Nearly Christmas!

[Stephen]

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[GillD46]

Well, regardless of what Noddy Holder says, our decorations will be going up on December 1st as usual.

[qbman1]

Do other men pack for themselves when going on holiday?

Yes

Always - who knows what I would end up with if I let Mrs C loose in the wardrobe !

[qbman1]

I'm really surprised that here we are, over half way through November and the Christmas thread has been silent since the beginning of September - yes I know there are those who say - and a good job too!

Carole

- and a good job too!

[CaroleF]

So predictable!

[qbman1]

Always reliable. I try to please !

[Happydays]

Always reliable. I try to please !

I try and ignore it for as long as possible

[qbman1]

I just do everything I can to make sure we are away at Christmas so I don't have to venture up into the loft to recover the decorations - they must have rotted away by now !!

[qbman1]

I'll be hitting the streets this weekend !

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[Mervyn and Trish]

We'll be putting ours up early this year. 24th December

[qbman1]

When I was young that was exactly what happened. We left the boxes of decorations out when I went to bed on Christmas Eve and when I woke up, dear old Santa had been and not only left the pressies but decorated the house as well.

[Mervyn and Trish]

Okay --- I lied a bit. About two weeks before is our norm. I'm guessing around 9th. Santa need help these days!

[qbman1]

Judas !

[Stephen]

When I was young that was exactly what happened. We left the boxes of decorations out when I went to bed on Christmas Eve and when I woke up, dear old Santa had been and not only left the pressies but decorated the house as well.

You go pressies

I always thought the norm was a lump of coal and tangerine.

[Ray B]

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Is that Stephen when he had hair.

[qbman1]

I don't think photography had been invented then !

[suespud]

I'm really surprised that here we are, over half way through November and the Christmas thread has been silent since the beginning of September - yes I know there are those who say - and a good job too! I thought it was time to resurrect it - surprised Sue hasn't done it before now. Nearly got Christmas cards written, Christmas presents for the Grandchildren bought and hidden - just have to remember where they are. As we are at our daughter's for Christmas - only 20 minutes away - I thought I wouldn't have to worry about food. Well as she works in the family business along with my son-in-law and my husband and has two small children she tends to be very busy so I said I'd order the turkey - done that. Now I find I've also ordered other food stuff, and said I'll make Jamie Oliver's Cook ahead Turkey gravy and freeze it, oh and yes the Bread Sauce, I can freeze that too. Suddenly it feels as though I'm doing Christmas after all but at least I won't be cooking on Christmas Day thank goodness.
Have long lists written for the Aurora cruise in January - mustn't get them mixed up with the Christmas lists. How on earth does anyone organise themselves without writing lists - well apart from John who only has to buy me a Christmas present, oh and a birthday present for me in early December and he'll get one of the girls to do that, and he doesn't do any packing for the cruise either! Do other men pack for themselves when going on holiday? John never has. When we get on board a cruise he'll tell me that I've bought too many shirts or whatever for him, or I've forgotten to pack something else. I've told him he can pack for himself but he's never taken me up on that!

Carole

HI Carol, Iv tried a few times to post on this thread,but time has been against me.
I look after my FIL who has moderate - severe Alzheimer's. It's draining mentally and physically, as well as heart breaking. He has serious medical problems, which mean lots of hospital apts and home visits from various agencies, which I have to oversee.

He still lives in his own home, which I clean and do his washing etc..with carers and me going in several times a day.
I also still look after grandchildren , do school runs etc.

One of our grandchildren has been very ill for nearly 3 months and spent 6 weeks in hospital,he is on the mend, but still has hospital visits.
Sooooo my Christmas preps were way down the to do list.
BUT..I have managed to bake 14 Christmas cakes this year...still not iced yet
Next weekend we are putting all our trees up !!!
We are still having our Christmas Eve party.. ( about 25 guests)
Then 15 for Christmas Lunch, 7 sleeping over, followed by at least 20 on Boxing Day lunch.
Food orders in, and I'm doing most of my Christmas shopping online.

I Love Christmas, and normally LOVE all the hustle and bustle that goes with it.
But this year, I've not got into the Christmas Spirit yet.....but at the ready are the Santa hats the Christmas tunes, and fizzy stuff in the fridge for the weekend !!!
I'v bought a new tree for the hall... new lights and having a new "theme" .
Just rembered too, that we are having a new "theme" for the Christmas Lunch table....
With 7 children being there ages 3-10, we are having a Santa theme....totally OTT, all the rubbishy stuff ..like Santa chair backs, Santa hats to wear, table cloth, napkins, little Santa holders for cutlery....Santa crackers... Etc....
Kids will love it

Carole, Thank you for posting, as now after thinking about all this, I am in the zone....!!!

Sue. Xxxx

[qbman1]

Ah, there you are Spuddy - thought you would be busy putting up the last of your 47 trees !

[suespud]

Ah, there you are Spuddy - thought you would be busy putting up the last of your 47 trees !

Counting down......till the weekend

[gilly88]

all our outside lights are up!!.although I draw the line at switching them on yet...spent this weekend on them. we live in a small cul de sac (10 houses) and all of us do something outside and by Christmas it looks amazing, like a fairy tale grotto with all the bright lights in the conifers etc. got to get going early, as we are off on our cruise to the canaries next week. can't wait.

[GillD46]

Our close, which is a little bigger than yours gilly, makes an effort and most houses light their front lawn trees and/or shrubs so it looks lovely. We plan to try and put our lights out this weekend, we’re late this year because of my heart investigations, so I have found it hard to get motivated.

We won’t be at home for Christmas this year, at least we shouldn't be, health permitting, which I have mixed feelings about. It will be lovely to spend it with daughter no 2 and her family, including our delightful 2 year old grand-daughter, but because our daughter’s out-laws will be there, it won’t be as relaxed as usual. Indeed it will be crowded. We also have to drive home - London to The Gower - on Boxing Day as we are due to go away to celebrate our Ruby Anniversary on December 28th, but that remains uncertain as well.

So I am trying to get in the mood, and did make two chocolate yule logs today, but as yet not feeling terribly festive.

[CaroleF]

Sue, you make me feel exhausted just reading what you accomplish. I'm sure your family will have a wonderful time.
Gill, I hope you get away to celebrate your Ruby Wedding Anniversary and that your health allows you do so. Our Ruby Wedding Anniversary is in January - we'll be in Madeira on the day. John is telling people that this long Aurora cruise is to celebrate the anniversary but the truth is he'd forgotten it and it was only after the cruise was booked that I reminded him of the fact! I remember on our first anniversary he thought that all he had to do was to say 'Happy Anniversary!' - he now knows better and remembers, well most of the time!

Carole

[GillD46]

Wishing you a wonderful cruise and anniversary, Carole.

We are due to board QV on “the day” only a short five nighter, but over NYE as well and our “proper celebration is in March/April/May on QE and QM2 from HKG to SIN then SIN to S’ton. Keeping all fingers and toes crossed as tomorrow’s nuclear scan will give me a pretty clear indication as to whether or not we can go.

[oldbluefox]

John is telling people that this long Aurora cruise is to celebrate the anniversary but the truth is he'd forgotten it and it was only after the cruise was booked that I reminded him of the fact! I remember on our first anniversary he thought that all he had to do was to say 'Happy Anniversary!' - he now knows better and remembers, well most of the time!

Carole

Tell John there's always a spare kennel at our house!!!

[Stephen]

....or he can upgrade to our double garage. Fees apply