Congrats!

Honestly I love being middle-aged so much. So much excitement from a stationery store or a new pan ❤️

Thanks! I only got 7 so just squeaked in. I think the standard was incredibly high this time - I didn't judge a single bad story - and a couple of times there was a hair between them and I had to find something ridiculously pernickety just so I could make a decision.

My eye roll muscles get more exercise than any other muscle in my body 👀

Mine kept sending me happy little messages because my heart rate was high and it thought I was working out, but actually I was just excited to be in Ikea.

that winter, and every winter since. So now, whenever it snows, my husband and I like to remind each other it never snows in Skåne.

Anyway, here's a photo of it currently not snowing in Skåne (I assume you're legally obliged to tell everyone it's snowing on BSky, just like you do on Facebook?)

(That's Twig in the photo. She's half golden retriever, a third border collie, and the rest is a mystery, although I'm pretty sure there's feral squirrel somewhere in her family tree.)

And finally of course, you can just donate to your local food bank. As ever, the best thing to give them is cold hard cash. Happy yule, y’all.

For non-Northerners, my condolences, and you could look at the Sedulo Christmas Appeal, which provides presents for 4 million UK children in poverty christmas.sedulo.co.uk

For those local to Chester, UK, consider keeping an eye on the Ellesmere Port Christmas Dinner page, which provides a festive meal and presents to young adults leaving care and their children. It doesn’t look as though their 2024 appeal is live yet so I’m not sure if it’s running this year.

Some UK-centric alternatives, alternative alternatives are available. If you particularly want to do a shoebox, might I suggest the Manchester Christmas Shoebox Appeal - you can choose whether to fill a shoebox for someone elderly, homeless, a young adult, children or dogs. (That's Manchester, UK.)