Santa’s challenge 2020 ...

chanie

I managed to contact the Salvation Army and dropped a bag of toys off tonight. 

 I had put the toys in one of those big reusable shopping bags you get from the supermarket and was going to swap it for a bin liner so I could keep the bag. OH gave me a ‘you are crazy’ look so I didn’t bother.  But now, I’m annoyed that I that I didn’t - paying for plastic bags is my pet peeve, even though they are only £1.

on a more positive note, OH bought our tree today and the plan is to put it up tomorrow.  As we were putting it in the shed, DD8 asked what the giant package was (her giant teddy).   Luckily, she distracted herself and quickly forgot.   

Anglea

Hi everyone, I've been awol a long time. I can't recall if I mentioned before I had a foot problem plantar fascitis which started a really long time ago and I still have it,  I also had a lot of problems with eye flashes which is ongoing. The optician seems to think it's silent migraines as well as blepharitis and said I should have gone to the hospital but I'm not going as the eye scan I had at the opticians said there wasn't anything wrong as such, she also said I should wear glasses all the time (I only wear for tv) and I shouldn't be on the phone/computer that long but that's not easy if there are loads of non stop calls and emails to make.

I've also had bad insomnia and stomach pains which I'm guessing is down to the extra lockdown November and now the Tiers which are making it really hard to see the boys as I'm in Tier 3. I've only seen one of them since Dad's funeral in January. And the one I see has to be outside at the shops as he's in very strict rules as lives in a group home so no allowed in gardens etc I don't drive and surrounded by countryside so can't be anywhere too open in case of bad weather.

I haven't done anything for Christmas as the shops have been shut here, I don't do online shopping and have been dealing with a lot of doctors etc about mum.

I've enjoyed reading all the updates and seeing the photos of the angels and the bear. Even though I don't do the shoeboxes I like reading about them as I used to do boxes and all sorts of other things for charities in the distant past.

chanie

Angela lovely to see you back.   Sorry about your health problems.

we finally put our tree up.  Here it is....  we don’t do minimalism.

A trip down memory lane for happy kitties the infamous cocktail baubles

Spendless

Hi, first time posting on here but just read @Angela post, my teenage daughter had blepharitis and still gets flare ups. Was mis-diagnosed several times, only picked up at the hospital, so would recommend you going  there and getting some medication for it. The delay in treatment deterioted my daughter's eyesight.
Re the plantar fascitis - I had it a few years ago, just suddently started. At the time though I had to wear safety shoes at work and sticking to them, sturdy lace up shoes did eventually work, took several months though.

I will join in at some point  with something Christmassy - just not at this time in the morning lol. Just thought I'd say what worked for us.

Happy_Kitties

It’s frustrating that u lose a post bec u’ve checked it with preview and then forget to post it......me yesterday......
Anyway
welcome Spendless. We are a happy little bunch, doing lots of charity shoeboxes and donations
Anglea my DM went into a home a couple of months ago. It’s stressful having to deal with everything. The medical bit not so much as she has very strong wishes which have been put into place but if I get notified of something then I have to let all of the family know and I’ve been left trying to sort out her finances. I hope things are going better for u health wise, it sounds like a rough time.
Chanie love, love, love the tree. I’m exactly the same, I don’t do minimalism, I get everything on
just when I thought DDs presents were finished, I have forgotten the cocktail baubles!!! I cannot believe I have done that, must get, they have become a tradition as DD always has one with her Christmas dinner

2 parcels and 3 cards left to send. One parcel I can’t do anything with until a frame arrives for the 21st birthday present that is going to go in it. Don’t think the mum was too impressed that I have been late with the present but I did explain that there was an awful lot going on with DM and that I could only do so much. One card needs a letter about DM, I hate doing these but it the last one.

DD should be over tomorrow to pick up more presents for Dcousins kids, just in case I can’t get over. One is a big present that needs wrapping tonight and I’m dreading it. Everything else has been done. The presents that haven’t been sent I will move to popping under the tree. Just a little bit nervous about the cats,  they are in extra attack mode with the tree this year!

chanie

Now that our tree is up, the next job is to wrap presents.  I always struggle with this as it’s not a job I can easily do with the children around and we don’t get much time when they aren’t around.  Luckily, as I’m working from a lot, I should be able to make a start when they are at school.  

I know some of you like to wrap as you go along, but I like to be able to see what I have got visually.  

Happy_Kitties

I bottled it on the big present but DD took the rest of the presents for D cousins kids so at least they have something to open at Christmas if I can’t get over.
Chanie I have a Christmas present book which I’ve come to the end of, is an absolute mess with lots of crossings out, but is a handy reference for present ideas from past presents  and I log how much I’ve spent to try and keep to a budget each year.
Was revolving round the entrance in Tesc@s today. Another toy and animal food donation dropped off along with recycling and 2 cards posted.
So just left with2 presents, 1 card to sort......and the cocktail baubles!!!

chanie

i had a bit of child free time today, so I made a start with the present wrapping.  Needless to say, the children are delighted that they now have a few gifts under the tree.  I still have a lot of wrapping to do though.  I think I may try and wrap as I go next year, so see if that makes it a bit easier.

I had a trip to Hime Bargains today and bought a couple of gifts for Xmas 2021.  I still have gifts for this Xmas to get, but I found a couple of good gifts, so I thought I should grab them while I can.

Happy_Kitties

Chanie we are so alike.......I’ve also bought a few gifts ready for 2021. When u see something that is ideal, I know if I try to get it at a later date, I’m not going to get it. I’m glad the wrapping process has started. I always want to be ready for the 1st Dec but I never am, still have a couple of extra bits to wrap.
I love H. Bargains but I’m trying to avoid. Went at 10am last Sunday when they opened and it was busy straight away. A lot of people where I live like to do a day trip of shopping at Christmas, Chester is a popular one. I bumped into a friend, they had took a trip somewhere and the h. Bargains had been cleaned out of so much stuff so they were back in the local one looking for items. But i would like to get in once again before Christmas if I can.
I've still got the one card, two parcels and cocktail baubles to do. I’m finally freeing up a box today so that will be ideal for one of the parcels. Boxes have been a real struggle this year.
Ive never done one before and it was the only date I could get but I have a home delivery shop coming today. So I have made the most of it, it’s a big main shop so I will only need to add a few extra bits to avoid busy supermarkets.
Trying to make life as easy as possible in the run up and avoid crowds

chanie

Christmas table.

The table runner I bought on holiday a few years ago. I don’t keep it on the table all the time as it wouldn’t survive 2 under 10s.  I wanted to take a picture of it looking nice. The table cloth I picked up from Aldi tonight.