Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

Arm wasn't good last night - obviously didn't protect it as well as I thought while working. This morning it's been a bit tricky writing cards but a good excuse not to attempt my usual essays in ones to distant friends.

Work this afternoon, then off for nearly a week. I've sent a donation in lieu of work cards, as well as an email apologising for not being able to do physical work this afternoon. It's a bit late to call in sick and there will still be things I can do even if not at normal strength.

Struggling to remember what I bought yesterday: Gifts, food, painkillers, all from B&M.

Housekeeping: £2.99
Gifts: £25.98
Medication: 68p

Cherryfudge

That was one long shift - didn't get home till midnight! It was one of those times when night staff needed someone else up and about (me) but the other staff were on early tomorrow and needed to sleep. Anyway, a no-spend day.

And now I'm off for nearly a week.

Things to be thankful for: a kindly word from a senior staff member who advised on treating what now appears to be a rotator cuff injury - and the instructions mean it's miles better than yesterday. Baby N's birthday (just started). DH taking on the mammoth wrapping task earlier when I didn't feel up to it, and posting cards too (who knows when they'll arrive but at least they're sent).

Sun_Addict

Enjoy your time off work. Good that you've had some advice on treating your arm, hopefully it will get better while you're off. 

Cherryfudge

I felt a bit rough this morning: so much for the morning after the night before, which wasn't originally a work concept! I really had to drag myself around to get dressed, hair washed etc., while organising DH to move things I couldn't.

We spent the afternoon at the first birthday party: it was very sweet. The other grandparents were there, along with, at various times, J and L, DS2, some mums and babies from the estate and A's childhood friend with his baby daughter. Various calories were consumed, and huge video footage was taken.

DH had to leave part way through as he's going over to Auntie's, then bring her here tomorrow (which reminds me, I need to get on with wrapping things and tidying up). I was going to walk home till my kids pointed out it was pouring down and A gave me a lift. I was able to buy a couple more food items en route (got to have sprouts) but couldn't really carry stuff as the arm said 'no'. I suppose that's one way to save money. I have enough energy to go out again this evening but it's still pouring and it doesn't really matter if we don't have 'all the things'.

I did spend some time on the phone to a friend which isn't something I usually do but it was nice, despite not being a 'phone person'.

Housekeeping: £5.98
Medication 0.39

Things to be thankful for today: DGD seen safely through a year, meeting up with family.

Cherryfudge

I've just spent an hour writing a huuuuge email to management about the situation at work last night. If I'd left it till I go back to work I would have forgotten some of it.

I wonder if that means I can claim a WFH tax break again this year?:)

Honeysucklelou2

Wow, Baby N is a year old, that’s gone so fast! Glad you were all able to meet up and celebrate. 

Cherryfudge

I don't think I ever learn - I'm so short of sleep over the past few days! 4am a couple of days ago and 1.30am last night... Tomorrow I've been promised a lie in. Wrapping things takes so long, even though DH did lots of it and has also been out delivering cards. You'd think I'd know by now, and I do buy throughout the year, but it still all piles up just before Christmas.

Yesterday morning was lovely and sunny and I did a  last-minute tidy up before DH arrived with auntie. In fact I was at the shops when they came, and got all the food bits we wanted apart from a couple we totally forgot and coped very well without.

The food bank donation bins have been overflowing but I'm told its leaving the stores as fast as it comes in.

During the afternoon it got rather rainy but J and L came over with the dog to celebrate with us. The dog was so funny: she was scampering around when she suddenly stopped and 'pointed' then bounced a few times just like a bucking bronco. Then we saw what she'd seen: her Christmas 'stocking'! It's the same carrier bag with a  Christmassy dog on it that we'd used last year and at first we thought she has an amazing memory, before we worked out she'd smelled dog biscuits. She was allowed some and a couple of toys: a squeaky pizza was part-dismantled by the time they went home but at least she spat out the bits.

They opened their stockings and we all went for a walk, then they set ff home with their 'big' resents to open today.

I did oddments of Christmas prep through the evening, saving DH's to wrap till after he'd gone to bed. His were mostly clutter-free: a bottle of Asti, some chocolate, shaving gel etc. Then I remembered I'd still to put a tassel on DGD's hat, which thankfully wasn't too big a task and didn't go wrong... then I went to bed!

Spent:
Housekeeping £33.57 (including luxuries such as £6 on smoked salmon, but today I'm not impressed with it, I've had nicer. Also £8.10 on cheeses which DH asked me to get for teatimes, then it turns out Auntie only likes one of those flavours, and DH can't eat cheese, so I have absolutely masses of it to eat or magically rehome. They are all ones that I like but wouldn't have bought on this scale. Oh dear. However, working through the receipt a few times, I think they may not have charged me for all of them though they were scanned by a cashier.  So what to do there? I can't exactly return something for a refund if it's not on the receipt!)
Gifts £3.45
Medical 32p
Household £2

Things I'm thankful for: arm is improving, morning was sunny, time with J and N and the dog, finding dairy-free shortbread for a dairy-free person. Finishing the shopping and the wrapping!

Cherryfudge

Today: nothing spent, surprise, surprise, though I admit to looking ahead to gift-buying in the sales.

This morning was a slow start though with  festive touch as Auntie sat down and played Christmas carols on the piano. We all went to church (Auntie commented that there was a queue to get in) and I was pleased to see loads of friends' children home for Christmas. They were all at the same school as my children once upon a time, and now some of the have children of their own.

Back at home, I threw everyone out of the kitchen while I did the veg, but had to keep asking DH back in to fetch things down, lift things up and so on. Meanwhile DH showed Auntie the wedding photos from the summer and I generally pulled the meal together. The only bit that went wrong was charring the red cabbage, so I binned that. Black cabbage is not particularly tasty. Otherwise I think I've generally got the hang of this Christmas dinner thing, so long as I have a knowledgeable sous chef.

This afternoon we went round to H and A's for more time together and presents. DS2 was on night shift but met us there and so did J, who had sent a last minute text asking who she could spend the afternoon with as L was unwell and had gone back to bed. He's had a terrific cold and thought he was recovering, but it's back with a vengeance. J felt it wasn't worth cooking Christmas dinner for one so she had cheese and biscuits! Luckily there was plenty left at our so she and DS2 helped themselves later and she took enough home for L too (and we still have lots of turkey, but don't have to store any cooked veg, which is a blessing).

We had fun with opening presents and watching DGD with hers. She loved a trike/pushchair type thing that she can sit in (and eventually steer and pedal) but where she can also be pushed along. Eventually she was getting tired and couldn't settle to sleep so we all went out for a walk and she slept in her sling. It was getting dark when we finished, so DH and I, auntie, DS2 and J all went back to ours where J and DS2 raided the turkey (this was the plan, they didn't just storm in) and we had yet another present session for stockings for all of us and the 'sundry' presents under the tree. By about half past six L was awake and J didn't want to leave him on his own, and DS2 had to be ready for another night shift, so they left and the rest of us had tea, watched 'Strictly' and phoned DH's sister and her girls.

Loads to be thankful for (see above)... glad we didn't go for lots of big presents, on grounds of cost, clutter, stress and storage. We generally don't need much but are happy with our new stuff. It's also interesting that several second hand items such as out of print books have gone down well. I always love those but other people do too.

Time I did my French app so I don't lose my streak, then bath and bed!

Cherryfudge

A spend to declare: £30.45 in the sales, mostly on clothes gifts for DGD and a friend's baby due April which don't count to the Fashion on the Ration challenge. There was also a tee shirt for DH (which can come out of his coupon count ) and socks towards a present for someone else. SO two of my coupons spent, and as I got four pairs of socks and a scarf for Christmas, I count that as gaining more than I spent!

It's a lovely clear, bright day here today and I have the house to myself, which is a bit of a luxury after all the business. Must be careful not to waste it.

Cherryfudge

This afternoon clouded over. DH and Auntie came back in a hurry as her bank card was missing, but it was here all the time... then they went out again so I expect an amount has gone on tea and cakes, then as a donation to the Air Ambulance when they went to see a glorious array of Christmas lights on a private house.

I could have gone with them but declined: they arrived back the first time as I was cleaning the top of the freezer, and the second time it was just too cold out.

The evening has been turkey pie and telly.

I'm grateful for a quiet day, a log fire and peace and quiet.