a christmas cushion, some craft bits and two frames that are for a christmas present. Oh and fish food blocks for other halfs school fish that we only remembered last minute else I'd have got them from Wilkos as much cheaper.

Now need to rejig my wages tomorrow as spent money today I hadn't budgeted for   

Found my Dad's present on Etsy today so pleased with that as didn't want to go down the normal avenue when he asks for a shirt or trainers

I don't think I am too far off being done really. Need to finish the nieces and nephews but know what I am getting and that will be done closer to time.  Will have to have an afternoon of sorting and listing just to  make sure.

chanie

StokieBecks said:

Don't let me go to The Range ever again     

That’s me in Home Bargains 

rachsecret

Re - stocking filler ideas. Something I once did my Nan was replicate as much as I could the items she's have in her stocking as a little girl. I'd gleaned ideas from her by starting conversations off about bygone Christmases. I put in things like a sugar mouse, an old coin. Also a 'new' chocolate bar. She'd told me there was a newsagents near where they lived in London that always stocked  the new line of confectionery and her Dad would get something from  there to put in. One year it was an Aero. I try to do the same idea with my own kids.

I'm sooo pinching this idea for my Mum as she's always going on about what she had in her stocking...coltsfoot rock, spanish (liquorice), tangerine, Fry's Turkish delight etc and I know she will love it. She also used to give us our stockings in an old pair of tights lol so I'll have to replicate that too.
I've been on half term this week and have spent quite a lot of time getting on top of wrapping gifts which took the best part of a day and a half. I always put Christmas films on whilst wrapping. The Holiday is my all time fave, but Sony currently have a Christmas channel on so have been watch that too. 

We've pretty much come to terms with the fact that it will be just the three of us for Christmas day. My 96 yr old gran has moved in with my mum as she's been struggling with lockdown and we really don't want her going in a home. My other aunts and uncles had been taking it in turn to spend the day there, but as some of them have grandchildren they are seeing it isn't quite as safe as we'd like it so Mum has stepped up. As the current regulations stand, this means they will go to my sister's who lives on her own for Christmas day (and has already had Covid). My niece has also had it and so she is going too. Had to admit that I got a bit upset and teary as I love seeing my family and it is harder in some ways as I know the rest of of them will all be there, minus us. I know it is selfish and have given myself a good talking to.

Over half term I have also done a series of mini Christmas illustrations to go on cards. Don't usually do this but re-discovered my love of painting during lockdown. It is so therapeutic.

Pretty much got all gifts for everyone and just need a few top up gifts for people now. 

C_J

Rach, those are lovely!

Redredrobin

Tier 3 strikes again ! Just had an email that our short break in mid November is cancelled. EVER SO SLIGHTLY MIFFED !!! 

Spendless

Awww sorry Redredrobin. Was the place you were going to also in Tier3 or have the cancelled due to your address? 

StokieBecks

Do shops not check designs before sending them into production? There will be shelves full of these across the country that are pretty useless