Thrifty Gifty Santas Challenge 2014

DundeeDoll

hugs to dads. my dad has finally got his hospital appointment about an unfortunate side effect of prostate cancer treatment (consultant very very apologetic about the wait). Now it's diagnosed and the correct treatment in place he should notice gradual improvement over the next 10 years, so here's to your 88th bday dad ;-)
well done misshoodie on the win. I will be drawing up my xmas budget next month, but crackers going well. Off to South Africa (work again and probs won't get to leave the airport where the conference is) beginning September then it's nose down for teaching till mid October.
DD2 gave me early bday pressie yesterday cos she's off to London with her bf for 2 weeks (he has a 2 week internship and fortunately her uncle lives in Ealing so free accommodation or goodness knows how he'd manage!) It's a photobox book with lovely pictures, mostly of the children and pets over the last year. Occasional one of xoh who was apprarently a bit miffed there wasn't much focus of xoh (only photos were with the children whereas children and pets got their own pages). Tuff.
Love to all xxxxx

springdreams

Glad to hear your Dad's meds have been sorted DundeeDoll.

I hope you get to see a bit more of South Africa (my home country) than the airport - it would be a shame to go all that way and not get to see any of it. Admittedly though the airports are not situated in very scenic places, so unless you are going to Cape Town you won't really be missing much if all you get to see is the area immediately outside of the airport. You need to go farther afield to really see South Africa at its best. Have a lovely trip when you do go.

mum2one

Apologies running late - Santana challenge will be arriving the long route via North Pole xxxxx

Anglea

Hi all, sorry I've been awol, dealing with the dad scenario and having problems getting a new fridge freezer - finally ordered Sunday night and will be arriving Wednesday.

I've just found a saucepan disaster - forgot I had pasta cooking - so need to get to the shop (finally stopped the horrendous rain) and get something else to eat. I don't think I'll ever eat tinned fish again as the thought of it makes me sick I've been without a FF for about a month.

Springdreams - how long since you lived in SA?

DundeeDoll - I hope your dad can be helped. That's a thoughtful present from DD.

Mum2one - how is your dad doing? Yes, I can imagine how glad you all were he started on yoghurt compared to what you imagined could have happened. As for getting lost and hitting race day in Chester - I know with your family it's never simple lol

Is Miss Hoodie better after the sick bug? Did you and mum avoid it?
Miss H was lucky winning some money. Strange how fate is - she gets ill yet she wins cash.

WELL DONE on putting up the shelf, not sure if I've done one or not.

Good luck with your 70 box for mum - how is she coping with everything lately?

And what about you and all the travelling and everything at home?

Mrs M - hope you are having/had a good time with your DS

Susan I can't get over your marathon amount of Christmas cards to make, how are your hands this week?

I can understand why you are paranoid about loos after your bad experience being so ill.

I managed to go to the unisex ones 'once' at the hospital but avoided it the time men were standing around waiting.

I've finally got myself a flat screen phone - unlocked - so I thought I could easily transfer my normal sim (that phone on the verge of packing up) but today when I went to set it up discovered it only takes a micro sim - annoying as I wasn't planning to go to the places I guess will stock them until much later in the week, after the FF arrives.

Does anyone know if you can buy a top up voucher for a Tesco sim phone in other shops or just a Tesco (I'm thinking of buying a phone for mum and in our local store they are Tesco only)

mum2one

apologies again, Santas challenge will be on Sunday evening... day off today from the hospital, but shopping instead, and my local Mr T's have decided to move stuff around the shop, no logic - looking for pickled onions - searched by olives, by sauces, by the pickling vinegar - all the logical places - no they happened to be on end of aisle....

not a nice bill as did a big shop to stock up the cupboards, top up essentials thou did buy pack of 16 toilet rolls, - they were on offer, sounds daft but for 25p extra I got 16 rolls instead of a 9 pack.

Then Iceland - feel guilty stocked up with ready meals, easier for next week, with Miss hoodie starting school, then Miss Hoodie wanted to take me to Farmfoods, never been in... so what was a quick look turned into £48 bill. But included in that i brought a turkey crown ready for Xmas.
I got FF own brand 1.6kg - which is 8 to 10 people that was £12.95, there was a Bernard Mathews 1.6kg that was £9.95 - for 3 to 4 people. I know there only be the 4 of us, but does for boxing day, as well.

Digressing completely,
Nice surprise tonight, i'm in take a break.... about 6 weeks ago replied to a thing that TAB ha on their website about special songs - sent them an email, they asked for a photo,sent one, not expecting anything to come from it, - with everything going on havent had chance to catch up properly with emails - there was one of TAB saying there publishing it in this weeks mag and there pay £50 in about 6 weeks for it...

On page 17 - the Showaddywaddy song... xxx

Anglea

Hi all

Mum2one, you had a good old spendup the other day, I hope it was enjoyable rather than a chore.

Well done on TAB.

My new FF arrived, it holds far less in the freezer area than the one I had before but I couldn't wait another 2 weeks for the bigger one. I did a Mr T online shop to re-stock but had to buy completely different things to normal because I needed to test the sizes and shapes of frozen items for the plastic drawers. I'm not happy with the results but at least now I know I'll have to alter the way I shop.

Dad is not his usual self, he's confused and is driving mum mad plus he's had a lot of severe stomach problems so she called the doctor to visit. The diagnosis is the interaction of antibiotics at hospital and the anaesthetic which should take several weeks to clear from his system is affecting his stomach and also creating the strange memory problems and other things.

Yesterday he was alternating between a blank tv screen and a fuzzy one yet he was insisting he was watching a programme and got annoyed that mum and I said there wasn't anything there.

How are the other dads?

mrs-moneypenny

popping in with hugs for all who need them -especially those with poorlies to worry about.

Anglea

Thanks Mrs M - how are things with you?

Does anyone know where I can get step by step lessons for a smart phone? I haven't a clue what to do and all the tutorials on you tube miss the basic steps.

I can't even make a call. And I attempted to put my name in as a contact with my home phone number and made a mistake and it won't edit.

I've used other people's Iphones and other types no trouble maybe because they were already set up, but I don't know what to do with mine as the only instructions are how to put in the battery and sim.

mum2one

we have some good news this side - dads coming home.... saw the surgeon, it was the big C, they think they've got it all out, the lymph nodes nearby were all clear, as for secondary there not 100% sure, something that will be dealt with this end. The original coming home was going to be dependant on transport being arranged, then I got asked as were doing the trek to visit him would I mind driving him home after visiting - big yes - next conversation - right he can come home on Wednesday..

I will not miss doing that treck... although had we had put our order in for sunday lunch at the cafe!! xx

Anglea

It is good news mum2one to have grandad hoodie back home.