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

nicolax

Got another present today - got my parents mrs browns boys. They love the show so thought it would be nice for them to have it all on DVD

Not very MSE but going bit all out with my immediate family this year. Been a rough year and want to spoil them. Thought this year may as well as I can afford it at the moment - May change in future years!

Now just have to get dads stocking filler and think I'm done - know what I'm getting for that too. Gunna get everything out at the weekend and check though

Money_maker

Did Father Christmas at Harrods the other week, got the Ideal Homes Christmas Show in Earls Court tomorrow. Hope it's not too posh!

freespirit66

Evening everyone,

nic2075 wrote: »

Thanks freespirit. :A Xx
I will have a go at it. I love rocky road. I go a bit mad with the baking on the run up to Christmas. I thinks mainly because I see everyone on here doing it and I think I should be too lol. X

So do i NIC to me its all about the preparations, about baking goodies that i know everyone will love, i couldnt bear not baking anything in the run up, i dont think it is very MSE though sometimes, that is why this year i am totting it all up

junior_j wrote: »

Nic - I was just about to say I might start cooking and freezing before Christmas too lol not that I've ever done it before!
Tribunal went fine within 5 minutes he judged apologised for me even having to be there so I still get my ESA nice to not have to fight just because this disease is rare
However I feel shattered debating a nap lol
I can't watch much television because I'm going to Scotland on Monday so want everything downloaded on my iPad to watch on the coach x

JUNIORJ i am so glad it went well, its disgusting that they put you through it though, good that you had someone who knew what they were doing, hope you had a good nap afterwards

FeistyFidget wrote: »

Thanks junior, we are trying to sell on Facebook, but so far we don't have much success I'm trying to promote like mad, it's too early to see if it is working. We tried speaking to the landlord today, and he just seemed hopeful we would leave some of the stock behind! He didn't mention negotiating the rent, even when dh pointed out we'd found dozens of places with high footfall, toilets, running water and heating that were hundreds of pounds cheaper a month!
I'm hoping to fill the freezer with baked goods ready for Christmas
I'm so glad everything went okay I hope you had a well deserved nap !
Nana I'm so sorry to hear about ds friend sending positive thoughts and hope xxx

FEISTY OMG cheeky so and so! Just want to say Good Luck for tomorrow and i hope you come back with some good news for DH

DEBNDOT wow that is a lot of christmas cakes to bake good news for DH getting offered his old job back
BLUEEYEDGIRL that cross stitch is lovely well done you
MRSCHRISTMAS well you are the real one in my head :rotfl:oh the rocky road smelt so damn good, i didnt cut it into squares because i knew i would have to have a bit so froze it in one slab :rotfl:
MKGIRL thanks for that tip about christmas novels
NICOLAX oh you are very sweet spoiling your family after a rough year
OMO hope you are ok and busy getting ready for the weekend, we have missed you on here

freespirit66

Money_maker wrote: »

Did Father Christmas at Harrods the other week, got the Ideal Homes Christmas Show in Earls Court tomorrow. Hope it's not too posh!

Hope you have a lovely time at the christmas show we want to hear all about it

Ruth_honey

I'm off there on thursday! Must dig out a Christmas jumper and hubby's Christmas t shirt for him to wear (if he wants to come, he has to be festive!). Anyone else going on Thursday?

caitlyn22

Feisty, just popping on to say good luck for tomorrow, you and your DH are in my thoughts, fingers crossed you see some progress. I know you've probably thought of this but have you seen if your local council offer any support? (small business rate relief etc?) They're struggling too but most local authorities remain committed to trying to support and enable entrepreneurship, and if you're offering other local people the chance to sell their goods and have aspirations to employ staff in future you should be fighting for any bit of backing you council can give you.

Also, try your local university (Bournemouth?) as they will have a business engagement/networking function that might not offer grants but could help in other ways. Approach staff in Media as their students might be looking for real-life projects to work on as part of their course work - a media campaign for a small business is often ideal. There might be students on the Product Design course that are focusing on items you could sell (furniture is quite common, but I've also seen them do things like innovative gardening systems for people who live in flats etc) so you could contact them and say you're keen to showcase and sell the work of young students/graduates, at the very least you'll make a useful partner and get some publicity as the University will probably do a story on it. Think they might do Photography too so that's another course to approach if you'd be willing to add that to the shop's range. Their Student Union has a crafting society - they would be good to approach with an offer to have a monthly sale/showcase for example? You might be able to get a funded student intern - every University scheme is different but these are generally three month placements where you have a student working on a specific project, so maybe something like expanding your customer base, doing research, approaching more artists/crafters to sell, anything that could relieve you of some of the development work. Just some ideas, I haven't worked with Bournemouth but would hope that you might find something useful within all of their expertise and resources, universities receive public funding after all and as such the pressure is on them to provide a public good, as well as a private good.

Hugs to everyone else, especially those feeling down x

Nanamia

Baby Boo what awful news, sending hugs. That's one of the reasons on here is our safe haven. There is usually somebody about to share with. If you need to rant, scream, giggle, laugh or cry we can do it all. Sending positive vibes your way and to DH and hoping a perfect opportunity is just waiting for him. Somewhere he is appreciated xxx
Nic aww my lovely. Sending lots of love and gentle hugs. Silly woman and what an example she's setting her LO. You know that you can rise above it She certainly does not deserve your or DDs friendship. You need to surround yourself with positive people, especially this week. It's the anniversary of two people very close to me on Friday (15th) but 18 years ago. Be kind to yourself xxx
Pinksteps I love that photo even from that you can see the humour and twinkle in DS. He's a credit to you xxx
Chrissy that does sound like a great plan, hope it works out well, for you both. Excuse my boldness again but have you had any contact/advise from Remploy? They were brilliant with a friend of mine although it was a few years ago. Argh the amazon wish list, the only thing I've managed to do is delete the item from the list and keep my fingers crossed that the recipient doesn't notice! It does spoil the surprise X
b_e_g thank you my lovely, best wishes to your dear friend too. Oooh Yankees in tesco argh I may get to get one this week then after all. I am determind to give them another chance Oooh you clever thing, that cross stitch is beautiful. Thank you for popping the photo on. hope your headache cleared up xxx
Morgy well done on the weight loss and the healthy eating course. I'm sure the lovelies are right, your body has had a bashing it's bound to take time. You are a busy girl, volunteering too, you put me to shame. It's usually the way with me and presents too, I can find the ones that are not priority and the most important ones allude me haha xxx
Pinknfluffy I'm glad I didn't offend you my lovely, it wasn't my intention. I think you are already in a "better place" with the knowledge of a diagnosis and the fact that you've realised you are bottling things up. It's when it all creeps up on you unawares that's trouble my ou know what's happening and you are doing something about it With DH and his support, together you'll get through. Team Pinknfluffy and of course we are always here. And I will be checking up on you xxx
Freespirit bless you, sister from another mister and thank you. I'm now building a bookmarked list of Nigellas recipes to try and freeze, so thank you for that too. I can't believe the blinking drs argh, still I will be nagging again till it's done next week (gentle persuasion) xxx
his missus The craft hamper is coming along so well already. Ooh what decorations kit have you got to do with your bestie? Nosey as I am? I ordered some merino tops after reading on another mse thread about cute little soaps!!! There is no hope for me at all, I've spend hous and hours going through my craft stash to donate to a unit that will make good use out of it and am still buying argh X
JJ your posts always brighten my day. You are inspirational my lovely. I'm so glad they saw sense at the tribunal, it would've been nicer for them to have seen it before it got to that stage but aaarrrgghh. The build up must've been very stressful for you and your DM. Glad it's over and you can concentrate on your trip to Scotland X
Pigpen Christmas Day at yours sounds perfect to me X
Mandco well done on booking a holiday, go you. Oh no sorry you missed the Christmas trees biscuit tin in M&S, will they not get any more in? I saw a fab tin in there last week, will see if I can find a photo. MKGIRL has got me snapping away on my phones camera too now xxx
Peppapig ooooh it's getting even more exciting now isn't it. DGC are such a blessing aren't they xxx
Debndot DHs job sounds like a great decision all round. Decluttering with a view to a move should give you a great incentive And time to bake Christmas goodies, it's win win xxx
Mrs Christmas I agree with Freespirit I really think you are THEEEE Mrs Christmas your bathroom sounds fab and it's not mid November yet xxx
Money maker sounds like such fun, don't forget to pop back and share X

Nanamia

Well that is spooky Caitlyn I was thinking as I was trying to find the words for Baby Boo and Pinknfluffy that this is when we need Caitlyn and her gift for always saying the right thing How the devil are you my lovely, we haven't half missed you xxx

mrsinvisible

Re Christmas dinner, when my three were smallies, my dh was in the merchant navy and usually absent on all important occasions (you know, present at the conception but absent at births and early morning feeds and teething) so I used to do Christmas pud on Christmas day so that I had time to spend with them all day, and made Christmas dinner on boxing day, as Christmas eve was a busy day full of excitement and fun things, like last emergency visit to santa and the crib service. It also extended Christmas for an extra day.
Nana Hugs to you and your friend, also b-e-g to you and yours.
Feisty, (here I have sat and looked at this screen unable to put into words how I feel for you, I was so sure it was the right thing for you both to do, I hope that the ideas you have been given work and this time next year you are telling a better tale) keep your chin up honey, more than hugs to you and DH.
Baby boo so sorry that you came home to rotten news, l hope something turns up for dh soon.
Junior j glad you are back, good news from your tribunal, (dear lord, what a society we live in when l am saying it is good news that you are ill enough to qualify for esa support group!) but you know what l mean.xxx
Now, my mse type news, the wrinklies Christmas fair has been cancelled, but my lovely friend (the one whose house we decorated) has taken samples of the items l made to show her friends and clients -she is a mobile beauty therapist- and has not only sold all l had made, but has got me loads of orders for more!
Off to York tomorrow, only packing toothbrush knickers and nighty so l will have room in my case for a lot more s-h-o-p-p-I-n-g-. Now where is the coffee xxxxxx

girlinayellowdress

Nanamia wrote: »

Pinksteps I love that photo even from that you can see the humour and twinkle in DS. He's a credit to you xxx

Talk about humour, he is looking forward to teddy nipping at his legs once he has his splints on