NST;September Squirrels

dolly84

Everhopeful - hope you enjoy your new flat, moving is hard work and in my experience counts as exercise.

applemuncher - oh dear your DD is in the wars, hope she isn't feeling to ill.

Thanks for all the replies about DS and Santa, we have dug ourselves into a hole with it, Santa brings whatever you want pretty much, plus my mum and dad give the kids money and we buy presents with that but they are also from Santa. When I told a mum at school last year that I had told DD he wasn't real she was shocked and said all hers still believed even her son in DD's class. Half the time he seems to be going along with it then he gets really excited about going onto the NASA santa tracker on Christmas eve.

mothernerd - we do have some traditions in place, on Christmas eve we go to Christingle then home for a 'party tea' and we watch Polar Express or Home Alone or similar, the kids get new pj's and they put those on to watch the film then later we go onto the Santa tracker. They love putting out the carrot, mince pie and Baileys on the fireplace (one year we left the room and the dog ate the mince pie and drank the Baileys), then it gets stressful for me and DH, one year DD was up all night and it was 4am and I was still trying to get things into her stocking on her bed.

MagicCat

So, today was all shaping up to be a SFD... then we needed to call a plumber as toilet flush refused to stop, water (thankfully clean) flooding out into the bathroom...the bathroom and toilet which were only installed 5 months ago. Rather than fight with main contractor to get his subcontracting plumber who did the installation to sort it, we have called someone else - will be £80. These things are sent to try us. Still no sign of the electricians who are meant to be doing work so vital that they can't issue a safe installation cert til it's done - the promised they'd finish it by last friday. So angry. Again.

Sorry, just needed to vent. Hope everyone is OK - Applemuncher, hope your DD is recovering. Everhopeful - glad your move sounds like it went well, always seems an expensive time!

SFD – 5/15
Groceries £97.48/£180
Petrol/parking £30.03/£90
Personal (prescription/toiletries etc) £7.44/£15
House £15.78/£25 +£80 plumbing
Birthdays £11.75/£150
Car Tax £0/140
Social £0/£40
Exercise 6/25 Steps 38882/186000
Mindfulness 7/30
Foodbank 0/3

stewby

Not to embarass myself but I am 30 and I love the NORAD santa thing (think it is called NORAD but anyways, the thing on the internet). I am normally on nightshift at work and love watching it when I get a spare minute. It's awesome!!


Erm... will be back later with an update. Although I have now got a new credit card!! Which will cost me nothing to change over and will save me over £200!!
:j

LoveaDove

Hey all!

applemuncher - So sorry to hear about your poor DD! How old is she? My sister had shingles when she was 13, all on her back. It is rare to get it so young, but I remember her saying how uncomfortable it was! Hope she gets better soon!

luckystarr - Regarding the Food bank donations instead of presents for Christmas, I decided to do this with my closest friend's who I would normally buy for. Like yourself, my friend's are marrying and having children and the Christmas budget continues to get stretched year after year. We're at an age where gifts really do not matter, we all have financial responsibilities (homes, children, bills, debts, cars to run etc..) I am happy if I get to see them over the festive season (if possible), for me that is present enough. I will still get/ make a little something for their children but for the adults I will be making a food donation instead. I sent an email round a few days ago to my besties about Christmas this year, explaining just this. I also gave some information about food banks (and links), the variety of people that require access to them, the sort of supplies that are needed and the difference this can make to those within their local communities. I will also be purchasing some seasonal food- christmas puds etc.. but as extras if I find them on special offer. I have encouraged my friend's to not purchase me a gift this year, to either save their money, donate to a charity close to their hearts or to also do the same and make a food parcel donation to their local food bank instead. I said that I would donate £3 worth of food/ person or £5 worth of food per married couple. The gift of giving to those in need within the local community feels very much what the Christmas spirit is about. The email went down well, some are also going to be donating food parcels, others are making charity donations or just making very small token gifts!

Corrr blimey, I do waffle!

So I have accumulated 2 more SFD's :T , started my Futurelearn course, made time for some reflection and partaken in some gentle exercise (no point scaring myself from it altogether now!) I spent the day with one of my besties and her little boy today, we sat down the beach and my friend bought us all ice creams. I do love being outside, the sun was shining but there was a noticeable chill in the wind. Autumn is certainly on it's way! Already looking forward to snuggling up in my burrow with fleecey pjs and a hot cuppa later!

Toodle pip for now! x

PS. stewby- I am 30 also, and have no idea what this NORAD malarky is all about? Please do explain!

PPS. magicCat- I do hope the house situation does start to improve for you! I agree, these things are sent to try us!

moohound

My little boy had shingles when he was 4, but was lucky and not really that poorly or sore, just a bit pale and tired. So sorry to hear that your DD has it apple-muncher, hope she feels better soon.


Today I am grateful for my hardworking, caring colleagues who make our department a lovely place to work and be a patient in


Not spent since Saturday and that was £2.70 for parking, £1.99 for a birthday card plus £10 to go in it as a gift. Will try to have a thrifty day tomorrow, I am off work and going out with my mum to do a few errands, we always seem to gravitate to a tea-shop though, so I will try to do without the usual pot of Earl Grey and slice of carrot cake and have something at home instead.

CEW

Hi All,

Not posted for a few days as been a bit busy. I have read all posts though

3 SFD's in a row so really pleased with this.

Love the Christmas mini challenge. Having read all of the thoughts about telling little ones about Santa (or lack of) OH and I had a lovely discussion about the whole Santa issue.

We had to laugh at the irony of how we had both spent a great deal of time and effort in telling our respective children not to speak to, or accept things from strangers and then told than that at Christmas a strange man would enter our locked house, via a chimney and leave presents for them in their bedroom while they were sleeping. I'm just so glad I didn't analyse it too much at the time :rotfl:

I probably sound like a bah humbug but I'm really not. I just found it quite comical. Not only that but we also give him credit for all the presents we have spent our hard earned money on. I wonder who came up with this wonderful idea.

Budgets are going well and my learn something new has been decided on. Every month I will cook a new recipe from around the world. I think I will start with Thai as I love Thai food but have never cooked it at home.

Hope everyone is enjoying the lovely weather. Hugs to everyone who needs them and I hope everyone feeling under par is on the mend.

I will try to post more regularly.

Chez x

apple_muncher

Than you for all the well wishes for dd. She is 6, and to the best of my knowledge, hasn't had chicken pox, so I have no idea where this came from! Anyway, due to the meds plus the fact that it is nearly a week since the physical signs started, she is recovering very well. She thoroughly enjoyed her day off with daddy!

We also love the NORAD tracker in this house - where the majority are well over 30 . Plus the PNP - the portable north pole, where you input a few details and Santa sends you a personal video ! Even dh's kids love that still, aged 24-28!

Another NSD gained plus a bag to the Sally Army. So £2 credit to me, which I'll put off the mortgage. Snuck in a workout early on as I didn't have to sort out dd.


Today I am grateful for dd mending, for wonderful work colleagues, for the squirel jumping through the trees outside my teaching room, for dh doing a wash and managing to peg it out in such a way that it nearly dried, for the chemist phoning to say that some of dd's prescription items have arrived.

stewby

http://www.noradsanta.org/

This is the link to NORAD (obviously it does nothing just now). Basically on xmas eve, santa gets in his sleigh and goes round the world. It tells you how many presents he has delivered to how many people all over the world.

If you google NORAD santa tracker and click on images you will see what it looks like. Last year I seem to think it had games and stuff on it but I am not 100% sure (my memory is quite poor).

Anyways, I highly recommend it. It's brilliant.


Spend-free day today - So that's four!!
:j

I have now changed over to the tescimo credit card.
0% to change it over.
And 0% interest for 10 months.
I now owe £3480.
:eek:

If I was to do the 100% thing (or 1% thing), I think that means I would have paid off 7.31%. Is anyone good at maths able to tell me if I have figured it out right?? This is what I did:
3754.64 divided by 100 = 37.54, total paid off (274.64) divided by 37,54 = % paid off.
Does that make any sense at all?? I was never very good at maths.
:embarasse

luckystarr

Thanks for all of the advice on Christmas gifts and the links. I have subscribed to the ones you put up Mothernerd
Still am at a loss of where to start but will have a look tomorrow and start to plan.

[STRIKE]Had another SFD so pleased with that.[/STRIKE] I am hoping that tomorrow will be as not planning on getting my friends birthday gift until Friday.

Just lost a SFD as had to order a DVD (james and the giant peach) for work purposes as doing a Roald Dahl theme day. Couldn't find it anywhere so had to get off Flebay ... really gutted but couldn't live with the guilt of claiming a SFD when i haven't

Feeling a little overwhelmed tonight not sure why.. can't seem to shift my "glass half empty" syndrome especially when i have things to be grateful for. maybe i am just tired, emotional or BOTH lol.

Stewby I am 30 too and I am intrigued with NORAD what is it ??

Off to bed going to try and read and switch off

Night all xx

mothernerd

I have read all your posts but am not commenting at the moment (think you are all bubbling along nicely) as I am so tired.

Mr and mrs builder and mr laminate flooring came today so much progress has been made (man also came to measure for vinyl for the bathroom and carpet for stairs and landing, added the hallway as there are so many paint spots on it and I have already spent several hours trying to get them off).

Three rooms are newly floored (one with re-used laminate), unfortunately the doors are still off - I have two taking up a lot of space in my room. Front room is perfect - new laminate floor, one sofa, one lamp and the new (bought it last October) light fitting is finally up.

New shower rail (I did try with the old one), towel rail and ring, toilet roll holder (the old one fell off shortly after we moved in) and toilet seat in the bathroom, towel ring and toilet roll holder in the tiny understairs toilet (old ones were completely rusty as that was one of the dampest bits of the house). Leak fixed. new socket and light covers (saves me having to try to get the encrusted paint mishaps off them - again some pre-date our occupancy).

DS3 went off to his friend's house in a huff - he had been warned that we needed to change his fittings. mrs builder said it was only going to take ten minutes but I said let him go (then washed all his pillows and fluffy throw - when the water and electric were both on at the same time). He did move my mattress - that is all he did.

Quiet day tomorrow then everyone plus DS1 returns on Thursday. Despite having said first thing that I thought I had done too much yesterday and would rest more, I don't think I have sat down for more than 10 minutes at a time. I did announce that I was going to lie down several times but then someone would ask for a particular tool and I was off again.

Still need to get my things out of DS3's room before he comes home. Think I may just take the single mattress (I can move it myself) and put that on my bed base, it will be enough. Would like a bath but cba getting the plaster dust out of the bath and probably no hot water - DS3 had a bath first thing (I had to take one end of the tape measure in there as the man came to measure for the vinyl) and with electric being on/off all day.
I'm sure it's all lovely Cooker stopped working - have put it on the list as mr builder got it to work before.

Today I am grateful for people who know what they are doing and are good at making do (4 of us worked on improving the electric meter cupboard - it has a door and a cooker filler on the front, the new casing is a shelf from one old kitchen cabinet and the side of another kitchen cabinet and pieces of garden post - leftovers from wood used to make stair supports - is going to hold the new hinges, I have to paint all the slightly non-matching bits with the leftover wall paint), DS3 going out of the way (even if he is sulking, it gave me the use of his room and things could be spread out rather than squashed into the tiny bedroom) and co-operation.