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

mandco

Spendless  if the 3 year course wasn't going to be a good fit then she's made the right decision.
We haven't eaten out or visited a pub since they reopened as I feel like there are too many restrictions at the moment though seems like a lot of people are as places are super busy. One thing that is bugging me a little is all the street closures so they can set up tables on the paths and in the road to increase capacity I get they need the numbers to make it viable but makes it really crowded and difficult to get past people to get to the shops.
I can not be doing with the no touching anything rule either you have sanitized your hands and its no different to picking something up and having it handled again at the till. I like to be able to check things and not buy blindly so they'd have lost my business too.

Kerri  I've seen a few people trying stuff on on the shop floor and even outside in the street so they can take it back quicker which is kinda gross. Changing rooms are meant to be allowed to open with restrictions in place but it seems most are not yet.
 
Little bit annoyed today as I booked a while ago to go to Butlins for Taz's birthday again next year (its become a tradition) and they have changed the weekend we are due to go to adults only. They haven't even bothered to tell me I found out by chance as I was checking my account and it came up with a there is a problem with this booking message so I've emailed them to find out what options we have though not holding my breath as there is usually only one weekend that month they do normal bookings anyway.
Plus I'd said to dd I'd look at booking a disney cruise for her birthday which she was really excited for but they are now saying all over 18's have to be fully vaccinated for covid both jabs + 7 days she'll be lucky if she's had 1 by then so that's out the window too     

kerri_gt

@mandco that's really naughty of Butlins not to have contacted you. I'm sure they'll have some excuse about staff wfh but I'm  so sick of hearing that one. There are so many jobs that can be done perfectly efficiently from home, and they've had over 12mths to ensure people have the required connectivity and equipment they need. I do totally understand for some they are juggling other things like childcare, or that they may not have the ideal space to wfh but I feel some companies are just using it as an excuse for crap service. 
Fiddlesticks about dd too 😔 let's hope all this madness foxtrots oscar soon.

I am trying to work out the issue with changing rooms, whether it's the cleaning, logistics,  people in a space (albeit they are obviously separated by cubicles) or all of the above. I'm quite sure I'm no more likely to catch anything from trying on clothes than shopping for a loaf of bread 🤷‍♀️

i guess there's also the fact if stores have set limits of numbers in store, and some of those people are queuing for changing rooms, they're not browsing to spend money ie less £££ potentially in the till.  Plus i bet there's people who buy stuff and intend or cba to take it back but wouldn't have bought it if tried on, another win for the retailers profit.

Spendless

Yes trying on clothes is another frustration, with the consequence I only own 3 pairs of bottoms that fit me!  Daughter also had to do the trying on in a toilet last year, was Sunday the shops were going to close, wasn't sure which size she needed. She was doing an online course all week and needed the dress for a party on the Thursday night. Thankfully it fitted so we bought, but yes the germs that could be picked up by the clothes touching the toilet bowl in a confined space are greater than any perceived covid risk about them. I also agree this is more likely to be a staffing issue. I've thought since last summer that some businesses were putting in rules that suited them but not the consumer. If all legal restrictions do lift in June and places continue with their own 'version' I will be voting with my feet and going elsewhere.

That's really annoying about the holidays mandco! 

Finding myself with some time to kill before picking DD up from the train station yesterday, I went into Boots and looked at their now 70% off gift range. There was more than I was expecting tbh. I picked up daughter a pack of 2 sheet masks for her stocking that knocked down to £1.80 and also a set that came with 3 make up brushes, beauty sponge and cleaner for £6. Am not entirely sure what teenage girls do to go through so many make up brushes, but they are always needed!  I also had a look round Debenhams, loads of reduced stock everywhere and I thought TK Maxx had some good stock in too. Going back tomorrow with daughter and hopefully will pick more stuff up then  

C_J

You are all so brave going shopping in the outside world! I'm not quite ready for that yet (although I miss it). I'm still ridiculously nervous of crowds - it's incredible how we have been conditioned to the fear over the past 12 months or so.

Anyhow, another Christmas present ticked off the list this week. We always exchange gifts with my son-in-law's parents, and keep to a budget of around £20 for this. I've just ordered a 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle of the city where they live, from the Happy Puzzle cityscapes range online for £19.99 - and there was a code in one of this month's gardening magazines which knocked another fiver off it, which was a lovely bonus. I've had an email to say it is due for delivery tomorrow so I'll be able to comment further on the quality etc then

C_J

Jigsaw arrived this morning - nice quality, nicely printed box, but the box is a generic "City Map Jigsaw Puzzle" and didn't specify the city which I had bought. I did eventually find a tiny sticker on the side which said "Leicester", so I have relocated that to the top of the box so that the recipients realise it's not just a random puzzle but actually one which relates to where they live! But otherwise, I'm very pleased with it for the price.

Spendless

C-J - It concerns me how frightened people have become tbh. I worry we have a lot of MH problems being stored up and with Drs surgeries still not seeing everyone in person, this has the potential to become a big issue.

I can't say I've ever felt I've gone anywhere crowded (not even at Bicester village) but we all have our own concept of what is crowded or not based on our local population to accessible retailers ratio and how they are situated. I don't have the problem of having to step into the road to go round tables outside as someone above talked about for example, simply because my shopping areas are inside an enclosed shopping centre, within pedestrianised areas or at retail parks that have no food outlets like that.

Your jigsaw sounds good. My  MIL would have loved that of her home city. Unfortunately there's no one else in the family we buy for that does jigsaws.

I went into town with daughter yesterday, who had her allowance and it burnt a hole in her pocket again, we are going to have to have a chat to her about not blowing it all at once when she moves away in September. Anyway she wanted some ripped jeans. Some  stores changing rooms were open, others not. One closed one read 'Closed due to the Government blah balh in relation to covid-19' Now I realised this couldn't be the whole story as others were open so it wasn't a blanket ban. So I started questioning shops more and the response at one staggered me when I asked when their changing room was likely to re-open. I was told that they weren't going to as their HO has said 'the public had no legal right to a changing room'. I'd already asked if they offered refunds as we couldn't try on and was told no, exchange only (which was what I suspected) so I told daughter no, because clothes are not always about are you wearing the right size, they're also about whether they suit you and if she'd bought and they hadn't been right, then her money would have been tied to that shop. The shop assistant was very defensive of their HO initially but changed her tune when I said to her 'what happens to your job, when others do like I'm going to and take my custom elsewhere because I can't risk buying clothes here?' I'm happy to name and shame the company here as the clothes chain Select.

Later I returned to Boots and went back through their gift stock. This time I picked up 2 pyjama short sets that come in a drawstring sack. They netted don to £7.50 which I thought a good price for PJs. I've given daughter one already as she was short of suitable sleepwear. I also picked up a decision maker dice about which exercise to do and a cosmetic bag with a couple of items in  mainly for the slogan on the front that says 'Dream Big'. Nearer the time I will decide whether I give these items as an  ;off to drama school' gift or save till Xmas. We did have a 'are we sure we're doing the right thing' moment in turning down the 3 year degree offer when DD received an email yesterday asking her to apply for a scholarship. Further investigation reveals that all potential drama students there are eligible to apply, but it was an eeek moment.


In TK Maxx I picked up a Michael Kors belt that comes with a pouch attached for my Neice. It was £16.99. I bought one of these for daughter last Christmas, different style pouch and it cost nearly double (and was still a v good price for the brand). For the same price I also picked up a radley coin purse, that's boxed. I have this plus a Champneys rollerball and lip balm set that I also got from the 70% Boots gift items in mind for Housemate1 (DS girlfriend). DD did ask me what if they're not together by then as their relationship is less than a year old but these are items I can either use myself or dish out amongst other family members. Plus buying discounted means I haven't had a large overall spend.

The rest of the people I buy for are mostly elderly (parents, grandparents) and we're very much at the stage where we're repeating what we buy every year (alcohol, experiences, flowers) so I feel I've now got as far as I'm going to with the buying of presents in advance for December.  As usual DD already has the most bought for, simply because she's easier to buy for. If housemate2 is still around at Christmas and coming to us again then I will have a new dilemma of what you buy a young bloke who is a millionaire -lol.

Have a good BH weekend everyone.  

kerri_gt

@Spendless we have a well known sports shop in town that has no changing rooms and it has a different returns policy to goods vs a larger one nearby that does have a changing room (sure it was originally a cupboard they've put a curtain across, no exaggeration). I hope that once this crazy settles down stores will eventually start to see sense and return to how they were.

I am quite sure housemate 2 would appreciate any gift you gave them,  he must really appreciate the support you've provided him. 

Spendless

Bl- 00dy dog! He went in my bag of presents and has chewed the boxes of the decision dice and the rollerball/lip balm set (my own fault I should have moved the bag) The dice set doesn't matter, It's not badly chewed as I saw and took off him plus it's for DD who I can explain to and she forgives the dog stuff more so than she does me! The rollerball set is a different matter, the box is heavily chewed though thankfully not the contents, so I think they're going to have to go in a little gauze bag instead when given as a gift.

That's interesting to know kerri that the same retailer can have a different returns policy at different stores. I'd not thought of that. My Mum had already queried if they were struggling in our town shopping centre (I walked past several times during that day they either had no customers in or just one browsing) how were they going to fare at the branch that is situated in a large shopping mall at our nearest city. 


Speaking of my Mum I can't remember if I said but she got another phone call from the hospital. She'd had a check around the rest of the body when she'd had her op on her leg and they wanted her back in for a problem they'd spotted around her shoulder. As they didn't say what it was over the phone Mum assumed it was two small moles she could see in the mirror. when she got there the Dr said it was a mark like a burn or a bra strap rub, long thin and red that she'd only recently noticed and was told it had to be removed as it was skin cancer. Am hoping this is the end to it as it's a bit worrying that it's been found in a couple of different places. 

Yes, Housemate2 has always liked what I got him. Not knowing him that well, I've tended to base gifts round him liking the gym. I got him an ice cube tray that  makes the cubes in stick form. He loved it. Unknown to me he likes really cold drinks and had been trying to melt the regular cubes in his hands to make them fit his water bottle. DS has told me one of the reasons housemate 2 wants to buy his own property for next year is because he would like a pet, preferably a dog. I see the attraction, he's never had a dog but loves ours when he stays. When he graduates he's in a position that he can bide his time looking for a job or work part time, it would be a companion and the dog won't know or care how much money he has, the love would be unconditional. If he manages it for next year DS and housemate1 would be around too, so likely always someone in. Whether it's achievable with timescales and the  money coming in I don't know. 

I can't remember who it was on here, but she had a grown up daughter who liked eco items and was stuck what to buy her last year. At both my Boots there are loads of planet earth items in the gift range reduced, soap bars, shampoo bars, eco starter bathroom kits etc. Worth a look to see if peoples Boots are the same if anyone has people to buy for who would appreciate items from this range

princesskitty29

Hi all, I’ve had a busy few days as it was my birthday on Thursday and I’ve managed to stretch it out over a few days! On my actual birthday the boys were at school, DH had the afternoon off and I opted to go to our local English Heritage estate as we’ve never been without the boys and it was so lovely just to be able to wander around the whole place. Then Friday I had tea and cake with a friend at a little tearoom (outside of course) and yesterday I had some friends over for a garden picnic with champagne which was just lovely! I really appreciated what I could do this year after spending my birthday in complete lockdown last year.

 

Other than that there’s not been a great deal going on here. I am quite excited as I am getting my hair done on Tuesday, I have not had my hair done since February last year! Everyone keeps thinking I’ve had the ‘ombre look’ done by a hairdresser which is meant to be quite trendy at the moment, but no, it’s just my roots that have been growing out for the last 15 months!

 

Spendless that’s great news for your DD and it must have been a confidence boost even if she isn’t accepting that course. I’m sure there are moments when she’s questioned her decision but from what you have said it sounds like she is making the right decision. I agree, I have to pick things up and look at them too before buying. Sorry to hear about your mum, like you say hopefully when that is removed that will be an end to it all for her.

 

mandco that’s great news for your son being offered the college place, I’m sure you can both relax now! I’m sorry to hear about your holidays, that is so rubbish of Butlins not telling you! They should have contacted everyone who booked a holiday that weekend. We’ve just had an issue where DH rang the place where my eldest has his swimming lessons to ask when they might be opening again and they told him they have changed their model and won’t be taking school age children back! They hadn’t communicated this at all, in fact they haven’t been in touch for about a year. They have really left him in the lurch as every other place we have contacted has a waiting list of over a year, so who knows when he will get back to his swimming lessons. It’s such a shame as it took a lot to get him comfortable in the pool and he was really gaining his confidence when it all stopped last March.

 

CJ the ‘it’s nearly Christmas’ boxes sound lovely. I bought a cityscape puzzle from them for my parents and it took me a while to find the tiny sticker with the city name on it, it’s been wrapped since before Christmas, I didn’t think to move the sticker!

kerri_gt

Happy belated Birthday @princesskitty29. Sounds like some lonely celebrations. If nothing else I guess the situation for the past year has meant people have been creative with celebrations rather than the usual 'dinner and drinks' out. That said i have (so far) been ridiculously lucky in that I was able to celebrate my birthday 'normally' last year as it fell between lockdowns. I am glad though as the restaurant we went to, that we discovered during Eat Out to Help Out and became a firm fav, has now closed down 

@Spendless hope your mum is ok, at least they have looked and are being cautious with her skin.

Naughty hound indeed. 

I mananged to get some Slush Puppie syrups yesterday to go with the machine I've got as a joint present for 2 * DN. They were well tucked away in B&M so I'm not surprised I didn't see them before...if they were in stock. They're quite heavy so prob counts out the idea I was musing over to get one for 3 * DN/DN  which would have to be couriered. We'll see though. Don't seem to be getting very far with gifts this year so far.