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

Well, there's not that much difference between Xmas cake and bread pudding. Not really. It will be lovely.

The cake had 'proper' marzipan and looks much happier. Don't worry about the gluten free cake it will be fine. They can have a different texture but it will taste good. Absolutely nothing planned today linked to Christmas. Hope you all stay well and accident free.

I intend to make a comparison between M&S mini mince pies and S'burys taste the difference mince pies.
I will find some nice crisp bank notes to give the the weekend paper girl and the weekday paper boy their Christmas boxes.
I've managed to think up a present for DH for his birthday at the very beginning of January but I will have to rush to the post before he does .
I will phone a friend who think she has missed a celebrationary cream tea which we haven't had yet.

Go post office to post candle plate to DD. She was looking for one at the garden centre where we were at the weekend but they didn't have anything suitable. Will send it first class so she gets it tomorrow. Hope she hasn't been out and bought out one in the meantime.

Then. decorate tree and wrap, wrap, wrap.

Will walk to post office.

Hope any poorly ones are better soon.

Wrapping.....again! I used to get through this much faster but now seize up if I stand for too long. Bedroom floor is best apart from getting sore knees. DPD have just delivered hamper size box from one of DH's clients....it clinks.

Wrote my last Christmas cards last night. Hubbie can take them to the post office today - we had run out of stamps for local postage - so he'll have to buy the stamps!

Was going to go shopping tonight for decorations. I was given a voucher for a shop that specialises in that sort of thing for my birthday last month, but now I think I'll do things in the right order - i.e. Start cleaning the house tonight and getting beds ready for visiting DC's and wives. Then at the weekend I'll finish that and put up the decorations I've got and then I can go shopping next week for any finishing touches I think it needs, maybe incorporating a Christmas market and a meal out.

Oh - and choir practice last night, too. That was definitely preparing for Christmas, as we went through the programme for Midnight Mass.

I read that the best place for wrapping is the ironing board!

Now that sounds like it could be useful Pittcity-struggled through the two smaller dgs's bundles with much 'ooya' and 'ouch' and stretching out. I suggested to one of the teens at panto that they could earn money for their World Challenge target by offering a wrapping service. Wish she'd taken me up on it.

Right, cards sent apart from one to Sidmouth (I've lost the address and online searches are all £, so I'm very upset about that I can't find her address anywhere)
Presents all wrapped and mostly delivered.
I have to start thinking about the food shop next.

Every year I make a gingerbread house for gs's but this year I am going to make a Christmas Tree with (if it works) Tiny chocolate decs.

Anyone live in South East? On tv this evening they showed Christmas Hats knitted by ladies for pillar boxes - in Herne Bay - brilliant!

I always do my wrapping on the ironing board. Saves getting backache or dog hairs on sellotape!

I did try the Christmas decorating quiz on the homepage.......I couldn't answer to anything . It seemed to make a lot of assumptions so I gave up.

Anyone live in South East? On tv this evening they showed Christmas Hats knitted by ladies for pillar boxes - in Herne Bay - brilliant!
don't get me started!!!
Sorry whitewave not having a go at you - but that is my bête noire - hats for pillar boxes indeed when children are freezing in refugee camps.
(sorry, grumpy with a cold.)

Ah but rose how do you know they haven't also knitted for the children. Sackcloth and ashes is not the answer though.

Hope you cold gets better soon

Yes, grumpy-guts would describe me this evening

Perhaps they did (all that yarn wasted though .....)

At least I didn't have to make mince pies/ice the Christmas cakes etc today. Thought I should keep my germs to myself!

Poor sleep last night, up and down, eventually gave up and planned on doing a little ironing and then back to bed for a couple of hours.

Did some ironing, prepared two rooms for family arriving on Tuesday, defrosted and sorted chest freezer.

Plans for bed didn't happen !!
But I am so pleased with what was done today.

We put the decorations and tree up yesterday, this morning was spent clearing up the ensuing mess as we were just almost finished when a friend turned up with a card, so of course came in.

I have made a couple of dozen Florentines, I always make them at Xmas, and am about to ice my cake. I am hoping to have enough energy to wrap SiL's presents after that, I do one person a day because I do hate doing it.

DBH has cleared out DS's room, ready for the GCs to sleep in. DS has an outhouse/music room with a sofabed to decamp to. We must remember to heat it up a bit for him this year.

Oh dear, it's Saturday evening and I haven't done anything yet. Had hoped to have the house absolutely spotless and sparkling over this weekend, so I can put up the decorations on Monday. And now we've made a date for Sunday lunch tomorrow and in the afternoon there's a carol concert we must go to (DiL is singing). Looks like I'll be spending the evening tidying and dusting and tomorrow morning vacuuming.

Last present shopping on Tuesday, last food shop on Thursday.

Tell me off if you see me on line any time between now and Wednesday!

Wrapping finished!! Woohoo!!

Decorated the tree in record time.
Finished wrapping all except for one awkward present.
Nursed my cold.

Done everything except wrapping a few presents and of course cooki g things like ham etc.

Lunch at golf club with 10 neighbours tomorrow - yearly tradition with carols.
Put posh frock on this evening to see what it looked like -dress fine it was the body in it that was the problem

Am braving the city today-more fool me-to return an overnighting dgs to his slightly (!) the worse for wear parents. Company Xmas do, 'nuff said. May see if there's a hope in hell of getting into Markies.

I feel poorly, I have shingles, started anti-biotics on Wednesday but feeling worse not better. How long will this last does anyone know?
DH working this morning then he'll be visiting my Mum in care home. I feel bad as I've not seen her since Tuesday and she is grieving so much for Dad who died in November.
Most of wrapping is done will finish it this afternoon, but no cleaning done, will do some tomorrow hopefully. Only essential bits though.
Still have 2 important presents to buy for DGD and DGS.
When are you food shopping ?