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

Spendless

I went into town yesterday afternoon and thought I too would look at Boots gift range. For the 3rd year running it's not all out yet! There's gaps on shelves and a sign saying coming soon. I don't know if their Xmas catalogue is out as I exited via a different door to where they usually put them. Of the things I did see I too would like some of it. They've got some Radley bits this year.

Though I'm not going to fully change what I'm getting DS and Gf for Xmas. I will still get her the perfume set and DS shaving items though I'll have no need to bulk it with everyday items since they'll be living somewhere with a wider variety of shops, I am going to add items that will make their place cosier plus anything they need to help reduce electricity costs. 

C_J

Elder daughter has just asked for some Sweaty Betty clothing for Christmas, and told me yesterday “I thought I’d tell you about it now, because they’ve got a sale on”. She’s definitely learning to be MSE! 😂😂

princesskitty29

Thanks for your well wishes, my dad came out of hospital yesterday which is great news for him, there really is no place like home. I picked up some chocolate coins for the boys stockings but haven’t bought any other presents since posting last. I’ve got really into the new version of All Creatures Great and Small recently, I’ve been watching from the beginning and really enjoyed the Christmas episodes! The third series is currently on TV so I’m thinking there will be a special at Christmas this year. I like having a Christmas special to look forward to, there haven’t been many for me in recent years apart from Gavin and Stacey in 2019. I remember it always used to be things like Only Fools and Horses or the Vicar of Dibley.

I really must get on with the bunting I need to make, it’s just getting it all out and started, once I’ve done that I’ll be ok. I'm going to let the boys loose on the new Smyths Toys catalogue this weekend so they can start making their lists.

mandco great idea with the sticker hamper, they’re inexpensive and children love them! There are also a lot of activity books with hundreds of stickers in them.

Coxy wow that’s really poor form from your DD’s BF. As time goes by your DD will be less bothered about him, it’s always that hard time inbetween.

Spendless I hope your DD is starting to feel a bit better about it all, social anxiety can be debilitating which is especially hard at uni as it seems to mainly be about the socials! Great news about your DS getting a job.

CJ that's very helpful of your DD, get in quick!

Coxy11

Really glad your DDad is on the mend @princesskitty29 - nothing beats the comfort of your own bed! I too have loved the revamped ACG&S - such easy watching and love the characters. Also love the scenery of Yorkshire.

DD spoke with ex BF yesterday (after he failed to pick up 3 times he called her....) and looks like they are back on. I'm utterly speechless.

@Spendless hope your DD is settling down into uni life x

I have found a panini press for DS2 for part of his gift. I also have a voucher that can be used in RDyas, so will look at ordering it today. Was thinking of waiting until black Friday - but it's already a good price.

Spendless

Coxy11 said:

Really glad your DDad is on the mend @princesskitty29 - nothing beats the comfort of your own bed! I too have loved the revamped ACG&S - such easy watching and love the characters. Also love the scenery of Yorkshire.

DD spoke with ex BF yesterday (after he failed to pick up 3 times he called her....) and looks like they are back on. I'm utterly speechless.

@Spendless hope your DD is settling down into uni life x

I have found a panini press for DS2 for part of his gift. I also have a voucher that can be used in RDyas, so will look at ordering it today. Was thinking of waiting until black Friday - but it's already a good price.

It won't last. I'll give it until the New Year. DD has had a friend travel and stay o/night. This is against the tc and cs of her accommodation that doesn't allow for overnight guests for the first 2 weeks. It's also DD's first full day of Uni today and she has a houseguest. Drama school hours are very long 8am-6pm, so it's not like she'll only be in class for an hour or two. She doesn't go she gets an absence mark, so many absence marks equate to being kicked off the course. Drama schools are tough on their students because the industry that they're striving to be in is tough. You can't say 'Soz, my mate turned up' and not go in when a paying  audience is expecting you to watch you  play a part!  There's a certain actor I won't name who never went to drama school and IMO it shows when they don't 'get it' the expectations of what a company asks of them and they start complaining publicly.

 The same friend went and stayed for a week last year in DD's second week and I wasn't impressed then and DD was eventually given an official warning over it due to length friend had stayed in her room.  DH flew from a London airport today to Europe for work so went down last night to take DD some bits and then stayed o/night in a hotel when he saw friend. DD had kept this from us knowing we wouldn't be happy because we weren't last year.  I am livid!

In Xmas news I bought a sign that said HOME for 50p in Primark today. I was going to put that in DS and DIL2b stocking for their new place. I also bought some a 3pk of cotton mesh bags reduced to £2.  The smallest of them though still larger than ideal I'm thinking of keeping for me and putting a soap bar in it. Longer lasting and better for environment than shower gel. No idea what I'm doing with the other two bags - lol. 

Coxy11

To save others on this thread having to hear our DD woes(!) I will PM you @Spendless!

Coxy11

I have ordered some phone holders from a FB advert. I ordered 4, one for me and the other three for gifts for Christmas. They are the Thumbs Up lazy phone stand. I got a discount as bought 4, but with the £2.99 p&p I could have got them cheaper on the big river site (as much as I loathe it). Lesson learnt there!

Coxy11

Ordered a panini press from Argo$ which I will collect today. This is for DS2 to have at uni. It will form part of his Christmas present as it's non-essential kit!! 

Not sure whether I said, but when he left for uni we were tidying his room and found £125 of giftcards - £50 for the local large shopping mall, £25 Gift for All, and 2 x £25 Lifestyle ones. I have bought these off him and have used one of the Lifestyle cards to buy the panini press (you set up an account and convert to e-giftcards from there). The Gift for All needs to be used in store and the shopping mall one is any store in the mall plus food outlets.

Just a reminder to check validity of gift cards and balances still on them. It's a very easy way to lose money. I used to buy giftcards for nieces and nephews but now give cash (after one shop went into administration in the January!).

mandco

Coxy sorry to hear dd is having bf drama - I'd love to say I can't believe he ruined her birthday but its all too common. That said he sounds incredibly selfish and uncaring. I totally get your disbelief they are back together after what he did but its so hard for them at that age to give up on a relationship even if its not great from our point of view. They often believe they should give them  a 2nd chance and they'll change as they get sucked in by those begging calls I'm sorry, I love you, I can't live with out you, it will be different this time ect.  Fingers crossed she'll realise she's outgrown him and deserves better.  
That was a lot of giftcards laying around - I do think its easy to put them aside and think I'll use it later then forget you have them . I hate gifting cash but at least you know its going to be used by the recipient.

spendless - congrats to ds on the job offer   hope dd is settling in ok at uni - social anxiety is tough anyway but for uni students it must be awful to deal esp during freshers week when everyone it expected to join in with all the activities ect  I would be fuming at her for having her friend stay when she's not meant to and has been in trouble for it before too. The fact that she kept it from you shows she knows she is in the wrong.
I can't believe your boots store still doesn't have their xmas stock out yet most stores its been out for weeks - they do have a xmas catalogue this year I picked one up the other day 

princesskitty glad to hear your Dad is home hope he's recovering ok 

picked up a few xmas food items for my stash -in asda I got a freefrom choc tiffin star(dated next year) some dairyfree choc coins for taz and a GF choc orange yule log which I've popped in the freezer as its slightly different to the usual standard gf yule log which tends to be the only GF option.  

Picked up a kindi kids doll for my other dgd and the dresses I ordered from next came - just need to pick up some more stickers and they are pretty much sorted.

A few places(smyths,primark,argos,boots) have already started offering returns till end of January so for those places I'm just going to pick up bits when I see them and will return/exchange if they go cheaper before xmas 

princesskitty29

We had a pre-loved uniform sale at school last week that also had dressing up costumes, I managed to get DS2 a Buzz Lightyear costume for £3 which he will love. I’m going to try to buy second hand where possible as long as it’s in reasonable condition as they don’t need everything new. My eldest is really into David Walliams at the moment so I’m going to check out the charity shops and see if any of them has any of his books in. I also picked up my friends favourite prosecco to go in her gift bag but apart from that I haven’t managed to buy any more. I’m hoping to get to the shops this week so will see if I can tick anything else off of my list.

I’ve been seeing the Very Christmas advert on TV lately and it’s been making me feel soooo Christmassy! I don’t know if any other Christmas adverts are on TV yet? I don’t tend to see a lot of adverts as most things I watch are recorded.

Coxy ah great to find another ACG&S lover! I’m actually in love with James Herriot in this new series, then I remember it’s not real and I won’t be able to elope with him to the Yorkshire dales!

Spendless what does your DD’s friend do (i.e. job/college) if she’s always staying with your DD? I totally understand why you are livid and I would be too.

mandco it’s good to hear the extended returns policy has started in some stores, there’s always things I need to buy that I need to have a guaranteed return on just in case. I was trying to find out if Next has it yet but I couldn’t see anything.