A Jolly Holly Christmas - It's the 2022 Christmas Chatter Thread!

Beshki

@Spendless Good idea re the growing kit. You’ll be able to make one much cheaper yourself and now is a good time to do it. I often gift gardening bits, plant labels, twine, dibber, seeds (lettuce, cucumber, beans, sweetcorn all v easy to grow) and like that it’s useful  

Coxy11

Popped into HoF at lunchtime. Cheeky wotnots have put prices up on things I bought last week. Charger is now £8 with 20% off, so £6.40 @spendless - can get you one still if you like but you'd need to let me know before 5pm please xx The Gisella Graham stars are now £7 each with 20% off.

Spendless

@Coxy11 - Sent you a message x

Coxy11

@Spendless have sent you one too x

Coxy11

Am a bit (a lot!) peeved with SIL and BIL. Bought them tickets to see a TV stand up comedian for their Chrimbo gift. First date was postponed due to Covid (Feb) so rearranged date was last night, which SIL said was fine. I had an email from the venue on Monday to say about covid requirements (masks not essential but would prefer etc) which I forwarded on, then DH texted them yesterday as hadn't heard back, and they'd forgotten all about it and were away for a few days break, having left their 5 children with ILs. We could have gone had we known. That's £60 wasted. 

Beshki

Coxy11 said:

Am a bit (a lot!) peeved with SIL and BIL. Bought them tickets to see a TV stand up comedian for their Chrimbo gift. First date was postponed due to Covid (Feb) so rearranged date was last night, which SIL said was fine. I had an email from the venue on Monday to say about covid requirements (masks not essential but would prefer etc) which I forwarded on, then DH texted them yesterday as hadn't heard back, and they'd forgotten all about it and were away for a few days break, having left their 5 children with ILs. We could have gone had we known. That's £60 wasted. 

I would’ve been really cross about this too

Spendless

I'd have been annoyed too. I understand forgetting about it due to changed dates , but when the email was forwarded on Monday surely that was the time to realise you'd got a clash. I doubt you do much of an impromptu mini break when you've got 5 kids to find a babysitter for, so must have known they were going to be away at the beginning of this week. 

Coxy11

Agree! They knew the new date in February and I had the option to get a refund. SIL works 2 nights a week but they are not set days iyswim so I checked with her to make sure she could do the new date. She was too embarrassed to say anything on Monday apparently so just ignored my message. Was only when DH texted her that she let on they were away. DH wasn't as annoyed as me, probably because all present buying (birthday, Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, Christmas) is left to me. To find good, appropriate gifts for the whole family ranging from 82 to 3 years old! This Christmas I'm going to give him the budget and let him buy for all his family. Just CBA'd to have the stress of it all.

and breathe........

princesskitty29

No Christmassy bits and bobs done here as it’s DS2’s birthday next month so I’ve got to focus on preparing for his big birthday party with his classmates then getting presents for his actual birthday. He’s obsessed with space at the moment so I think it will be centered around that. I can’t believe he’s almost 5 and nearly at the end of his first year at school!

It’s also half term this week so need to plan some activities to keep the troops occupied.

GTQ I am so very sorry to hear about the loss of your mum, sending you lots of love and strength at this difficult time. You should definitely look after yourself and do what will make you happy at Christmas. xx

Spendless you’ve just reminded me of how much I used to like having a perfume/body lotion set, if I was ever going out I’d pamper myself with both. I haven’t had a set like that for years!

Coxy gosh I’d be super frustrated too, and that’s a lot of money to spend on something that wasn’t used! I know your SiL ignored your message because she was embarrassed but it would have been far less annoying had she let you know the situation in advance as you were going to find out anyway! I would definitely let your DH organise their presents this year.

C_J

@princesskitty29 I was looking into ideas for a space-themed party for my five year old grandson recently. There are lots of free printable solar system colouring sheets online which are a good addition to party bags with a pack of inexpensive crayons from £land or similar.