18 days to go

n · 18 days to go

As the Sergeant on Hill Street Blues might have said...

Let's get SERIOUS folks.

18 days including today, but not including Christmas Eve.

Today is Make A List Day.

If it's not on the list it won't get done, so get a BIG piece of paper.
Now get another 18 pieces and staple or pin them together.

Cards - Be realistic. If you haven't made them yet, and you plan to, have you got what you need to do it. Write down (separately). Make. Buy. Address (it takes hours). Buy stamps. Post.
Don't just put Do Cards!

Gift wrapping - If you belong to the Giftwrap contingent- buy giftwrap. Buy plain silver/gold/red which can be used for birthdays in the next year without you feeling like scrooge.
If you are adopting Glynis' suggestion of matching the newspaper giftwrap to the recipient, start looking for newspaper recipes, cartoons etc. Buy a copy of Beano to dissect for kid-giftwrap (big kids and small ones!).
Have you got sellotape? Remember that REAL sellotape is made from cellulose not plastic so it will biodegrade when you recycle later.

Food.
What are you eating? Make a proper list. If you need cornflour to thicken the gravy, make sure you add it to the list. If there are vegetarians coming to dinner, what will you make for them...
Remember you can freeze just about everything apart from bananas and brie, so clear out the freezer (should be cleared out anyway from all that store cupboarding) and add a loaf of bread and a couple of litres of milk this week, just in case.
There is no shame in a shop bought mince pie. I am the only person in my house who likes them so I'm buying a six pack and freezing it. I can have one a day in the run up to Christmas and it will make me feel festive, and stop me eating six in two days.
If you are partial to a glass of something regarded as seasonal (in my case, Crabbies Green Ginger Wine... ) buy it SOON. If you wait until the Big Shop, there will be none left. Buy two bottles!

Presents.
Knitted ones. Estimate how many hours of knitting are left. How fast can you REALLY knit a sock. Santa can do many things but his elves are fully occupied and they aren't going to come and do nocturnal knitting for you.
If you aren't going to be able to knit it in time, stop right now and start looking for something else to give instead.
Not knitted ones. If it's not bought online by this weekend, you might not get it in time. First Class parcels have been taking up to two weeks, trust me on this one.

Tree. If it's real, draw up a Watering the Tree rota and make it someone else's job. You have enough to do. A five year old can water a Christmas tree. Remember to switch the tree lights off EVERY SINGLE TIME you leave the house.

Check your smoke alarms.

Now when the mega list is done, start allocating it to each day. When are you buying the sellotape? How many minutes of knitting can you do on Tuesday? When is the Nativity Play? Have you stuck the tree watering rota on the fridge at five year old height? Don't stop until it's all allocated.

My list for today says..

Make Big List.

and

1. Set up secret Paypal account so I don't need to use the business one.

2. Order present for ES from Canada. Small Paypal-able postable gift, under ten dollars which I have been meaning to buy for about two months (see I do it too).

3. Send email regarding other small gift for DH (local).

4. Ask my mum to order DH's birks for me and write her a cheque for it because I don't want him to see an obvious payment coming off the joint account.

So what are you going to do today... tell us, and then do it, and then come back and tell us it's done!

n

Aknita

Good grief woman! I'm in shock!

Yesterday I decided realistically I was not going to be making cards because my wrist isn't up to cross stitching so I bought them.

In the same vein I accepted my FCS won't be ready for it's recipient this year, but hey, it will be next year's first Christmas gift ready Very Happy

Actually everything that needs to be in the freezer is in the freezer - good old Marks and Spencer is what I say, it has supplemented my baking spree perfectly.

I ordered the turkey yesterday. And I made my pigs in blankets and froze them a couple of weeks ago. So that's done!

This morning I have wrapped presents and written cards for mum, my brother and SIL, SIL, BIL and nephews, MIL and FIL, the chiropractic, nail technician, hairdresser and friend's daughter.

Family pressies to do now - bu I have a whole week's annual leave the week after next, so time for them then.

I plan to have all other cards done by Monday morning.

And I feel considerably more organised than I did. I just need to do a big Sainsbury' home delivery shop. And a list for 23rd December shopping.

loobyj

Fabbo post - you are clearly a woman after my own heart n Very Happy

Today - or rather tonight - I shall be mostly packing for my Christmas market trip. Other than that I shall finish putting up the decorations.

I'm mostly under control, other than foolishly agreeing to cook lunch for 20 people a week on Sunday.

And out of the 12 working days there are left to go, I'm only working for five of them.

Joy - you must be the queen of calm with so much done already Very Happy

lj

malteser

My list for today is:

Make 6 Christmas cards for immediate family- Done

Pin dd on which friends she is buying presents for, and what she wants to buy. I refuse to end up in Tesco's the evening before the end of term again.

Knit socks

Write food list before Sunday. We've ordered the turkey and sausages from local farm.

FatCat

I'm lucky in that I go somewhere else for Christmas so I don't need to do the food shopping or planning, my sisters and my mum do all of that - I just turn up with various cheques and cash Very Happy

Ah yes, Christmas cards. Just checked the last posting dates - 17th for second class, 20th for first (to the UK and Channel Islands). So I've got 10 days before that becomes very urgent Very Happy

Knitting's almost done - just a scarf to finish. But I did cheat and lop a few things off the list when I realised I simply wouldn't have time!

Ooh, isn't it exciting? Just think, this time in three week's it'll be all over.

Nevisknitter

Well I have done all my knitting for gifts but am now making a nativity.
Food is all bought and in the freezer, now hoping that DH might volunteer to cook it.
Going to sit down and write all the cards this week end to get posted, will hand deliver local ones next week (if the rain stops ever)
Going shopping to Inverness on Saturday so will get wrapping paper etc then, going to write a shopping list tonight so I dont forget anything

probablyjane

Good lord - I feel quite faint just reading that. Our family Christmas is much more laid back as we don't go too over the top on food and shopping. My sis and I have been squirrelling away little surprises for everyone all year and start getting excited about soon seeing people's faces when they open them.

I try to be relaxed about the knitting. Last year I had no time to make the purple hoodie my sister wanted so I boxed up the yarn, pattern, needles, swift and ball winder and gave them to her with an IOU for my time. She got to wind her own hanks which she had been desperate to do - even waiting till the kids were in bed so they didn't take over! It was great to have the time to knit it for her during the holiday and even try it on her from time to time - all was done by the first week of the new year and she is probably wearing it as we speak. This year she wants mitts so I may have a fighting chance of finishing them but I'm not getting hot and bothered about it. I will just wrap up whatever I have managed by Christmas Eve, needles and all.

I'm half way through the present shopping - lots of fun bits and pieces for everyone - there seem to be a lot of head torches for some reason.... I may even make a list!

I am also planning to teach the kids to knit so there are children sized needles and small projects to get them started.

Will do a Sainsbury's delivery shop tonight so that's all sorted and dash out for fresh stuff the weekend before.

Dad will have set up a 'Wrapping station' in the spare room so that will be in hand.

I'm starting to look forward to it all!

J

Cathie

I wish I was super organised. I have a lot of stuff to do still and I think I will be making a list of what needs doing. For today I think my jobs will have to be

1 - order sister and DH's pressie off amason
2 - Find BIL pressie, he wants mario cart for the super nintendo (any ideas!!!!?)
3 - Finish my final order so I can get started on my stuff.
4 - Find the magasine with DH's jumper pattern in

Then for tomorrow, I will have to get sorted on the christmas cards and get them ready for posting, the shop is dead so there is no reason why I can't get anything done.

Then after tomorrow who knows, but I think I will also do what N has suggested an start knocking projects on the head if I don't think I will get them done in time.

Cathie

Jobo

I've got nearly all my Christmas knitting done - just on the last pair of socks for my DH. I will have knitted 5 pairs for presents so I feel quite pleased about that.

Still to finish - an extremely boring crochet blanket for my sister - the finished result wont be boring I'm sure, but I'm sick of doing it Confused

As for food - I have got to think of something vegetarian to cook on the day, as well as turkey and I am beginning to panic about that Shocked

I havent written a card (not even bought them Embarassed

) or even any wrapping paper, and still quite a few gifts to get, as well as stocking fillas for the kids.

I think I better get a wiggle on!!

Mince pies I always make on Christmas eve, with Christmas music playing - that really does get me in the mood Very Happy

Alice

I feel totally panicked just reading this thread...my whole schedule needs to be totally rethought as all of November has been taken up with health stuff and I still feel numb!!

But we're spending Christmas Day and Boxing Day with my daughter in London which will be really nice although originally my two other daughters and son together with partners grandchildren etc were all going there too so that we'd all be together as usual but gradually they have decided to have individual Christmasses which is upsetting me no end because if I'd known they wouldn't go to Kates I would have had Christmas here as normal.

Oh gosh sorry n once I'd started I couldn't stop.

Anyway I'll make my list tonight. Or tomorrow.

murdo

Crikey!! Organised or what N
OK got all Pirate and Sinbad presents over last 3 months...(just have to find them)....
1/order veggie haggis from McSweens for either Xmas or New Years dinner
2/ get puff pastry ,red onions, feta cheese and red wine for Xmas Dinner or New Year
3/get shedlloads of cheese/crackers.
4/ingredients for mulled wine
5/finish dogs knitted present...a coat
6/Buy more Stollen as J has eaten it!!!
7/ don't do cards...order a Goat from Oxfam instead
8/Buy a medium sweet bottle of Sherry....a Christmas treat
9/ Chocolate Oranges....we all get one!
10/buy drawing paper for party games
11/get a haircut so I can see presents and wrap them
12/ buy Christmas pud!!

n

Alice don't feel panicked at all...
The whole point is to take the panic out of it and to recognise that this is as much about stopping feeling bad about what you can't do, not because you are disorganised, just because you CAN"T do everything.

I have knitted one thing. One. I am in awe of all the super-knitters Confused

I am planning to knit one other thing, just one. If I get more done that's fine, but I am only aiming for one, and that's a washcloth!

I have done what I set out to do today.
The Canadians will send the thing I need.
The local man who is making something for DH can do it.... but only because I emailed him today, if I had left it till tomorrow he wouldn't have been able to... aren't I lucky? Very Happy

And I have set up the other paypal and spoken to my mum about the birks.

Tonight I'm doing the master plan....

n

Auntie Noo

I had a master plan - but I lost the bit of paper !!! Luckily I'm going to Mum's for Christmas Day with sis and her family and hopefully grandma, so Mum has all the trauma of food shopping!! So I'll do what I remember and not what I don't - that's my new plan!!!

Aknita

Well I am pleased I read this. There is something very liberating about making decisions, such as the card one yesterday, and I've made more today. Instead of worrying about them I have focussed on other things, and achieved a lot.

Natalie is quite right about there being no shame in shop bought mince pies, and I have decided there will be nothing wrong with bought almond paste and bought icing this year Wink

in fact it's bought. It's ready rolled too Very Happy

and I'm sure no-one will know!

And I feel as though a huge weight has lifted. I have postponed my appraisal till after Christmas. There is no way I was ready for it, and I was rushing to get it done before my matron leaves at the end of December but of course I can get it done with my new matron in the New Year. And all I was doing was worrying and not getting anything done.

eta I have discovered today that the only person expecting me to be superwoman is me Rolling Eyes

Everything will get done - it always does - but what we don't have we will manage without. I shall have everything I want for Christmas - all my family home with me - and I don't need anything else!

n

Anna

I'm frightening myself with how organised I am this year. This pales into insignificance compared with some, but I try not to compare myself with others at this time of year Very Happy

My to do list (from memory) is as follows:

1. Pester my sister in to giving me some ideas for what she wants for Christmas.

2. Buy my sister's Christmas present and birthday present and post them.

3. finish writing my cards.

4. Buy stamps.

5. Post cards.

6. Put the embroidery into the card for Grandad and post it.

7. Make mince pies, butteries, stollen and stuffing.

8. Wrap presents

9. Put tree up as close to Christmas Eve as I can get away with Laughing

I was planning to go into town tomorrow and get my last few bits and pieces, plus a new lipstick using some of my £50-worth of Boots Advantage points Shocked

While I was typing this I rang Lizzie, who promised to ring on Sunday with some ideas for presents, although I told her if she couldn't think of anything I'd send vouchers and she could choose something in her own time. I'm off work on the 17th, 18th and 21st so I'll do my baking and decorating then and when I've bought some uhu glue for card making I can add Grandad's card to the post pile.

It's scary how close Christmas is and how un-Christmassy I feel. Most of my students finish on the 14th, which is only a week away and I've one more day of teaching on the 19th and I have to go into work on the 20th but that won't be a full day (I hope!)

santa

knittingnanny

I don't feel Christmassy at all, although I have bought and wrapped all the presents (except DD's jacket which is OTN)
Family ones will be posted so I don't have to put them in a suitcase!!
Cards have been bought and ready to write - half a list made.
Decorations are up at work, but not at home, as we won't be here.
I haven't bought bits and bobs of food like I normally do in November and December and haven't planned Xmas dinner, it just seems really strange. Even when there are only 2 of us, we have a full 3 course meal, usually we have guests too.

DD is doing her normal shopping an meal planning, I'm buying any extras I fancy (or any she wants but can't afford)

I'll make mince pies and sausage rolls while we're there, as she doesn't like baking, other than that it's just fun, relaxing and knitting!!

I'm going to do a list tomorrow, just to make sure I don't forget anything.

Linda

janice

Let me see I have bought my dads' pressie and knitted a pair of socks to go with my mums', still to buy hers' Confused

Actually I've still to buy everyones Embarassed

but I have bought the cards and the paper Laughing

I've done one cross stitch card and have made a start to another Very Happy

I've also started across stitch picture for my DS1 but the fabric is dark blue 28 count evenweave which makes progress slow cos I can't see the holes Confused

As to food I've decided to get boneless turkey breast, and the usual trimmings but I'll get that next week Very Happy

Maybe when I get my exam out of the way I'll start getting in the Christmas mood Wink