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

Spendless

I remember theatregate! IIRC they weren't even overly apologetic they'd done it or even flagged it that they'd double booked! I bought tickets for our local theatre for myself and DD 2 nights to watch 2 nights before she moved away, put them in a drawer because we were going on hol and then forgot to go. I was so upset when I realised but at least I'd only wasted my own money. I can't imagine being blase about slipping up on a gift someone had got me.
With that in mind I'd be reluctant to buy them something they can forgot to attend again, so I'd make it a physical gift if you intend taking over from DH.


Re ticketmaster gift card. Can't you use it to buy an event for one of your relatives? One of your own kids if it would be a bit too obvious if you gave to a Niece/Nephew.    

I'm at the hospital shortly. I'm hoping whatever they do won't restrict me later so I can look at the presents and do some housework prep. I think DS and gf will be here tomorrow. She recently lost her Grandad and Bonfire night was a big thing in her family, with everyone attended a BBQ on her Grandparents farm, so she wants to do something tomorrow and there's a fireworks display walking distance from us. . 

Coxy11

Yes theatre-ticket-gate was very annoying. £60 of tickets forgotten about as SIL and her DH went to Kew for a short break. She has never mentioned it to me, only DH, when he asked how the show was!! We could have gone had we known!

Re: the Ticketmaster giftcard, I've just had another look and have booked myself a single seat to see the SCD professionals show at the London Palladium on 19 May. Single seat as they are £46.50 each plus restoration fee, booking fee and postage, so a grand total of £49.75. DH will not be interested so I'll be a saddo and go alone!

You may remember that when DS2 left for uni we found £125 of giftcards in his room. We've paid him for those. There's a £50 voucher for the local mall which I can use in any shop, a £25 One for All voucher that needs to be used instore (and there's loads of options) but the others were 2 x £25 Life:Style vouchers. You have to register for a Life:Style account and load the vouchers up, then choose e-gift cards for retailers. I did this last month and changed £25 for an Argos voucher which I used for DS2's panini press. I went on today to exchange the remaining £25 and whadyaknow the list of retailers has shrunk to a handful of restaurants and foodie type retailers. The only mainstream retailer on there now is Harvey Nichols(!) and you have to go instore to spend the voucher! I've opted for a Donald Russell voucher to spend on meat for our freezer and when trying to redeem it at the checkout it's showing as non-redeemable, so now have a query with DR customer services. It should not be this difficult to redeem giftcards people! Steer well clear!!

Hope you get on okay at the hospital @Spendless x

Coxy11

This is the card - only Just Eat and Wagamama still available!

CheekyMikey

Gettingtherequickly said:

Ooh Mrs R, where did you get the Irish bits? I love Tayto also, although as my brother is going home in a couple of weeks and will take his car, I may tell him that a trip to buy a box is in order, as is a tin of Afternoon Tea biscuits!  My aunts friend had an Irish shop locally for donkeys years, but unfortunately she was diagnosed with MS, so closed it and retired back to Ireland.

I am trying to get my head into gear with regards shopping, but have not had the inclination.  This has been a very tough month, it was my dad's anniversary, my sister arranged the engraving of my mums details on the headstone without discussing it with my brother & I, so we have a complete dogs dinner of a headstone.  We were so angry, my immediate thought was that it is coming down and being replaced with a new one, but for various reasons that is not possible, although the memorial company that did it will get a very strongly worded email from me.  I can't blame them, they did what they were told, but I think that it should be standard practice that unless it is a spouse or only child arranging it, there should be a check box that all agreed on the wording.  The hospice mum died in had a remembrance service on Saturday, but the hardest part of the month was hearing the devastating news that my cousins 16 year old nephew committed suicide.  He was an only child, adopted and I know the hoops his parents had to go through to finally get that bit of paper that said he was theirs. I happened to be home the day they flew home with him (Russian adoption) and everyone was so so happy for them.  They are beside themselves, and if we can't understand it, we cannot even begin to understand what they are going through. I watched his funeral online and the body language of the kids, not just his cousins, but those he went to school with simply said it all.

I will get my act into gear!

Tesco sell Tayto Cheese and Onion…I get some regularly in my online shop..they’re the best

Spendless

I got my Xmas gifts out and I really need to get the bits together to finish them off. Mums unfortunately because it's small toiletries doesn't really look much. Hopefully when the water bottle arrives it will pad it out more. I went to look for a small container to see if it  glammed  the items up a bit, but only popped to Tesco and nothing there. I'll look further afield over the weekend.

I'm also in a dilemma over what to do about DS stocking. He;s had one since a little boy at his request and the only Xmas day he's not spent with us was last year as he now alternates between us and Gf's family. I still did one for him and gf last year and they had it a few days later when they came over. I can't remember why I did it like that but think it might have been something to do with asking DD to split her presents over 2 days, half one Xmas day, half when her brother came home.  Now DS and gf are living 2 villages away, a 15 min drive from us, For the past year our bed settee the bed part has been broken, which has meant us all shuffling beds round when they stop, so I've suggested they stay at their own place Xmas Eve, wake up Xmas day there and come over to us afterwards. So, do I give them a stocking to open at theirs, save it for here or knock in the head all together, as I always thought that the stocking stopped once they didn't wake at home on Xmas day (mind you I also thought the Christmas hamper stopped at 18 and I've had pleases from DD for its resurrection). Next year they will be married and spending the day with Dil2b parents, so do I do it just one last time? Either way they will still get the stocking fillers as I bought these earlier in the year when DS was still a student.    

C_J

@Spendless If it were me, I’d do stockings one last time and hand them over on Christmas Eve so they can wake up and open them together on Christmas morning before they come over to you. It seems a natural break to then stop doing stockings once they are married.

Spendless

C_J -  Thank you. Yes, I think that makes most sense and also means that DS stocking that he's had since 11 would then be at and would  remain at his house, which is the correct place for it and means I don't have it here in future years to fill up. 

Prior to him requesting this stocking when he moved to Secondary school, both kids had a Disney themed one. DD's was replaced only a few years ago by a Victoria Secret one, bought in the Jan sales that I saved to give her in her Xmas Eve hamper later  that year. When she eventually also moves out she too can take that with her and I will keep the original Disney ones with me just as decs perhaps. 2 years ago when gf came for Xmas along with HM2, I also  bought them both stockings, but I don't know what has happened to her stocking. We did end up with a load of stuff of hers at our house, so need to look through it to see if there, if not I need to buy her another one.

Coxy - I forgot to say how frustrating about the gift card. I've been put off by them over the years due to retailers going into administration and not honouring them but always thought ones with multiple places to shop in were a lot safer bet. Wonder if it's been wildly publicised that so many places were dropping out. Glad you found something to spend the ticketmaster giftcard on though. 

After much googling and watching youtube videos I hit on that the issue with my Mum's present was the packaging, or rather lack of it.  I bought the limited edition travel dry leg oil from This Works but it looks very basic compared to the full size version which costs a whacking £44!  Anyway, some boxes for the items, some I had in, others I need to buy has sorted the problem out. 

At hospital they checked and dressed my abscess and I am back there for an op to remove the cyst in Jan because I've been told if they don't it has the potential to do it again.   

princesskitty29

Hi all, I hope you’re all ok? Gosh I’ve been so busy the last few weeks with PTA events, half term, going to Butlins, Halloween etc that I don’t feel like my feet have touched the ground! It sounds like you’re all doing amazingly well with you shopping, well done all. I’m also a spreadsheet fan, I start a new one after Christmas and update it all year, I’d be lost without it!

I’m slowly moving along with my gift buying, now it’s November and a lot of places have their extended returns policy I can start getting more. I also said I would start doing things such as wrapping and writing cards in November as I always end up rushing at the end, I haven’t started anything yet but I’m determined to! I was pleased the other day as I was planning to get DS1 a David Walliams book and DS2 a dog teddy as he’s wanted one for ages now and I got both like new from a charity shop for £2.25! So pleased to tick two presents off my list for that price, I’ll definitely keep an eye out for more in the charity shop. I have also bought them both a box of cereal each, DS1 Rice Krispie shapes and DS2 Coco Pops which were both on offer. It sounds strange but they love these cereals and only have them as part of the variety packs when we go on holiday, so I thought why not get them as a present to open? We did  this with DS1 on his birthday and he loved it. I also got DS2 a Buzz Lightyear costume from the school pre-loved sale for £3. I’m trying to be so mindful about what I’m buying and how much things are, my boys are very good and don’t mind receiving second hand things (I don’t think they even notice half the time tbh), I’d like them to grow up like this and it helps with the pennies!

As it was Bonfire Night yesterday I have set my hot chocolate station up which I’m very excited about! And my radio is tuned into Heart Xmas for the rest of the year.

GTQ glad to see you back, I’ve been thinking about you lately and hoping you’re ok. I’m sorry I don’t know your family but I cannot believe your sister would have the headstone engraved without consulting you or your brother, I can completely understand your feelings. And how truly awful to hear about your cousins nephew, what awful news and I can only imagine it is unbearable for his parents. Sending lots of love to you and your family.

Mrs Ryan thanks for reminding me about the ebay outlets, I’m planning to get DH a Superdry hoodie for Christmas and there’s some on the for nearly half price!

Skibunny40

Princesskitty29 - my son gets Frosties in his stocking every year...and he's 20! We started it when he was around primary school age. He loved it & it's become a tradition so I don't think it's strange at all!

Gettingtherequickly

Thanks for your support regarding cousins nephew. His parents are finding it so difficult, but they have the support of everyone which will help them get through this, who knows how long it will take, but at least they are all there for each other.

I ordered a brooch from someone local earlier in the week, she recycles things to make them, no idea what it is made from, but my aunt loves quirky things so I know she will like it. Can’t complain about the service, it was dropped off to me this afternoon as she happened to be passing by.

Got my hampers sorted for the families in need today. Now have most of the stuff for it, will be glad to get them ready for delivery, take up so much space in my spare room, looks like a bomb has hit it!

Been a bit damp, not getting enough walking done😳