No T Words mentioned at all - a fresh start

scottishminnie

Evening all.

Candlelight - I'm so envious, gifts wrapped already. I hate wrapping with a passion so I procrastinate until it can no longer be avoided - usually Christmas Eve!

VJs mum - I'm warming to a Paris trip - maybe even a day trip. I'm starting to look at where else mother and I can venture to do and still be back home before mayhem erupts in either household. I'm most indignant on your behalf about the sourdough, it's my favourite and I enjoyed breakfast of poached eggs and bacon on sourdough toast on Saturday. I must hunt for a bread maker recipe for sourdough as I'm very limited in where I can source it around here.

FTM - I too was stripping sheets this morning. I have a few days off although will need to do about 4 hours work or so on the laptop tomorrow and Wednesday which is very frustrating. I had holidays booked since March and then someone more senior decided they were also having time off and suddenly my holidays were a big issue which I could only have if i "agreed" to pick a few things up:mad:

Well, the London trip was fun. It was a long and tiring day although it was only when we were on the plane home that we noticed how tired we were. Mother had a ball - we both loved Liberty. What an impressive building and so unique. We didn't buy anything though, some of the prices were eye watering!we did have breakfast though and it was delicious.
We also visited Fortnum and Mason. Again we didn't purchase but took a note of what we wanted and will order online. It was so horrendously busy we felt the need to retreat to the ice cream parlour for a lemon, ginger and mint float. Absolute heaven!

We had a stroll through the arcades on Piccadilly and around and finished off with a stroll down Carnaby Street on the way back to the tube. I bought a very funky pair of ankle boots on Carnaby Street and then it was off to the airport to head home. I couldn't believe how busy it was, I'm definitely going to tackle my remaining Christmas shopping online and in small town local shops. Good luck to anyone who needs to venture to the High Street!

I'm now planning my activities for the next two days although I will need to fit round a dentist appointment. I was due to have a temporary crown replaced and I have horrific pain and a swollen gum and jaw. I have a sinking feeling the dentist will cheerfully announce I need root canal treatment first. That will be the third root canal in a year. If only I knew how to avoid it - so annoying when I've taken care of my teeth all my life and hubby who had never been to a dentist until he was 35 had pretty much perfect teeth.

So, with some spare time this week I should be a more regular visitor here!

hoglet121

Hi everyone

Just a quick note from me to say we're having a lovely time in Australia and I'll be back to normal very soon. Weather today has been 28 degrees and should remain high for the rest of our time here. We've been catching up with family and friends and now enjoying the good weather.

The cat sitters have reported that my boys haven't been seen but all the food is going, I do so hope we will come home to find them all ok.

Love to you all

Hoglet x

candlelight_2013

Afternoon all,

Went to Ikea yesterday and purchased a few things, so was pleased about that. Went to Card F**tory this morning to buy individual Christmas cards and a couple of birthday cards. One is a 21st at the beginning of January so knew I had to buy that now because card shops after Christmas will be heaving with sale stuff.

FTM what date is Fern's birthday please. DGD2 has been really ill. DD took her to the Walk in Centre first, they said it was a virus, she was worse on Thursday, so she phoned 111 for advice, and no better on Friday so managed an emergency appointment with GP. He took 30 minutes examining her and wanted to rule out meningitis and brain tumour:eek:. Although, as he said, only a scan could really determine that. Thankfully she has improved a lot now, but whatever this virus is that is going round sounds to be lethal,

SM I am not boasting about wrapping the pressies, it is just a relief, and believe me before I retired I wouldn't be this far ahead.

VJsMum, I am still eating wheat and gluten free bread, and not eating cakes and biscuits made with wheat flour, and I can honestly say I feel so much better. It is about 2 months now, and although the bread is expensive I don't eat much of it. I am afraid I alwayss loved fresh bread, so I ate more than I should, but now a couple of slices of GF a day, if at all.

Lyn have lovely time with the Zebra child, poor Docky will miss you, but I am so relieved he is more settled. The medicine seems to have worked really quickly hasn't it?

Hoglet, You sound as though you are having a lovely holiday. It is quite cold and misty here. I am sure the cats will be fine, they are taking advantage of you being away, but if they are eating there can't be much to worry about.

Much love to you all

Candlelightx

flowertotmum

Good morning everyone..its been busy here at ftmansion..

SM..o your trip sounds lovely and the minty float ooh delicious..don't you just hate when someones else doesn't give a fig if you have holudays booked or not..so selfish some people..

MLW..i hope Nells concert go well tonight..

Candlelight..o i love Ikea..but its too far away for me to just pop in..i love the website..o your poor dgd..this virus is just awful..glad she is improving now..how is your dd getting on with physio. I got a bargain on cards last week..i found some in a box with the corner bashed in and reduced to 20p for 20 cards..the cards are fine inside. Just need wrapping paper and time on my own to do it..not going to happen lol..

VJ'smum..wow you sound really busy..cheeky beggars pinching your toast.."MAN TROUBLE"..i used to tell my girls that men aren't worth it til they 30..then they have grown up..unless you find the right one..i think i would have freaked out too.

Hoglet you have a great time hun..enjoy the sunshine..as for the cats they are probably sulking and will sulk when you come home or be totally over joyed..cats are strange things.

AOT..hi how are you..

Kate ..hey there ..i bet your busy babe and excited..

Well we have decided our new topic is Christmas through the ages..i have been researching about Christmas celebrations and traditions from the ages past..also more on the Oceans of the world..the girls seem fascinated by the Marianas Trench..we watched a short documentary on it.
Fionna has been for her check up and is clear..she is also handing in her notice at work..they have been good to her but the work is piling up again and she just can't do it..she has explained that it hurts her to lift things..they don't seem to be listening so she has re-worked her budget and if she quits her fella will work 2 hours overtime on Saturdays to make up the difference..he is a great chap and looks after my Fi very well.

Andrea has been for another scan and they are concerned as one twin is smaller than the other..she is being placed under consultant and is going back for another scan today..but both babies are ok..heart beats strong and growing well..she is still abit icky in the mornings but its not too bad now.

Right i have got Ferns pressies all wrapped and stashed..its next thursday..Simon has got the day off for it..its Simon's birthday on the Saturday and i haven't got him a pressies yet..he is so hard to buy for..so awkward..will have to rack my brains for it.
so i think i am all caught up
take care all
love
ftm

flowertotmum

Hi all..another busy day today and yesterday..good news Iris lost her second baby tooth..tooth fairy came as well..i think we may have to have a talk with Fern about Father Christmas..she seems to be working things out..its a shame as i wanted her to have one last believing Christmas..bless her..and she knows that I AM THE TOOTH FAIRY!!!..she saw me last time swapping them over..and she never said a word..such a cutie and so sweet not to burst Iris's bubble of believing..
right off to do some work
love to you all
ftm

candlelight_2013

Afternoon all,

It has just started to rain here, and it is quite cold as well.

Bent down to pick something up this morning and my back pinged, so I am sat here with a hot water bottle at the back of me. I am sure it will be fine tomorrow.

Popped to the SM and then to see DD.

FTM she is doing really well, thank you for asking, these new exercises she is doing has certainly helped the leg, but she has a lot of pain in her back as well. The physio has given her an exercise for that as well, evidently she has to isolate the buttock muscle from the thigh muscle easier said than done, i understand.

Christmas is such a magical time when they are little, and it was such a disappointment to me when my 2 girls "found out". I am sure Fern will keep it to herself and not spoil it for Iris.

We are off to the Farm Shop tomorrow to see what goodies they have there. They have some lovely meat and sausages, although not cheap. I am dreadful with sausages, and very choosey but they do have Gloucester Old Spot, and I also like sausages to have some herbs in them.

Lyn I hope you are enjoying yourelf and hope the concert goes ell tomorrow.

Have good weekend everyone

Much love

Candlelightx

katep23

Hi all, been busy getting ready for an exam on Friday. Thankfully all over and no college for a couple of weeks!


FTM, I found out about Father Christmas when I was 6, I told my sister who was 11 and she really tried to keep it going for me but that was it really. Hopefully Fern can keep the magic going for Iris!


Candlelight, sounds like your DGD has really been through it with this virus x


SM, it's really not on to guilt you when you have had your holiday booked for so long. Feel for you as I have had so many holidays where I end up checking / replying to emails and you never really relax. The last holiday I had where I wasn't 'on call' was Hong Kong in 2009!!


Had a lovely relaxing evening - made homemade pizza, had some wine and been listening to Spotify all evening. We tried to find a film to watch on Blinkbox but nothing really stood out so it seemed a waste to download something for the sake of it.

scottishminnie

Well, so much for popping in during the week, it's Sunday night already and the "to do" list is only half completed!

Sadly my 4 days holiday didn't quite work out that way. I was asked to join two 1 hour calls, write a short report and keep an eye out for some emails. The reality was I ended up logged on for several hours each day on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and couldn't organise or commit to anything on those days. Unfortunately I work for a company where this is very much expected and there won't be so much as an acknowledgement of it. Anyway, rant over and back to more pleasant things than work.

I ordered some dylon navy blue dye to salvage my not so white linen table cover. I hunted in all the summaries, several pound shops and a fabric warehouse to no avail before giving in and ordering from a well known auction site. I so wanted to support the high street however I'm finding it more and more difficult to get things as stock simply isn't held any more.

I popped into Costco to get some tins of Kirkland Belgian chocolate biscuits for Christmas as I normally hand one in at the hairdressers and one for the office to keep them going when I'm away on holiday at New year. They had none! No tins at all, all sold out. I thought I was well head too so I'll have to think of something else!

I also thought I had a stash of wrapping paper however When I investigated I only have a single roll and some if cuts so that's another thing on the list.

Had a fairly productive afternoon though, bread in the bread maker, cherry loaf made and chocolate and orange panettone bread pudding for dessert. The was dessert left over but mother didn't offer it back to me - that's always a sign that they really liked it:)

Well, last week of the month is on us so I think I need a "before Christmas" list. Starting it now, no time like the present!

candlelight_2013

Hello all,

Well a nice morning here, dry and bright but we had a heavy frost, took Himself a while to remove the frost from the windscreen.

Took DD to the supermarket for her shop and then went back with her to have a coffee. She was in some discomfort today, but as she says it is the cold that gets into the joints. I have found that as well because my right hip is playing up today, probably years of walking around with a child on
my hip HAPPY DAYS

We had a lovely lazy day yesterday. Didn't have to go out so we were warm and cozy. Himself watched the Grand Prix and i sorted through a few things and have a large bag of stuff to go to the Hospice shop some time this week.

Have to pop into town tomorrow because I need to go to the Bank, I need one more store gift card for Christmas and a gift card for my sister whose birthday it is on the 2nd December. She is in America at the moment but will be back before Christmas..

SM best laid plans eh I actually thought I had more paper left over than I did from last Christmas and hardly a gift tag to be found. I love Costco gift tags, they are gorgeous.

Hoglet hope you are having a great holiday

FTM all systems go for Fern's birthday? I am sure she is so excited, I hope you have a great time.

Lyn, are you home from your adventures? No doubt Docky was really pleased to see you.

Well that's all my ramblings I think, have a good day everyone

Much love

Candlelightx

hoglet121

Hi everyone :-)

We got back very late on Saturday night to 3 cats very happy to see us, they've barely left our side since. I think we were missed!

We had a lovely time away, very relaxing and wonderful to catch up with family, but coming back to work has been just awful. Almost makes it pointless going away as there's such a mess when I get back.

We're having a major savings push ahead of Christmas, not that we'll spend much and I completely disagree with spending a huge amount of money on what is essentially 1 day, but there are lots of bills on the horizon so a bit more of a cushion in the bank would be welcome. My car needs a warrant (NZ version of an MOT) next week and as it's 20 years old it's always a bit hit or miss whether it'll pass. After a certain running out of oil incident a month or so ago, hopefully we caught the problem before any long term damage was done.

Not much news from us, hope you're all well

love Hoglet x