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

theoldmansmrs

@princesskitty29 Thank you for the picture of the North Pole breakfast. I am going to try this for my grandchildren in the hope that a "nice face" will entice them to eat something. They both have issues with food and we are forever looking for way to entice them to eat - hopefully a bit of "fun food" may help along the way

theoldmansmrs

@Abbafan1972 good luck with Birmingham City Centre on Friday. I was there on Saturday and you could hardly move for the crowds. It is not so bad if you are away from the German Market otherwise you will need all the luck in the world. 

I hope you manage to get everything you want when you go - happy shopping!

Mrs_Ryan

So much for ‘no more presents’ 🙈
I went shopping with my mum on Saturday and absolutely fell in love with a ring for OH in Ernest Jones. It’s blue titanium with a Celtic pattern on it. It was £140 though and I couldn’t quite stretch to it. Mum kindly paid and I’ll pay her back next week. I had to try it on OH but thankfully it’s a lovely fit and he likes it. I had bought him one from Warren James and typical- it’s out of return period. I’ll put it on Vinted I think. 

His calendar arrived but the gift envelope is too small- grrr. I’m out of wrapping paper and refuse to buy any more- but I had a scrap left so I had to use it to cover the top of the envelope! Fortunately his ring was in a beautiful box and gift bag so no wrapping required. 

I also got him a ticket to see Paddy McGuinness at Leicester next year. We’re both big fans so we’re both looking forward to it. I said the ticket would form part of his pressie but we agreed that when I saw the tour announcement. I did the same last year with the Peter Kay ticket.
I’ve now dropped off gifts with my mum, best friend, brother and brother’s partner. We’re dropping off pressies next week for the in laws and OH’s brother and his family. I’ve tried to drop off as many presents as possible for various people this year as every year it’s a huge squeeze trying to get everything into our little Aygo. OH has agreed to just take the two bags of gifts I have for him and to leave his big stuff behind (hamper, box of oil and antifreeze, big box of beer and clothes airer) We have two hampers for mum so they’re going to take up most of the rooms But there will only be two bags of gifts, plus two hampers and our clothes (which I’m hopeful I can fit into my big rucksack so I don’t have to take the massive suitcase) 
Still not feeling really Christmassy. Hopefully it will kick in soon. 

Xx

Spendless

princesskitty - I think for the sake of your MH you're going to have to stick to not getting involved with PTA. The onus is then others to join or accept there isn't one with the implications that come with that.  Older boys I think are so much harder for stocking presents, I can remember more than one Christmas Eve (my traditional time for wrapping stocking  presents) from  DS being  14/15 and DD 11/12 that I could fit DD's stocking with items 3 times over and was struggling for DS to look full and having to juggle which present went where last minute.

Speaking of Xmas Eve DD has told me her mate has asked her to go out that evening.. Now this is what I foresaw happening from age 18+ and the reason behind me stopping the Xmas Eve hamper - of course up till now it hadn't worked out that way. So my thought process since I've already done the hamper is to give it earlier on on xmas eve to include some getting ready to go out items -like the eyebrow and eyelash stuff she's mentioned  - and we will re-visit the situation (yet again!) next year!  

Peppa537

Is anyone else a member of M&S Sparks? I've been checking the 12 days of Christmas on the app each day, I got a free tub of mini bites but apart from that it's mainly 20% discount on certain products. I did use the one for a box of their chocolate biscuits though. The discounts are good if I'm going to buy from M&S anyway but not enough to tempt me otherwise. I'm not sure if everyone gets the same offers, I didn't get a bag of Percy Pigs sweets this year but had that come up on my Sparks card last month anyway. 

Abbafan1972

yes I have M&S sparks, but keep forgetting to open it up. I will report back later …..

Coxy11

Hi everyone,

That ring for DH sounds lovely @Mrs_Ryan. I know what you mean about not buying any more gifts. I feel quite organised and then suddenly get an overwhelm of thinking I haven’t bought enough – define ‘enough’!!

Agree that the PTA sounds like it’s too much and you should step back @princesskitty29. When there’s no events or funds raised hopefully someone else will volunteer. I had the same issue with a youth club I ran for 8 years. Only when it was threatened with closure did a few parents come forward – just ridiculous.

I have wrapped all gifts bar 1 that are for folks outside of our household. My own kids and DIL2B will be wrapped this weekend. I actually didn’t mind the wrapping up this year. Used to make a big effort with ribbons and embellishments, then went through a few years just about using wrapping paper and bunging into a bag! Lost the Christmas vibe when nephew died and tbh it’s still very difficult emotionally, but life goes on as they say, and I do try to get into the swing of things a bit more now.

BIL’s books from the CS – I bought him two paperbacks, not current releases, but by journalists I thought he might like. Well on second inspection the pages look a bit yellowed, so have given him the Anthony Bourdain book destined for other BIL (a chef) and have ordered a personalised craft beer glass from Etsy which should arrive on Thursday for chef BIL. He also has 2 Christmas beers and some peanut brittle.

DH and I aren’t buying for each other. I have enough jewellery and perfume to be getting on with and he’s got a nice watch and EdT so we will go shopping in the sales and pick up some clothes etc. Will no doubt get a voucher from ILs to spend at the shopping mall. Waiting to see if the usual stilton is wrapped under the tree again this year – she never says to put in the fridge!!!

Have been making a list of food for Christmas Eve and New Years Eve. Have about 20 each evening so will do Nigella’s ham on CE and a chilli plus veg option on NYE I think, along with nibbles.

In terms of M&S Sparks advent – I too have had many % off offers from PJs, to Christmas Jumpers, to frozen party food, to biscuits, but did get offered a free 100ml room spray which runs out today. I went to our local retail park branch and they had none, so I will try in London later. I’m going to drinks with my old work colleagues just off Oxford Street so will see if I can nab one there!

Abbafan1972

Re:- Sparks. The only freebie I have are chocolate coins which expires today. I won’t be able to get to the store until Friday, so will see what I have to use then. 

SkyeD

I've managed to get most of my wrapping done today, hooray, all except for some cushions which my daughter mentioned that she liked, and which I ended up buying.  Thinking now of a way to wrap them - maybe sharpie up a plain white bin bag  unless it looks too naff when it's done!

Tomorrow I might brave the shops for a bit of inspiration for her birthday - she'll be 32 at the beginning of January.  I've ordered a box of odd socks for her (! don't ask !) and I might make her a little hamper of choccy goodies or something, unless of course something catches my eye tomorrow

Spendless

I said a few posts ago that DD's presents followed the senses with the exception of one - sight. Last night DH received an email from a theatre we saw a play at recently. They were offering a 25% early bird discount on certain dates to selected customers. The play is by someone DD studies at drama school. We bought 2 tickets for the only time she could come home to watch, as that is preview night they were already discounted so we weren't sure if the code was also work it did - so double discount plus we bought the cheapest seats but still good view total cost £33. 

Quite going to enjoy giving DD some clues for her presents. She said recently she found Christmas flat once my Nan developed dementia and went into a care home as she always spent Christmas Day with us and then again when DS went to Uni and in recent years enjoyed it the most when DS fetched 2 Uni mates back (one is now DiL). This should give a bit of 'fun' in the morning followed by eating Christmas dinner out.

I am using up all oddments of wrapping paper this year. I'm not sure what I will continue with once it's all used up. 

I should get a sparks for next year because I have an M&S food hall within 10 mins drive of me and it is open till 8 so wouldn't be a problem me getting there