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

princesskitty29

Well I have been very busy here doing lots of wrapping – just not my own! I help the PTA run a Christmas shop for the children to come and choose presents for their parents, Grandparents etc, so I’ve had lots of gifts to wrap.

I do need to get a few more bits for people but it is all starting to come together. I need to lay the boys presents out so I can check it all looks ok then I’ll get on with wrapping those.

PennysintoPounds Thank you, I have also bought a bottle of the chocolate Baileys, I will have to crack that open soon! Well done on finishing your shopping, I hope you managed to get the wrapping done too.

Mandco Yes I think perhaps you’re right, the surgery could have had a knock on effect with my mood, I think it’s getting better a little bit each day. I’m actually going to visit my parents for a night on my own at the end of the week which will be lovely as I am never there on my own so it will be nice to spend some quality time with them. I’m glad you’re doing ok after your fall but what a pain with ASDA! How frustrating for you, sometimes it just seems impossible to sort these things out. I really do hope it gets resolved for you soon. I really don’t think Home Bargains should be insisting you pay for the return when the fault is theirs – I would definitely argue that! What a rubbish experience with them.

Spendless yes it definitely sounds like your DH needs some long sleeved tops!

Mrs Ryan sorry to hear you’re not feeling too well right now, I really hope you’re feeling better soon.

PennysIntoPounds

The PTA Christmas shop sounds lovely @princesskitty29, well done on your hard work wrapping! Definitely worthy of a baileys I'd say.
I was pleased to have got mine when there was a £10 deal on, must look out for another similar priced deal as it's a nice winter warmer treat for long miserable January too!
All of Mr PIP's gifts are wrapped so that's a relief as obviously what with him living here that's the main concern with accidental glimpses! Just got my mum's pile to wrap now but have done her stocking bits.

Can't believe tomorrow is two weeks and one day until Christmas day! 

Coxy11

Hi all,

Since I last posted my SIL (who has an eating disorder) has been hospitalised and in an induced coma. She’s got pneumonia and her kidneys started to fail too so she had to have dialysis. All very horrible at any time, but particularly bad around now as we also had a memorial for Dnephew as he would have been 30 this week. So a lot of emotional stress and trying to get straight in the new house and plan for Christmas too - which makes me feel very guilty. 

Heard last night that SIL will be moved to a respiratory ward today so DH will go see BIL tonight and have dinner/get an update as I’ll be at my WI Christmas meal. As I’m no longer working, this is my works do equivalent! 

I have made good progress on the present front since last posting, taking advantage of some
BF purchases and used my bluelight card for a couple of discounts. DD almost done, just need stocking fillers. DS1 and DIL asked for a chest of drawers so that’s now been delivered. I got DS2 a couple of PS5 games but also some
new Vans as his have holes in (skint student!) so he’s wearing some shoes my Dad left behind (new and not worn). 

Think I’m going halves with DSis for a smart TV for Mum - waiting to get confirmation. 

Thank you to @Spendless for the infinity travel pillow idea - have ordered one each for DS1 and DIL. Hope they arrive in time. I owe you a PM so stand by!! X

Ah @MrsRyan so sorry you’re still off work. Glad to hear you’ve completed your list and try not to overdo it at the gym. PT’s can be tough!! X

Thanks for the choc panettone recommendation @PennysIntoPounds - I too love their mince pies and have stocked up!

Hope you’re feeling brighter @princesskitty29. The PTA efforts sound hard work but I know the school and parents will appreciate your efforts x

Spendless

We are almost done with some parcels that turned up today. They were left on the doorstep in full view but thankfully my parents picking up the dog fetched them in!
To recap, I have
Dad - outdoor planter (in shape of their dog who died last year) with forget me not seed packets.
Mum - suntan cream set, turkish towel (repurposed one initally bought for daughter and never used, still in packaging). I need to print off an explanation of what  it is. PJs, all in a beach bag.
Nan - jumper and small box of belgian chocs.
Adult kids have variety of items, inc clothing, electronic item/s, toiletries set and gift cards.
FIL - Mr S is still to buy but will be clothing.
DH - infinity pillow (I hadnt realised it was being shipped from Hong Kong, hopefully it arrives jn time!), cufflinks and some various bits for organising his belongings when travelling (I bought in USA and meant to give for his bday and then forgot!). Still to get the long sleeved t shirts. 
Packing cubes for Secret santa have turned up. They hadnt been ordered last week like I thought, so was only ordered last night and turned up today. Its a not so secret santa as my workmates have all talked about it and worked out who Id got. No one knew what I meant I was getting but when I explained said they thought them.a good idea.

PennysIntoPounds

I finished all my wrapping yesterday so next task is to get a tree, but blimey they're pricey! Will deffo be a smaller one this year. We also have two different rooms that are used as 'the hangout' rooms so I'm thinking to have a look for dried flowers and decorations on stems and have those in a big vase rather than get another mini tree... maybe with a concealed pine car freshener in it 😂

mandco

Princesskityy sounds like you’ve been busy the pts can be a lot if work especially this time of year. Hope you had some lovely quality time with your parents.

Coxy sorry to hear about your sil I hope she’s ok. Loss even the reminder of is really hard at this time of year so please take are if your self.

Hope you’re able get comfortably settled in the new house time for Xmas it can take a while at the best of times. 

Spendless I hate it when the delivery drivers do that - we have a little open porch type area in front of the door so there are 2 side that you can put things so that they aren’t on clear view but the amount of drivers that just plonk parcels right in front of the door is ridiculous.
Sounds like the present buying is pretty much sorted - why is there always something that ends up last minute?

pennysintopounds bet your glad the wrapping is out if the way I still haven’t started mine yet. 

Xmas trees are crazy expensive this time of year though I have seen a few places starting reductions already - we have an artificial tree ( the dog would pee in a real one  ) and I usually buy tree fragrance sticks in place in it.

ds gamer supps arrived so that’s all the big stuff sorted. I do need some stocking fillers for him still and I have something to pick up from Argos but otherwise I think I’m done present wise. 

Did a big food shop yesterday and now have most of the ambient Xmas shop sorted and also picked up gammon lamb & beef joints as all good till after Xmas so really just the fresh bits left to get closer to that won’t last more than a couple of days - bread fruit/veg cream ect

Went to the glow event last night which was actually pretty good ds had a great time which is the main thing though I did spend way more than planned as we ended getting quite a bit of food there - to be Fair the food was really good but they had so many food stalls dotted around each with different stuff and being a one way system it was get it now or not get it so they see something they’d like and we get it only to find something else at the next one and think oh I’d wish I’d waited for that instead so pick up that too. 

Not been well the last week and had to rest a lot so way behind where I’d hoped to be and means this month is absolutely flying by just 10 days to go - really really must start the wrapping soon or I’ll still be doing Xmas eve again. 

Dd surprised us by announcing she’s booked us a meal out Sunday & then the grandkids are over Xmas eve( we were going to go to them in the a
evening but something came up and im babysitting most of the day instead )  so that’s 2 more things in fit into the schedule too.

Spendless

I considered a real tree too this year, then daughter pointed out our dog would wee up it. So it was up the attic to fetch the artificial one back out. 

I had a half day on Friday. Looked for the long sleeved t shirts but none in the correct size in store, so will have to order. I went into Lush with a load of empty containers that Id washed out. They give you 5p back for each small sample container, and 50p for each standard size pot returned, the money is knocked off your next purchase. If Id had 5 standard pots to return I could have had a free fresh face mask instead of the money off but I only had 4 of them. Instead I had £2.65 knocked off the price of a Wicked themed bath bomb that is going in daughter's Xmas Eve box. Thought id mention this if its useful to others in the future. 

Fri evening and yesterday I was first at our dept works night out, followed yesterday afternoon by a school xmas do reunion then to friends in the evening. Today has been a day of xmas wrapping. Daughter had some presents that were too expensive to put in her stocking but didn't look much as a wrapped  gift under the tree either. They are branded cosmetic items. I wrapped each in tissue paper then put each in a box that we'd got from a beauty advent calendar a few years ago and put a Christmas sticker over where the number had been on the box. Was really glad Id using up packaging but still felt the gifts lacked ooomph considering how expensive the items were. A lip gloss cost well over £20, nearer £25 and that was duty free! Then I had a brainwave and got my bag of fabric ribbons out, all saved from previous purchases. I'm not in the least bit artistic but even I can wrap a ribbon round and tie a basic bow. I did this to all 3 boxes i had and its really 'elevated' the gifts. Even better one of the items I bought reduced in TK Maxx because the main perfume had gone from it, so it is just the body lotion and rollerball I have. When I looked at my ribbons I actually had one that said that brands name all over it, so used that. Am really pleased with how the boxes look now. 

Still to get - Christmas cards - as always, lol. 2 items for daughter's stocking, one being a small gift card. Some  of my parents gifts need wrapping, hold up.  reason being Mr S not printing off description of what a Turkish towel is. FILs gift of polo shirts has been ordered. 

Thankfully feel more in control than I was doing a few days ago. 

Coxy11

Hi all,

@mandco the glow event sounds lovely x

Just spent the last 2.5 hours wrapping gifts for non-household people. Still need to do my own adult children but ran out of steam. Am still waiting for 4 gifts to arrive - 2 for DIL and 2 for DS1. Also DS1 needs a few more bits - he won't get a stocking but has scant in the way of actual personal gifts right now. He and DIL have a chest of drawers for their main gift - not sure whether to wrap the boxes lol!

I got a smart TV for Mum - going halves with my DSis. We got it from Argo$ and I was gifted an £80 One4All card when I left my last role (which incidentally can't be used online for part payment for a purchase which is really irritating...) I also used some Nectar points, so our contribution is just £2.50!

SIL still in hospital and will be so for the foreseeable. Thank you for your kind wishes. DH has just gone up to BIL's to have a curry and stay over. He did zilch wrapping/helping today so tbh I was glad when he left! Updates have been scant over the weekend so will see what the latest is when DH returns tomorrow.

DS2 is coming home from uni today so as I haven't wrapped any gifts and he and DD are living here, I've had to hide things in boxes in the dining room. TBF we still have boxes from the move, so they'll be none the wiser.

Usually we'd have family (DH's) over on Christmas Eve but cancelled last year as I had Covid with awful symptoms. Don't think it'll happen this year either due to SIL's health and other SIL (DH's sister) is a nurse and is working a night shift. Thinking we will just please ourselves, do the usual Nigella ham and coleslaw/sides and hunker down for the big day. I will be picking Mum up Christmas Day and dropping her home in the evening, so won't be able to drink until later, so Christmas Eve could be my celebration day. I will get No-secco or similar for Christmas Day.

Just finalising the Christmas food shopping list and will go later in the week. Assume that Friday will be hellish as most people will be paid that day for December, so might leave some bits for Sunday/Monday.

princesskitty29

Gosh does anyone else feel like they haven’t been able to come up for air this week? My week has been crazy busy!! Some of it my fault as despite promises to myself there are things I hadn’t got done in advance and the others were events and things at my boys schools. Presents are bought but I still have a few things to wrap that have gone straight to my mums. We’re off to my parents tomorrow for a week, I had hoped that by tonight I would have a good chunk of packing done but I completely ran out of steam today so I will have to do it in the morning. I have extensive lists so hopefully I won’t forget anything!

I can’t believe I’ve had another year where I didn’t get my wrapping done early, I said to DH that at this rate I’m going to wrap every present as I buy it next year even if it’s in the middle of summer! I have noticed that the shops have started to reduce everything now, I get why they do it and that they want to get rid of all of the Christmas stock but I do find it a bit galling that people have bought things in advance only for it to be reduced a week before Christmas. It doesn’t seem so bad if it’s reduced after Christmas! Oh well that just seems to be the way of things now.

I’m looking forward to setting off tomorrow as it will feel like we’re on the home straight and that I can finally start relaxing. PenniesIntoPounds I will definitely be cracking that chocolate Baileys open!

It sounds like you are all slowly getting there, well done on all of your hard work!

Coxy I’m so sorry to hear about your SiL, that does sound awful for you all. I do hope she can get on the road to recovery soon.

mandco sorry to hear you’ve been feeling unwell, I hope you are better now and can enjoy Christmas.

Spendless

Merry Christmas everyone. Unsure I'll manage to get on here again till its all over.

Last workday until Monday. There's just me snd the supervisor in, apparently the MD will decide after 4 if we can leave early. My shift finishes at 4 30 anyway! Thanks for not a great deal!

The infinity pillow was tried to be delivered twice last week, DD didnt hear it, so its being redelivered today! It doesnt turn up then Mr S has very few presents as I couldn't get him long sleeved t shirts in his size. 

Christmas cards, yet again I left it too late, so other than family ones havent bothered this year.
The huge majority of things are wrapped, inc stocking gifts. The dogs arent, they are still in my car as hes obsessed with presents and wrapping so best to keep them  out of the way till the last minute, otherwise he finds them.and either cries if he cant get to them.or opens them.if he can!
Santa using my SM acc has messaged daughter telling her to tidy her bedroom, wrap family gifts from her and take dog on a long walk and if she acheives this he'll send his elves with a xmas eve hamper for her this afternoon - see if it works, lol!
Once Ive finished work it becomes busy, with my parents visiting tonight to exchange gifts instead of xmas day morning as they usually do because we're both struggling for time. 
Tomorrow we will visit FIL in his care home, have dinner at home for 4 of us, visit my parents in the afternoon as my Nan will be there, then at night we have friends calling for drinks. Boxing day daughter wants to hit the sales! Sooo glad I booked Friday off work.

Enjoy the hols and catch up at some point.