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

Spendless

Gettingtherequickly said:

Just a quick one while it crosses my mind, any suggestions on what M&S "treat" I can take to Canada with me? Would like to introduce them to M&S food, but need to consider luggage etc?

DH's Canadian family adore anything curry related you can get here, such as spice kits etc. The shelf  M & S ones I'm thinking of though there's a jar of sauce  so wouldn't be able to go in hand luggage and would be a risk breaking in hold luggage.

When DH's aunts came over this summer, one of them took back a load of sweets/chocolate for her grandkids. Can see the point, I've never liked American/Canadian choc either.

What about something from their festive range, biscuits, have they got any Xmas cake but in slices, yule log, mince pies if they have a long enough date on, something they do from their Percy Pig range bound to be lots of festive variants. I used to buy DD and her ex several items from the Colin the caterpillar range. They did little cake bars etc not just the full cake. You could also browse one of their food halls for inspiration. I'd just be careful if it's not something you've tried yourself. I bought DD some chilli noodles in nests to take to Uni. I was quite excited when she didn't want them to try them, only to discover I couldn't taste chilli in them at all, they tasted like bog standard egg noodles!

Yesterday I went out and got from the boydshop outlet another mini shower gel to pop in Mum's box. I also bought DS and Dil2b 2 hot water bottles in the shape of animals. These were only £5.99 each in Savers. The pricing makes me think they've been overlooked due to being older stock when stores have put prices up.

I have no one to buy them for but in a chairty shop I saw 4 long glass tumblers with a picture of an old train on each for £12. We no longer buy for B-i-l the only rail enthusiast  in the family. It did make me miss DD living in Edinburgh as she did at the begining of the year. The charity shops there were amazing. She took me in one back in Jan and it was full of items in there, that I had at home 'for best'. It's where I bought my Radley bag, extremely good condition for £20.  Next year I might set myself a challenge to look to see if I can get gifts in Charity Shops.

Meanwhile I am amusing myself far too much with thinking what to buy DH with the last 50p. I checked and I don't have a duplicate design 50p, so will have to nab one of DS. I do intend checking with him though to see if he still collects them. If he's just spending them cos he's skint, no point might as well give him another demoniation coin.  So far I've found 1 or 2 Xmas chocs, PM 50p pack of wine gums and bar of Terry's Choc orange and in clearance at Superdrug a couple of handwashes, one looks very cheap and clinical, the other sounds a nice fragrance but incredibly dusty bottle - nothing a wet wipe wouldn't sort out. I think it's reminding me of my days back in the mid 80s in my first f-time job, in addition to the staff night out, they had a 'ladies night'   Back then wages were paid in cash and the office manager would collect in and save money towards the night out for any of the female staff who wanted to join. Then a couple of months before the night they would ask someone usually a new member of staff, so they didn't know why to pick a number between I think 30-50. Whatever number was selected each person attending had to buy a present that corresponded with that price. Most things had price tags on then but if it didn't you had to include the receipt.  I remember one year the number picked was 49 and that was a lot easier than the year before which had been something like 47p. There was still talk of a legendary year, before I started when the price was 371/2 p and lots of them found Boots were doing a roll of cotton wool at this price. The rules were you were allowed to say you'd bought the item but not what it was in advance. I can't remember how the gifts got allocated on the night but am guessing someone collated them and just put them at random at a place. It was similar to Secret Santa but you'd no idea who was going to get your item and after opened it didn't have to remain a secret. I can't remember all the gifts I received for the few years I worked there, but I do recall a coaster. I even had it when I bought my first home, several years after I'd left that place of employment. . Don't know what happened to it though. 

Gettingtherequickly

Thanks Spendless, the chocolate is a given as I always had to buy it when going to Egypt.  I have actually made a Christmas cake (I don't decorate, so they can be left for months afterwards) as they love it, but good thinking about Colin!

I love that idea of buying cost of number drawn, would be such fun trying to get things! Shame there is only the boss & i in the office!

Spendless

I've bought DH's 50p item. It's a Star Wars bath mitt from Poundstretcher. I can't say that DH is into either Star wars or using bath mitts, but I thought it amusing and it'll get used by someone. 

DD is due to come home this weekend. She's asked for me and her to go for bottomless brunch, followed by some shopping, then she intends going to an event at a pub with a friend. The following morning we are going to see Matilda The Musical film. This is a surprise. DH was given £10 Vue giftcard as a corporate gift last year. I'd forgotten all about it when it was discovered in a drawer recently, needed using up before it expired so just had to put £3.99 to the price. We will have to fit in the Xmas tree decorating after this before she heads back. DH is working in a nearby area on Monday so he can take her and no worry about getting to the train on time. I've never put my tree up before in November and used to think most people who did it were nuts, but I know what DH is like when a football tournament is on - our wedding anniversary is mid June and there's been more than one year he's forgotten the date due to England playing! I'm not prepared for him just realising Christmas day is happening after the final is over. Already he started thinking about whether there'd be a semi final on Dec 16th as it's also his works night out and wouldn't know what to do if England was in it! 

mandco

Gettingtherequickly said:

Just a quick one while it crosses my mind, any suggestions on what M&S "treat" I can take to Canada with me? Would like to introduce them to M&S food, but need to consider luggage etc?

for an M&S must try its got to be percy pigs or some variation of. Most of the things I buy there are fresh so not practical for travelling with. We do really like their shortbread and they do have some nice festive treats -  are there any travel restrictions on what  food you can take into the country?

mandco

spendless sounds like you have a busy but fun filled few days coming up.

I think the world cup is def going to impact december and xmas related things unless the uk or which ever team you support get knocked out quickly as otherwise its almost xmas by time its over - they said there was a huge increase in people working from home for the 1st england match. I've even had to arrange our activities next week around match times.   

research shows that people who put their xmas tree up earlier tend to be happier - for me there's just something about seeing the tree all decorated lights twinkling - can't explain it but it makes me smile

dd realised she still has 1 day holiday to take by the end of the year so asked if I want have a xmas shopping day maybe visit a xmas market and go for something to eat. It will be lovely to spend some quality time together as between her new job & her Bf she's hardly ever home anymore.

  

Coxy11

Hi all,

They do Percy Pig snoses in M&S @Gettingtherequickly - they are like a walnut whip I think but no nuts? So cute.

Well done everyone on your purchases and getting some bargains. I'm in awe that you are wrapping already. Our tree isn't going up until 10 December as won't have the chance before then. 

DS2's tshirts arriving today and I collected DD's hoodie from an amazon locker yesterday. Typical that it was in the uppermost one and I'm only 5'2" so had to jump up and down to retrieve it!

DS2 has sent me a list of things he'd like including towels?? He took towels from home but has asked for some funky ones??

Spendless

Coxy11 said:

Hi all,


DS2 has sent me a list of things he'd like including towels?? He took towels from home but has asked for some funky ones??

I love how teens/young adults use phrases that they assume an older generation will understand - lol. DD is the same. On our recent visit she requested 'shower stuff' for perhaps her Xmas eve hamper or stocking. Beyond s/gel, soap, bodywash which I didn't really see her requesting as a present!  I'd no idea what she was meaning.  2-3 enlightening youtube videos later and I realise she wants the products to give herself a whole beauty pampering routine in her en-suite halls room. Now I understand I've picked up all sorts of bits inc tonight at Savers whilst waiting for my train, they had a hair turban for £1.25.

 I'm guessing funky means modern but with some sort of pattern rather than plain. 

 It's a beach towel but I bought DD one of these for her hol, would work
as a large towel for the shower too . https://www.toxicfox.co.uk/collections/claireabella-beach-towels

Spendless

Has anyone got any ideas for a gift for DD, £10 budget. It's from DS and dil2b. They haven't got a great deal of money as just moved into their own place and gf isn't working yet. I've told Dil2b I will take her shopping in the city centre on Monday, in case there's still any Black Friday deals on. We have Home Bargains, B & M. Primark, Savers, Superdrug , TK Maxx, Boots & M & S. We also have outlet stores for House of Fraser, Bodyshop & Next.  

I did so well with the tip about the £10 1 ltr Baileys for DH from them, but I'm stumped when it comes to DD. She's 19 and at drama school about a 3.5 hour train/car ride away from home.    

mandco

Coxy11 said:

Hi all,

DS2 has sent me a list of things he'd like including towels?? He took towels from home but has asked for some funky ones??

I'd be thinking some kind of geometric print that seems to be very popular this year and usually quite colorful. Could you ask him to send you some examples of what he had in mind? 

spendless I totally agree half the time I have google stuff to figure out what dd is talking about - when I was younger it was soap/s-gel for washing with,skincare was pretty much cleanse/tone/moisturise maybe a face mask thrown in for a special treat and it you wore make up it was a tube of foundation and maybe some concealer. dd has about 30 different products and a load of different applicators (she doesn't use them all at once)  no wonder beauty market sales are booming

The boys annual online gaming subscription is currently 25% off so that's another thing ticked off my list - you can pay it monthly  but it works out a lot more expensive 

part of one of my preorders has finally be sent but another that even yesterday was still showing as due for dispatch today (its been pushed back 3 times already) has this morning been pushed back to the end of January so going to have to try and something else instead 

mandco

Spendless said:

Has anyone got any ideas for a gift for DD, £10 budget. It's from DS and dil2b. They haven't got a great deal of money as just moved into their own place and gf isn't working yet. I've told Dil2b I will take her shopping in the city centre on Monday, in case there's still any Black Friday deals on. We have Home Bargains, B & M. Primark, Savers, Superdrug , TK Maxx, Boots & M & S. We also have outlet stores for House of Fraser, Bodyshop & Next.  

I did so well with the tip about the £10 1 ltr Baileys for DH from them, but I'm stumped when it comes to DD. She's 19 and at drama school about a 3.5 hour train/car ride away from home.    

will she be home for xmas or does it need posting/transporting?
as she's away for school how about a gift card for costa/starbucks or some other food option ect students generally appreciate those extras when they're on a budget.

I've seen a lot of posts from parents with kids away for college and requests for basics like fluffy sock/fleece lined tights/scarfs/hats/gloves, hot water bottles, fleece blankets ect seem to be very popular as a lot of them are trying to keep their living costs down.