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

Beshki

Oh my goodness, was hoping to do a morning visiting all the home bargains/Wilko type shops to pick up the lists of things I have seen & been saving in a list. Nipped to one shop and came home, it was awful - no parking spaces, people everywhere, huge queues to get into shops! Madness. Presumably it’s in anticipation for the next lockdown, if it comes to fruition. Knocked it on the head and won’t be going to any shops again for the foreseeable. 

Spendless

At the risk of sounding thick, what is a 'tree present'? I have heard the term before but never understood what one was. Not that I'm introducing it anyway  hahaha. I only get rid of the xmas eve hamper this year and I'm thankful mine were too old when 'elf on a shelf' became popular. Depending on what the situation is/what DS is doing, his stocking may be gone this year too if he stays in his student accommodation with his housemates  and doesn't return home for Xmas Day. Thankfully I hadn't bought much towards his, DD is a different matter! 

noodles86

mandco - I saw Tinsel on Amazon and then in person in Sainsbury's last night, yep too young for her but looks fantastic for a younger reader! Thank you though. 

Spendless - Thank you for your suggestions, I'm going to have a look at those. 

Stokie - She has tried to read a Christmas Carol but struggled with the language. Loves the muppet film version though!

I actually feel quite sick at thought of another lock down, though I knew in reality it was inevitable. Obviously you can't put the economy above illness and death but the thought of job losses, increased poverty and mental health/loneliness increases makes my heartbreak. 

kerri_gt

Spendless when i was growing up, tree present were those kept under the tree, opened with the family after dinner, presents from mum, dad, aunts etc and presents for the grown ups. Santa  left my stocking In my bedroom separately and i was allowed to open that in the morning before lunch.

The whole lockdown thing is a load of !@#!. All stores and businesses are essential as people who work there need them for their livelihoods.  all this will do is increase people's stress, revenue for online business and mean everyone rushes out on Dec 2nd. 

Peppapig

SPENDLESS I’ve always called tree presents the small extra pressies I bought for everyone that were kept on the tree.

Treasurequeen

In my family after Christmas dinner we all go to sit by tree and in the tree or on floor by it there are an extra present for each person.  We take it in turns to hand them out. We set a limit of £3.50 for each person, we have to get the best/most for our money but not go over budget. It’s a real challenge nowadays but it’s fun. 

Spendless

Thannks for the explanations re tree presents.
We've been out to eat. I decided to do this weeks ago because I didn't want to be in on  Halloween with the debacle of whether trick or treaters should be allowed and not wanting to sit in darkness. This way I could avoid the situation. 
As to the next lockdown, this is what I think will happen. When early December comes the whole country won't all unlock together like last time, we will instead unlock to the tier we started this lockdown in. Maybe, I'm wrong, hopefully I am.

 I am left in a dilemma with student son though and whether he stays in his Uni town or not for Christmas and exactly who we can be with on Xmas day. 

EDIT - To say I hadn't realised my guess above had been announced as we were eating  when Boris came on. We are Tier3, I know expect these restrictions to be in place where I live until 2021. 

We did most of our grocery shopping today. I suspect it will be madness over the next few days.

kerri_gt

Well deciding whether to sleep or drink my way through Nov now. Was starting to get into Christmas planning after such a rubbish year but after this evening's announcement just thinking of not bothering after all.

C_J

Our family’s version of tree presents: I used to buy and wrap small gifts for each of my daughters when they were younger, and hang them on the tree. They were allowed to pick one a day in between Christmas and New Year, it kept the magic going for a few more days!

My dilemma this year is that daughter number two has a new(ish) but already quite serious boyfriend. They’ve been together since January but with the combination of Covid madness and the fact he lives about 50 miles away from us, we’ve only met him a handful of times. If restrictions allow, we may well invite them both to spend some time with us over Christmas so I am attempting to source things for a Christmas stocking for him.

Main present is sorted - I’ve bought him a book which I think he will like - but stocking fillers for a 31 year old guy I don't know too well are trickier. I was in Home Bargains last weekend and got a poker set, one of those metal puzzles, and a desk toy with magnetised metal bits you could rearrange to your heart’s content (he’s an engineer, thought he’d like that!), some mini bottles of chilli sauces and some mini bottles of flavoured salts (he’s a keen cook) so I have made quite a good start I think. I’ll definitely need a couple more bits though.

vulpix

C-J I am with you with the unknown BF dilema.We have met DD1's new beau twice this year.They are neighbours and both key workers and met out walking during excersise during lockdown.All I know is his job,he likes,football and he is Vegan. I doubt we will get to meet up over Christmas as they are tier 3 and we are teir 1. Anyhow,he has some vegan galaxy so far! I doubt he will expect a gift but interact with this family and you have to love Christmas!
Well !!!!!!!!!!!! Here goes...I had my opp Tuesday afternoon,ouch,ouch still ouch.Came home Wednesday night.Mr V started to feel ill.took himself to A &E last night at 6pm,never seen him since! He spent the night sat on a chair in A &E and has had a painful procedure today which hasn't worked so he is to have an opp tomorrow. I am still on tramadol so mostly out of it.I went down stairs today and tried to feed the cats but just spilled biscuits all over the floor.DD1 has said she will do a drive by tomorrow with shopping for my Mum and a few bits for me. Totally shouldn't be going anywhere as she is tier 3 but we don't know what else to do. I realy think it isnt much different to Tesco delivering. She wont be comming in for a visit though I wish she was. I had grand plans of me being better by tomorrow and me n Mr V going shopping.NOPE. Work shuts on Wednesday too. At least when Mr V comes home we can convalesce for a month.2021 can't come quick enough.
Take care all Vx