Paid off the £31,000! BUT - still scrimping!

Seasidegal58

beanielou wrote: »

Good to 'see' you.

Thank you beanie - it feels good to be posting again. Sometimes I think when one has been off the boards for a while, posting again can seem a bit daunting as I feel I have to report everything in detail, so you can end up putting it off!

milann wrote: »

Pleased you’ve been busy and are ok.
The Christmas cleaning sounds like a plan. I cannot put decorations up in a dusty house and do similar - although it’s just my own plan with cleaning - a room at a time. I am a bit put off with my kitchen though as however much I clean it - it doesn’t look any better - needs a lick of paint at least, preferably a proper revamp.....
2 LB is 2 LB - not to be sniffed at - that’s 4 packs of butter (or dairy free spread;)) gone from your person. Well done.
Enjoy your pre- Christmas activities :beer::beer:

Thanks milann - - I'm glad I'm not the only one who likes a dust-free house to put up the deccies! The November cleaning routine has become a yearly event now and it's taken the place of a spring clean. I toyed with the idea last year of repeating it in June but didn't get round to it though I might next year.

And I liked your comment about the dairy-free spread!:rotfl:

Last night when I got in I made a green thai curry with a jar that I had stored in the cupboard with Asian veg and meat-like soya bits that I had in the freezer. Plus some microwavable quinoa and grains. Put some washing on and then got to grips with the Daily Tasks as follows:-

Both the Cleaning and Organising tasks were in the living room – Cleaning task was Curtains and Blinds. I don't have any curtains in here so got off that one. The blinds are supposed to be washed in the bath or shower, but I don't think mine particularly needed this as I dust them each week. So I wiped them over with a damp cloth, together with the windowsill and frames. You were supposed to clean the inside of the window too but I'll leave that till the weekend as it was pitch black outside an I would have been bound to have missed any smears!

Organising was"Purging Subscriptions" – I sorted out the magazine rack at the weekend so nothing to do here. Maintenance was giving the bath an extra scrub so got the Cif out!

Tonight's Cleaning Task is in the living room, i.e. dusting ceiling, walls, skirting boards and wiping down any 'art' on the walls! Organising is removing items that don't belong in the living room, and Maintenance is 'Extra Emphasis on Bedrooms', i.e. dust and polish, vacuum floors, curtains and any cushions, dry-clean throws. Also changing the sheets, but I always do this at the weekend so won't bother!

Today's budgeted spend was weekly coffees from Pret with my friend at lunchtime and nothing else so far, but I might pick up her Christmas pressie on my way home after work which will be a Jo Malone voucher which she can put towards her favourite perfume.

The big Christmas tree has gone up outside our building. All the baubles are on – very pretty light blue and gold though not lit up as yet. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas………la la la la etc!!!!:j

Feeling very colder today though luckily no wind to increase the chill. I think a hat will get an airing tomorrow.:cool:

HairyHandofDartmoor

It's good to have you back .

You don't have to report in detail if you've been awol SSG. Just do a quick summary of what we've missed and then go on from there .

Well done on another 2lb off.

I think your cleaning routine sounds like a really good idea and I wish I could be motivated to follow your example. But I feel really lazy where housework and tidying is concerned at the moment . It will be lovely to have a clean and tidy flat for Christmas .

brizzlegirl

Good to have you posting again x

Sun_Addict

Glad all is well. You’ve reminded me I bought that Kate Berry book about 3 years ago and totally forgot about it. Probably because I broke my ankle straight afterwards. I try to keep up with a form of Fly Lady-ish but I struggle to find time after a full day at work, it’s a nice idea though

brizzlegirl

..hmm ...maybe I should stop reading the paper in bed and instead get cleaning....the house could certainly do with it!

Have a good weekend all x

beanielou

Reading the paper in bed is way better than cleaning!
Just been doing the very same!

Seasidegal58

I must do better with posting on my diary! Early New Year's resolution is to try and post each day - even if it's only a few words!:eek:

So snapshot of what's what while I've been absent:

Christmas Preparations - All presents wrapped apart from two for DSis which are still to be delivered and a small gift (chocolates) for my other female colleague on the desk.

I completed my November clean up in the flat - apart from cleaning the outside of my windows as the renovation work has started on the flat. They've put scaffolding up and it's quite dusty so I'm leaving it till all the work has finished.

Plant Based Diet - still going well though I came off grid twice. I went to see 'White Christmas' a couple of weeks ago and then we went on after to everyone's favourite fish restaurant. There were no vegan starters and the only non-fish/meat options were egg pasta dishes. So I succumbed and had sardines to start and hake dish for main I also came off grid slightly when I took DSis out for her birthday meal after the spa day. I had a beetroot risotto for main which contained Parmesan. But all in all it's been fine.

Other Bits and Bobs - big highlight on Monday was Michael Buble concert at the O2 - and I can't rave enough about how fab he was!

Money pots are going well - I was slightly over on the Christmas budget but hardly by much. All cards, wrap, stamps etc had already been purchased in sales last January.

I received £135 annual Cashback from my Amex card so some of this went to the Christmas budget extra. Also got £14.20 from Topcashback and £11.70 delay and repay on my season ticket.

At the moment I'm on a train to Crewe - DD and her OH are picking me up there and then we're driving to Snowdonia to a restaurant with rooms that they both love for a meal and overnight stay. Tomorrow we're driving back to their place and DD. I'm there till Tuesday morning. I have my extra large case with me as it has Christmas pressies for them, OH's sons and son's partner as I won't be seeing them all over Christmas. It also has bits in it that DD bought at the Christmas Show so it weighs a ton!:eek:

So I'm off now to eat my tomato and basil soup and roll - everyone else seems to be ordering toasties but alas no vegan options here!:(

Will check in later this evening when I've caught up with everyone!
X

beanielou

Enjoy your weekend

HairyHandofDartmoor

Nice to hear from you SSG . Christmas sounds well in hand.

Snowdonia is lovely, I went when I was a child but have always wanted to go again. Have a lovely time there .

Sun_Addict

Hope you have a fab time xx