Weekly Flylady Thread 17th December 2007

lbnblbnb

soappie wrote: »

For the first year ever, I am up to date with Christmas - the shopping, the cleaning etc. and I owe it all to you.

I raise my just poured and much needed G&T to you all.

I raise my drink to you all in admiration. I am
NOT READY FOR CHRISTMAS.
I have been asking OH for a month for ideas for his family, to email his sister to find out what she, hubby and kids would like etc. He has done absolutely nothing about it, and I now find myself having to go to Norwich tomorrow to try to find things. All my family have been bought presents by post and are sorted. I am so fed up.
Of course, I could not sort out anything and tell them all he did nothing about it but

1. I love Christmas and want it to be special
2. I love his family, who spend a lot of time and effort finding lovely presents for me and our kids.
3. I partly blame myself for not kicking his a*** harder and more often.

But I have a demanding job and he is a semi-house husband, supposedly. I want to Scream!!!!!!!!!
Tonight I feel like I have three kids.
L x

tiamai_d

Big round of applause to us ALL, even those of us who have not yet done the shopping, wrapped gifts, delivered presents, discovered how to cook a turkey....

We always end up managing somehow, and that is amazing!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Dustykitten

lbnblbnb hugs hun, you are stressed because you care, that is good. The hardest bit of all is thinking what to get - how old are the kids? Tell us about his sis and her hubbie and we will brainstorm with you.

First though I need to know what lbnblbnb stands for so it is eaiser to type.

Dustykitten

First item I have forgotten to buy - pomegranit

lil_me

lbn - I agree with Dusty, maybe we can help. Thankfully the sales have started in the likes of BHS etc so you might actually get some good buys. Sorry I know it's a bit late but I have an equally useless partner especially when it comes to Christmas, I have been so tempted to when he says -'What have we got my Nana, Grandma, Dad etc' to say NOTHING that is your job!! I just know I would end up shopping Christmas eve if I left him to find out what to get or they would get nothing and I would be the one getting the black looks on Christmas day. Makes it worse as there is 8 elderly relatives to buy for on his side who I hardly know, then the other family members I am instructed to buy for. You have my complete sympathy, next year either kick harder earlier or just do it yourself, it's so much easier and less stressful.

tiamai, I have posted a thread asking for turkey help, I am just too stressed looking for how to and when I googled it everywhere said something different so decided to ask normal people who cook instead and that list, I think I tick all the boxes. I have the meats but unfortunately I'll be doing my list tonight then shopping for it on Christmas eve I think. Got a couple of things wrapped but still a cupboard full to do.

Oooo Dusty I haven't had one of them for ages, we used to sit with a pin for hours with them when we were kids. I'll see if I can find a hot water bottle tonight, I don't know where they have gone since we moved. Might help a bit.

Right, half an hour internet me time, well finding out how to cook a turkey aswell hopefully, bath the boys (steam helps aswell) then time to do the dreaded freezer sorting....

lbnblbnb

Dustykitten wrote: »

lbnblbnb hugs hun, you are stressed because you care, that is good. The hardest bit of all is thinking what to get - how old are the kids? Tell us about his sis and her hubbie and we will brainstorm with you.

First though I need to know what lbnblbnb stands for so it is eaiser to type.

Thank you Dustykitten and lil-me, you are right, I need lots of possiblities in case my first idea is out of stock. Liz - I was/am a vegetarian and was nicknamed lizbert no bacon at school (eggbert no bacon? batty books? never mind, I'll get me coat......)

SIL - likes food, films, victorian style nightdresses (what I would have got her if I had planned it in time)
BIL - films, Indian cooking, novels, gardening
Neice (11yo) reading, drawing (manga type things), is getting a guitar for Christmas from her parents
Nephew (9yo) similar to neice but also likes chess, football.

Looking at the above, I must be able to find presents for them. Any suggestions appreciated, Norwich has most shops.

Next year, it is all going to be different........!
Liz

lil_me

SIL - popcorn maker (great to have with movies & is food) you can get one in the style of an old popcorn machine from the movies, like on a barrow, in BHS, they're in the sale. I wonder if the Past Times shops are still going? I think they used to do the victorian style nightdresses, maybe search on yell.co.uk see if there is one where you are shopping.

BIL - Spices set. Growing his own herbs/spices kits to go with his Indian cookery. Jamie Olivers Jamie at Home book which combines gardening and cooking. One of Madhur Jaffrey's cookery books.

Neice - What about asking if she is planning on having lessons and maybe a gift voucher for lessons, you could pass the money onto her parents to pay for them?

Nephew - I think I would go down the football or chess route, usually loads of gifts in those areas. Electronic chess set? good for practise if he doesn't have one already.

Is it too late to call them and ask for ideas? Just explain what with little ones, work and a useless partner you're having to do things a little later than usual.

Dustykitten

Top idea Lil_me - my post got eaten - I'll try again

Neice - they do nice colouring pencils in WHSmith in a box in the art section - much more grown up than the regular ones and good qulaity DS loves them. Also boots had a good jewelery kit which was all magnets to make different styles.

Nephew - they do good shrinkle kits - footballs pictures to colour and then shrink. Goalie gloves are always useful.

BIL - compost turner (tool) I love mine

SIL - still thinking

soappie

Lbn, there's a Past Times in Norwich, you'll probably be able to get SIL a victorian style nightdress there.

lbnblbnb

Soappie, Dustykitten and lil-me - thank you for the ideas. I am calmer now, I felt like I had reached the end of my tether, but it is possible to sort it out. I have found where Past Times is in Norwich, so will try there, and will try out your other ideas too. In a while I am going to sit down with my list and add your ideas then brainstorm as many others as I can think of.
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply - it has made me much more focused and less panicky!

Liz x