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

Spendless

I like Christmas gifts to be something you might not buy for yourself too, whether that falls under the treat or practical category.  Vulpix - Have you noticed any aspect about her lifestyle, where you've thought, she could do with a better...... she'd be able to do that if she had a .......?
It's more difficult when you don't live in the same household and don't notice things like this as much. 
A few years ago I noticed my Mum was still using the same type of a of couple of pounds supermarket tweezers she'd bought when I was a teenager. I also know she uses tweezers frequently. I bought her some more expensive tweezerman ones. She can well afford to buy these herself, but it had never occurred to her to do so. She tried my gift and loved them. She told me then and since  it was her favourite present that year. The tweezers won't have been her main gift from me, but whatever it was and whatever my Dad bought her that year didn't surpass her tweezer present. Years earlier my sis-in-law had told me the same thing about a present I'd made her, knowing she doesn't sleep well, I'd made her up a gift hamper of products to help sleep, including a Paul McKenna book, this was in the days before you could buy sleep balm and pillow sprays etc easily.

Long term readers on here, may remember some posts I made about the traumatic time my DD had at school with bullying for her last couple of years there. We have managed to get an assessment on her using husband's work perk of private healthcare. PTSD, severe anxiety and moderate to high depression. Through going to school F,FS, somewhere where she should have been safe. .  I cried when I heard, she is only 17. The next step is for a counsellor to be selected who works in those areas identified as where she needs help. 

 I was walking the dog with my Mum when husband rang to tell me. I'd gone out to give her privacy to speak. Husband asked me to fetch the dog back home as DD was asking for him after her assessment call. We got  a dog last year to help her and I dread to think what things would be like without him.  I am also  thankful that that 1-1 meet ups in outside public spaces is allowed, unlike last time. This weekend we are taking our dog to an enclosed field to let him have a run around. It's near where DD's boyfriend lives, so we are letting them meet up. Usually the boyfriend has a Saturday job close to our home so they can see each other around that. but it's closed during lockdown, so this way they can still see something of each other.  

Have a good weekend, everyone. 

vulpix

Oh my goodness Spendless,I hope your daughter gets the help she needs, there is hope for recovery.DD2( who is actually my step daughter whose Mum died when she was 6) hated school,never made any lasting friends and then hated college ditto.She is 19 now.She shares a house and works in a pub and is sooooooooo much happier.She did have several attempts at councelling but never engaged with any of them. I think leaving the pressure of education was the best thing for her.She is enjoying making her own way in life whilst I am happy she works and lives very local and we are on hand if needs be.
I will watch DD1 like a hawk to see if there is a need for anything I could give as a gift.My best present a couple of years ago was a glass nailfile.What has everyone elses best gift been?
Another beautiful day,Take care all Vx

princesskitty29

Hi all! I took the plunge on Tuesday morning and went to my nearest big shopping centre to do a big push on Christmas presents and I’m glad I did as I ticked a few things off my list; advent calendars for all of us, hand cream for MiL’s stocking, a pyjama set for FiL, thermal socks for MiL, lounge pants for BiL, a Lush Snow Fairy set for BF, a Lush snowman bath bomb for the boys Christmas Eve hamper, earplugs for DH’s stocking and 2 bottles of hand sanitiser for my in laws stockings. You could tell it was busier than normal for a weekday morning but it wasn’t packed. The queues were in Primark, Card Factory and places like the Apple store, I didn’t need to go to any of them so it didn’t really affect me. Now I just need to order a few bits online and I’m close to finishing. I really need to start wrapping this week, it’s something I say I need to start early every year and never do and then I end up having a few stressful wrapping sessions, I’d really like to enjoy it this year.

 

We’ve had some fun in the past week with Halloween and Bonfire Night and I am excited as I set my hot chocolate station up! It gets earlier every year and I now think Bonfire Night is perfect for it. It hasn’t got all of the Christmas bits on it yet but I’ll add those nearer the time.

 

Right, I’m off to hopefully get some more bits I need online. I hope everyone is doing ok in lockdown no. 2, it’s a positive that we can still see people, I went for a walk with a friend yesterday and it was lovely.

 

vulpix oh it sounds like you and MrV have been through it lately, I hope you are both well on your way to recovery. My favourite ever present I remember getting was an electric typewriter when I was young, it was the best thing ever! I really wish I still had it. Imagine giving that to a child these days!

 

Stokie my DH turned 40 during the last lockdown and I used an online company called Vidday to make a montage of birthday video message from our family and friends, DH loved it. It was really easy too, you ask family and friends to record a video, upload them to the site and then they pull it all together, it wasn’t expensive either.

 

rachsecret sorry to hear you sprained your ankle, I do hope it’s doing better. Love the activity calendar!

 

Spendless it must have been so hard hearing about your DD’s assessment, now it has been identified hopefully she will get the help she needs. School should be a safe place, it’s sad this has happened. Hopefully time and therapy will be a great healer for her.

princesskitty29

Oh I was going to say if everyone who has replied is still up for doing a Christmas card exchange then i'll set the cut off date as the 15th November, then i'll pull names at random and let you know who you're exchanging with and it should give everyone plenty of time. If anyone else would like to join the Christmas card exchange please let me know, the more the merrier! xx

rachsecret

Thanks to everyone for kind words regarding my dodgy ankle. It is feeling slightly better.

 @princesskitty29 I'd like to do the card exchange. Sounds a lovely idea, particularly given the crazy year we are having. A bit of good old fashioned postal card sending sounds fab!
I've been planning my Hot chocolate station too so would be interested to hear what else people are putting on there. So far I have recycled a load of jam jars etc and will put the following inside:

• Christmas shaped marshmallows that I got from Hema
• Those weird gingerbread biscuits that can kind of 'perch' on the side of your cup
• tin of quirky cream
• iced Christmas cookies
• flakes
• nice festive mugs

I have also been de-cluttering my house ready for Christmas decorations and putting all my ornaments etc into storage. I want to have things a bit less cluttered this year. Last year my sister commented that it was overly cluttered and looking at photos online etc, I think she is right so going to get rid of any bits that are not festive and just have festive decorations/items up. 

I have bought lots of stocking fillers and such like from an online company that is cheap and cheerful: Zadeel. Ordered from them before so know they are reliable, although their packaging is often a bit shoddy, but all goods have arrived fine. 

@Spendless Hope your daughter gets the help she needs. My youngest cousin has been suffering from depression since she was 18 and had to return home to finish her degree at a local Uni in similar circumstances as the people in her halls were ostracising her. Parents got her a dog and it has transformed her mental health. She's so much better, although lack of confidence is still a lingering factor. xxxxxx

Spendless

Thank you for the supportive comments re DD. I'm sorry to hear of other people sufferring too. We did indeed get a dog last year to help her. I'd resisted the idea for 20 years despite growing up with dogs. Mainly because I said dog walking would default to me, a prophecy that has turned out to be correct! Tbh I was scared stiff of leaving DD in an empty house as and when I returned to work. I thought a dog would be a great companion and he has been. His recall isn't good though, so today we are taking him to an enclosed field to work on it. DD's boyfriend only lives 15 mins away, so she can meet up with him too. I'm so glad that this lockdown there is provision for 1-1 meet ups

MalMonroe

Hello!

I was wondering if anyone could offer any recommendations about pre-lit Christmas trees? That is, some that are not too expensive. Ideally we're looking for a 5ft artificial tree with clear static (no chasers) not coloured, lights already on - quite a bushy tree, if possible. 

Should I wait until it's nearer to Christmas to see if there will be any bargains coming up? This kind of tree seems to be quite expensive at the moment. 

We are looking for pre-lit not because we're lazy but because we have varying degrees of disability and it's getting more and more difficult to mess about with Christmas tree lights!

Many thanks in advance for any recommendations. 

C_J

The very best Christmas tree bargains are usually to be had after Christmas, so if you are able to manage with what you already have this time I'd suggest waiting to get next year's tree in the post-Christmas sales.

StokieBecks

MalMonroe said:

Hello!

I was wondering if anyone could offer any recommendations about pre-lit Christmas trees? That is, some that are not too expensive. Ideally we're looking for a 5ft artificial tree with clear static (no chasers) not coloured, lights already on - quite a bushy tree, if possible. 

Should I wait until it's nearer to Christmas to see if there will be any bargains coming up? This kind of tree seems to be quite expensive at the moment. 

We are looking for pre-lit not because we're lazy but because we have varying degrees of disability and it's getting more and more difficult to mess about with Christmas tree lights!

Many thanks in advance for any recommendations. 

It might be worth looking at the supermarkets (especially online) Asda I think usually have a good range.  

Other places:
Argos
Homebase
The Range
Dunelm
M&S
There is a post here thatt may give some tips https://www.thesun.co.uk/sun-selects/10000312/best-pre-lit-christmas-tree/

I love my pre lit tree. It was meant to be £60 from Morrisons but they reduced them right before Christmas one year to about £25 so with my staff discount and a voucher as well I paid about £18.

Beshki

Ah so frustrating. I held off for ages to place an order with Wilko, as was hoping that an item would come back into stock (only costs £3 but a stocking filler I know someone would love). It was delivered Thursday & the item is of course now back in stock. No click and collect option available and can’t justify paying £5 delivery on a £3 item. Annoying!