Not dropping Santa down the chimney!: 2025 Santa, Shoebox & Life Chit,Chat,Chunter! ALL welcome....

Katiehound

Hi Auti

Please don't lurk! Come and join us... we are down to a very select few at present so the more the merrier. I know you make some lovely things, I've seen them on the 'using up my stash' thread.

 There was a photo on Link to Hope FB page of a lady who made 75 crochet blankets to go with the shoe boxes. Made my 2 look very paltry!!

I was in Aldi two days running this last week because I forgot something & also i wanted a cauli that wasn't picked over/sad.  i could hardly believe that a whole display had moved round the corner  overnight so I can appreciate your problems. Everyone is hunting for things that have moved plus the aisles were blocked with  pallets of stuff to go out on display and those huge wire crates to hold empty cardboard cartons. It certainly doesn't make shopping a pleasurable experience (if it ever was!!)

Happy_Kitties

Auti, I agree with Katiehound, please don’t lurk. It would be nice to see more pictures of the things you are making.

Dropped a chunk of Christmas presents off to Duncle yesterday, very relieved but by the end of the day I was shattered as I had to travel and then went to an event after

Today I’m just doing the last bits and bobs, catching up with a friend who  had gone off the radar. My relative’s letterbox present has caused a few issues, but it is ready to go first thing. 

I bought some token bits from when the shoebox superhub did a fundraising Christmas event. Currently wrapping them for my sports club members. Still haven’t done a letter for the present, I think this will be the last to do like last year. 

Trip to next town tomorrow to top up foods for the actual day as the food warehouuse is much bigger than the little Icel@nd where I live and have monies on my savings card. I get stressed if it is really busy, cannot cope with the small store. We have a fairly new Aldi built in the next town but I don’t go in, it stresses me out when I do go in. I see it as organised chaos,
I will also recycle my cat food sachets tomorrow and I need to pick up some things from Arg@s I have bought in the sales ready for next year. I also ordered some bits for charity aswell. 

I am also trying to do some decluttering at the minute aswell. Just little bits here and there but really need to get some decorating done in 2024, that is the main goal.

Still have two Christmas meals before Christmas and a Christmas trip so want to make sure everything is done and I can just enjoy the meals and the trip without rushing around. Still have some work bits to do before Christmas aswell. 

The lights with the houses opposite that they put up on the top are no more . Been watching as the lights slowly started to come away and were  just dangling still with their flashing lights. We have had some bad winds, we have tonight and the lights have not coped well at all with the winds. It’s a shame as they obviously put a lot of effort into putting them up. 

Auti

Hello,
Not really much to say but wanted to thank you all for your kindness
I hope your world is going ok and I have found something else to do to keep my hands and brain busy (and small enough to take with me wherever I go so can do a bit it life gets overwhelming - sort of keeps me in a little bubble for a bit).
This is so far which looks nothing but getting the crochet hook through the zip is interesting to say the least but will get there. It is an old zip so this one will be a trial one to work out the best way to do it - oh I should say it is going to be a coin purse/ needle case holder or whatever I need to keep in one place that fits. I need to make the sts more even but looking at the second side they seem better so practice seems to work - if the second side is better I might frog it and do again as it can be a sacrificial zip (though I think it will survive being redone.

Have a peaceful evening. 

Katiehound

Hi Auti, That's really interesting- I suspect stabbing the hook thro the zip fabric was a challenge! but I'm really interested to see how it turns out. I have loads of zips & yarn.....

 Currently still making doggy duvets -promised the groomers that I would have 4 done by tomorrow. Not sure if I will manage all 4...... as they will need pressing as I am using creased oddments.1 middle & 2 covers complete so far.Since Nov 1st have made 33!

I ordered some more fabric this week - the shop had an online sale on Tuesday- and it arrived today. Hoping to do a few more pouches as the vets have sold all the dog themed ones- I think there were 5. I promised some more- but for next week. Itching to use the new fabric but I also need a pile of 6" squares for the lining.

The doggy duvets are calling......and I don't want them to be dodgy

best wishes
K

Happy_Kitties

Katiehound- whenever you need the quilt, it’s washed, packed and wrapped ready for you!

Auti- I would love to be able to crochet. My nan taught me to knit, with crochet she got me practicing chain stitch but never taught me anymore, she used it like a weapon against me. Wasn’t a very nice person.

So far had one Christmas meal out which wasn’t great and we ended getting money off the bill. It wouldn’t have been so bad but it wasn’t even busy and our waitress took our order, went off shift to go home, had messed the order up. That was an interesting meal.

Went out for a friend’s birthday meal, that was really lovely and my last birthday present of the year to be given out,
I’ve also done the letter for the one present and final parcel is off in the post.

Only a few bits left to wrap and then done. I always judge how ready I am by the scenario of if I was really snowed in I could I make a Christmas meal. Okay it wouldn’t be Turkey but breadcrumbed chicken fillets but yes I am ready.

i went into the next town during the week, picked up a few sale bits for next year for presents and the charity auction. Have a birthday in January and always take the present over on Boxing Day to save on postage. Also filled up my freezer, still have money left on the savings card so will just keep topping it up again weekly. Has come in very handy this year. Recycled cat food sachets aswell. Hoping to go again next week. In the evening would be better and much quieter but don’t know whether I will have time. Would be very handy for a pick up on cat litter. So a paperwork week next week with the trip out, one  Christmas meal left, have arranged a visit to another friend to drop off a present. As long as I pace myself I should be okay. That is the plan!

Katiehound

Last of the 4 days delivering shoeboxes in Romania?
 The latest comments posted only 4 hours ago.
Such happy smiles to receive a  shoe box.
 Do look at the photos
https://www.facebook.com/LinktoHope/?locale=en_GB

and that's why we do it.... giving cheer to someone less fortunate.
Shame there are so many folk even here in Europe who are so poor or isolated.

chanie

Hi everyone,

sorry i’ve been MIA. 

Merry christmas to you all.

i have a couple of confessions….

i didn’t get my Link boxes off 🫣.  Just ran out of time and then it was too late!!!

my second confession is that i’m still behind on christmas presents, so i have a mad dash to the shops tomorrow morning to finish off. 

I defo need to do better next year 😂.

Happy_Kitties

Chanie it’s just great to hear from you and that you are okay. 

When I was a youth worker I used to say to the kids, real life is hard. The amount of times I used to see the kids grown up a few years later; if I had a pound for everytime  they said you were so right. Adulting is hard!

There is always next year for the shoeboxes, I wanted to do 8, only managed 7 with half a box still sitting in the spare bedroom.

I’ve just have a couple of presents to wrap and I’m done. My health isn’t great at the minute, I’m going to my besties Christmas Day and there might be extra there so just going to pick up some flowers but just taking it easy. Slow tidy of the house is much needed. 

I hope the shops aren’t too busy for you Chanie. During the day the shops have been busy but early morning and evening they have been so quiet. 

Just seen an offer on Amaz@n plus had a free voucher for them so have ordered 5 smellie sets that came to £8 for the hub and charity auctions for next year, hopefully I will get them as they don’t come in until January,

Have a great Christmas every one and it is so good to hear from you Chanie, I’ve missed your present ideas as I usually pinch them!

Katiehound

Welcome back Chanie- if only for a fleeting visit!
The shoe box(es) will keep for next year, sadly the need for them is not diminishing

Thought I had 'hung up' the sewing machine for a few days then suddenly remembered I needed to make a shopping bag for the friend where I am having Christmas lunch! Only got the material remnant (dachshunds) about 10 days ago......... it is now made!

Happy Christmas to everyone who follows this thread, or indeed, every and any thread!

Auti

Happy Christmas with a calm and safe time. Thank you to everyone who posts as I like reading and connecting.