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

HairyHandofDartmoor

foxgloves wrote: »

It is difficult HHoD, but I found that this Christmas, we were celebrating nice festive memories of Mum & Dad, rather than just feeling the empty gaping hole. So we played one of my Dad's compositions - one that I hadn't heard before so that was really nice - & admired all the lovely decorations hanging on my sis's tree which Mum made. We also played card games we have played as a family since we were children & generally shared memories. It was minor, very insignificant things that brought me up short this year. For example, on our way home, Mum & Dad would always leave first thing, whereas we'd be much more leisurely & set off much later. That meant we'd always call in at theirs on our much longer journey home for a loo break, coffee & biscuits, etc, & it suddenly felt so odd this year to reach that stretch of the motorway & not just take the slip road off to the village I grew up in.
It is what it is...... as the saying goes, 'the only two certainties in life are death & taxes'........ but I know what you mean. The times when we all used to get together for special celebrations like Christmas are definitely the hardest. Memories can be kept alive though, & are very precious.
F x

Sometimes it is the unexpected things that hit you suddenly and make you sad. It sounds like you had a lovely Christmas Foxgloves and remembered happy times with your Mum and Dad.

HairyHandofDartmoor

beanielou wrote: »

Glad that the party went well.
Happy to send you a diary.
I got one for Christmas and I won’t use it.
It has a pen with it

Thank you Beanie . That's vey kind of you if you're sure you won't use it.

HairyHandofDartmoor

jwil wrote: »

Glad you had a good Christmas, and your party went well

Thanks Jwil .

elizabethhull wrote: »

FG : Do you mean you played a recording, or you played it yourselves ? What type of music was it - and how wonderful to find a piece you didn't know.

HH: your plans for organising next year sound excellent, we shall be cheering you on to succeed.
I did all my wrapping on the 23rd and designated elder daughter's bedroom as a wrapping station. That certainly prevented the untidy piles all over the dining-table & floor. I don't know why I didn't think of it before, tbh - with the old pasting-table, paper, sellotape and scissors, I could sit there and just get on with it.

We were 6 for Xmas and for the first time ever watched some tv and a DVD on Xmas Eve. We watched 'Arthur Christmas' and 'The Tiger who came to tea', they were both utterly brilliant in different ways.

Thanks Elizabeth . Your Christmas sounds lovely. I presume you had a son/daughter with spouse and grandchildren for Christmas. Arthur Christmas is an excellent film. I haven't watched The Tiger Who Came to Tea but I used to love the book.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Nicnak wrote: »

Sounds like a mixture of reflection as well as making new and happy memories. Christmas is always a time to think of loved ones, and there is always bound to be sadness around it, but it does sound like you also managed to overcome this and enjoy it as well.

Your Christmas Day sounds lovely. A mixture of nature and family.

You're very brave with boxing day. I wouldn't normally even think about going out on boxing day (other than to the pub).

I hope you have a good few days of recovering as well as enjoying yourself. xx

Thank you Nicnak .

Deleted_User wrote: »

Morning Hairy,

I'm happy you had a lovely Christmas and wow to the party (very brave) glad it went well.

Love your plan for next Christmas, I haven't been as organised as I normally am, so may borrow your idea.

Special times are difficult when a loved one has died. My dad was like a child at Christmas and even now although he's been gone 18 years, it does ache but I laugh at remembering his antics when we were growing up xx

Thank you Purplemum . We've had a party after Christmas for years, although we skipped it last year. We did it because my Mum loved family get togethers but couldn't cope with hosting it herself any more. I think this year I still did it for her as family was so important to her.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Yesterday I ate some left over food from the party for my evening meal and about half an hour afterwards I felt unwell and was sick . Then a bit later I was sick again so I ended up going to bed as I felt so unwell . I haven't been sick since yesterday evening but I still feel a bit unwell today so lay in until 10.30am and had a nap too.

I think maybe some of the party food may have been out of the fridge too long. I hope it's that and not a tummy bug anyway.

We'd been planning to go to a NT place today and look at the Christmas decorations and lights but couldn't go of course. I hope I feel better tomorrow as it's the last day you can see them.

Sun_Addict

It sounds like food poisoning HH. I haven't had it for many years but the last time I had it I was sick about 30 minutes after eating some off beansprouts. Fingers crossed it's not the Noro virus which I believe is doing its rounds. Hope you feel better soon xx

beanielou

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

Thank you Beanie . That's vey kind of you if you're sure you won't use it.

Will pop in the post tomorrow

beanielou

Hope you are feeling better soon.

teafor2

Hope you feel better soon HHD and manage to get to the NT to see the lights. xx

milann

Despite being poorly at the end of Christmas it sounds as if you’ve had a good time HH.
It is hard over Christmas- I’ve had a few sad ones in the past too but it does get easier and you learn to balance memories with moving forward. I think you’ve made a good step towards that by hosting the party this year.
I’ve decided this year I’m giving my great nephews and nieces cash - there are 12 of them as they’re growing up it’s harder to know what to get them. So I’m writing 12 cards this week and will slip some cash in 1 every month.....that’s the theory anyway;)