[hdowney]

Originally Posted by Zoria

I do the same myself. I put everything up in the attic, forget what I have up there, and end up re-buying loads of stuff. Just double check what you have before you go away, put up everything without plugging them in before you go away if your mother is scared of fires etc. I'm so jealous of you heading to paris! Research the area you are staying in and see if there are any Christmas markets around. for as long as I can remember I've always wanted to go to Christmas markets! drink mulled wine and be merry

Oh my god yes christmas markets. Although ick mulled wine I hate it!!!

[Zoria]

Originally Posted by hdowney

Oh my god yes christmas markets. Although ick mulled wine I hate it!!!

Thats it, we're going away for Christmas 2013 Can you imagine the atomosphere, the smells etc. I'm drooling at the thought! for years my mother and I were browsing the package trips you see in papers and mags, but we never got around to it

[hdowney]

Originally Posted by Zoria

Thats it, we're going away for Christmas 2013 Can you imagine the atomosphere, the smells etc. I'm drooling at the thought! for years my mother and I were browsing the package trips you see in papers and mags, but we never got around to it

We have done the same for years me and the mammy, spech the Prague one. I have looked and there are several in Paris, around the Champs Elysee, and various other places

[Love2love]

I went to Hamley's last night and they have candy canes hanging on a wooden sparkly christmas tree I think they are there since last christmas but I don't care!

I spent an absolute fortune between there and the early learning centre in Dundrum, they both have sales on at the moment. I would say I now have the kids 70% done for Christmas plus some of the nieces and nephews too! The girl in the Hamleys said they've had alot of Christmas shoppers in lately - some who are finished

Cannot wait for X factor to start - that's when it starts for me! I love nothing more than wrapping presents on a saturday night while watching it

[leahyl]

Originally Posted by Love2love

I went to Hamley's last night....
Cannot wait for X factor to start - that's when it starts for me! I love nothing more than wrapping presents on a saturday night while watching it

Is there a Hamleys in Dublin??!

I love X Factor too - I kind of associate it with Christmas now too - it's sort of a countdown cos it starts in Aug/September and finishes just the week before Christmas so the decorations are up by then and all

[star-pants]

Originally Posted by leahyl

Is there a Hamleys in Dublin??!

Yup it's in Dundrum - the town centre, it's outside the main shopping centre
http://www.dundrum.ie/stores/hamleys/

[leahyl]

Originally Posted by star-pants

Yup it's in Dundrum - the town centre, it's outside the main shopping centre
http://www.dundrum.ie/stores/hamleys/

- must pay a visit! I wish I had kids to buy for!

[Loughc]

Originally Posted by leahyl

Can't believe we're one month past the half way mark!! Can't wait till this forum starts picking up again! But it's actually not even that quiet at the moment!!

My thoughts exactly!!!

Just back from my summer holiday and to get my mind off the holiday blues I'm putting my energy into looking forward to Christmas!! Thought of this thread on the way to work this morning and said I'd pop in to get that Christmassy feeling and it worked!!

Agree with everyone who associates X-Factor with Christmas, I saw the trailer for X-Factor 2012 and my first thought was yay Christmas is coming haha!!

[milli milli]

The new Argos catalogue is out and there's a page at the back with Christmas trees!! Usually it's 2 pages but this year it says on 1st September the full range is available in store!!
You can always count on Argos and Penneys to have early Christmas goodies in store!

I was in the Aviva last week and there were ads up everywhere for a Bollywood Christmas party
http://www.avivastadiumevents.com/or...christmas.aspx

(sorry, on mobile boards so don't know the code to make it linkable)

For people wanting to get away to the Christmas markets - I used lastminute.com and last year got to Prague for 3 days bed and breakfast in a lovely small hotel (2 metro stops from centre but had a little Christmas Market down the road) for €170 per person. It was a total bargain. Went there at the start of December and was there for St Nicholas Day.

This year I will be getting out a loan and hoping to head to a snowy place before Christmas if I can. Haven't been on a holiday all year so that will be it.

[Loughc]

Speaking of going somewhere before Christmas, was there ever a Pre-Christmas meet for this forum, the idea of meeting and swapping Christmas experiences and stories over drinks on a cold winter day sounds like good fun!

[washiskin]

I think i mentioned it last year but I've been marking the underside or less visible side of any decs I buy with the place and date I bought them so as I don't do the usual "where did I get this?" quiz when I'm emptying the boxes.

[leahyl]

Originally Posted by milli milli

The new Argos catalogue is out and there's a page at the back with Christmas trees!! Usually it's 2 pages but this year it says on 1st September the full range is available in store!!
You can always count on Argos and Penneys to have early Christmas goodies in store!

I was in the Aviva last week and there were ads up everywhere for a Bollywood Christmas party
http://www.avivastadiumevents.com/or...christmas.aspx

(sorry, on mobile boards so don't know the code to make it linkable)

For people wanting to get away to the Christmas markets - I used lastminute.com and last year got to Prague for 3 days bed and breakfast in a lovely small hotel (2 metro stops from centre but had a little Christmas Market down the road) for €170 per person. It was a total bargain. Went there at the start of December and was there for St Nicholas Day.

This year I will be getting out a loan and hoping to head to a snowy place before Christmas if I can. Haven't been on a holiday all year so that will be it.

Would be great to go to a proper Christmas market in Germany/Prague - I think these are the real christmas markets, the birthplace of Christmas markets if you get what I'm saying! I went to one in London last year alright and it was lovely but I'd say the ones in Germany are amazing

I'll be on my summer holidays in a few weeks but not going anywhere so would love to get away for a Christmas break

[Zoria]

Originally Posted by hdowney

We have done the same for years me and the mammy, spech the Prague one. I have looked and there are several in Paris, around the Champs Elysee, and various other places

Yeah myself and my mother always swore we'd get to one in Germany. Wishful thinking

Originally Posted by milli milli

The new Argos catalogue is out and there's a page at the back with Christmas trees!! Usually it's 2 pages but this year it says on 1st September the full range is available in store!!
You can always count on Argos and Penneys to have early Christmas goodies in store!

I picked one up recently, but never looked. that is me ear marking pages this afternoon

For people wanting to get away to the Christmas markets - I used lastminute.com and last year got to Prague for 3 days bed and breakfast in a lovely small hotel (2 metro stops from centre but had a little Christmas Market down the road) for €170 per person. It was a total bargain. Went there at the start of December and was there for St Nicholas Day.

That was a total steal for that price

Originally Posted by lockie1983

Speaking of going somewhere before Christmas, was there ever a Pre-Christmas meet for this forum, the idea of meeting and swapping Christmas experiences and stories over drinks on a cold winter day sounds like good fun!

I like this idea

[Posy]

The local newsagents from me have Christmas cigarette lighters for sale. I may buy one and light my Christmas candles with it!

[Overflow]

Originally Posted by leahyl

Would be great to go to a proper Christmas market in Germany/Prague - I think these are the real christmas markets, the birthplace of Christmas markets if you get what I'm saying! I went to one in London last year alright and it was lovely but I'd say the ones in Germany are amazing

I'll be on my summer holidays in a few weeks but not going anywhere so would love to get away for a Christmas break

You should try Copenhagen, they have an amazing Christmas market. My job takes us all and our partners for a weekend away there just before Christmas every year. Christmas wouldn't be the same without it now