Sorting through my rubbish

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Trixie,

Yes my head is definately spinning!! Back at work this week and have training and allsorts to contend with!!

DH is doing well, had his stitches out and they are very pleased with his progress. He is hobbling around but not able to drive until he sees the consultant in 6-8 weeks.

I had last week off as he was discharged on the Sunday and I had to take care of him. Was petrified he was going to fall down stairs or I was going to hurt him instead of helping him!! Have hardly slept and had a mini melt down on the Monday. Went to GPs to get blood results (all clear) so he has put me on Anti-depressants as well as the sleeping tablets:(:o!! Spent the rest of the week dozing on the settee in between helping DH!

Went shopping to get bread and milk and was randomly putting things in my trolley in a partial daze, spent £47!!! Most unlike me:rotfl:

Sounds like you are doing well with the Christmas shopping, I have several pressies stashed now and a few food items. Trying to clear out the little freezer to make way for Xmas goodies.

Still need to make the Xmas cake, got marzipan and icing left over from last year so will use that up.

Didn't manage to do the last car boot sale but the primary school is having a Christmas Fayre so will donate all of the books and some other bits n bobs. Still haven't Ebayed anything, really MUST do that!

Just plodding on really but each day DH is able to do a bit more and the kids are home for a week now so that will help.

Hope the children are fully recovered from their colds.

Take care

321 xxx

bagpuss38

Glad to hear that hubby is on the mend hun,
it's tough but you'll get through it i'm sure.
well done on keeping the cake stuff from last year.
mine always get eaten somehow lol
bagpuss
x

trixiepix

Hey lovely

Hope you're feeling a little better this week, even though you have work and it's associated aggrevation to contend with :cool:

As for your 'meltdown' at least it pushed you to go to the doctors which in turn has resulted in some meds to get you through the difficult times - i used to suffer really badly with panic attacks, still do on and off, but at the time when i felt very low the magic docs potion worked wonders and made me feel so much better and now i'll equipped to deal with whatever life throws at me without the potion!! (although i wouldn't hesitate to go back on them if i felt i needed to):D

My girlies are back on top form, especially now it's half term - it's all GO GO GO!!!! - what they don't seem to realise is i'm desperately trying to save for christmas and my saving plans and their spending plans over this week don't actually match up particularly well!!, at least i'm in work a couple of days and left them at home with DH - so he can listen to the whinging and wrangling for a change - Tra la la :rotfl:

So glad to hear your DH is on the mend, i hope his recovery continues to be speedy so that he's ready to wait on you by christmas - :rotfl:

I've been doing a little bit of desperation ebaying as was hoping to generate a little bit towards christmas but as blinking usual as soon as i'd gathered a little bit a couple of unexpected expenses bobbed up and it was back to square one again!! - so really i should be getting on with more baying, but now it's half term i doubt if i'll get to grips with it until next week!!

Anyway, enough of my usual ramblings, you have a good day and take good care xxxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Trix

Well done with your Ebaying, I'm ashamed to say I haven't done any yet and we are in to November!! I have loads of stuff at home that needs to be sold and I sooo need the extra money.

Have purposely NOT placed an online order this payday as I want to use up bits from the existing stocks. Have loads of packets and tins and the small freezer needs emptying and defrosting.

DH is doing really well and as he is getting somewhat bored at home he has started taking over the household duties. I went home to his first ever fish pie last night, it was scrummy. He is making a beef stew in the slow cooker today with beef from the freezer. He has also been baking, lemon cake and a date and walnut cake. I have to keep an eye on him though as he is a bit quick to buy new ingredients instead of making stuff with what we have and adjusting recipes if necessary. Now that he is more mobile he has discovered that he can catch the bus and get in toen so a tight reign may be needed!! lol!!

We are managing to keep warm, not using the ch too much yet as I don't like the bedroom too hot so we are just putting on the little stove in the lounge of an evening. Have put a fleece blanket up at the window of DS1's bedroom as we have vertical blinds and his bedroom is on the coldest corner of the house. It has made a noticable difference to the temperature. Have blankets for the other windows but have not put them up yet.

Christmas shopping going well, DS1 and DD done. Still no ideas for DS2 though!! Have got hubby 3 little gifts and still within budget(we are not spending much on each other this year). Need something for parents and a couple of male gifts.

Need to do the charity shoe boxes tonight, have been collecting items all year so am pretty organised, will pop to supermarket or superdrug and buy some value toothpaste/brushes, soap etc later to fill them up.

Still continuing to use up toiletteries rather than buy more, only buying what we actually need and only when on offer (ie deodrants, I try and stock up when there is a good deal). Keep topping up the shower gel with cheap baby bath and no-one has noticed yet!! Also use baby bath in the hand wash bottles and 9p fos 500ml you can't beat it.

For laundry I am currently using co-op value line bio powder which I bought for 44p a box (reduced), should do 10 washes per box but I am using a 100ml scoop and getting about 20 and it washes well too. I have a huge stock of laundry products as I can't resist buying when I see a fab deal as I begrudge paying too much for it.

Made a Pumpkin Pie with the clients at work on halloween only the supermarkets and f 'n' v shops had all run out of pumpkins so made a Faux Pumpkin Pie with carrots and it tasted just the same, it was delicious!! Will remember that for the future.

Didn't do anything for fireworks night, we usually just have friends around and watch everyones elses displays from our deck as we are on top of a hill with a great view over the town. DD was watching out of the window last night and there is a display in town on Thursday that we may go to, weather depending.

Must fly now,

Take care

321xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hi Trixie

Sorry I have been absent, I've been a poorly girl!! Have had a fluey type virus for the last 2 weeks, was just getting over it last Wednesday when I had to go an have a lump removed, must have given my immune system a jolt because the virus was back with a vengance last Thursday, complete with a cold sore so I spent the whole weekend sleeping!

Got a week off in a couple of weeks and then another week of at Xmas, think I need it, feel quite run down.

Getting fairly organised for Xmas, using as many deals as possible (I am addicted to the Grabbit boards). Managed to get DD a silver leather beanbag for her bedroom from Ebay Sunday Bargains for £4.45 delivered!! Hasn't arrived yet though. Been going through my list to see who I still need to buy for, just a couple of male friends so not too bad.

DH is still home recuperating but I'm quite enjoying it, he is cooking, washing and ironing and doing odd jobs around the house. He is asking me what to cook each day so that he doesn't mess up my plans or my budget. I am religiously spending £40 per week in Mossies to get the Christmas voucher, if I am under the £40 I just top up with Xmas booze or goodies that will keep. Bought the Xmas Gammon on offer the other day so that is now in the freezer. Managed to get 10 x 200g blocks of cheese the other day for 25p each, there was a woman clearing the shelf and she gave me evils when I had the nerve to go and take some myself!!

We have been given a load of bramleys by a neighbour but as we want to run down and defrost the small freezer I am going to have a go at bottling them, never done it before but I have loads of jam jars that I had been saving so will give it a go.

Still haven't got the heating on despite the torrential rain we have been having. The local college was shut on Wednesday and the senior school shut at lunch time. It's glorious sunshine today though!!:j:j

Carrying on with the decluttering. DH is still listing items on facebook and doind quite well with it. I am ashamed to say that for the first year in ages I haven't done any Ebaying for Xmas:o. Have you managed to do any more??

Must fly, hope all is well with you and yours.

Take care

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Good morning Trixie,

I hope that you are amanging to keep warm and dry, these storms are horrendous. I am in soggy Somerset and I've never known us to have floods in our town but we have this year!

Had my stitches out last Thursday, only for the wound to pop open on Friday and I had to have it sewn up again! Still coughing and spluttering so I feel a bit rubbish at the moment.

Budgeting/food shopping going ok. Still working through the small freezer, DH has his instructions every day of what to make. Did a food shop yesterday and managed to squeeze 2 bottles of wine and 3 of the small bacon joints in for my £40! Certainly makes a difference shopping to a list. I have bought a magnetic write on/wipe off board which is on the fridge and finally everyone is getting training to write what we need on there. Hubby on the other hand did his own shop (for rubbish) and managed to spend £20 on himself!

Still haven't bottled my apples but used a few more to make an apple and blackberry pudding on Sunday. Have found a recipe for apple and date chutney and hubby has some apple cider vinegar to use up so may have a bash at that. DH made a lovely fish pie last night to use up some of the odd bits of frozen fish and we used up some meat balls on Sunday with homemade sauce and spagetti.

DD's Bean bag has arrived and it's lovely, can't believe it was only £4.45, the delivery alone must have cost that. DS1 is going to give it to her as he has limited funds atm.

Finally succombed and put the heating on for an hour last night, had forgotten what it felt like, not that we had been cold but we had just been heating the lounge with the stove.

DH has made about £70 on ebay this week and probably anoth £50 on facebook, I keep finding him more things to sell, got to keep him busy.

DD is determined to get her brothers' presents with her own money this year (she is only 8!) so she has bought DS a Rhianna calander from £land and is trying to find something for DS2, she has bought them special Xmas cards too! Bless her.

Want to make my Xmas cake, I have all the ingredients except for the glace cherries, tried to buy some last night but they had sold out! Will have to try elsewhere in town.

Must dash now, hopefully be back soon

321 xxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Good morning!!


Had my stitches out (again) this morning, finger's crossed it is properly healed this time!!


Had a fairly frugal weekend. Took DD to her swiming lesson on Friday and then into town for the lights switch on and late night shopping. Didn't actually buy anything though, enjoyed the atmosphere, had a free mulled wine and then went home for hot choc and snuggles on the sofa!!


Busy day Saturday, we have been offered a new (to us) extending dining table so I scrubbed all of our faux suede dining chairs and they have come up like new; we should look smarter and have more elbow space for Christmas! Also scrubbed the stair carpet and will do the landing one at some point this week. DH is getting on with little niggly jobs and also continuing to clear clutter via Ebay and Facebook.


Sunday was taken up by Rugby (away match), followed by DIY shopping (killed 2 birds and saved a 50 mile round trip) and then a Christingle service in the evening.


I have a week's leave next week so will be giving the paint work a fresh lick of paint and wrapping all of the presents whilst the kids are at school.


Food wise we have stuck to the shopping by a list, will probably do the weekly shop tomorrow. DH cooked one of the 3 for £10 bacon joints in the slow cooker yesterday, had it with mashed potatoes, peas and parsley sauce, yum. I re-discovered my electric knife whilst sorting out the kitchen recently and sliced the bacon with that, it made it go sooo much further and DH is going to make a chicken and bacon pie for dinner tonight.



I have booked my Xmas Asda delivery and started lists of what we need, I will tick things off as we get them.


I have finally managed to find nice but cheap containers for the pamper hampers I am making up, Asda sell wooden bowls about 9 inches square for just £1 each so I will fill them with shredded paper and the treats and cover with cellophane and they will look good and can be re-used. All of the other baskets etc I looked at were £4+.


DS2 has decided he would like some new trainers and chinos for Xmas so sat down and ordered those for him last night. Just a couple more things to get now.

Hope you are all well and managing to keep warm and dry.


Big hugs

321 xxx

trixiepix

Hey lovely lady - it's just a very quick drop in - firstly to apologise for having been off the radar for a fair while and also for not having yet caught up with your recent posts ( will read later today xxx)

Few things have happened, including my girlies and me being poorly with the flu type thingy that seems to have hit everyone - we managed to get it over 3 concecutive weeks ahead of christmas which wasn't particularly well planned!!

Finances have been a rather massive stressful issue which has made me bob my head in the sand a tad and i couldn't even look at the website as was in complete denial and didn't want to be reminded of anything finance related!, but as i've said many times before it's down to me so i just gotta pull myself up and get on with dealing with it! - in work today but hope to hop on again a little later as i think it's a going to be quiet!!

Hope you've had a lovely christmas and have a fab new year xxxx

3_kids_2_jobs_1_dog

Hey Trixie, welcome back:wave:

Sorry to hear you have all been poorly, there have been so many bugs going around, everyone I know seems to have had something.

Like you my finances are in a dire state at the moment, what with Xmas, New Year and now sorting my DS1's kit ready for his departure on 20th! My head is also in the sand about money and definately about DS leaving us!

I have decided that I will just have to struggle through this month, we have loads of food so that should help. Next month I will restart debt busting with a vengance, hopefully DH will be in a better position to help with household bills, he is well enough to return to work so that should take the pressure off of me. DS1 will have left so food/power bills will hopefully decrease, although I will no longer be getting any housekeeping from him!

I have avoided the Next sale like the plague, just doing key word searches for items I know the kids would like for birthdays, have so far ordered a Lyle and Scott lambswool jumper for DS2 for £40, he will be really happy with that. I have been to Boots and used the rest of my points, about £42 worth, to buy gifts sets for birthdays and Xmas so happy with that, I will have another look when the 75% sale starts but not much left in our local store.

My birthday tomorrow and DS1 has asked if he can combine it with his leaving bash so all of my friends and his are going out clubbing, we all get on really well so should be a hoot, got friends staying for the weekend who I haven't seen sine June so looking forward to it.

Well must go as at work but will try and catch-up later, we will clear these debts together!!

321 xxx

trixiepix

Hey lovely,

So glad to hear from you :T
Well, it sounds as though we both find ourselves in the same position!!!!! - and at least we can spur each other on into 2013

Happy, Happy birthday for tomorrow, just in case i don't get chance to check in as we're back to normal tomorrow, with sports clubs restarting and DD1 off to my mums for the day plus having a few girlie friends over tomorrow, who will hopefully scoff the remainder of the xmas food snacks so i'll be ready to commence the new years healthy eating plan on Monday!!

Like you i'm currently trying to live out of the freezer to use up the 'old' stuff before needing to buy more, i'm thinking there will be a fair few odd combinations over the coming weeks, but hey variety is the spice of life so they say:rotfl:

Sorry to hear you've been poorly and had to have an op recently, hope you are fit and well now and hoping too your DH is back on his feet xx

I too avoided the next sale completely (i had a text and email regarding my vip slot but just looked the other way - blimey how hard is that for a shopaholic!!!!) - i have bought a couple of reduced xmas decorations and a sweatshirt (designer one in the sale) with some vouchers i had as xmas pressies, also popped into wilkos sale and bought some of their half price toiletry gift sets and some small bath shaped plastic holders ( the holders are about the size of a shoe box which are perfect for loading with toiletries and wrapping in cellophane for gifts - picked up on your pamper hampers idea xx ) - other than that i have been trying to avoid the shops as i know i can't be trusted!!

whilst in wilkos i did buy some paint for DD1's feature wall!! and also a new blind and some bedding ready for when her room is painted - we did it quickly last year when we moved in but now she wants it a little more individualized (which we said we would do in the new year as part of her xmas present) -DD2 is already asking when hers will be done............

Anyway hun, have a fab weekend of celebrations and will catch up next week