Coffee and chocolate

miggy

I'm quite motivated to drive as I enjoyed what I did years ago, but it seems a big thing and very expensive! I need to learn soon though if I'm not to be the only one in the family not driving in a couple of years' time! It would give me more scope in looking for another job and it could mean treats like holidays in further-flung corners of the UK. DH refuses to drive all the way down to Cornwall!

I am going to make a start on the theory after Christmas, before I even get my provisional licence, because once I have that under my belt I'll feel more confident.

I'm sorry to hear your family had such a rubbish experience with that vicar. DH was a church warden for a while and it's stressful enough without someone causing problems.

I don't know which Bible readings schemes are on Kindle but I found this one which is available as a one-year version or you can do a couple of months for a taster. However, it seems to be a rolling programme or something because the Genesis readings started in this month's issue! I haven't tried it but it's a publisher I trust.

That reminds me I haven't forgotten about looking up all the fascinating links people have sent and which I've been storing up - I just need to wait till after Christmas as I'm getting overwhelmed.

Getting the piano available for practice is a very familiar scenario! Crowded house and a handy place to dump stuff... oh dear. :rotfl:I started again some time ago after not having really touched it for over 20 years and realised I'd lost a lot of ground but I enjoy it too much to give up. Best of luck with it - I'm sure you'll enjoy it too! Keep me posted.

miggy

As I just mentioned... feeling a bit overwhelmed now. It's so hard to find presents for everyone! I have to break the habit of stuffing the stockings: I decided that this year I would buy fewer things as the tat just gets abandoned anyway, and what I buy will be better quality. To some extent that's working, I just feel a bit bad that there's less for people to open!

Okay, I know that's silly. I prefer one or two presents that are 'right' for me than tons that I'll never look at again. Now to get it out of my head and into my habits!

DH has posted all the cards that don't need a newsletter, but I managed to jam up the compouter earlier today and couldn't email him the letter to print it, so a whole lot of people are at risk of not getting anything if I can't get it sorted soon!

Two family members have birthdays this week and guess what? All they got was a Facebook message from me! I've been so busy juggling other stuff that it crept up on me - and what's more I should have arranged a gift from Mum as well as one from me! I think I am going to solve the presents from Mum via Amazon gift vouchers because everyone can use them and as Mum said about their Christmas presents, it would be better if they chose for themselves.

And last but not least - I have a couple of things that need to be sorted on Mum's behalf this week and I haven't touched them - afraid there will be difficulties... well, I can't leave them so I need to get on the phone tomorrow.

Off to right a wrong.

Erme

Hi Miggy...got my bag at about 7.45 this am and it's fab. Bit bobbly but nothing that an old skirt ripped up and sewn can't fix

Hope you have a good holidays. Pray about the budget

Hugs

E

miggy

A very busy day but ultimately a good one!

One exhausting shopping trip netted me a Secret Santa gift at last, plus there were posh Christmas cakes on the market (slight seconds) and little M&S Christmas puds as well so I have bought some of each even though I have a bowl of fruit waiting to go in a cake! At least I know I have something now and we won't be cakeless or puddingless - a couple less things to do.

I had a go at making a phone call on Mum's behalf and couldn't get hold of her former neighbours which is slightly worrying. I'll try again tomorrow - praying they're not away over Christmas!

Lots of parcels keep arriving - one mysterious one addressed to me from China!? And paid in US dollars? I couldn't remember ordering it and neither could DH. Turns out to be from DH's sister for one of the kids - she doesn't live in the UK, China or America, which threw us off the scent. DS1's main Christmas pressie is now here, as is DH's. We hope to be able to get DD's tomorrow (Late? Us?) and as DS1 can't think of anything I am happy to say he can have money and a particular game that I know he will enjoy.

I popped into the newsagents that does Mum's papers on an errand and remembered to query whether I was due a bill from them - just as well I asked and also had Mum's purse on me as there were two months' worth of bills which for some unknown reason hadn't been sent. Those are now paid and the two latest editions of various magazines are cluttering up our dining room waiting to go to her. (They deliver her paper but it seems other residents were starting to walk off with magazines delivered to the porch so the arrangement is that the paper shop saves them for me to take to her).

I also picked up gifts for Mum from me and for DH from Mum, and a bag of potatoes along with some fruit and ingredients for tonight's casserole.

Had to text DS2 to meet me to help carry the shopping - my arms must be several inches longer but it's disguised by all the muscles I've suddenly developed!

Frantic tidy round and hurriedly put the finishing touches to DS1's g/f's gifts as she's going to her parents tomorrow. DH finished work at seven so that gave me a bit of extra time, but only just enough. One of those days when things get dumped out of sight (I have too many of those). There were seven of us for dinner and I was very glad of my slow cooker! Beef stew with baked potatoes - yum.

We couldn't linger after as our home group was having a Christmas party so we dashed off to that and had a hilarious evening but of course I was wide awake afterwards and am only now nearly ready to sleep.

And it's such a mild night! The Small Furry is out of doors again and I have no qualms about her. I think it was getting too warm for her indoors and she's in a very sheltered place.

So, the shortest day is over, we're officially headed upwards again. Christmas is slowly coming together and what doesn't get done, well, doesn't get done. I cope so much better when I'm not cold and I know the light is on its way back. Time I got some sleep though or I won't be fit for tomorrow.

miggy

Slept in (how odd!) and now have plenty to do today, but what a beautiful day it is! Sunshiney and warm! Well - it feels warm. I dare say if we had a day like this in July I would say otherwise, but I can do anything when the sun shines.Nearly anything, anyway.

I have thought of a couple more NY's resolutions to add to my list:

miggy wrote: »

• learn to drive
• get up to about Grade 6 piano (am doing Grade 2 sight reading, about Grade 4 or 5 music and Grade 8 scales).
• get further through reading the Bible (I now know Genesis fairly well, LOL). (My record is somewhere in Kings. I overface myself and try to do 3-4 chapters a day which is about what it takes to get there in a year but I can't keep it up).

• see if there's a way to go and visit Mike.
• Get down to the weight I should be (minus about 1.5 stone, so why haven't I done it long ago? Answer - life got in the way).
• one that's been hanging over me and that I need to get rid of for my peace of mind - get the repairs done on Mum's house.

That last one rather spoils my list of positives because I don't like to see it there but... I am strong! I can do it!

• spend less time on Facebook!

miggy

I had an unexpected offer of a lift to Boro today so needless to say more shopping has been done. The food budget is on track apart from a turkey crown but we knew that was going to cost extra.

A number of presents bought - mostly from TKMaxx, Pound shops and one of those discount bookplaces that are brilliant for Christmas presents. One expensive present bought elsewhere.

I've had another go at ringing Mum's former neighbours - will get there yet!

Frugal dinner of tuna pasta and tinned fruit - actually I'm reasonably pleased with my food intake over the last couple of days: party food was three pieces of fudge, a cupcake, three savoury crackers, a mince pie and a glass of Schloer, which while not slimming, could have been a whole lot worse. Today I resisted cake after lunch and took a banana for a snack while I was out instead of joining DS1 in the baker's. I did get three cans of pop for £1 and drank one but it was diet pop so it filled me up without calories and I managed not to snack before tea.

Other than that - watched the programme about a compulsive hoarder and threw out some paper on the strength of it! Poor chap, at least he has come to the point of allowing other people to help him and seeing the problem for what it is. I can see some hoarding tendencies in myself, because often I can't see the wood for the trees and individual items become difficult decisions. At least there are fewer papers than there were an hour ago!

Oh, and I wrapped some presents. Surprise, surprise.

miggy

One forgotten achievement yesterday: I wrapped the Secret Santa, got DH to sign the card and deliver it, and finally crossed that off my list.

Went a bit mad with the wrapping and had to stop before I got too confused. As it is DS1 has a mysterious present. It feels like clothing but I can't remember. Do I unwrap it to make sure it really is his?!

Today I have to head into town to get one of the two remaining copies of something we decided on for DS2.

We have already discovered that DS1's g/f and I have duplicated gifts to him, and DD's b/f and DS2 have duplicated gifts to her! Loving it! DS2 has decided he can return the item bought for DD, but I had already ripped the shop label off the item for DS1 when someone pointed out there was already something that peculiar shape lurking under the tree!

Probably time to start ebaying again in the New Year!

Lemon_Tree

lol to the duplicate pressies. great minds and all that. i watched that program about the hoarder it was scary. I just keep imagining the firemen almost swimming along the top of the piles in the corridors of his house. Like you, i never want to get to that stage and i've often felt outfaced by having so many things and never knowing where to start. At least our new house will give us a chance to get on top of it all and sort it all out.

miggy

We were okay till we stopped moving house - that was 17 years ago, LOL!

This time of year is the worst because furniture is moved upstairs to make room for the Christmas tree and the bedroom is full of things being kept out of the children's view! (Even if they are 2 adults and a 16 y.o., IYSWIM!)

Tempting just to get a skip... if only to see some unoccupied space.

Erme

Och sounds like my place....It has so much stuff...

But then I think what with the now illegal tiles in the bathroom I've no chance of getting out of my house alive so why worry?

Nothing wakes me up...deffo not the fire alarm in the corridor....

So yeah - any fire and I'm in heaven :j

E