'supporting each other through really tough times'

mardatha

Awh that's lovely !

missrlr

possession re the alarm when you go in tap in code and it will stop
when you want to reset tap in code and it will usually flash a message like ": do you want to set?" press "yes" or "enter" or "set" what ever the most sensible option on the pad looks like, then turn leave and lock door. before you do - could they have left the light on for security purposes? Is it on all the time or just at night? We used to stick a lamp on an extension cord in the upstairs landing on a timer set to come on a random times which made us feel better, but not sure it did a whole heap!!!

Frosty here, -1oC according to car all the way to work and car had to be scraped clear of ice. It is amazing the number of people trying to peer through a 1 inch square clear bit on the screens and this is on roads past a busy school where the not so little morons don't bother checking if there is a car coming before launching themselves across the road to walk with their friends! Obviously cars don't use the road when kids are walking to school! Some of the not so little idiots stand in the middle of the road having a yak or listening to their iPods oblivious to the fact IT IS A ROAD not a pavement, that is the thing to your right and left, go get on it and stop being so blinking ignorant.

Sorry rant over, guess I had a rubbish first mile to work this morning. And it is Friday, all I have to do is NOT commit boss-icide (again) and I will have completed another week - aren't I the clever one!

We have tree, artificial and works a treat, it will come out either the weekend of the 16th or 22nd, not sure yet depends on guests, and my mood and general enthusiasm (which is conspicuous in its absence at present).

When DH and I first moved in together he had a hard and fast lesson in all things MSE - we went through both our lofts (mine, 2 suitcases, 1 Christmas box, 1 tree, 12 boxes for packing my crystal glasses in; his a complete tip, full of "stuff", empty boxes for things long since broken, replicates of all sorts of things, tools, bags of clothes long since forgotten and generally rich pickings for car boot sale) and sorted what was useful, what was replicated, what was junk (quite a lot in his loft).

We then decided what we were keeping in terms of furniture, kitchen stuff, crockery etc. We chucked the junk, then on the day of the move, we hired a BIG van and moved all the stuff we were selling to my house, all the stuff we were keeping to his house, more stuff we were selling to my house, then packed the van and the next day went to a car boot sale, where we sold almost everything, there were 2 boxes of odds and sods left. So we went to the tip and dumped it. The money we made from the car boot sale covered the hire of the van, fuel, food at the car boot and afterwards (we were shattered and could not be cooking!) plus there was nearly £200 left over! I reminded him of this the other day and now he is decided to look again the at "stiff' he could not part with then in the loft in the hope that come spring he will be able to car boot a lot of it and get some more money. Not a LBM but working on it!

[Deleted User]

7 week wonder, what a lovely and thoughtful dad, a present like that is beyond any price

I almost had one of those panics about what to wear this christmas, we are travelling to a family day with dd and the rest of the immediate family. I breathed in and decided to make do and started to look through my things. I don`t want to be too flimsy, after all it is winter but I don`t want to be too warm in a full room. I got it: a long orvis skirt made of viscose and cotton and it has a pattern so is nice and cheery plus a v neck pale blue lambswool jumper, still in its bag from woolovers. Now these jumpers are great value but look better and better after every wash. The knit is still a little loose and there is a whiff of coned machine wool, I know because I used to machine knit a lot. So that is me sorted and the first wool wash is on, it will probably need a couple more but will then be just right. A bit of jewellery for the sparkle and I am done. Phew I almost panicked

The risotto made with squash soup was memorable so we are having the rest of the soup in another risotto, such a comforting meal in a bowl

Dehydrated veggies are soaking ready for lasagne and pasta toppings, ie courgette, onion, garlic, tomatoes, a broccolli head, green beans, carrots and herbs. I figure that I`ll simmer it later, then leave a day to mellow. I may or may not add a tin of chopped tomatoes, depends on the substance and puree might be enough to finish. I might also give a very quick whizz to even sizes a bit

shegar

On the xmas tree subject, I love everything in the house gold / cream / , curtains, cushions, sofas, shabby chic cream furniture too, you name its that colour.............:eek::D

So guess what ?, ive got a cream artificial tree with gold balls, and gold reindeers and clear lights.........I think it looks super but then I would if that my colours, others probaly wouldnt like it........Its 6 foot tall , and I shove it in the corner because the dam things seem to have a habit of just losing its balance........:eek:...Balls everywhere..!!.........

Cold start here white frost , super crisp day, sun is shining, lovely....Sheila

Possession

Oh 7WW what a lovely tradition and what priceless reminders of your Dad they are always going to be. Definitely a treasured family heirloom.
Missrlr - I might wait as I only noticed the light this morning, now it's daylight I can't really tell if it's on or not. I guess it could be a timer, but in the bathroom? They are away a fair bit and have never done it before.
Have just been to Poundland and got various little stocking fillers (though I must say 7 yr old girls are a great deal easier to buy stocking fillers for than almost 11 yr old boys) so apart from making the hamper stuff, that's me done. I've hidden them all in the under draws of the spare bed, don't tell my children!

SDG31000

My washing machine is crackling/fizzy/i.e making a very strange noise :eek: It has finally co-operated and let DH hear it, so it looks like tomorrow is taking the washing machine to bits day. Who wants to bet that he gets called out when it is in pieces all over the kitchen?

My bet is two tins of Cross and Blackwell beans, a bag of yellow split peas and some YS chicken thighs that he does. Anyone want to raise?

sevenup01

I have a 6.5ft christmas tree i bought just before woolworths shut down and my whole family love it. Several members of my family keep plotting to try and steal it from me - they wouldnt really its only to try and wind me up and it never works! The decorations are a total hodgpodge of shop bought and home made, no colour theme at all. The best decoration is the dove made with real featehrs that only i am allowed to put on the tree. It is my memory piece for all the family that i have lost over the years.
7ww i love the sound of your nativity, it was such a thoughtful gift to you.

mcculloch29

VJsmum wrote: »

I collect christmas tree decorations from my holidays. Probably get 5 or 6 every year, sometimes fewer. I splashed out this year on one which was in an american diner that was in an old railway car - probably cost £10 :eek: but I really wanted it and didnt bring much else back as souvenirs. I love it because every year I put them all on remembering the places where they were bought. The tree may not be stylish, but it is unique!

(Edit: Didn't have time to read all the lovely posts this morning - 7WW's was very moving. What a family heirloom and what a lovely memory of a great Dad. I bought an ornament from Latvia so that my late Dad, who was Latvian, would have a "prescence" on the tree. )

Seconded! Give me memories over style any time.



I collect Christmas ornaments as holiday souvenirs as well - some years ago the BBC printed a response about this on one of their articles, about what makes Christmas special for me. It's my tree that makes it special.
Re elderly trees, the artificial tree itself is on its 32nd Christmas.
It was bought in a German Woolworth's in 1981 and cost the equivalent of my food budget for the week, :eek: as it was a very realistic looking plastic reproduction tree. Therefore I have decided to get maximum value from it...

Some of the ornaments are adapted souvenirs - a wooden brooch from my mother's home country of Estonia that I can't wear as the pin is dodgy, is one example.
Also on are table decorations of golden bells from a wedding I went to in the States in 2003.

A couple of times I've bought ornaments (expensively!) directly from countries I want to visit, but know that I may not. Others who know of my hobby have bought me souvenirs.

This year I holidayed in the UK, so a wooden reindeer, made in Germany, but bought in Skipton, will be going on the tree. I have so many decs now that I only add one or two each year.

I've got souvenirs from : Germany, France, Holland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Northern Ireland, Southern Ireland, Wales, Scotland (various locations), England (various locations), the USA, Canada, Australia, and, most special of all, Bethlehem. My daughter visited it in 1996 with her school.

Plus I could say I have souvenirs from China too, given that many were made there. One is a cute plastic angel bearing the slogan 'Lil Angel'. She has a 'sister' that I HAD to buy as well.

The factory was obviously instructed to make angels that were blank, with no slogan:

silvasava

How lovely to read that so many people buy 'special' Christmas decorations.
I used to buy my Mum one 'posh' one every Christmas after I started work. Mum's been gone a while but I cherish the memories when I decorate our tree with all her decorations.
I've sort of continued to do it - I have a lovely glass fir tree - the centre is green & the outside is clear, it looks like its covered in ice. I bought it in the Corning shop in New York State. I also have a little Father Christmas on skis holding a decorated Christmas tree - he's about 1 1/2 inches tall & I got him in Murano when I went there with DS 1 & 2 about 10 years ago.
So many lovely memories - that's what its all about

nuttyp

7WW what alovely thing your dad did, it made sit here and cry. Its one of those days when everything gets to me. My dad passed away suddenly and totally unexpectidly last march, and then this year my beloved dog sadly became very ill, so we did what was the only humain option. Nothing can explain how wrong i feel about doing it.

I took mu mum to aldi first thing as we decided to use the voucher from yesterdays paper and do a joint shop. We got reduded meat - rump steak (cant remember the last time we have ever bought it) and it was 99p a pack. Got some diced pork, in the SC reduced to 99p again. My mum has invested in a snow shovel and some salt stuff for the pavement outside her door.

Today we are treating ourselves for tea this evening, we are haveing a pizza delivered just basic cheese and tomatoe. The owner is a customer so we usually pay around £3 for it delivered :-) I cant remember the last time we actually had a takeaway, seams like ages ago.

Hope everyone has a nice day, and is careful on the ice thats laying around. Sun has just appeared here so mite warm up a little bit.