Frosty the Snowman - it's the 2025 Christmas thread!

mandco

@coxy11 that’s frustrating about the vans good job you checked fingers crossed the replacements come in time. Your doing better then me I still haven’t gotten round to the wrapping yet - I have done some but way behind where I’d hoped yo be by now - no surprise there really 

@Spendless that Vase is very pretty it would make a lovely gift I might buy one myself for next Xmas 
safe travels for dd lovely she’s able to come home in time for Xmas 
hope you’re doing ok Under the circumstances 

most of the Xmas food shopping is done apart from the fresh bits that wouldn’t last long enough yet & the Xmas tree is finally decorated 
 had our spa day this week it was lovely and so relaxing being able to properly stop & just chill without being interrupted which I didn’t realise how much I needed. dropped off all the gifts that needed doing so this week
sdd is coming over Xmas eve with the grandkids to pick up theirs. we’d hoped to drop off at theirs as we do have other things we wanted to do Xmas eve and when they come here they end up staying all day but she guilt tripped oh into it by saying how much the girls want to come to ours .no doubt I’ll end up feeding them too.

can’t believe how quickly this month has flown by just a couple of days to go
  

Spendless

Oh gosh mandco does that mean you're going to have to rearrange/shelf your original Christmas Eve plans? I totally understand grandchildren wanting to visit, but it's not like you're retired grandparents with time on your hands, you still have a full household that you have to take into account. Admittedly Christmas Eve  afternoon  DD is going round my parents and making sausage rolls with my Mum, and I'm using this time to prep veg etc but DD is an adult and my parents  are retired and coming to us for Christmas day dinner so don't have any prep they need to do. 

I worked yesterday now have a run of 4 days off, followed by a shift on boxing day, then the weekend off, then a shift on the Monday and another run of 4 days off. I don't think that's bad for a retail job when I'm getting both Xmas Eve and New Year's Eve off.

DD arrived home safely yesterday, tired due to having a crying baby in the next seat to her on the plane. Later today me and her are going to watch A Christmas Carol, DH is off but I think  his plans are to finish getting the house tidy, though it's pretty much done.

Coxy11

Morning all! Early risers on here. I've been up since 5.30am with a busy brain too!

Annoying about CE @mandco, especially when you have other plans for that day. Definitely check what time SDD and gang are arriving as you might be able to get away with just drinks and a mince pie! 

Glad DD arrived home safely @Spendless and enjoy the film. I'm planning to watch a Christmas film this evening. We Sky+'d a couple yesterday as were out all day.

Replacement Vans should be arriving today. I have a blood donation appointment at 12.55pm and DH and I are shopping for remainder of Christmas food and some regular food shopping at some point. Probably will be afternoon as DH is not an early riser and is still asleep! Lucky him.

We had a trip to the panto on Saturday - it's a family tradition and my Mum's gift to us all. We go to the same small theatre each year and this was by far the worst production we'd seen. Terrible sound quality and absolutely no story line. I guess if you're 5 and you wouldn't be too bothered. Funniest thing is, DD is meeting one of the male dancers for coffee this morning having followed him on IG after the show.

We were at DSis's yesterday and despite not drinking I managed to sing karaoke duets with both my DSis and DD. Absolutely hilarious rendition of Fairytale of NY with DSis taking the male part and really getting into character. Goodness knows what her neighbours thought. 

teabody

Hi all, 
Just here to say hello after perhaps over 10 years of being absent from the boards but I am sat here tonight totally disorganised....lacking in presents to hand out beyond my now teenage boys and feeling deflated...like how did i get to this? Nothing wrapped and still stuff to get with 2 days to go 
I never commented much before but did spend time reading and being much more motivated and inspired as a result of reading yours. It is so nice to see that a few of you from back then are still here and I intend to get back into the MSE way. Lately life has been overwhelming and I intend to get back on track and feel much more in control and organised once more.
So a little thank you from me for the continual running of the thread and inspiring the rest of us and just know I'll be lurking around x

Auti

Hello @teabody - it is good that you have come back and happy that you are lurking I do a lot of that too. I wish you a calm and relaxing Christmas and a good, productive 2026 - overwhelming is left in 2025 now plans and time for you and your boys and, to be fair, is it really necessary to give anyone else presents? 

Make a lovely cup of tea and ask the boys to help with whatever is important and have a giggle together ( they might even like it - mine did after moaning)

x

Coxy11

Hi @teabody xx I would say at this stage, just concentrate on the necessary things. You have gifts for your children, no need to stress about anybody else. So long as there's some nice food for Christmas Day itself, don't worry about anything else. The shops are back open on Boxing Day so just focus on CD xx

I am still waiting for the replacement shoes for DS2. FedEx said they'd be delivering between 9am and 1pm yesterday but then updated to say "before 10pm" then when I looked after dinner it said it would be today before 10pm as parcel had been returned to depot. I know the depot is in the country town and the roadworks around there are hideous as DH has to drive that way for work.

Apart from a blood donor appointment today (thought it was yesterday but realised I'd got the date wrong just before setting off!) I am here. We have also now invited MIL and FIL for late lunch tomorrow. We will cook a gammon in the morning and do potato salad, coleslaw and saladings. Will also crack open the cheese mountain. DS1 and DIL are coming after 8pm as he has a shift at the pizza place, so we have some party nibbles to stick on once they are here.

DH is dropping off gifts for youngest two nephews at SIL's today. She is working but older 18+ children will be there. DH said last night "is there anything for the older ones, like a card etc?" Err no, they live at home and are mentioned (along with their partners) in the card for SIL and BIL. He is really struggling with this. We received a card from them - a packet card - written by a child (def not SIL or BIL's writing) and DS1 included to our house, when he's lived in his own house for 4 years and is married. No mention of DIL on our card. Petty I know but I'm cross about it!!

We posted BIL and SIL's card last week first class. Have not received a card from them and aren't seeing them until 28th.

Have arranged to go with MIL and FIL to a NT place on Saturday. DS2 and DD are out with friends so no point them coming here for food, that's why we invited them tomorrow.  

We are gifting DS1/DIL, DD and DS2 some cash alongside their gifts. We bought nice cards last week in Canterbury and I wrote them out and signed "Mum" and left them open for DH to sign his name....which he did last night....in RED pen! FGS he had one job......

We finished our food shopping in T's yesterday. Had a £5 off a £50 shop. I've started a Second Purse and managed to get some stock items for that too. We did scan and pack and had a spot check at the till of 27 items. Luckily we had some duplicates like bottles of bucks fizz and mixers, however, DH had failed to scan a slab of 24 pepsi max, so the whole trolley had to be unpacked and re-scanned. So embarrassing and did the walk of shame back to the car. Again, DH causing mischief. Have realised I've enabled him over the 35 years we've been together, by doing all the shopping, so he gets really flustered. Cannot tell you the number of times we've used a self service check out and he's packed the items before I've paid, which then sets off the till! 

DD's coffee date with the panto dancer went really well and she went back to meet him after the evening show. He has 3 shows today and tomorrow, off Christmas Day, then 3 shows BD until the run finishes on NYE. He's from a neighbouring county and works on cruise ships for part of the year. Not sure whether it will go anywhere but she was really happy yesterday and said he's lovely. Won't buy a hat just yet.....

mandco

@teabody welcome I agree with coxy don’t worry about this year gifts for others are nice but not necessary concentrate on making the most of your time with boys and start fresh next year. Life gets busy and we all have periods when things are particularly tough and we struggle but you can get back on track - take it 1 step /1 day at a time. 

@Spendless yeah it means rearranging our plans though to be fair they are mostly more want to do than need to d as Oh actually has the day off for the first time in years. When They normally come to ours Xmas eve it’s after he’s finished so mid afternoon onwards but she found out he’s off so She wants to come over in the morning as they have nothing to do then stay till dd gets home which won’t be till after 6pm as she’s working all day   and means we end up providing both lunch & dinner. It basically means I get to occupy the girls all day and she can just take them home and put them straight to bed I love seeing them but rather not have to write off the whole day. 

I feel for dd it’s a long flight at the best of times but a crying baby stopping you sleeping really makes it drag she’s home safe and that’s what matters 

@cox@Coxy11 Fingers crossed the vans turn up I really hate it when the couriers do that not only have you wasted a day waiting but no guarantee they’ll turn up the next day either.
Sounds like dd had fun which is what matters even if it doesn’t last though you never know -  my eldest has been in a long distance relationship since Covid never thought that would last but they’re making it work.
im an enabler too over the years I’ve let oh get away with so much as its easier and he was raised with the whole men’s/women’s jobs mentality that he’s almost incapable of doing certain things himself. He’s also a self service rusher drives be absolutely insane and it ends up taking longer than if they’d just be patient maybe its an age/generation thing? 

Brave of you to tackle karaoke sans Dutch courage I aways admire anyone who the courage to get up there and try though usually you can tell most of them are definitely under the influence sounds like it was a great laugh though 

Just need a couple of fresh bits bread,salad & some pork chops for dd as I forget to get those but otherwise have all the food/drink in. Do have an Argos order to Collect which is meant to be a present for ds1 but it got delayed and wasn’t ready at the weekend when I went in but not sure if I’ll get there before Xmas now as can’t get there today and not sure I fancy trying to fit in a trip to sains Xmas eve.
aiming to sort out the stocking fillers properly today get everything together and make sure I have enough bits for everyone. Then really need to tackle the wrapping especially if sdd & the grandkids are going to be here most if the day tomorrow. 

PennysIntoPounds

Hi @teabody, you'll be fine. Everyone likes a bottle of wine or box of chocolates, the shops are still open. 

@mandco just tell them to come over late afternoon. It would be very unreasonable for anyone to think you're being unreasonable if you say you have things that need catching up with on Christmas eve day! 

Spendless

Hope the delivery turned up. I remember DH's gift not being delivered last Xmas Eve despite a claim that they tried - they hadn't! I was down at Argos buying him an alternative.

Nice to see you back teabody and don't worry about the others, chocs,tins of biscuits, flowers, alcohol and gift cards are all easily bought. as are theatre tickets if you need someting for someone that you have a larger budget for. I always consider my Christmas present shopping pretty much done if the only things left to get are something in that list.

DH bought the turkey and came back saying 'there's not many butchers stalls left on the market' yup I told you all this - I work opposite - you just took no notice! Mum apparantly despite looking blank when I intially suggested she bought Xmas crackers as her contribution to Christmas dinner  if she insisted on making one so I suggested the M&S Ice cream  Colin instead has now bought crackers  as well and made homemade cranberry sauce - from one extreme to the other -lol


We rearranged relative's room today as part of their Xmas present and made it look nice. We now have the bonus dog to stay. I tried to find shredded tissue paper but couldn't - all stuff like that seems to have gone rapidly. It doesn't matter, scrunched up stuff will do just fine. 

Is SDD a single parent mandco? I think just make things easy on yourself, lunch can be picky bits that you open the bags and serve or feed the grandkids so full of choc biscuits they feel sick and want to go home. I had 1 Nan who did that as I grew up and then she continued with my own kids lol. 

Mrs_Ryan

Hi all 
So much for me saying I’ve finished. That well and truly went out of the window!!! 

Despite having a leaky radiator which flooded the hallway the other week (why are emergency plumbers that state they’re 24/7 and can come ASAP never are?! Fortunately there’s a fantastic chap in the village where I live who is a qualified electrician/plumber and he came and fixed it the same day and for a very reasonable price as it was on his way home) and consequently ruined the carpets and very nearly my marriage, I ended up buying some more bits. 

I handed over the presents to my uni friend and the guy at the rugby who I bought for who absolutely loved them all. I was stressed as anything about whether he would like them but the reaction was definitely positive. I couldn’t however resist buying one last present for him and bought him some Clinique for Men shaving gel on Friday to go with the Clinique for Men travel minis set I had bought him. 

So what extra presents did I buy? 

Mum- Liz Earle shampoo and conditioner 
Package of cashew nuts from the Christmas market in Coventry 
Thick zip up cardie from M&S 
Tin of M&S shortbread 
Pretty necklace from Lovisa with her initial on
Rituals ‘Ritual of Mehr’ gift set (her favourite and only Boots sell it now- the Rituals shop itself doesn’t) 

Best friend- a pair of glittery Skechers (bought them to cheer her up as she’s having a tough time recently) 

OH-
Jumper and shirt from Next 
2 x thermal vests from M&S 
3 cans of Dove deodorant 
A copy of his favourite Aircraft magazine 
4 pairs of socks from TK Maxx 
Clinique for Men shaving gel 

Also the appointment to order his car has been made so that’s technically his biggest present from me! 

That is however officially it. Everything is wrapped and packed ready for the long trip up North tomorrow. Having to brave Costco in the morning (urgh) as Mum wants a tin of coffee but we need petrol anyway. I’m a bit sore as I managed to fall over when I was in town, but no serious damage done apart from to my dignity. 

Wishing everyone the best Christmas xx