Went shopping today, all the kids and grands were over and we went out for Tex Mex after the gift exchange....
I got it all done today.. 👍
Now I just show up on Christmas day at daughter #2's house.
Vam said
Dec 23 10:58 AM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Definitely not too early to talk about Christmas now....just 3 days away. We went to a garden centre today, all the Christmas lights and decorations were half price. I got a brilliant red berry runner, really thick and substantial, it fits the full length of my 10ft fireplace, well chuffed.
😊 Sounds lovely! What are you doing on the big day?
I‘m out on Christmas Eve, at a do I didn’t have to organise (for a change!), so I’m really looking forward to that. I think you can probably guess what I’ll be busy doing on Christmas Day
Vam said
Dec 23 11:08 AM, 2025
Anonymous wrote:
Magica wrote:
Went good shopping today, t was heaving. Queues down the aisle.
I chatted to other shoppers, nothing you can do, just wait your turn. No more shopping now.😀
Did my main Christmas food shop a good few days back and stocks were good. Have an order arriving tomorrow, which is just my normal everyday items, like topping up tea bags, freezer stuff etc so if out of stock then it's no big deal to wait until the rush is over. I doubt I'll starve
👍🏻 A super-organised and level-headed approach to the Christmas crazy. Wish I could say the same about me these days! 🤦🏻♀️
That said, I’ve been putting off stocking up a little until the last possible minute. It got to the point when my fridge only had half a bottle of OJ and an eyeliner pencil in it.
So I steeled myself to expect marauding hordes at the supermarket. Turned out to be an easy trip. Parked with no problem at all - and the checkout queues weren’t long. Everyone around seemed smiley and relaxed. A totally stress-free experience! 😎
Syl said
Dec 23 12:07 PM, 2025
Vam wrote:
Syl wrote:
Definitely not too early to talk about Christmas now....just 3 days away. We went to a garden centre today, all the Christmas lights and decorations were half price. I got a brilliant red berry runner, really thick and substantial, it fits the full length of my 10ft fireplace, well chuffed.
😊 Sounds lovely! What are you doing on the big day?
I‘m out on Christmas Eve, at a do I didn’t have to organise (for a change!), so I’m really looking forward to that. I think you can probably guess what I’ll be busy doing on Christmas Day
On Christmas day will you be on the beach, watching all the fit young men surfing, wearing their Father Christmas hats??
We are going to DIL's for Christmas day, everyone will be there, exchanging presents and eating ourselves till we are stuffed. She herself is a veggie, but she piles everyone else's plates up with meats galore. After cooking Christmas dinner for family all my life, it's such a pleasure to have someone else do it now.
Enjoy your Christmas Eve do, probably all the more now someone else has done all the arranging.
Syl said
Dec 23 12:09 PM, 2025
Maddog wrote:
Went shopping today, all the kids and grands were over and we went out for Tex Mex after the gift exchange....
I got it all done today.. 👍
Now I just show up on Christmas day at daughter #2's house.
Isn't it great being a grandparent?
Syl said
Dec 23 12:10 PM, 2025
Anonymous wrote:
Magica wrote:
Went good shopping today, t was heaving. Queues down the aisle.
I chatted to other shoppers, nothing you can do, just wait your turn. No more shopping now.😀
Did my main Christmas food shop a good few days back and stocks were good. Have an order arriving tomorrow, which is just my normal everyday items, like topping up tea bags, freezer stuff etc so if out of stock then it's no big deal to wait until the rush is over. I doubt I'll starve
I am braving the shops in a couple of hours, last minute food shopping...can't wait.
Anonymous said
Dec 23 12:45 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Magica wrote:
Went good shopping today, t was heaving. Queues down the aisle.
I chatted to other shoppers, nothing you can do, just wait your turn. No more shopping now.😀
Did my main Christmas food shop a good few days back and stocks were good. Have an order arriving tomorrow, which is just my normal everyday items, like topping up tea bags, freezer stuff etc so if out of stock then it's no big deal to wait until the rush is over. I doubt I'll starve
I am braving the shops in a couple of hours, last minute food shopping...can't wait.
Good luck . My order was delivered bang on time, one sub which I'm currently enjoying, cinnamon doughnuts, with a cuppa or two. Not being smug btw just relieved I didn't have to visit the shops this year as I find supermarket shopping a major chore.
Syl said
Dec 23 5:11 PM, 2025
I went to Asda..it was for last minute fresh stuff...and I was pleasantly surprised, the shelves were full and it wasn't half as bad as expected.
Maddog said
Dec 23 6:34 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:
Went shopping today, all the kids and grands were over and we went out for Tex Mex after the gift exchange....
I got it all done today.. 👍
Now I just show up on Christmas day at daughter #2's house.
Isn't it great being a grandparent?
Yeah, and with kids who have big places for me to visit.
Much less pressure than having to host anything. A lot cheaper too..
I was talking to the kids after Thanksgiving and they were all laughing about their moms husband bitching about spending about $80 on a super sized amount of macaroni and cheese.
I'm sure it was good, but it's macaroni and cheese. 🤷😎
Syl said
Dec 24 12:25 PM, 2025
Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:
Went shopping today, all the kids and grands were over and we went out for Tex Mex after the gift exchange....
I got it all done today.. 👍
Now I just show up on Christmas day at daughter #2's house.
Isn't it great being a grandparent?
Yeah, and with kids who have big places for me to visit.
Much less pressure than having to host anything. A lot cheaper too..
I was talking to the kids after Thanksgiving and they were all laughing about their moms husband bitching about spending about $80 on a super sized amount of macaroni and cheese.
I'm sure it was good, but it's macaroni and cheese. 🤷😎
Do you stay over?....and yes, $80 (£60) is a bit expensive for mac and cheese....a lot cheaper than a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings though.
Maddog said
Dec 24 4:49 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:
Went shopping today, all the kids and grands were over and we went out for Tex Mex after the gift exchange....
I got it all done today.. 👍
Now I just show up on Christmas day at daughter #2's house.
Isn't it great being a grandparent?
Yeah, and with kids who have big places for me to visit.
Much less pressure than having to host anything. A lot cheaper too..
I was talking to the kids after Thanksgiving and they were all laughing about their moms husband bitching about spending about $80 on a super sized amount of macaroni and cheese.
I'm sure it was good, but it's macaroni and cheese. 🤷😎
Do you stay over?....and yes, $80 (£60) is a bit expensive for mac and cheese....a lot cheaper than a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings though.
Oh, i know my ex well..That mac and cheese was probably 10% of the cost of that meal. Part of the problem was.how much she ordered. That's what was so funny to my SILs. Her husband was pushing that macaroni hard because he didn't want to eat it for the next week and he didn't want to toss it.
They thought of buying him mac and cheese boxes for Christmas..😉
If I go to Dallas I don't stay over. At least not since they put their dog down and my dog sitting services are no longer needed when they traveled..
If I go to Houston or Austin I usually stay as those are 3 hour drives..
Syl said
Dec 25 12:21 PM, 2025
Have a good one, that goes for everyone. Especially people who are on their own, either through choice or circumstance....whatever people are doing, look after yourselves.
Magica said
Dec 25 4:53 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
Have a good one, that goes for everyone. Especially people who are on their own, either through choice or circumstance....whatever people are doing, look after yourselves.
Thanks Syl, you too.
We are all full up from dinner and Christmas Pud! Just sleeping or relaxing lol.
Syl said
Dec 28 1:22 PM, 2025
If you are fed up, spent up, and worse for wear, don't worry....it's all over for another year.
I think people are all Christmassed out far too early, most of the decorations round here have been taken down, probably because people started putting them up ridiculously early.
We leave ours up till 12th night...it was always a British tradition, something else that's gone by the wayside.
Magica said
Dec 28 6:00 PM, 2025
Syl wrote:
If you are fed up, spent up, and worse for wear, don't worry....it's all over for another year.
I think people are all Christmassed out far too early, most of the decorations round here have been taken down, probably because people started putting them up ridiculously early.
We leave ours up till 12th night...it was always a British tradition, something else that's gone by the wayside.
Took mine down today! So early for us, but I just wanted to get straight. Probably won't be this early again, we always do it after New Years Eve!
Syl said
Dec 28 6:14 PM, 2025
We have always put ours up on the 15th Dec, which is our sons birthday, and taken them down on 5th January.
This year especially, it seemed as if we were weeks behind most other people....but it was them that were early. I prefer to stick to tradition.
I got it all done today.. 👍
Now I just show up on Christmas day at daughter #2's house.
😊 Sounds lovely! What are you doing on the big day?
I‘m out on Christmas Eve, at a do I didn’t have to organise (for a change!), so I’m really looking forward to that. I think you can probably guess what I’ll be busy doing on Christmas Day
👍🏻 A super-organised and level-headed approach to the Christmas crazy. Wish I could say the same about me these days! 🤦🏻♀️
That said, I’ve been putting off stocking up a little until the last possible minute. It got to the point when my fridge only had half a bottle of OJ and an eyeliner pencil in it.
So I steeled myself to expect marauding hordes at the supermarket. Turned out to be an easy trip. Parked with no problem at all - and the checkout queues weren’t long. Everyone around seemed smiley and relaxed. A totally stress-free experience! 😎
On Christmas day will you be on the beach, watching all the fit young men surfing, wearing their Father Christmas hats??
We are going to DIL's for Christmas day, everyone will be there, exchanging presents and eating ourselves till we are stuffed. She herself is a veggie, but she piles everyone else's plates up with meats galore. After cooking Christmas dinner for family all my life, it's such a pleasure to have someone else do it now.
Enjoy your Christmas Eve do, probably all the more now someone else has done all the arranging.
Isn't it great being a grandparent?
I am braving the shops in a couple of hours, last minute food shopping...can't wait.
Good luck . My order was delivered bang on time, one sub which I'm currently enjoying, cinnamon doughnuts, with a cuppa or two. Not being smug btw just relieved I didn't have to visit the shops this year as I find supermarket shopping a major chore.
Yeah, and with kids who have big places for me to visit.
Much less pressure than having to host anything. A lot cheaper too..
I was talking to the kids after Thanksgiving and they were all laughing about their moms husband bitching about spending about $80 on a super sized amount of macaroni and cheese.
I'm sure it was good, but it's macaroni and cheese. 🤷😎
Do you stay over?....and yes, $80 (£60) is a bit expensive for mac and cheese....a lot cheaper than a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings though.
Oh, i know my ex well..That mac and cheese was probably 10% of the cost of that meal. Part of the problem was.how much she ordered. That's what was so funny to my SILs. Her husband was pushing that macaroni hard because he didn't want to eat it for the next week and he didn't want to toss it.
They thought of buying him mac and cheese boxes for Christmas..😉
If I go to Dallas I don't stay over. At least not since they put their dog down and my dog sitting services are no longer needed when they traveled..
If I go to Houston or Austin I usually stay as those are 3 hour drives..
Have a good one, that goes for everyone.
Especially people who are on their own, either through choice or circumstance....whatever people are doing, look after yourselves.
Thanks Syl, you too.
We are all full up from dinner and Christmas Pud! Just sleeping or relaxing lol.
If you are fed up, spent up, and worse for wear, don't worry....it's all over for another year.
I think people are all Christmassed out far too early, most of the decorations round here have been taken down, probably because people started putting them up ridiculously early.
We leave ours up till 12th night...it was always a British tradition, something else that's gone by the wayside.
Took mine down today! So early for us, but I just wanted to get straight. Probably won't be this early again, we always do it after New Years Eve!
We have always put ours up on the 15th Dec, which is our sons birthday, and taken them down on 5th January.
This year especially, it seemed as if we were weeks behind most other people....but it was them that were early.
I prefer to stick to tradition.