Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thanks SSG . I think that's a really good way to treat your team to go around and thank everyone, and I'm sure he was a very busy man.

I use ribbons for cards too (when I have time to put them up) but I pin the ribbons to our very useful picture rail. Then I use paper clips to attach the Christmas cards. I just dont' have enough space to stand them all up.

Onebrokelady

At The hospital where I work our chief executive does a video to say thank you and merry Christmas to all the staff, there are 8000 staff so it's the easiest way to say thanks to everyone

I'm glad you managed to get your food shop done without any hassle Hairy,your lights sound lovely,I keep saying I'm going to get some but still haven't got round to it, some of the houses on my road look lovely but others look like Las Vegas has landed in the garden:rotfl:

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thanks OBL . I wouldn't want our house to look like Blackpool illuminations :eek: but I've always fancied having some lights around our porch at Christmas. They look really nice so I'm glad we made the effort .

[Deleted User]

Back in the day when we received hundreds of cards (with 4 children who had lots of friends, plus DH and I who had work colleagues and clients/customers as well as all the neighbours, friends and family all sending them) finding somewhere to display them standing up was a real problem:eek:. It wasn't lack of space that was the problem it was a cat that we had then:eek:. Whenever DH or I had all the cards arranged on the mantlepieces, shelves etc the cat would climb up and knock them all down with a swipe of her paw. It was like rows of dominoes going down:rotfl:. We used to loop tinsel from the picture rails (like yours, HHOD, they sometimes have a use other than being dust traps;)) and hang the cards over them. That way they were all the way round the room. No clips or staples needed and they were safely out of the way of the cat:j

Nowadays, with the children gone, the amount of cards we get is much easier to manage and I like to stand them up on the mantlepieces or shelves. It's helped by the fact that the wrecking cat is no longer with us but I still miss her so much even 8 years after she passed away. Christmas in particular just isn't the same without her:(. She even tried to climb up the Christmas tree one year until it was in danger of toppling over but DH caught it before it actually did:eek:. We've had lots of cats over the years but that particular one was my favourite.

Willowtree222

Just caught up. I love Christmas lights too. I think they give it a different mood and always lift me up driving past houses that have just the right amount of lights.

Glad you got the shopping out of the way as well, that must be a relief x

HairyHandofDartmoor

Finally_Solvent wrote: »

Back in the day when we received hundreds of cards (with 4 children who had lots of friends, plus DH and I who had work colleagues and clients/customers as well as all the neighbours, friends and family all sending them) finding somewhere to display them standing up was a real problem:eek:. It wasn't lack of space that was the problem it was a cat that we had then:eek:. Whenever DH or I had all the cards arranged on the mantlepieces, shelves etc the cat would climb up and knock them all down with a swipe of her paw. It was like rows of dominoes going down:rotfl:. We used to loop tinsel from the picture rails (like yours, HHOD, they sometimes have a use other than being dust traps;)) and hang the cards over them. That way they were all the way round the room. No clips or staples needed and they were safely out of the way of the cat:j

Nowadays, with the children gone, the amount of cards we get is much easier to manage and I like to stand them up on the mantlepieces or shelves. It's helped by the fact that the wrecking cat is no longer with us but I still miss her so much even 8 years after she passed away. Christmas in particular just isn't the same without her:(. She even tried to climb up the Christmas tree one year until it was in danger of toppling over but DH caught it before it actually did:eek:. We've had lots of cats over the years but that particular one was my favourite.

I've had a lot more cards this year since I've been working at the school. I think the card ribbons look quite festive once they're up.

I love cats and grew up with two gorgeous ones, but developed allergies to fur when I was an adult. Otherwise we would have at least two kitties in the house.

Nicnak wrote: »

Just caught up. I love Christmas lights too. I think they give it a different mood and always lift me up driving past houses that have just the right amount of lights.

Glad you got the shopping out of the way as well, that must be a relief x

Thanks Nicnak it is a relief to have it done although we both found the process quite stressful :eek:.

I think Christmas lights do cheer people up. In the Highlands where my sister lives they keep them up all winter to help people cope with the dark days and cold weather.

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

I think Christmas lights do cheer people up. In the Highlands where my sister lives they keep them up all winter to help people cope with the dark days and cold weather.

What a lovely idea:T

HairyHandofDartmoor

We managed to put up our second set of berry lights in the living room so now they meet in the middle. They're strung along the picture rail and look very cheery and festive :xmassmile.

Our plans to go to a NT place this morning and buy a couple of presents have been changed because DH has a bad headache and feels very tired . So I've given him some paracetamol and told him to sit in the armchair and watch tv all day (his favourite activity anyway :rotfl:). I hope he's not catching my lurgy :eek:. I've got plenty of housework to do and hopefully we can go another day instead.

So far today I've sorted through three rubbish bags that appeared in the garden and put them in the wheelie bins outside and put on two washes. The first lot needs tumbling/hanging up but I need to empty the clothes horses first as they're full of dry washing. That doesn't sound like much but it's managed to tire me out already!

Next I want to put up the card ribbons and clean the sink and bath. After that I want to put a third wash on as I'm seriously behind with the laundry. It's quite nice to have a day at home to get the house sorted for Christmas :xmassmile.

Tomorrow I'm going to meet stepdad for coffee and then I can perhaps pick up the two presents I didnt get today, plus a few stocking fillers for the DC.

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

. That doesn't sound like much but it's managed to tire me out already!

Sounds like plenty to me:eek:. Don't overdo it, you're still recovering from a nasty lurgy.

jwil

I love Christmas lights too, they are a real lift at a gloomy time of year.