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

mandco

Belated birthday wishes Princesskitty  sounds like you had a lovely few days despite the restrictions

Spendless sorry to hear your mum is still having problems though its great news they caught it quickly esp with the serious lack of medical appointments still happening.
Sounds like you've found some good bargains in the last week. I bet you weren't happy with the dog even if you can salvage some of it. 

CJ I know quite a few people are really struggling with getting back out and doing things after a year of being conditioned to stay at home so your not alone. I've popped to a few shops but still not happy to visit others places yet though honestly the shops I've been too with the exception of primark the 1st week they reopened were far less busy the the supermarket so I  would have no problem going back. Other places seem to be far busier than my local town centre so I guess some of it depends on where you live on. 
The puzzle sounds great 

Kerri shame about the restaurant you liked closing - so many places are really struggling. We've been trying to do 1 take away a week to support local businesses and try to try new ones each time but some are really expensive for delivery which I sure must put people off.
I'll have to get dd to check in B&M for the slushie syrups as she's running out 

I spoke to someone at Butlins - they were not even aware the weekend had been changed to adults only as apparently scheduling has been contracted out to a 3rd party and they had updated the system before letting them know.  I've been able to change to the weekend before which isn't quite the same but at least we'll still get to go and I got a real bargain on the accommodation as we are booked into on of the hotel apartments for less then I was paying for hotel room only(hoping they don't decided it was an error in pricing as it way way cheaper then usual) 
 
dd has the dentist today - she broke a tooth march last year and they said she needed a root canal but wouldn't do it because of covid and just put a temp filling in she's had pain on & off since but the dentist still won't do it. A couple of weeks ago the filling fell out so they put in another temp filling as they are still not doing elective treatments only emergency fixes. It fell out again friday evening. She called out of hours who said she'd hear back within 24hrs as they are really busy. she was in so much pain yesterday and its looks like she might have an infection they called at 10pm last night and begrudlingly offered an appointment for today 25 miles away the only place open locally saying she should really have waited until her dentist reopens Tuesday as its not really an emergency     

Boring weekend for me as I have to isolate ahead of my hospital appointment - got to do a covid test tomorrow though as its a bank holiday they sent me a home test instead of having to go and have it done. I know it should be fine but I think I'll still be stressing about it until I get the results back. I've spent the last week hoping ds doesn't get told he has to isolate as they have had 3 cases at school in the last 10 days - 2 in his year group though thankfully none in his bubble. 

kerri_gt

@mandco these are the syrups, bottles are 500ml each. They were with the soft drinks and mixers (second to bottom shelf in the store I was in) rather than with the machines that are in the electrical aisle. Annoyingly its one of those things you can't check stock of online.

mandco

kerri thanks for that handy to know what/where your looking for things - that is a really good price for 500ml bottles as they are usually tiny

dentist confirmed what we already knew dd has an infection in the gum - she was there less than 10 mins temp filling back in and a prescription for antibiotics. Quick way to spend nearly £50    

feels like is going to be a long day had to get up before 6am to do my covid test now just waiting around for the courier to pick up. Could be anytime between 7am -4pm so couldn't even go back to bed.  

Hope you all have a relaxing bank holiday

Redredrobin

Finally a little normality back as Dds social group is back so she is going today . We had our second jab last week so it’s settled her anxiety big time . 

  Managed a trip to my parents last week for a few hrs and dropped off their Christmas presents! Normally wouldn’t be this early but after the last year or so you never know what’s around the corner. 

 Belated Birthday wishes to those I’ve missed . 

Treasurequeen

Congratulations on all the amazing offers of placements. 

Spendless- I agree with you a few shops I have been in have said only touch if you buy. I have a few illnesses so I have to be very careful on ingredients in products, so need to see back of packets before buying. I went into a charity shop last week and that was their policy but they put all the prices underneath items. I am a avid book reader and like to read covers but was told off. How can one tell by just looking at spine of book. Then I nearly passed out in there and accidentally touched the stand and was tutted at, I refused to go back in and wrote a email to head office about way of pricing and attitude of staff. I hope your mum is ok.

CJ there seems to be a lot of people finding it very hard to go out. 

Belated Birthday wishes to everyone’s birthdays I’ve missed. 

I’ve bern unable to get on here got locked out of account for some reason. Hopefully all ok now (fingers crossed). 

On the Christmas front, Near me a independent pet shop opened I thought they would be expensive but are actually cheaper than well known pet chain. I bought my cat a kong fluffy toy for her birthday and a catnip stuffed rat toy to go in her Christmas stocking both for just under £7.00. 

I saw online a beautiful traditional Santa scene tin filled with sweets by Friars when they are back in stock in September I am going to get a few as gifts. They had medium tins filled with gummy bears, chocolate lolly and chocolate coins. And mini tins filled with chocolate Santa balls which will go in stockings. They also did a tin filled with a can of coke, giant cola bottle and chocolates. I can’t remember prices but they were below £10.00. https://www.friars.co.uk/christmas-c70/shop-by-product-c155/christmas-chocolate-c141/friars-santas-sweetie-gift-tin-p3803

https://www.friars.co.uk/christmas-c70/shop-by-product-c155/christmas-hampers-c140/friars-santa-christmas-tin-p3430

https://www.friars.co.uk/hampers-gift-boxes-tins-c140/santa-coca-cola-tin-p2537

Christmas books coming out this year ; 

• Trisha Ashley- One More Christmas at the Castle Hardcover – 11 Nov. 2021 

• Underneath the Christmas Tree  by Heidi Swain Paperback – 14 Oct. 2021

kerri_gt

Our Sm!ggle in town is closing (yet another shop bites the dust) and they have a sale on so I picked up a couple of bits that will hopefully be suitable for some kids xmas and also the charity giving tree. I did get a couple of hug a bug animals (basically a soft toy in the form of a slap band but big) incl one each for DN. The only thing is, one of then is 10 and I'm not sure if a bit old for it, and I've already got the other's birthday and Xmas gift. 
Also got a glow in the dark tshirt for the giving tree, it was reduced from £12 and actually rang through at £2.50, but now I'm worried it's not enough as a gift. 

In other news, found out despite gym classes starting back next week mine isn't likely until mid June. Lost all motivation for the online classes and despite paying my monthly dd haven't done one since Feb. The 17th May has been on the radar for months so thoroughly peeved it looks very much like nothing has been put in place for classes going back, p*ss up and brewery spring to mind. Considering cancelling and looking to go elsewhere.

Spendless

Smiggle closing down is a shame. Ours opened a few years ago and approached DD's drama group to sing outside it to mark their opening. DD was on the getting too old for their items at the time, think about 13. 10 I think would be fine. I remember my daughter wanting Ever After High dolls around age 10 (like a combination of bratz and barbies meets the start of the plot of Wicked, all based on the idea that they are  children of fairytale prince/princesses and are attending the same boarding school) and I thought she was 'too old' but she collected them until the teenage years (when she started collecting unsuitable boyfriends instead - glad that phase is over-lol). I also think the t-shirt sounds fine. I think there can be a tendency to think items aren't 'enough' when you've paid a reduced cost, not thinking of the full retail price.

My Debenhams closed yesterday. The shutters were down when I walked past at 2pm, so don't know what time they decided time was up. I recall Woolworths doing something similar, so I went the day before. I got a bamboo lunchbox and some bare minerals make up brush cleaner and a silicon make up sponge. All for DD, the last 2 will go in her stocking.

And now news I'm happy to share, yesterday DD got an email  from the drama school where she was set to do a years foundation course we were paying for moving her to a degree, which is funded via student loans. So pleased for her. 

kerri_gt

@Spendless great news for DD 👏

Oh yes, 10yr old DN loves Smiggle but wasn't sure if these particular items might be a bit young for her. She loves all the stationery and bags though. 
You're right on the tendency to try and over compensate if you find something reduced. It's a bit of a vicious circle, shop for something reduced so you can give it but then feel like you need to make up the value with other things 🙈 I'm not sure what expectations are really for the tree as last year was the first year I gave for it. The charity lists what you are not allowed to give but some example of types of gift might be helpful from them too.
That's a real shame about Debenhams. We've never had one, one nearest closed years ago and one where I may have gone was never planned to reopen. Strange to think the last time I went in was the final time forever and I had no idea. 

mandco

Spendless that's fantastic news for dd 

Kerri shame about smiggle closing down. The tshirt would be fine for a giving tree gift when you get bargains esp such good ones its sometimes hard to get out of your head and stop thinking about how much it cost rather than its value. I try to think of it as the more I've saved the more I can donate therefore more kids get a gift.  Not sure how your giving tree works but the charity I donate too try to give the kids a selection of presents with a budget/value of around £50 per person.

Popped to the outlets today as Taz really needs some new clothes - unsucesssful trip as nothing suitable in his size but they had some nike backpacks and holdalls for £5ish sp picked up a couple for the xmas donations box.

kerri_gt

@mandco you're right and that's a really nice way of thinking of it. Our local tree is run by a community chairty that hangs tags with the name (first only i think) and age of the child to buy for, this comes from a list of people they've identified for the tree. They also have tags for eldery residents too. 
You wrap your gift,  attach the tag and return it under the tree where the chairty collect it for distribution. 
If / once all tags have been fulfilled, the charity also adds generic ones such as 'teen / male' , 'girl / primary or 'boy / pre-school'. 

How annoying about the unsuccessful shopping trip for Taz. Is there anywhere else nearby you can go without too much hassle?