No T Words mentioned at all - a fresh start

pollyanna_26

Been mia again . I spent hours around town yesterday stocking the cupboards up - ashamed to admit for the first time in memory I ran out of tea I usually have at least two huge boxes of Y Tea . Facing the hordes was worse due to not having a few brews beforehand . Well at least it's done , not intending to go near town until January .
I'm glad you sorted future plan for the stove Fuds , I imagine you'll know a source of free holly and evergreens , some candles and white lights ( I love the bright white fairy lights ) and you can go with the seasons until you can sort the stove - you even have a handy socket for the lights .
I agree with Elona Hotter can have some bargains also fly flot from various online sellers , I have a couple of pairs of leather sandals at below half price , comfy and hard wearing .

Lainey I do hope you are getting a little rest , may your weekend with mum go well . Candle lit as usual xx

Well I've been battling to access my emails since teatime yesterday still no joy . If I get in again I really need to change to another provider but after Mar had her experience with her user name I dread log in problems .
Have a lovely break Lyn .
Sleep tight all especially Fuds - I told you to bank some sleep !
polly x

LaineyT

Hello all, it's a dull and overcast day here, give me cold and frosty any time.
I did manage a restful afternoon and evening, my GH magazine had arrived so enjoyed reading that and looking at all the expensive babbles I would never buy :rotfl: I do like the recipes and recommendations though and the subscription was a present. CS went out in the evening to play Dad's taxi for his youngest so lit the candles and watched a Poirot on tv, it was a quiet, cosy type of evening and much needed.
I just need to make her bed up this morning and then everything is ready for Mum's visit, so looking forward to having her here x

Hope you enjoy the concert tonight Lyn, it sounds wonderful and what a lovely way to kick start that festive feeling.
Fuds, I make full use of candles etc in my hearth. I also do a seasonal bowl display, at the moment it's still the Autumn one so think leaves, cones and conkers but that needs changing now it's officially winter. I also have my cauldron, made by my oh so clever pal who has his own forge, it's wonderful for holding more candles etc and even has a stand made out of two of Billy's old shoes :A Its amazing what you can do to create a cosy, warm glow for your fireplace.
Better get moving, still sitting here in my PJ's, love to all and have a good day xx

[Deleted User]

Had a lovely morning in Cheltenham, Nell very successful with her last few presents to find, Salvation Army brass band playing was fantastic and quite a lot of market stalls but very little 'Christmas'. We had lunch in Prezzo because they do a 'light' alternative to many of their full calorie dishes and both had a flat bread pizza with a salad and low calorie dressing, very pleasant. I got my boots, black this time but they will go into the wardrobe until these wear out, they really are the comfiest pair I've ever had. I know sometimes there is a problem with deterioration of soles in storage so I'll keep checking and wear them if I think they won't keep. Nell has just dashed off to help a friend whose 3 year old has just managed to knock over the Christmas Tree and then she has to dash back, make herself respectable and get changed before dashing off for rehearsal for the concert. I'll go down for around a quarter to six and then stay on for the concert. Will put jacket potatoes in the oven on low so we have something hot to have for a late supper, all go but fantastic!

fuddle

Lainey you paint a cosy picture. I have a lovely bowl that used to house pot pourri in the house that I lost. I has been a fruit bowl ever since but maybe a new start could well mean I can feel like presenting again instead of telling people I don't like clutter (which I don't but it goes a bit deeper than that) I love the sound of a seasonal bowl and it's something the kiddlers can get involved in at easter etc. And while we're on the subject cbrown ikea have sets of multi heighted pillar candles... I have made a start

We have also been to a National Trust Christmas market. I picked up some sausages containing chestnuts so Lyn we are too tentatively dipping our toes in amongst feeling Christmassy. There was a brass band playing Christmas tunes at the market too and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Oh enjoy the concert and come back tomorrow to tell us if you feel a little more Christmassy.

Chicken in the oven ready for a cheats dinner of Yorkshires (home made though) and frozen veg.

I have sorted out my wardrobe and have some donations to give to my shop and have actually started packing up the non essentials from in the kitchen. I've been to mam's house to empty the dehumidifier and lost it a little. Now there's no work to be done I didn't pysch myself up and it hurt. The girls were in the car too so that didn't help as normally MIL looks after them.

I have decided to get myself added onto DH's works car insurance. I haven't driven since May 2015 and have lost my confidence. To be able to just go somewhere myself without having to get DH to drive me and cart the girls along would make all our lives easier. The only drawback is it's a very large car with a great tow bar at the back. This driver is strictly for going forwards in a micra so... :eek::o:cool:

[Deleted User]

Morning everyone, what a beautiful concert last night, the best I've ever heard from the choral society and the soloists were very good too, very sympathetic to the words and very expressive in their singing, all in all a lovely start to Christmas. I started to feel festive when the soprano sang 'I know that my Redeemer liveth' which is quite my favourite piece of all time and never fails to lift my spirits. We had jacket potatoes when we got home, I popped them into a low oven as I left for the Cathedral and they were cooked to perfection when we got home.

He Who Knows is en route to us as I type to do a couple of jobs for Nell and to bring the Christmas presents as we're with Nell this year. We'll go back home this afternoon if he doesn't feel too tired from the drive, not quite so much endurance as we get older or at least we need slightly more recovery time after doing things.

It's a beautiful white crisp day out there in fact the green area behind Nells garden is so white it looks as though it has snowed, we will go and food shop Nell for the week when He Who Knows arrives and get her set up indoors, life as a teacher these days leaves little time for domestic jobs or socialising and her fridge is devoid of edibles so we must stock her up a little. Have yourselves a lovely Sunday and make the most of the time in whatever way seems best to each of you, Lyn xxx.

FUDDLE Nells little multi fuel stove is a MORSO 40, I'll try to get a photo and post it for you as the fireplace opening she has looks about the same size as yours in your new home. It's a sturdy and efficient little workhorse and Morso and Jotul are as good and well made as the Clearview stoves are. I think Morso make a smaller one that is the Morso Squirrel so have a look and see if you like them, Lyn xxx.

fuddle

Talent and warmth alone ignited your christmas spirit... Oh how I bet the shops could bottle that

Envious of your white down there Lyn. We just have dull soggines.

Thanks so much with info about Nell's stove. Does it effect her asthma at all? DH is wondering as smoke is one of my chest triggers.

[Deleted User]

Not at all love, you don't get any smoke from the stove unless you open the door on a day when the wind is strong and you get a downdraught. In fact it helps more than hinders as she keeps the house much warmer when it's lit which actually helps the asthma. You don't get smoke with a closed stove. Her stove is a MORSO 04 not 40!

[Deleted User]

Morning all, back home and the pile of oak branches that He Who Knows harvested over the weekend is very impressive, 2 very big ones still on the front lawn waiting to be processed. Kitchen smells lovely at the moment as I'm making Goulasch Soup and it's flavoured with paprika and caraway seeds which are making a lovely aroma. Nell gave me a big suitcase full of clothes yesterday, things she's slimmed out of and as she's been stable at a size 12 for the past couple of years thought they would be useful for me as I loose weight. Adventure of the day is going to be sorting out what will suit me and what will be too young. The things I don't need can go to the clothing bank so everyone wins.

We're going to prune the big old apple tree this morning and then put up our string of white Christmas lights, it always looks nice and Nell got me a Swedish star lamp to go in the front window so that will be on from tonight, finally feeling Christmassy and have decided to put up in the lounge the tiny Christmas tree that was for the front window so that will get done this afternoon after I've walked the Cookster. Presents all wrapped and ready and all I have to do now is liase with Nell over menus and get whatever food shopping needs to be done. Woohoo I've never been this organised this early before FEELS GOOD!!!

fuddle

Go Lyn! We put our tree up after the Christmas market visit and opened the lebkuchan much to the girls' anticipation. I also set about MIL's Christmas cake this morning. I've not long had a piece with my cuppa. It's really quite boozy which is a concern as it's in the girls' packed lunch! :rotfl:

Do the oak prunings come from your tree Lyn? Oak is my very favourite.

I have finished my Christmas gift shopping and it does feel good. To be organised early is great. I've moved rentals too many times on top of Christmas and with that brings financial burden so to be able to use my savings for their true meaning has been a real treat instead of a bit of a chore. The only problem is I have done it online. Next year I am determined to enjoy the experience with an overnight shopping trip to York or Edinburgh. I seek to experience atmosphere and I think that may well be a trip to Beamish Museum this year.

It's still crisp white outside. Bitter cold here today but beautiful. I am going to sort through my baking cupboard and begin packing the non essentials away. I'm getting over my cold but my cough is pretty bad. I do have niggles in my chest but I don't think it's sinister especially as my resting heart rate showed signs of lowering last night. Fingers crossed... and lots of hot orange and honey drinks today.

Have a good day all

[Deleted User]

Well done love, keep those cold germs at bay! Much warmer here today though still not warm. The oak is from a tree up the road, sadly I don't have an oak, got a nice silver birch in the front garden though. We've just given the big old apple tree a nice tidy haircut and will be putting the lights up after I've walked Cookie this afternoon. Some lovely news too while we were out gardening a mum of one of Ruthies old school friends stopped to say hello with Amelie who is a couple of weeks
younger than Ezra and told me that there will be a new baby for them too, mum is 28 weeks now so a spring baby to look forward too, so nice!
Feeling very pleased this morning as I jumped on the scales for my weekly weigh in and I've lost almost 4 kilos in almost 4 weeks and now can be classed as overweight and not obese if we still do BMI! a very nice feeling indeed! xxx.