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

Mrs_Ryan

I went shopping yesterday evening to our local big retail park. The queues weren’t bad but the car park was chaos! (Nothing new to be honest) You would think the shops had declared everything was free though! 

I had gone to go to Primark for some more Baby Yoda socks and pj’s- i bought some when I was away in Peterborough the other week but I loved them so much I wanted some more. Got the pj’s but not the socks- however I managed to pick them up on EBay.

While I was there I got a Pandora charm for my mum- it’s a split one which fits together, one says ‘mother’ and one ‘daughter’ which I’ve put on my bracelet. I got some tartan socks and some cashmere socks for my sister in Next- my mum always says it drives her mad that my sister always wears odd socks! She has Reynaud’s so needs nice warm socks- the cashmere ones will match the pj’s I’ve got her as well. 

Boots had a points event on so I got three cans of Clinique shaving gel for OH, BIL and my brother. I also bought them Bulldog razors and spare blades- they’re special glass handled ones, made from recycled beer bottles! They were on offer too and I also got my friend a gift set of Jack Wills body sprays as I usually do at Christmas. They were half price, so with my student discount I managed to save myself about £30, plus I netted £10 worth of points which was good. 

Next stop was WH Smith. I had bought my dad a £15 gift voucher last Christmas as he liked to go to his local WH Smith with my mum and buy himself a book. However he hadn’t had a chance to use it when he passed away so my mum gave it back to me. I used it to buy myself the new Sophie Kinsella book, her and Marian Keyes are my very favourite authors. I like to think my dad was smiling down on me as I chose the book, I inherited my voracious love of reading from him and I know he would definitely approve of me using his voucher on a book. I also bought a mixed media sketch pad and a professional sharpener for my artist BIL- I bought him a huge sketchbook from the Works but I was quite cross as they didn’t pack it properly and it was all curled up! 

I bought my mum some purple leather gloves in M&S as my brother has bought her a purple tartan cashmere scarf for Christmas and I thought they would match nicely. I also treated myself to some pj’s as well. Finally, I had to go across to Asda as the car park was too gridlocked for the taxi to pick me up so I had to go somewhere where it was easier for the taxi to collect me. So I nipped in and got OH some Cookie Monster lounge pants and a plain t-shirt. I had to talk myself out of a Baby Yoda Christmas jumper as well  
Today’s present purchases have been wrapped and stored. I’m broke now so at least I can’t buy anything else  

Spendless

That sounds like a bumper and rewarding shopping trip Mrs-Ryan.
I'm loving the idea of an eco friendly hamper/box. That's an idea I'm nicking for DD in the future. Not this year though, as she already has plenty. She has got some reusable straws to go in her stocking and a travel spork, but I'd not thought to extend beyond this. Hopefully next year she will be a skint student, so the items will be both save her money as well as the planet.
We went and bought DS's housemates their stocking filler. I think DD did a better job of finding items for the girlfriend than I did for his mate. Queues were starting to form everywhere. Primark looked like it was their first opening day! I got the friend an actual stocking and have just popped out to B & M and picked up the last suitabe stocking for the girlfriend. I asked the cashier and she said they never closed last time, so is expecting to remain open for this lockdown. I think in mye agerness to get DS's housemates their stocking bits, I've overlooked that I hadn;t got much in for DS. Not too worried though as I can bulk his with food and toiletry items.

Am shortly going to try and buy Christmas cards then I can say I'm done. I intend to spend lockdown wrapping.   

vulpix

Mrs Ryan you are a shopping Ninja,I am NEVER as organised as you.Now you can sit back and relax and avoid the mayhem.

Thank you for your help with ideas for DD1.When thinking about her interests I realised that she has been so busy studying and working all her life that she doesn't have much time .She is renovating her house,and failing to tame the huge garden but appart from about 250 houseplants she doesn't collect anything.Believe me 250 plus houseplants are enough! Her house is very individual Boho maximalist style.Most of her stuff is second hand/recycled.When my son visited for the first time she has so much of my old stuff he said it was just like my house when they were little kids.She is my mini me very environmentally aware,I hope her generation is taken more seriously than mine were in the 70's and 80's.She keeps fit and enjoys alternative live bands.I have always given her "green" gifts,quirky things that will suit her style but no charity shops or car boot sales this year for me to see little trinkets. I have never thought of her as a gift basket kinda girl but I might give it a try.She already has her own brands of makeup she likes,water bottles etc etc.Tbh she needs less "stuff" so I thought for a start I would crochet some scrubbie face scrubs and make some washable make up remover pads. I will research some nice toiletries and hair products for her.So earrings,wax melts and I forgot I had picked up a rose quartz crystal ages ago plus whatever i can find is the way to go.I did think about beeswax sandwich wraps but I asked her opinion on honey the other day and she was unsure so I will leave it.
Phew epic post.Thanks for making me think properly about how I can show my love for her at Christmas.

My nephew brought his wedding forward in 24 hours and was finally married yesterday.Fantastic.

Mr V is home and in pain,he has never had an operation before.He seems to have developed tourettes every time he moves.I am trying to look after him but we will just have to muddle through.
Vx

Redredrobin

     Finally finished Dds advent lucky dip sack , it’s take way longer than it should have done but it’s done now .
    We managed to get our hair cut today so that’s one more thing ticked off the list .
    Im still waiting for my refund for our cancelled break , it’s past the time frame they gave but on reading the posts about the issues others have had I’m not expecting it any time soon . Won’t book with Cottages.com again .

     We aren’t braving the shops as we only need a few items so have an Iceland delivery tomorrow (wed )between 6-8 am . What was I thinking booking it that early lol.
    Any sewers poundameter have some bargains at the moment just ordered a total of 8 meters of fabric for £18 including delivery . 

Stay safe x

Spendless

I got my Christmas cards. Not in the morning like I intended, the queue was already too long.  I got them at another branch in the late afternoon when I dropped DD off in the town centre to meet her boyfriend. We're still allowed to meet one other person outside. I thought wandering around in the cold as it got darker wouldn't appeal to them for long so would hang about close to give her a lift home,  I hadn't counted on young love -lol. I was home long before she wanted to return. They now have no idea when they will be able to see each other again.
As well as the cards, I also picked up some chocolate coins for stockings. A few years ago I missed them out because I'd put other confectionery in. I hadn't realised how obligatory they were to DD. Also had a problem getting these. Usually I can buy a mixed pack of gold and silver coins. this year I've found the nets either don't have many in  and are all gold or they are a bumper pack and larger than what I'd  usually get. I have bought both and I know I could split them down, but I'd prefer individual nets. If anyone sees a medium mixed packet, let me know. 

vulpix

Thanks for the material tip RR.That's the rest of my day filled,looking at fabric.

kerri_gt

Popped to the shops this evening to use a few vouchers that were expiring.  Had a sad little walk around a few stores looking at the Christmas bits knowing they'd be closed for a month and then it will be chaos,  wasn't really in the mind to Christmas shop so didn't get anything.

StokieBecks

My Dad just rang me to say the tins  of sweets are 2 for £6 in Asda if anyone is out doing their essential shopping and still needs some.

Might start my wrapping tomorrow and put a christmas film on the laptop.

Will probably be good to get in the christmas cupboard and actually organise it properly so everything is in one place 

I  am at work later but don't start until 5 as they have taken all the overtime off us for the next few weeks. No idea whether it will be busy or quiet with it being first day of lockdown in England but Thursdays are usually quite quiet. Just hope don't get a repeat of last lockdown when you saw the same customers over and over again in a shift because they had nothing else to do 

Stay safe everyone , hopefully prep can continue even if we have to reassess our plans

Spendless

We have a large Primark over 3 floors. My friend visited yesterday and said the queues wound around every level. My sister who works for a large retailer is back on furlough, though she was offrred part and part hours. She refused because the shifts offerred were rubbish. She said some stores are still doing click and collect because the increased load on couriers mean they won't be able to meet demand. I keep thanking my lucky stars that I bought early.
 
We rang DS yesterday to ask him about Christmas day, well as much as we can considering we don't know what restrictions will be, but he said he may go to his girlfriends. Totally understand this, they haven't seen her for most of this year due to health treatment her Mum has been having. They were also Tier1 wereas we were Tier3. Will be strange not seeing him for the first time though and I bought all 3 of them stockings, so Ill have to give them at some point.
DD's college has said from next week she will be in 2 days every week, with the 3rd day on-line.For her, this is good news as she needs people her own age around her. It's a 40 mile trip though, I sent her out of area for several reasons, so will have to dig out the hygiene pack I made up

I did the moving things to the Christmas cupboard the other week. Household members are in there and extended family in DS's wardrobe, which is empty whilst he's at Uni. This hasn't included recent purchases though that also need moving. DD has an on-line dance class tonight which means moving half of the furniture and keeping out of the way. Our plan is to take the dog upstairs, hopefully distract him from the fireworks and sort out any additional things ready for wrapping next week. 

skogar

Hello Vulpix - it sounds like you have dome good ideas for your daughter's present. She must have green fingers with all those plant - I certainly don't - I have managed to kill an aspidistra! Her decorating style sounds great - I love interesting and quirky decor, almost all or my furniture is old - as I loved real wood furniture and it was affordable to buy old furniture but not new. I was wondering if she is doing up her house and getting the garden into shape if there is anything that she would want for that? Also given all of those houseplants would something like a grow light be useful. Ikea had some really cute sets which might have been suitable for growing salad leaves etc in the winter - or could have been used for houseplants that would benefit from more light but I can't find them on the site now although they do still have the bulbs. I was thinking maybe something like this. No idea if it is likely to be of interest or not. You can also get some that are juust stand alone and don't have trays.