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

Spendless

I called in at Boots at the weekend, still quite a bit left and more face pack sets out. I dithered but decided against mostly because I didn't want duplicates of the non-sheet  face masks and to buy just for them would make it the same price anyway so pointless. Since then I've called in twice more, just to notice and there's very little left - mostly mickey mouse hot choc baubles

Frustratingly when shopping I forgot the sheet of extra point vouchers I got sent recently. It's a long time since I last received any, so intend using so I don't end up of their mailing list.

I am up to 5 treasure points again at TKMaxx but when I got to the goal, I could only see carrot shaped bag clips as a reward I'd be interested in, thought I don't really need them so didn't bother. Since then there's only been stuff that I want even less! I could have gifted the carrot clips! I bought  soap saver bags for DH in there. He prefers bar soap, and I still have some Lynx soap bought the other year. This is a twinpack, so one from home and one away. DD hates DH bar soap out in the bathroom  that he's cleaned his body with so he can hide it away in one of the bags  and not offend her delicate eyes.

Dad's birthday today. Didn't buy him anything as bought the theatre tickets as a joint present last month with Mum. Card shop was very quiet compared to how I suspect it has been for past few days. I messaged DS yesterday asking to borrow something, he replied saying they were out all day, going to the cinema and for a meal and drinks. I was left wondering why DS had taken a mid weekday off work to do all this and wondering what the reason was - took me an hour to realise it was Valentines day -lol. 

mandco

Princesskitty hope this week hasn't been too stressful that's a lot to sort out without dh being away too. 

Were going back to weymouth - hoping this time I actually get to do something as last time I got sick the night we arrived and spent the whole weekend in bed    its a lovely small resort and there's a bus stop right outside or a straight if rather long walk into the town centre which means we don't have to drive if we don't want to which is bit more of a break for oh. 

spendless lol at forgetting it was valentines day i think as we get older its not necessarily such a bit deal anymore - we do cards and I'll cook something a bit more special/fancy than usual but about it.
My local boots hasn't had any xmas stock left since January 

Spendless

Was worse than that mandco. I woke late and hadn't realised it was bin day. Texted DH about it. When he got home later that day he told him a colleague from overseas who had been working with him said 'this morning I got a message from my wife saying Happy Valentine's Day. DH replied 'Mine sent me a message saying she'd forgotten to put the bin out' Hahahahahaha. 

I've just returned from seeing my parents. I walked the dog there as they live nearby and enjoy seeing him since they lost theirs. They have put the solar garden path lights in that you suggested getting them in anticipation of Dad's 2nd eye op on Monday. They've spent today outside charging up and they haven't pushed them completely into the ground yet as they are waiting till dark to decide whether they've got the spacing right or need to move any tomorrow. 

princesskitty29

DH is home and normal service has resumed here. When my husband works abroad he has to visit hospitals and I had a hospital appointment on Valentines Day, so I was smiling to myself thinking of how we were spending it – both sat in different hospitals in different countries! He did have some flowers sent to me which he doesn’t normally do, so I was wondering if he was being romantic or sorry for leaving me with the children and dog for a week!

January seemed to go on forever but February is flying! It’s been really nice to see flowers and shoots popping up all over the place. I need to get myself organised for Easter. I popped into Home Bargains the other day to look at their Easter chocolate and randomly a lot of it was more expensive than Tesco with their clubcard prices at the moment so I need to pick up a few bits from Tesco. I tend to make the boys an Easter basket with smaller Easter chocs in rather than get a big boxed egg, maybe because of their age they prefer smaller items and never choose the big egg to eat. Plus they get loads from other people!

It’s half term now so I’m looking forward to not having to rush around in the mornings and taking things a bit slower.

theoldmrandmrs oh thank you, I will definitely keep that cook book in mind. My brother doesn’t actually drink Guinness but seems to like the flavour in things.

mandco ah Weymouth is nice and it’s always good not to have to drive all the time, then everyone can relax.

Spendless glad to hear your parents are using the garden path lights. I hope your dads eye op goes well.

mandco

princesskitty nice of dh to send you flowers as he wasn't home 
weymouth is nice and a great beach if the weather is nice. I enjoy having a look around all the small shops as sometimes you can find some really nice/unusual items that make fab gifts.
I do easter gift baskets too often better value than buying big eggs that are seriously overpriced for what you get and generally don't' get eaten anyway. I have noticed the prices in HB & B&M seem to be creeping up quite a bit and often are not any cheaper than elsewhere anymore though Tesco do seem to have some good prices at the moment especially with double points too. I got the grandkids these really cute chocolate puppies in aldi for £2.99 at the weekend https://www.aldipresscentre.co.uk/uncategorized/aldi-releases-pawfect-easter-treat-and-its-half-the-price-than-ms/  so they have those as the egg part of their baskets.  
hope you enjoy 1/2 term ours was last week and not having to get up crazy early is a huge bonus

spendless oh no at least you had something to laugh about  
  glad to hear they are going to be using the garden lights.  hope your dads op goes well 

taz has been helping dd with some of the lego sets she had for xmas and its renewed his interest meaning potentially that's an idea for xmas so I will be keeping an eye open for any deals/offers. I did find the 3 in 1 tiger set that's at the top of his list reduced to £30 at asda online(george) a saving of 1/3 even better I had just over £21 left on my xmas savings card so total bargain.

Anyone know of any decent/reasonably priced places to stay in london with easy access/transport links to the excel London?     dd is going to comicon in may - they've left it a bit late and they are trying to find somewhere to stay for 3 nights but the local hotels linked on the website are crazy expensive as there are 3 of them going. They don't mind staying a bit further away as long as they can get there easily by public transport but don't know the area.

theoldmansmrs

mandco said:

princesskitty nice of dh to send you flowers as he wasn't home 
weymouth is nice and a great beach if the weather is nice. I enjoy having a look around all the small shops as sometimes you can find some really nice/unusual items that make fab gifts.
I do easter gift baskets too often better value than buying big eggs that are seriously overpriced for what you get and generally don't' get eaten anyway. I have noticed the prices in HB & B&M seem to be creeping up quite a bit and often are not any cheaper than elsewhere anymore though Tesco do seem to have some good prices at the moment especially with double points too. I got the grandkids these really cute chocolate puppies in aldi for £2.99 at the weekend https://www.aldipresscentre.co.uk/uncategorized/aldi-releases-pawfect-easter-treat-and-its-half-the-price-than-ms/  so they have those as the egg part of their baskets.  
hope you enjoy 1/2 term ours was last week and not having to get up crazy early is a huge bonus

spendless oh no at least you had something to laugh about  
  glad to hear they are going to be using the garden lights.  hope your dads op goes well 

taz has been helping dd with some of the lego sets she had for xmas and its renewed his interest meaning potentially that's an idea for xmas so I will be keeping an eye open for any deals/offers. I did find the 3 in 1 tiger set that's at the top of his list reduced to £30 at asda online(george) a saving of 1/3 even better I had just over £21 left on my xmas savings card so total bargain.

Anyone know of any decent/reasonably priced places to stay in london with easy access/transport links to the excel London?     dd is going to comicon in may - they've left it a bit late and they are trying to find somewhere to stay for 3 nights but the local hotels linked on the website are crazy expensive as there are 3 of them going. They don't mind staying a bit further away as long as they can get there easily by public transport but don't know the area.

Have you tried St Katharine docks. We took my son to London for his 21st birthday but hotel prices were crazy. OH snores so DS did not want to be sharing a room with him.

We found a lovely boat to stay on (it doesn't move so perfectly safe). It sleeps 4 and worked out on a par with hotel prices. It was a lot more fun and the docks were lively during the day but really peaceful at night - there are rules in place that noise has to cease at 11pm.  It is in a secure area as you need a card to get through the gates and we travelled all over London without any problems.

It had two separate bedrooms, toilet, shower (there are nearby toilet and shower blocks too), kitchen, dining area. Sitting on the back of the boat, using the outside dining space, was amazing. On the last day, as the sun was out, my DH and DS, lay on top of the boat on the loungers. I just took to popping my head out of the roof (looking like a meerkat according to DS!!!)

We stayed on the "Sea Dancer" boat which is run by Fenton Boats ( I have no affiliation with them). Fenton Boats can be found on Booking.com. HTH!

Spendless

Dad's garden path lights are working. He hadn't put them in until Sunday in anticipation of his 2nd cataract op on Monday. By Tuesday night they hadn't lit up and I was convinced they were faulty but it just took longer because of the time of year it is. I got sent a pic of them last night. Thank you again for this suggestion @mandco

What do those of you with Adult kids do about Easter eggs/treats? For a few years if DS and DiL have been here, together with DD I've bought them all eggs and done an Easter egg hunt round the garden, mostly at DD's request. This year DD is 21 on Easter Sunday and won't be in the country - well hopefully, she's fallen out with her travel companion and we need to see if the booking can be name changed! 

I feel it's a big like the stocking scenario when I wanted it to come to a natural end. I'm thinking along the lines of just giving DS and DiL  one large egg each, easier to do with DD out of the way. Then maybe buying a few (not loads - maybe 3 diff sized) eggs for DD to acknowledge she got a special birthday on Easter Sunday, she's younger and still lives at home outside of term time. She's disliked it before when what we do with her comes to an end at an earlier age than what it did her sibling/cousins purely because she's the youngest not just with us but youngest grandchild both sides too, which is why I'm thinking of treating her differently this year to DS and DiL

 I need to decide soon though. DS is a swine for eating DiL's choc, but he dislikes mint , so I put a stop to him doing it by buying her mint chocolate. I have seen mint Aero eggs in 2 different sizes (plus the bags) but only in Tesco, so if I'm going to get it needs to be soon. 

Just been thinking recent years through up until 2018 both kids lived at home so would still do the hunt with several eggs (bought from us relatives had stopped buying by then)  this continued 2019 with DS home from Uni, 2020 was the pandemic so nothing happened, don't even remember if Easter eggs were available, 2021 lockdown 3 not long over, DS fetched back now DiL and his other housemate and again did Easter egg hunt for all 4 of them. 2022 me and DD were setting off on an overseas trip with DH Easter weekend, we'll maybe have bought a few before flying away for DD, but not for DS who was in his finals at Uni. It returned to an easter egg hunt last year because DS and DiL were living nearby so all invited. Hmmmm I think then there would be no issue with me treating DD differently. Clearly I am ready to commence job hunting too if I have nothing better to think about on a morning than chocolate eggs! 

princesskitty29

Hi all, it’s a misty morning outside this morning. I was reading this morning that a lot of the UK will have snow in early March, I’m not sure how accurate that is as I find they say these things lot then it doesn’t happen.

We’ve had a fairly busy half term here but we’re having a quiet day here today. I’ve got to take the dog out then I’ll come home and make a roast dinner and pudding, I’m thinking of doing a steamed syrup sponge pudding today. As it’s the 25th I should be having a ‘Christmassy’ day as I told myself I would on the 25th of each month to help keep on top of things. I’ve got Christmas bunting to make as gifts so I should get on with some of that, but it will have to be this afternoon and sometimes I run out of steam on a Sunday afternoon especially after a roast so we shall see, I’ll keep you posted.

mandco those chocolate puppies are really cute, I must go and have a look in my Aldi, I often forget as it’s new and I am near Tesco every day as they boys school is next door so I always just go in there. Great bargain with the Lego as it can be so expensive! I don’t know of any hotels near the Excel I’m afraid, I too am looking for somewhere to stay near the O2 but everything is so expensive!

theoldmrandmrs staying on a boat sounds lovely and not something I would have thought to do.

Spendless don’t worry, I spend a lot of my time thinking about chocolate! I think it would be fine to do something different with your DD if that’s what she likes. I’m 41 and would quite like it if my mum did an Easter egg hunt! Although come to think of it I don’t remember ever doing them as a child, I think I was just given an egg.

Coxy11

Blimey, hope it doesn’t snow!!

It’s nephews birthday today (8) and he is overjoyed with his Indiana Jones Lego. I got it from Asda and it was £9 cheaper than Argo$ So even after delivery I still saved a bit. Next up is his brother who is 24 in a weeks time. I’ve got his new address (moving around due to a house sitting job) so will send that this week. Still in two minds whether to transfer some cash to him. 

DH’s job comes to an end on Tuesday after the briefest 14 day consultation. He’s okayish about it but it does make you question every expense. 

In terms of Easter eggs, we buy for wider family until 16 so this year will be 4 x nephews plus I will get eggs for my 3 plus DIL2B. I will also get a large one for DH and I to share. I’ve been away the last two Easter Sundays (hiking) but not  going again until 4 April so will have Easter at home this year. I’m currently not eating chocolate due to Lent so am looking forward to having some 😊

Spendless

Not convinced it will snow though it sometimes has on DS birthday who is also 24 at the beginning of next week. He didn't have any plans when asked, so unsure whether to suggest something 'low-key' this weekend and then the following combine DS birthday, the dogs 5th BD and mother's day into something along the lines of taking the pooch  to an enclosed dog run and asking my parents to come with us  then picking up DS and DiL and all having a Chinese take away back at ours.

Re - Easter eggs - Am not buying  until DH payday - understand the questioning every expense! I spoke to DD who would like some (thought she would!). I think I will buy DS &  DiL 1 large(ish) each and the equivalent I spend on them will get a variety for DD. Then I'll just add one for DH