Santas challenge 2017

chanie

Black Friday

I had a few Black Friday related chores to run in town, but the children’s school was shut, so it meant I had to bring them with me. There were queues in the shops I needed, so I didn’t bother. I’m going to pop back early tomorrow morning when the shops will be a bit quieter. Luckily, I know what I need, so it will be a quick visit.

Poundland had ninja wallet multitools in, so I bought a couple for next years Link To Hope boxes. This year, I had to buy them online for £2 each (still a bargain, but annoyed I couldn’t get them cheaper - once bought one for OH for 52p from China). I think I’ll pop back and get a couple more for the boys in the family, but will roll them over to next Xmas.

Happy_Kitties

crazy cat lady. Now that sounds an amazing holiday. Have a brilliant time, even just for the weather! Hoping the cough shifts soon for u.

chanie great minds think alike! I've been picking up magic gloves 59p a pair in s@vers for my boxes next year. Definitely need to get to pound land for the ninja wallet multi tools. I also bought them online for more last year. The ones I had as presents also went into boxes, managed to save one as part of a present. The exactly the same item with packaging last year-superdr@g were charging a fortune for them.

Took more items after a declutter of present stash and some items DM had given me to the CS this morning. One 'just in case' item I had which had sat in a drawer for god knows how long, M+S put a best before date on it, it would never be used in time so I got rid. Hopefully they will raise a few pennies.

I live in a small town so not affected by Black Friday fortunately. The only items I've bought are more cat food boxes online at a great price for the charity and a make up set for DD that she desperately wants. A good £16 saving. I really thought someone would have bought it but after checking no one had so I jumped at the chance as part of her main present. But other than that i've finished otherwise I will keep spending. I've hit my budget now so that's it!

I would love to put the tree up early, it always used to be on the 1st but just have to wait until the 22nd when we are back home.

mum2one

Sorry went missing in action again....

Where do we start,,

2 weeks took Miss Hoodie down to Devon for wend, as we were having her room plastered and the college had 2 day close down worked out well..

Drive was great, trainer rubbed big toe and ball of foot... didn’t wear them again, by thurs last week, redder..so gp visit, u need antibiotics, if not improved or worse u need to be seen, by wend worse, rang min, no ring tues, rang tues no appointment demanded a home visit..an hr later an appointment mysteriously appears...
You have an infection... as your diabetic ur need it antibiotics ring hospital be in over ngt...

That’s where the fun starts... the hospital lose me... admitted into holding unit, as it was busy, getting foot knocked they put me in consultants room to rest....3 hrs later..woke by a scream.. a nurse had come to lock up, found me, they’d done a handover and no one mentioned me...

By Thursday ngt my foot was a mess, never mind Black Friday,,,it was black foot, finally saw a vascular surgeon, drained all the puss, hacked at few bits of it, it’s deep routed cellitus with ulcers.

When I saw the ward consultant on rounds, he said I didn’t want to worry you, but.... we were looking at booking an amputation of your foot..

As the infection is deep, but not in the bone it’s saved my foot..l

..hoping to home next week, so peed off, I know I’m in the right place, but miss home, the dog, Miss hoodie *who I have to say has been amazing) even my mum..

Thus afternoon Miss hoodie came up, helped me sort Xmas presents online, ordered the paint for her room, (got decorator on the 9th, new carpet on the 11th).

I’m so glad I’ve got most of the Xmas presents sorted b4 hand, she said she would help me wrap, as for cards...we’ve lost the address book *suits me as cost £23 last yr in stamps) xx

Black fri sales, miss H, Apple ear pods £20 off, 2 prs trainers - £50 saved.
Paint from wilko - same as b&q £10 cheaper xx

Happy_Kitties

mum2one hoping that the foot gets better soon. I totally feel ur pain. Years and years of battling infections, bone infections, sores on the feet (paralysis from the waist down leaving neuropathy everywhere) stuck in hospitals (some not the best) to be also be told about having my foot amputated in my final year of uni. Managed to save the foot only to have an above knee amputation a few years later from something different.

But it's so tedious being in hospital. If I knew the decorator was coming in as well in the run up to Christmas I would go into meltdown I think:eek:
Hopefully u won't be in hospital for too long and u are home soon. The specialist who saved my foot, I had to go to his base hospital miles away and he operated just before Christmas. I remember them giving me the Christmas day food menu to choose my food and me being adamant that I was not going to be in for Christmas day. I broke out on the 23rd!!!!! Close shave that year!:rotfl::rotfl:

Make sure when u get out u rest up as well. I still have to do pressure sore prevention treatment every night which is also so tedious, but if u met my specialist who takes no prisoners, it's always better to behave:A:rotfl:

My plan is to box up another set of presents today so I can send them tomorrow.
Debating whether to send DD a Christmas card from her cat. She is very homesick and will be back home in a week and a half so might just leave it in her bedroom. Plus it will save on postage!
Also must wrap DD gin. Had completely forgotten about it. Found it yesterday along with the presents I couldn't find so will get that done.
Christmas is definitely coming, I hope everyone's prep is going well

mum2one

For old times sake...

Break down the tasks..
Whether the to do list is 1 or 100 things, write it all out, set little challenges

Cards wrote by xxx
Parcels posted by xxx

Food shop, most online slots are coming out.

Extras... if your having visitors...nit just tea, coffee, milk etc, but in one end, out the other.... so grab the extra loo roll... bin bags

Spare / emergency item... hold an item back, or have the emergency item available in case someone pops round with a present.

Most off all, make sure you take some time out for yourselves xxx

chanie

mum2one dorky to read about your recent ill health. Hope you are on the mend. Thanks for taking the time to post helpful tips - good ideas.

On Saturday, I popped to town to grab my Black Friday deals. Saved about £50 on purchases. I also bought OH his present - a hoodie (am tempted to start calling him Mr Hoodie). It wasn’t on offer, but at least it’s sorted. It pretty much means we are done, present wise.

We bought and put up our tree today. It’s earlier than we normally do, but OH wanted to get the tree before Costco sold out, as they are the cheapest round here. I enjoy decorating the tree. Our tree is a mish mash of memories including decorations made by the children when they were at nursery, McDonald’s toys, and items bought from holidays or trips out.

DD7 is now majorly excited. She has just got out of bed, as she remembered she hadn’t put out her elf door. This has also got DS9 out of bed as well. The children know that the elves come when the tree goes up, so now we are going to have to think of 3 weeks of elf activities. I can just about cope with the 10 days or so that we normally do.

Happy_Kitties

Well while I never got to put up the main tree with DD being away I did put up her pink feathered barbie tree that she has had for years-for her cat Think it was bought for her in primary school for her bedroom and i put it up yesterday in her room. Not very big but very feathery, it does make me smile when I see it as chanie said it's the memories.

Our big tree is the same as urs chanie full of memories. We don't put an angel on the top of the tree but a snowman DD made in primary school. He is looking very scruffy now but he has to go on top.
While elf on the shelf had never really taken off when DD was younger she did have a naughty Christmas elf who she was more excited about than the day itself!!

Never got the gin wrapped but did get the parcel wrapped-1 left. Happy days

Katiehound

Sounds as if everyone's preparations are going a lot faster than mine!

Well, as usual Mum2One wins the drama prize. She's not known for going quietly!! Seriously 'though I hope that the foot is recovering and that the cellulitis is diminishing. I assume you are now back home?? It must have been very frightening.

I had cellulitis a couple of years ago and had to cancel a cruise- it was not a happy experience (not just the cancellation!) and whenever I knock or bang a leg, or a small dog jumps up I cross my fingers that it won't happen again.

I have given up with the dishwasher 'mechanic'
No amount of phone calls brought results, it was affecting my sanity! (I would rather 'his' money had gone to a charity)
Have ordered a new dishwasher from a local shop. Saw the same (specs looked the same) on B&Q website but with £10 delivery charge it was just £10 cheaper than local shop. Managed to bargain that £10 off- I had bought washer from them in June, so in effect matched price.

Hopefully my friend's van will be running properly next week so we can get the old machine to tip- for free, rather than paying the council to collect. No rush- been without for... aeons....

Other than that no duvets in loft. Catastrophe. 6 collected last week, 5 arrived on my doorstep this week. All now washed, some hemmed and covered, 14 delivered to outlets. Now need to drum up some sales so need to e-mail a couple of local papers.

Have turned out a few carriers of clothes. You wouldn't think so.
Now preparing to sort the prezzies and pack over w/e then I shall see what, if anything, is required.

Have my flight confirmed for early Feb. Due to the demise of Thos.Cook now unable to travel premium economy so have cattle class 10 hour flight with Sri Lankan airways. Please, not in-flight curry! Of course got a refund from cruise line plus as a gesture of goodwill- £75 on board spend. Next on that list is SriLankan & Indian visas (Indian is 9 pages long!)

I am managing to get to Pilates at leisure centre sometimes. Folk are booking at 12.01am to get a place! Finally they have decided people can only attend x 3 sessions per week. One person was going x 9 times!!! Sheer greed (get a life!) Got to 2 classes this week, almost 2 hours of .....torture?

Go cook tea, feed dogs, practise ukulele? sew duvets....etc
Byeeeeeeee

Happy_Kitties

Im feeling very relaxed with plans so far.

DD gin is still the elusive present to wrap, and 2 others but cant be bothered at the minute.
Just one parcel and one card to send. Hopefully will get the letter written at the weekend to go in the parcel. Box picked up ready.
Hoping to finish everything completely this weekend
Found out DD will be home next week, so tree can go up thursday and then we are away for the weekend and most of the following week in poland but it will be nice just to have it up.
Next week i plan to go through the final preparations for Poland.

katiehound i never knew pilates was that popular! Thought it was unprofessional by the dishwasher man. Very unfair
9 pages to fill in for an Indian visa, not even DDs stuff was that bad when she went to zambia and botswana. Have u been to India before?-i think im asking a daft question there as u travel so much to so many fantastic places.

I hope everyone's plans are going well, mum2one i hope the foot is behaving. chanie France trip coming up? I bet the kids are so excited

My confession, Amaz@n had some amazing deals last month. Dont like using Amaz@n but its so handy for delivery esp bulky stuff bec of the wheelchair. I ended up with over 100 Andrex toilet rolls for peanuts. Also had a row off DD of where are we going to store them but some will go back to uni with her after Christmas but that part of Christmas is covered:)

Katiehound

Ha! I might have been all over but actually only been to Gdansk in Poland and would really like to see more.

Yes, I've been to India before- x2 on a cruise (Oct 18 & Jan 19) plus the land based trip in March when I came home with food poisoning! (Bet that jogged your memory!) This time I can have an e-visa rather than the 'send away' one but it still requires some brain work (and money) I had never been asked before for Father's place of birth. (Maybe mother's too, but I already knew that.)

Someone asked me if I would get tired of cruising, no, I don't think so. I have learned that a full ship, high season (with children- however well behaved) and short cruise -under 12 nights is not for me.I like the longer ones: enjoy the routine of sea days, hopefully learning a skill, making new friends and dancing in evenings.

I've been travelling abroad ever since I was 18 (Even babies go these days!!) As a child I had an uncle in USA with his Swedish wife who had a sabbatical year travelling all over Europe when I was 8.
My father had lived in US, one uncle worked in India, another studied in Italy and a sister frequently holidayed in Germany. Then one cousin born in Pakistan, lived in Zambia. More distant rellies born, lived, worked in S.Africa, Botswana & Zimbabwe.
Is it any wonder I wanted to see the world??? and have that wanderlust.......(In another lifetime I lived & worked in Germany for 3 years.)
And on the other side my maternal Grandmother didn't venture too too far away from the Old Kent Road!

Pilates is very popular here because the fees are included in the membership ie no extra to pay. I think the going rate is at least £12 per hour otherwise.

100 toilet rolls! Hope you are not planning an epidemic! I wouldn't know where to store that lot....
I too had a few items from Amazon- the best was ukulele tuner @ £3.15 including p&p.

Today delivered a feather duvet & a blanket to a helping homeless group and there was a great jumble sale. Lots of items donated by Aldi- things that get left over. Good to hear that they give stuff away. (I know they also donate to SA- as do Co-op)

Must attack duvets! it's a grey grey day.