santas Challenge 2016... Gifts, chat, challenges

crazy-cat-lady_2

Mum2one, so sorry to hear that news. Wish there were some magic words to make things easier for you and your family. Anyone who has been in your position knows how impossible it is to keep a fake smile on for other people and pretend the world isn't breaking around you.


Challenges..Better get a move on. I'm being a bit lazy this month, and blaming the baby bump for making me that way.

Easter eggs are all bought. Still need a little present to go with them for my niece and nephew, but they have eggs and i have a few spares in, which i will try not to eat
Tesco have now got the eggs with mugs with them on offer for £2, for anyone still looking.

Mother's day present all bought. Got cards a while ago and plan to stock up on a few more when they go on sale She wanted pasta bowls, so has them. Also a new Yankee Candle tart burner, because the old one smashed.

Emergency fund. Hmm..well, we go on holiday a week on Monday, so all spare money has gone to that lately, as the $US is such a bad rate at the moment all savings have had to go on pause for a little while. Going to be an expensive holiday. BUT, as soon as we are back i do plan to have an emergency fund of £300 from my first wage back, and struggle for a month so that's in place. £100 for if either of the cats are ill (we have had a very up-chucky cat this week), £100 for the car emergencies and £100 for general house emergencies. And i'll work on it from there.
I like the idea of having some spare in the car. All the hospital visits end up costing quite a bit on the car parks and it's a pain if we don't have change. So i might borrow your idea and have £10 in change hidden in there too.

New recipe. Trying a new curry tonight actually! My sister got us a few bags of spice mixes from the tiny takeaway; http://www.thetinytakeaway.com/ only £1.60 and i fancied making the spicy rice and a korma. Hopefully it'll go well.

Decluttering has started but has a long way to go. The spare bedroom will soon be a nursery, but got a lot of work to do. Carried three big bags to the charity shop on the way to the doctor for my flu jab just now, 5 more to go. So that's a little bit cleared. Again, when the holiday is over i can get moving with it.

That's as far as i've gotten. Might do a bit more this weekend in etween the ironing for things to take away with us. Hope you all have some nice plans for weekend, or a nice relaxing one.

mum2one

I had a brainwave last night - (about midngt) that i would tidy the freezer up a bit before the shopping came. - I'd done the online order - didnt sink in that it was coming on Fri not Thurs - normal shopping day)

...
That turned into - I'll bag some items together... turned into 1h30mins later - defrosted the freezer, tidyed everything up, put 2 carrier bags of food for the neighbour (stuff of dads and 2 x turkey crown - serving 10 people - now I'm the only one who eats Turkey... and we 4got they were there).

The freezer looks lovely... even if I say so myself...

...
Had a nice time out with Miss Hoodie - were meant to go to the cinema tues/wed (2 for 1 deal) she wasn't well, so we went today, then took her to the pub for tea (2nd choice as 1st was closing for a refit - hit and miss for food), it only cost me £2... had a £20 voucher from when I complained...

Easter eggs are now brought (£1 from Asda), just need a couple of bits to go with them.. plan is Dr Turners casebook (call the midwife series) (me), Camper van money box for Miss Hoodie..
x

mum2one

tonights - mad idea- (was bit earlier 11pm and Miss Hoodie helped), made pea and ham soup.. for grandad hoodie - he was told to swop his cup-a-soup for tin soup - more nutritious - but home made soup would be good..

Best bit was the dog - he decided not to stay in the kitchen back on settee - snoring... went out for his night night wee... he came back and sat by the cooker - he wouldn't move.... until I put some in his bowl... he loved it.

Next batch brocolli and stilton, - know Miss Hoodie likes it. xx

chanie

Happy mothers day for tomorrow.

Katiehound

hello everyone.

Sorry to hear the news Mum2one- have pm'd you.

Only home from trip to Ireland yesterday. 3 cold wet weeks! I think it's been the very first time I have seen the mountains (Ring of Kerry- highest on the island) completely covered in snow, not just the peaky bits!
Dogs were in their element with half acre of garden. It was so wet that the 'grass' (read bog) looks as if a herd of cattle has mantled through instead of 2 dogs playing chase repeatedly!
Was a neat tidy shopper in MrT every weekday after my swim. Clocked up 700 points being a womble! Works out as £21 towards a ferry crossing.
Knees been aching, really don't think the damp has helped.

At the Port of Dublin on Tuesday, surprise, surprise there were actually customs officials checking dogs and pet passports. I had forgotten it was Crufts........ however all the dashing to the vets for the wormers to be administered was worth it for once. seems the idea is to stamp out the smuggling of puppies- but for that they need to check every vehicle and every sailing. She told me that only recently they had discovered 18 puppies in the boot of a BMW- I was so aghast I forgot to ask what happened to them. (probably went to Dogs Trust?)

All flipping doggy duvets sold so need to sew yet more. Visited the village PO on the way home to discover that fact.Was able to deliver the thank yous from the charity en route to the ferry!

Now need to blitz the kitchen. had a very expensive accident there the night before I went away. Some empty jam jars did the domino effect on a small jar of matcha tea (cost more than £15!!)- knocked the tea jar onto the tiled floor. Lid smashed and the tea - green powder just like powder paint all over the floor. Would have swept it up at that price but one of the jam jars smashed too! result all binned- powder and glass shards. I know there are some items destined for the charity shop.

Bedtime is calling after 2 long days travelling.
Take care

mum2one

Katiehound - thank you xxx

Wow to the ring of Kerry would love to see it, sounds like the dogs had an amazing time.

Guess your be tied to the sewing machine - good thou for the doggies thou...

I think of it - Argos - they seem to be reducing more items in the clearance section ( you can search local stores for stock) I've just got scarf/belt hanger £9.99 reduced to £1.69, (have 8 ready for Xmas....) there's a mix of offers.

We had a Gd deed done us, mums friend she's just moved brought big American fridge freezer - said she was getting rid of her fridge (posh larder style only 12 mths old) while she was here I was searching fridges online - she said don't bother you can have ours for free..... Thou that means got to tidy out the pantry...:

Hope everyone ok xxxx

Katiehound

Glad to hear you got a nice freebie....
Well, I would be tied to the sewing machine but a cruise is looming large (oh, poor me!!) and I shall be travelling down to Southampton on Sunday.

The joke is that I have been told that a whole stack of duvets are coming my way.:eek: A big caravan park in Skeggie is going to replace all the duvets and pillows with brand new better quality ones now, not just when they get to the lumpy stage! Already a friend has a garage stacked high. So now I am looking for place where the thinner lumpier ones can go......whilst I upcycle the fluffier ones. Needless to say my house will continue to look like ... a warehouse!
At least one carrier bag of items went to hospice shop and a pair of worn wellies went into the shoe bag in Clarks. I try hard not to actually bin anything!!! needless to say this is not a minimalist house.

Yesterday booked my next ferry crossing with Stena Line. Pleased to say Mr T paid for all, but £1. I see I also have loyalty points- Stena were generous twice in the last six months- probably enough for 1/4 of cost.

Off to sew a duvet cover.........!!!!

mrs-moneypenny

Not been in for a while so popping in to say hello and hope you a all well.

I will catch up soon.

mum2one

I thought I would share this with you all.... it could only happen to me...

Miss Hoodie had a follow app at hospital 20 miles away.... gets there books in, she goes for a weigh in... then we see the consultant...

The good news.... Miss Hoodie - you've grown 3 cm since Sept, and you've lost 4 1/2lb...

Then theres a small problem (here we go,,,,) we cant find the test results, we looked yesterday couldn't find, but we looked again 2day - still couldn't find them, dont worry were send you an appointment in 2/3 mths....

Thou it was a nice ride out xx

crazy-cat-lady_2

We are on the way home from holiday. Hawaii was beautiful and very expensive. Some gorgeous beaches and I got some amazing photos and things to bring home. Waiting for our connecting flight in LA now. Already been up a long time and will be about another 16-18 hours til we get home. I don't know why all the nice places are so far away.
Back to reality, back to work and back to being a good girl and saving again. Looking forward to this month's challenges to get me kick started!