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

princesskitty29

I struggle to get on here in the week as the few hours that Squeak is at pre-school is used up doing Christmas prep and my evenings are still taken up with my cross stitch. I’m on the last leg now though I’ve finished the actual picture I just need to do the back-stitching and hope that someone has got some capacity to frame it before Christmas! As much as I’ve enjoyed stitching it, it will be lovely to reclaim my evenings a bit! I’m mostly done on the present front, just a few more bits and bobs to get that won’t be a problem. I’ve also wrapped about half of them. I think if it hadn’t of been for this cross stitch I would have had most of it done by 1st December – my goal that rolls over yearly without being achieved! Maybe next year….

 

Yesterday I did the ‘theatre afternoon’ with Wiggle which involved watching a Cbeebies pantomime at home with snacks and it had mixed results! I gave him a ticket and decided to walk around the block with him to make it feel like we were going somewhere, that was a mistake as he had a mini strop when we got home as I think he thought it would be more exciting! He then got very excited when DH served us the ‘snack pack’ (popcorn, sweets and a drink in a basket) and then ushered us through to the dark theatre (living room) to watch The Snow Queen. He was loving it until the food ran out, he had another mini strop when I said he couldn’t have any more, then he calmed down and watched the rest. He said he enjoyed it but that was debatable at times! Here’s hoping I have better luck with the North Pole Breakfast and Grinch themed dinner!

 

Treasurequeen really glad to hear you can see your grandparents! I think I’m going to use reusable calendars next year as I’m going to try harder to cut down on plastic. I tend to buy them now for nostalgic reasons.

 

GTQ congratulations on the new arrival in the family, lovely news.

 

vulpix oh noooooo about the Roses! It’s always the way isn’t it?

 

Beshki I’ve put a little bottle of hand sanitiser into all of the stockings I’ve made for the adults, although I don’t know if your OH uses it with his allergies.

Treasurequeen

Beski - my dad is allergic to a lot of smellies but I’ve managed to find a couple of vegan ones that are ok. I have severely sensitive skin and I’ve found some great smellies again natural and vegan. If you know what he’s allergic to I can see if there is something he can have. 

I ended up wrapping some presents yesterday, just got my parents ones to wrap, the stockings and the dogs present. I’ve got some cinnamon sticks that originally came in a pot pourri mix A few years ago, they’ve lost their scent. I’ve got some cinnamon essential oil somewhere and I will see if I can revive them to make my own natural pot pourri. 

Treasurequeen

For my brother who’s a computer technician I got him a recycled circuit board coaster for his desk at work. I got it off Etsy only paid £4.00 for it. They do tree decorations out of old circuit boards too which I will get for next year. Could be an idea for someone. 

Lookafterthepennies2020

Treasurequeen said:

For my brother who’s a computer technician I got him a recycled circuit board coaster for his desk at work. I got it off Etsy only paid £4.00 for it. They do tree decorations out of old circuit boards too which I will get for next year. Could be an idea for someone. 

I'll take a look for one of these as a stocking filler for my oh, thanks x 

Spendless

Love the circuit board coaster idea. Ideal for my son too who is doing a computer degree.

Beshki - Know you said you struggle with toiletries for your OH, but does he ever go away o/night for either business or leisure? If so what about some non-cosmetic toiletry items eg those toothbrush guards, even a folding toothbrush if you can find one, or a long travel toothbrush holder, guards for razors if he wet shaves, a shower puff, you can get them in neutral colours not just pastels if you think they'd look too 'girly', if he uses bar soap due to his sensitive skin, a travel soap dish.
Ahhhh I bet your little boy enjoyed the theatre experience princesskitty. When mine were younger we'd do something and I'd pick up on all the bits where they weren't happy only for them to tell me what fun they'd had -lol. 

Treasurequeen

Cashed in my cash back and got a quilted reusable advent calendar off of Etsy for next year. It’s so beautifully crafted and will be easy to store. I did think about the wooden ones but my storage in my flat is awful. Being quilted it can be washed too if the need arises, plus it can be an heirloom. 

Home bargains had men’s shower puff branded Ones for £1.49. 

Mrs_Ryan

Travel folding toothbrushes- Boots do them in their travel ranges. They’re not expensive  
Hiya everyone. 

Not much doing here. The very last gifts are arriving- my nephew’s vodka, my niece’s Parma Violet gin (what it is to be young- I can’t think of anything more yucky but I used to drink really sweet stuff when I was younger too!) and my friend’s drawing is due to arrive in the next few days. My sister’s Avon perfume and deodorant arrived today, and I have some pj’s for OH to wrap up as well. I’ve been looking around for other stuff for OH as I don’t feel I’ve got much for him but after going way OTT last Christmas and him not using a load of the stuff I got him I’ve cut right back this year. 

He’s a postie and usually gets loads of overtime plus a bonus at Christmas so we’re usually doing fine but this year he’s got neither. They have instead chosen to take on more temps and pay them more than they would pay the permanent staff in overtime. We’re scrabbling round and counting every penny just to pay bills- so no present for me this year. I bought a Newcastle Falcons rugby shirt and a Ronan Keating calendar myself and wrapped them up from him instead. 

Things got absolutely desperate a couple of weeks ago- I have a wardrobe full of dresses by a brand called Popsy (for those who don’t know they’re funky dresses with pockets made in the UK- in the Midlands near here by a small company. They usually make a very small run of dresses and don’t always restock. Often once they’re gone they’re gone so there’s a thriving trade in pre-loved dresses) I sold the ones in the best condition to pay for food. They command good prices fortunately- I sold 16 dresses in total. I’ve been fighting desperately with Student Finance to sort out my loan after they made a mess of it- at last I managed to get it escalated and it was approved on Thursday. I’m incredibly grateful as it makes life a lot easier but still it’s running short  

We were due to go out on Xmas Day for lunch but as it stands it’s not happening as we’re in Tier 3. This could change- the rates here are very low, so low in fact that our council are looking at legal action against the government. There have been strong indications that we could be ‘decoupled’ from Leicester and so hopefully drop to Tier 2, if that’s the case then we can still go for lunch. I’ve been given a full refund as I had paid upfront (£130 which was very welcome) but that meant we’ve had to scrabble around to try and organise a food shop. 

No delivery slots to be had anywhere- I live in the middle of nowhere here and the slots here are scarce anyway- but finally I managed to find a single Click and Collect slot at the other side of Leicester on the 19th. Unfortunately that’s also the day we’re going to my mum’s (support bubble) so we essentially have to get up about 6am, drive to the other side of Leicestershire, pick up the shopping, drive back, put it away then drive to Mum’s. Not looking forward to that... but we already have the turkey crown and a nut roast for me. I’m still adamant that I’m not cooking hence Aunt Bessie is providing most of the food for Xmas lunch  

Spendless

Oh that's rubbish Mrs-Ryan with your OH's job, and the financial difficulties you've been put in. When I was a child, the lady who owned the hairdressing salon my Mum worked in, went on hol, got a temp in to cover her and asked my Mum to do the temp's pay packet. That;s how my Mum discovered the temp had been paid more than she had. It led to my Mum deciding to set up her own salon instead which she was successful at. Hope the New Year fetches you  financial success too. 

Yes, we're Tier3 too with all the restraints that bring, meaning we can't travel out of the area except for work or education. As part of daughter's musical theatre course she is meant to watch live theatre performances. So far she's been getting round this as had the others by watching live streams or referring back to the shows she saw on a college trip in Mid March literally as they were all closed, they saw some of the last shows performed. Now she's 'used up' all these references and is at a distinct disadvantage to the rest of her class who live in Tier2 areas with the college also Tier2 and can go to the theatre.  College can't arrange a trip, which would get round it  because of the restrictions they'd have to follow with transport and seating. So, I have booked something for me and her to watch during the Christmas hols. . They've accepted our booking so hopefully won't have a problem. I wouldn't have booked just anything, this is something where daughter knows someone in it.  Not worried about spreading infection, we're already at the lower end of Tier3 so possible could change and  we will be at home for over a week beforehand and have made arrangmenets for our travel to be at quieter times and by car as much as possible. 

Yes that makes sense that younger ones prefer sweeter drinks. In the summer we had a BBQ, DD's boyfriend met our family for the first time and they wandered round to visit Granparents. My mum made them cupcakes and I'd bought them a selection of ready made cocktails to have there, I'd got vodka and gin ones, but their preference was the Malibu and pineapple one, which I thought very 80s and odd they liked that one the best till you said. 

Beshki

Mrs_Ryan said:

Travel folding toothbrushes- Boots do them in their travel ranges. They’re not expensive  
Hiya everyone. 

Not much doing here. The very last gifts are arriving- my nephew’s vodka, my niece’s Parma Violet gin (what it is to be young- I can’t think of anything more yucky but I used to drink really sweet stuff when I was younger too!) and my friend’s drawing is due to arrive in the next few days. My sister’s Avon perfume and deodorant arrived today, and I have some pj’s for OH to wrap up as well. I’ve been looking around for other stuff for OH as I don’t feel I’ve got much for him but after going way OTT last Christmas and him not using a load of the stuff I got him I’ve cut right back this year. 

He’s a postie and usually gets loads of overtime plus a bonus at Christmas so we’re usually doing fine but this year he’s got neither. They have instead chosen to take on more temps and pay them more than they would pay the permanent staff in overtime. We’re scrabbling round and counting every penny just to pay bills- so no present for me this year. I bought a Newcastle Falcons rugby shirt and a Ronan Keating calendar myself and wrapped them up from him instead. 

Things got absolutely desperate a couple of weeks ago- I have a wardrobe full of dresses by a brand called Popsy (for those who don’t know they’re funky dresses with pockets made in the UK- in the Midlands near here by a small company. They usually make a very small run of dresses and don’t always restock. Often once they’re gone they’re gone so there’s a thriving trade in pre-loved dresses) I sold the ones in the best condition to pay for food. They command good prices fortunately- I sold 16 dresses in total. I’ve been fighting desperately with Student Finance to sort out my loan after they made a mess of it- at last I managed to get it escalated and it was approved on Thursday. I’m incredibly grateful as it makes life a lot easier but still it’s running short  

We were due to go out on Xmas Day for lunch but as it stands it’s not happening as we’re in Tier 3. This could change- the rates here are very low, so low in fact that our council are looking at legal action against the government. There have been strong indications that we could be ‘decoupled’ from Leicester and so hopefully drop to Tier 2, if that’s the case then we can still go for lunch. I’ve been given a full refund as I had paid upfront (£130 which was very welcome) but that meant we’ve had to scrabble around to try and organise a food shop. 

No delivery slots to be had anywhere- I live in the middle of nowhere here and the slots here are scarce anyway- but finally I managed to find a single Click and Collect slot at the other side of Leicester on the 19th. Unfortunately that’s also the day we’re going to my mum’s (support bubble) so we essentially have to get up about 6am, drive to the other side of Leicestershire, pick up the shopping, drive back, put it away then drive to Mum’s. Not looking forward to that... but we already have the turkey crown and a nut roast for me. I’m still adamant that I’m not cooking hence Aunt Bessie is providing most of the food for Xmas lunch  

So Sorry that times are hard for you at the moment I’m sure your OH really appreciates having anything to open so don’t go short to buy extras, it is the time together that means most - he will enjoy that. 

Thanks for all the ideas for OH presents x

Gettingtherequickly

Got home to a beautiful card from Girlinayellowdress, together with a gift which will remain unopened, thank you so much!

Spoke to my mum earlier, the one thing I forgot about in sending her “advent calendar”, reliant on post. She has only received one so far, which is annoying, but was thrilled with the manicure set it contained, my aunt was chuffed with her sodoku, so hopefully, I will have chosen well by the end!