Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - it's the 2024 Christmas chatter thread!

mandco

Princess kitty wow that was certainly a packed itinerary no wonder your feet were aching by the end of it sounds absolutely amazing though and im sure you have some great memories it which is what it’s all about.

Growing you own is definitely a bit of trial an error but worth it in the end - there a sense of accomplishment and it’s great learning lesson for the boys.Courgettes are a pretty good starter veg takes a while for them to sprout & get established and they do need quite a bit of space but we had 3 plants last year and ended up with so many courgettes I was trying to find ways to use them up  - with the weather they grew huge really quickly too though they do taste best when picked on the smaller side. Tomatoes are also a good one but do need plenty of water when it gets warm and support to stop the stems breaking. Not done cucumber’s before but have some in for this year as we get though loads of them - will be interesting to see if they work. Also trying lettuce & radishes this year going more salad themed as we eat loads over the summer and veg is getting so expensive. Carrots are fairly simple to grow but do need space we did rainbow carrots in long rectangular planters last year and they weren’t very big but ds loved them. Mini pumpkin/squash are also great for Halloween & soup - again need a fair bit if space (we did ours in on old clam shell kids pool last year just added some drainage holes) but often crop well though do sometimes need a bit of help fertilising - basically just rubbing a cotton bud over the male & female stems to introduce the pollen. Worth adding some mint/lavender/rosemary plants to the edges it your veg patch to reduce pests too.  I’m also debating getting a water butt In case we get a really hot spell again this year. - edit found a large 210 litre one in Aldi for £32 today

spendless I don’t count the cost if cards/gift wrap in the present budget as I figure they’d have to be brought anyway.

gotta love ds zombie apocalypse plan it’s the sort of thing my boys would come up with - just the other day we were debating the biology & physics of zombies and how the movies get it wrong handy to know should we ever need it my lot are prepared   

coxy there’s just something about Easter eggs and that satisfying crack of the shell that makes them so much better than the standard bars -pretty sure it’s scientifically proven something to do with thinner chocolate and a lower melting point?


In typical fashion as soon as I think I have a bit of space to save something else crops up - dds just been signed of work for 6 weeks nothing major but she’s only going to get ssp. It will just About cover her essential bills - mostly car related as she’s still at home but she won’t be able to chip in with expenses she usually does so the bank of mum will have to cover the rest like extra food/electric and probably the premium on her travel insurance as they are going away in June. 

Picked up a couple of reductions in Argos - they had farm plushies & the encanto bath set reduced to £2 so they’re going in the donations box and a couple of inflatable side coolers again £2 which will be handy for garden activities once the weather finally improves.

Coxy11

Hi all,

I’m just back from another 135 mile hike for my JoGLE. It was ‘interesting’ on Saturday as we found ourselves pant deep in water as the River Severn had burst its banks. Would not recommend. Now down to Gloucester.

I was glad to read you packed in a lot on your trip @princesskitty29 and belated happy anniversary to you both J

Can you believe DH failed to take nephew’s birthday present on his actual birthday as ‘forgot’ so went the following evening. I’m cross because we’d had it sitting in the dining room for around 2 weeks and he actually asked me when I phoned him one evening from my walk, what day it was. When you’re 5 it really matters.

Still no new role for DH so he is keeping busy with jobs around the home and in the garden. They’ve just announced a consultation for admin and clerical at my work so I’m waiting to hear next steps. No point stressing just yet.

I too don’t include the cost of the card/wrap/giftbags when buying gifts, except for at work. We seem to have a collection going around for someone’s birthday (c.15 people) every fortnight or so. Usually my colleague will buy the card and we all chip in for a gift, but it’s hers at the start of May so I’ve bought the card and will put in a bit less. At around £5 a person it’s becoming a bit expensive here!

Sorry to hear about DD @mandco – hope she is improving?

Spendless

I'd not thought of 'jazzing up' generic cards I have in making them personalised. I will have a look through what I have and get some stickers. Still ongoing with using up my packaging, so thanks  everyone, I won't include any of this in my budget.  

Thought today of a day trip we can take my parents on for a combo WA/Father's day present in June. Unless I notice there is something that they need/would find useful, they are at the age where they'd rather experience something than have a physical item. 

Only thing I've bought recently is a soap in the shape of a sheep. Not as bonkers as it sounds -lol. We went to a sculpture park with DS and DIL recently and they were sold in the gift shop. DIL's extended family have farms, her Grandparent has a sheep farm, so thought it would be a nice reminder of her home now she lives 100 miles away in our city. I don't do stocking for DS and DiL anymore but add a gift bag of random bits in a similar style, which sheep soap will go in. 

theoldmansmrs

I am currently reading one of the old Christmas threads and came across this post from @princesskitty29. You said you hoped the threads would continue, and nearly 10 years later, you are still able to get your Christmas fix 

princesskitty29 Posts: 1,273 Forumite   

18 September 2015 at 8:18AM

I'm really enjoying hearing about everyone's Christmas buys and spots. It's getting exciting now. I was thinking the other day that I can't believe I've been on the different variations of this thread for 4 years and about to go into the 5th year! Does anyone remember the original 'Let it Snow' thread? That was in 2012! People have come and gone over the years but this thread has stayed just as strong and I hope it continues for years to come! This may sound a bit sad but I'd be a bit lost without my Christmas thread fix!

mandco

Theoldmansmrs. I’m glad this thread is still going strong too Life gets in the way sometimes but I always come back to it and often think of those who no longer post especially around Xmas when I see things I know they would have liked.

coxy wow that was some hike 
bet you were annoyed with dh no excuse really as he had plenty of notice and like you say at 5 birthdays really do matter.
work collections can add up particularly if you get a birthday heavy month it’s nice to feel like your appreciated by the people you work with but it can be an expense a lot of people could do without. In one of my previous jobs we moved to chipping in a set monthly (amount of birthdays/events divided by 12 months) amount rather than each individual event which was a lot easier to budget for.
dd is doing better thanks her physio recommended a different medication which seems to be helping more that her previous ones so hopefully she’ll be able to go back once the 6 weeks are up 

spendless the gift of time with you/an experience is often much appreciated by the older generation especially if they don’t really need anything and the memories you create are priceless.  It’s been nearly 9 years since I lost my dad and I really wish I’d spent more time with him when I had the chance - especially for the kids who don’t really remember him as they were still quite young.
the sheep soap sounds like a very thoughtful gift and much more meaningful than a generic shower product.

finally have enough keys for a tkmaxx reward but not found one to get yet as it’s mostly been comps when I’ve looked-  currently there is is a dog rope toy but my boy won’t play with those, they did have a shower puff & cleaning cloth combo the other day but dd had loads already so didn’t bother with that. 

We have a new family member the cutest little lop ear bunny - was all kind of spur of the moment as we saw him and they just fell in love with him so home he came though taz has been asking since before Covid and I’d pushed it due to that and then the big holiday we had planned so I’d agreed to get him one this year anyway just hadn’t expected it to be quite so soon.

not much happening on the Xmas front - dd did see a couple of Steve Madden bags she liked in tkmaxx so that’s possible ideas for her birthday/xmas. Not a brand I’d heard of till we went away last year and she picked up some bits in the outlet store but apparently it’s pretty popular?

CazD2008

Morning all,
Hope everyone is well and had a wonderful Christmas. I can’t believe we are almost half way through the year 😆🙈
Time just flew away with me last year and Christmas was kind of thrown together! I had a baby in October, so he has taken up most of my time! I have PCOS and suffered with infertility for 4+ years when I finally had my daughter, then it’s taken another 8 years to get her brother. Our family is now complete 😊 
We are hosting some friends for lunch this weekend and I was hoping you could throw some ideas at me as to what I can feed them 😆 I’d like to do something simple that I can prep/cook in advance but my mind has gone completely blank! Last time we went to them we had chicken/wedges/salad, nice and simple but I don’t want to do them the same again. I have a slow cooker and air fryer so any ideas welcome! Thanks all xx

CazD2008

theoldmansmrs said:

I am currently reading one of the old Christmas threads and came across this post from @princesskitty29. You said you hoped the threads would continue, and nearly 10 years later, you are still able to get your Christmas fix 

princesskitty29 Posts: 1,273 Forumite

   

18 September 2015 at 8:18AM

I'm really enjoying hearing about everyone's Christmas buys and spots. It's getting exciting now. I was thinking the other day that I can't believe I've been on the different variations of this thread for 4 years and about to go into the 5th year! Does anyone remember the original 'Let it Snow' thread? That was in 2012! People have come and gone over the years but this thread has stayed just as strong and I hope it continues for years to come! This may sound a bit sad but I'd be a bit lost without my Christmas thread fix!

I remember reading this thread! and its members nanamia, peppapig etc… is everyone still around? X

SkyeD

Huge congrats with completing your family @CazD2008 - you must be very proud

I can only suggest slow cooker gammon, air fried chips, and salad and/or maybe a couscous mix, or a rice mix (thinking microwave packs done prior and left cold).  It might be too much like your last time??  Whatever you decide, I'm sure it will be delicious and enjoyed.

I haven't done much on the Christmas front for a couple of months - have been sorting out birthdays instead.  Some folk in my family are in their 70s... sooo difficult to buy for when they've already got everything (and one gent in particular who doesn't do much or like much, e.g. doesn't drink alcohol or tea or coffee, doesn't eat chocolate and so on).  I seem to buy him puzzle books every year, but I'm trying to think of alternatives for a change.

bamboo_socks

A Christmas thread! Hurrah!

The only Christmas thing I've done of late is move my Christmas money into a high interest account and gather together some gift vouchers to put towards it. It's my favourite time of the year!

Coxy11

I second the slow cooked gammon, maybe in a can of diet cola or Dr Pepper to give it a bit more flavour? You could serve with air fryer wedges and coleslaw/salad?? Good luck with the entertaining!

I have been asked to get DNephew a JDSport$ voucher for his birthday. I have no car this weekend as DH has gone camping with his mates, so DD will get it for me tomorrow when she goes to the large shopping mall. I'll get the cash out in the morning. No other birthdays in May so can relax for a bit!