Santa’s challenge 2020 ...

chanie

I still have xmas presents for my side of the family.   Luckily, nothing is Xmas themed, but one present was bought pre-Covid, which is currently redundant.... a travel wash bag.  Hopefully, by the time they get it, the travel restrictions will be easing.

My first Xmas 2021 gift arrived today, a posh body moisturiser for my Mum.  I found a good deal on eBay for less than half the price.  Other than thr stocking fillers I bought last month, I haven’t bought anything else,

Anglea

Hi everyone.  I had a fantastic Valentine with lots of unexpected presents even though we couldn't go to Bristol like in the old days. I said that mine was a plan C gift due to shops closed, mum hospital appointments and the latest saga this week with builders but I hope to try and make both of the intended gifts for Christmas and birthday as they are both in December, but my plan C gift was appreciated..

Happy_Kitties

Anglea im glad that u had a good Valentines. It was handy u had a few back up plans, everything sounds like it will come together by the end of the year.

Not a lot going on here except for bad weather!

I did order half price face masks yesterday that DD likes. Will make an ideal stocking filler.
Also a rogue code came up for M##npig today so have ordered a few cards from it today as I have quite a few birthdays up to June. I’m very limited to where I can get a nice birthday card at the minute and these worked out postage only at 85p each.

Still need to send the Christmas parcel but have sent a few parcels to charity organiser.
Ive registered for the shoeboxes again as I have built up quite a stash to go in them. I’m hoping to do them early to do an early drop off to the organiser again. My main problem will be shoeboxes, have 3 so far.

Hope everyone is doing okay and staying safe and well x

Happy_Kitties

Very very happy I did my first shoebox last night.......well cheated abit...it was the last shoebox I had left over that I couldn’t get to the collector. I even wrapped the box, that’s the bit I really hate doing. It was just a really happy hour listening to the radio and repacking the box items into a better box.

i  had a delivery from M+S yesterday. The box everything came in was perfect for a shoebox so I used that box last night. Hoping tonight I will pack the original box with items. It was too late to be pulling every thing out last night to start on the second box.

Bought a couple of fancy dress outfits in the Argos sale that will be brilliant for cousins kids and the M+s items included some sale items for DD.
The m##npig cards arrived so feel prepared for the real start of the birthday season here up till June and then it goes quiet until October and the birthday onslaught starts again. 

chanie

happy kitties I’m amazed you have done your first shoebox, in February.  That’s a great start.  

I’ve bought a couple of stocking fillers today from the poundshop and a mug that was reduce in Sainsburys for my sister, that was reduced from £5 to £1.50.  I’m feeling reluctant to buy xmas presents this early - I have two gifts from Xmas 2020 I haven’t been able to give out yet and by the time we get out of lockdown they will be unsuitable. Gift one is a cookie mix in a jar, which has a use by date in March and gift 2 is a woolly hat, which is of no use in the spring.
im even feeling too demotivated to update my gift list, in order to keep me motivated and organised.  I think once the shops reopen, I’ll feel more motivated as I get my best inspiration from browsing in shops.

i heard that Tesco’s will be doing their reduced Easter eggs tomorrow, so I’m going to buy the eggs for our nieces and nephews.  If I don’t, OH will remember on Maundy Thursday that he hasn’t got any and the only ones he will be able to get will be the expensive ones.  Not if I can get them for 75p each 🤣.

chanie

I did my food bank haul recently.  If you spend £200 a month in Lidl you get a £2 and £12 voucher on the app.  So, I used the £10 voucher for the food bank and bought lots of groceries and toiletries.

Happy_Kitties

Not a lot to report here but I have pinched ur idea of Easter hampers Chanie. Despite Duncle saying no to Easter eggs, he loves chocolate and I’ve also got him a jigsaw to pop in as he is very active and hates lockdown. He is one of those people that gets bored easily.
I bought some of the 75p eggs and ate a couple aswell and had to replace! 

With the shoebox I only needed to replace the chocolate and I’ve nearly finished a second one. Just need to get chocolate for that one aswell. When I went to get some the other day, the dates weren’t as good so left it. Hoping to complete the second one next week. 

Birthdays I’ve been shocking on. I’m late sending 2 presents out. I just haven’t had the motivation and although I have done well with Christmas presents the beginning of the year, when I looked at my birthday list, it is very poor, not the usual prep at all except for cards. 

Anglea

Hi everyone.

I appreciate reading the posts and seeing what everyone has been doing. I seem to be experiencing one thing after the other hence not been here lately. My phone broke at a really inopportune moment and the local phone shop is shut, I couldn't find my spare, my friend was away as helping to look after grandchildren for a week so couldn't give me a spare. I have to make lots of calls on behalf of mum, medical and other. So really bad timing for that to happen. My London son sent me a new one which was fantastic.

I just got over that then my upstairs toilet was out of action for over a week, fortunately I have a downstairs one. Yesterday a friend came to look at my outside drain - clear thank goodness. I think I sorted the problem by copious amounts of soda crystals and vinegar and a snake drain thingy.

I had a vaccine last weekend then had a week of bad side effects.

Finally I'm allowed to see my son (group home) and meeting him at the shops later this week with mum, I went to Tesco and only a very poor selection of Easter eggs I was expecting something spectacular. I'll also give him a Costa gift card (from mum) as well as other eggs.

Anglea

Are any of you currently watching the daily episodes of Below Decks - E4? I always think about Katiehound and her cruises even though the series follows the life of staff on yachts not cruise ships.

chanie

Hi Angela,
Great to hear from you and it’s lovely to read that you have been able to catch up with your son.  I hope you have recovered from your vaccination.  A few people I know who have had the job have felt ropey after it.

I haven’t been on here because I’ve been busy with work and I have nothing to report on the Xmas preparations anyway. I’ve changed focus on my charitable efforts from donating to the food bank, to helping out with the school PTA.  We have lots of work to do, so I’m quite busy with that for now.

im looking forward to the shops reopening soon and I’ve already booked a day off work to go shopping.