The “arrgggh it’s nearly Xmas” November NSD challenge

cw18

Managed NSD #11 today after all :T

After playing freezer-squeeze this morning I only just made my physio appt on time

Then I nipped round to H@lfords for some bits for my bike ('get fit' fund is excluded from challenges until 1st Jan), and realised there was an Arg0s on the same retail park. So I nipped in there, and they had the curtains I was considering in the smaller of the two sizes I needed - and I spotted another pair in the book that looked a similar colour (fair bit dearer, but fully lined), so I asked for a viewing of both. The ones I'd put on hold elsewhere were faaaar too thin, and the others weren't much better despite the linings (and the colour was way off the pic in the book too - not at all what I could settle for if I'm spending that sort of money!)

Bobbed into P0undstretcher who are also on the complex, and they have some that are slightly thicker than the cheaper Arg0s ones (about the same price despite being lined), but didn't quite "do it" for me in terms of thickness.

Mr A is just up the road from there, so I called in to see if they had anything. The only ones they had are Sm@rtprice ones (and thin to go with the price), and only in the larger size that I need.

So I gave up and came home to get changed (and by then have an early lunch as well), before planning to head back out.

While having lunch I decided to have a quick look at the on-line site for the fabric store I was planning to visit - and was horrified by the prices of the only fabrics that looked like they might be suitable..... buying ready made curtains seems by far the cheapest option

So I've spent an hour or so this afternoon getting my new outside light up (didn't blow the electrics, and it's working as well ), and am now considering options for curtains. I'm begininning to think the best/cheapest/easiest solution may be to get two sets of cheap/thin ones for each door and hang them back-to-back, in the hope the double thickness gives the same heat retention as a really thick (and unaffordable) pair would do


I really must get to Mr T tomorrow though, as a lot of the offers I'm looking at stocking up on are only until 22nd/23rd (and I also badly need some frozen veg, although after playing freezer-squeeze this morning I'm not actually sure I've got space for it )

slowlyfading

number 14 for me

kerri_gt

Oh dear - boiler made a rather strange and loud bang earlier - and now keeps cutting out, with pipes making a rather alarming banging noise to boot.... me thinks I might have to make another phone call tomorrow, no hot water or heating in this weather is not good! :eek:

cw18

kerri_gt wrote: »

Oh dear - boiler made a rather strange and loud bang earlier - and now keeps cutting out, with pipes making a rather alarming banging noise to boot.... me thinks I might have to make another phone call tomorrow, no hot water or heating in this weather is not good! :eek:

Have you tried bleeding the system?
Sounds like air in the pipes/radiators to me.....

solventsoon

kerri_gt wrote: »

Oh dear - boiler made a rather strange and loud bang earlier - and now keeps cutting out, with pipes making a rather alarming banging noise to boot.... me thinks I might have to make another phone call tomorrow, no hot water or heating in this weather is not good! :eek:

cw18 wrote: »

Have you tried bleeding the system?
Sounds like air in the pipes/radiators to me.....

Me too, Cheryl, that's the most common reason for pipes making that noise.

Good luck with sorting it, Kerri

solventsoon

cw18 wrote: »

Managed NSD #11 today after all :T

After playing freezer-squeeze this morning I only just made my physio appt on time

Then I nipped round to H@lfords for some bits for my bike ('get fit' fund is excluded from challenges until 1st Jan), and realised there was an Arg0s on the same retail park. So I nipped in there, and they had the curtains I was considering in the smaller of the two sizes I needed - and I spotted another pair in the book that looked a similar colour (fair bit dearer, but fully lined), so I asked for a viewing of both. The ones I'd put on hold elsewhere were faaaar too thin, and the others weren't much better despite the linings (and the colour was way off the pic in the book too - not at all what I could settle for if I'm spending that sort of money!)

Bobbed into P0undstretcher who are also on the complex, and they have some that are slightly thicker than the cheaper Arg0s ones (about the same price despite being lined), but didn't quite "do it" for me in terms of thickness.

Mr A is just up the road from there, so I called in to see if they had anything. The only ones they had are Sm@rtprice ones (and thin to go with the price), and only in the larger size that I need.

So I gave up and came home to get changed (and by then have an early lunch as well), before planning to head back out.

While having lunch I decided to have a quick look at the on-line site for the fabric store I was planning to visit - and was horrified by the prices of the only fabrics that looked like they might be suitable..... buying ready made curtains seems by far the cheapest option

So I've spent an hour or so this afternoon getting my new outside light up (didn't blow the electrics, and it's working as well ), and am now considering options for curtains. I'm begininning to think the best/cheapest/easiest solution may be to get two sets of cheap/thin ones for each door and hang them back-to-back, in the hope the double thickness gives the same heat retention as a really thick (and unaffordable) pair would do


I really must get to Mr T tomorrow though, as a lot of the offers I'm looking at stocking up on are only until 22nd/23rd (and I also badly need some frozen veg, although after playing freezer-squeeze this morning I'm not actually sure I've got space for it )

Re your curtains Cheryl, if you're good with a sewing machine, have you thought about sewing a blanket between the curtain and the lining - makes great insulation, you'll be toasty warm like that. Alternatively you could buy some interlining from the curtain fabric shop, a bit messy to sew in but it's brilliant. All my curtains are interlined and it's amazing how much heat they keep in.

Hope that helps a bit
spoon

chris81418

Yay!! Yesterday was NSD number 17 for me and my 4th NSD in a row at my 3rd attempt!

Not sure what to do now, as I'm having trouble sleeping ... have done some tidying, written a couple of emails and letters, still not tired ... and annoyingly I haven't got a good book at the moment that I could get stuck into! Oh well, I might just have to shut my eyes, keep very still and hope for the best!

Have a good weekend everyone!

solventsoon

boultdj wrote: »

Small spend yesterday and I'm taking Dad out today, so another spend day, hummmm..... 3 spend's in a row.......better hide before the kipper get's me.

hmmmmm... I think we're going to need a brace of kippers (is that what you call a group of kippers????) between boult, jinty and Nargle... I'll go and get them tomorrow to keep them ready:D:D

karom wrote: »

If you right-click on a smiley on somebody's post and select "Copy Image Location" then open a new tab on your browser and paste into the address URL; you'll see from which web site the smiley is from

Oooh.. didn't know that, karom, thanks:A

twistedhazel wrote: »

Hi all, hope everyone is well on another chilly morn..... Just a quick update - 10 so far. I really feel like I'm struggling this month so I'm going to reduce my target to 15. Not sure if I'm allowed to officially do that or not. But I'd rather have an achievable goal than give up and then end up spending even more. If I can't officially reduce it at this late stage then it'll just be in my head. Hope you don't all feel like I'm a big fat cheater

No need to struggle, th, I will happily reduce your target if that makes you happier. As BM says, it's your challenge, you're not in competition with anyone except yourself, so consider it reduced to 15:D... and relax:A

solventsoon

BigMummaF wrote: »

When I joined this Challenge, everyone was responsible for keeping their own tally so it's no problem for me. As others have said you do a sterling job in keeping up with us all Spoon, but your health & sanity have to come first. Just tell us what will make things easier for you & we'll do it. That's why I try to put my new total in a different colour from the rest of my post so you need only have a quick scan.

Nargleblast wrote: »

Aye oop gang!

Spoon - welcome back to the asylum. Certainly a roundup once or at the very most twice a week will be enough. As you can see I put my running total in my signature and make a point of altering my signature first then posting that I've got another NSD. Hope this isn't too confusing, if in doubt just look at the signature.

Hi BM and Nargle,
That's perfect, thanks, either in the post or in your signature, that's fine by me - thanks:A

solventsoon

Keiss_21 wrote: »

Had a lovely time at the hairdressers yesterday. I think the girl could tell I was a bit worried of having too drastic a colour change, so she made a fantastic subtle job of it. She used three colours (including chocolate!), and it looks fantastic!! I think I might be braver the next time...but I am really pleased with the cut and colour :j.

As to the car , but it is still going....18 years old, and we have hit the 150,000 miles mark this week....hope it keep going for another few years...fingers crossed.

Glad you're pleased with the new hairdo, Keiss, it's such a treat when not used to being pampered.
Fingers crossed for the car.
Hope you have a wonderful super-splendiferous weekend and birthday and, no, as jinty says below, there is nothing wrong with being excited about opening pressies - especially on a big birthday:D:D

jintyb wrote: »

No, Keiss, it's compulsory!;)
Have a wonderful birthday and I'm glad you had a lovely "do" at the hairdressers.:)
Getting mine done tomorrow - cant come quick enough!

Oooh... another posh hairdo - hope it goes well jinty:D

mummyroysof3 wrote: »

i havent left the house today so havent spent anything so number 7 for me(i think) im rubish at this i forget to write it down and lose count lol

Hi mummyroysof3 - you're on no 8 actually, one more than you thought. Have a look at the front page if in doubt, your total is on there - hope that helps