The next chapter ....

benbenandme

Not sure where the last three weeks disappeared to

So, today its hit me we're hurtling towards Christmas and I'm not feeling very on top of it all just yet so I reckon a list is in order My plan for this weekend is to get the flat clean and sparkly, get organised in terms of what's happening at Christmas and what I need to plan food-wise and also get some more Xmas shopping done online but also get some chilling out time in there too.

This morning I have been and bought a fire :eek: I have been meeaning to get round to it since I moved in here 8 years ago, I have a fireplace surround with nothing in it, anyway, finally I have done something about it. I have always wanted a log burner but being 2 floors up in a flat it wasn't gonna happen. Most fires look naff and old-fashioned I think, however having looked into it properly there are some quite nice ones around. So, I have gone for an electric stove that has opti-myst, which basically is a fancy gizmo where steam comes out but looks like smoke, so it looks pretty much the same as the real thing but without the faff of cleaning it and lugging logs around The best price I could find for it anywhere was about £475-£499 however the nice man in Homebase said they'd do 15% off if I bought it today, when I got to the till they found the 15% offer had finished but he let me have it anyway as he'd already mentioned it, so I got it for £425 :money: It will be delivered by Dec 19th so I should have a nice fire in time for Christmas

Anyway, back to that list for this weekend;

• Walk the dog
• Ironing
• Banking
• Clean & tidy Lounge
• Clean & tidy bathroom
• Clean & tidy kitchen
• Clean & tidy my bedroom
• Clean & tidy ds bedroom
• Christmas planning - food
• Christmas planning & buying - presents
• Write Christmas cards
• Take Mum shopping
• Watsh some footie
• Watch the Apprentice on catchup
• Some schoolwork
• Find xmas decs for office
• Change bedding
• Clear washing mountain
• Nag ds endlessly about his homework
• Clear surveys
• Gym

benbenandme

So far today I have taken Mum shopping and got her sorted, then done her hoovering etc, then I have tidied each room indoors apart from ds bedroom. I have hoovered through, emptied the dishwasher, now I am going to veg on the sofa for a while and keep an eye on the footie while sorting out the end of month banking. Ds is doing some homework at the moment, the washing machine is doing its thing and a few bits are gradually getting ticked off the list

benbenandme

Woohoo, my lovely Bournemouth managed to come back from 2-0 down to be earning a point, then Everton scored in the 95th minute, and we still managed to come back and get a draw, so proud :T :T

Well I haven't done any of the banking stuff just yet,however I have cleared all the surveys so my inbox is looking healthier again and I have also done the ironing

Walk the dog been round the block but its pouring, will go for a long walk tomorrow
[STRIKE]Ironing[/STRIKE] DONE
Banking
[STRIKE]Clean & tidy Lounge[/STRIKE] DONE
Clean & tidy bathroom still need to clean
[STRIKE]Clean & tidy kitchen[/STRIKE] DONE
[STRIKE]Clean & tidy my bedroom[/STRIKE] DONE
Clean & tidy ds bedroom
Christmas planning - food
Christmas planning & buying - presents
Write Christmas cards
[STRIKE]Take Mum shopping[/STRIKE] DONE
[STRIKE]Watch some footie[/STRIKE] DONE
Watch the Apprentice on catchup
Some schoolwork
Find xmas decs for office
Change bedding
Clear washing mountain ONGOING ...
Nag ds endlessly about his homework ONGOING
[STRIKE]Clear surveys[/STRIKE] DONE
Gym

benbenandme

Morning all, end of month banking is done and its not looking too bad for this time of the year We're just off with the dog up the forest for a bit then home for a roast dinner and an indoors day mooching and getting some more bits ticked off the list. I did buy a few bits and pieces online last night but need to seriously crack on with the xmas organisation later

benbenandme

[STRIKE]Walk the dog[/STRIKE] DONE
[STRIKE]Ironing[/STRIKE] DONE
[STRIKE]Banking[/STRIKE] DONE
[STRIKE]Clean & tidy Lounge[/STRIKE] DONE
[STRIKE]Clean & tidy bathroom[/STRIKE] DONE
[STRIKE]Clean & tidy kitchen[/STRIKE] DONE
[STRIKE]Clean & tidy my bedroom[/STRIKE] DONE
Clean & tidy ds bedroom TIDYISH, STILL TO BE CLEANED
Christmas planning - food
Christmas planning & buying - presents ONGOING
Write Christmas cards
[STRIKE]Take Mum shopping[/STRIKE] DONE
[STRIKE]Watch some footie[/STRIKE] DONE
Watch the Apprentice on catchup
Some schoolwork
[STRIKE]Find xmas decs for office[/STRIKE] DONE
Change bedding
Nag ds endlessly about his homework ONGOING
[STRIKE]Clear surveys[/STRIKE] DONE
Gym

Getting there ....

benbenandme

Well I didn't get much else done from my list however I have been quite productive. I have sorted out all ds pens / pencils / stationery stuff and its all organised now and everything he has does work I've also been setting up my chart for next year for monitoring my surveys etc as this year that has passed me by somewhat.

Next I have been looking at the mortgage total - I currently have £6766 outstanding on the mortgage, which means with normal payments I will have to find £2370 to clear it by the end of 2016. That's a plan then

I have also been finding out more about ds xmas present - basically I was looking at inter-railing but decided against it due to the cost and not wanting to travel round Europe right now. So instead I have decided to get him a 7 day rail rover ticket which gives[STRIKE] him [/STRIKE] us unlimited train travel for a week, which we will do in the summer holidays next year. I have bought him a big map and he can plan the routes etc, and try to cover as many stations as possible in the week. Anyway, tonight I have bought the family & friends railcard (using clubcard vouchers so it didn't cost me anything), which will give me a big chunky discount on the tickets. Once that arrives I will order the tickets, then thats his main present sorted

amber03

That's what I call a xmas present, I loathe giving presents which will end up not being used and put away in a cupboard. Last year I bought one of my Ds's membership to the zoo so he could take my GD whenever he wanted ( we only live 15 mins from the zoo so visited regularly). My MIL got a gift token for her favourite restaurant which she has used and enjoyed this year. Used to do my dad a food hamper of all his favourite foods, so he didn't have to shop for food the whole of January or a B&Q voucher so he could get all the stuff he needed for his allotment.




Good luck on paying off your mortgage next year, we managed this last year and its a great feeling knowing the house is ours.x

benbenandme

Thanks Amber, I was struggling with what to get him this year - he has an xbox but hardly touches it, there didn't seem any point in just getting games etc for the sake of it. I know its not a standard present but for him its perfect

Alisonpennypincher

Hi BBaM

I love reading your lists, and it sounds like a mortgage clearing challenge next year!

I think your present for ds is brilliant. The memories you will make together using it will last much longer than any material present you could buy him. Sounds like a proper adventure!

Have a good day.

benbenandme

So my plans for an early night went pear-shaped last night - the dog was drinking from muddy puddles in the forest and that gave him a tummyache. When he has a tummyache he (a) whines like a girl (b) insists on never-ending cuddles and paws at me if he doesn't get them (c) fidgets incessantly. So at 11.30pm / 2.30am I was walking him up the street trying to get him to go to the loo and also tired enough to fall asleep. It didn't work and i finally managed to get to sleep at about 4am So today has been a bit of a slog to get through, but finally its evening I did give kettlebells a miss though as I also had to drop some bits in to Mums after work and I just didn't have the energy for that too.

So, bathtime in a minute, food shopping is coming between 6-7, other than that its a very early night in store for me tonight