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

Island_mum

daisiegg wrote: »

Freespirit66, enjoy your pampering, it sounds wonderful!

I am so fed up. OH is up north seeing his daughter and I am struggling tonight alone, after spending almost two full weeks together with both of us off work. I always feel mad at him on the friday nights of the weekends he is away. I know it is ridiculous and irrational, and I know I love him for being a very decent and dedicated dad, but I always feel fed up and cross with the world on the Friday night. I then wake up feeling sunny on Saturday morning and the rest of the weekend is always fine, I just need to focus on that.

Don't feel sleepy either as I have been completely lazy today so sitting in bed watching Mamma Mia (:D) drinking a big mug of tea (oh the high life) and waiting to feel more sleepy.

Hope everyone is having a better Friday night than me! :rotfl:

daisiegg wrote: »

I know! :eek: thanks for reminding me! I am terrified! :rotfl:

dasiegg I am pottering about in my pyjamas drinking tea, making baby food and sorting laundry so my Friday night is pretty rock and roll :rotfl:

I don't think it's irrational to feel that way at all. I think I'd be the same on the first evening home alone and then wake up Saturday and enjoy a little me time hehe. Hope you have a lovely day tomorrow!

Eek I never noticed your wedding date - I am at my BIL's wedding that day so I will think of you on the day too

Own_My_Own

CupOfChai wrote: »

Oh aye, and if OMO/Risky still wanted blog post ideas - I wouldn't want to see yet more heart-shaped, red or pink things! Not sure what sort of direction you were after taking with it, but what about something like foods historically believed to be aphrodisiac or good for couples and yummy recipes involving them?

Don't tell Risky :shhh: But she has picked someone who has been single for the last 15 years, with the nick name 'Cant Cook, Cant Cook' to right a Valentines Food Blog :whistle:

kayandy_2

Island_mum wrote: »

I just had a lot of success on webuybooks.co.uk HTH x

springdreams wrote: »

There is a thread on this subject here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1491905

and on webuybooks here

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4260049

Thank you both so much!! I have just sorted my books out and have a box full ready to go!! I might have a look at my book shelf and see what other books I no longer need I have millions

CupOfChai

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Don't tell Risky :shhh: But she has picked someone who has been single for the last 15 years, with the nick name 'Cant Cook, Cant Cook' to right a Valentines Food Blog :whistle:

:rotfl:

So?

greentiger

what a beautiful boy! Enjoy!

BBTHREE

Hi all, just wanted to pop in and say Hi..... I have still not caught up on posts yet but I will keep trying.

Nanamia - so pleased re your sil

OMO - He is gorgeous

I have ended up working a fair bit of Xmas/New Year but luckily have managed to get all family cards and wrapping paper for next year and have put the "better christmas" app on my iPhone (as mentioned on the old thread) and have made a good start on gifts (mainly Thanks to Boots and Sainsburys .

Because I am quite focused on Xmas I often get caught out with birthdays, and so in most cases I have doubled the allocated budget on the app so I can note their bday pressie on there also. Does anyone else on here note bday gifts using this app, or is there a better to do this?

caitlyn22

Hello my (let-it-snow) lovelies!

Sorry for the very long and uncalled for absence. I have been reading and keeping up to date with all your posts on my phone but have tried to avoid my laptop otherwise I wouldn't be able to resist getting dragged in to the dreaded work emails. One of my NY resolutions is to not do so much work at home - I'm not paid or appreciated for it! (That's not strictly true but it certainly feels like it at times!)

Anyway, had a lovely Christmas! OH did his usual wonderful, perfectly 'me' presents (including a vintage-style clutch purse and a set of those old retro glass sundae glasses with the long spoons - love them!) and then his equally trustworthy what-the-flip-is-this present, which this year, was a Moomin TIN mug. :rotfl: To be fair, the clutch purse struggles to shut if there's more than a pound coin in it and the sundae glasses will be used about once a year so I might well get more use out of the Moomin mug!

You might remember my sister was told she needed an operation for her detached retina, well they brought it forward and she had it yesterday. They did both eyes and she's in lots of pain but it apparently all went very well and she got out today. Don't think her and her husband recognised the enormity of it all though as she now can't drive/lift/do much so I'm going to take some time off next week to help her out as her OH has some important things on at work and I've just got some fairly routine meetings. More time with my niece and nephew which is always lovely! I've gone a bit mad and baked and batch-cooked for them all today - her OH is lovely but rubbish! He was under strict instructions to make sure she got home and ate something properly tonight and he told me he stopped off to get her a sandwich from T*sco!!

All attention now on the wedding - off to get married in 10 weeks. Eeek! Been getting a few bits and pieces for the children's gift bags this week, mainly to keep them occupied during the meal! Also been sorting out our wedding rings this week (cue long story - you can stop reading here if you like - it's a bit of a rant!) I had to get my engagement ring re-clawed, went to a shop before Christmas and was told it was v urgent, the diamond was loose and that I should stop wearing it. So I took it off and only wore it in the house over Christmas Day. Took it in to same shop on Boxing Day and a different person laughed at me (!) told me it was absolutely fine and then - that it wasn't platinum!! I argued that it was and showed him the mark and he point-blank refused, telling me how much experience he had. The shop was full of loads of couples buying rings and he was very loud and very rude and made me feel so stupid! I marched out of there and took it to another jeweller who took it off me and said instantly it was platinum, showed me the marking. He then told me to take it to the actual jewellers who could tell if it needed repaired (both these shops were jewellery chains so would be sending it off for repair anyway) so I did that and was reassured by them! They were so lovely to me and told me only one claw needed some attention. They charged me £75 less than the first shop quoted me and then offered to make our wedding rings for the most amazing price!! I had budgeted to buy platinum and for half of what I have seen the same ring going for, I'm having it designed, engraved and fitted to my engagement ring! OH also having his made and engraved for a bargain price. Never using a chain/high-street jewellery shop ever again! Wouldn't care but it was a one of the posh ones!

Nanamia, thank you for your lovely message to see where I was, window popped up when I logged in here tonight. How thoughtful you are - have missed you very much but been reading all of your posts and been thrilled to hear how your DSiL is doing. Testament to your love, support and fighting the doctors for what's best for her, I'm sure!

OMO, what a lovely little boy - congratulations! Looking forward to see what you do for risky's blog! How about Valentine's-Day-For-Me/I Love Myself instead of something coupley, encourage all those people who spend too much time being thoughtful for other people to indulge themselves a bit! Or for a friend who might deserve it!

Feisty - I also face the troublesome what-to-buy-for-THOSE-boys drama and now tend to buy them some cheap sweets and a cinema card. They use it over Christmas and it's appreciated by them and their parents I think!

Pinknfluffy28, great to see you thrive after leaving your job. Enjoy your time, you deserve it!:T

Mummysavingmumofone - I too am doing intensive driving lessons this year, lets be brave together!!

Apologies for rambling on, will be back regularly now!

Welcome and warm hugs to everyone who is new to our cosy, creative, crazy nook!

scottishminnie

Popping in very briefly just to say - OMO, you must be so proud of the new arrival, he is beautiful. Enjoy spending time with him.



I'm a bit behind with the thread so I need to catch up. Will be back!

Nanamia

Wow we've been busy today, such a lot of pages
Riskyb glad you are back wow you have been busy, I will pop over to blogsville shortly and have a catch up.
Well done pinknfluffy of still staying off the cigs. You should be very very proud of yourself. Enjoy being a domestic goddess, you so deserve too. I'm very much a home bird so thrive on that too. X
Welcome to scuff and Jo Jo P:wave: you will love it here- beware its addictive. Thanks too Jo Jo P for the sainsburys tip, should try and pop in over the weekend. Linda-Lou I love your avatar
Feisty I know it's already been mentioned but I too would get them a goat/ school starter pack from cafod or oxfam! But like you say it might cause more harm and you are obviously too nice and are keeping the peace, what about those adopt a reindeer kits we bought from amazon last year (cost about £2.70 I think at there lowest) and two cuddly reindeers from the card factory ( were £1.99 but might be in the sale) done! They sound like little horrors its such a shame because they weren't born like that were they- silly silly parents:( I can't imagine how upsetting it must have been listening to horrendous comments about your unborn baby and then to loose him /her. I am so very very sorry that you had to endure that. xxx
Island_mum glad the funeral went as well as can be expected. And that with reflection you feel in a good place now. It's time to take stock and count our blessings isn't it. I can't believe how well you've done already on the hen trip fund and am glad you've decided to go and treat yourself:)
Moneysavingmumofone I too will be steering well clear of them- how very rude! Good luck with the driving:) go girl xxx
Linkymimi what an adorable little prince congratulations:j you know how much I lovvvveee being a nan, it's the best job in the world. Your life will never be the same again How is DS coping with the new arrival? Will he find the addition of Robbie difficult to cope with? It's such a shame your DF can't be with you all to share your joy, but I bet she's somewhere very close keeping an eye on you all xxx
Fenna that is one of the nicest things I've ever read that in some small way our thread help to make your Christmas actually brought a tear to my eye x
BBThree how lovely to see you:) xxx I've downloaded an app not sure if its the same one but didn't have time to get to grips with it of last Christmas so let me kno how you get on.
Caitlyn it's great to see you back. What a lovely sister you are, I hope your DS knows how lucky she is. Wishing her a very speedy recovery although with you on the case I'm certain that that is already on the cards:) It must be very hard for her at the mo but will be so worth it won't it.
Again thank you all so much for the messages re DSiL. Still positive news today from the hospital wooo hooo I was scared yesterday had been a one off. It was more than I could hoe for for more of the same today, maybe not as chatty but was having a particularly painful time during visiting and the morphine makes her dopey. But still moving in the right direction. Can I dare hope for day three? Yes I think I can after seven weeks:) I really do appreciate all the love and support you've given me and won't be able to ever thank you enough. There are too many of you I'd like to thank individually so thank you, thank you all xxx


Eta: seems like I've gone on and on again! But would like to add to any of our newbies or delurkers don't ever feel that you can't just pop in and say hello. We can't half chat on here and it's not compulsory to read every page. X

SwipernoSwiping

FeistyFidget wrote: »

Thank you all for your input

mumof3plusoh - I couldn't agree more - they don't seem to have very good manners. Elder one even told me he wanted my baby dead when I fell pregnant....but that's another story.

A six year old and a ten year old, with what appears to be an impossible pressure purchase, both into lego and WWE - but we are looking for something unique and much loved. Perhaps that latter statement is going to far.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/LEGO%C2%AE-Ideas-Book-Daniel-Lipkowitz/dp/1405350679/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357370342&sr=8-1
This is a little over but still a bargain for keeping it all it.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lego-Star-Wars-Zipbin-Fight/dp/B004PAHKJA/ref=sr_1_6?s=kids&ie=UTF8&qid=1357370454&sr=1-6

You might want to look into the PLAYMOBIL Spy agent range in the sales, as both my8 year old DD (tom-boy) and her school friends (boys) love it. I would also suggest looking into the smaller megablock toy offerings - cheaper and fit with lego.
Personally I would wrap them coal.

Own_My_Own wrote: »

Hello Jo Jo P and thanks for the Sainsburys lead.

I have acquired another Grandson :rotfl:
Ddils nephew (3) told me today in all seriousness, while shaking his head, that he didn't have a Mimi at least 5 times today.
So I asked him if he would like me to be his Mimi, and he said 'Yes' :rotfl:

Have added him to Xmas list, bought boy next door, some Xmas art bits in Tescos (half price) and some crayons. And have moved the Jake art set over to new grandson.

:eek: Asked my Dad if there was anything in his CHEESE hamper he wasn't keen on, and he replied the CHEESE.
Says its not good for him.:mad: He gave it to his best friend to eat.:mad:
So have got to rethink his present. Can't do a hamper themed round cheese, with no cheese in it. :mad:
I don't know why I expected anything different . It just Vodkagate all over again.:D
May have a look in the Boots sale for half price socks :rotfl:

A book on how not to upset people that have tried hard to please?

There are sooo many ungrateful people around!

Sorry I haven't been around we are in the process of setting up a new business, as well as my uni work and kids. Was dragged through Wilkos yesterday sooo many sale bargains and I could get a look in as hubby was on a "I don't want to be here" mission.
Bit short on cash at the minute anyways so that might have something to do with it.
Did manage to get some lovely tights for dd2 from BHS for half price and made the most of the Fish n Chip voucher too
Really need to get back within my SW target range too this is proving difficult. Ditching gym really - queuing for machines? Whats that all about. On the look out for some cheap free weights and making use of the Wii Fit