NST: December 2016: A pared back Christmas

nannygladys

Hi everyone

Another shop done, not much more to do. Dd and family arrive tomorrow so my house will be full of people, something I'm not used to so I hope I'll manage with the noise etc. I have dgd staying tonight and she's been helping me move furniture and make a mincemeat cake, so we had pizzas with wedges followed by chocolate ice cream follies, yummy
Nannyg

mothernerd

Arrived home about half an hour ago, having been out nearly 12 hours. I was awake at 5.15am, admired the beautiful crescent moon, then went back to sleep. Did early morning raid on Wilco (some things I wanted from the £ emporium but paid a few pence extra to avoid mad queues), Linen shed for DS3's quilt (reduced to £30 from £55) and bits from Boots (not great as perfume counter had a queue and the only 2 assistants, other than the pharmacy, were behind it). Intended buying an all day bus ticket but the weight of the bags was already causing my ankle to throb so one £1 bus hop and then taxis for the rest of the day. Decided not to go home but continue from one errand to another.

My local history partner was out - most of the staff and volunteeers were bag packing at big Arseda to raise money for the charity. So got to sit and watch a daft film until he returned. I was told I could have a lie down if I wanted (there is a bed in that room) but I said I would never get up.

We finished our current book and are thinking about moving on to engineers next (I.K. Brunel and Thomas Telford) thinking it will bring together some of the things we have covered (mills, canals and railways). Still meeting next week - I checked if it would be okay because they are doing 'emergency cover only' next week to allow staff time off. So engineers followed by my counselling appointment next Thursday but no other committments.

Had a taxi from there to mum's (initially told it would be half an hour but had to wait an extra 15 minutes). Crawled across the town but so glad not to have to to the shops then. Gave mum the plant I had bought and have Christmas and birthday cards, cash present and one of those big plastic boxes of forbidden things. Called a taxi at 8pm to take me to the SM.

Spent nearly £60 but taking it out of the money mum gave me (a chunk will go towards savings). Bought most of the things on the list, didn't substitute for things I couldn't find. Salad leaves and dips were all from the reduced shelf (6p - 13p each) as were small deli treats (4p - 15p). Bought a couple of ready salads - I am low on mayonnaise so will add more bulk (potatoes, cabbage, carrots etc) to the ready made ones so reduce the fat content and add a bit of 'spice' to them if they are bland. Means I have a variety of salads in a fairly compact space. At the last moment I took out £5 of 'party food', then decided I didn't need it and put it back in the cabinet.

Have left most of the shopping in bags in the front room - will attempt a bit more clearing up in the kitchen before putting things away (turned the CH off as soon as I came in). Have had a bath and now feel energised after yawning my head off all day. DS3 asked had I bought any sweets (no and no biscuits, nuts, crisp either) but I told him he could have one bar of white chocolate (SM own brand 30p for 100g) and told him which bag I thought it was in. Told him I will give him money tomorrow and he can buy his own (can't complain about me 'forgetting' then).

I only like WSM as it used to be excellent for keeping teenage boys quiet (far less choice of programmes back then). I used to watch Wimbledon but dropped out around Ilie Nastase (similarly I know my footballers but only up until Kevin Keegan and Charlie George and then a few from enforced bonding sessions with DS2). Not a huge cricket fan (Barry Wood and the one who's name eludes me but has lots of sports centres named after him) but again enforced viewing when I was a teenager (if dad was in the house the cricket would be on and again with only 3 channels and limited hours - pre breakfast tv and finishing about 10pm weekdays - there wasn't much choice. WSM means Geoff Capes to me.

Today I am grateful to have finished shopping and visiting, welcoming the chance to slip into relaxation mode and the lovely crescent moon (must have been very cold as it was crystal clear).

greent

mothernerd wrote: »

WSM means Geoff Capes to me.

It means Weston Super Mare to me - I was briefly confused earlier! :rotfl::rotfl:

Calling14

greent wrote: »

It means Westin Super Mare to me - I was briefly confused earlier! :rotfl::rotfl:

:rotfl::A:A:A


I can watch football Bob but tennis never. So perhaps I should join the breakaway group Weston Super Mare as well

Wide awake was going to get up and go shopping this morning but having had a neighbour pop in to see baby last night, had a fair few glasses of vino. Staying safely off roads till later - maybe wrap presents

Good news I complained about train problems last week and got half the fare back so £35 cheque sitting here. Cash back from switching utilities on here another £30 on a roll :T:T

crazy_cat_lady

I am quite far down the queue for the TV in our house unfortunately and then I get to watch all sorts of rubbish I wouldn't normally choose, including a massive dose of football... I really do hate golf though - no idea how anyone can watch that at all. I'll stick with my stuff I like, which is hospital drama and documentaries...
I won't make my nsd target this month either - December has a habit of doing that to me. But I'm ok with how much I've spent, or haven't spent this month. I'm pleased otherwise that I haven't been too frivolous.

dolly84

I can take or leave tv on the whole. I don't watch sport, I am a keen cyclist and like to run but don't want to watch other people doing it. I did however watch Tour de Celeb recently and really liked that which is odd as I hate, hate, hate anything with the word celebrity in it and pride myself on never having watched even one minute of I'm a celebrity - err no you are not you've just sold your soul to the devil.

I also never watch the X factor, The Voice, TOWIE or any other show like that, Strictly, anything with the word benefits in the title, cookery shows unless it's Nigel Slater, the news or Casualty - how is that programme still on?

I like things like the recent dramas - In Plain Sight, Rillington Place, I love The Bake Off (but won't watch it on C4), The Sewing Bee and films.

lcc86 - you don't need to leave us just because of the NSD's. I don't even do NSD's and I'm here.

Toni'sfriend

That's all my shopping done. Food for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and beyond. Just as well. The weather is now horrendous. Storm Barbara has arrived!

Got a nice surprise. My son bought a super duper new laptop (the cost of which does not bear thinking about) and he's given me his old super duper laptop. It's so fast it's running away with me. That's saved a lot of money as my old one was on it's last legs.

Just going to chill out now. Take care especially if you're in the path of the storm.

Fmess

Afternoon all,

I can declare that the debt I have been tackling for nearly 3 and a half years (including the extra debt left when I asked the ex to leave and he didn't take his debt) has been paid off :j :j :j :j

I am so pleased However I am not debt free due to the new roof, which I got a loan for. I aim to pay this off and have a new bathroom by January 2019

I have my last bit of food shopping to do tomorrow. I will be off to the shops at 7.30am but I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, so will be off to bed early.

dolly84

Well done Fmess - very pleased for you.

Bobarella

greent wrote: »

Snap! - you and I can be buddies on this point Bob!

Horray, I will be over with my Netflix password and some posh crisps shortly

apple_muncher wrote: »

Phew, 2 fewer cards to send...!

:rotfl::T