Roll on this time next week.

Well, Tiddler went back to pre-school today.....in time for their Christmas party, and a visit from Santa.
Daughter and I took ourselves of to Manchester again this morning....having vowed that we would be more focussed on what we should be doing instead of what we would like to do....sit in Starbucks with a large Vanilla latte and a piece of cake......watching the world go by.
It doesn't get the Christmas presents bought does it?
On Friday Manchester didn't seem so busy........today the place was BUMPING.

I went into TK Maxx first and bought boring smellies for the chaps who have created gift problems for me.....and if they don't like what they have got then they can re-cycle them as gifts to someone else.
The queues in there had to be seen to be believed, and there was only one girl on the till......she was frustrated by her lack of change......and the lack of staff to help her quell the rumblings of dissent in the queue-ers.....but that was good news for me as i had worked out the cost of my purchase and told her that I had the correct change......so I got sorted pronto. I also managed to help her out with twenty pounds worth of change.
The problem was, the stuff I had bought was both bulky and heavy.
Then we went into BHS and had a look at their offerings......daughter bought a couple of small things for the tinlids....and then we made the mistake of going for an early lunch in the coffee shop at BHS.......Not recommended......the coffee was very bitter and the sandwich was adequate but overpriced......we would have gone to the pub we went to last Friday, but I didn't feel like the hike with my heavy bags.
I was supposed to get some cards for the family, but the card shops were heaving. I have bought some cards for family members but like the battery charger, they are lost somewhere in the house....they will turn up in January no doubt.
I was not fighting my way through those crowds....so we didn't get cards.

I went in M&S and took full advantage of their 3 for 2 offer.......bought 9 bottles of assorted Eau de Toilette for £30......and £25 of that was a gift voucher....so in reality I got the perfumes for a fiver.......these will be stashed in my treasure drawer to give as gifts during the year......though a couple have been ear-marked for Christmas gifts......to give with either wine or chocolates.
I have also been putting Ma a Christmas treasure box together. I never know what to buy her so I have bought her a selection of things......some Parsnip Crisps (which she loves)......some soft and comfortable socks, some Rescue Remedy, postcards and a book of stamps......some scented soaps, a small bottle of cologne, some Edinburgh shortbread, a Christmas cake bar, some French Raspberry Jam, some Olde English Marmalade, a box of fancy notelets......the box isn't full yet, so I will have a look and see if I can see anything else I think she will fancy. She enjoys getting a box like this because she says it is full of little surprises.

I have even managed to wrap some more pressies tonight, but the mood has gone off me now.....so I will leave the rest until tomorrow.
Roll on this time next week, when it will all be over for another year.

Oh, I forgot to say that we went into the viennese patisserie for afternoon tea....this was to make up for the very disappointing lunch......I had a very large slice of lemon cheesecake, which I feel I earned, deserved, and was going to have anyway. It was delicious!!!!!!!!!