* Walking in a Winter Wonderland * - It's the 2015 Christmas Chatter Thread

freespirit66

Evening everyone, the weather down here is so muggy its driving me mad! The garden is just so embarrassing now an absolute jungle from the rain and the warmth, i feel ashamed of it, back and front. The thing is i have some gorgeous bushes, like wisteria, rose, forsythia, corkscrew hazel, bog brush tree, magnolia, but they have just turned into monsters. DD2s partner is going to come round when he is free with a chainsaw and just take the lot down, it will break my heart but if i cant keep it tidy and under control its the only option.

MRSINVISIBLE oh what a relief for you and DD about the housing benefit, i am so pleased for you both

PINKNFLUFFY hope you all had a wonderful meal out, what a bargain

PEPPAPIG im so so sorry to hear your sad news, you all must be devastated, my deepest condolences to you all, i just had a feeling something was wrong when i mentioned you my lovely. MMM is Make do, Mend and Minimise thread it is so interesting, and the people on there have some fab ideas. Take care of yourself, we are all here if you need to talk x

Mojoworking

Peppapig I don't know what to say how heart breaking I'm so sorry you're in my thoughts and prayers x

mrsinvisible

Peppapig, how devastating for you all, my heart goes out to you, hope you all find a way through this grief, xxx.
Freespirit, chainsaw the brutes down, but not out, and you will have the pleasure of watching them start again. That is my kind of pruning too.
Pinkand fluffy, hope you had a lovely meal, it is good to have a treat now and then.
l haven't seen the mm&m forum but will try and find it, as it sounds like l will like it. Now l need caffeine .........mrs l hunts the kettle and the coffee jar.

princesskitty29

Hi all, I am back from holiday and catching up so apologies for the long post.

Vulpix good luck with the operation on your back, I hope it does the job and you don't get the pain anymore.

CazD2008 congratulations! Such wonderful news.

Pinknfluffy yay for finding your dream house, how lovely. I do hope it all goes through smoothly.

KiWi i'm so sorry to hear about Sam, what a shock it must have been for you. As others have said they are part of the family, you live with them day in and day out so you're bound to feel the way you do. Be kind to yourself.

mrsinvisible I hope you enjoyed your day out even if you didn't get free champagne and reduced price afternoon tea - perhaps you could take me with you to moan about something next time?! So glad to hear your daughter has finally got her HB sorted - and not before time! That must be a relief.

Fiesty I've got my fingers crossed that your cutting machine sorts itself out, that's the last thing you need! I'm glad to hear you had another week off as you definitely needed it. I do hope you're feeling better.

Peppapig I am so, so sorry to hear that awful news, you must all be devastated. It is the most heartbreaking thing. Sending you lots of hugs and strength at this time, look after each other. xx

Well we had a lovely week in Dorset in Purbeck, I had no idea quite how lovely it was down there. We were staying in a really nice cottage with amazing views over farm fields and then out to sea. We were really lucky with the weather so it was easy to get out and about. We will definitely be going back down there sometime! One day I was in the kitchen washing up with my ipod on shuffle, a Christmas song came on and I just let it play as I couldn't be bothered to take the rubber gloves off and change it and I was just daydreaming about spending a Christmas in a little cottage somewhere! It's definitely on my bucket list. I did manage to get a Christmas present whilst there - a personalised bookmark to go with a book I had bought for my friend. I always seem to pick up Christmas presents when i'm on holiday!

I love the 'Make do, Mend and Minimise' thread! I found it a couple of months ago and subscribed so I could read the daily threads. It's really motivating if you're trying to live on a budget. I don't comment on it though - I only have time in my life right now to comment on one thread so I choose this one!

KiWi13

didn't want to read and run (trying to catch up as didn't get on over weekend....)
Peppa - so sorry for what has happened . my thoughts and condolences are with all involved - so terribly sad.
xx
KiWi

pinknfluffy28

Peppa - deepest condolences to you and your family. Such sad news. xx

MrsI - hoping you enjoyed your day out xx

Princess kitty - Glad you had a great holiday, it sounds like such a beautiful place xx

Meal was lovely, doubt I will eat for a week now, our lovely landlady sure knows how to pile a plate high!

Our bread maker has finally gave up on us. So I am attempting to make my own bread today, dough is currently rising! Hope it works as I really don't like buying bread in (anything half decent costs twice as much as it does to make a loaf) but cannot afford to replace bread maker.

FeistyFidget

Peppapig wrote: »

Apologies that I've been mia (and thanks for the concern Freespirit) but we've had a very sad time as a family this past week. Honorary DD went into labour at 26 weeks, was taken up to London and baby delivered but he only lived for just over an hour. As you can imagine we're all so sad and HDD and her DH are devastated. Won't share any more details but I know you on here will understand.

Anyway, hugs to those that need them. Mrs I so glad DD's benefit is finally getting sorted and Feisty, glad that the move seems to be moving again. Lizzie, Create and Craft sounds interesting, will try to pop on and have a look if it's on Sky. Only a few weeks now until Christmas in July on QVC - hope it's better than the last couple of years. Pink or Free, what is mm&m? It sounds interesting but I've tried thinking of all sorts of phrases and have had to give up.

I am so sorry my lovely. My deepest condolences to you all xxx

freespirit66

:bdaycake:HAPPY BIRTHDAY DROPSOFJUPITER :bdaycake:


AND FOR TOMORROW


:bdaycake: HAPPY BIRTHDAY MSGIGGLEWICK :bdaycake:

PRINCESSKITTY glad you had a lovely holiday, your cottage sounds lovely! I think we all dream of the perfect christmas in a little cottage

MRSINVISIBLE ooh thankyou, im glad you think its ok to do this

KIWI how are you? Is it getting any easier? x

PINKNFLUFFY oh blimey you have just reminded me, i bought skimmed milk powder the other week to make a loaf, i completely forgot, i was given a breadmaker as mine had packed up and need to test it out!

Peppapig

Thank you everyone for your lovely comments. Your kind words really do mean a lot. I'm still reading every day so will hopefully be able to keep up with all the goings on. I've been reading through the MM&M thread (thanks for the pointer Pink and Free) - really interesting but I don't think I'm quite as dedicated as some - I don't like wasting and I do upcycle where I can but I draw the line at re-elasticing my knickers or making DH boxers out of old quilt covers.

FeistyFidget

Peppapig wrote: »

Thank you everyone for your lovely comments. Your kind words really do mean a lot. I'm still reading every day so will hopefully be able to keep up with all the goings on. I've been reading through the MM&M thread (thanks for the pointer Pink and Free) - really interesting but I don't think I'm quite as dedicated as some - I don't like wasting and I do upcycle where I can but I draw the line at re-elasticing my knickers or making DH boxers out of old quilt covers.

I browsed this thread whilst I was in hospital and I have to say that a lot of it was too hard core for me. I always remember something :money: said a few years ago when it came to trying to save money; if you are having to do something that is so time intensive and will only save a few pence (knickers in primark multipacks are how cheap??) then you aren't actually saving money! If your time is valuable (either financially or just treasured) then sometimes I think it is the right thing to just buy new.

We have moving news :j It's not as great as it could be, but it is progress! We had an anxious call from estate agent yesterday saying that our buyers buyer needs to exchange in the next few days and complete within the next week or so or our whole chain would fall apart (which would mean we'd at the very least lose the house we are buying if not our buyers too!) We were urged to break our chain and complete before our house is ready :mad: Technically it's going to be a huge added expense for us, because although we are moving to the in-laws until the house is ready, we will have to pay removals twice and pay mega money to put 95% of our possessions into storage

The in-laws are amazing and so supportive, but it will be stressful for everyone to have to try and fit the others into normal work and eating routines. Plus although me and DH have been together for almost half our lives, it's not quite the same being able to veg out on your own sofa and watch what you want in the evenings compared to having to be a bit on ceremony at someone elses home. I am counting my blessings that we have such a kind and supportive family, but at the same time a bit grumpy that we (and the poor in laws) are being put out through no fault of our own. :mad:

Oh and after the sellers we are buying from have threatened to drop us so many times because they thought that we were delaying things, we've learned that they completed the bulk of their paper work weeks after we did AND now there is something on their end that is preventing us from completing :rotfl:Maybe we should be horrible and threaten to drop them!