I was shocked walking down the Tottenham Court Road end of Oxford Street, to see that part of the street was a building site, on account of the construction of the Cross Rail project. It just shows how long it is since I've been down there.
Anyway, it was crazy busy with Christmas shoppers and there were buskers on street corners. A girl with a particularly beautiful voice was busking outside M&S. I had to stop to drop what change I had into her box and tell her what a beautiful voice she had. Definitely a future pop star. I wish I'd paid more attention and asked her name to maybe look up her work online, but stupidly I was rushing like everyone else. I continued to listen to her from the bus stop across the road after I'd done my shopping.
That little jaunt and the purchase of a few last things from the Charity Shop, all but concluded my Christmas shopping. Just the trainers for OH to go and cash gifts to hand out and I'm done. It feels great, as I can now savour the excitement of the season without the stress of thinking what to get everyone.
When I got up this morning, the first thing I did was to start off my digital advent calendar from jacquielawson.com. I love these and sent one to each of my sisters last year. They aren't super cheap at £3 or so, but I had a little money in my Paypal account, so treated myself again this year. They include little games and tasks, which are great fun.
After having breakfast, I decided to do a Weekly Home Blessing on the kitchen, hall, vestibule and downstairs toilet, using my new cordless vac, of course. The battery just about lasted out for these parts of the house and is now on charge. I'll probably do upstairs using the corded vac, as it is carpeted and takes a little longer too.
Aside from this, I've spent this morning watching Vlogmas videos on YouTube, writing my Christmas To Do list, (which I printed off a favourite Vlogger's website, namely www.lifeinthecottage.com. She has provided lots of other free printables for Christmas and everyday on her blog, which you might find useful), baking star shaped mince pies and listening to a Christmas music playlist that I devised for the shop last weekend.
I'm starting to feel very festive and am looking forward to getting the Christmas decorations out of the loft some time this weekend. I'll probably put the tree up next weekend though, as I'm working tomorrow, so I won't have time.
Work is starting to get busy, so I'm looking forward to concentrating on enjoying the hustle and bustle of the shop at Christmas. We do have a few more volunteers this year, so it should be a bit less stressful than last year, when I spent most of my days working on the till, as there were so few of us.
Do you enjoy the lead up to Christmas? It's my favourite time of the year and always has been, particularly since I had LB. I'm also looking forward to reading about all of your Christmas preparations over the next few weeks.
I'm now heading off to get my chocolate, paper and candle advent calendars out and start opening all of the windows.
Love the calendar - it would be great to send to our Scottish relatives in Aussie.
ReplyDeleteIt is finally beginning to look like Christmas here. Got the tree up and lights on. Decorating will commence tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had an Advent Calendar since the boys were little. I think it might just be time to start doing so once again.
God bless.
Christmas has started at our house too. I make it last as long as I can.
ReplyDeletexx