Santa's Challenge 2015 - Xmas, Birthdays, a chat, a bit of everything

Katiehound

Hello, hello!
Feel like I have been away for eons!
Calculated that up toTuesday of last week I had been home for 3 complete days since August 14th (+ a few half days!) Needless to say the house looks like it has been utterly neglected as heaps and bags of stuff pile up in the front room where they can not be attacked by the dogs when I am out swimming, shopping etc!
Yesterday I packed my 8 shoeboxes, spent ages hunting for things I had squirrelled away! Today I wrapped them and I am going to deliver them to the collecting point on Tuesday together with 3 large carrier bags of hand knitted hats that I've been given. I can see a few inches of bare floor!!

last Thursday collected 20 duvets.... :eek:......to make into doggy duvets. I was asked if I would like more this year! I think not. No clues given for how I shall be spending my time in the next weeks, months.....year.

My cruise to Newfoundland & Labrador was great... perhaps not so much the weather but interesting ports, some great craft ideas already passed on and lots and lots of lovely dancing with pleasant hosts . (Ballroom & sequence.)

trip to Ireland produced lots of bargains (Thanks Mr T) and the car came home laden with countless bags of mixed dried fruit for puddings and cakes about to go out of date at knock down prices....900g for £1.40. Friends have already been baking and tell me it was yummy. Mine is still in bags!

Then a posh wedding in London 2 weeks ago. The stain remover spray K2r saved the day as my brand new cobalt jacket fell onto the big hinge of my rear car door (it slides) and the garment had huge black oil streaks across the back...... 18 hours before wedding. Every trace came out. It is wonderful stuff

This week's utter bargain because it cost nowt was membership of the local leisure centre for 7 days. So far I have had 4 swims and a pilates class- saving over £16.

Hope everyone is well, organised (unlike me) and having fun!

Anglea

Hi all

Katiehound, that was an interesting update. I like to read what everyone is doing.

That stain remover really did save your day.

Are you going away again or will you have time to get everything ready before Christmas?

Mum2one - have you re-sorted your kitchen? How are the family? How are you keeping?

I had a lovely birthday this week when a friend treated me to a day out, food, drinks and and some unexpected presents too - I thought the day out would have been enough.

The online friend I mentioned before that always sends beautiful handmade cards sent me a card a few weeks ago and I assumed that was the present. Yet on my birthday I found a parcel from her - it was a fold out Victorian Dolls House pop-up book which joins up at the back and front covers so you end up with a large circular dolls house.

It was quite a coincidence as a few days before I had bought a few dolls house bits as I had considered restarting that hobby as I haven't touched it for over a year.

What is everyone doing this weekend?

Katiehound

Hi Anglea
In answer to your question I am home now until about a week before Christmas, then I am away for the festive season visiting friends.
In that way I am lucky because I don't have cooking etc! (I am very happy to pull my weight when visiting- as I recall last year the dishwasher broke at my friend's on C.Eve and I seemed to be permanently stationed at the sink, understandable with 5 A & 3 sproglets!) The charity shoe boxes are instead of posting cards and by now all my friends must know the score! I have made about 20 cards to give or hand deliver.
So I am just left with presents to sort and pack. I buy things I see throughout the year. Looks like everyone will be getting seasonal or fancy socks. I also bought some lovely large black scarves/stoles and black gloves at bargain prices (Mr T in Ireland yet again!)

I forgot to say that my outfit to the wedding was perfect (after the oil!!) The jacket was new from Fashionworld (J D Williams) and the maxi dress in blues & greens from Bon Marche. I had bought it for cruising- before the invite came. No choice for shoes I have to wear what I have! (size and price out of this world from specialist shop near Leeds) but the bag. Ah, the piece de resistance! Went into Penney's (Primark) in Ireland and spotted pretty bag with shoulder chain (reduced) in turquoise. I bought it because I loved the colour. When I got home realised it was a perfect match with the dress!- it was admired several times- I kept quiet that it had cost me £2.10!!!
Apart from the large cheque for bride & groom I found a lovely Helen Exley coffee table type book- brand new- just seen on Amazon £88 from USA,!!! £26 from USA, or cheapest £10 from UK. Me, I paid £1.05. They tell me it is sitting in pride of place on the coffee table.

The job this weekend it is try to see a bit of the floor in my front room. Pack away excess shoe box purchases for next year! try to get some doggy duvets sewn. Oh, and pack away the shorts and tee shirts and get some long sleeved garments out now that there is a nip in the air.

Anglea

Hi Katiehound

You certainly have had some brilliant bargains and I bet you looked really good in that outfit with the matching bag.

You must have been concerned with that stain, did you have to go to a shop to get the stain remover or do you always keep it to hand? I'll have to get some now I've heard how good it is.

That's a lot of duvets to receive, I'm wondering where you store them until they are used?

Do you keep memories of your trips away as photos/videos or do you write a blog for yourself as well? I'm curious as you certainly see a lot of the world.

Yes I do remember you had a dishwasher drama when you were away last Christmas. Strange what stays in my mind lol

Katiehound

Hi Anglea
First the stain- arrived at my friend's house, jacket fell off onto the oil and no-one had anything so we dashed into the town to a big supermarket (starts with S!) and they had nowt! My friend hurtled up the hill to a small hardware shop and returned with the product. It is meant for dry cleanable upholstery & carpets but worked fine on polyester.... we didn't have time to wash it (or have anything guaranteed to deal with the stain either in the wash)

Stupidly I didn't get anyone to take any photos on my camera of myself and my cousins or with b&g, but there will no doubt be loads of official ones. The dress looked good on a formal night on the cruise- blue is my colour. I bought the extra long one so I can get away with pop socks!!

Errr .. the duvets have taken possession of one room! They are in 2 over flowing heaps hence the need to get some made up and delivered to my 2 outlets.I'm thinking some will get bagged up and put up in the loft so I don't have to climb over them!!

I just keep photos from my trips- most are still on the memory card from the last few years! I try not to buy souvenirs these days! However this time did treat myself to some pretty magnetic crystal & hematite necklaces from Cape Breton and a CD of folk music. (wore the blue & black necklace to that wedding) I've always been a globe trotter- well from when I started earning, and I have loved travelling but these days I really don't like long haul flights as I'm one of the few awake all night with knees squashed into the seat in front! and camping in the bush with no mod cons no longer appeals so cruising ticks all the boxes

mum2one

Katiehound - Wow to all the travels, glad you got the oil stain out... sounds a lovely outfit.
Hope you got the boxes sorted out, sounds like u have been busy in all directions esp the doggie quilts, there going to be some lucky pooches..

I had to laugh about the travels, I only do comfort and proper toilets, it just reminded of something Miss Hoodie did (she was 8 at the time) we'd been to Dom Rep - upgraded to 1st class on the plane, then the next time we went to Tunisia, she got on the plane and asked where 1st class was, as she only flies 1st class....

the kitchen.. every time I go to tidy it something else crops up, half the stuff in the cupboards we dont need.

..............
Flu Jabs ....
Its that time of yr, we had the family outing, nanny hoodie, grandad hoodie - didnt feel a thing, Miss Hoodie had the spray up her nose, me I nearly flew off the chair... it hurt, wasn't helped as I had a reaction to the jab, the following day I was out of it, I got out of bed to go to the loo, I couldn't figure out how to put one foot in front of another, I had to look at my feet to move them, apparently I had a converation, but didnt make sense, If I had been out drinking I would have swore blind someone had spiked my drink, after another 6 hrs sleep I was nearly ok, just a bit light headed...

xx

Katiehound

Boxes going tomorrow- hurrah! I am sure they will make some families and elderly very happy- but how sad to think that just a small box of presents will mean the world to some people. Can't put them in the car until tomorrow as they will weigh the car down (yes, I mean that) and we are off to dog training very soon.
I guess I told you that my lovely boy passed his GCKC Silver,....... Gold is a lot harder but he is very quick to learn

I just want to point out that I want real toilets and all mod cons now I am slightly more mature! I have camped all over Greece, Spain & Portugal & France. Stayed with the hill tribes in Thailand (boy, that was basic), camped on a rice barge sailing thro Thailand and camped under the stars in several countries in Africa- Zimbabwe, Botswana & Kenya where there were NO toilets at all (and travelled in the back of a Bedford lorry!)

I loved the flight tale- to sum it up it was a 1st class story!

Later in the week will start again on duvets, having a breather!

mum2one

KatieHound - your travels sound amazing, bet theres some great memories, I didnt travel till I was 29, always been scared of the thought of flying, didnt fancy long coach/boat trip.

What tipped the balance - my 1st car accident - frightened the heck of me, it was Tunisia - it was go somewhere a friend had been toss up of Turkey or Tunisia won...

Then 18mths later - had my wrote off, - spinal board, head brace - thought having holiday of a lifetime - booked Ski Lanka and Maldives. (then it was the saga out there), that hol got moved to Mexico - 9/11 - all alright after that.

Miss Hoodie her 1st holiday was Tunisia - now feels like her second home x

Katiehound

Head board and spinal brace- that sounds truly terrifying- how long ago was that?

Yes, I've had some memorable holidays, and some experiences! (the do not repeat kind!) I think I was 18 when I first went abroad and then I worked abroad for 3 years when I was 23..... just fuelled the bug!

Delivered the boxes. Silly me, thought I would have a lovely gaping hole to see the floor! Instead came home with about 8 pairs of curtains- these are mainly destined for dog duvet covers. Great really as they were free (perfect upcycling) but I would have liked a week or two off! One or two curtains are really pretty designs and strong fabric so I'm thinking they would make good shopping bags. In which case I had better set to..........
The dogs are exhausted after their morning home alone. I've just had a 35 mile drive , oh and a 1/2 mile swim.

mum2one

It was back in 2000 for that accident, it turned out to e a trapped nerve that caused all the panic, it was funny as I'd had an accident in 1998 - damaged spine - was managable - at the time of the accident I was returning from a back rehab programme at a local hospital.

Wow to all that material, the doggies will be lucky x