Nice People Thread No. 14, all Nice and Proper

SingleSue

Oooh and an extra on Josh, they are organising their student house for next year, seems so soon but I know they have to start reserving now and it looks like they have one.

I found out when he sent me a text asking for money for the deposit...he's got no chance less than 2 weeks before blooming Christmas!

God knows how that is going to work with his support but it will save him about £50 a week on what he is paying in halls.

Spirit_2

PasturesNew wrote: »

No Xmas cooking goes on here. Nor did it ever when I was growing up. We had Xmas dinner + there were nuts/satsumas and some sweets .... in the early years I remember there'd be a Yule log and a cake and a Xmas pud, but these'd stopped by about 1970ish.

Dad used to have a pack of dates and one of those small trays of toffee that were sold with a small hammer in them. Mum'd have one of those orange/lemon slices packs.

We'd roast some chestnuts in the grate of the open fire, until the mid 80s.

As a child the Christmas food and sweets were Turkey, Pork, Ham all cooked for Christmas dinner, no pigs in blankets.
Christmas Pudding, cake, mince pies.

Dundee cake,Quality street, mince pies, huge flat boxes of chocolates with padded lids. Clementines, Bowl of nuts in shells.
Avarity of pickles.

Here we have much the same but no pork, added pigs in blankets fewer chocolates, no Dundee cake, but make a chocolate log.Mum bought everything, we make everything except Christmas pudding. We buy a pannettone and a stollen. More chutneys than pickles and post christmas a HM raised pie and Turkey soup from left overs. We never had leftovers made into other meals when I was growing up.Just never ending Turkey sandwiches.

Spirit_2

SingleSue wrote: »

Oooh and an extra on Josh, they are organising their student house for next year

That is great that he has made friends who want to share a house. A friend of mine who has had huge faith in her son's social skills was truly shaken when not only did his best friend from school (who attends the same Uni) did not invite her son to share and her son could not find anyone else to share with. He shared with strangers, and has struggled throughout to make a friend.

Spirit_2

Nikkster wrote: »

Sadly I can't afford to jack it all in and drive off into the sunset

Though I have got one very exciting holiday planned for 2016 and possibly a second if I can bite the bullet and book it.

I truly hate office politics though. What a waste of everyone's time and energy.

"very exciting". Pray tell.

SingleSue

Spirit wrote: »

That is great that he has made friends who want to share a house. A friend of mine who has had huge faith in her son's social skills was truly shaken when not only did his best friend from school (who attends the same Uni) did not invite her son to share and her son could not find anyone else to share with. He shared with strangers, and has struggled throughout to make a friend.

He's got a great group of friends there thankfully. These were the ones who were also feeling pretty lost in the first few days and walking around the park opposite the uni alone (just like Josh was) wondering what to do with themselves, they all connected in a lost soul way, played some pool at the SU that same night and the rest is history.

More have been added to the core group over time (when they go out, there is never less than about 15 of them) but it is the core group who will be sharing.

It is a bit of a shock though, having a disability, I think we all sort of assumed (including Josh initially), that he would be staying in the halls which he is allowed to do but it would be a shame for him to lose those friends now and is another sign of his growing confidence, he wouldn't have even entertained the idea in September!

Nikkster

:beer:

Spirit wrote: »

"very exciting". Pray tell.

2 weeks in Japan (apr/ may) to celebrate a milestone birthday of a parent. Really very excited.

The second one I need to make myself book is Cuba (before it all changes). I need to decide which package and when. I'll figure out where the money comes from at some point after that. I don't normally go on holiday so it's all a bit of a stretch. My mortgage will still be there when I get back so I shouldn't let it stop me...

Nikkster

Sue - that's generally great. Long may it continue.

silvercar

Spirit wrote: »

We have set up our nativity figures in their stable. The baby Jesus goes in in his manger on Christmas eve. Tee three wise men are making their way across the sitting room( currently on the TV stand) and should get to the stable on epipheny,they make progress every weekend, however they will get a spurt on and arrive on Christmas eve. They are thinking of stopping off on the Christmas cake this year to save me making a very amateur looking marzipan poinsettia (Delia Smith circa 1981).

I love this idea.

SingleSue wrote: »

Oooh and an extra on Josh, they are organising their student house for next year, seems so soon but I know they have to start reserving now and it looks like they have one.

I found out when he sent me a text asking for money for the deposit...he's got no chance less than 2 weeks before blooming Christmas!

God knows how that is going to work with his support but it will save him about £50 a week on what he is paying in halls.

Vicious circle, sets in a panic about finding a decent house and they book earlier and earlier. Particularly hard on first years who need to choose their house mates as well as their house.

vivatifosi

Generali wrote: »

Glad you're enjoying the new car viva. Kia's are the new Toyotas IMHO: not necessarily the best car in absolute terms but in value terms you have to justify to yourself why you wouldn't buy one.

Thanks Gen. Originally I wanted the baby Audi, but they discontinued the smallest engine so my main choice was taken away from me.

Some of the older superminis I discarded as choices as they had come on as a motor so much in the past years they look unrefined in comparison. I discarded the Hyundai I10 which is regularly classed as best in this group because it reportedly doesn't have an intermittent wiper, nor could I get fog lights on the model. The Up, Aygo and a host of others went because I couldn't get aircon for the same price ballpark. The Skoda Citigo went because I really, really dislike the Skoda logo and didn't want to drive around with that on the front of my car. The Vauxhall went because I've had two in the past and they were nothing but trouble. The Smart Forfour went because I don't like the styling.

I also have a thing about avoiding steel wheels if at all possible due to an irrational dislike of hub caps.

The Kia came with three years fixed price servicing for £99 which I've already paid for and a seven year warranty. I've gone from driving 20-25,000 miles pa incl a lot of motorways to about 7-8k pa with hardly any motorways, so for me it's just about perfect.

Again, thanks very much for helping to get it on my radar.

vivatifosi

Spirit, your Christmas arrangements sound wonderful. Love the sound of the nativity.

I've had to work pretty solidly for the last six weeks so am mega behind (new job) Time to start buying presents and cards and sling up a tree. My Christmas prep will finally start today.