Old Style Diary Archive - DEC 05

johanne

i spotted squeaky in a crispy roast potatoes thread at 11:39am this morning

Queenie

apple_mint - hope your baking and evening shopping trip with youngest DD is success *all* the way

TM - ooooooh, brandy and babycham used to be my Christmas Eve *treat* while I did the last minute wrapping prior to the dks' opening my beautifully wrapped efforts less than 3hrs later LOL Don't feel guilty about the car wash ... consider it a Christmas Gift to your car

rchddap1 - I'm soooo relieved for you that your dental appointment didn't end up too stressful for you and that you found the courage to go *now* - I sent heaps of positive vibes just hoping that it would go well ((hugs)) Will be thinking of you on Jan 3rd.

Pooky - (((((get well soon hugs to DD2)))))) Oooh, how very exciting making teddy clothing - :think: can you adopt me? Pleeeeeeease????
Good tip about defrosting the turkey too! As for where to put it ... do you have a cool box? If so, with space tight and your furbaby a threat to leaving it out ... you *could* put it in the cool box and leave it outside to defrost - just don't put cool bag "ices" into the box first Or, put it in the boot of your car?

BR - Adore your avatar!!!!
Keep a "doings" diary of the "yobs" behaviour - you never know when it might come in useful! You may want to consider setting up more than just a "dummy" CCTV - just in case Even "yobbish" behaviour shouldn't be tolerated (shouting and swearing = anti-social behaviour) - contact the "Community Officer" at your Police Station - swearing and being rowdy is NOT socially acceptable behaviour and does NOT have to be tolerated! ((hugs)) I'm afraid I'm a gobby mare if I have youths outside my home shouting/swearing - I go out and ask them to please tone it down. In the main they are so surprised, they move on. On the rare occasion (once) where they became abusive in response; I closed the door, rang the Police and the mobile CCTV came by + a patrol car (ok, it wasn't within seconds) but the message was loud and clear. I wasn't identified; the whole neighbourhood benefitted and the youths realised that their behaviour wasn't acceptable.
Loved your tale of when you would buy up the end of sale grabbits from the school fairs/fetes ... had you been *my* sister, 'Mother' would have been proud of you!

pinky-fairy - last day at work? WOOOOHOOOOOOO!!!!!! Bet hometime can't come quick enough .. even if it does mean braving the Asda crush Enjoy your time off ((hugs))

scuzz - :T well done YOU! Resisting temptation is the hardest battle when pinching pennies - but, you should feel proud that you had the organisation and fore-thought to take a sandwich *with* you - otherwise, with the best will in the world, that bacon sarnie would have leapt down your throat faster then ice-cream off a steam engine stokers shovel!!!

kiwichick - :think: how to get through a house of 5 sprogs under 4yrs ..... put some brandy in that coffee

kscour - Awww, bless your heart! I'm flattered that my comments prompted you to think about *you* and *your* wants/needs. I loved reading your list!!! Listen - don't overwhelm yourself with 12 ... just pick one a month As the Season's turn, so do our needs/wants/aspirations; if you choose too many at once, it becomes as overwhelming as if you've never given it a thought. I wish you well ((hugs)) - :shhh: I adored reading your #2 & #9 :silenced:

ruyareece - have you ever made homemade potato wedges? They are dead easy and may even tempt your DS! Simply grab your spud, cut it into wedges (cut in half lengthways, then halves again, and again, and again - depending on size of spud - until you get the desired thickness; toss in a teeny weeny bit of olive oil and bake in the oven (Gas 6, sorry can't think of equivalents right now) for about 45 mins or until cooked through and crispy/golden. That is bog.basic wedges ... you can "tart" them up using herbs/spices which may even tempt your DS into trying something new/tasty and if the whole family enjoy them ... will save you needing to find 2-3 different ways to serve just one meal.

tootles - The lentil soup sounds scrummy!! :think: It may well make an appearance on my menu planning over the holidays!! :idea: Thank you!!!

JackieO - I'm delighted to read your arm is healing ((hugs)) What absolutely BRILLIANT news for your DD's MIL!!! :T A super "gift" to receive ..... for all who love her! It's going to make their Golden Wedding Anniversary a truly special occasion.
(AND the bonus of one of *your* special Apple pies!)
Season's Greetings and a peaceful, contented New Year to you, too.

Johanne - ((hugs)) - just remember; there is no sentiment or compassion in "business" - I'm sorry that they are making unsympathetic choice; I hope you will come to appreciate one simple truth: if they are that heartless - they do not deserve you!!!! Try not to get too down about it - but turn it to your own advantage; hard to see today, I know.
Hope you have a heartwarming and comforting time at your Mum's seeing the people who mean the most to you. Sounds like the tonic you most need right now ((hugs))

ivyleaf - oh how *wonderful* !!! Do enjoy your your Christmas lunch with DD and SIL - it will be a real treat not to be slaving over the turkey for the 1st time in 32yrs! I think you've *earned* a year off that
Have *fun* at Midnight Mass - it's years since I was able to go to one; not since I was just 12yrs old and spent a most memorable Christmas/Hogmany in Scotland. I'm sure the occasion itself will give you the required energy to sing with joy and ... spirit!

freya - I'm on my way ... the talk of your shortbread had me :drool: I'll help with the Post Pop Tart l'il bro and sis too Pleased to hear baby is over his cough - it's always a worry.

Queenie

foreverskint wrote:

...
QUEENIE, your boys sound just like my daughters. Its great isn't it:rudolf:

Yuppers

Thanx for the tip on the meat thermo :T :T :T :T

Do enjoy your *2* Christmas Dinners ... it'll be work for you, I know; but I'm sure it will be *fun* too ((hugs))

MATH

PHEW - I'm Pooped!

Got the three MATHLETTS clearing out their rooms today and then we dragged four bin bags of last years Christmas toys untouched and unplayed with down to the charity shop. They didn't look to delighted to see me bags of treasure and I then realised everyone in the village has done the same.

This year I vowed not to buy toys cos my kidz just don't play with them, as long as they have a few books,a bike and music they are happy.
I've bought £15 of junk and put the rest in an envelope which Mrs MATH has decorated with the kidz name and other bits 'n' bobs from her card making stash. We will hang these on the tree for them to open on Christmas morning. Cos I also have to buy for both sets of Grandparents and my sis in the states I've done the same with their budgets too so the MATHLETTS will have quite a wad of notes to look forward to. Half they can crash in the sales and half will go into their savings accounts. I first did this in September for Mini MATHLETTS birthday and he didn't even notice that he had less/cheaper gifts. His favourite toy cost £3.99 from woolies!

Tomorrow is the big clean (MATHLETTS have been put on standby for bed stripping at dawn) and then I'm doing as little as possible until Jan 06. If people have been missed of the card/present list or festive foodstuffs forgotten they can go trump. 5pm tomorrow I'm clocking off and there's 5 bottles of baileys u like with my name on it!

Dinner is bangers and mash with my special redcurrent and mint gravy. We don't want much cos we're stuffed with Quality Streets!

Queenie

MATH - (((((((thank you - you inspire me))))))))))

Ticklemouse

ARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH - I sent my dear sweet little DS1 off to school this morning and this afternoon I seem to have a bad-tempered, stamping, drama queen living here :mad: He says he didn't eat anything he shouldn't at school but all the same he's a nightmare. I've never seen a boy act like him before. Sometimes it's soooo funny - you say 'no' or he can't have etc and he flops on the floor, waving his legs in the air with his mouth wide open in the biggest and most put upon wail you can imagine. :snow-laug However, sometimes (like about 1/2 hour ago) it is THE most annoying thing going.

I've had a fake baileys coffee and banished him to his room. I think TBH he's in need of a holiday and he's over-excited by the thought of Xmas. I however, keep seeing the jobs I want to get done and I'd like a holiday too. Ah well, must push the vac around the house. DS1 is sorry (for now:D) In fact, he's laughing as I'm doing a pretty far rendition of a 6yo male drama queen :rotfl:

MATH - only the 5 bottles? Are you sure that's enough to keep you going?

Freya - Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm - shortbread. Maybe that'll be on my list of goodies next time I bake.

thriftlady_2

Hi,I only discovered this site on Monday but already it seems a big part of my life.I've been overwhelmed by all the useful and friendly advice you all give, and I really enjoy passing on my little pearls of wisdom!I never realised how many people there were out there on my wavelength.I feel inspired and fired up for the new year. :j

I've been awarded a star , wow :T :xmassign:

Bargain_Rzl

Queenie wrote:

BR - Adore your avatar!!!!
Keep a "doings" diary of the "yobs" behaviour - you never know when it might come in useful! You may want to consider setting up more than just a "dummy" CCTV - just in case (etc)

Housemate has called the police on them in the past (a couple of days before the stone got thrown at the porch window) and as soon as the patrol car left they were back. The CCTV cameras are the real thing and can be activated at any time which is what housemate is planning to do (he has a mate who does it at a discount ).

Being the diplomatic one in the household I suppose I ought to be in the best position to go and be polite to them - trouble is I'm afraid to go out while they're there. (If they throw stones, why would they not throw them straight at me?) Housemate on the other hand is quite prepared to give as good as he gets (if somebody swears at him, he'll swear back, and I'm pretty sure that if somebody physically attacked him he'd get into a fight even though he's supposedly a grown man and the perpetrators are teenagers). This only encourages them. They're also now angry with him cos they know he's taken photos of them in action (he's already forwarded some to the local police).

Will have to get him on board with the diary idea because we're hardly ever both at home of an evening - so they're either annoying him or annoying me, never both at once. They're just a huge pain in the bum, because other than them it's an OK area (not posh but quite quiet and peaceful).

Icemaiden

Well I'm ready.

Done the last of the food shopping this morning, if i've forgotten anything its hard luck not going out again as its manic.

Turkey out of freezer and I forgot how big it was. O/H got it at the end of Nov at a reduced price £10 for a 8kg bird. Theres only 4 of us so have planned to make loads of meals with the left overs to save on my Jan shopping budget.

thriftlady, welcome.

johanne, New year, new start, good luck.

See you all later, have a great evening

Ice

MATH

Queenie - I don't know quite what I have done but thank you anyway. I find a lot of the posts on here put me in my place. If I'm feeling a bit hard done by I always find something to be thankful for after chatting to me OS chums.:rudolf:

Thriftlady - I warn you your life will never be the same again. You'll do a lot more giggling for a start and save money at the same time. What more could a person want?:snow_laug

TM - You've got me pegged as some sort of boozer *he says as the vodka and orange is pushed almost unoticed behind the monitor*:o Someone once asked me what skills were needed to be at home with three younguns all day. I told him no skill just the patience of a Saint and a cast iron liver!

PP - If I log on here in Jan and find a Christmas Support thread started I shall squeem and squeem and squeem until I'm sick (not very difficult to achieve on Jan 1st for me) and I shall hold you responsible. Seriously tho - well done on snaffling a few bargains.

One MATHLETT has just squeeled in on hishis bike to tell me he is fit for fainting from starvation which I take as a gentle hint to start tea - catch yall tomorrow when I shall post my Christmas message to the OS commonwealth. Lots of common not much wealth but there you go:p