Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

meritaten

Thank you for your concern people! I put more aloe gel on before I went to bed and this morning my hand is absolutely fine. not a trace of redness - last night it was very red and 'angry looking' even swollen on the part by my thumb that got hit with most cheese sauce!
I have had the plant for six months and it has 7 babies (called pups apparently), I shall pot up some pups and give one each to DD and DILs and the way I am going, I better keep the rest 'in case of emergencies'! lol - I really am a klutz!
my make do today was when I finished knitting a vintage style coat and beret for Ava. I had forgotten to get a little flower or motif to put on her beret. I want to give it to her tomorrow and haven't been out today. my crochet isn't brilliant but after a couple of tries I crocheted a very acceptable 'flower' and used the same button for the centre as I used on the coat. (the buttons are vintage - from mums button box). the light is too bad for a pic now - will take one tomorrow. but the pattern is this one

http://www.deramores.com/smock-coat-beret-in-sublime-baby-cashmere-merino-silk-dk-6014

and no, I didn't make in merino silk - I used a poundstretcher yarn in teal with lurex thread called midnight something - cost less than £8 and I have about 150gm leftover.

fuddle - I think that was extremely rude too! but - my guess is that the little girl may well be able to fly her kite Xmas day or soon after! my DD had one at that age and she loved it! mainly cos she got to see mum or dad running round like lunatics trying to launch it!

nursemaggie

fuddle I agree that was extremely rude. If I was the gift giver and I bought their parents a gift I would seriously consider dropping their presents.

Well Star Wars was brilliant! Better dialog without George Lucas and no trace of sexism or racism. I don't think all the tension did my blood pressure any good. Glad we decided to have the day off from decorating today.

[Deleted User]

Fuddle its a brilliant gift and I'm sure she will love it We have a 'holiday kite' that sits safely in the cupboard under my stairs when not in use and comes out on windy days when we take my grandsons to either Westgate or Herne Bay for the day.It also comes away with us every year to the IoW on our family holidays.my grandsons are 20,nearly 16,14 and 11 and they and their Dad hugely enjoy flying it, Maybe old fashioned to some people but how much fun it is to see it up in the air and how pleased all the boys are .They all run around like loons getting it airborne and my DD and I sit watching them laughing.over the years when its become a bit tatty and beyond repair its replaced and its such a family tradition along with the old cricket bat for beach cricket and their buckets and spades and crabbing that our holidays wouldn't be the same without it.lots of fun and no batteries to buy whats more fun than that.I'm sure she will also have a great time using it. For some reason, a bit like train sets Dad's turn into little boys again when the kites are out :):)

Nargleblast

fuddle - as others have said about your niece's present. Anything that gets children outdoors running around instead of stuck indoors superglued to their mobile phones turning into lard @rses has got to be a good thing. Well done you!

fuddle

I quite agree, that's what I thought too. Still, it's all fallen on deaf ears once calmed down and I won't be asking about the 'wish list' next year either. My girls are with their gran today with the little girl. She's a very demanding little girl so I can see why they would think that but to utter the words had me taken aghast.

'tis the season to be jolly... please may I take this opportunity to thank you all for your company this year. It's been fun turning my OSness to more of MM&Ming. May your Christmas be filled with smiles and relaxation... oh and a little food x

Floss

Fuddle you summed it up with that phrase "very demanding"!

MrsCD

Fuddle, you were absolutely right in giving something to get your niece out in the fresh air. The National Trust have a campaign called '50 things to do before you're 11 3/4'. It's all aimed at getting children outside instead of sitting indoors all the time. Maybe you could get her the book for her birthday!

GreyQueen

Afternoon all.

Just taking a wee breather between work and a social engagement (sounds posh, am visiting a mate this evening).

I'm not a parent and am probably a bit behind the curve/ dead old-fashioned, but since when has it been customary that young children have wishlists which adults are supposed to cater to?! No wonder this young girl is very demanding, she's being spoiled rotten. She'll be a regular PITA by fourteen if her parents carry on in the same vein.

Sorry to be so judgemental but this kind of thing gets my goat, and that the parents would have been so rude to auntie Fuddle is outrageous.

I think a kite is an excellent gift. I know the family kite we had in the 1970s (blue pvc twin-string stunt kite with a pink plastic tail) was a much-loved toy of both adults and children. It went everywhere and was eventually worn to death. Kites are huge fun and all that running around is a great laugh for both participants and spectators alike.

I have now got a new-to-me wristwatch and have just had the band minimised by a couple of links (it's a man's watch and the band was HUGE) so it's sitting pretty. A 2nd steel sla zenger is plenty good enough for someone like me, and I won't have to have conniptions if I lump it around when allotmenteering.

Yesterday, I went to archery class in the evening and the little adjustment with velcro the the bow's cloth carry-case made everything so much easier. I also had a brilliant laugh shooting balloons whilst under the influence of bootleg scottish whiskey..............:rotfl:

And made out like a bandit on YS bargains on way home, which are socked away in the freezer ready for the New Year. All is well.

I may be a little scarce in the next 10 days or so, but I'd like to wish all our MSE friends a superb Christmas and New Year - cos we're worth it.;)

HOWMUCH

Fuddle about 20 years ago I bought a Barbie doll for a friends little one, it was beautiful and a little more than I would normally pay but my daughter then about 13 thought it was a perfect gift. A special edition Holiday Barbie (as in American for Christmas). The little girl opened it straight away didn't wait for Christmas Day, looked at her mum and said I thought we said no dolls and then duly gave the box straight back to me. I think I was more in shock and gave her a £10 note and said there buy what you want. My daughter would let me take the doll back because it was so beautiful in a lovely gown. Hence that was the last present she had from then on her got £5 in her Christmas card, she was a demanding child and still is a demanding adult. Both my children have loved kites and we've bought DGS one this year as part if his present, he was 3 Sept. Takes all sorts buy her a selection box next year, she can use that straight away. Lol

camelot1001

Fuddle, I find that kind of behaviour disgusting. I would never have allowed my children to give out a wish list, all gifts were gratefully received with appropriate thanks (letters for those they didn't see). Even if the gift was a duplicate they never said. All that said, a kite is a fantastic present.

Have minimised all the christmas gifts from the house but brought a lot of shopping in! No mending by me but DS2 is fixing DDs and my bikes, does that count?