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

DvB

Couple of houses still lit up this morning on our road. Will be out for a walk later so will obviously be keeping an eye out for more. I'm hoping there's still a few.

kitten_k

My housemate normally works part-time, had days each day. But due to COVID she now now just does full days on Mondays and Tuesdays. So with current lockdown she is quite bored so she took down all the decorations yesterday while I was working.

Down side is that I no longer have them up, plus side is I didn’t have to take them down

Loughc

kitten_k wrote: »

My housemate normally works part-time, had days each day. But due to COVID she now now just does full days on Mondays and Tuesdays. So with current lockdown she is quite bored so she took down all the decorations yesterday while I was working.

Down side is that I no longer have them up, plus side is I didn’t have to take them down

I HATE taking the decorations down, I love putting them up but HATE taking them down, that's no craic, you dodged a bullet there.

Loughc

Thanks to DVB's countdown post, I've now realised that next Friday we're into the 40's for the weekly countdown. I love the weekly number's easier to swallow.

TRS30

Loughc wrote: »

Thanks to DVB's countdown post, I've now realised that next Friday we're into the 40's for the weekly countdown. I love the weekly number's easier to swallow.

Only hit me when I saw his post that is two weeks since Christmas Day :eek:

Looks like 2021 mightn't be much slower then 2020!

Littlehorny

Plenty of houses lit up last night when I drove around and later while out with the dog noticed plenty of trees still up too.
Only thing left to take down at home is the outside lights and the tree. Outside lights down tomorrow but even though I don't want to, I think the tree will have to come down too.
Hate being an adult sometimes

DvB

Loughc wrote: »

Thanks to DVB's countdown post, I've now realised that next Friday we're into the 40's for the weekly countdown. I love the weekly number's easier to swallow.

TRS30 wrote: »

Only hit me when I saw his post that is two weeks since Christmas Day :eek:

Looks like 2021 mightn't be much slower then 2020!

& there was me asking myself is the weekly one a bit much on top of the daily one... the above answers that, so I'll keep going! Though will leave the christmas eve ones until much closer to the time (think i started 10 weeks out last year)

Loughc

DvB wrote: »

so I'll keep going! Though will leave the christmas eve ones until much closer to the time (think i started 10 weeks out last year)

Good call

DenMan

The trees are coming down today sadly. We've started with the living room and we'll see where we go from there. Only the plus side I don't want to alarm everybody but in only 11 months time we'll be into the start of the second week of December.

DvB

DenMan wrote: »

The trees are coming down today sadly. We've started with the living room and we'll see where we go from there. Only the plus side I don't want to alarm everybody but in only 11 months time we'll be into the start of the second week of December.

For me peak build up is around the last week in November, All the main brand TV adverts are on, Christmas FM launches, the late late toy show is on, decorations are going up etc. That's usually about 4 weeks before christmas, so with 2 weeks down already its a mere 46 weeks away

Loughc

DvB wrote: »

For me peak build up is around the last week in November, All the main brand TV adverts are on, Christmas FM launches, the late late toy show is on, decorations are going up etc. That's usually about 4 weeks before christmas, so with 2 weeks down already its a mere 46 weeks away

This is the positivity I need in my life!

antimatterx

Ours came down over the weekend, but they have been up since the 2nd week of November. As sad as it was, the house was becoming tight to navigate.

We left some of our outdoor lights on, and probably will until the evenings become brighter.

Posy

My main tree is unlit and waiting to be bagged up and attic bound tomorrow.

Everything else is boxed up in the attic, and the little hall tree is sticking around a bit longer.

Loughc

The wife used her last day of holidays and boxed everything up for me, the only thing I've left to do tonight is dismantle the tree and bring everything up to the Attic.

DvB

Loughc wrote: »

the only thing I've left to do tonight is dismantle the tree and bring everything up to the Attic.

When I read this all I can think of is...

Loughc

Herself did say, aww we didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to the tree this year. We normally make a bigger deal about it and turning it off for the final time, I guess this year we weren't sure what day we were going to take it down that we didn't.

Once you start dismantling Christmas it's actually easier to go full hog and take it all down, like ripping off a plaster I guess it hurts less.

Even though I don't post much, more of a lurker, I just want to say thanks to everyone, you're helping my January blues so, so much right now

Cork Lass

Loughc wrote: »

Herself did say, aww we didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to the tree this year. We normally make a bigger deal about it and turning it off for the final time, I guess this year we weren't sure what day we were going to take it down that we didn't.

Once you start dismantling Christmas it's actually easier to go full hog and take it all down, like ripping off a plaster I guess it hurts less.

We took down decorations yesterday but the tree and outside lights are staying until late January - we need the cheer I took the decorations off the tree so it’s just the lights on it. I’ll be decorating it with 21st birthday bits for my daughters birthday in a couple of weeks. We are living in mad times so who cares :P

Heroditas

Went for a walk a short while ago and only a handful of houses have any sort of decorations up.
We have our tree lights on but the house is a bit barer today. We'll take some more stuff down tomorrow and then finish it all off on Sunday. Only reason it's all still up is because I'm on a course today and tomorrow.

Last thing to do will be to take out the mini trees we got in Aldi and plant them in bigger flower pots and let them grow at a limited rate during the year.
Hey presto, slightly bigger mini trees next year

Loughc

My estate is so dark now. Outdoor lights should be mandatory for all of winter.

Mutleyboo

I still have everything up! Going to tackle it one day.... I'm the only house left on the road however I did spot quite a few when I was out earlier.

milli milli

Went for a walk tonight and there were a fair few houses with twinkly lights and/or lit Christmas trees. In a 45 minute walk I’d estimate about 15 or so houses!
My mum took her decorations down today but (with my influence!) said she’d leave a small tree in one window and Christmas lights in another - because the country needs it to be honest.
She also asked me to put more lights in another window!
In my own house I usually leave up my stuff for another week or so but this year I didn’t put up an awful lot of Christmas stuff. I always have twinkly lights in the living & bedroom so my house looks Christmassy all year round anyway!

tickingclock

Freshpopcorn thanks for the countdown. I love the images

Sheep Shagger

Lights switched on for the last time tonight, will take most of it down tomorrow. Probably leave the lights in the front window

Loughc

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

Lights switched on for the last time tonight, will take most of it down tomorrow. Probably leave the lights in the front window

Oh your lights are fab! Lovely display.

Beechwoodspark

Christmas tree and lights still up and proudly on!!

Does anyone think the cold/freezing weather makes it still feel that Christmassy feeling?

Sheep Shagger

Loughc wrote: »

Oh your lights are fab! Lovely display.

Thanks, the two reindeer heads were only added a week before Christmas thanks to Dunnes reducing them to €9 each, they'll get a full outing next year.

Loughc

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Christmas tree and lights still up and proudly on!!

Does anyone think the cold/freezing weather makes it still feel that Christmassy feeling?

The morning we had snow I still have Christmas songs blaring!! Snow will always remind me of Christmas even if it’s in March.

Loughc

Currently sitting here in a empty sitting room now that the tree is gone. And this song is stuck in my head. On a loop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmGSHZYZ74c

RentDayBlues

All decorations down, my attic is full to bursting, didn’t realise how much extra I bought this year! The external lights are still up, can’t decide if I’m going to leave them up or not.

screamer

All my lights still on, we’ve still got snow lying and the lights are glistening off the icy snow. My village is dark but my house is like a beacon in the middle of it, and I couldn’t care less. I love the light the Christmas lights bring to the darkness and let’s face it these are dark days in so many ways. I’ll leave them up a while longer

tscul32

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

Thanks, the two reindeer heads were only added a week before Christmas thanks to Dunnes reducing them to €9 each, they'll get a full outing next year.

A house in our estate had one of those reindeer lights. From a distance it looked like a love heart. We'd passed it a load of times before one day out of the blue the OH said "oh, it's a reindeer!".

DvB

Chilly one out there this morning, if you're going out wrap up!

mirrorwall14

Big asthma flare this week and back on steroids so the tree is still up (too much dust to take it down myself). No light on though since the sixth, couldn’t quite do that. I’ve been gradually removing decorations and bringing them to the top floor as I’m working at a desk up there. Leaving them sorted by room all over the floor for now and once everything has arrived up I’ll see about packing them up next week. However my ‘office’ desk is still decorated and my mini tree is still there.

I’m still using Christmas fm online to avoid the radio this week as it’s been so stressful. It’s really hard to concentrate on teaching and prepping for online when your minister and boss seems to actively hate her staff.... But sure look it’s getting done.

On a positive note it looks like this time we will likely have childcare with our childminder so its going to be far easier than last lockdown.

Well sick of cocooning right now. Can’t even go for a walk with the cold because it makes my chest raw.

I’m still reading in here though I’ve less time to post this week, it’s amazing how much chat is still going on and I love it! Keep it up everyone and have a fab weekend

appledrop

Well this morning brings me right back to Christmas 2010!

-8 out there at 8am.

Brrrrrrrr keep safe everyone!

Loughc

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

I’m still using Christmas fm online to avoid the radio this week as it’s been so stressful. It’s really hard to concentrate on teaching and prepping for online when your minister and boss seems to actively hate her staff.... But sure look it’s getting done.

I’m still reading in here though I’ve less time to post this week, it’s amazing how much chat is still going on and I love it! Keep it up everyone and have a fab weekend

I honestly cant believe Norma Foley was a teacher herself, she really seems to have serious contempt for the profession.

On a cheerier note, I normally do mention this each January for all newcomers and lurkers alike the Christmas Forum is not just for Christmas we are here 24/7, 365 days a year for chats, laughs and more. Good knows we need a distraction from life sometimes and it looks like we'll be needing more distractions for 2021.

And if anyone if needs a proper chat fire me a PM, I'm always online pretty much and happy to help

appledrop wrote: »

Well this morning brings me right back to Christmas 2010!

-8 out there at 8am.

Brrrrrrrr keep safe everyone!

Funny you mention that cause last night/this morning was the coldest it's been since Dec 2010.

jellybear

Having a nice, chilled out morning here

Little man stirring since 6 but didn't wake up till 8 so that was nice
Finished breakfast now and watching The Snail and the Whale

Did a little online shopping yesterday and treated myself to a few nice bits!

Looking forward to a chilled out weekend, although we still have to put the decorations away. They've been sitting in my husband's office most of the week!

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend. Stay safe and please don't slip on the ice!! Fun fact- it was 10 years ago yesterday since that poor fella slipped on the ice on RTE News!

Loughc

jellybear wrote: »

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend. Stay safe and please don't slip on the ice!! Fun fact- it was 10 years ago yesterday since that poor fella slipped on the ice on RTE News!

It was actually 11 years ago!! :eek::eek: It happened in 2010.

jellybear

Loughc wrote: »

It was actually 11 years ago!! :eek::eek: It happened in 2010.

I blame hubby, he said 10!:D

It's one of those videos we'll see in 20 years time and still have the same reaction!

I actually keep thinking of a reeling in the years for 2020....how grim will that be to watch! Hopefully we'll all be in a much happier place by then!!:)

RentDayBlues

Woken by Argos at 7:30 collecting a returned item so we’ve watched hotel for dogs and now we’re into Christmas made to order :0)

Stretching Christmas as much as possible.

Am thinking outdoor lights might stay up for a while longer, surely now they’re not Christmas but just a light in the dark

DvB

Back from the weekly grocery shop. Dunnes in blanch was empty, nothing like the days of queueing we had back in.March/April... thankfully might i add.

Lovely clear cold day out there, definitely heading out for a long walk with the family today. Clear away the cobwebs.

Loughc

DvB wrote: »

Back from the weekly grocery shop. Dunnes in blanch was empty, nothing like the days of queueing we had back in.March/April... thankfully might i add.

Lovely clear cold day out there, definitely heading out for a long walk with the family today. Clear away the cobwebs.

When I did the weekly shop it last Thursday it was dead as well, I suspect people bought enough over the Christmas to keep themselves going. I imagine this week coming will be back to normal.

DvB

Loughc wrote: »

When I did the weekly shop it last Thursday it was dead as well, I suspect people bought enough over the Christmas to keep themselves going. I imagine this week coming will be back to normal.

You could be spot on with that. Even our shop is considerably smaller than normal, mostly just picking up fresh meat and veg etc.

Loughc

DvB wrote: »

You could be spot on with that. Even our shop is considerably smaller than normal, mostly just picking up fresh meat and veg etc.

Same mine was a small shop cost half as much as it normally would, we're making good use of all the produce left over from Christmas.

DvB

Loughc wrote: »

Same mine was a small shop cost half as much as it normally would, we're making good use of all the produce left over from Christmas.

Shows how much we overbought!!

Loughc

DvB wrote: »

Shows how much we overbought!!

Ah I don't mind overbuying on the things we can make meals out of, it's the chocolate and crisps that's the problem haha

Graces7

It has for me been the most truly peaceful of Christmasses.

The unexpected hamper eased my usual feelings of isolation, and anchored me in the community here with all my way of life etc; been here headed for five years!

I took the (small) tree down; my kitchen is tiny. But left the Crib and the lights until Candlemas, and they are a bright smile.

Just has been lovely and no regrets that it is over either. Looking forward. In hope.

dubstepper

I'm switching to an artificial tree from next year. Preordered it. Will be delivered in August

sunbeam

I've just discovered that the place I ordered my fibre optic tree with very gently changing non flashing lights from is no longer delivering to Ireland. I now feel slightly less of an eejit for ordering two extra Brexit emergency backup trees last October.

I wish I had ordered more of the slow changing berry lights I got from Amazon last year, as this year all the seller had was a crazy flashing version of the same set.

Sheep Shagger

Everything down except some lights in one window:(

Was in Dunnes earlier and they had boxes of quality street and biscuits for €3 each.....again I have no will power.

Left the creme eyes behind though (for now).