Make do, Mend and Minimise in 2015

nursemaggie

How nice to hear from you FPK. We are not actually in our new flat yet, not until 5th. We hope to finish off the decorating today.

Well our leftovers seem to be just chocolate. Won't be eating them all before we move I have eaten less chocolate than I normally eat per day in the last 5 days. Of course I did not buy in a lot of extras for over Christmas for just the two of us.

I hope you have all had a good Christmas.

fuddle

yes we've moved FPK all is well

My niece has been badgering her parents to go use the kite. Parents are not happy as it means the great outdoors. Seems that the instant gratification has gone and little kiddler wants some fun. I'm smiling inside... a lot!

Christmas cake (which is carrot cake as DH doesn't like dried fruit) is being frozen today. I'm saving it for packed lunches and we've had quite enough.

Today we'll eat the potato skin soup and chicken will be cooked for tea and sandwiches. Going to strip any meat left then cook down the left overs in the SC for stock with any bits of veg I have. I'm wanting a chicken and sweetcorn soup for the coming days.

GreyQueen

Nice one, fuddle, hope the kiddler gets lots of outdoor time with her new kite. Who knows, the parents might decide they like fresh air and exercise, too. I was seldom indoors as a child and feel it's optimal to let kids burn off their energy in the great outdoors.

Dad was a happy bunny on Boxing Day as we nipped into a Sains and found that they'd got iced Xmas cakes reduced by 50% as he'd been a tad disappointed as the cake we'd got hadn't got marzipan and icing (he's the only one in the family who likes them). At £3.50, it was decided he could have his very own iced Xmas cake.:rotfl:

Have been rootling through a holdall of socks which was put in the parental loft at some unknown point and was thrown down by me in my sorting session at the beginning of September. On closer inspection, some are only fit for the recycling, but some will come to live at my flat and be used up there. They were mostly put away because their elastic was nipping Mum's calves but the elastic has now perished so that's a non-problem.

A few other things have been selected for minimalisation, with some more of them likely to be uncovered when Mum and I tackle the small room off the kitchen which was originally a coal-bunker when the house was built. It now has cupboards and a lot of Misc Stuff in it.

I am also making more blanket squares with some pulled-out yarn but haven't actually mended anything today, but there is still time.

HOWMUCH

Fuddle inner laughter can be the best kind, I have found sometimes it's the parents who don't or can't be bothered doing thing with little ones. The number of unused books and games I've bought for DGS from charity shops is disgusting. I've seen so many mums on buses not talking to their children preferring to have their eyes and fingers super glued to mobile phones.
Hope everyone has had a pleasant and enjoyable time over the Christmas break.

[Deleted User]

I got a Bing bunny and a Flop toy for Zebra as his big present this year with two Bing books as well and he loves them, has been cuddling them most of the time since he opened the present bless him and also I got him some chunky crayons and colouring books which he's so enjoyed, I pads for 2 year olds? Not in my home!!!

Nargleblast

I remember, back in the Seventies, being shocked by my seven year old niece receiving a tape recorder for Christmas. I was only 18 myself, but even I thought "if they give her a tape recorder now, what will they give her when she's older?"

There's a lot of parents out there storing up trouble for the future, the way they are bringing up their children.

meritaten

I totally agree - my 8yr old grandson got a smartphone! and he is smart enough to know that some 'addons' to games can be paid for by Debit card! I see trouble ahead!
I DO think that parents take an easy option when present buying and don't think what is age appropriate.
fuddle - with a bit of luck the parents will decide kite flying is fun too! how well-disciplined you are not to crow out loud! I doubt I could be so restrained!lol

fuddle

History dictates that behave like these people brings only more trouble for me. I won't give them any satisfaction of them knowing I was bothered by their words meritaten. The day I bite will be the day I regress to being their little play thing again. I'm not that person now.

Take me on and I fight but these folk don't wish to take me on. They want to knock away any self confidence I have. That won't do

nursemaggie

Decorating all finished. DS's room did not blend it but we think we will get away with the one coat. He is keeping the deep purple wall as he would like some Starwars posters, he thinks the dark colour will set them off well.

Just the packing to do now we packed a few boxes yesterday.

DS was not considered for an ipad until he was 18. It seemed appropriate for an 18th birthday. He did have a cheap basic one at 12 because it meant he would let me know if he went to a friends after school. No way would I give an ipad to a child so young. Not that I could afford it.:eek:

VJsmum

My children got phones when they went to high school, it is the norm round here. I cannot say on the iPad front as they were not around when mine were that age - I can see some educational value but doubt I would have done it as laptops were only purchased when entering GCSE years (year 10 - I.e age 14)

But DS got a full blown Hornby train set at 5, everyone said we were nuts but he loved it and looked after it and we still have it now even though he is 16 ( I am working on reintroducing it as a "thing")

I remember getting a caluclator for my 16th birthday. My mother said I had to learn to do it properly first, that is rather laughable nowadays....