Christmas progress!

[Gemini]

I have no wish to stress the 'Christmas from December 1st' camp, but I do realise that some of our readiness is having that effect. Whatever works for you is right and I would never urge anyone to begin early. It is what I do though

This morning Smyths Toys are delivering GS1's main present from us. A huge box of Lego, considerably cheaper from them than Amazon, Lego shop , or anywhere else apart from ToyRus, which was just slightly more. As I do all my mum's shopping too, there is a Batman vs Mr Freeze lego set for her to give GS coming too. Free delivery, so all I have to do is be in between 9 and 1.
I actually have more presents for GD than I intended, so she is done. GS2's main present is bought and in the loft. I need some pyjamas for both boys, then the children are finished, unless I see some little thing. They all get so much anyway.
I have mums present, most of my sister's, and 2 of the 3 friends I buy for are done. OH and I don't bother apart from a stocking, and I alway get her a photo calendar, which is sorted.
Restaurant vouchers for DDs and SILs, but cash for the pair going to Canada next year. Choccies, wine and a couple of little bits for them all. All that is to get, but I know what I am doing, which is half the battle for me.

I have several presents to buy on behalf of my mum, but I know what they are and where to buy them.

We have decided to have chicken and a small joint of pork on Christmas Day. We usually get a free range turkey crown. It costs a lot, and mum eats such a small amount, and OH and I are not bothered either way. A chicken is cheaper, and nice, and we all get turkey at DD2's on Boxing Day. So, no turkey to order.
I need to buy the ingredients for, and make, 2 Christmas cakes, and the mincemeat. Later make mince pies for us and few for mum.

I am also thinking of buying a new 'twig' type small tree for the hallway this year. We have a big real tree in the living room each year, but a little fake tree decorated in silver with white lights, in the hallway. I have had it for years, so am thinking I may update. The old one will still feature though, maybe in the conservatory

Cards to write and address, stamps to buy. I'm not doing too badly!

[Plantaholic]

PHEW!!! Well done Gemini.

[Qwerty]

Well done Gem , I have bought all my g/c theirs most of them from Smyths with free delivery always a bonus about halfway through the rest of the family but we are a small family .
We have a white twig tree with led lights as well as a poinsettia tree in the lounge , and a tree in the conservatory you can never have too many Gem 😀 No baking yet only me likes mince pies so M& S will be getting a visit , and no one likes Xmas cake so will leave my muffins, cakes and cookies till nearer the time, pork pies ordered 🌲

[Oma]

We have just been to Smyths we are now £200 poorer but got most that we want ,

I did intend going clothes shopping for myself but it soon turned into Christmas shopping .

I must admit I have loved going down the little girl aisle this year as GD let us know what she wanted I haven't had to wait for a list from DIL ,

GS2 is more difficult but we have bought him what he asked for already so just 1 more big gift to buy, Then buy his Ski suit for his Ski trip with the school in January .

Started on the Adults , went to M&S for a Sweater for SIL's Dad and bought a dressing table set for SIL's Mam that's just a small gift need her main gift yet ,
DD&SIL still not decided what they want yet .

Only me eats Christmas cake so I buy a small slab from M&S now instead of making one , I always made two small ones when Brian's Dad was alive as he loved my Christmas cake , he would eat his then I would give him half of mine

Get to put my expensive new tree up this year the one from Balsam trees that Brian bought in the sale when he was in hospital last year I also bought the mantel garland from them in the sale a couple of months ago to match

[ZIZI]

No Christmas tree in this house this year. I did look at some little ornamental ones but husband was taking the Micky so much I gave up on the idea. I might stick a bit of tinsel up just to annoy him.

Other than that most presents are done, just waiting to find out what the children want as main presents. It is Ben’s birthday on 18th so we won’t know what he wants until after that. I shall get the children’s presents before Christmas even though they won’t be here. Everything else is done.

[Nanto2girls]

All Christmas cards are written.
Majority of presents bought, waiting for another being delivered this week.
Not decided what meat we are having for Christmas dinner. We usually have a turkey crown.

[Gemini]

This morning I bought pyjamas for GS2, a book for GD from my mum, and mums Christmas cards and tags. How anyone does the whole lot in one trip I have no idea. They must have a lot more stamina than I have. I soon find I have had enough of Christmas shopping!

[Mimi]

Be prepared for a ‘bah humbug ‘ moment.......
The house down the road has got all their Christmas decks up, in doors and out doors. But they are not the first because if you remember,the flat up the road from us has had theirs up since October .

I remember as a a child being excited because when the decs went up in our house I knew it wasn’t long till Christmas, Those children living in those places have got over a month to wait . All the excitement will have come and gone along with droopy decs.

I have got a few Christmas presents , I need need the inspiration of what to buy OH , he is proving to be impossible to please !

[Oma]

Mimi my niece is like that if she had her way they would stay up all year , Drives my sister ( her mother ) insane , she always telling her it looks ridiculous at this time of year

[ZIZI]

When I was a child the decorations were put up on Christmas Eve by the elves when we were in bed. This was spoiled somewhat when I was about ten and my dad had been to the officers mess (we lived in Berlin) and got rather the worse for wear. Mother met him at the door with a bucket and spade and made him go to the sandpit to fill the bucket for the tree. We lived in a large apartment with stone stairs outside and unfortunately one way or another dad ended up in a heap at the bottom (did he fall or was he pushed?). It was a good job he was anaesthetised with alcohol becuase the next day he was at the medical centre having broken several ribs on the way down the steps! Only my brother (11 months older than me and with whom I shared a room) and I witnessed this and didn’t tell the youngest ones. Didn’t even tell the parents until years later.

[Plantaholic]

Oh dear, did the Christmas tree survive?

We used to make the paper chains from those strips that had one sticky end.

[ZIZI]

Plant yes the tree survived and he put all the fairy decorations up as well. I remember him being in terrible pain on Christmas Day (not surprising), We used to make paper garlands as well. We weren’t allowed to keep things like Christmas decorations etc as we moved around so much and for every move we had a limited number of wooden crates in which to pack things.

[Grauntie Mag]

Because we had a minimalistic C....mas last year, all decs in storage and in rented accommodation, this year we will push the boat out a little. I am looking forward to seeing my old decs. We will have to decorate by the 9th Dec because we are having our ‘Christmas Starts Here’ party which we have held for the last 35 years. By Christmas Day the decs will be driving me potty, and on Boxing Day they will probably come down. Bah Humbug.

[Daisy]

I have no wish to stress the 'Christmas from December 1st' camp, but I do realise that some of our readiness is having that effect. Whatever works for you is right and I would never urge anyone to begin early. It is what I do though

No, Gem, not stressed at all!!!!

[Nana]

Majority of gifts bought. Thanks for reminder Gem...I must remember to get the ingredients for the two cakes I make. One for us & family who visit. The other is for DD2 & her partner.

Turkey crown for Christmas dinner & turkey, pork, or ham with deep fried chips & however many sauces & pickles you can fit on your plate, for the day after Boxing day. It's a family tradition, as this is the only time in the year when any of us have these chips...normally have oven chips.

When we have our week away I'll write the cards. Before xmas I'm going to have a good sort out of decs & give what we don't want to Charity. We tend to put less up now, which means less to take down. Can't wait, as I love the season.🎅🍷🎄☃🎉🎁