No T Words mentioned at all - a fresh start

elona

I could not believe how busy the shops were in York but managed to get a special birthday present for youngest dd whose birthday is mid January and for son in law whose birthday is on the 2nd!!!!

I have finished most of the wrapping and suppose I should start thinking about Christmas cards.

I managed to resist the "dine in for two offers " at M and S but did succumb to the balanced ready meals and treated myself to a couple. I have the ingredients for pea and ham soup so might cook that tomorrow and just pop out to the nearest shop for a few sheets of birthday wrapping paper and have a quiet day.

Hugs to all

fuddle

Card factory have Macmillan charity cards in elona - 2 packs of 8 for £1. Only 10p of the £1 goes to charity but they are cheapy cheap cheap and doing some good.

DH and I, Sis and BIL spent another Sunday morning sorting mam's house. We haven't been in for a few weeks so have found we've made progress along the road we have to go down only to have to revisit the negativity. I wouldn't say it's knocked me back but it's took the excitement out of my sails. Houses deteriorate so quickly when they aren't looked after. It's both sad and frustrating. I feel so sorry for her and then I get so cross with her.

Anyway. I'm back home and because we didn't have children in tow (MIL watched them and fed them ) we treat ourselves to a pub Sunday lunch on the way back and have pudding rice in the Slow Cooker for supper accompanied with raisins and mixed spice. I start tomorrow with the meals and I'm actually looking forward to getting some control back.

I'm about to go square cut. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday evening

hoglet121

Hi everyone,

Just caught up on all your news.

I've been a bit MIA I know, sorry about that! Busy weeks at work in the run up to Christmas. One of the things we love about NZ is that is isn't nearly as materialistic about Christmas as the UK is. It still is quite, but not nearly as much. I've never got used to it being warm at Christmas tho!

Thanks so much for asking about my next ride, Polly, I'm going to be ding 472 miles in the first week of February, riding from my house to Wellington. I'm really looking forward to it but I need to do much more training. I've been biking halfway to work most days to cust down commuting costs and then getting the train in for the rest of it. Afraid I got a stinking headache yeserday which I haven't cleared today, so no biking for me today.

Yesterday I went to see my cousin's little girl's first ballet show - so sweet (even if the show did go on for 3 hours and she was on for about 1 minute). She was doing very well until she saw us then she just stood still and waved at us!

No christmas tree here for us - cats!

Must do some work, love to you all,

Hoglet xx

[Deleted User]

Morning all, chilly here this morning but due to get much cooler so I mustn't complain. Hopefully our neighbour will lend us her Makro card and a letter so we can use it and we'll be off to get more loo rolls, washing liquid and softener and other things of that ilk. Very useful to be able to do this and it means I don't have to cart big packs of loo rolls home on the bus! I shall make a very low fat keema curry with rice for our supper this evening, warm food for cold nights is a comfort.

FUDS will be thinking of you all viewing houses today and hoping that it doesn't take you too long to find the 'right' one. Exciting times love isn't it?

monnagran

Good morning everone from a bright and crisp Island.

I've not been about much lately as I have worked out that if I knit for 12 hours a day from now till Christmas I still won't get through all I have to do. However, last night I finished the last of the Christmas Stockings requested by the Nursery School. I think they intend to fill them sweeties and sell them at their Christmas Fair (or Fayre even).

I still have a couple of novelty scarves and a hat and scarf (long!) set, in black requested by a teenage boy of my acquaintance. I'm a bit concerned as my thumb and wrist were very painful by the time I finished the last stocking yesterday. I've never suffered from aches and pains (I know), and the thought of having to give up my knitting fills me with gloom.

Fuddle: it's so good to hear you having fun with your sister, well not fun exactly but getting on so well.
Don't get me started on losing weight. I went on my first diet aged 17, 60 years ago now, and have been fighting mother nature ever since.

I have read every book and tried every Slimming Club known to the civilised world. I finally found success with heartbreak and trauma. In the emotional wreckage that followed I somehow lost two and a half stones. Determined to make the best of the only good thing to come out of that time, but not in the right mental state to be uberdisciplined, I have worked out a new way of eating that seems to have worked. By giving myself a "window" of 6 hours each day for eating, and not putting any restrictions on what I eat, I have not only kept the weight off, but have lost another few pounds over the past year.
It's a strange thing and may not suit everyone but after a lifetime of struggle I am ecstatic.
I think that if you have been slim while growing up almost any diet will get you back there. Unfortunately I was a 10lb baby, (the doctor who delivered me said that I looked 3 months old already), a fat toddler, a fat schoolgirl, a fat teenager......................and nature obviously intended me to be a 20stone momma. By constant, miserable dieting I avoided that but have been overweight all my life.

Just saying.

Lynne I so agree with you about Christmas. It was such fun when the children were young but now is a bit of a nightmare. This year I have given all the adults fair warning that they are only going to be getting token presents from me, and by 'token' I mean only costing a couple of pounds but, hopefully, still being suited to the recipient or funny. Children will be getting a book and something just for them. The money I would otherwise be spending will be going towards buying a toilet block for an African school and to a cancer charity in this country.
I hate, hate, hate the commercial bonanza that Chistmas has become.

Just look at the time! I'm off. Have a good day.

x

pollyanna_26

Good morning all .
Fingers crossed for the viewings today Fuds . May not be lucky first time but at least you're now on the path to the dream . I'm glad you and dh had a bit of time together and a meal . Sorting mams house is a stressful time and I'm sorry you have to deal with both the sadness and hard work . It is part of the grieving process and I hope it will help you move ahead in your new life x
Lovely to catch up Hoglet . Cats and christmas trees all the years I had cats I had to have artificial trees due to the needles . Our cats had different reactions , some pretty well stripped the lover levels of ornaments , we had one that used to run up and down a 7ft tree , beloved of all Oliver loved christmas but was happy just patting all the bells and we would hear him during the night ringing the bells . Bit naff but he had his own jingle bell with his name on which still adorns the tree .
Well freezer was dealt with yesterday . I didn't have any feeling left in my fingers despite thick padded freezer gloves so didn't get back online . In fact I had a lazy afternoon as I discovered about an hour in that the drama channel were showing the complete Cranford series , I've visited the village Elizabeth Gaskell lived in many times so spent a pleasant time watching again .
I must confess I loathe shopping , I think it was Candlelight who was shopping at the weekend and I admired her bravery . I prefer early to midweek . I can potter round the little village shops to my hearts content but most food shopping means town or a shopping complex in a different direction .
I've planned a good stock up . Village butcher and milkman will take care of meat , veg and other fresh foods as the shops become busier .
Middle daughter is already wearing her main present , a thick , warm waterproof winter coat for winter walking especially the long dog walks . Youngest has a new thick dressing gown and pyjamas and oldest dd has been asked to open her gardens for charity next year so some lovely items to go with her pale blue and white vintage style will be winging her way . They will have other things but the above are either want , need or like .
Anyway I need to make some phone calls . Very cold here so hope you all stay warm .
Thoughts with Lainey and mum as always xx
polly

pollyanna_26

Monna Look at IMAK compression gloves and similar . I swear by mine , I would not be knitting still without them . I've also found recently they are excellent to wear in bed if hands are painful .
Re the long scarf could you not convince teenage boy long scarves do not meet h&s standards and make it shorter ?
Not ignoring posts - my thanks button appears to have gone awol at the moment .
polly

LaineyT

Another one here who is not feeling the enthusiasm for Yule yet but like Fuds said it starts very early nowadays and so feels like it drags on for months
Have to admit have done all of my shopping so far online as just can't face being pushed around in all the crowds, that said there is a few local shops that I like to visit every year for those little extras so must make time soon.
Just had a txt from SIL as the careers went in for the first time this morning, they seemed nice and put Mum at her ease. We are just having them once a day to start with so everyone gets used to the situation and we have the option to step up if need be.
Hope all is going well with the house viewings Fuds, how exciting for you all x
Lovely to hear from you Hoglet, can only read in awe about your mammoth bike rides, my maximum is a 2 mile round trip into the village.
Polly, love the idea that your cat rung the bells and even had his own

Must dash, have an afternoon date with Captain S, we are off to see Fantastic Beasts at the cinema, now where did I put those liquorice allsorts.... xx

pollyanna_26

Have a good time out Lainey it will do you both the world of good .
Glad mum seems happy with the carers and has had a gentle and positive introduction . xx

fuddle

We have had an offer accepted on the first house we viewed. I am thrilled, relieved and excited... and yes, it's the one with the inglenook It's a teeny tiny but I am comfortable in small houses. Wanna sneak peek?