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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2021 8:48:39 GMT
I can't see an existing thread for this, so apologies if there is.
I just wanted to recommend the advent calendar we've got this year. It's Exit the Room, Mystery of the Ice Caves and its so far really good. Each day you read the next part of the story which ends when you get stuck at a new puzzle that needs solving. You then open up the door for that date and take out the riddle card(s) and any objects that are in there. We've been told that you may need to use any previous items to solve later riddles, so it could well get a lot harder.
So far, we've had two, first was relatively simple, but yesterday's had us stumped for half an hour until it clicked. Okay, so its not chocolate, but its memorable and we're enjoying it. The story is obviously a bit contrived, but draws you in. It was a bit pricey (£27.50) but its big and its for me and my wife, so I think we will get our money's worth. There's another one supposed to have come out for this year, but I've not seen any sign of it as yet (they made this one last year).
Youngest is loving a National Geographic one where they get a different rock each day. They look naff to me, but they are happy as anything.
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askew
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Post by askew on Dec 3, 2021 8:54:28 GMT
"They're not rocks, Marie, they're minerals!"
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Post by freddiemercurystwin on Dec 3, 2021 9:15:38 GMT
Rocks FFS? What's wrong with some cheap tasting unhealthy chocolate at 8am everyday?
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Post by TheSaint on Dec 3, 2021 9:19:32 GMT
Sounds like hard work to me, I think I'd stick to chocolate.
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nexus6
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Post by nexus6 on Dec 3, 2021 9:31:51 GMT
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Post by eleven63 on Dec 3, 2021 9:42:36 GMT
As usual, can't put up the Christmas decorations until after the better Half's birthday, the 5th Dec.
Boo, and bah humbug
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Post by drhickman1983 on Dec 3, 2021 9:47:46 GMT
I still maintain that "Christmas" takes place from 25th December through to the 6th.
I find the run up a bit pointless and tedious, and I don't feel much Christmas spirit until I've finished work. That said I do have two advent calendars, one for beer, one for whisky.
But yeah, having a long build up and then only having one day of Christmas is just a sure fire way to disappointment. And people who take down decorations immediately after the 25th are nonces.
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Post by imamazed on Dec 3, 2021 9:50:07 GMT
I don't mind the run up, but it should only really begin in earnest a few days before Christmas. 1st December-20th December is fine for eating the occasional mince pie or drinking the occasional spiced porter, but I try and avoid festive songs/films until at least the 20th.
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Post by freddiemercurystwin on Dec 3, 2021 9:52:19 GMT
I get that, since having kids the build up to Xmas is about a month or something, I was never really interested until say a few days or so beforehand but now I'm just all Christmased out by about the 10 December!
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nexus6
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Post by nexus6 on Dec 3, 2021 9:54:40 GMT
My best ever Christmas was when I was about 16 or 17. I had left school and got a job for a year before going to university, so I had no school commitments like the previous years and no uni commitments like the years to come.
The run up to 25th was taken care of by being busy in a new office setting and getting to the christmas party was ace.
The main memory I have though was heading home on the last day before christmas and nipping in to the Virgin record store. They had this game on sale for £20 called Tomb Raider.
Took it home, fired up the PS1 and played and played and played all over the holiday. My brother was up from England and we sat for all hours playing that damn game. What an adventure.
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robthehermit
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Post by robthehermit on Dec 3, 2021 9:55:53 GMT
If you really have to, Christmas begins on 24th December and ends on the 26th, but really you get Christmas Day and that's your lot. Anything else is pointless shit for kids and people who should know better.
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Post by drhickman1983 on Dec 3, 2021 9:55:56 GMT
I'd be totally onboard with not having any decorations up before Christmas Eve.
The protracted build up is why a lot of folks are sick of it by the time the actual period starts. Especially as the drudgery of work continues in the run up, creating a strange dissonance
And again, the Christmas period to me is 25th through to new year, at least.
Having too much weight on one day means is going to be shit. It's why I can't be arsed with New Year's Eve itself or any other holiday tbh.
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Post by Dougs on Dec 3, 2021 9:58:15 GMT
My wife started putting the decorations up last weekend. Usually takes age to get it how she wants them, after rearranging because the kids have moved shit around. Am missing the various Christmas parties in the office thankfully. They are usually dead early as everywhere gets booked up so quickly. I think a week before is fine to start the festivities in earnest. Everything before is just a pre-cursor. Always find the days in between a bit flat though.
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Post by freddiemercurystwin on Dec 3, 2021 9:58:17 GMT
My best ever Christmas was the only Christmas I spent alone (by choice) (except for the cat), did a great boozy roast dinner for myself and played some new Xbox 360 games I gave to myself as a Christmas present.
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Vandelay
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Post by Vandelay on Dec 3, 2021 10:01:48 GMT
I love the sound of an advent calendar with puzzles behind each door. May have to look into getting the Exit the Room calendar next year.
Just have my usual Cadbury advent calendar from my Mummy for being a good little boy all year. I'm sure the chocolate gets smaller each year.
1st December is normally when I crack into the Christmas playlist, but haven't been in the mood for it yet this year. Think I'll save it for a bit longer. Any recommendations for extra additions are welcome.
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Post by Tonka (🐑,🪤) on Dec 3, 2021 10:07:18 GMT
I just wanted to recommend the advent calendar we've got this year. It's Exit the Room, Mystery of the Ice Caves and its so far really good. I'll add another vote for this one. First two days have been a huge success, it started off with the youngest one solving the first day in literally no time at all. When I asked how the blooming jesus he managed it so quickly he said "Oh, they do that all the time in the Mickey Mouse detective comics I read" Second day was a bit trickier, but we got it without using the very clever Hint system. Everyone looking forward to the next puzzle. Will most definitely buy one next year as well. |
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askew
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Post by askew on Dec 3, 2021 11:03:43 GMT
I have a tea advent calendar ☺️
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Post by technoish on Dec 3, 2021 11:14:06 GMT
I had a bourbon / rye whiskey calendar last year. A new wee bottle every day.
Christmas is great. I love the carols (not the horrible pop songs), the food, the parties, the present buying, the Christmas markets, going up to see family, the light shows.
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Post by stacks on Dec 3, 2021 11:26:06 GMT
24th to the 6th or it's not Christmas. Tree up on the 24th. (My mama is German and this is traditionally how they do it.) They have the boozy Xmas markets in the run up too which are great. I absolutely hate the Xmas adverts and faux festiveness from the scum bag corporations. Which then stop at actual Christmas and it's January sales from the 25th. Effing Cs
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Post by stacks on Dec 3, 2021 11:38:03 GMT
Also: Bah,Humbug
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 3, 2021 12:05:53 GMT
I just wanted to recommend the advent calendar we've got this year. It's Exit the Room, Mystery of the Ice Caves and its so far really good. I'll add another vote for this one. First two days have been a huge success, it started off with the youngest one solving the first day in literally no time at all. When I asked how the blooming jesus he managed it so quickly he said "Oh, they do that all the time in the Mickey Mouse detective comics I read" Second day was a bit trickier, but we got it without using the very clever Hint system. Everyone looking forward to the next puzzle. Will most definitely buy one next year as well. Yesterday's did take a while to solve. I kept moving the pieces around and trying to figure out how to see the symbols and how I'd get a number. My wife was adamant we needed to cut them up 🙂 Xmas decorations and tree are up (we've got kids). Elf is already pissing me off (I'm too tired /old for this now) and I have heard Slade too many times already at breakfast. My wife is huge on the whole thing and tbh, this is probably the last one the kids will believe. Certainly hope that bloody Elf is a thing of the past. I'm looking forwards to three weeks leave and Google Stadia next Friday more than anything else. |
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Post by Sarfrin on Dec 3, 2021 12:20:44 GMT
I'm not at all on board with the bah humbug this year. There's been enough gloom, misery and general shitness about over the last two years. Bring on the flashy lights, shiny things and excuses to eat and drink too much!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2021 21:20:08 GMT
I spoke too soon about this being the last Christmas the kids will believe. Seems the eldest got suspicious and asked my wife straight out and she told them the truth. Been lots of tears apparently. I was asleep so missed it all, but it's all a bit sad.
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スコットランド
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Post by スコットランド on Dec 9, 2021 21:31:14 GMT
Very much bah humbug for me the year, 1st Christmas ever without dad so will be lots of sadness.
If it wasn't for Covid I'd fuck off to a beach somewhere and ignore it.
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knighty
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Post by knighty on Dec 9, 2021 21:32:08 GMT
On the plus side, no more elf.
I told the wife 4 years or so ago it will be a burden and I’ll end up having to do it all. 4 years later, I’ve been proven dead right. Hate the thing.
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Post by simple on Dec 9, 2021 21:37:21 GMT
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 9, 2021 21:39:04 GMT
I think the youngest still believes.
Oh and it's because of the bloody Elf that they got the suspicions. They found the stuff about them online and one suspicion led to another.
Oh well. Been a shit week.
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Post by elstoof on Dec 9, 2021 21:41:49 GMT
Merry Christmas
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Post by simple on Dec 9, 2021 21:57:12 GMT
On the plus side, no more elf. I told the wife 4 years or so ago it will be a burden and I’ll end up having to do it all. 4 years later, I’ve been proven dead right. Hate the thing. Isn’t the whole elf ‘tradition’ only about five or six years old anyway? Every parent I know whose started it really regrets it and hates the run in to Christmas now |
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Post by drhcnip on Dec 9, 2021 23:23:24 GMT
can't work up the interest or enthusiasm this year and still got a family funeral & occ health appointment to get through - thank christ i haven't got a young kid in the house any more, i'd feel awful for them right now, i feel guilty enough with a 21 year old...  ...bah, humbug... still wish i'd picked up the exit advent calendar, though - not got much time for the main games but like the idea of this... |
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