Put away your purse & become debt-averse

Onebrokelady

Well well done on avoiding a Christmas outfit splurge. I used to do the same and would buy myself something sparkly that I never wore again but these days I go for comfort and wear my trusty smart jeans and a nice jumper of which I have a few. We are going to DD1s house which is a little on the cool side so I also dress for warmth, I even take my slippers 😀

EssexHebridean

I decided life is too short not to be comfortable on Christmas day - I'll be going for a colourful pair of Lucy Locket leggings and a comfy top! As we'll be at Mums I'll take boots over ready for an after lunch dog walk! OBL that's a good thought about slippers - might take mine over to Mums as her kitchen floor has utterly beautiful but immensely uncomfortable to walk on in socks slate floor tiles! 

Makingabobor2

Onebrokelady said:

Well well done on avoiding a Christmas outfit splurge. I used to do the same and would buy myself something sparkly that I never wore again but these days I go for comfort and wear my trusty smart jeans and a nice jumper of which I have a few. We are going to DD1s house which is a little on the cool side so I also dress for warmth, I even take my slippers 😀

We have to dress for warmth if we go to DDs house....but dress to stay cool if we go to the in-laws as they have their heat up sooooo high. 

foxgloves

Hello m'dears,
Achieved a few things today despite having to keep stopping to block spam calls which appear to be originating from China - I've just had the 13th! Complete waste of time as I am highly unlikely to be falling for any silly scams. Bloody irritating though!
Anyway, Christmas cake icing dry so have added a red ribbon, have also baked over 2 dozen mince pies, taken the ham out to start thawing, moved the laundry around the heated airer umpteen times to hasten drying, written a list for town tomorrow including taking glass & plastic recycling so as to have space for festive empties, etc, done a couple of surveys & cashed out another £10 which we could use against the turkey order on Christmas Eve or I could save for 2023, I'll see.
I've also done lots of ironing......but have just discovered before coming on here that I haven't done ENOUGH ironing, as I'd forgotten I'd piled some garments from an earlier wash on the futon in the spare room. Urrrgh! I'm not having them hanging around until after Christmas though, as I shall have 3 lots of guest bedding to launder then. So I'm off to get the ironing board out again. 
Mr F has broken up for the festive period this afternoon & says he'll sort out tonight's meal. He's only got to do some use-it-up carrots, as I made sufficient fish pie yesterday to feed us for two nights, Then I think I shall enjoy some sofa time with my book. I'm currently reading 'The Salt Path' which somebody on here recommended ages ago - can't quite recall who, but think it may have been @Onebrokelady, & I could also feel in the mood to watch a TV Christmas special of some kind, maybe 'Father Ted' , 'The Smoking Room' or 'Lead balloon' - I'll see.
Right, onwards with the rest of that damned ironing!
F x

DawnW

The Salt Path is great @foxgloves, very sad how they lost their home. I have downloaded the author's new book onto my tablet - must read it. Amazing woman.

Makingabobor2

I remember someone telling me about that book, but I've still not read it. Must see if I can find it and give it a go. I need a few more good books on the go. 

foxgloves

@DawnW & @Makingabobor2 - Yes, I'm really enjoying it & looking forward to when they reach our favourite stretch of North Cornish coast. Agree, Dawn, v sad how they lost their home. I'm also finding the author's thoughts on homelessness interesting & thought-provoking, particularly the stigma. I so agree with her comments about most people assuming that the homeless are addicts, etc. I remember once buying a Big Issue from a chap outside M&S & he told me that he'd become homeless because of 3 things happening together. His relationship broke up, then as the house was hers, he lost the roof over his head. Then the same week, he lost his job. I've heard it said that 3 major misfortunes coming together is all it can take to turn somebody's situation from stable to a crisis.
Another man I met more recently when I was in the city centre shopping, was sat wrapped up in a blanket with a bedroll beside him & a handwritten notice. Instead of the more usual "Hungry & homeless, please help", it said "The worst thing about being homeless is how lonely it is". I went over & said 'Hello' & just had a little chat & he said Thank you for stopping to talk. It was a bit of a reminder tbh that it takes nothing to be kind. 
The author of 'The Salt Path' when telling their story obviously discovered the stigma of being homeless & poor very soon in their journey.
I borrowed it from the library & will look out for her other one.
F x

Sun_Addict

There used to be a homeless elderly man in the city centre, he was a solicitor whose wife had left him and it caused him to have a mental breakdown. Apparently he had plenty of money but had just lost his way in life. Very sad 😢 When you take the time to talk to some of them they aren’t all the druggies people tend to think they are. 

foxgloves

I agree, @Sun_Addict, & I think I also remember the old chap you mention, as I used to see him hanging around the bus station because it was under cover. I think it all comes down to not judging people when we are not in possession of any of the facts.......& you know, even if we are, & we don't like those facts, it's surely a truth that anyone can take a wrong path in life. It's just that when it comes to trying to step off that path, some people don't have the necessary support networks to make it.
We're philosophical tonight, aren't we?
F

ladyholly

It is so easy to judge people people without knowing their story and I suspect that we all do it to one degree or another. The is a poem tat starts "Pray dont find fault with the man who limps or stumbles along the road" by Mary Ann Torrans. Its quite long so I wont post it here but its well worth googling it if you dont know it.