* Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas * - It's the 2019 Christmas Chatter Thread

Hi all, I hope you had the most wonderful Christmas! :xmastree: Sorry I didn’t get on to post at the time, I had a busy day hosting this year. I was quite annoyed at myself as despite planning for Christmas all year and getting most things ahead I still had loads to do in the lead up to Christmas! Next year when I say I’m going to start wrapping in October and writing cards in November please hold me to it, as I didn’t do it AGAIN this year and so was really busy in the lead up. I almost need a buddy to regularly check in that I’m doing it. I know I could wrap presents as I buy them throughout the year but I do prefer to do it nearer winter.

We had a lovely Christmas day with the in laws at ours, then we went to the theirs on Boxing Day with DH’s brothers and families, that’s always a nice day. We were all packed and ready to go to my parents in the West Country on the 27th when we realised that Wiggle had chicken pox! It’s not surprising as most of his class were off with it before Christmas. It was disappointing not to go to my parents but we’re glad he got through most of the festivities before getting poorly. Although it does feel like we haven’t ‘finished’ Christmas, normally I’m ok afterwards but I’m struggling to let go of it this year! It probably is just because we haven’t seen my parents. We’re still hoping to go but we’re sure Squeak will get it as well so it may be a few weeks before we get there.

My 2019 Christmas spreadsheet is set up and ready to go! I had a quick mooch in the shops the other day and founds some lovely things, I’ve practically finished my best friends birthday presents and got various bits and bobs for others for Christmas. I do love present buying, I’m not great at shopping in general as I get a bit fed up but really enjoy it when shopping for gifts for people. Anyway I’m rambling now, sorry for the long post, I hope you’re all well and I’m looking forward to more chatter in 2019!

Hello and welcome all newbies, lovely to have you here! :wave:

3forholidays thank you once again for starting a new thread, you really do a great job and it’s much appreciated.

Treasurequeen sorry you weren’t feeling too well on Christmas day.

CHRISSYG Happy belated birthday!! Your poor DD, she has been through it hasn’t she. I hope the meds help her and she has a much better year in 2019.

teabody welcome! I plan to cut my cards up this year to make labels, it’s something I used to do for my mum as a child but as an adult I got caught up in making all my wrap and tags match, now I’m much more into reusing and recycling and realise the present still looks exciting!

apricity sounds like you’re on track for Christmas 2019 already! Like you 2019 is the year to completely declutter and organise my home. I started a few months ago but it’s slow progress with two little ones and then I stopped for Christmas. I’m fed up with clutter and realise it is because we have too much stuff and not everything has a home.

MischiefManaged welcome, just wanted to say I love your name!

Can an intermittent lurker join? Most of my planning for 2019 is now about getting the 2018 decorations packaged correctly so the electrical things either work or just need new batteries next December.

Back in 2017, I wrapped tinsel around a few cards and that unfolded very easily & so I'll be snipping short slots into a few of the thicker cards this year - I could riffle through them like bobbins earlier this month & it was wonderful to pull the right stuff out easily!

Giftwrap? Awed - I am just so bad at packing that I tend to go vast on tissue then get nice shopping bags (and my family like the designer names like Cath Kidston & Orla Kiley so hurrah Tesco!) and route bags to different families. Mind, I live within range of Booths ('Waitrose of the North') so I have access to even more exotic bags for the family who are less into designer names.

In the sales I've snagged several more battery powered strings of LED lights, spem as much as 75 pence! The lads are not big on decorations but tolerate my love of lights.

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone.

Currently planning for the year ahead. 2 tins set up. Both for breaks on the next 2 years.

No big holiday this year as we really need a new bathroom so were surprising the kids with a short trip to Disneyland Paris in December. I've worked out how much I need to save. Once I've planned everything I'm really disciplined.

Got a couple of pressies to put away for next year. Made a list and a budget to stick to. Me, dh, sister, mum and step dad all save £10 each a week to cover all pressies and £5 each a month to cover food and booze for Christmas day, boxing day, NYE, and NYD. So starting to feel nice and organised.

Going in to town Thursday or Friday to try to bag some bargains. Like to get little bits I end up buying every year, pjs, Christmas socks, candles etc

:(Looks like my post was reported. My IP address has been banned and a message from admin. I am on my phone using 3G. But I can’t use it very well. The site is too hard to navigate.
Not sure I will be back anytime soon. Not if I can’t post for advice.

Hope you all have a good New year when it comes.
Take care x

I must have missed your post NIC, why on earth would anyone report you? Please don’t disappear. I found some good needle felting tutorials on line so I’m definitely going to do it. I’ll start with a kit and if I get on ok I’ll branch out.

FREE I’ve taken all my decs down but not the outside lights, I can’t bring myself to do it. I like the openness without the decorations but I’m really missing all the fairy lights. I was going to keep a set out, got them all arranged and then snapped the adapter trying to plug them in:o

Well as I’ll be partying later (actually watching tv or sleeping) I’d just like to say

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL