'supporting each other through really tough times'

savingqueen

Finally done everything! Santa sacks heaving with gifts are waiting on the ends of the boys' beds. We went on our usual Christmas Eve walk, exchanged our cards as we always keep them til Christmas eve, eaten mince pies (and saved two for santa of course!), left out carrots, milk and homemade santa stop signs and watched the snowman and snowdog (not all in that order but I'm very very tired now... and content)

so all I need to do is to thank you all for sharing and caring so much this year, for laughing and crying, for moaning when needed and hearing my rants too, for just being a fantastic and truely amazing bunch of wonderful friends.

Happy Christmas whoever you are, whatever you are doing and where ever you are. Enjoy the day in big ways or small and I will be thinking of you all

sq:)

stiltwalker

Happy Christmas one and all

Went to the village carol service and it was lovely as always - complete with the obligatory nativity gaffs! Mary and donkey travelled to Bethlehem and one charming little boy REALLY didn't need the microphone yet was given one anyway and woke up anyone who was snoozing!!

Most of tomorrows dinner is sorted and ready to go and the living room is heaving with presents.

Have had a couple of festive sherries or three and a glass of wine and the booze for tomorrow is chilling in the fridge.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and thank you for keeping me company on what has been a real roller coaster of a year. X

mcculloch29

Such a busy few days - but things sorted now! Unixgirl, I am sorry but there WILL be something. No news on the interview I had.

An email from my cousin in Estonia via my bro - I thought he and his wife had lost the baby they were expecting, as we had no news for a long time. No mention of a baby... My bro felt there WAS a baby.

Bro was right- baby Thor is now 9 months old. Yippee! He is to quote our cousin " a wonderful little boy." Wonderful, wonderful news too.

He has a sister who is five - same age gaps as my two. Things are tough for my cousin & his wife, they are both science postgrad professionals and over here would be very comfortably off with the jobs they have there, but over there are doing all sorts to keep heads above water.
Cousin wrote a very interesting account of what Christmas was like under the Soviets - he was 17 or so when independence was regained.

I will edit for clarity and share it soon. My cousin was never taught English but picked it up - along with French. He also speaks German and Russian along with Estonian - German was taught in schools as holidays in East Germany were popular under Soviet rule.

My arthritis isn't auto-immune, but wear and tear caused by my odd gait due to cerebral palsy. The odd thing is I used to have it in my wrist - that went when I got it in my hip.

Food processor is fantastic. I am so lucky. Have chopped bacon and onion and made bread dough so far for a traditional Estonian recipe.
Got all my cooking done and was able to relax and watch TV. Son now recovered from a bad "wobble" and watched with me. Wonderful.

Popperwell

Good news McCulloch. That's what need more of i. hope to be at our place on Wednesday. Listen to me saying that.

I wasn't very well at the Midnight Service and spent most of it sat down. Someone was kind and brought me home...hope a good night sleep makes the difference. Then again I can do whatever I like.

mardatha

McCulloch I love Estonian knitting and lacework, they are very skilled at stuff like that.

ivyleaf

Just popping in to wish you all a Happy Christmas :santa2: I love reading this thread and will be thinking of you all today..

Pops, i hope you feel better this morning! I don't go to the midnight service any more, I love it but am fit for nothing the next day.

nuttyp

just popping by to wish everyone a happy christmas, hope your all warm and snuggly. Its chilly here but thankfully no rain.

Have had eldest DD and her fiance round to open gifts, OH is now asleep again. Both girls have really been surprised by what they have got, mostly from ebAy. Best bargain was a ted baker watch new for £6 and handbag for £8. DD fiance i got him a mater from disney cars alarm clock, again not new but was £7. He also recieved a kinect game that i paid £1.50. See us old stylers can have a really good nice cheap christmas.

Stay safe and warm everyone, thankyou for all you tales of happy and sad times. May 2013 be a better year for us all.

Popperwell

ivyleaf wrote: »

Just popping in to wish you all a Happy Christmas :santa2: I love reading this thread and will be thinking of you all today..

Pops, i hope you feel better this morning! I don't go to the midnight service any more, I love it but am fit for nothing the next day.

Afternoon all,
And a Merry Christmas...I feel much improved but have slept the clock around. Thank you Ivy. Apart from the struggle getting there I thought I was ok but once the first carol had been sung I felt pretty bad. I seemed a bit disorientated and had pins/needles in one arm/hand(not the one usually associated with heart attacks)Can't blame eating too much(but wondered if it was food poisoning...)doesn't seem to be flu or nor coming down with a cold.

So though my Christmas is not as planned...I will try and do something later even if I change to something simple. I may even have fish and some nice vegetables. Something quite light...

Even a bowl of soup might be nice...

Its not as if what I have will be wasted. Just put back a few days...

I feel better than I thought I would being on my own. Feel reasonably positive and calm too. More good days than bad days...I'm more myself.

So will take it easy, stay cosy in under the duvet(not much to attract me on TV so will listen to the radio)

Enough about me. I hope all on here are having the Christmas they wanted with those dearest to them and if alone for whatever the reason that is all you require, I will raise a small glass later to you all, wish you well, light a candle and send my good wishes for your health and happiness for the year ahead.

bluebag

Popperwell wrote: »

Afternoon all,
And a Merry Christmas...I feel much improved but have slept the clock around. Thank you Ivy. Apart from the struggle getting there I thought I was ok but once the first carol had been sung I felt pretty bad. I seemed a bit disorientated and had pins/needles in one arm/hand(not the one usually associated with heart attacks)Can't blame eating too much(but wondered if it was food poisoning...)doesn't seem to be flu or nor coming down with a cold.

So though my Christmas is not as planned...I will try and do something later even if I change to something simple. I may even have fish and some nice vegetables. Something quite light...

Even a bowl of soup might be nice...

Its not as if what I have will be wasted. Just put back a few days...

I feel better than I thought I would being on my own. Feel reasonably positive and calm too. More good days than bad days...I'm more myself.

So will take it easy, stay cosy in under the duvet(not much to attract me on TV so will listen to the radio)

Enough about me. I hope all on here are having the Christmas they wanted with those dearest to them and if alone for whatever the reason that is all you require, I will raise a small glass later to you all, wish you well, light a candle and send my good wishes for your health and happiness for the year ahead.

Merry Christmas, was thinking about you as I know this is your first Christmas alone, so sorry to hear you have not been well.
You need to look after yourself, make sure you eat enough and stay warm in this damp cool weather.

Have just popped on for 2 mins while doing a million other things! LOLI am having a fab Christmas, very simple but grateful to have all those I love so much with me and in good health.
Peace.
bb

7_week_wonder

OH fast asleep, mum working on a needlework sampler, boy-cat has taken over the Christmas hamper basket as his new bed! So all is well chez 7ww! Just summoning up the energy to chill the fizz and prep the veg for Christmas dinner.

Hope everyone is enjoying peace, happiness and all good things!