Santa’s challenge 2020 ...

chanie

Happy kitties well done for finding 20p wrapping paper.  That’s the best deal by far.  I did pop into WHS yesterday, but I didn’t think to look for wrapping paper.

im now thinking of  doing some hampers and decorations for Easter.  It’s not something I have done for a while, but I think that everyone could do with a pick me up. 

chanie

I popped in to Home Bargains and B&M today.   I bought a couple of paint by numbers sets, which I thought would be good for the Xmas toy appeal.  

Anglea

Hi everyone.

Seems son received his presents on time in January and I was sent a video of him opening them and I had a chance to talk to him on the phone, he had a party (he lives in a group home of 4 residents). My current focus is Valentine's, not been able to go to my usual Feb 14th haunts last year (pirate pubs and lovely meal) and it feels weird going nowhere this year too.

Hope you are all ok.

I've  been arranging and going to various hospital appointments with mum and done a bit of geocaching, nothing else much to report.

Happy_Kitties

Anglea I’m pleased that ur son received his presents okay. It sounds like he had a great birthday.
Chanie The Easter hampers and decorations sound lovely. I think everyone has struggled more with this lockdown. The first lockdown I whizzed thru with paperwork but this one, esp post Christmas has been hard. I think the hampers will really cheer people up. I got a small one from friends last year, it was really lovely and made my week. They had made it like a little pamper hamper

Nothing much to report here. I keep meaning to pop a picture of the paper up as I have some ready to pass onto a friend when we are allowed to. Have picked up a few more bits and have parcelled up a charity parcel ready to send to the organiser-only bec I had a box!

I’m finding bargains very thin on the ground now, what other bits I’ve got for the charity are packed away now. I’ve found that I have managed to save quite abit of money since the lockdowns started, me and DD like urself Anglea miss the things we used to do. We want to do a Christmas market in the future and my aim is to get back to New York.....living room needs to be decorated first. 

I_Love_comps

Hello just popped on to see how everyone is. Must say today I feel that we will never get out of lockdown - but I know we will.   
I miss mooching around charity shops - I love picking up a bargain and I buy my books from there too,
Not very MSE, but I treated myself to some new make-up in January.
As no where is open I have not managed to buy anything to put away for Christmas. I have saved some nice silver and black boxes, which contained food nibbles in. I can use these to put presents in at Christmas.  

crazy-cat-lady_2

Can’t believe January is finally over. I don’t know if it’s lockdown or just start if the year after Christmas busy times but it seems to have lasted forever. 

Hope everyone’s ok. I managed to get some more bits to put away for this Christmas and class birthday presents. As well as a bag of little toys and bits for charity collections through the year. I’m missing all the shops now too. Amazon/hot deals can only find me so many bargains to put away. I want a proper rummage.   Ohh, also had a nice few competition wins that will come in useful lately! Always a bonus. 

I am now officially out of work. I’m so upset. My contract was only ever temporary. Covid bought me an extra 6 months, as everything was slowed down and I was needed longer. It was expected but still a shock and a change. I suppose  in a small way it’s a relief as work and homeschool at the same time was so hard! The work they expect her to do is crazy. Especially maths and English. But in a much bigger way it’s a worry. As soon as school is open I can start to look again. But no point now as I wouldn’t be able to manage an interview with a 4 year old who insists on being in any zoom call!

I did get a nice big amazon voucher as a leaving gift. So that’s tucked away safe for presents as and when I need them, if something isn’t already in the cupboards (and wardrobe overspill) already. 

I got some really nice crackers and ribbon, wrapping and gift bags for next to nothing too for the Christmas stash. 

I_Love_comps

I still have Christmas presents to take to my daughters.  We decided we would not them through the post.   So our Christmas will be whenever Boris allows visits to relatives again.  We need to stay over as she is a 3 hour drive away from us.

Happy_Kitties

I_Love_Comps  I’ve got a Christmas present I need to hand out when allowed and one I need to get in the post......I was so behind on this one. Seems strange to think it contains a Christmas ornament and chocolate reindeer!

I love a mooch round a charity shop aswell. I’ve picked up some great things in the past including a Jo Malone soap in a bag of soaps with bath bomb for a £1. That soap alone went to on to raise £8 in a charity auction. Plus I picked up some Christmas books to read pre Christmas
CC2 sorry to hear about work, hopefully u will get something else soon.I also use hot deals to find bargains!
U sound like u r doing really well with presents. My present list has been cut down this year making life much easier and keeping me under budget.
U are doing really well with ur competitions, I used to do them many years ago and stopped.
Debating what to do today, I’m not sure yet but do need to get more of my bargains put away, house is messy at the minute with DDs things and DMs things dumped everywhere

chanie

crazy cat sorry to hear you are out of work.  My contract expired over the summer and I had a couple of months out of work.  I know it’s scary, but I did find work and you will too.

Anglea

Hi everyone,

Chanie I hope you and your family are ok

I wonder how Katiehound is doing.

Crazy cat I hope you find the time at home rewarding until you either find another job or some kind of other path in life.

I love comps, I like the sound of those boxes you are keeping for Christmas, that's a good idea if they are attractive.

My Valentine's gift and card making didn't go to plan as I overlooked virtually all the shops are closed and the only other place is the pound shop for craft bits but this week doesn't have any so I've ended up buying things instead although I'm still going to see if there is a way I can make the gift this evening, if not then at least I have a back up

Happy Kitties, I was laughing when I thought of the presents you still have,  the ornament and chocolate reindeer. I haven't sent DS1 and his gf their gifts either.