Tales from The Shire

Cheery_Daff

Very wise to block out the annexe over Christmas, don't want to be rushing around trying to clean that on top of everything else :eek:

Most impressed at you making your own granola and muesli! :j At the minute I'm basically just pouring boiling water on oats and sprinkling salt and sugar on it :rotfl: Not exactly gourmet :rotfl: Will try more things over Christmas I think!

Fortune_Smiles

Cheery_Daff wrote: »

Very wise to block out the annexe over Christmas, don't want to be rushing around trying to clean that on top of everything else :eek:

Most impressed at you making your own granola and muesli! :j At the minute I'm basically just pouring boiling water on oats and sprinkling salt and sugar on it :rotfl: Not exactly gourmet :rotfl: Will try more things over Christmas I think!

It's easier when you have a kitchen Cheery :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Fortune x

Cheery_Daff

Well yes, there is that I suppose :rotfl: :rotfl:

*Cheery glosses over the fact that she mostly just ate porridge when she DID have a kitchen* :rotfl:

Fortune_Smiles

Us Cinderellas are going to the Ball on Saturday :j:j:j

DS1, DiL1 and DS2 should be be arriving on Saturday about lunchtime. Although DiL1 has her company Christmas dinner the night before so they may have a late start Mr F is flying home from a business trip on Saturday so I'm hoping he'll get home for lunchtime too. Some friends are also going and I was hoping to put them up in the Annex so that we could share taxis but we have someone in there the night before now and I just won't have time to turn the place over. We'll meet them there instead.

I'm going to wear my wedding dress I can get into it comfortably, although it would look perfect if I was just a couple of pounds lighter. I've run out of time now so I shall just breathe in all night :rotfl: We've pre-ordered some wine for the table and there will be the taxi cost home but that's all budgeted for in this month's fun money.

Blimey it's December! Mr F is going out green laning with FDawg today so I shall get the decs up. I feel as though it's still a bit early but it will be nice for the family next weekend.

Yesterday we continued to put the garden to bed. There's a lot to do but we've had a couple of weekends of dry weather (at last) so have made a dent in it. Mr F has a lot of holiday to take before year end so we should have some time before Christmas to do the rest.

Pay day has arrived so I've reconciled the bank accounts and worked out the budget until the end of January. It still looks as though we might get through without dipping into savings - I'll be keeping a close eye on things

We had Roasted Carrot & Sweet Potato Soup for lunch yesterday. I used red onions and roasted them and the garlic with the other vegetables. The house smelt amazing! Supper was Lentil Chilli - a favourite stand-by recipe from one of my books. The meal plan may need to be adjusted as Mr F has an unexpected business trip and will be away for the week now.

The number of wasps coming in gradually diminished and we don't seem to be getting any more. We do have Tortoiseshell Butterflies coming in now though. I read up on them this morning and it seems the hibernate over winter. However, they get confused by the heating in houses and wake up thinking it's Spring only to find there's nothing to eat :eek: The advice is to put them somewhere dry and cool so we'll find a place for them in the barn.

Have a great Sunday all.

Fortune x

Cheery_Daff

Glad to hear your wasps have diminished :eek: You've reminded me when I got the Christmas tree out of the garage last year there were several dead wasps in it :eek: Might attempt to do that today and be ready with the hoover :rotfl:

You sound like you're super ready with your plans and preparations, well done! :j :j

beanielou

You are very quiet.
Hope all is well in your world

Fortune_Smiles

Morning Peeps

all is well in the Fortunate household, just a little busy (thanks for checking up on me Beanie). Christmas preparations are all in hand:

Cards. We don't send Christmas cards but donate the money we would have spent on these to charity. This year we have donated to our local food bank.

Decorations. Up and sparkling. Nothing new purchased this year and our 2019 Christmas tree decoration was a gift from a neighbour.

Presents. All bought, wrapped, delivered or under the tree ready for collection. I've managed to stay within budget except for Mr F who I've bought an experience for. It's a joint present really and something to look forward to in the New Year.

Food. I've planned meals up until the 28th. T£$co delivered yesterday and the veg box is coming Saturday.

Social. Any events we're hosting/attending have been planned and paid for except for our Christmas lunch out which we'll need to pay for on the day.

Budget. So far, so good but we may have to dip into savings a little before the end of January. I'm going to do my best to avoid this if I can. It hasn't helped that Mr F has begged, pleaded, cajoled and guilted me into allowing him to buy a piece of gym equipment for the barn :eek: He doesn't ask for much but when he does it's always a big ticket item So savings have been dipped into to fund that. I don't think we're any further forward with our savings than we were this time last year Something to think about for our goals for next year. Mr F is happy however... at least for now :rotfl:

Unexpected Bills. Something always comes up at Christmas doesn't it :rotfl: The front tyre of my car was still leaking so I've been back onto the garage again. They asked me to take it back to a specialist tyre place so Mr F popped it in yesterday. It's been in to them twice before. At first they couldn't find anything wrong but Mr F insisted they kept checking and eventually they found a nail :eek: I think that's been the problem all along and explains the pattern of air loss. Anyhoo - it's been repaired and I'm really hoping that will be the end of the car problems saga. Our en-suite shower has just starting buzzing though I've done some research and it sounds as though the solenoid needs replacing. It was only fitted two years ago :eek: We may still be within the manufacturers guarantee period - just. I'll call the plumbers today and check.

Income. Nothing much to report. I've blocked out the Annex calender until the New Year now as I don't want the stress of accommodating last minute bookings over Christmas. We won on Euro Millions - £4.40 :rotfl:

Health. Both Mr F and I are maintaining our weight loss. My aim is to get through Christmas without putting any weight back on and then to continue dieting until I get to my initial goal weight.

This week I have been getting on top of the housework and chores in preparation for drinks we're hosting tomorrow. We've invited neighbours and local friends round for Christmas drinks every year since we moved here - this will be the third time. It was a tradition we didn't intend to start but one I enjoy so I think we'll continue with it. We have plenty of wine courtesy of Mr F's Avi0$ points so it's just the food we've had to buy. I'm doing cheese and biscuits, pate and nibbles, mini mince pies and Christmas cake. Nice and easy.

Hope you're all feeling festive... and not too stressed.

Fortune X

Fortune_Smiles

A very merry Christmas all. I hope you have a fabulous, festive time.

Fortune x

beanielou

Have a very happy Christmas Fortune.

VintageHistorian

Merry Christmas Fortune!