Not mentioning the T word at all

shelley_crow

scottishminnie wrote: »

I'm feeling slightly more festive - I put the tree up last night and my mother bought me some cinnamon scented pine cones so I have them in a basket by the lounge fire. Sadly it's just an electric fire but it doesn't look too bad.

I did wrap some gifts last night but then discovered I had no tags so at the moment they are sitting with post it notes on top until I get some. The best laid plans......

I'm nearly there with my gift buying, awaiting a few online orders and I need to find out my mother's bra size as I'd like to buy her a nice set from Bravissimo. I've enlisted my sister's help as she will be visiting at some point this week so hopefully between us we can find out. I know what brand she likes so one I have the size I'm all set.
That will round off my shopping pretty much.

I do need to get some doggy chews and little toy things though - we are going to my parents for Christmas dinner and my mother has 2 terriers who like to be kept busy so I think the best option is to take them something too. I wondered if the £ shops have those sort of things? I need to go there to get a pull bow thing for a foodie hamper anyway.

I'm hoping the big storm warnings don't come to anything after our power outage last week. We still don't have a generator and I'm beginning to think we are doomed to defrosting freezers and iced up windows inside again soon. Who was it who used to say "we're all doomed"? I can hear them now!!

Shelley - I love your "my motivation has shrivelled" phrase - can I borrow please? It seems less blunt than "I can't be a****d"! Even though that's the truth sometimes.

I found the Competitions thread a few days ago so I've entered lots of ITV.com ones tonight for money and vouchers etc. I've never really been much of a comper and I will only enter where I would actually like the prize but as they say "you've got to be in it to win it" so worth a try.

Go for it hun, I need to think of more ways to justify my procrastination :rotfl:Any ideas welcome.

Sounds a bit scary about the power outages and storms, how long did it take for the power to come back last time? British gas told me that a freezer will stay frozen for 12 hours if not opened, not entirely helpful if it's a long powercut though. Make sure you have a small camping cooker, my dad used to swear by his tilley trojan, if all else fails then a hot cup of tea or instant noodles will tide you over for a while.

I cleared out the under the sink cupboard. I'm shocked! The amount of crap in there was unreal! I had 7 ice cube trays (why?), 2 odd glass bowl lids (no bowls), 3 rusty placemats, 2 rusted cake tins and a ruckload of odd tupperware. Shameful :eek: It's freed up some space in the cupboard, recucle bin is heaving though :rotfl:

greenbee

Scottishminnie - I never have tags when I need them, so buy a box of small plain white cards (think I got them from smiths last time) slightly smaller than a business card and it lasts me for ages and they go with every kind of wrapping. Or you could make some out of plain or coloured card, or last year's Christmas cards if you have them

scottishminnie

shelley_crow wrote: »

Sounds a bit scary about the power outages and storms, how long did it take for the power to come back last time? British gas told me that a freezer will stay frozen for 12 hours if not opened, not entirely helpful if it's a long powercut though. Make sure you have a small camping cooker, my dad used to swear by his tilley trojan, if all else fails then a hot cup of tea or instant noodles will tide you over for a while.

Last week the power was off for 32 hours. that was our eighth power failure this winter. Last year we had almost 3 days without electricity. The frustrating thing is that Scottish Power prioritise on the basis of the number of people without power so because we are rural it means that although we may be the ones without power for the longest if there is a street of houses off they will take priority.
It absolutely sucks but the power companies don't give two hotts.

To add insult to injury they still charge the standing charge for the days you have no power and they don't have to refund it as the power failures are due to weather conditions. Of course the fact that the lines are ancient and have been rejoined and patched for years seems neither here nor there.

Anyway rant over - off to do soem work:D

SDG31000

Good Morning everyone

I think my Christmas Spirit has gone on strike The tree is up at least and the shopping is done, but I'm still not feeling Christmasy at all. I brought some more decorations yesterday so will put those up later. I know I'm not the only one feeling like this and I wonder what it is about this year that is having this effect.
This week is quite calm at the moment, but from Saturday onwards I have tons of stuff to do. I need to make some egg and soya free cake/goodies for Knit and Natter on Tuesday. I've found a recipe for Parkin, but the recipe says to use Medium Oatmeal. Do I use normal porridge oats? Or should I give them a whizz in the food processor to break them up a bit?
Monday and Christmas Eve are baking days. I need to make chocolate truffles, salted caramel fudge, tablet, iced biscuits, sugar free fruit cake, mince pies, flapjacks and desserts for Christmas Day. Eeekkk........Can I go back to bed and wake up when Santa has finished his deliveries please?
Today I'm planning on breaking the back of the wrapping once DH has gone off to the Dentist. Wish me luck as it means going into the present cupboard of DOOM!

Kaz2904

We're getting into the spirit of it and I'm hoping that DH will go through the gifts with me tonight. If we can get the majority wrapped today then we can hand them out when people come up for DS's birthday party on Sunday. We may put the tree up on Sunday evening or Monday morning as nobody is coming round on Monday. I feel a bit bad for DS, DD has school on her birthday, DS sometimes does but not often and my Niece and nephew never do. MiL goes to see them on their birthdays every year but isn't bothering with DS's as we're having his do the day before. She would go and see them. I'm fine with that because it means we can go out for the day but think it's a bit for him.
Oh well, if the snow comes again, he won't get any sort of birthday really. It'll be a pot of chilli for people who can get here!
Busy having struggles with DH. DS doesn't really want anything apart from a game for his birthday or Christmas. DH has given him the argos book and he now has a massive list. DH now wants to buy that massive list :eek:. If he doesn't want anything, he doesn't want anything!
Anyhoo, am being really lazy this morning. Am actually still in my pyjamas (because my dressing gown's warm and the house is not!).
I'd better go and get dressed and must get on with my knitting. I'd like it finished before new year. Fingers crossed (well no, 'cause that'll slow the knitting down ) but you know!

mardatha

Freezer's good for 24hrs if you dont open the door, so start on the food in the fridge first

shelley_crow

scottishminnie wrote: »

Last week the power was off for 32 hours. that was our eighth power failure this winter. Last year we had almost 3 days without electricity. The frustrating thing is that Scottish Power prioritise on the basis of the number of people without power so because we are rural it means that although we may be the ones without power for the longest if there is a street of houses off they will take priority.
It absolutely sucks but the power companies don't give two hotts.

To add insult to injury they still charge the standing charge for the days you have no power and they don't have to refund it as the power failures are due to weather conditions. Of course the fact that the lines are ancient and have been rejoined and patched for years seems neither here nor there.

Anyway rant over - off to do soem work:D

That's ridicuous! Can't believe they would still charge you as well as not fixing it asap. Can't say I envy you hun, must be a nightmare!

I discovered Dunelm Mill today, eeek! It's amazing, it's very counterproductive to my decuttering efforts. I'm eyeing up the large kilner jars to keep flour in, the 2l size are only £2.99.

scottishminnie

I'm going to run a sweepstake to see how long I can have power for - that's right, not how long it's off for, how long it's on.

My mother text me at 10am this morning to say no power yet again, she then text me at 2 to say it was back on. I was just leaving the office at 5 when hubby called to say no electricity again and it came on just after 10 so that's a total of 9 hours today without power. :mad:
Apparently one of the engineers who came this morning to repair whatever the latest problem was said the supply was probably ok in the 60's but was woefully inadequate now. He was sympathetic but warned us that we can pretty much look forward to continual outages when the wind gets above about 25mph. I think if the man with the generator doesn't get his finger out I'll be setting a rocket under him.

The only saving grace tonight was that hubby sat in front of the little calor gas heater which I bought last week and declared it to be a godsend. At least we were able to take the cold air off the house and then keep one room warm. Lighting is a real issue though, candles aren't really much good for reading by. I remember my parents having a lamp thing with a little cannister beneath it when I was young. It made a funny hissing noise but I think I'll be investigating what it was as it did give off better light.
I do have some paraffin lamps but the last time we lit one the soot was so bad I ended up having to emulsion the ceiling of the utility room to cover the black mark!

We had to resort to a fish supper for tea - that was a bit of a treat, I don't know the last time I had fish and chips. It wasn't terribly hot by the time I got it home to the sticks, it was warm though and I had made some french bread last night so we had doorstop slices with lurpak. What a healthy diet, especially when I rounded it off with the last crumbs of tablet which I made at the weekend!

Anyway I'm off to boil a kettle and fill a flask, just in case the power goes off again (my money is on it not getting through the night). Night all:)

ooh - just noticed Shelley's post about Kilner jars - my weakness. I feel a trip to Dunelm Mill coming on......

Igamogam

scottishminnie wrote: »

ooh - just noticed Shelley's post about Kilner jars - my weakness. I feel a trip to Dunelm Mill coming on......

They sell them in Dunelm...............now I have an excuse to visit the place. Thanks TK Max often have them as well................

Gigervamp

scottishminnie wrote: »

Lighting is a real issue though, candles aren't really much good for reading by.

Put a mirror behind the light and put mirrors nearby to reflect the light.