NST December 2018 – Exterminate the debt!

mothernerd

I'm home - could have stayed longer but two nights on a reclining chair (quite useful with my ankle) and last night on the mini sofa (not good - nearly slept on the floor but was afraid I wouldn't be able to get up in time if I wanted the bathroom) are enough and I needed my own bed.

Took my laptop but decided I could live without it for a day or two. Lots of reading, quite a bit of gentle telly (not on constantly), good food. Took some time on Christmas Eve doing bits of chopping and peeling (salad stuff and for dips) sitting on the couch with a cheeseboard. Mixed the marinade and left the tandoori lumps overnight.

Cooked Christmas dinner (bought lots of easy veg - sprouts with chestnuts and bacon, did both sweet potato and ordinary mash from frozen), put the tandoori lumps on the lower shelf whilst the oven was on. DS2 turned up about 5 minutes before it was going on the table, mum said he was welcome to eat with us so added the tandoori lumps to the rest and it was fine, plenty for all 3 of us but no waste, everything cooked, nothing burnt.
Mum had choc mint yoghurt for afters (I was hoping they were like ones I bought a while ago although the packaging was different), I had an individual blackcurrant cheesecake and DS2 decided to have a yoghurt in the end.

Extensive but not too much buffet for tea - enough salad put out to leave a small dish for the day after, two lots of cheese (have about 6 in mum's freezer but only 2 open), quiche, a handful of sweet potato fries and sf chicken (using up bits she already had). Ate a few of mum's chocs. Supper, breakfast and dinner (I had 3 suppers as my arm kept me awake and I had a bit of food with my pills) were leftover bits - only a light lunch as we were invited out for tea.

Fun time with single mum and her little boy then back home before his bedtime (mum hadn't really wanted to go out but didn't want to leave the girl on her own). She only had an upstairs loo and her stairs were quite a challenge - mum has become afraid of stairs. When we were in the hotel she needed me to stand between her and the top of the stairs and stayed about 6' away. She had a bad fall at her partners home a couple of years before they moved (her health problems started from then but some were unrelated). I do understand because I fell from top to bottom of our stairs when I was 8 or 9 (I know I was anew glasses wearer as my head hit the stair- rail and ever since I've pulled my glasses off and thrown them away from me whenever I've fallen) and for a long while I froze whenever someone jostled me on a staircase.

DS1 had asked about going for a pub meal near us but mum is content to stay home for the rest of Christmas (or even longer), so will have to deal with that one tactfully - I don't really want any unnecessary trips until my ankle is stronger.

Made egg and peanut roll today and another mega salad so mum has lots of party bits to choose from over the next few days. She doesn't need me to go back until Monday - she has a regular Saturday visitor. Also made a 'broth' from an assortment of veg. So lots of choice and no fuss (mostly grab and go).

Came home and it's obvious that any progress on the kitchen stopped the moment I left but the dishwasher has been going and DS3 said he put the bin out. I had put it out before I left but he went out and moved it to the very corner of the backs and the street rather than the side of the end house (he knew it was the black bin as he saw my list of revised collection dates).

I just collected drinks (2l water and 2l diet decaff coke) and came straight upstairs. I have been down for the laptop and my toothbrush since but everything else can wait until tomorrow - will see how much I feel like doing when I decide to get up.

Added 4 NSDs, probably another few to come.

Today I am grateful for my bed, a quiet relaxing Christmas with candles and books (and Call the Midwife), for our visitors being amiable and fun (lots of giggling and fluffy ears), for not needing to have a perfect house to make visitors welcome, for people appreciating their presents, for having enough, for being with people who understand my need to 'be alone' (we speak but no-one bothers me and I'm welcome to join them if I want to).

laurenh1

Hello lovelies,


I hope you all had a nice Christmas. we had a great time but actually the best thing is us all being off together with nothing to do. We have spent lots of lovely time as a family, watching movies & playing games.


I have done a tiny bit of sale shopping but only for Xmas 19. It means I can pick up gifts for Nanas & Grandads for very little. I have written what I've bought down so I don't forget & made a note of the amount. hub & I have agreed to keep our spending to a minimum this year as it gets out of hand.


Ready for January now, for healthy eating & getting organised. I daren't even step on the scales.



Grateful for- practical Christmas gifts(lots of bubble bath), lots of movies on TV that I can record for the little ones & for my youngest starting to chat a lot more all.of a sudden :A

greent

So I've hit the sales for next years cards and wrapping paper - all sorted now :j We tried to swap OH's too-small shirt when in town but it wasn't on stock in-store, so have ordered it online. Will ask friend for receipt so he can get a gift card for the correct figure (it's been reduced - only by £2 but even so!) and that can be spent at some point (we have 2 family weddings this year, so am sure the smallest 2 will need funky yet smart shirts!) We did buy DS1 a new coat in the sale - he has torn his old one and I can do a sort-of repair, but I am sure he will appreciate the new coat when he is back at uni - SW Wales, close to the coast - a good coat is a must!! An unexpected expense but one I consider necessary. We also bought DS2 a present for his bday - was £45.99, reduced to £27.99 and was on his list - whoop! :T The only other thing we spent on in town was a bday card for DS1's gf (next week - she will be 18) and a canned drink (55p) as OH was super thirsty. We parked out of town, so parked for free and gained some much needed exercise trotting in/ back out - yeay!

Gratitudes - still having lots of easy food (must have a sort out of it all today to ensure none gets wasted), noticing the delicate flowers on the tub of saxifrage in the back garden, a squirrel frequenting our garden on a regular basis, a lovely new bright pink soft-cover notebook (from the stash in the office cupboard) to start the NY with

dolly84

Worked today but really did not want to go. DH worked till lunchtime and I was home by 3pm so we nipped out to get dog food. Called into town but didn't buy anything.


Brought home some very ripe bananas from work which were going to be thrown out and I am making a chocolate banana loaf, I've doubled the recipe and will make 12 muffins with it too, these will go in the freezer for school/work lunches.


Kids and DH are having pizza for tea (from the freeze) and I'm having hm black bean soup, I had hm roasted tomato soup for lunch but have been starving all day, also very hot (like feverishly hot for 3 days but not ill) with a pounding headache.

Shrewbie

Had a lovely day today with my mum, short run, 3 hours of work from home on the teaching material I'm working on and she treated us both to coffees so today was an NSD.

No NSD yesterday as I found the second book in a series I'm reading (Earth's Children by Jean M Auel) for 99p on amaz0n.

Been also trying to find a houseshare for end of Jan in Madrid. Thinking about getting a short let and spending the summer doing a 'workaway' somewhere in Spain. Also hoping this will tie in with my 1000 day challenge.

Have a nice evening turtles!!

Toni'sfriend

Brought home some very ripe bananas from work which were going to be thrown out and I am making a chocolate banana loaf, I've doubled the recipe and will make 12 muffins with it too, these will go in the freezer for school/work lunches.

Oh that sounds good !!!!!

Had another day in today as Himself is still not right and cancelled his day out with his friend again. I think he's brooding a bit. He has found it difficult to get over the deaths of his brother and sister although it has been some time now. Hasn't been helped this year as there has been no contact from either of his remaining brothers (his only relatives). No Christmas cards, no reply to our telephone calls. I don't know what to say to him as I have a very caring extended family (cousins mostly). I suppose you just have to plod on.

Need to renew our annual travel insurance. I cannot believe the difference in prices. Some of them are just ridiculous.

Lots to do over the next week or so and really have to get down to making plans for next year. Financial and household wise that is.

Hope you are all well and looking forward to New Year.

mothernerd

An NSD for me as I haven't really done anything (but sleep). Only just had my shower but have also washed my hair. Eaten the last part of the peanut roll I brought home with spinach leaves, mushrooms and tomatoes plus a few black grapes. Took the end of the yule log as they have had lots of cakes and no-one offered me any. Seem to have run out of decaff coke but loads of fizzy water. I'm enjoying tap water too - mum's is absolutely undrinkable on it's own.

Today I am grateful for catching up on sleep, for easy food, for a lovely shower and having clean clothes.

Maisie_M

An NSD today so up to 12/15 - dont think I will make 15 as I am going to do a small shop tomorrow for some fresh stuff as I have a Morrisons £5 stamp thingy that I need to use up before 31 December.


Things I am thankful for: Mum having a small op today and being fine, Eldest son being home as he was with his dad for xmas, a really good nights sleep last night and a lovely sunny day which gave us an amazing sunset.

Kerry_Woman

NSD today - 18/20.
Went for walk in park.
Lit candle and some self-care.
Busy going over finances for next year. Trying to get my head around a few things.
Grateful for:
Had a nice supportive chat with lady in park.
Having food in.
A Carry on film with them going camping.
Starting to try and sort things out for next year.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for dd having enough sleep, for a relaxing start to the day, for good walking, for seats on trains, for good connections, for dh's eye appt not being the doom and gloom we were expecting, for making a twelfth night cake, for not leaving anything behind on the trains (always a good thing!).