Not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing….

Presents so far all under our bed, I’m keeping note of what’s there. Wrapping wont be done until the tree is up, about the 15th December.

Nadateturbe yes it is expensive to shop in Dublin. There is a model shop hidden away that I loved no shop here matches it.
Going the pub and listening to the music is a lovely way to spend time there. TBH any excuse to go there again will do me especially the run up to Christmas.

Made a start with ideas given by AC for the Grandkids so progress is being made. But I feel like time is counting down really quickly this year - I mean halfway though November already!!
But have always loved Christmas time - so willing to try or forgo suggestions on another thread for food!!

We don't make much of presents - we have such a nice time all being together that there's never really time to unwrap them. I shall probably print out a couple of vouchers on Christmas Eve and maybe order some things from Amazon when I know what the DGC want.

We have at least 2 birthdays before then anyway. One 39th and one 3rd birthday. Not to mention Nikolaus on 6th December and I'm packing up Advent parcels for both families of grandkids and possibly even one for 3rd son who doesn't have a family as yet.

Sounds lovely Redhead56. I've never been close to Christmas. I must go.

Sago, your presents look so nice! I have to admit I don't take such care with wrapping.

I have only just started to make a few purchases. and try to get most of it done early. It does tend to stress me out though. Some people have such a talent for choosing just the right thing; I struggle with it.

I have come to the conclusion that there are those who are good at wrapping presents, inventive with their choice of paper, talented in matching everything and organised in doing it all in plenty of time.

Then there’s me.

Not much to do here - as I don't buy presents or cards these days (except cards for the few remaining very elderly relatives - but I post them the week before Christmas).

I love Christmas but I recycle last year's wrapping paper and make labels from last year' cards, - sp I suppose, as a result, I am inventive with my choice of paper, but it stops there.

We wrap, drop off gifts quite early. No posting cards. We've already hung what seemed to be a million lights in the garden, ordered a tree for Dec 22 delivery, wreaths for November 26 delivery. All done until after December 18.

Your pressies do look nice Sago. I love wrapping presents so I quite miss that.

The only thing we've actually done towards Christmas so far is to check the price of batteries for the lights. We haven't actually bought any yet though. Apart from remote controls they're about the only batteries we ever use.

All those cards!! It’s not a matter of a simple seasonal message it is all the additional catch up messages to people I. Haven’t seen for years. It has become a chore and no longer a pleasure. I am becoming increasingly lazy and disengaged with all the commercial trappings around Christmas. As long as my close family are catered for I don’t really want the rest. Ever since I hit 80 two years ago I have actually learnt to say I can’t do meals for eight or more. My decision was greeted with total understanding and I realised I could actually decide what was a pleasure to do and what was becoming a worry. It was a revelation.

I'm all done now. no cards I must admit don't do them got trimmings out even bought a tree this year as I'm retired now and will be in more and not rushing round working merry Christmas everyone

I've made a start on Christmas shopping, doing all mine online even cards, wrapping paper and gift tags. Just six presents left to get plus DH's. We plan to spend Christmas on our own this year so will need to post presents early. We're only giving gifts to the GC this year, not for our benefit but to try to save our cash-strapped AC spending money on us when quite frankly we have everything we need! I think they feel a bit awkward about it but will see the sense of it eventually.

AAAAAAGGGGHH. ( 'Haven't done a thing)

Only got two gifts left to buy then I’ll wrap. Just using brown paper this year with some home made potato cut designs stamped on, if I can be bothered 😬
I’ve cut down on the cards too.

Sago

I have bought and wrapped all my Christmas presents.
Husband doing cards this week🤞

Me too But I have already written my cards also (but only posted the overseas ones). I think this is a good thing (for me) as I have 11 staying over Christmas so need to be mega organised.

Me too …. Gifts all wrapped, cards all written and stamps on where needed ,…. And boy does it feel good 🤣

My birthday is December 2nd ….no Xmas til after that! Sort of rule I’ve always kept to.

Bought DH's present in August, actually he bought and gave it to me to look after! Cards bought but not written. Need to email DiLs for thoughts on GCs presents. Get more lethargic about Christmas each year.

leeds22 Get more lethargic about Christmas each year.

Glad it’s not just me

I've seen couple of trees up, all fully lit at night! I hope there are no kids in those houses having to wait so long till Christmas Day! For gifts generally, if I see something nice during the year I buy it and especially this year I'll be doing charity shop shopping as much as is possible. I also make gifts... soap, lavender bags. My granddaughter has a Christmas gift list at Amazon and I'm going to try to buy the more eco friendly things!! I dislike the hype around buying things.

Haven't even thought about it.

Haven’t even thought about Xmas yet. You all make me feel very unorganised. Lol

I am currently in Australia and originally planned to stay here until mid January. However, I am hopelessly homesick and cannot bear the thought of not being with my uk family for Christmas, so am coming home next week,!?!! Ere-eek, not long to prepare for a big family Christmas!!!!!