* Driving Home for Christmas * - It's the 2021 Christmas Chatter Thread!

mandco

I got my appointment to have my 1st covid vaccination - kind of nervous as I tend to be the person who gets all the side effects (my gp says I don't tolerate medication well )  and also feel a bit guilty as I know others with higher priority are still waiting for theirs in some areas but I am eligible/they sent me the appointment and it will be reassuring to know I have some protection esp with ds going back to school soon.

Looks like our april trip is def off as we are booked into the hotel - will have to wait and see what they say officially as there may be other options available but have provisionally put a deposit on a break in June (we can transfer the balance over once they contact us to confirm we can't go) as there is very limited availability so didn't want to risk not being able to go at all.

C_J

Princesskitty, my daughter used the toilet training wall chart from littleletterboxlearning.co.uk and found it really helpful for our grandson (he’s four this week, and had toilet issues until recently).

I have made a start on the Christmas presents for my teacher-daughter’s (year 2) class this year. I’m going to be making them a little stocking each - I have the red felt for these already - and last week I spotted some brilliant little Christmas jigsaw puzzles on Amzn. They are only cardboard, but quite good quality, and individually wrapped. 12 for 1.99 with free postage. Really pleased with them (and they might be a good addition for anyone doing shoeboxes this year).

Gettingtherequickly

Hi all. I joined the vaccinated gang last night, was obviously told of the side affects, but my God, am I cold today!  The aches I can deal with, but I don't usually suffer from the cold (my winter duvet is 2tog!), but absolutely freezing today. Hopefully it will pass quickly.

Not given any thought to Christmas yet, although am considering starting the cakes! It was my mums birthday on Friday and I was really panicked about getting her present to her as she has still not received her Christmas one (friend does Twitter so has complained for me as they don't like it! ) Who knows, I may get some joy.  Apparently I was supposed to send invoices for customs purposes, except for 2 very important points, 1 if they had delivered before 31/12, invoice would not have been required as UK was still in EU and 2.they never asked me for one when we hit the Brexit fiasco!.  Anyway, booked for collection at office which duly happened on Tuesday, was asked to pay import duty on Wednesday and it was delivered at 9:30 on Thursday morning, so I highly recommend DPD international!

StokieBecks

Hope everyone  is doing okay. Glad we have a bit of a roadmap out of restrictions but obviously know nothing is set in stone. 

An artist I like had a deal on for 3 of his A4 prints for £12.99 (one A4 is normally £13.99) as a mystery deal  at the weekend. You can't choose the prints but I ordered 2 sets so 6 prints (he said if you ordered more than one set you wouldn't get any duplicates). Hoping that some will be suitable for gifts and that might be me started on Christmas if so.

Nothing else really of note happening here towards Christmas. Mother's Day is the next one to think about but I think I have seen what I will get my  Mum, just need to decide on what to do with other half's mum as she has said going forward they only want money and we don't want to do money for gifts really so feel very torn.

kerri_gt

StokieBecks said:

Hope everyone  is doing okay. Glad we have a bit of a roadmap out of restrictions but obviously know nothing is set in stone. 

yes at last - though apart from the kids going back to school everything is still sodding ages away 
Tried to book some restaurants today for w/c 17th May but booking systems not up yet - guess we're gonna have to wait for a bit longer 
On the upside I do have a hair appt booked though so at least something to finally look forward to. 
Can't say I've really thought about Mothers Day - given nothing will be open still it's a bit of a non-event. 

rachsecret

@kerri_gt thanks for the heads up on that-I was all set to go down that route today as I had e-mailed them last night but surprisingly received a reply from them this morning stating that they would give me a refund less the booking fee. I think this is fair enough so I am delighted. Social media is full of threads about this company with many people having to go down legal routes to get  their money back. There is even one on MSE somewhere. So......on the back of Boris' announcement last night we have booked four nights from April 12th (which is the 2nd week of our Easter hols) at a lovely place in Yorkshire. 

@Gettingtherequickly hope you feel better soon. I have heard of lots of different types of side effects in different people, and some have none. A bit like the Covid disease itself really which really seems to hit people in so many various ways. 

Spendless

The info with the roadmap is good news for us for DDs 18th but not so DS 21st. He doesn't mind, I don't think the younger generation see a 21st as special in the same way an 18th is. Not sure what date he's actually doing it but DH has wangled working in the area where DS studies, so will be dropping off cards, presents and a cake and leaving him money for them all to get a take away. For DD rule of 6/ 2 households in the garden will be in and it'll be the Easter hols too, so going to start planning soon. 


I'm going to wait a bit before we book a hol. Just because I would still dearly love to kids away for their special birthdays but very much depends on how the rest of the world is coping, so want to wait and put any money towards that if we can. My Niece will have to cancel hers, due to go away 15th May, and no international travel until at least 17th. She can't change her annual leave as she works in public services and has set holiday times. My sister has changed her own UK break for Neice and boyfriend to go away with them in the UK instead (al same household).

kerri_gt

Rachsecret thats good news about the refund at least.
Not in the same league but I am still waiting on tickets for a gig that obv didn't go ahead last Dec. The organiser is saying they won't offer refunds until they have a rescheduled date to offer. Whilst it's 'only' £85 (for 2 tickets  ) and I would really like to see the band, and can likely go on the rescheduled date, it's left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth and I almost just want a refund out of principle now. Don't want to cut off my nose to spite my face,  and want to support the band who've obviously not been touring and the arts venue, I'm a bit cheezed off at their stance.
Spendless good news about DD birthday - something to look forward to and plan for now. 

mandco

GTQ hope your feeling a bit better today and the side effects pass quickly 

Rachsecret - glad you got a refund without any hassle fingers crossed things stay on track for your new break

spendless I agree 18th birthdays mean so much more as legally there are so many things they can then do whereas with a 21st nothing really changes at least in the uk. Really pleased for you that dd will at least be able to have a small celebration though not a lot of time to plan/buy for it.
I'd really like to get back to the states this year and there is a chance we might be able to if they agree to reopen the border but I can't bring myself to book anything until I know for sure. Will depend on pricing too as I can see costs going through the roof due to demand if it happens.

Kerri  I wouldn't be happy with that either they cancelled it so they shouldn't be able to hold on to your money indefinitely. Would be a bit different if they were giving you a choice - we'll hold on to your money so you can have priority rebooking or you can have a refund. I know companies are struggling and things are tough but it would really put me of using them again.

Really glad I put down a deposit on a new break as they have confirmed they are closed till May17th but they will be contacting people in date of stay order to rebook/refund and will not let you make any changes until they contact you rather than it being  first come/first served which I think its the fairest way to do it but does mean there's a good chance a lot of the remaining dates/cheaper prices will be gone by time it gets to our turn as there were only breaks over 1/2 term left in may and 2 dates available in June when I booked it. 

mandco

Had my 1st dose of the oxford vaccine - had a nasty headache and a bit of a temp the next day but feeling a lot better today - my arm is still fairly sore but they said that normally settles in about a week. 

Starting to make some plans for easter - thinking we might meet up with dd & the grandkids for a picnic if the weather is ok
trying to find some easter gifts for the girls but seems to be a very limited amount of easter stuff around this year as the highstreet shops are still closed. I usually get them and easter themed outfit - something with bunnies/flowers on but haven't been able to find anything yet