It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas Off Topic Chat

CheerLouth

Ah @Loughc, I'm so sorry to read about your Mammy. May she Rest in Peace.

Take care of yourselves; we're all here if and when you need it.

antimatterx

So sorry to hear @Loughc . Look after yourself

A cup of te

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your mam, @Loughc

Msy she rest in peace. You mind yourself and take each day as it comes. Sending hugs your way. Take care.

Posy

Just in case anybody here is interested. Please invite me to the housewarming if anyone on the forum decides to buy.

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/home-alone-house-up-for-sale-again

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122183448#Comment_122183448

To be fair not a bad price for what it is

antimatterx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122183448#Comment_122183448

Will we do a go fund me? Christmas party in Illinois

Smell the glove

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122173986#Comment_122173986

Sorry for your loss Loughc.

A cup of te

I'm not mad on the way they did the Home Alone house up. I wish they'd kept the decor as it was but then I'm very nostalgic. I'd love that or to stay in that posh hotel in NY and order loads of ice cream and then a limo with a pizza! ;-)

leahyl

Very sorry to hear about your mum, Loughc. I wish you the best and hope that remembering all the great times and memories you have of your mum will help with the grieving process.

DvB

So, into June on Saturday (& we're heading away on our summer hols too😁) so into the middle 2 months of the year already.

We get day 199 on the countdown on Sunday 9th too… so we'll be into the 100's and about to crest that hill again.

freshpopcorn

Very sorry to hear about your mam @Loughc.

Jude13

So sorry to hear about your mum @Loughc

BK5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122192200#Comment_122192200

I know, it's crackers (get it 😄). In less than a month we will be past the halfway mark and it's the quick half!

Cork Lass

The year is definitely flying, I was in BT with my daughter on Saturday and I said to her that it will only be about 10 or 11 weeks until the Christmas shop opens. I was delighted to see that she was excited about it 🎄😀.

BK5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122194865#Comment_122194865

That's class, love your daughters reaction. I think I'm starting to get the tingle myself with June only being a few days away.

Smell the glove

I know we always say it but it's scary how fast this year is going.

Jude13

They are advertising half way to Christmas brunches here, its mad how quickly time flies.

We were looking into going to Santa's village in Lapland this year however all but the most expensive rooms/chalets are booked out so it looks like a no go.

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122196284#Comment_122196284

We looked at something similar there a few weeks ago & the cost was way out of our budget, will be looking at hopefully heading to a Christmas market in Germany or Austria or suchlike instead. They look far more reasonable. Will have another look when we get back from our summer holidays in a couple of weeks. Be great to have something like that to look forward to in the build up.

miamee

Guys there is a Lapland on a Budget facebook page that is for people looking to go but not pay the astronomical travel agent prices. I'm not affiliated with them, I just know the girl who started it initially. She booked a really cheap trip for her family one year and everyone was asking her for details. She's been multiple times with her family now at this stage. Might be a little late for this Christmas but lots of people go in Jan, Feb, March as well for the snow activities. I don't even have kids but have read the group a bit cos I'd love to go to Lapland 🤣

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2462570880665290/

CheerLouth

I'm in that FB group & I think I'm converted to the idea of going in January or February now. We were hoping to go this year/early 2025, but it will most likely be 2026 now as we've a lot on this year!

Jude13

@DvB that might be a good shout, with the flights from here to Lapland it was mental. Mainland Europe might be a goer, my BIL live in Brussels so he could get the train over to see our kids.

@miamee cheers for the link I've clicked but get a blank page, I don't have a facebook account. I contacted the hotels directly, no travel agents. I will have to save the pennies for next year. I didn't do it with our eldest as there was no way I could afford that in my 20's but want to do it for the little one. I swear its for her not me! In saying that a pal of mine brought his family which has one kid who's 14 so knows the score, and she loved it.

@CheerLouth Jan/Feb is a no go for us sue to school being back early Jan.

Posy

A girl I work with spent a small fortune on a trip to Lapland in December just gone and said it wasn't worth the money at all. She was left very disappointed with the whole experience, and the Santa there was really below par- terrible fake beard and cheap suit. The thing that impressed her children most of all was the snow, so in her opinion a trip to a market in mainland Europe when it's snowy would have been as good. Just one person's experience, of course, but thought I'd share it!

tscul32

Haven't been on in a while. @Loughc so sorry to hear about your mam, hope you're doing OK.

Last day of school today and then summer hols 😁

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122204875#Comment_122204875

Same here. Kids finish their first year in secondary today (where did that year go!!?) & we're off to the canaries tomorrow for our summer holidays…. 10 days of sun, sand & obesity most likely!

Its bizarre how quickly that extra month of summer holidays with the schools shortens the first part of the year.

Cork Lass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122205017#Comment_122205017

Enjoy the holiday and the sunshine ☀️.

freshpopcorn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122205017#Comment_122205017

I was thinking lately about those long Summer holidays holidays hanging out with friends on what felt like endless Summer days.

DvB

When you're 13, 3 months feels like an eternity to be fair!

BK5

Hope you and your family have a great time @DvB , safe travels.

Posy

Have a great holiday, DvB! 🙂☀️

Loughc

have a great holiday DVB, well deserved break!

Loughc

Thanks everyone for your kind words.

Been a whirlwind time, came back to Dublin last week and immediately started feeling unwell, cut to Monday and myself and my OH both test positive for covid. Awful dose this time compared to last time getting it.

The baby was sick too but the toddler still full of beans.

Got a flat tyre this week as well so not been the best week. Today is the first day I feel someone ok but still have a banging sore throat.

tscul32

My eldest is doing his leaving cert next week. That makes me feel old. The school hols are mine too though, my first year teaching and we finished today😁 My older two are 4th and 6th year and both finished last week. Littlest elf is in his final weeks of primary too and I honestly don't know where the time has gone.

Cork Lass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122208551#Comment_122208551

You’re only a youngster - my youngest is 24 and due to finish uni in July after 6 years , 4 years of an undergrad and a two year masters degree. Now, I am definitely old 😂😂 and feeling every day of it.

freshpopcorn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122207244#Comment_122207244

I used always like the Summer Holidays. I don't think I was one of those who got bored.

I think when I didn't want to go back to school in September my mother used be like it means Christmas is coming.

Enjoy the holiday.

BK5

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122208443#Comment_122208443

Ah no Loughc, hope you're all feeling better soon. The universe is throwing a lot of crap your way recently but keep the chin up. I know you will come through everything and they're will be better days ahead.

It's a new month and a long weekend so try to enjoy it and do something for yourself. All the best.

DvB

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122208443#Comment_122208443

Rough times, I've had similar with covid, caught it 3 times now, first I was asymptomatic and only tested because the rest of the house tested positive, 2nd time was like a headcold, third time hit me far harder, the cough alone had my head feeling like it was going to explode, worst I've felt in years. Dread to think what a 4th dose will do.

Glad to hear you're coming out the other side though.

BK5

Unfortunately I have to go to a funeral tomorrow, one of my best friend's Dad died a few days ago and is being cremated.

Life goes on as we all know, but I think we need some good news stories on here.

p.s I hope everyone is having a great long weekend.

A cup of te

@Loughc The world's not being fair to you right now. Wishing you strength and support. you'd wonder what this whole thing is about sometimes and then you just have to conclude that we can only do so much and try our best to be nice and kind to each other and that's it. Hoping you have some plain sailing soon.

Good news? Well, I'm hoping to be in my own house this Christmas. I've said that here for a few years in a row :-P I'm not sure I'll be able to afford all the outdoor Christmas decorations I want. I want a big blow up snowman and santa and loads of lights. I like the candy canes that light up. They had those cheap in Dealz last year so i think I'll be able to get some budget stuff for outdoors this year. I want to visit that M50 Christmas shop too. I find myself looking at all these lights and decorations and then people remind me that money could go towards a washing machine ;-) I'm gonna search for as much battery powered stuff for outside as I can. What I do have though is lots of cheap stuff for inside and I just love retro Christmas stuff. So my plan is to put up those chains that you used to see going across the ceiling in the 80s and 90s. Got some in Dealz last year! Have a big foil bell too. I am determined to make it the type of house people love to visit at Christmas and all year round! I just can't wait to have my own place to do Christmas the way I've always wanted to!!!

freshpopcorn

The 7th of January was 149 days ago when the decorations came down for us.

We'll be back in season in the same length.

antimatterx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122220226#Comment_122220226

Yeah I can believe it's June 4th. Wtf.

Posy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122220226#Comment_122220226

The 7th of January feels like years ago, but I'm simultaneously also in shock that we're already nearly a week into June. 😵

freshpopcorn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122221153#Comment_122221153

I find the year is going slow and fast.

It's still hard to believe we're into June tough.

In May the Eurovision and Britain's Got Talent was on and now all the talk will be about Love Island(I could never get into it).

After a few weeks the talk ill be about who's doing Strictly and the August Bank Holiday.

DvB

Into the 20s on.the weekly countdown today too!

Loughc

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122221680#Comment_122221680

now that is good news!

tscul32

Leaving cert started today. Can't believe my elf is all grown up...

Cork Lass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122223477#Comment_122223477

Hope all goes well, it can be a very stressful time.

Smell the glove

Today we got the keys to our home. After years of renting we finally have our own place. Won't be fully moved in for about two weeks but the feeling of walking around the empty house and thinking what it will be like in 6 months time was a bit overwhelming.

There's hope out there for anyone. Good things can happen.

A cup of te

@Smell the glove ah, wow, congrats :) that has to be exciting and a great sense of security! Are you visualising where all the decorations are going to go? Best wishes with the move!

Cork Lass

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122224400#Comment_122224400

Congratulations @Smell the glove , that’s really great news. Wishing you many decades of happiness there 🥳🥂.

antimatterx

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122223477#Comment_122223477

10 years since me and I still look back in horror. What a horrible exam.