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

kerri_gt

WinterWarrior said:

chanie said:

WinterWarrior said:

 I particularly like the stone art kits, but I wonder how heavy they would be to post? 

Most of the stone art kits I’ve seen don’t come with the stones, so I think they would be quite light.  

I think the works do…only because some of the reviews were complaining the stones were smaller than expected or ridged 😂

Sounds like they aren't that heavy in that case. Thinking about it, a business isn't going to spend vast £$€ shipping kits with rocks around the world, esp with the cost of freight the way it is I'd have thought. 

Getting a few ideas for the DNs now. Minnie Mouse and Harry Potter have come up as have Pandas so I'm going to hope maybe Primark get some suitable dressing gowns in.
Youngest DN is football daft but not sure what to get for him - maybe a onesie if I see one. He's got all the usual kits, balls, goals etc etc.

Beshki

Well I haven’t bought much as I don’t have any money at the moment but I’ve plenty of ideas which I feel is a step ahead of previous years! Think I’ll buy a gift a month and see how we go. I say it every year but I’m definitely cutting down this year

mandco

Kerri   H&M have some really nice kids harry potter clothes at the moment lots of disney stuff too and some of the prices are really good so might be worth a look. If you are a member there is an extra 20% off kids clothes till the 30th if you're not then you usually get 20% off your 1st order for joining.      

Peppapig

WINTERWARRIOR I was in the Works today and had a look at the rock painting kits and they’re reasonably heavy but you could definitely send one as a small parcel with RM.

Our local garden centre are putting out their Christmas display and stock! 

kerri_gt

@mandco thanks for the heads up, I'll pop in and have a look....one of the few stores our town actually still has.

mandco

the xmas is coming emails have started with several places already adding xmas stock online and lots of places are taking xmas bookings.

slowly getting some ideas for my lot beyond the usual 
Dd got her ears & nose pierced so that's another idea for xmas. I was thinking about getting her stuff for the car as she's having lessons soon but the earliest tests are already next year late Jan/early feb and by time she has her 1st lesson it likely to be around easter so not sure now? 
There are a couple of games coming out later in the year the boys are interested in so hoping my nectar points will cover at least one of those again.

Spendless

Hi everyone

Well I'll start with the news that DS and HM1 have got engaged this week, on the anniversary of them getting together. They went to London for it with all sorts booked to see but unfortunately she was ill for much of it - with the same sort of bug that DD had the previous week (she didn't catch it from her as they weren't in contact and it's not covid, just a summer cold thing with sickness in it!). Such a shame for them. They were so excited to go as much of their relationship has been spent in lockdowns, tier systems and restrictions. They head back today and will dog sit for us for a few days whilst we take DD to various places.

One of the places we are heading to next week is Edinburgh as daughter starts her drama course next month and she has an interview for a part-time job. This week DD tried 'loading up' the summer time jobs in order to get more cash for drama school. She had 2 retail job, took on a pub cleaning job in the mornings and had a couple of trails at some bars. The bar work didn't work out - mostly because she's not used to it and it didn't sound like she got sufficient training. She was enjoying the cleaning job (to my surprise!) when she got put in a bathroom to clean alongside an older gentleman who started making her feel very uncomfortable with his remarks towards her. If she'd been older and more confident she perhaps would have felt more able to tell him to quit with the comments. As it was she rang me to pick her up and was visibly shook up over it all. Then the original retail job that she had given notice to as the other one is more local with more hours, waited till she had done her 2nd to last shift and as she was about to leave told her not to do today's shift. She's disappointed because not only had she arranged her social life around this (coming back from a festival early). She would have earned an extra £30! They've also not paid her, she missed July's pay date due to her start date and hasn't received Augusts. They claim she's given the  wrong bank details. I'm not sure she refused to let me check them even though she was asking what a sort code was, because 'she's an adult and can deal with it herself'. Teenagers - sigh!

I think PJ sets sound lovely and Primark I think do have the best range. There's also so much you can build around them for a night time routine if you want adjusting each to age appropriateness. In recent years that's what I used to base DD's Xmas Eve hamper around.

So now I have a DIL 2be (she's going to have to stop being HM1) , I might need to revisit the situation of present buying with eldest niece. I'll see what DH says later in the year about it. I also need a sort out of my present cupboard. I've seen that B&M have started with their Xmas food gifts out. I saw an afternoon tea set for a fiver that had t-bags, fruitcake, jam and shortbread in it. Think that will go perfectly with the whisky tasting set from Marks that I've bought one Nan. I'm going to have to put my thinking cap on for ideas for future DIL as her family only buys along the bath/toiletry items and she doesn't wear jewellery. She loves a handbag my sis in law bought her last year and uses it all the time, she also borrowed a belt from my DD to take to London. Think I need to think along the practical but nice lines. TK Maxx I'm thinking will be a good place to hunt. I'm going to soooo miss DD shopping with me though, she has my late MIL's talent for being able to rummage and pull out a bargain!   

princesskitty29

Hi all, I just about survived the hen do I went on last weekend, I’m not used to these things anymore! It was actually good fun although blimey you wouldn’t have known there had been a pandemic in London! I’m now gearing up for going to Haven for four nights tomorrow, we’re going to Hopton in Norfolk, we went there last year and really enjoyed it so hopefully it will be good. The weather isn’t looking too warm but I’ll just be glad if it doesn’t rain.

 

My friends and I have booked Christmas afternoon at Woburn Coffee House, we had afternoon tea there last month and it is really lovely so we thought we’d get in for Christmas.

 

I bought DS1 the Gangsta Granny book the other day but that is the only Christmas present I’ve bought recently. I might have a peruse online after this as there are things on my list I could buy now. I say it every year but I always find a lot of things I plan to get people I can’t buy until nearer the time so I can never be as prepared in advance as I’d like to be.

 

Peppa good to see you on here! Do you think you’ll come out of hiding soon? I’ve missed you! Very exciting about the garden centre display!

 

Spendless congratulations to your DS and HM! That’s lovely news. And it sounds like a bit of a palaver with jobs for your DD, it’s so horrible that she felt driven out of a job she enjoyed by someone’s lewd comments – will it ever end?! I hope she works something out that suits her.

StokieBecks

Spendless was that afternoon tea set you mentioned in B&M?  My Grandad is really hard to buy for but that sounds perfect so would like to have a look.

I bought some screw top containers like these



Got 5 - for the niece's and nephews. They were £1.50 each and have bought some of the pouches of heroes and celebrations today which with my staff discount worked out at just over £12 for six bags. These have perfectly filled the five jars and will add a bit of money into an envelope in the jar too  and that's them sorted this year. They are all getting older now and so hard to buy for within budget.

I found some eggs in Home Bargains that contain mini lynx/dove toiletries. Think they were £1.49 each (currently show on amazon at £5 which i wouldn't pay). Nice little extra stocking filler even if they are the wrong season 

Spendless

@StokieBecks - Yes it was in B&M. Sorry my wording wasn't clear, when I read it back after you'd asked.

In my nearest B&M they've cleared an aisle and down there is all the foodie gifts. That set is amongst them.

Found out yesterday that DS will be going to DIL2B family for Christmas this year. Totally understand that her family will want to see them and that Christmas will be split/different from now on but will seem strange not having him here. My first thought was that's the end of his stocking - lol. Not that he ever cared about it when he got older anyway, not in the way DD does, but she might miss that too. From being little that was the thing they did together before waking us to open the main presents together. On finding out the news I did offer to make them both stockings anyway but DIL2b says in their house no presents are opened until the afternoon (after Church, meal, Queen's speech) which sort of defeats the purpose I think. Ahhh well, no more stressing what to put in whilst I'm trying to remove half of DD's stuff in the interest of making it fair.