Thread to state Xmas jobs we intend to get done today.

Today, get to bank for even more cash. Organise for outside lights to go up.
Buy two new pillows as family coming this weekend(hooray). Search out bedding for the beds which need to be made up.
Plead with son to bring me a tree.
Plan meals for weekend.
Write local cards.
Get a ready cooked meal out of the freezer for tonight.

Last trip (hollow laugh) to the shops for presents for DH.
Get out all presents and start to wrap.
Do final menu planning
Write Sainsbury's shopping list - again.

This morning I finished the second attempt at cakes to take to Post Office staff.

Finally find something for DH. Have my hair cut. Think about sorting the spare room. Put my feet up

They look delicious Shysal it is so kind of you to do that.

Well it was going to be Zumba this morning but my plantar fasciitis is getting worse instead of better so I'm saving my feet for hospital app (bone scan) on Thursday and hopefully seeing DD2 at the weekend for some last minute shopping. So its computer stuff this am and then getting my big bushy beard and moustache dealt with this afternoon - Oh and new eyebrows for Christmas.

I'm raring to get outdoors but awaiting the Ocado man - as soon as that's stowed away I'll be like a greyhound out of the trap off to the post office.

Those cakes look lovely Shysal how kind of you - I wouldn't bake cakes for the grumpy pair in my local PO - they are renowned for their miserableness

Buy Christmas tree today. Actually buy some cards (and get them sent).

Half hour on exercise bike for me now to ensure some room for garden centre lunch which will precede the Christmas tree buying.

Go to ATM for yet more cash. Then to hospital for infusion; then feet up and hope for no adverse reaction. Finish start present wrapping.

Having hair done. Was going to GSs nativity, but had to call off as they have nasty colds and we try to avoid as we can't go near Mum (97 with heart and breathing problems) so disappointed. Just off to steam parquet.

Got cash.
Bought more cards having relented about some I'd left out.
Bought a pair of (cheap) pillows.
Been to chemist for vitC and Echinachea as I am sniffing. Still waiting for a txt from son.
Hope all goes well with you anno.

Didn't see this thread yesterday or I would have reported my plans to:

-finish DGD's Christmas dress (done but for the buttons/poppers on back)
-write cards for group of friends meeting for a Christmas lunch this week and deliver to one of them for distribution, as I couldn't join them (done)
- make photo baubles of all DGC for respective parents to hang on their trees (done)

Today I plan to write and send all remaining Christmas cards and do some Christmas shopping - not online, but actually visiting real shops

Today I am building a barricade to try and save the Christmas tree from the likely ravages of a very determined and fast crawling 8 mnth old.

Don't forget to breathe, all. Deeply and calmly.

(The toddler sounds fun. No sympathy from me there! )

Crawler! Not toddler.

Alea.... 'Plenty of cut price Baileys around' WHERE? Just on second bottle of that ( over several weeks I must point out) and have not seen ANY cut price in our neck of the woods.
For anyone not having time to make mince pies, M&S do the best ones.
I plan to write Christmas cards for all our neighbours today, the ones that needed posting have now been done.???????All ready forChristmas.

Review present list which I didn't do yesterday, wrap and post family parcels, write cards. DH off to Amsterdam this afternoon until Friday so should get lots of time to get everything done. At least that's what I'm hoping......

Put the Christmas tree up last night; bought a new one last year but didn't use it [was in bah humbug mode] so found it really difficult to put together and I'm not sure the baubles from my old tree suit it [it's a slimline one as I don't have space for my old one which has a new home]. Going to the grandchildrens school play this afternoon and hopefully writing cards when I get back.

How does it look?

Not as bad as I thought but seems to need a lot more decorations than the other one....bit empty looking ...

I let the Gch do my tree and it looks super cluttered with all the stuff both have made at school over 6 years....They put all their stuff on first leaving little room for my "more Sophisticated" junk. Great I love it.

Hooray , finished cards and all have stamps ready to post. ( The worst job. I always run out of cards.)

Nice, Tegan - not too overdone or overpowering. Sometimes you have to completely re-arrange the room to get the tree in and then you're crab-walking sideways to get to the piano or the windows or whatever.

This thread is a lovely counterpart to the thread started by someone who couldn't get into the Christmas mood. Just reading it gives you a feeling that everyone is doing this together - so many similar lists, and lovely ideas.

My list yesterday involved : << tidy and clean the lounge (the ironing's set up in there at the moment) and go through the decorations I've got and make a list of what I still need. >>

I kept it short but didn't manage any of it because I came home from work tired and tried to have a quick nap, but that didn't work.

Tonight I must at least move the washing from the lounge and find my Christmas cards - I'm sure I've got enough old ones kicking around to not to have to buy any new ones this year.

However, last night I did write a detailed Christmas menu plan from today until 28 December and a matching shopping list, with some recipes from some books I was browsing through. So tonight I'll have to go shopping, too, but I don't regard that as a chore.

Looking at what I have actually already done - it's not too bad, I can tick quite a few things off: Haven't done the local cards, but wrote all my Christmas cards for the UK and sent them off when I was over in November (tick!), hubbie has bought tree and will take off the netting today and let it get its shape back (tick!). He has orders to go round the house today checking for babyproofness, as GS (18 months) will be coming on Wednesday. (tick!)

Have got some presents (books ordered from Amazon) (tick!) and have just ordered a Christmas bouquet for my mother (tick!). My sister will be spending Christmas at hers this year, so that will be for both of them, really. Have already sent them a parcel with some small bottles of wine and some decent coffee (sister has started new job and says the office coffee is awful).(tick!)

Sister-in-law is invited for Christmas lunch.(tick!)

And most importantly - we have a wreath with fairy lights on the front door(tick!). (note to self - must change the batteries in that!)

I can't get worked up about any of it this year. I've just been to the village PO to post twenty Christmas cards only to find they've run out of stamps

Sorted all my dresses out. Just nighties undies and jewels to do!

A bit more tinsel and another set of baubles and it will be super Tegan. (Says the woman who doesn't allow any bit of the tree to actually show!)