NOT BUYING IT! 2015 - A consumer holiday

GreyQueen

I'll be having a rest as have to work on Xmas eve then travel to be with family, probably not arriving until about 7.30 pm.

I'll also find time to wrap the presents I'll be bringing with me to be taken on Boxing Day to those relatives we won't see on the day itself. As I have to lump things around on public transport, I found that gift-wrapping was often getting torn before I arrived, so take the gifts unwrapped and do it at the other end.

Other than that, we treat is as if a family Sunday; nice roast beef joint, all the trimmings, the lessons and carols thingy, me and Dad avoiding the Q's speech by walking in the woods and maybe watch a film or play some board games whilst having a small libation.

At least the present feline incumbents don't have a fixation with the Scrabble board, unlike one of their predecessors, bless her. She was so smugly planted in the middle of the game, almost beaming at being the centre of attention..........:rotfl:

I tend to loaf around for a couple of days then find something to sort out (Mum points me at lofts or cupboards, as appropriate) as I love sorting things out and she doesn't.

[Deleted User]

I'm taking myself and bus pass to Rochester for the dickens festival I haven't been for about 15 years and my history tutor is doing a free lecture on Victorian Christmas's.A little bit of cash from my Happy Cash stash and I will imbibe a nice glass of mulled wine and have a good wander around the festival.Hopefully I shan't spend a great deal ,but looking is free :):) Just the thing to put me in the mood for Christmas
Cheers chums
JackieO xxx

fiftyeighter_2

Ooh JackieO, envious or what? I love Rochester, well Kent in general. I have never seen the Charles Dickens festival and would so love to. I'm going to make myself a promise t definatly go next year. You have a wonderful time.

DuranGirl

Because of Christmas shopping, I haven't had a NSD yet this month :eek: That said, my personal NBI challenge is still intact - I've even resisted beautiful Christmas print frocks (frocks are my downfall), because I already have plenty of frocks that will fit the festive bill. I don't need any more! I've also resisted the shops and ordered all presents online so far, so no temptation for additional goodies. It's so liberating, being out of that environment. I've done a lot more crafty bits and bobs, read a lot more and watched less TV. Not sure if it's all connected, but I certainly feel better for it. One of my friends is staying over tonight, so I've just made up the spare bed and found some extra bed linen I'd forgotten about. I thought I might have to buy some more for when I have a houseful over Christmas, but it looks as if I don't! :T They don't all match like a picture from Homes and Gardens, but no-one will care if I don't. So just a fresh duvet and a couple of new pillows to get (the last lot went off to uni with DD), and The Range will suffice for those at a fair price.:)

eandjsmum

fiftyeighter wrote: »

Ooh JackieO, envious or what? I love Rochester, well Kent in general. I have never seen the Charles Dickens festival and would so love to. I'm going to make myself a promise t definatly go next year. You have a wonderful time.

I'm just back from there. Lots of people in costumes but the streets which are narrow are jam packed.

pm2326

I had a day off yesterday so did all bits and bobs including food shopping so I could hide from the horrendous weather today. Good job I did as its been blowing a gale since tea time yesterday and not letting up yet.

I've been up since stupid o'clock as too noisy outside so all housework is done, bed stripped and remade, washing done.

I fancied doing a bit of cooking so went hunting online for something new too try. Ended up finding a recipe for a bacon, cheese and courgette bread. In true MSE style I adapted it to suit what I want to use up so I used 2 bendy courgettes, some cheddar that had a few extra green bits attached too it, some cooked gammon from the freezer that was a bit too salty for sandwiches and about 50g cream cheese that was left over from when I opened the tub last week.

It's turned out blooming lovely....in fact there was enough for a loaf and 6 smallish muffins :T I've eaten 3 already :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

Stared off well until a guy jumped on the bus to Chatham ,pretty drunk and sat down.When the driver asked for his fare the chap said 'I'm and ex-marine, and I'm broke and my wife has left me ' the driver said 'well I'm and ex-postman and my wife's still here so I'm also broke ,but I can't afford to get like you are at lunchtime' The bloke muttered and seemed to fall asleep in the seat so the driver just shrugged and drove on ! Bus ride are really quite an experience aren't they The bloke eventually woke with a start and insisted he got off straight away so the driver opened the doors and the guy jumped out.At least he never hurled on the bus !!!
I had a nice afternoon and decided after going to the lecture that I would have a stroll around the High street which was absolutely jammed solid.I managed to find a small church building where I got a cup of coffee and a brilliant crispy bacon roll for £3.00 which was really nice .The mulled wine went out of the window as the queues were far too long and at £3.50 for a paper cup of wine I thought that too was a bit OTT. I walked up to the Castle where the stalls were charging £5.00 for a sausage in a roll, needless to say I didn't buy one.I tried to go into the Cathedral but they had a power cut and were turning folk out !
By 5.00 I was getting a bit chilly as the wind was still gusting so I thought I'll get the bus back to Chatham, then another bus from there to Rainham where I live .On the first bus was one of the Victorian chaps all dressed up, and he proceeded to tell me all of his woes ! I must have that sort of face I think
When I got to Chatham bus station there was another lady all in costume in a bit of a state as her friend had gone off with some chap she had met, so she was stranded in Chatham and didn't have enough cash to get home to Minster. I felt quite sorry for her so I said OK we'll get to Rainham, and I'll drive you home as my car is there I couldn't just leave her there in a cold windy bus station miles from home .

So that's what I did and I have just got indoors and warmed up myself.My DD's been texting me frantically as she wasn't sure if I was OK or not .bless her she does fret unnecessarily at times.
I'm glad to be back home after my adventures and it certainly makes a change for a quite Saturday afternoon :):)

I enjoyed the Dickens Festival but I think a lot of the stalls were vastly overpriced.Sadly they get lots of overseas visitors who don't realise they are being ripped off,or maybe its just me and my canny ways thinking that a sausage in a 10p bap at a fiver is daylight robbery.
My cuppa and roll were in a small church off the main High Street and the funds go to the local Blythswood community project which helps youngsters rather than line the pockets of the greedy folk.It wasn't fancy ,but it was clean, and the girls serving had big smiles and the bacon was crispy and plentiful.
all in all a nice day out that cost me £3.00 and I managed to give someone a hand as well.Win-win I think
JackieO xxx

Lynplatinum

Evening all

NSD for me - lots of rubbish gone from the house as son gave me a hand to get heavy stuff to the tip :-)

Jackie O - yep - I ve got that sort of face too!! And I am often helping folk out by giving them lifts. A couple of people were really kind to me when I didnt have a car but did have 2 kids! I like to give back to the universe sometimes :-)

Cant remember if it was on here but whoever it was who left the lemon curd recipe on here but I made it here today - and it was wonderful !!! Thank you!
Guest at mo so must go.
Nite All

suki1964

Well done you Jackieo

Im always being given off at for giving lifts to complete strangers, but the way I see it, is that person is someones son or daughter and they would hate to see them stranded, as i would hate to see mine

And tbh I enjoy picking up hitch hikers ( ok Im sensible, I dont lift single males on dark nights etc etc etc) I enjoy their stories, why they are where they are, where they are headed

A couple of weeks back we had a pair of Canadians land at work looking to park their van up for the night, well I sent them round to mine ( I was working) told mum to peel more spuds and hubby to air the spare room

They ( said ) they had a lovely night and said the one thing they would take from their travels, was the true hospitality they had received here in Europe

suki1964

You all know this thread is coming to a year old soon?

I know Ive not posted so much of late, things have been up and down for me and I felt like a fraud posting here

But Ive kept the ethos of this thread with me the whole year

And whilst I might be as financially sound as Id love to be, I know I can get through another year without having to get the sack cloth and ashes out whilst cooking my dinner around the candle Im using for heating and light

Ive learned so much from this thread ( amongst a few others), Ive taken so much on board, and more to do, but Ill get there

Thank you all me auld shipmates