(no subject)

[turps]

Thursday. We went to Metrocenter for the first time in ages. We checked out the shops and the decorations and James had his year made when we went into Hotel Chocolat and they were selling short-dated packets of hot chocolate for 80% off. Let's just say he came out with a few.

Friday. My second youngest niece and youngest nephew both wanted squishmallows for Christmas. I saw Claire's had a Black Friday sale where they were half price and also buy three get three free. So, went there early and came home with a bin bag of the huge squashy things. They are adorable, and very soft so see the appeal. So now those two will have two each, and Bodhi will get the remainder. While at the outlet shopping centre I also got my annual set of Christmas books and James had a go at the quiz and giveaway that was happening in the centre, got his question right and was told he had won something fancy. It was a water bottle.

On the night we went to the meal with Pauline, Chris, my niece and nephew etc. It was nice to get together, the food was decent and the company good even though Chris was itching to get away to watch the England match once it got past 6:30.

Saturday it was another craft fair. It went really well, though was an early start as it was a half an hour drive away and started at 10am and obviously we needed to set up the stall first. But, a load of stuff was sold which was excellent. But man, I was flagging by the time we got home and had packed everything away. Good for nothing but watching Strictly on the couch.

Yesterday was grocery shopping, visiting my MiL and starting to move things in the bedroom. They're coming to take the bed, carpet etc tomorrow and while they said they'd do all the shifting I want to move all my books and stuff out of the wardrobes. I'm about half done and should finish later this afternoon. I'd be up there now but have a few parcels due to be delivered first and the deliverymen are like rockets and would be away before I got down from upstairs. Of course, if the deliveries are via Royal Mail they'll probably arrive in the new year. I swear I'll have a hole in the floor due to the weight of the mail when they finally deliver again.

I've started to look for a new bed and am getting a bit worried about how long it'll take to get here. The shops I talked to said about three weeks for delivery which is getting tight for a pre-Christmas slot. The loss adjuster said the claim has been approved, just the amounts need to be finalised so that should happen tomorrow too.

Nothing fannish has happened lately and I was awake far too early today so need a bucket of coffee. Maybe two buckets to be safe. Hell, make it three.

Comments

[sperrywink]

OMG, I have bought Squashmallows for both the niece and great-niece as well! They are wonderfully squishy, but what a thing to become a worldwide trend!

I still have one left in my "gifts" box that I am almost tempted to keep for myself. aha.

Good luck with the claims and getting new furniture delivered before the holidays.

[turps]

I get why you're tempted to keep one yourself because they're so incredibly tactile and squishy.

But yeah, what a thing to be so popular. When I got mine they were in a see-through sack and the amount of kids pointing them out was ridiculous.

It's typical that the bed situation happened now when Corey is due home for Christmas. I mean, he'd sleep on the couch no problem but I'd still feel bad taking his bed even though he hasn't lived here for years now.

[raynedanser]

My little niece loves the squishmallows! I got her one for her birthday because I thought it was cute and was told she loved them. So go me! I think Lee was also given one by a parts delivery driver that also struggles with mental health and it hangs out in the shop with him. :)

[turps]

We're obviously the best aunties :D

I love that Lee has his own squishmallow. I really do think they're very soothing.

[raynedanser]

He does! It's a bigger blue one. I think it's so cute this delivery driver understands and got it for him. We joke that she has a crush on him, but I think she's just a sweet kid (she's younger than Marvin is) that has a good heart.

[jacieleigh]

Glad to hear your craft fairs continue to be successful, even if they're a bit tiring.

I hope all goes well with your claims and getting a new bed. Even if Corey has to sleep on the couch over the holiday, I don't think he'd mind under the circumstances. *G*

[turps]

We've got one craft fair left but it's a late one, only a few days before Christmas so I'm not sure how successful it will be. But, at least that one is at Re.F.Use so is local, only about a ten-minute drive.

No, I'm sure Corey wouldn't mind sleeping on the couch at all. Though, him being so tall and it being a corner couch isn't the best combination *g*

[misbegotten]

A water bottle is something fancy? Heh.

[turps]

The water bottle cracked me up.

The contest was set up nicely, you had to queue up, answer your question in front of the crowd, spin a wheel with prizes, and no win sections on and see what you'd won or not won. The host had a box full of gift cards for various shops and restaurants and a pile of very smart-looking boxes for the something fancy prize.

When James spun the wheel and it landed on the something fancy we thought he'd be getting something good. Walked away clutching this smart sturdy box, opened it up, and it was a water bottle *g*

[spikedluv]

Yay for good deals on the hot chocolate mix and squishmallows! They are weirdly cute and they have Grogu!!

I'm glad you had a nice time at dinner and that the craft fair went well.

I hope your bed gets there sooner than they're predicting!

[turps]

When I started looking for squishmallows I was amazed at just how many different kinds they had. Grogu was very cute!

I'd love to think the bed was delivered soon. But will settle for pre Christmas right now, even if that's just by days.

[dine]

good job scoring big on chocolate and squishmallows - what a bargain!

I hope your buckets of coffee helped propel you through the day - may the claim be completed soon, so you can get a replacement bed as soon as possible

[turps]

I enjoyed the bargains. While James will probably pick the hot chocolate as his favourite I was glad to get lots of the kids what they wanted at a very good price.

The claim money should be released today. Here's hoping anyway.

[topaz119]

We have so many squishmallows at the house even though the kids are all grown. They are very soothing.

[turps]

The squishmallows are so lovely to hold and touch. I totally get their appeal.

[dreamersdare]

Ack, fingers crossed on the bed front. Is there anywhere guaranteeing pre-Christmas delivery still at this point? I know furniture places (especially sofas) used to do that.

[turps]

When we went to Harveys they said some beds had a pre-Christmas delivery as long as we ordered by midweek. Which I'm assuming means today or tomorrow. The insurance money should be released today so I'm hoping we'll be just in time. I'm also going to check some local independents too with the hope they may have access to stock. So, fingers crossed.

[frausorge]

Yay for a good shopping haul! Though lol at the fancy water bottle. Is it platinum with silver inlay?

Also, congrats to both James and you on all the craft sales. I hope you did get to rest up after that exertion.

And fingers crossed for a new bed to arrive as quickly as possible!

[turps]

The fancy water bottle made me laugh. Sadly no silver inlay, it seems the fancy part was in came in a box. Which admittedly, did look fancy. Just the contents were a bit of a let down *g*

I pretty much spent Saturday night making like a sloth on the couch which was nice.

The insurance money should go into our account today, so the plan is to meet James after work and go bed shopping. Fingers crossed we'll find one that suits and can be delivered fast.

[quiet1]

If you come across any of the advent calendars at Hotel Chocolat on sale later on in the season, and don't mind posting something to the US, let me know? I got kiddo one last year and he loved it but they aren't delivering to the US this year. I got him a different advent calendar but if one is on sale it'd be a nice surprise for his birthday in January. :)

[turps]

I don't mind sending at all. I'll keep an eye out in a week or so when hopefully, the prices will start to drop.

Do you have a specific kind in mind? Milk, dark, white etc? Or just anything?

[quiet1]

He is not super fond of dark, and doesn't really like it when stuff tastes of alcohol. I vaguely remember last year they had one that didn't have alcohol-type flavors, or at least not a lot of them? But anything he doesn't like my SO will help him with. :D But all-dark filled with rum would probably be bad. lol.

Thank you! I was really bummed when I discovered they aren't shipping to the US anymore. They don't say why, but probably Brexit because everything is Brexit.

[turps]

Noted.

I've saved your email notification so I can remember this when I'm looking.

[turps]

I've been keeping an eye on the advent calendars and have just got this one.

There were only two in the sale, this one and a cheaper one that was only dark chocolates so figured this one would be best. Hope it's okay.

[ephemera]

Fingers crossed you can find a great bed that they can deliver ASAP!

[turps]

A bed has been found and ordered!

We went to a bed shop actually in Houghton and the woman was fantastic. She's going to order next Tuesday, when the money should be cleared, and if needed keep it in storage until the hole in the ceiling is fixed.

[turlough]

Congratulations to James for his marvelous chocolate bargain find :-) And more congratulations to another successful craft fair!

I'm keeping everything crossed your bed will arrive before Christmas!

[turps]

Congratulations to James for his marvelous chocolate bargain find :-)

He was thrilled when he found that hot chocolate. The stuff is expensive, so it made sense to stock up.