From debt to freedom...

savingholmes

Best of luck with your final prep

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Spendless and SH. 

Spendless - I love the idea of “what Santa needs you to do!”. DS3 would get into that !

The present problem is having so many to buy for. The tally is 27 people at the moment and this is just the minimum. I cut back at Job 1 and just dished out a multipack of chocolate lollies. I’ve just done my nephews and not my brother or SIL and have done joint gifts for DD1 and future S-I-L and tried to make it as practical as possible for their new home.
Have tried to keep the food  shopping down as much as possible. Every year for the last 20 odd years, I’ve used a local butcher but he closed this year. I hadn’t appreciated what a good deal he did on meat, so it’s been a shock to go to Mr T’s for everything!  I’ve cut back on the traditional Christmas foods as it’s only my parents and I that eat them and gone for more nibble finger food things for tea which is when I’m anticipating having the most people to feed.

Job 2 has been really busy. I was on my own on Thursday so running around like the proverbial chicken. Last night I thought I had the night off but got called in to cover someone else who was sick. The shift went well as we had 2 of us on but it was a late one. Didn’t get home until 1 this morning. Hoping to focus today on Christmas prep and pace myself for next week as I seem to have a lot of shifts.

Happy Christmas Eve everyone!

lucielle

Hope you manage to get some rest time factored into your break. Have a great Christmas. 

L

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Lucielle.

Its been a lovely day. I couldn’t envisage how it would all fit together but it has. SO spent the day with us which was wonderful and I saw all of my children / partners except 1 which I knew I was unlikely  to see anyway. DD1 helped me with tea which I am very thankful for as my energy levels were close to zero by then. Just very thankful.

dawnybabes

Honeysucklelou2 said:

Thank you Lucielle.

Its been a lovely day. I couldn’t envisage how it would all fit together but it has. SO spent the day with us which was wonderful and I saw all of my children / partners except 1 which I knew I was unlikely  to see anyway. DD1 helped me with tea which I am very thankful for as my energy levels were close to zero by then. Just very thankful.

Sounds like a perfect day x

savingholmes

Glad you had a good day 

Drawingaline

Sounds like a lovely day

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Dawneybabes, SH and DAL.

Ended up spending much of Boxing Day in bed as whatever  lurgy is doing the rounds caught up with me. Had to back out of my shift at Job 2 and slept lots. This has happened before when I keep going with the 2 jobs, get the Christmas prep done and as soon as as I know the Christmas dinner is cooked and on the table, I just crash! Mercifully my mum and DD1 took over the cooking on Boxing Day. In the 2 hour window I got up, I was stunned to see DS1 and his gf coming to visit. They stayed for about half an hour which was wonderful for my parents as they rarely get to see him. Much to be thankful for.

Spendless

Really pleased to read that you had a lovely day and have seen your family. Unfortunately becoming ill doesn't surprise me. Years ago when DH was under a consultant (he had Cancer, thankfully caught and treated early) he was told that when busy adrenaline keeps us running and managing. However because we have been going at such a fast pace, the minute you start to relax  you then become susceptible to any bug/infection going around. Like you've ben driving at 100 mph then suddenly braked sharp and crashed into a wall.  I always think back to his words whenever I hear of someone becoming ill as soon as they are off work and inevitably it's always as he described. Someone being extremely busy and working lots of hours prior to this. 

Cherryfudge

Oh dear, I hope you are are to get some rest now and are soon over it. There do seem to be some nasty infections going the rounds, and as Spendless says, once you stop being busy, they catch up. On a more  positive note, stopping for a few days will help recharge your batteries.

I'm glad DS1 and g/f came round, and timed it so your parents met with them too. We had a flying visit from DS2 (in between night shifts. He also got his birthday presents from a month ago) and although it was only part of a day, it made all the difference to have met him.

Hope you're feeling better soon. Are your parents still with you?