Thrifty Gifty Santas Challenge 2014

DundeeDoll

Pleased to report have just finished october challenge. I said i was going to the cinema on my own and pleased to report, albeit 2 weeks late, went to a double bill silent movie accompanied by the caird hall organ which was a fund-raiser for said organ. Was brill. Right, now to look up november challenges...

mum2one

dundeedoll - the cinema visit sounds amazing, bet it was an experience and a half.

Things haven't quite gone to plan, - i can say we are very lucky to have such a good oncologist.... without his sharp eye, we could have been going to a funeral...... the posh titled person who reads the scan - only managed to miss a wack of blood clots, if it hadnt been for the appointment this morning and asking the oncologist about the scan, he wasnt aware it had been done, bless his heart he looked and then mass panic kicked in.

Dads now got to have blood thinning injections daily for 6 mths, - got the district nurse coming in ova weekend, - the plan they want me to do the injections, (petrified),.

Give you all a laugh - went to our first Christmas Fayre - Miss Hoodies new school, - told 5pm set up, got there - was 20 stalls already set up, people buying....

by 6pm - official start time, .... 30 stalls up and running.... more stalls and stallholders then customers.... my sales £6... (hot water bottle, kids earrings), tables £15....

Quiet weekend, we were due to have a pre-xmas break, only 15miles away, - but was sorry cant make it, bless there hearts they were really nice and where I should have lost the money there moving it to another break for us.

I guess these things are sent to try us... x

Katiehound

Greetings everyone- have been reading thro the posts which accrued in my absence!!

Sorry to hear about all the medical nasties and hope that everyone pulls through with the minimum of pain etc- a worrying time if you are involved either as the sufferer or carer. Get well soon.

My cruise was lovely- 4 weeks of delicious meals, interesting ports (Black Sea & Med), quizzes, watercolour classes, a bit of craft and dancing every day except when force 8 gales decided otherwise! We were just so lucky with the weather, 2/3 days after we left Varna (Bulgaria) they had snow and Odessa was 1 degree! In both instances we had had tee shirt weather.
Now can't seem to get to grips with this awful grey weather after lots of sun!

Presents well organised! About to start some Limoncello with the £3.50 (Litre) vodka from Gibralter. The lemons will have cost almost as much as the spirit.

Luckily I can get into this site: for some reason cannot log into Nationwide, pay at Bon Marche (had some bargains too) or Tescoviews to earn my 25 points. Don't understand why.... can only think it is my computer as the WiFi seems to be OK. Curses......
Now off to clear clutter (ha ha) as I want to get the last wall painted in the bedroom and maybe get rid of some huge paint containers.

Still awaiting the cancellation payment from Saga insurance from the August trip.... not impressed with them (never mind they have a Which? recommendation!)
Take care all........

DundeeDoll

Ouch re fayre mum2one but thank goodness the consultant saved the day re. your dad
Welcome back katiehound cruise sounds amazing
I have started knitting dd1 a blanket with animal motifs. (Ok i know should have started it earlier...) have so far done a snail, spider, butterfly and half way through a ladybird. Also mum2one could you out your amazing little xmas stocking pattern up again :-) i have decided they will be fab for the grinch pills in green with a white cuff

bluelass

BHS are very good for this. Yesterday I got 2 bayliss and harding trio of boxes gift sets £7.10 each instead of the usual £12 and I noticed festive hampers for £35 reduced from £75 I might go back and buy one for my mum:). Is it me or does anyone else on here notice the boots Christmas gift range getting pricier every year? I used to always buy them but I prefer superdrug for makeup gift sets now. Enjoying my week off:D

mum2one

I wanted to share some good news, saw the nice doctor at the hospital, he's looked again at the scan..... bar a concern of an enlarged prostrate, (we knew that from when he was operated on), and he has

NO SECONDARY CANCER

A big thank you for all the support, I know were not out of the woods but this is a massive plus x

Dundeedoll - the colours sound fab for the stockings, will hunt out the pattern xx

DundeeDoll

Hooray re medical prognosis mum2one
Love to all. On 5th square of dd1's blanket. Dd2 thoroughly enjoyed day 2 of xmas temp work at argos. Someone came in with child's xmas list - my little elf was in her element. She loves xmas almost as much as we do :-)

mum2one

I've started wrapping my xmas prezzies tonight - wrapped the gents - smallest bag - a start neverless...

Plan 2Mor - do kids bag (4 people) then the ladies will take the time.

Productive day dads been to hosp as he had to pick up injections for the blood clot, he's exicted, he's part ofof a medical trial, it was either 6 mths injections or 6 mths tablets, the computer choose injections...

then end of 6 mths, part 2, half the group have the proper pills, other half fake ones.

I did my 1st ever injection, i'm now chief injection giver, frees up district nurse, but at weekend he has to eiher diy/district nurse/at doctors... x

mrs-moneypenny

brilliant news mum2one, really pleased for you all

hope everyone is well

luckofthe_irish

Hello there everyone!

I am an avid reader of this thread and I hope no-one minds if I join in. I am currently experiencing some financial difficulties and with Christmas around the corner and lots of Christmas birthdays, things are just getting tighter. I have a tendency to spend an absolute fortune on the people I love, especially my OH who earns a lot more money than I do. However, this year I have realised for my own sake that this has to change so I have decided to be as thrifty as I can and make some gifts.

One of the things I would like to make involves large freestanding wooden letters which I will paint and stick photos on for different people spelling out their initials. I was wondering if anyone had any advice on where I might find some plain freestanding wooden letters for a good price? I can only find small ones at the moment which don't have enough room to stick photos on.

Thank you in advance and hope you don't mind me stopping by!