Jingle All The Way - It's the 2023 Christmas Chatter Thread!

sammy_kaye18

Good Afternoon all
I have been a bit AWOL from this thread but have found some christmas mojo recently so have been doing little bits recently. 
Family members have been poorly and so that has taken priority and everything else fell by the way side but now 2/3 of them are healing and the others op is scheduled for the end of the month so I can think ahead to christmas a little bit. 

Found some old gift cards and used them online at Boots and brought 6 bottles of a limited edition shower gel that my MIL and niece like so gave them a bottle each and have got 4 set aside to put into hamper baskets for them. Going to make up some gift bags/hampers of little bits people like and will use rather than tat. 

I do think I will stop in M&S at some point though and pick up some fancy bits for my grandmother for christmas. I know she will like some of their flavoured teas and the projector tins as she raved about them last year when her friend had one. 

Daughter is getting a new mountain bike as her main gift so she doesnt need much more else after that but she will get little bits. 
No idea for son yet or what he wants. 
Same with husband. 

MIL keeps hinting for more homemade candles from husband which I know he wont do but he did helpfully teach me how to do them so I think I will have a try at making her some so want to order a mould and some scents and then Ill make some for family too. 

mandco

Treasurequeen thanks for the heads up re M&S I'll have to pop in next week 

Sammy- sorry things haven't been great this year.

Spendless M&S do get some really lovely stuff in but it can be on the expensive side. 

princesskitty29

I popped in to M&S last week and saw some of the lovely tins, but I don’t really have anyone to buy them for. I’ve bought my auntie different ones from the last few years and I know she really likes them but I think there’s only so many musical/light up tins one needs! I don’t have any grandparents left and DH’s Grandma is 92 and doesn’t want any presents anymore. My mum and dad are so set in their ways with Yorkshire tea (although I must admit I’m a bit like that too!) and they always get loads of biscuits for Christmas. Actually as I’ve been typing all of that out I think maybe my in laws might like one of the tins of biscuits. I might take another look when I’m in their next. Apologies everyone, I’ve literally just typed out my thought as I was having them there!

I’ve decided to bite the bullet and I’ve ordered two tubs of Heroes on my food shop, I know they might do the 2 for £7 in the future but I wanted a tub for Halloween and we only need one at Christmas as my auntie always gives us one of the tubs as a gift. I like to put out sweets and chocolate on Halloween as my youngest doesn’t like sweets and he always gets upset at the lack of chocolate, and I thought a tub of Heroes would be cheaper and go further than buying bags of chocolate bars. I’d prefer to get them on offer than not at all!

Sammy I’m sorry to hear family members have been poorly, I do hope they’re on the mend now and it’s good to have you back. It sounds like you’re on track with your present buying. My friend and I are going to do a festive candle making workshop at Christmas so I’m looking forward to learning how to make candles too.

Coxy11

Sorry to hear about poorly family members @sammy_kaye18 - wishing them all the best in their recovery x

It was nephew's 16th birthday on Tuesday so I transferred some cash to his account. App kept saying the name didn't match, so checked with SIL and she confirmed details. Sent the payment at risk - then SIL said "oh it's in XX name" - account was in BILs name until nephew hit 16. Dozy or what?

DD's birthday is next Sunday. I have ordered her some airpods - the cheapest ones as just know she will a) put them through the wash and/or b) lose one of them. They were £129 still. We are also going to the theatre to see Jamie, so that's her done.

DIL2B is the same day as DD and DS1 has given me no ideas. At this rate she will be getting a voucher unless he can come up with something specific.

I am off to Aldi this morning and if they have any Christmas bits (biscuits, chocs etc.) I might start to buy, depending on dates. These will be for us to store away. I got a cat mug in Sainsbobs yesterday for SIL - she's cat mad so this will be put away for Christmas. I also have an idea for a book for BIL. 

I was offered a job on Friday. I'd interviewed for it in July and got pipped at the post by an internal candidate. Well they haven't worked out so they've offered me the role and are happy to wait until end of November when I've worked my notice. So happy and relieved plus it's only a 20 minute bus ride away - no more trains hurrah! Really need to get my Christmas sorted as will now be working in December fingers-crossed!

mandco

Coxy great news on the job even if it does mean you'll be working in December now. Being closer to home is a big bonus too both on time & finances. 
I brought dd airtags for her birthday as she's always misplacing stuff 

No xmas stuff in my local aldi's today but then they haven't even got any halloween stuff in yet either. They did have the frozen turkey joints back in so that's another thing off my list sorted.  

managed to finally find a terrys choc mint. Did pop in M&S didn't have the small matching set shortbread tins in so need to go back later and try again. Did find some xmas percy pigs so picked those up for ds stocking.

Sains have pringles for £1.50 nectar price which is the cheapest I've seen for a while so picked up a couple of tubes for the xmas box.

sammy_kaye18

Thanks all. 
Two of the family members are on the mend now and out of the woods hopefully - time will tell - one is my mother who got diagnosed with early throat cancer just after my birthday in July and has just completed a month of radiation therapy and is now healing although she sounds a bit like batman at the minute. The other is my father who has had spinal surgery to try and ease discs in his back pinching his nerve. Again hes home and on the mend, although keeps getting a few sharp pains but its nice to see him off painkillers for the first time in years. The last family member is my father in law who will be undergoing surgery on Thursday to remove his bowels and have a stoma fitted to remove bowel cancer that keeps re-occuring. He will be in hospital for a week at least and then home to heal and adapt so hopefully be Christmas we can look to having fun and laughs again and not being so stressed and worried. 

But for now - I can look forward to the festive season. 
I did sit this morning and watch a Christmas movie which put me in the mood for Christmas things and pre-planning. I sat earlier and was looking through some festive bits they have on Tesco so I can start putting them aside in a Christmas cupboard. May start with little things that I always forget like cling film, foil etc and just build it up slowly. 

@princesskitty29 I am actually sat looking at some scents for Christmas candles at the minute and have wax put to one side ready to click the button when pay day comes so I think making a few candles will be nice for them. I cant decide whether to do free standing like pillar candles (like not in a container) or finding some jars or pretty glasses to make the candles in instead. 

Mrs_Ryan

Spendless said:

@Mrs_Ryan - A carvery is what we are looking at for similar reasons. DD is vegetarian (she is also faddy!). It's highly likely she won't like whatever the veggie option is (unless for some strange reason it's a cheese and tomato pizza!) and will instead need to stack her plate with a Yorkshire pudding and veggies. If it's a chain you're going to would you mind sharing which one?

Hi Spendless- sure, it’s Farmhouse Inns. They’re all over the country, and there’s a good locator on their website which will tell you your nearest. 
Hope that helps.  

Coxy11

Sounds like you’re dealing with a lot @sammy_kaye18 - 
make sure you take care of you too. 

My Aldi had lots of Christmas bits. I got 2 boxes of florentines (£3.09), a stag shortbread tin (£4.79), 2 bags of pretzels (£1.49), a jar of mixed pitted olives (1.79) and a jar of stuffed peppers (£2.99). The mince pies were BB Nov so I left those. Lots of chocolate for gifting too. 

Spendless

Until the end of the week at least I will only be browsing as I have 4p in my bank account! Unless I locate the M&S gift card (I'm sure I put it somewhere safe - but where??) and buy Nan's tin of t-bags. I feel the same way as you @princesskitty29 about not buying too many tins (Nan is 98, I'm sure she has enough tins) but at the same time I would like to put nicely packaged biscuits with her tea and whisky. Reluctant to pay a fortune for some cellophane wrapped ones with a pretty ribbon   and a tag describing them as Artisan. Nan is just going to offer them to guests to dip in their tea!  Have thought about getting  Fox's cookies but I'll also keep looking.

Yes look after yourself too sammykaye especially if you're the one giving practical help and/or support. Often the care-giver is forgotten in situations like this and it's very tough on them too. 

Thanks Mrs Ryan - there is one in our location. This is our task for next weekend, decided and book a venue.    

mandco

Spendless fingers crossed you find the M&S card quickly I'm terrible for putting things away somewhere safe and not being able to find them again.

Smyths have the kindi kids pets down to £1.99 so picked up a couple for my donations box. My local appeal starts in November.

I have enough keys for my next tkmaxx reward but nothing available I'm really fussed about so will wait and see if the offers change 

Sainsburys xmas food to order is online - some lovely looking desserts but only 1 vegan option and nothing GF