Santa’s challenge 2020 ...

Katiehound

Hello, still here at home!

I need to contact StenaLine shortly & work out what I am going to do with one of my ferry bookings (has a good discount attached!) At present I have another booked for Sept. Both these were bought in the Black Friday sale  November 2019!!!
Last I heard ROI was inviting the 39yo for their vaccinations
Might not get there this year....... this virus is still around... whatever the Govt may say!

So far I have managed to get 3 reasonable shoeboxes. I go into Clarks regularly to see if they have any large ones going begging.
Accidentally I clicked on Amazon Prime one month trial- I was going to cancel straightaway but then I realised it's an opportunity to buy some of the items cheaply without p&p. So far: 10 reporters notebooks, 20 metal pencil sharpeners, 50 black biros & 12 pairs of work gloves. I am going to do 8 boxes for certain so whatever is spare will go back in the wardrobe!!!
This weekend I need to drag the whole lot out to see what I really really need. I certainly don't need any thin scarves: got some @ 50 pence from charity shop last year? and even better a carrier bag full out of a skip- cost nowt!! Some needed rehemming but washed and pressed- perfect.

Last week I got a nice certificate from Dogs for Good for raising £2,144 from the duvet sales (up to Dec 20) I am still making them & the material mountain never seems to get to the foothills!- it constantly looks like high peaks.

Yesterday I was given a pretty hosta. Now it is repotted & in the garden but awaiting a liberal coating of vaseline round the rim to keep those pesky munching shelled molluscs at bay! A couple of weeks ago I went out 3 nights running with a torch to discover over 50. (They didn't live to tell the tale....)

Hope everyone is surviving even thriving.

Goodie, goodie, the sun is coming out...

Happy_Kitties

Great news on the certificate Katiehound and much deserved. Hoping that u can get ur ferry bookings sorted.
I hate snails!

I sealed up box number 5 two nights ago and I’m hoping to wrap it tonight. I also got work gloves from Amazon, they worked out a lot cheaper and also bought a box of soap when it was on a special deal. I’ve also managed to get a couple of toy items much cheaper for a Christmas toy appeal, and a couple of bargains for the charity auction. The way this year is whizzing by, the auctions will be starting before I know it.

Some of the charity shops are expensive for things like scarves, but we had a new one open up that is really good. I’ve picked up some scarves and nice costume jewellery from there to go in the boxes. 

I’m hoping to do 6 elderly boxes and 2/3 family boxes

Christmas shopping wise, apart from DD I’ve got one present left to get. I’ve used Etsy for a couple of bits and have been trying to support small businesses.

other than that life has just consisted of paperwork and cats!
EDIT box 5 was wrapped and finished last night. Decided to start a family box and after having a hunt round with various storage areas of Christmas box stuff, I was surprised to find I had most items already so currently working on that box

Katiehound

If I remember rightly- from Tesco playing cards  2 packs for £1, 2 toothbrushes 25pence & I think cheap razors- but of course they may not have those anymore.
I bought soap, toothpaste, shampoo from Aldi
Yesterday I ordered 12 tape measures for my sewing kits- £4

(For myself I ordered 24 pairs of socks, yes, just for my one pair of feet! Mine are all disintegrating (socks not feet!): these worked out @ 75 pence a pair. They arrived yesterday and are fine)

The shops which used to have really cheapie own range items such as Wilko & Morrisons seem to have axed those ranges which is... a pain!

I think I have some off cuts of quilted fabric for hottie covers- ithey were going in the rag bag but then a brainwave struck! If I cover one side with darker fabric it might be perfect: I have 4 pieces. Always loathe to throw anything out! (It would still have gone to a charity as rag weight....)

Off to drag the bags out. I have enough cutlery to kit out the palace... OK slight exaggeration!

Happy_Kitties

katiehound….mine are just the bog basic hottie!

I get toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, razors and the bars of choc (try to put a milk choc and white choc into the boxes) from Tesc@ and when they have done featured things with the boxes, I have noticed it is the Tesco own range which has featured heavily

Quite excited that by next weekend I will have another box done, my first family box. Need to pick up toothbrushes for it tomorrow. 

Managed to pick up brand new and cheap from a charity shop, a small 10 piece tool kit that is a credit card size and a magnetic noughts and crosses game that have both gone into this box. I like doing double bubble if I can with charity shop and box.

Happy_Kitties

All very quiet here.

Trying to get the house sorted but not getting very far. Have been doing a few things with the garden but I am an end house where things get eaten or don’t survive the extremes of weather. It has been very hit and miss in what works and what doesn’t.

 I do have 6 shoeboxes completed and stacked up, even wrapped(the bit I really hate doing). Managed to finish the family shoebox with ease.

I’m happy that I don’t have any more birthdays for a while. Ive been shocking. Still have to give out 3 presents and still have 3 to get.
Duncle has invited me over for Sunday lunch August bank holiday so going to take all of the cousin’s kids presents for him to hand out-which he is always late with aswell!

Normally during the very hot weather I would be wrapping Christmas presents, a sort of tradition but have lost my mojo for this year. The only thing I have been good at is getting the charity items to the charity organiser. That’s only bec I have had boxes.

Hopefully I will get better organised as the year goes on but I’m not hopeful!

C_J

Katiehound said:

Accidentally I clicked on Amazon Prime one month trial- I was going to cancel straightaway but then I realised it's an opportunity to buy some of the items cheaply without p&p. 

@Katiehound : make sure you remember to cancel the Amazon Prime trial straight away, they're terrible for charging for a year's subscription the minute you look away!!

Happy_Kitties

@Katiehound I heard ur Michael Ball shout out on radio 2 this morning. As soon as he started to say sewing and bags I knew it was you! Great to hear

Not a lot going on here. Still slowly sorting out. Managed to sell some items on the bay of e and still late with 3 presents, not that I think one person will mind as the present is part hot water bottle

Anglea

Hi everyone. Reason I've been awol mostly is that there always seems to be some kind of latest dilemma to sort.

Eldest son got married last weekend, it was all arranged last minute and everything that could have gone wrong did - to the extent that mum and I nearly missed the wedding because the city was gridlocked due to road closures and a protest and we had to leave BIL in the car and walk.

As mum is 90 this was a bit of a panic to avoid the protesters. Luckily BIL managed to get there in time eventually but he was really stressed and angry. We also had to all walk to the reception hotel because of the same reason and even the bridal couple could have missed the ceremony because of all sorts of last moment things relating to last minute covid rules for weddings that weren't announced anywhere and he got a call a few days in advance.

However, everything was ok in the end.

Younger son attended the reception with his support worker, he didn't go to the ceremony. It was a magical day, very posh. The bride made hundreds of Japanese decorations and there was a table of Japanese snacks and she did all the flowers (at mum's house where they stayed a few days before). There was a video from the bride's family as none of her family could attend as from overseas.

I haven't been organised at all this year with special occasions because all my usual card shops have been closed and I have had other things on my mind. Mum has been acting very strange with me since Dad died - not all the time - but there have been some bad incidents. However, she's still very active and independent and can still do everything like before.

I still haven't finished dad's affairs as everything was held up.

I'll return to comment on your posts another time. I've got a house problem to sort out and just had to get away from it for a while to catch up on here.

chanie

Hi everyone

angela congratulations on your sons wedding.

I have made practically no progress with Xmas prep since the last time I posted.  I guess I should get a move on, as we don’t know what autumn/winter will bring. As we were in lockdown over Xmas last year, I was pleased that I’d got Xmas sorted early, so I didn’t have a last minute panic.  I just don’t know what to get anyone.

Even more annoying, I got covid, so I’m having to self isolate.  Luckily, i only have a mild case, but 10 days is a looonngggg time.

chanie

I made a quick Xmas purchase after I posted.  I bought DS a book a book callled ‘how to survive almost anything’ like a shark attack or lava. He does think about stuff like that, so it will be a good read for him.  It arrived today, so I’ve put it away.

I’m going to try and be less wasteful this Xmas, particularly with the children’s stockings.