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

nic2075

I’ve been doing lateral flow tests Mandco. I work in a school too, so I’m doing it twice a week. I struggled a bit because I gag even when brushing my teeth. My daughter is managing but she hates it. Her nose bleeds really easily, so it’s not been easy. 

I’m in school twice a week just now. We have small class rooms, so to keep 2m away we couldn’t have us all in. After the Easter hols we are all back in. We will struggle to stay 2m away from other staff and teachers. 

I’ve just been enjoying the nice weather. Going for walks with my Dad, pottering about in the gardens and getting my washing out to dry.  I’m hoping it’s nice on Easter Sunday so I can have my niece and nephew over for an egg hunt in the garden. Usually I move it into the house if it’s raining, but can’t do that this year. I told my sister I’ll watch the weather and have it the closest nice dry day. My grass is very boggy at this time of year, so any rain will make it a nightmare. 

mandco

The lateral flow tests are def not pleasant I did one today as have an eye test tomorrow. ds school have said they need to test themselves at home twice a week using them over the easter holidays and he's not impressed so we'll see how that goes.  

hoping the garden dries out before easter as its really muddy at the moment esp where the dog keeps kicking it up. sdd is meant to be bring the girls over for a picnic - originally we were going to meet up in a park but she's decided she feels safer coming to us.

Just hype have some deals on including a lucky dip 2pk of backpacks for £20 (rrp £60) currently there is an extra 10% off too though shipping is £2.49 under £40.  I've ordered a set for the xmas donations pile as backpacks are always on the suggestions list though taz may end up with one depending on what ones we get.
https://uk.justhype.com/collections/last-chance-backpacks/products/boys-girls-hype-backpack-lucky-dip-x2

kerri_gt

@mandco that's a good deal for the backpacks, thanks for the link. I did get a Smiggle backpack for the giving tree last year thinking it would be useful (I saw some headphones but then didn't want to assume the recipient would have devices to use them with).

princesskitty29

Not much going on here at the moment, just like everyone everywhere! Although we’re very excited as we’re having a real live playdate in the garden on Monday with Wiggle’s best friend and her mum (who is also my friend which is great) and the weather is looking good! Then on Tuesday we are having lunch in the in laws garden, Tuesday’s weather looks amazing! It is also mine and DH’s wedding anniversary, we will have been married 8 years. I know 8 years isn’t that long in the grand scheme of things but I cannot believe our wedding was 8 years ago!

 

I too am someone who doesn’t enjoy shopping online. I hate the endless scrolling, then inevitably like you guys have said things turn up and it’s the wrong size/colour doesn’t look the same/fabric’s not what’s expected. I rarely get a parcel where everything in it is right and I too worry about all of the packaging. But like you have said it is a shame as the high street is slowly disappearing and I worry we will be forced to shop online more and more. Don’t get me wrong it is convenient at times and where would we have been without it in the last year? But it doesn’t replace tangibly seeing something in real life.

 

mandco don’t worry, I’m not sure the Mr Frosty’s were all they were cracked up to be! Thanks for the heads up on Smyth’s Toys, I don’t often look on there. I have a friend that can’t eat dairy and a vegan friend and I agree, I haven’t seen very many good dairy free Easter eggs, and certainly not aimed at children which is such a shame. Have you looked online?

 

kerri I agree about the Mr Frosty, I don’t remember the specifics of using it but I’m pretty sure I only used it once or twice!! I think slush puppy machines are a safer bet!

 

nic yes I’m hoping for nice weather on Easter Sunday to have the in laws over. The ground in our garden is also very soggy, but we’re not having enough rain free time for it to dry out!

 

Redrobin how is your DD doing now?

 

I hope everyone else is doing ok! x

kerri_gt

For those looking for dietry specific easter things, have a look on Yumbles who do a lot of artisan / small business options including Gf, dairy free etc. They're not cheap but if we're not all going out atm it kind of balances out.
I might be running a fever....bought the cat an easter egg (yoghurt and catnip) from the Pound shop the other day (bit of a trade description as it was actually £2). I must be bonkers 😂 OH was most disappointed it wasn't for him, little does he know I already got him a Reeses one ages ago that's been stashed. We don't usually do eggs but for some reason this year I decided to.
On the subject of online shopping i now have 3 massive bags of stuff to sort and send back. Think that will be a job for later. 

rachsecret

@princesskitty29 you certainly lucked out on the weather this week...it's due to be around 20 degrees here. Hope you have a lovely day.

@mandco I had a Mr Frosty for Christmas once as a child and was desperate for it. We didn't have much money so it was my one big present and was so disappointed that it wouldn't work. Never forgotten how conned I felt.

Been a quiet few weeks here as work has encroached on everything and so I've not got much Christmas preparation done. One thing I have done is to keep on reading the cheesy Christmas novels. I am currently reading Jenny Hale books. I think given the crazy world we are in there is something escapist about them and I have 'parked' my usual sci-fi/fantasy genre for some hard core feel good books. 

kerri_gt

I think three big disappointments of the Mr Frosty era were that, Mouse Trap and Screwball Scramble. Always looked great on the ads but inevitably a let down overall. 

Skibunny40

Another disappointed Mr Frosty owner here! If only we'd had review sites in those days...

slm6002

I always wanted a Mr Frosty but my mum always said no - I guess she knew best.  Also wanted Guess Who, but wasn't allowed it - not sure why though

Spendless

Both Bournville and Frys chocolate cream Easter eggs, are vegan . They are accidentally vegan so only a few quid each rather than paying a premium price for something marketed as such.

DD's 18th is tomorrow (Wed) and yesterday she got her first drama school offer wooohoo. She has some more online auditions/interviews this week, so we will see what that fetches before she will need to make a final decision.