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

kerri_gt

@princesskitty29 my DM and her siblings used to have a nylon stocking each for Xmas - it wouldn't have had much in it, prob a sweet, a hair band or something for the girls and poss an orange if there were enough for one each. I think some bits that were in it came from neighbours. There wasn't a lot (any) spare £ in the house when DM was growing up so the nylon stockings were all that could be afforded. 

Spendless

princesskitty29 said:

I do love hearing about everyone's traditions. Do any of you have any Christmas Eve traditions? Last year I wanted some real foliage on our Christmas table so the boys and I went for a walk over the fields near our house on Christmas Eve and snipped a bit of holly and brought it home for the centrepiece of our table with some candles and it looked lovely. It was a really nice activity so weather permitting I think it's a tradition i'd like to start.

Not really. Frequently I've had jobs that do not allow for time off Christmas Eve (or indeed any time in December!). I'd always peel veg in anticipation of the next day and it was having to do  those sort of things that led to me introducing the Xmas Eve Box to keep kids entertained whilst I prep'd. Last year was to be the final one as DD is now 18, but back then I hadn't anticipated the Xmas day we will have this year, with her living in a different part of the UK and not sure what day she'll be home and how long for and DS not here.

I will say this, whatever you do incorporate something that is for you alone and can continue to do it. Otherwise when you are at the life stage I'm currently at, you can feel bereft, when the kids grow and are no longer about (due to jobs, location, relationships) to do your usual Christmas tradition with you.

Peppapig

PRINCESSKITTY I think going out on Christmas Eve to gather fresh foliage for the next day is a lovely tradition to start, remember to take a photo every year and keep them in a special little album - in years to come you’ll be so glad you did.  I’ve only seen Frosts at Woburn Sands this year but I think their Christmas offering is the best so far. 

C_J

I had a parcel delivered just now. Guess what it is!

kerri_gt

C_J said:

I had a parcel delivered just now. Guess what it is!

Was it as expected?

C_J

Yes, it’s perfect. Mister CJ will love it.

I’m very nearly there with my Christmas shopping now, only a few stocking fillers to get. Plus I am hoping to get a couple of the Iberico ham legs from either Aldi or Lidl for my sons in law, but I’ve not seen them advertised this year. I have found them at various online retailers but they are soooo much more expensive.

mandco

haven't read back yet as a few pages to catch up on - great to see chat picking up now xmas is getting closer. Had my youngest granddaughter for a week as sdd went away and wow she's hard work. She wasn't really naughty but she's allowed to get away with pretty much everything at home so whines & paddies when she doesn't get her own way and they give in as is easy. They sent her over with a large bag of sweets for lunch as that was what she wanted     

not getting anywhere fast on the xmas front though picked up a gift set for dd that she asked for and got taz some xmas pjs 

Debating on wether or not its too early to decorate the tree for xmas - its already up as a halloween themed tree was thinking about doing a fall/thanksgiving theme but tempted to skip straight to xmas 

zafiro1984

princesskitty29 said:

zafiro are the animals part of your work? It sounds like you’re doing well with the Christmas food prep, I’m hoping to fill my freezer this month. The chocolate torte you mentioned sounds delicious, I will take a look.

Animals belonging to other people used to be our work for over 40yrs but since retirement animals are our hobby. No dogs or cats anymore, just geese that are brilliant 'guard dogs,' quite a lot of hens and many horses - almost forgot, there is a feral cat that visits the stud on a very regular basis.
So you can see why I need to be well organised on the food front over Christmas as we have no staff for a period of time and animals don't understand it as being any different to other days. We usually manage to get everything done by the time it goes dark about 4pm - then it's our time - until about 10-11pm when final checks are done.

Spendless

Glad the rake is as anticipated.

Was DD's half term this week. She came home. We went to see a play that she is studying at drama school and has been told will be beneficial for her to know. On the way back her phone was stolen. This time last year her ipad was stolen from around the same area. I am frustrated beyond belief that this has happened. After last year she had a secure zipped bag to take on trips but had left it back at her student accommodation. I clocked as we were leaving the house she had no bag with her but didn't have time to insist otherwise we'd have missed our connecting train. The restrictions at the theatre we visited meant I took certain bags with me and was unaware that she'd shoved her phone into one of my loose carrier bags that I'd taken to hold food. Never again! A job on the cards is to go through every bag I have. Any 'unsafe' for trips bags to be identified and either got rid of or put to food shopping only trips.

It  has also furthered my resolve that I can't continue to buy DD's Xmas presents in advance. A year ago we ended up replacing what was a brand new ipad bought due to the online lessons covid had brought and the replacement had to be her Xmas present.

This year I have already bought her presents in advance, had to change things around when her circs changed and she asked for different items, that I ordered  and now we are left with limited financial options for her having another phone. Whereas if I'd left it  till later then she could have had one for Xmas. 

C_J

That’s really sad about your daughter’s phone, Spendless. Could you claim for it on your house insurance?