* Step into Christmas * & 2020 - It's the 2020 Christmas Chatter Thread

I managed to pick up some Christmas cards in a local charity shop yesterday, I was pleased as I hadn’t been able to find any I liked in the sales. Talking of recycling wrapping paper, Tesco were very useful this year in that they clearly labelled whether the wrapping paper was ‘recyclable’ or ‘foil’, I picked up a couple of recyclable rolls. It would be good if other retailers followed suit, perhaps a time to send a few emails suggesting it? It would also be good if Tesco just sold recyclable rather than foil!

I’ve decided this year if I start now to make people some little gifts as part of their presents. I saw an idea to make a lovely wooden spool wreath, you wrap different ribbons around wooden spools and thread them onto a wire loop, I have some wooden spools so I’m going to make that for my BiL and his wife. I’m also going to cross stitch some tree decorations, pad them out and put some backing material on to make for friends. I’m also hoping this year if I get my act together to make some chilli jam as presents. A resolution for me this year is to live a simpler life and have a bit more of a ‘make do and mend’ and attitude.

Welcome back killielila :wave:

Joyfullyfestive I love your Instagram! Oh you should definitely look into a craft business as it’s getting more and more popular. One of my goals for this year is to buy everyone at least one present from a small, independent business.

GTQ oh wow now I get why you can never look the same way at him again!!! :eek: We went to see Aladdin and they did a similar routine but with the words ‘If I were not in old Peking a …… I’d rather be,’ – it was absolutely brilliant, my favourite part of the show. This could be something that is very common in pantomimes I just don’t know as only ever been to two, once when I was a small child.

Redrobin would they be happy to do you something like a food hamper? That way it would be something you would use up. My DH doesn’t do ‘stuff’ and my mum doesn’t like to just buy vouchers so she always does him a food hamper of things he likes as well as a restaurant voucher which goes down well. Or is it the problem that they have their own ideas of things they’d like to buy you rather than what you suggest?

I had a bit of success today with some Christmas presents, I was on The Works website buying a present for someone when I found a Christmas ‘Where’s Wally?’ book that would be perfect for my nephew reduced to £2.50 and a flashing bauble for Squeak’s stocking with his name on (Wiggle has one the same) for 75p. Then I popped to a charity shop earlier and picked up a Christmas build-a-scene book with little felt pictures to stick to the pages for 20p that would be great for Squeak, it’s an M&S book and in fantastic condition so I was pleased with that. I actually did well at the charity shop, for me I got a Topshop top/dress £2.50, a H&M t-shirt dress £2, a New Look jumper £2, a t-shirt for Wiggle, a birthday card and the Christmas felt book for £8.69! It’s a distribution centre and because it’s adjacent to a supermarket car park they get inundated with stuff so things are never that high in price because they need a high turnover.

Anyway I hope everyone is well, I feel a bit like I am having a conversation with myself in here! :rotfl:

princesskitty29 wrote: »

I think I need to organise things much better so it’s easier to keep tidy – and stay off Instagram looking at perfect homes!

What you don't see in the photo is the pile of 'stuff' all shoved out the way behind the photographer ... that's what I tell myself anyway

Welcome back Killielila

I think I'm kinda done with Xmas prep currently for 2020. Didn't buy any more wrapping paper as I have loads (even resisted the large rolls I saw in Sainsburys for 1p...saying that the fact it was still there means so has everyone else :rotfl:) I did have a big of good fortune though. Bought a pack of cards in M&S at half price as O2 didn't do any freebies on their app this year . However I prob needed a few more and either the ones I saw were full of glitter that couldn't be recycled, or horrible....and I think I'm probably a bit old to be sending out Frozen II cards :rotfl:

Found a box of 10 in the clearance section in sainsburys, well two boxes the same (and some others of a design that clearly wasn't popular and even I couldn't bring myself to think they were ok) So I picked up the two last ones that were decent looking thinking I'd buy them I feel they were something like 99p.....they scanned at 1p a box :j

So cards sorted for next year at least and I have loads of paper still from prev years. I expect I'll pick up a few bits for others through the year too, but really don't want to fall into the trap of ending up with gifts that turn out not to be suitable for one reason or another as has happened in the past, which makes for a false economy.

I finally got a chance to do some tidying up at home yesterday and found part of my niece's Christmas present, now, if I could only find the rest of it.......:o

Only thing I have managed to get so far are Christmas napkins, which the charity puts in the hampers.

Off to Egypt next week, may have a look to see if there is something I can buy, although I am slightly restricted on luggage! 2 large cases, and hand luggage for me Family immigrating so I am off on a mercy mission to supply suitable clothing and footwear, they are off to Winnipeg, where temp gets to -30! They are more used to winter temps of about 15:rotfl::rotfl:

Oh my giddy aunt things never go smoothly do they?

We have rising damp so the council have a company coming mid feb to sort it out , taking walls in the lounge , kitchen and small bedroom back to the brick ,treating and re plastering .

The only room not being touched is the only one that actually needs redecorating ! So instead of just doing that one this year we have four rooms to sort !! Two steps forward and one back at the moment .

It has forced us to have a massive declutter which can only be a good thing .