Wed 20th Dec 06 (five days to go!!)

Penelope_Penguin

Morning all! Wasn't around yesterday, as it was my last day at w*** (for 2 weeks) and really manic! I tidied up all my loose ends. My colleague who has been back from maternity leave since September starts maternity leave again tomorrow. When she came back, I had to vacate my desk for her, and now my boss wants me to return to that seat. So I had to pack up all my stuff, ready for my friend in admin to vacate my current desk tomorrow.

We decided not to do a secret santa at w*** and instead paid for a healthworker from Oxfam Unwrapped.

Got a long list of jobs today, but all of them fun. Making sausage and beans for tea (Nigel Slater recipe). Will be nice and warming as we have fog and frost here. Need to get the big jobs done as the children finish at 2:30 and I'm looking forward to a relaxing evening in.

Snowy, I'm with you on the tree. Before children, DH and I would decorate ours on Christmas eve. We now do it slightly earlier. DH will collect it on Friday morning, and we'll decorate it that evening. Can't wait! That way, I still love it by Christmas day.

Have a great day, and I'll pop back later.

Penny. x

anniebooklover

Good morning everyone :santa2:

A short post from me this morning as I have had the worst night's sleep. I must have had about two hours of deep sleep. I just wish I didn't have so much driving around to do today. I also have a training course this afternoon (who books a training course 5 days before Christmas? )

Kyle glad lo slept all night. How many times did you get up just to check lo was ok? The first time DS and DD slept all night, I kept getting up to check they were still breathing. :rolleyes:

DS and DD finish today for Christmas. Two weeks without the school run! :j

Off to have brekkie. Have a great day everyone. X

comping_cat

Good morning everyone,

Well its my 2s last day at school today HURRAH, so wont have to get up so early tomorrow (its also the little one who i look after from 7.30s last day too, will miss her, but not the early start!!!) i am working until friday, but the ones who will be here are all older ones so they are much easier to keep amused!!!
I already have the WM on, need to have a shifty in the freezer to see what we can have for dinner tonight, and also need to unload the DW and give the bathroom a quick swipe. Didnt make the gingerbread house with the older ones yesterday, so thats the plan for today, just need to make the icing and the rest is all ready for them.
Right, also need to make the packed lunches, so better get moving before little one gets here. Hopefully her dad will be finishing my toilet today, if he doesnt get here it will be after xmas.

Mushy Peas - hope you had a lovely evening last night!!!
PP - sorry you had a bad night, but after your post yesterday, im glad your consultant is more possitive now, take care xx

Has anyone seen Churchmouse lately??? or Gingham Ribbon??? There are a few other regulars missing too, so hope everyone is ok!!!!

Have a lovely day everyone,
Take care xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

tired_mum

morning all not too bad weather wise here in essex
off to school in a mo so will read threads on return DD2 last day other 2 at school till fri
off to the college today for a leg wax:eek: and eyelash tint before our hol was going to have bikini line done but have bottled out of that
feeling quite xmasy now all pressies are wrapped so might have a bit of a chill out today
hope everyone has a great day

Queenie

:hello: Goooooooood Morning, fellow OS'ers

Delegation Wednesday today - d12yo has been delegated the hoovering, d11yo has been delegated the dusting (meanie Queenie!!) and then we're off to see one friend for an hour or so as it's her birthday today, then later, off to stay with other friends overnight because we're all off to their cottage in France for some last minute shopping in the local market - that's when the lads will be given some Euro's for all their help today ... a chance for them to speak French when shopping :laugh:

One washload in, that will go on racks to dry. Cat done; chicken and quails yet to do. Boys still in bed so I get to have a nice cuppa in relative peace.

Made a list last night off all the things I still need to accomplish before Christmas day and face some hard facts! Some things simply will *not* get done and so I've given myself permission not to feel guilty about those or beat myself up over it I've prioritised what *must be done* and I've even got a "would be nice to accomplish if I get the time" column too; but frankly, time is fast running away with me.
Doesn't help when dh's car broke down and meant he needed mine ... and when I went to get in it to drive over to him ... d12yo had locked the keys in the car :wall: Got over *that* hurdle after some time, but then the toilet seat broke (don't ask!) and one of the cupboard doors fell off in the utility room .... comedy of errors all round! And while they will make interesting memories to chuckle over, it was a stretch to chuckle over them at the time when my back is against the wall timewise anyway Anyhow, car now fixed, toilet seat will be mended on Friday, cupboard door removed pending the NY and the gift of "time" :laugh:

Going to rustle up some Everyday biscuit dough to go with the bottle of wine for L's this afternoon (she can bake or freeze depending on her own needs) and I've got some weetabix I can rustle up some brownies with at the same time to take over to J&A's for teatime.

Boys will get a bit of a shocker tomorrow as we need to be up at 4am ready to catch the 0630 ferry ... but what a wonderful day it's going to be :j

Have a wonderful moneysaving Wednesday, everyone and ((hugs)) for those who need/want them :wave:

Bexstars

good morning everyone

I have so much to do today! Im off visiting my nan this morning to take her card and presents, then im up to the dr's to get my daughter weighed, then im gonna leave the car at home and jump on the tram into town for the last bits of my christmas shopping, and then tonight me and hubby are having a rare night out at the cinema while my sister babysits. All this and im sure that house cleaning and cooking is supposed to fit in there somewhere lol

hope everyone has a good day!

Dumyat

well I have a day off today and Christmas must be sorted today.
I am waiting for the rush hour traffic to die down then I will hit the shops. mr dogrose is wanting to come, I'm not keen - it will end in tears He gets bored after an hour and I have loads to buy and dont know what to buy yet.
And I need an outfit for christmas night out at work on Friday.

at least my wages are in the bank was hoping to have had a better pay - but I was late getting my claim in and my back money still hasnt appeared. Still hopefully it will all be in January's wage.

Pooky

Morning all

What a beautiful frosty morning - of course it's even better when I don't have to go out in it.

Queenie - Have a fab time in France, I'm very jealous, we normally hop over for a bit of last minute shopping but just haven't had the time this year - can I sneak in your suitcase?

Snowy - I'll ship my DD's over to help with the tree - their chrismtas spirit is infectious.

Mushy - Hope the date went well.

Both my DD's have surfaced, looked at the frost in the garden and are necking hot choccy and toast quick so they can go out and play - (mad fools) - the fresh air will do them good.

A basic whip round with a damp cloth and a load of washing to go in this morning then we'll be having a go at some magic snow we got (no idea how it works) and then we'll be making our Yule choccy log.

Some chicken left in the fridge that needs using up so I will do a chicken and veg shepherds pie style tea for me and DD's - DH is eating out with clients for the 5th day in a row - he'll be sick of christmas dinner by the actual day.

Have a lovely day all.

jan59

Morning folks

Haven't posted for ages for various reasons, but have been reading a few threads when Ihave had the time.

Made some shortbread for Christmas presents and thrilled with it - looks good cut out in star shapes. Have also made some mini christmas cakes so willl be giving those out shortly.

House in uproar as christmas decs get sorted, lights are tested, boxes are hidden adn we are storing a pool table for my SIL!! I panic everytime my neices and nephew come round. There is no earthly reason for them to go into the spare bedroom, but you know what kids are like!! Its very stressfull (but will be worth it for their faces on CHristmas day!)

Other SIL and her hubbie have arrived back in the country having been working abroad for a while - somewhere warm, so the sharp intake of breath as they walked out of the airport could be heard miles away......... Lovely to have them home for a while and will be looking forward to spending some time with them.

Veg order into farm shop, meat order into our lovely 'proper' butchers, just one last grocery shop to do. No optimum time to do that one as whereever you go ,I would imagine that there will be queues. Will just have to set aside plenty of time and practice my yoga breathing in the queue!

two more days at work - including this one - then off to YOrk Theatre Royal to see the panto there. Will really feel like Christmas then!:T

VickyA_2

Morning everyone :hello:

Just popping on quickly to say hi before facing that big bad world out there! I'm going to brave Tesco........... my VERY last time before Christmas Day. DH's work colleagues wolfed down his HM chocolate beetroot muffins that they have demanded more! Apparently his manager isn't convinced that he made them. Sadly, DH's muffins are better than mine..... :rolleyes:

I've also got an Ebay parcel to post this morning. That'll be fun when I get back from Mr T's.

We're going round to another friend's house for supper tomorrow night. Again, not far from where DH works, so I'll make the trip across the Fens AGAIN. I've offered to make pudding, so it's Nigella's Chocolate Mousse Cake again. I love it so much, and it's quite easy to make.......... after the 8 :eek: egg whites have been "whisked into soft peaks". Thank goodness for my electric whisk. The first time I made it, I only had a hand whisk and it took an hour of me sitting in front of "Diagnosis Murder" to whisk the little blighters!

Better go before Tesco gets too unbearable for words.

:wave:

Vicky