*The Holly and the Ivy* and the You Know What 2013 Chatter Thread.

Crowdpleaser

Quick post before bed to say argh.

Kind of good and bad way.

DH is 40 in February. Now for my 30th 3 years ago he took me to a spa then down to London overnight then on Eurostar to paris for weekend and Moulin Rouge whilst we were there then back home and a hotel before back home. Yes he goes overboard.

Anyway, Ive wracked my brains for what to do. Mum has agreed to come up and babysit for the week (200 mile journey). All hes said is hed like to go away just me n him. Secretly hed love Vegas but we just cant stretch to it.

Anyway Ive been looking at Spas and hotels but nothing hit spot. Anyway, I then thought about getting a cottage maybe on the Isle of Wight. Anyway, I looked for ages and have found a beaut. Right on sea front down a little private walkway, the nedroom is in a tower that looks at the sea. I know February will be cold but hey ho it will be fun.
The crux is its 500 for 4 nights. Plus ferry which will be about 60 with car and then all our petrol n food etc.

Is it too much? Ive found cheaper but nowhere comes close...

This is it:

http://www.theboathouse-steephillcove.co.uk/lighthouse.php

xx

Nanamia

Aaarggh need to catch up and a dose of Christmas cheer, I may be some time xxx

Nanamia

Well my lovelies by gum have you been busy I love it

Chrissy I'm so very pleased with the brill news about your DDs placement, seems the perfect solution and the best of both worlds. And then great news about the house wow who'd have thought you'd do so much this year, it's blooming amazing. I'm delighted for you all (and it's only September) xxx
Bunbun blooming hek you are having such a trying time. DH couldn't be trying any harder could he. I've read what the lovelies have advised and as usual they are so right. You will get through to happier times you just can't see how yet, you've been through major upheavals this year with DHs health and change of career plans, be kind to yourself xxx
Mrs Hayes hope you are feeling better I left home at 18 too and never looked back but my relationship with my DD and DS are (thankfully) very different from the ones I had with my parents! When mine left home I missed them terribly but adjusted DD to uni at 18 and DS to own house at 26 and was so proud of them but DS moved to Australia last year and that I can't get used to sadly don't think I ever will Still have a great relationship text each couple of times each day and FaceTime very often but they are so far away Then when I'm feeling low I think of two of my friends one who has her son living with her and he's like a stranger and one whose daughter is living with her boyfriend and into drugs and booze and although only a few miles away may as well be a million for she has very little contact. He's still my boy, just wish I could give him a hug and as for DGD1 aww you don't wanna get me started xxx
Crowdpleaser I don't even drink and now I neeeed reindeer droppings real ale! I will have to find somebody to buy it for You are doing so well with your presents aren't you? Woo hoo so pleased with your new house news. Fingers crossed you can be in and settled for Christmas. That would be fab xxx
Snugglebunny such wise words, you are clever xxx
Mrsinvisible you've probably burnt yourself out! I'm not surprised you feel like a lazy day haha. How was your DSiL and DB? Bet they were pleased to see you, specially bearing gifts. Your trip to London sounds amazing, and diverse Jack the Ripper tour and Harrods Christmas room I'd love to plan a trip to London for me and DH but have no idea where to start. After reading chatter on here the other day I googled Hyde parks winder wonderland which sounds amazing but with no knowledge of London I'm afraid I wouldn't no where to start. xxx
Princess I smiled at your post, enjoy your baby making practise and spending quality time with each other xxx
Nikki&Asha I will have to look for the gruffalo chocolate whilst I'm out shopping tomorrow, it's a serious dilemma, see I'm not keen on Thorntons chocolate but love gruffalo would that be a waste? X
Kaya welcome, you will like it here, we are all learning from each other Unfortunately we've not got a Tiger shop, seems all to be in the SE hope they branch out up north, sounds like my sort of shop x
Doogygirl Thank you for the Argos tip x
Kellyhghs you are on a roll, go girl x
JJ blooming hek, they are really testing you aren't they:( presume you haven't escaped today either really hoping they sort you out enough for you to be able to go home very very soon! You are using your time wisely tho and doing so well with your pressie buying and organising Your PJs sound brill, and cheered you up. Sorry the surgeon upset you , I've a theory on this and have found that in my experience surgeons are not very people friendly, I didn't wanna make friends with him, just wanted him to make my DH better, he was good where it mattered but his bed side manner was shocking, so I'm hoping the same applies for yours xxx
Msgigglewick awww no, now you've gone and done it! Think I'm going to have to order that for myself aaarrrgghh I'm not supposed to be spending xxx
Feisty I'm truly hoping that this financial hiccup is now your last and that it will be all so worth it when the shop is up and running:) And anybody who doesn't understand don't deserve to be on your Christmas list in the first place! xxx
Choccymoose blooming bad news about your car, hope you are sorted pretty quick. Have you won the bike? xxx
Alja I've not seen Christmas stockings in the £shop yet but they were good last year. HB and £stretcher had decent ones in last year too, the thing with stockings is you collect them back in and refill year after year so if you do spend a few pounds its ok xxx
Freespirit oh my word isn't it always the blinking way! Hope DS is feeling brighter today and he's not passed his germs on! Yuk. Fingerscrossed you manage to get an extra ticket for DSs graduation and that it's a wonderful day for you all xxx
Sequeena everybody has days like that, this is a great place to share, there is always somebody around with kind words I totally agree with what Linky and the other lovelies have said. It takes a very special person to be such a wonderful Mummy DS is very lucky to have you and I know you are very lucky to have him too xxx
Caitlyn sorry you've not been well my lovely, hope you are feeling better now. And my dear you've managed to do it again!!! Made me cry, I really don't know how you do it but I think you could probably write a shopping list that would tug on my heart strings and make me weep xxx
Murie you are also following closely on Caitlyns heels, I often feel a bit teary after your posts, now just pack it in. Saying nice thoughtful things to uplift people's mind and body. Stop now! Im glad you are back driving so must be on the mend but had to chuckle at your 'outing' but you have survived the trip. Peacocks and chickens for neighbour oh my word are they allowed? I can see why chickens may be a good idea but peacocks ???
Mrs M Oooh lucky you, finding a forgotten stash bonus. How you doing with your makes for the craft fair? X
Linky as I was reading my mammoth catch up I began to worry, our Linky all grown up and sensible! Could go out for a browse but no preferred to stay home and do washing!!! What, then read you'd regretted it and were bored Hope you managed to get your gingerbread man That'd cheer you up. I love the statues, decorations you got from the range. Are they going on your sideboard with your snowy villages? xxx
Fevertotell hope you are ok, being in hospital you poor thing. Enjoy your shopping with LO and the Lego feeling x
Ameyturtle thank you for the heads up on the lush products. Unfortunately the smells too much for me but I do like to receive there products x
Debndot I'm off to sainsburys in the morning, will see what I can pick up with the 25% off- even tho I'm supposed to be not spending argh too good to miss xxx
cup of Chai I've been looking for miniature baileys too to try out Susan's truffle recipe, will look while I'm out tomorrow and report back. xx
Tin can tried to order a miniature through the FB page but wouldn't let me cos I'm on an iPad
Ruth _honey hiya welcome back will have a peep at New Look, you lot aren't half tempting me to misbehave tonight x

Nanamia

Look what happens if I'm MIA for two days, you poor souls get a Nanamia essay:(

Well I've been missing but busy Trying to get the three walls and ceiling painted in the living room ready for the paper I'm still persuade DH he can't live without. Went to the builders warehouse place yesterday and got two new doors, handles, skirting board and emulsion so no excuses now. Just need to get cracking with the painting and them coax my band of merry helpers into doing the rest xxx

System

Morning,

we have a nice day planned we are going to IKEA and then to B & M ,not looking for anything in particular just a little mooch around.

My dog had his annual check up yesterday i "accidentally" made the appointment for when i was at work[my bad !!] cos once he realizes where he is he howls like a banshee and tries to escape , apparently he is a few pounds over weight and they just happen to have a special dog food on offer that would help !

Funky pigeon have an offer of half price cards from their top 100 range you can use the discount code [funky0610] with this offer , Ive just ordered 3 personalized birthday cards for next year for £2-22
Hope you all have a great day.:D

mrs-moneypenny

morning all
hope everyone is well
thank you for the update on lush, havent been in town for ages - but am very tempted to pop in just for lush, and now youve confirmed rose jam is vegan ill definately try DD2 on that as she gets snowfairy from other sources as well as her stocking

Nanamia wrote: »

Well my lovelies by gum have you been busy I love it

Mrs M Oooh lucky you, finding a forgotten stash bonus. How you doing with your makes for the craft fair? X

ive posted a few photo in the craft makes thread but these are my latest attempt. ive raided my old button tin and unearthed some fabric ive had knocking about for years (could almost be vintage;)) and sewn silky linings in them all -some could even actually be silk as its creased up and feels different to the poly fabric. I have interfaced the fabric to give them body. havent got a clue what to ask as they've only cost me time. last year i priced everything at a couple of quid, first couple of people bought loads and i got left with bits that ardly drew anyone to the stall. a teacher later told me other traders had stashed stuff theyd bought off me under their stalls and said theyd be selling it on at other fayres. all money goes to the schools heads challenge fund that benefits the kids.
apart from hand knitted flower brooches im doing those in memory of my niece who died at 10 months her mum wants to make a memorial garden to all children who were taken too soon so the money from them is going to her.

sorry waffling:o



does anyone have an opinion on a fair price for a bag like this? i really wont be offended if you say they look rubbish and not worth much, id sooner let them go cheap and think of something else as ive got till end of nov to get stuff ready. ive made 7 but the others still need sideseams hand sewing inside and out.

christmas news
our bedroom looks like santas grotto:o heard dh trip over a pile of pressies early this morning so need to tidy it today. its that stash i unearthed yesterday

mrsinvisible

Hiya, Nanamia I love your essays, they are amazing and wise and witty. Chocolate Baileys, C-h-o-c-l-a-t-e B-a-i-l-e-y-s! Oo need to get some of that, facebook next stop. I love Lush stuff, but we don't have any shops in this county, boo hoo.
Today 'I will' mow the grass, bake gingerbread and love cake for the McMillan coffee morning at DGS school tomorrow, and Chelsea buns and chocolate cake for the wrinklies Mc Millan do, clean the bathroom, washing and ironing, and find my suitcase. Today l 'will not' buy any plants, spend hours on the computer, buy any plants or buy any plants.
Hope everyone has a good day, xxx

Snugglebunny8

morning all!

thank you Nanamia! just School of Life like most of us I think! xxx

Amey - good luck honey! I really hope you get it - I can't wait to have a look at the Christmas stuff in our Lush shop now, have always stayed away cos it smells so amazing and I just know I will want to buy loads! thank you all for the description of Snowcake, Im going to have to try it, Christmas Eve that was also mentioned sounds like my kind of thing too!

Feisty oh bless them! you would think that vets would understand that they are associated with pain by an animal wouldnt you? strange place, loads of confusing smells and scents of other animals, and being handled by somebody they dont know, then a needle into the bargain! most animals - especially small or nervous ones - would be upset by that! I think what caused the meltdown in ours was when we had them at 18 months I took them for check up and to be microchipped (they are house cats but just in case) and the needle they used to put the chip in was bigger than the cats! they both squeeled the place down, so Im thinking as soon as they are scruffed and feel the needle they associate it with that pain rather than the little needle they get with the booster, poor little things!

Part of me wonders if it would be kinder to sedate our one that goes ballistic, but she would have to have the injection to sedate her!

Oh MY!!! did anyone see the Bethlehem Lights stuff on QVC yesterday??? what incredible stuff! Im afraid Ive ordered some of it, I just couldnt NOT order it! the LED lanterns and the Santa snowgloble candle thingy, just amazing! will look great in windows, no plugs or wires etc either. If you didnt see them QVC have them on again topday by the looks of it, but be warned ... NOT resistabubble!

mrs-moneypenny

sorry Amey, missed saying everything crossed for the supervisors job. you should be on commission anyway as you must boost sales with your wonderful descriptions of the products on here so i bet youre a brilliant seller in person.

had a few aww moments reading the cat and dogs at the vets tales. we dont have a cat anymore he died of old age a couple of years ago he was a rescue cat aged about 17 and was fit as a flea till he died. he cried all the way to the vets as he hated the car and his basket (that was the only time he used it apart from coming home from the sanctuary) anyway once at the vets he was most submissive he just sat on the table looking grumpy and never flinched during check ups or needles. he even went willingly into his basket after being done (but i think that was because he knew he was going home. i miss him but wont get another. he was 'my' cat

MrsHayes

Hi all

Sorry wasn't around much yest, had a bit of an emotional day cried after I dropped DS1 off at school then cried on both my best friends when I saw them! Just my cold and being hormonal I think cos I feel better today!

Crowd pleaser - great news about your house sale! We moved a year ago and it was the most stressful thing ever even though we were only in a chain of 3! We were in the middle tho and our buyer was so pushy but we didn't want to lose her so we did whatever she asked! Afterwards we said we'd never want to move again! Hope yours goes smoothly from now on and you're in for Christmas

Amey - good luck with getting the supervisors position

Nanamia - love your essay posts it sounds like you have a lovely relationship with your children Australia is far tho but like you say at least you have a good, strong relationship and your DS is here in your heart even though he is far away. I hope I have that kind of relationship with my 2 boys Xx

Junior j - hope you're home now

Hugs to everyone else. Loving the tales of pets at the vets! Really made me smile.

Christmas wise I have got the boys main presents. Was going to get them on Argos 3 for 2 but half of them were suspiciously out of stock and only available to order in after the offer finished! So I ended up getting them from toys r us as I had £5 off voucher and the entertainer both with free delivery so happy with that.

Chosen 10 photos of kids for photo calendar/present for mum and mum in law. Still need to decide on what presents I'm getting for rest of family but I'm on track to have completed my tasks by Sunday OMO!

Our cheque from NRAM came yesterday yay so paying that into the bank today so hopefully getting the credit card halved as soon as it's cleared and DH fitting new boiler asap as old one has finally given up and keeps cutting out. Am lucky DH is a plumber and can get one at cost from his boss and fit himself. He has his uses haha

Have a good day everyone Xxx