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

Spendless

I was also thinking it was quiet on here. Thought you were all at the recently opened shops.- lol
 I notice traffic has become really bad if I pop out. Trying to find as many back routes as I know. Don't know what the Government expected though, close a lot of retail in what is a peak trading period for a month and then everyone will turn up together. More people gift shop late than early.


Daughter is at college at the end of next week, rather than the middle. They are filming the panto the students have created to send out to the local schools instead of them being able to watch live (another experience she misses out on). We live in Tier3, she's at college in Tier2 and the news says that local police are questioned people going in by either car or train. Have warned her to make sure she has her college ID on her. Think that could be quite stressful having to answer why you're there, when she's on a deadline to get to college and the trains still aren't running back to normal which makes catching an earlier one impossible. I also think though she should still officially have a week to go after this, they'll call the term early and she'll be finished.

Anyway that means I've set myself a mini target of everything Christmas related (except food shopping)  to be done by Friday next week - gulp, though there's not too much left. 

BTW - I called in Morrisons earlier (a large store) and picked up 2 novelty butters for £1 each. One is in the shape of Santa. the other a snowman, if anyone thinks they'll be a good addition to any buffets/starters they're doing over Xmas. 

girlinayellowdress

Hi all, I think I am going to get to wrap tomorrow, not that there is much to do. This week I received my first Christmas present in 38 years, a total surprise. Thank you so much gtq. I've not opened it but its on the shelf and I keep looking at it and smiling, so thankyou it's put me in the Christmas spirit. Hopefully you have or will get your card soon. I have a food shop coming tomorrow with a few extra bits in and another closer to the big day, saying that, less than 3 weeks now. 

It's dry here today so I'm going to get some gardening done. xx

Treasurequeen

I’ve recorded Kirstie’s handmade Christmas and will be watching it today as weather is truly awful here. I think a nice festive homemade hot chocolate might go well with it too. I think I’m going to make a start on wrapping tomorrow. I need to find my gift list and organise presents as they are in boxes all over the place. All presents will be delivered on Christmas Eve this year so need to figure out where the wrapped presents will be stored. I wrap stocking gifts first usually and store them in the stockings in a bag under the bed.  

kerri_gt

I've been struggling to get onto MSE forums this week, phone just takes ages to load (if at all).
Wanted to get a nice stamp for xmas cards but the one I've just picked is 7-10 days processing which rather cuts it fine for xmas posting so I'll either need to find an alternative and order for next year or take a punt and hope it arrives in time. It's largely because i hate my writing on cards esp M which is a bit of a drawback for Merry Christmas 🎅 

After declaring DN * 2 were only getting their main gift and no extras this year I've bought them both some fluffy keyrings (little one is Frozeb mad so she has Elsa, older one has a Trolls one) so will pick up a couple of other little bits to go with (ok I just like shopping for the girls).

vulpix

I bought my Mum a "tin" of Roses ages ago as they have been her fave for the past 62 years that I know of. Yesterday on the phone she said will you get me a tin of chocolates? Roses? No I don't like them any more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol

rachsecret

Been a busy week this week; made a Christmas wreath using all items I found on my local walks, set up our hot chocolate station and this morning we had a 'festive brunch' followed by a lovely walk in the cold, crisp and sunny wintery weather 'up north'.

Last night had a mammoth gift wrapping session and nearly lost the will to live. I thought I had broken the back of it and then found lots of bits that I hadn't wrapped. Worse still, some of the gifts I previously wrapped have come 'undone' as I used some eco-friendly tape instead of sellotape which was a bit rubbish.

Tomorrow we are having a mini-christmas dinner with a teeny weeny turkey and all the usual bits to get us in the mood and because we can't go out to eat as everything is shut here in Tier 3 Greater Manchester. 

This week we are handing in our secret santa gifts at work so they have 72 hours in quarantine before exchanging the week after. It has been done via one of the online apps and incredibly I have got the same person as last year. I am doing her a stocking with a bottle of wine, smellies, festive face mask and other bits and bobs. It is a £10 limit but I always go over the limit as I have this awful fear that someone might think I haven't spent the whole amount lol. 

Beshki

Trying to think of some little stocking gifts for my OH. We never usually do presents but he’s had a terrible year and deserves a bit of spoiling. That said I refuse to buy for the sake of buying so it’s got to be things he needs or uses/loves. So far have his fave chocolate & favourite coffee beans (neither of which they sell in our usual places of shopping so he’ll be happy about both of those), I might pop in some pants & socks but stuck for anything else. Can’t do nice shower stuff as he’s allergic to everything. Asked him today if he had any gloves, he proceeded to tell me about every pair he owns lol! 

kerri_gt

Beshki could you get OH shower / smellies that he currently uses? 
Vulpix I've just opened our tin of Roses...i may have to confiscate the tin from OH.  🤣

Spendless

Beshki - An idea I posted on another thread, this is what my daughter did for her boyfriend, you take each of the 5 senses and buy something relating to that, eg
sight - book
sound - music related
touch - clothing
smell - toiletries
taste - food

It somehow makes to easier to break down and vary stuff. 

C_J

How about one of those coffee bag clips with integral scoop
A miniature bottle of whiskey and some whiskey stones
A magazine for one of his hobbies 
A computer keyboard compressed air cleaner can
A few packs of seeds (maybe unusual types of chilli)
A credit card sized metal multi-tool (they sell these in poundland)