bluekarin Posted November 12, 2008 Share Posted November 12, 2008 Well, all of you with your ultra organising skills completely put me to shame But I have officially started my Christmas shopping. I have bought 2, yes, 2 presents. And that is very very good for me. But I have started making the cards. Not going so mad on the ones I am posting. Got a bit caught out last year when they brought in the new posting prices and the putting the beads on the cards made them cost way more than was expected. So sorry to those I post cards too, you are getting a scaled down version of the hand delivered ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 I've done most of my Christmas shopping. Really just need to buy OH that little something that isn't a DVD, CD or book (his wish list is soooooooooo boring)! We have a realistic-looking fake tree that I bought when I moved to Brum and it looks lovely in the bay window of my Victorian lounge. I have a real blue spruce tree that I bought in a pot at the market 3 years ago. Noel (yes it has a name ) lives outside for 47 weeks of the year and comes in for his 5 weeks of glory to live in the dining room, bedecked in red and gold. My trees are always smothered in baubles and I struggle every year to find places to hang them all. I promised myself no new ones this year, but have caved in and I'm buying half a set of the RSPB bird ones together with my Mum, who is having the other half set. Still, as my Dad always said "There is no such thing as an overdressed Christmas Tree". So there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Anyone clocked the M&S Christmas add yet? Won't spoil it for you, but I preferred the one with Antonio, although It does capture the flavour nicely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 13, 2008 Share Posted November 13, 2008 Noel (yes it has a name ) lives outside for 47 weeks of the year and comes in for his 5 weeks of glory to live in the dining room Mine is called Matilda! I have had her for 4 years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 Noel (yes it has a name ) lives outside for 47 weeks of the year and comes in for his 5 weeks of glory to live in the dining room Mine is called Matilda! I have had her for 4 years How sweet. Maybe they could get together and make pine cones? I'm sure Noel wouldn't mind an older woman! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 I came home from a work trip to find the house still decorated for halloween We try and get Xmas tree decorations when we're in other countries although it's not always possible so I was very pleased to find some cute elephant ornaments in India. Most of our ornaments are from Germany and Denmark but also have some from Switzerland, USA, Russia, Vietnam and China. I love the smell of real trees so I'm planning a tree in the living room with all our main ornaments and one in the kitchen/dining area with food related decorations (just need to keep anythign not wrapped out of reach of the cats). I'd like another in the hall but suspect I won't get that past OH (this year). I like gettign the trees from a small village the other side of Henley called Christmas Common cos of the name obviously but OH & boys prefer local garden centre - no sense of the rightness of things... Not made many preparations yet but I have made the pudding and booked myself onto a Christmas centrepiece, mantel & wreath making day at our local florists. I did that for the first time last year and loved it so much I think I might have been first to book this year ! I was thinking of making 'breakfast' hampers for a few people this year but I also have quite a few quails eggs to use so need to find Christians pickled quails eggs recipe. I'd best make marmalade this w/e or the hampers will have some eggs and nothing else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 14, 2008 Share Posted November 14, 2008 Got a new book called 'The Christmas Book' for a greener Christmas, lots of recycled items and ideas Oooh! I'd be very interested to know who it's by so I can take a look. Sounds like just the book for me! Sorry MedusA, yes it was that one. About to start making the robins....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Last of the Christmas pressies were bought yesterday :D DS and DD under the tree pressies are wrapped and labelled :D Mum's pressies have had their 'first wrap' - bows and ribbons and tags will be added when I put them under the tree as they are easier to store without the trimmings :D Santa Sacks have been found along with the stakes for the garden light tree :D Montezumas Advent Calendar has been bought (for me ) Christmas Chicken ordered :D Date in Diary for Christmas Tree buying :D Ocado Christmas delivery slot booked :D ...............but I still reckon I'll be frantically wrapping stocking pressies on Christmas Eve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 I have only got two pressies left to get ( two boxes of chocs) and a couple to put the finishing touches to. I still have some goodies to do for the hampers but they are last minute things to make ( truffles, brownies and anything that LMW decides to make) and Dads cake to ice (I have all the stuff to do it). The bargain free range turkey is in the freezer, puds and cakes are made. Operation Tidy Up is in full swing or would be if I didn't have such regular coffee/ forum breaks. Next week I shall start on the wrapping and more of the food shopping -tins , packets etc so I don't have to do so much nearer the time. The date for assembling the tree has been agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 A house in my ES's girlfriend's road already has its Christmas lights up and on! I haven't seen any anywhere else yet. So lovely when they all start appearing. My Dad always goes over the top. One year when he was living on top of a cliff overlooking the sea, we went for a lovely afternoon walk, as we were coming back at the bottom of the cliff you looked up and his lights had all come on. It was like a shining beacon, in fact he could probably have done the job of the lighthouse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Our outside lights are going up today, but won't be switched on for a while yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Last of the Christmas pressies were bought yesterday :D DS and DD under the tree pressies are wrapped and labelled :D Mum's pressies have had their 'first wrap' - bows and ribbons and tags will be added when I put them under the tree as they are easier to store without the trimmings :D Santa Sacks have been found along with the stakes for the garden light tree :D Montezumas Advent Calendar has been bought (for me ) Christmas Chicken ordered :D Date in Diary for Christmas Tree buying :D Ocado Christmas delivery slot booked :D ...............but I still reckon I'll be frantically wrapping stocking pressies on Christmas Eve You are making me feel so inadequate...I have bought no presents, no advent calendar, no decorations, no crackers...in fact, all I have done is to order the turkey... I need inspiration as to what to get everyone...I am completely out of ideas this year so am doing nothing in the hope that when panic sets in I will get some ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Well I thought I was being clever this year by getting neices and nephews presents early - talk going around the family now is that a lot of them are having a hard time money wise and they've nearly all decided not to buy presents I'm going to give the presents out anyway and just hope my not so little darlings don't mind (hopefully they won't even notice) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 I only have a couple of present left to buy - and they will be bought online soon. All the Christmas/January Birthday presents have been sorted - including mine Hampers are started ready to finish with last minute items ...and our outside Christmas lights will be done today or tomorrow as I have my strapping, 6'2" son here working for a couple of days He's here replacing the dishwasher which we've replaced before it dies (would have been Christmas Eve!) and a fridge which died last Thursday Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 I've got to put up our outside lights.........normally happens on the wettest windiest day possible Might get them up later this week as forecast is good although cold Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Well, I bought a half Xmas tree today and some baubles in a copper colour. I will put the half tree in the window or maybe hang it on the wall. That would look nice. Christmas cakes made, pickles made, got a few presents. Best get the secret santa all wrapped up & sent out. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Have just reserved 2 main presents for my older 2 children at Argos before their free gift card offer runs out later today. Just need to come up with a main present for YD who has just had a birthday and was given enough money to buy a Nintendo DS which is what we were going to get her for Christmas Mostly sorted for other people We will be doing the cake this weekend and maybe some mincemeat. I tried to book a Waitrose delivery for Tuesday 23rd yesterday but they had already gone, Tescos haven't even released their Christmas slots yet Might try Ocado Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 have just registered with Ocado and they haven't released their Christmas week slots yet either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 have just registered with Ocado and they haven't released their Christmas week slots yet either Ocado released their delivery slots a few weeks ago As a regular Ocado Shooper, I had an email a few weeks ago from them with a link to book a Christmas delivery Slot - by the time I logged in later that day all of 23rd and 24th slots were gone so had to have Monday 22nd. Checked earlier today and only a few slots left for Sunday 21st Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 My ocado is being delivered on the Monday evening - they are so good I dont think anything will be missing, but it does give me two days to get anything they dont deliver - and I have always found that the quality of the fruit and vet is so g ood it lasts two weeks so am not worried about it going off before the end of the week. Christmas presents are nearly all bought (thank heaven for the internet!). and in the spare room - once again we are getting some "good gifts" from Oxfam Unwrapped and Send a Cow (I always like giving goats to my money grabbing ignorant nieces ) Christmas tree and decorations will go up first week of Christmas - I ahve the week off and feel I may be relaxed enough to deal with the tangle of fairy lights - it doesnt matter how carefully we put them away each year the elves always seem to tangle them up over the year We have stockings for the dogs, horses and chickens to hang from the mantlepiece - have gone from one stocking for each chicken, to just one big one - the mantlepiece wasnt big enough any more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Oh what a shame when i saw that the slots only went into the first week of December I thought they hadn't released them yet, never mind we live in an area that is spoilt for choice where supermarkets are concerned. We are away over the weekend before and not back until Tuesday 23rd pm so thought that it may be a way out of queuing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 Everyone sounds really organised with their present buying. I'm making the majority of my sisters presents, I've decided what to make and got the material just need to start without them knowing/finding out. I always struggle to find presents for people-we are struggling this year with 3 of my cousins who we don't usually buy for but we are spending Christmas with them we want to get them something. If anyone has any ideas they would be very helpful(2 girls-21 & 24 and 1 boy-20) We usually put our tree and outdoor lights up early December. We don't buy a real tree but the one we have outside(unfortunately not named!) will be moved to outside the front door with a few lights on. I love the idea of hampers that people do but i don't think any of my close family like chutneys/stuff in jars apart from honey and jam. I will make some cakes to take up to Scotland for everyone to eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 We saw Santa last Sunday at a local garden centre - it's excellent there, costs a fiver but the grotto is nice - they do "virtual queuing" (you have a numbered ticket to they tannoy you in groups of 15 numbers). They also write your childs name on the back of your ticket so that when you go in, give the ticket to the elf and then Santa knows the kiddies name! As well as a present (nice little art set) you get a REAL little tree - last years is still growing nicely and is about 4 times the size of the one we've just got. I'm thinking we will have quite a collection of real Xmas trees over the next few years - I'm planning to start puttitng them out front and decorating them at Chrstmas - starting next year when the first one will be a really good size. I also have a booking for Bluewater this Sat which I don't think we will be able to make - but I have another one for the following Saturday which I think we will make. James is being great this Christmas - he knows he is getting THREE visits from Santa as there will be one at Daddy's, one at Disney and one here when we get home. He knows he will not get much at Disney because of bringing it home on the plane. He hasn't actually asked for any big things at all - I've got him a few small things mostly from charity shops! My plan is to send him into Disney with Mum and hit the Mall for a few bits on about Dec 23rd!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phonix Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 You're all making me feel soooo inadequate! Im soo NOT sorted! Sunshine as for the girls could you get something from Lush or a charm bracelet (with all the talk of these on here). Not sure about the boy - something childish and fun usually works for all my guy friends on birthday/christmas'? With uni and working my christmas shopping usually gets left until quite late BUT i need it done before the 19th this year as Im going to supper with santa that night and them away in the northeast until the 24th!! Only prob is that 19th is the last day of term so looks like ill have to try to fit in shopping with uni work and my job! YAK! we're picking out uni secret santa on thurs so eeek for that cos I hate trying to stick to a restricted amount when I see something that I think really suits the person and its over ARGH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willow Posted November 18, 2008 Share Posted November 18, 2008 I'm struggling to know what to buy people. Children are easy but parents are impossible and I feel like I've used up all my good ideas on the in-laws already. Although since I narrowly headed off them buying us a zorbing experience I could go more exotic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
