COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS

Some things in life are inevitable. Christmas is one of them, and despite the weathers best efforts to merge the entire year into one chilly rain shower, we have surfaced from a dreary summer, autumn is in full swing, and without anyone noticing November is nearly half way through! Which means that Christmas is now little more than 6 weeks away!!! EEEEK!!

If this has come as a bit of a shock to you, panic not! Ever the ‘elpful elf, Exeter List has the countdown plan to get you up to schedule by the 25th December. Follow this plan and your home will be a model of domestic bliss, and your only care on the big day will be whether it is okay to open a bottle of bubbly before you are even out of your jimmy jams (just for the record it is fine, if you mix it with orange juice and proclaim it a bucks fizz breakfast!).

6 weeks to go (13 November)

Planning week
This week is the long term planning week. You need to get yourself geared up for the festive period. Important this week is writing lists, starting getting your brain in gear, and lots of planning.

To accomplish:
Christmas card list – if you are a bit fancy on the old computer, print yourself off some labels from your email address book. Remove anyone you have have completely lost touch with – if you haven’t called or emailed them in the last year, your card probably isn’t going to rekindle the effervenscent relationship you once had. Anyone who you chat to by email or online, save your cash and put them onto a separate email list for an ecard.
Buy Christmas cards – For the people who now remain on your list – buy the correct number of cards, plus a couple of extras for emergencies.
Make your Christmas food shopping list – Make 2 – one for Christmas and Boxing day, and another for essentials for the days that surround it. Try to write it in sections – veg, non perishables, meat etc. This way you can start working your way through buying the non perishables in your weekly shops over the next 6 weeks to spread the cost. Anything you do buy early – be sure to store it somewhere other than you main cupboard so it doesn’t get eaten by mistake. (we have a starter list on this site http://www.exeterlist.co.uk/insertlinkname
Make a list of any DIY/domestic tasks you want to complete before Christmas – Hang the spare door you have been putting off, gloss the window frames, de-clutter, install some spare storage heaters, get the fireplaces working properly, tidying up bookcases… If you list everything that will make your home more cosy and warm before Christmas, you can start to work your way through them so they are done in time.
Make sure spare rooms are sorted – If it has been more than 2 years since you replaced the spare bedrooms duvet set, get yourself to Woolies or Primark and pick up a nice new set. Maybe get a new towel for guests also. You can get a double for under a tenner. This will help to kick start the clean up operation to get the spare room all cosy for 6 weeks time.
Batteries, Lightbulbs etc – This is the time to be stocking up on things like lightbulbs, tin foil, freezer bags, batteries, toilet paper, shampoo and toothpaste.
Finally – Book a day off for 2 weeks time to get Christmas shopping done.

5 weeks to go (20 November)

Start the ball rolling

It is the last week in November, so your last chance to be one of those ‘oh yes I had everything sorted before December’ kind of people.
Christmas cards – Sit down on Monday or Tuesday evening and write the Christmas cards. Get the fire going, open a bottle of plonk and sit there until it is done. Put them into the envelopes and put stamps on as you do it so that the next morning you can post them.
Decorations – Set aside a morning to locate last years decorations, and ensure all fairy lights are detangled, and working, and that no other decorations are in need or being replaced. If anything does need fixing, supermarkets do great cheap decorations.
The List – Now is the week to work out what everyone is getting. If you have children, sit down with your other half and work out your budget, and a present for everyone. Then spend the evening on the internet looking at suitable gifts at suitable prices. Some technology items are already in short supply, so if you see it in stock this week, order it to guarantee delivery in time. Some good sites to start at are:

Play.com – free delivery on all orders
Boots.com – 3 for 2 on all gifts at the moment and swift delivery.
Firebox.com – for any husband, boy, girl, wife or dog that you are looking to impress. Again very good delivery and good starting place for ideas if you are stuck.
Argos.co.uk – get it sorted early and avoid any need to actually go into the store by ordering online. Or arrange for store pick up so you don’t have to pay delivery.
Laithwaites – nice pressie for the grandparents/parents. Lovely wine and good service.
Amazon.co.uk – sells just about everything. And now you needn’t purchase much to qualify for free delivery.

Order the meat – If you are going fresh, get your butcher to reserve your turkey for you this week. Also remember to order something for boxing day if you plan a feast then also.
Book hair cut for next week

4 weeks to go (27 November)

Pressies and wrapping

Now is time to get any gifts you weren’t able to find online. Our advice is to take a day off this week and get it done on a weekday,
Get to the high street – Get the housework and food preparation done the night before, have an early night, and wake up to a hearty breakfast before heading into town. Park as close to the centre of town as you can, and be sure to make regular trips back to the car to drop things off so that you don’t get too tired carrying everything. Keep a flask of tea and some chocolate in the car to pit stop whenever you return. (keep items stored in the car well hidden). Do not forget oodles of wrapping paper and sticky tape to avoid any last minute panic. Don’t worry if it isn’t all finished today, you can finish it next week when pop in for a “Christmas party’ outfit.
Arrange Christmas drinks – make contact with those who still remain on the Christmas card list (!), your close friends, and arrange occasions for a festive get together before the festivities take over. Maybe a Christmas wrapping party might help everyone, or just a non Christmas dinner party just to catch up before everyone has more family orientated times to keep them busy.
Order or collect and Christmas fuel – You do not want to run out of oil, logs, coal or whatever else keeps your food cooked and cockles warmed over the holidays. Get that last minute order in.
Get a hair cut
Book online supermarket shopping delivery slot – Don’t worry if you don’t finish the order, most online stores will let you amend your order up until about 24 hours before delivery.
Winterproof the house – block up any drafts, stick the double glazing plastic on any single glazed windows, clear any drains or guttering and make sure you are ready for whatever mother nature throws in your direction.
Get the children to write their Santa letter – send them in the post or up the chimney so the big guy gets them in time.

3 weeks to go (4 December)

Cooking

Don’t put the turkey in just yet, but some of your Grannies may be starting the Brussel sprouts off this week!
Add non perishables and booze to your weekly supermarket shop this week. Also any soft drinks. If you have an outside storage area, keeping drinks out here will keep them just as cold as the fridge would inside.
Cooking in Bulk – Get some foil containers and freezer bags and have a cooking day. Cottage pies, meatballs, soups, chillies, casseroles, mash – get it all in the freezer to get you ready for the hectic days that will arise between now and new year. Be sure to eat any old freezer stuff this week to make enough space. Make a couple of frozen cakes and puds for unexpected guests.
Edible gifts – n another day this week, get going with any chutneys, cookies or otherwise that you are planning on giving as presents.
Christmas cooking – This week you can do Christmas cake and stuffing for the big day. Keep stuffing in the freezer.

2 weeks to go (11 December)

Decorations

Get the tree – if you are getting a fresh tree this year, make sure you measure the space before you leave.
Do the spring clean – the house won’t stay clean until Christmas but having a jolly good family clearing and cleaning session will get you a head start. If family members are less than compliant with these plans then a chore list will make their input more clear. Small rewards could help as impetus.
Animal feed/wormer/fleas etc – another thing you don’t want to run out of is pet essentials. Make sure every animal family member is not due to be itching, wriggling or starving anytime soon, and purchase anything that may be necessary to ensure this is assured.
Hunt for Holly – Whether you have a fresh redwood in the corner, or a spindly plastic thing, everyone can find a bit of space for some fresh foliage on a mantelpiece somewhere. Get wrapped up and go and hunt for holly and other winter foliage to make these decorations. Stock up on candles to introduce soft lighting in the evenings too.
Help a friend out – if your friends have not been sticking to this schedule they may be entering panic stages this week – put aside a day or morning to help them get sorted.
Decorate – get those lights up, get the tree looking all fancy, and sit back for the evening admiring your good work.
Amend your Christmas grocery shop – it is nearly time for the delivery – have a final check that everything you need is on there.

1 week to go (18 December)

Find the stockings – you should have found these with the decorations a few weeks back, so it’s time to dust them off and make everyone responsible for hanging theres out on Christmas eve.
Find a midnight mass – if you are celebrating Christmas, whether you are religious or not, you ought to make the effort to attend a carol service or church service to remind yourself of the real tradition behind the festivities. Nothing beats a tot of something warming followed by a bit of a sing song to get you feeling all jolly.
Get the Christmas tunes blaring – dust, clean, cook, and do any last minute takes the sounds of cheesy Christmas pop, or the more traditional choir cd to get you ready for happy times ahead.
Use our Christmas day planner to get the cooking just right…

Have a lovely Christmas and if it all goes wrong, don’t worry – if everyone is happy and healthy, the life is okay and you can try and get the finer details right again next year.