Santa’s challenge 2020 ...

Happy_Kitties

It’s great to see everyone posting.

Anglea congratulations on ur sons wedding and so nice that ur younger son was able to attend the reception

Chanie I hope ur are doing okay with COVID. I totally get u with the ten days, I would go stir crazy. I hope everything continues to go okay and u get over COVID without any issues.

i haven’t done much at all. I’ve got my presents, could do with a couple more for DD but generally done. Normally I would have them wrapped by now but I’ve even struggled to sort out wrapping birthday presents and get them to people on time, which I have been shocking with this year. My heart isn’t in it but I’ve got a lot of house stuff going on at the minute.

I'm hoping to wrap birthday presents and deliver them to Duncle when I go over for bank holiday for him to hand out the following month. That will be 5 lots of presents and will be success if I pull it off!!

Christmas shoebox wise I’m on box number 7. Have brought it down to wrap this afternoon. Nearly there and hoping to get them delivered next month. That’s the plan anyway!

I have definitely been shocking this year with presents 

chanie

happy kitties lovely to see back here.
 

I think Angela’s posting spurred me to get back on track with my Xmas prep.  I ordered a few bits for the children - toiletries and a print with their names on for their bedrooms.  

I also bought some coloured pens, which will go towards the Christmas toy appeal.  That’s another thing I have neglected!  

chanie

I just did a mini inventory of gifts (I say mini, because I didn’t have time to have a proper sort through because DD was around and she is highly suspicious of anything and everything).  

 I found lots of gifts I didn’t realise I had bought!  Plus, I opened some wrapped gifts I had from last year, which I haven’t managed to give because of the various lockdowns.  I had to unwrap them because I didn’t know what I had bought as it was so long ago.  But opening the gifts made me realise that some of the toys i bought last year are no longer suitable as the children are older.  

Once the children are back at school, I’ll be able to have a proper sort though.  I normally write a list, but I let it lapse ages ago.

in the meantime, I’m going to Home Bargains and   B&M, so I’ll get what I can.

Katiehound

Hi Chanie- hope you have recovered by now

Plodding along here
Spent a week in Norfolk recently- first trip of the year!!! - I still wince when I drive past the spot where I broke down 2 years ago! (and spent 17 hours waiting for the RAC!!) One of our fav places is Diss but with half the charity shops closed down its a bit Diss-appointing! Attleborough still has the full complement and I did some spending there. My friend kindly knitted 4 x pairs of mitts for the shoeboxes during my stay.

My best buys were a red hand/ shoulder bag- half of it leather for £2 and a set of Bananagrams- worth £22 for £2. It's a great game if you like playing with words.

These past few days I have packed and wrapped 6 shoeboxes. Today I managed to get another box from Clarks and the 8th is being reinforced/ repaired so waiting for glue to dry. I have one pair mitts & a hat to sew up: have everything then! This year I am using up a load of items I bulk bought last year so not so much to store........
The idea is to deliver them to organiser this week, I have already chatted to her & she says the room is empty & awaiting boxes. With them gone there will be a HUGE space: not!!

Last week I treated myself to an overlocker from online Aldi. It arrived unexpectedly on Sat but still sealed up! I've been looking at one for a few years- this was a good price with good reviews.

Hoping to go to Ireland in 2 weeks. Ferry company haven't been very helpful!!
My old girl has aged so much- I think the long drive will be a challenge for all of us: the furthest I have driven in the last 18 months is a mere 100 miles!

Christmas presents? Not really going there at the moment except for my dog runner as I found some funny dog bits. I honestly don't know if I shall be going away to my friend anymore as I can no longer put the elderly hound in kennels. Playing it all by ear- and taking each day as it comes as she is now 14.
I still have a large bag of fancy Christmas socks bought for a song which are on standby!!

Hope everyone is keeping well

(oh yes, and I got my Michael Ball shout out! and I was sewing at the time....)

chanie

Katie i remember when your car broke down.  I can’t believe it’s been 2 years.  When I think back to pre-pandemic, it feels like a life time ago.

Last Xmas, I made a food hamper for my OH and children and one for my sisters family, which they all seemed to enjoy.  So I’m going to do that same this year and bought a few items today (have checked end dates).  I may also do one for my Mum, but will need to be a healthy eating one.

Happy_Kitties

I’m still wrapping birthday presents to go over to Duncles but not going over now as they are surrounded by COVID. Spare room has gift bags ready and I only have two presents left to sort so hoping to go over next month as I will be moving back into birthday season. Did manage to hand over the second part of a birthday present last night-only a month late but really still not feeling it at all. That isn’t like me at all!

7 shoeboxes now completed, would like to get another one done. One of the charity shops in town is proving to be great for cheap bits to go in the boxes, feels like a double bubble donation.

Also sent a donation of bits to a group that fundraises for small animal charities. Beginning to see space. 

I’m presently dodging paperwork, and finding anything I can to keep dodging it lol.

Katiehound I also cannot believe it was two years ago when you broke down, it really does feel like it was yesterday. Time is def moving too quick.

chanie the hampers sound really lovely. I haven’t got anyone to do one for for Christmas but the Easter ones went down well. I do have bits to make hampers for next year, so def keeping that idea on hand.

Katiehound

All 8 shoeboxes delivered today (no, not to Romania!) When I got to fill the last shoebox there was a spare pencil case.. so, one of 4 elderly boxes was missing it! By that stage all of them were sealed and wrapped so on the check list I had to draw a ring around 'Pens' and put  '? maybe!'  Really annoying

Went into Mr T- seems very expensive after Aldi and so much bigger so that I can't find anything. I just filled the car with fuel and a bit of shopping, then 'home James!' I noticed their carrier bag recycler now accepts crisp packets, cat food pouches amongst other plastic film items as well as plastic bags.

I've been posting books to friends over lockdown. They tell me the genres and I check the titles with them and then post. They pay me the postage and they get 5 or 6 paperback books. I've got it down to a fine art! I use a giant cornflake packet re glued with plain card outside- it's surprising what you can get into the box for 2 kilos. One packet posted today.....

chanie

Katie your book swap with friends is a great idea.  My local train station has a bookcase where you can pick up/drop off books, so I normally drop my books there, when I’ve finished with them. 

Katie and happy kitties you both are amazing, having continued your charitable efforts over lockdown.  

chanie

The shortages in the shops are a big incentive to get prepped early for Christmas.  I popped to my beloved Home Bargains and there were lots of empty shelves.  Ditto the supermarkets. 

Happy_Kitties

Chanie thank u but I have to say u are amazing aswell. U have done various things on the charity front from the shoeboxes, Christmas toy donations and I think u r on the biggest challenge yet, the school PTA and all the planning and fundraising a PTA does. I was never that brave!

I have finally started Christmas wrapping. I have been preparing 5 lots of birthday presents to go back with my DD next weekend as I am going back into birthday season. Frustratingly I cannot find one part of a present. Have a week to keep hunting. While the scissors and tape were out I decided to get started. 

Quite a few are small presents this year (quite a few female teenagers to cater for) . I had split a ghost gift set with six small perfumes in it. The plush toiletry bag they were in has gone to a charity shop and I have used the perfumes as part of the present and added something like face wipes or make up for the present. I had bought small bags that almost remind me of a party bag the kids take home after a party. Wrapped and into the bag they look great. Completed four last night so glad I have finally started. Trying to focus on the ones that need to get sent off the beginning of December first. I think for one family 4 will be in the gift bags and the youngest has a substantially bigger present in size. I try and stick to a budget for Christmas and birthdays but bargain hunting has been more difficult during a pandemic. Pleased though as it’s looks like I will be coming in at least £50 under budget for Christmas.

Two letters to do today as two birthdays next week aswell including sending a birthday present along with one.

I hope everything is good and staying productive. Frustratingly still looking for that one elusive shoebox to complete my shoebox quota