That's it, I've lost the plot!

I've got all the family's advent calendars more or less sorted. Just to fill the pockets in those that aren't pre-filled, but I've got most of everything I need for them!

I ordered a couple of small presents the other day. I’ve been caught out in previous years by thinking it was far too early, only to find that whatever it was, was sold out.

I bought the last presents for our twin granddaughters birthday and bought a few presents for Christmas. I shop early for Christmas because I think the weather might be bad or we might be ill so get them while I can.

I bought some cards in a charity shop the other day. I don't send many, just a few old friends and a couple of neighbours.

This one of the years we don't "do" Christmas (once every two or three years is plenty imo) so very little other preparations to do, except packing for a week at the coast where we will walk for miles.

For those wondering where to put things they have bought in advance, I used to have a large lockable suitcase which lived under the spare room bed. Everyone except me thought it held spare blankets, nobody ever looked.

Thank you so much Callistemon. It’s very difficult isn’t it, when the family is split and so you can’t all get together, there’s always someone missing.

I’m not sure what we’ll do re Christmas decorations this year. Last year we didn’t put any up as we went to NZ at the end of November and stayed till the beginning of February. This year we are celebrating Christmas with our two sons and their families but leaving for NZ at the end of December. There won’t be much time to take down all the decorations we used to have up, and so I think it will be a scaled back version.

It’s also hard to think about Christmas whilst the weather is so warm and beautiful.

I've also booked my M&S and Sainsbury's slots.

I have already booked my Ocado and M&S slot and today went to a food fair and bought a Christmas owl and chocolate for the GC.

It's easy to buy for her, but when it comes to teenage DGSs, it gets more difficult.

I tend to ask, order what they want and just buy a small present to open on the day.

Usually I leave Christmas preparation to the last minute, but when I've seen suitable gifts in on-line sales, I have snapped them up, particularly for my DGGD who will be 18 months just before Christmas. It's easy to buy for her, but when it comes to teenage DGSs, it gets more difficult.

Actually, strictly speaking, no, it isn’t. We spotted a couple of really sweet tree decorations in our local garden centre the other week. They were literally saying “buy me”, so we did. (They weren’t expensive). 😂. They had a couple left when we bought ours, but they’ve gone now, so I suppose that was good forward planning, too 😂

Ha 😂, we were in the butchers earlier this week and saw that they had some turkey crowns very reasonably priced. So, after a brief discussion, decided to buy one and put it in the freezer. We usually don’t have turkey as there’s just the two of us and, to be honest, I think it can be rather over rated, but these looked nice, and for us, will actually make a change as we normally avoid turkey for Christmas lunch. So, that’s our Christmas forward planning so far 😂.

Oh dear!

Well at least I bought the sweets for Hallowe'en!

Other than our grandson all gifts are bought kitty. Best go hide behind the sofa .

maddyone I'm so pleased that you are having a lovely time with your family 🙂
We haven't all been together for 13 Christmases now.

I’ll make my Christmas cake when my daughter and three children have gone back to New Zealand in about ten days time. I’m sending their cards and one gift each back with them but my daughter will have money deposited in her bank to buy other gifts. Then I’ll sort out gifts for the family here.
It’s difficult to think of Christmas yet. We’ve just had a family barbecue today (beautiful sunny weather) with everyone together ❤️ and now various children have disappeared for sleepovers with various family members. DH is watching the rugby, daughter is doing Lego with littlest grandson who had his sleepover last night and is celebrating his sixth birthday this weekend. I’m relaxing and looking at Gransnet for only the second time since they arrived.
Christmas seems a long way away.

Yes indeed (though I’ve just had to nip upstairs to check that they are where I thought they were).

Phew.

Well done for remembering you bought them before 1st January 2024, Maggiemaybe!
And where you put them 😁

I didn’t even save any money. I bought them from Shelter online and added a donation because I felt guilty about getting them cheap. I don’t think I’ve quite got the hang of bargain hunting….

I had to stop myself buying Christmas cards the other day, as I remembered just in time that I bought them in the sales in January. I wish I hadn’t - the new ones I’ve seen are so much nicer.

I might have reserved a Christmas delivery slot a couple of weeks ago, having been caught out in other years.

Must check, I think it could be a day I'm going out for a Christmas lunch.

Hithere

Why do you think you lost the plot?
Xmas is only 2 months away!

😲

Oh heck!

I still have a packet of napkins left from last year 🙂

I wish i could say i was forward planning - they just appealed.

I've just bought my first 2 Christmas presents and feel pretty good about it. Just hope I remember where I put them when the time comes...

No you have not lost the plot. I saw something online which I saved, when I went back it was no longer available. So the moral of the story is to buy something when you see it and not be disappointed. Well done for forward planning.

Why do you think you lost the plot?
Xmas is only 2 months away!