Countdown from £28k...

alt80

Glad to hear you had a good day mate. Not gonna lie I went massively overboard with food today, Mrs not tracking, only day of the year she doesn’t track food so !!!!!! it. 

dawnybabes

alt80 said:

Glad to hear you had a good day mate. Not gonna lie I went massively overboard with food today, Mrs not tracking, only day of the year she doesn’t track food so !!!!!! it. 

Isn’t that the whole point of Christmas dinner 🤣🤣

ryanm8655

Onebrokelady said:

ryanm8655 said:

Onebrokelady said:

What kind of floors have you got in the flat, that  will dictate what kind of hoover to buy, there's absolutely no need to spend £200 on a hoover 🙀I also recommend good old Wilkos for house things. Their premium range of plates and dishes are quite nice actually 

They’re all wood, no carpet so presumably means I can get away with something cheaper?

I've got a stick hoover made by Beldray that cost me £50 it's really good on hard floors,I hoover a three bedroom house with one charge, they do a more high powered one that cost slightly more 😊

That’s useful to know, will take a look. Saw the V7 is on sale at £199 already but cheaper would be better!

enthusiasticsaver said:

Glad your day went well Ryan.  Totally agree on the kids presents.  We have spent the day with our DGDs who are only 5 and 2 and the 2 year old had so much bought for her she could not unwrap it all today.  She got totally overwhelmed with it all so still has another pile to open tomorrow much to the 5 year olds indignation as she has opened all hers in double quick time.  They were both pleased with what they got though but easier when they are little.  

Yeah, I think half the problem is the two youngest still believe in Father Christmas so don’t realise their parents have actually spent a fortune/put a lot of effort into choosing and also think about what Father Christmas hasn’t got them...reckon it’ll be better when they don’t anymore...

Though the oldest was disappointed her earphones weren’t AirPods but what she got are actually better/more expensive  

I only remember being disappointed in a Christmas present once in my entire life, and that’s not because I got everything on my list, didn’t even have one. I was supposed to get a bomber jacket from an elderly relative and got this weird light blue suede and cardigan material jacket from a charity shop instead, it was hideous but I acted really grateful and wore it to their house every time I went over even though it was embarrassing to wear

Sounds like you had a lovely day too :-)

ryanm8655

alt80 said:

Glad to hear you had a good day mate. Not gonna lie I went massively overboard with food today, Mrs not tracking, only day of the year she doesn’t track food so !!!!!! it. 

Haha. Good man. Your wife sounds like she needs to chill out Though I used to be big into fitness once upon a time and would even calorie count the booze I was drinking at uni at one stage Not that it stopped me enjoying myself but was a bit ridiculous when I wouldn’t eat so that I could go out drinking without going over my calories for the day Wouldn’t do that again in a hurry...

I still feel sick now...eggs Benedict for breakfast, lunch with all the trimmings and then round to their parents for the evening and ate loads of snacks. Washed down by about 5 glasses of red and the best part of a bottle of Prosecco. Won’t need to worry about my jeans falling down for much longer

dawnybabes said:

alt80 said:

Glad to hear you had a good day mate. Not gonna lie I went massively overboard with food today, Mrs not tracking, only day of the year she doesn’t track food so !!!!!! it. 

Isn’t that the whole point of Christmas dinner 🤣🤣

Ha! Round 2 starting shortly. I think I need a walk...

warby68

Glad your day was OK. Now you know one reason why they were so keen to max out your contributions - the Christmas shopping!!
We had my 86y old mum round. Very elderly people are funny with their meals, claim small appetites and little interest, and then wolf more than the 18y old 6 footer. We had a nice day. Very relaxed although she insisted we open the windows for a blast of fresh air every so often as that is the advice - as it was -3c for most of the day the blast was very fresh indeed. After being really down a couple of weeks ago about life in general and not wanting to bother, I pulled my stuff together and did the works. Glad I did now. It made for a count your blessings type of day which is no bad thing.
Just curious (well, nosy) did they buy you a Christmas gift?
And what is it now @ryanm8655, 6 more sleeps?

ryanm8655

warby68 said:

Glad your day was OK. Now you know one reason why they were so keen to max out your contributions - the Christmas shopping!!
We had my 86y old mum round. Very elderly people are funny with their meals, claim small appetites and little interest, and then wolf more than the 18y old 6 footer. We had a nice day. Very relaxed although she insisted we open the windows for a blast of fresh air every so often as that is the advice - as it was -3c for most of the day the blast was very fresh indeed. After being really down a couple of weeks ago about life in general and not wanting to bother, I pulled my stuff together and did the works. Glad I did now. It made for a count your blessings type of day which is no bad thing.
Just curious (well, nosy) did they buy you a Christmas gift?
And what is it now @ryanm8655, 6 more sleeps?

I think you’re right actually, the number of presents the kids had is obscene. They’ve had a tough year and last Christmas one of the parents was still getting over radiotherapy, then there has been Covid plus other parent had a couple of strokes and found out they have a rare blood disorder. So I guess they’re trying to compensate on Christmas. But at the same time they’ve bought a new car for cash, about to get a log burner and are also talking about a new front door. So it seems they’re emotional spenders too!

I know what you mean re: older people ha! And the cold...plus the count your blessings. Did feel lucky to be with family and the food put on was amazing...didn’t enjoy the gift opening so much but to be honest I never do Just feels awkward and like I’m interrupting a family moment, not because they make me feel that way, it’s probably the fact I don’t get along with my own parents and don’t remember having an especially nice Christmas as a kid

They got me some nice gifts, a new turtleneck jumper (merino wool, which I love and they’ve put some thought into as they’ve realised all of my jumpers are merino wool and that I love turtlenecks ha), some merino wool socks (incredibly comfy and warm as they’re boot socks), plus a bottle of makers mark bourbon, which is perfect for making old fashioneds, which I also love. Also got some double deckers and shortbread from the kids ha, love a pound shop gift (they all get £10 to buy a gift from the pound shop for close family). They also got me a nice bottle of whiskey on behalf of my grandma (Sherry oak cask, which again I love). Also got knives and cutlery from uncle but I was there when he bought those ha.

Looking forward to next year, when things will just be the enjoyment of Christmas without the log burner stress ha.

I did feel a little bit like I could’ve put more thought into my gifts but then I had thoughtful gifts lined up and they wanted the log burner ha. Bought them a cook book and nice bottle of port as well as sending them cash. The national trust membership I was going to get, worked out at about £300 anyway ha. I ran the numbers and worked out I could afford the £400 so just sent it all in one go. Might get them a new frying pan (to replace the two I’ll be taking) and some flowers or something as a parting gift (or maybe frame a family photo of them all if I have time to sort it). Something inexpensive but meaningful and to end things on a nice note.

enthusiasticsaver

Sounds like you had a nice day then Ryan and glad they got you some nice gifts.  In the light of that I think you did the right thing giving them the £400 especially as you can afford it. I got some Merino wool hiking boots socks too which are lovely and comfy to wear.  I do lots of coastal hill walking so they will be great for that. Have a nice chilled day. 

ryanm8655

enthusiasticsaver said:

Sounds like you had a nice day then Ryan and glad they got you some nice gifts.  In the light of that I think you did the right thing giving them the £400 especially as you can afford it. I got some Merino wool hiking boots socks too which are lovely and comfy to wear.  I do lots of coastal hill walking so they will be great for that. Have a nice chilled day. 

They’re so comfy, wore mine to bed and actually made a big difference

Thank you, you too! Only just crawling out of bed...

@warby68 yes, only 6 more sleeps! Should probably start packing

alt80

Sounds like you had a decent day all in all mate. Not long before you’re out of there now too. 

You’re right about my wife and food she’s obsessed with the tracking back on it today lol.

Made me laugh re crap gifts from old relatives. Sister and I remember those, parents lived a long way from family so lost touch really but my parents sent gifts up and they’d send gifts back. Sure one grandparent had no clue how old my sister and I actually were. They’d send down !!!!!! like hand knitted jumpers with crocheted (don’t know if that is even the word ha) flowers or tractors or some other thing you’d send to a tiny kid when we were in our teens FML. My mum and dad used to make us get a photo in these !!!!!! god awful jumpers basically having a right laugh then throw them but make us write a thank you letter with the photo stapled to it. Looking back it’s !!!!!! hilarious but back then mortified. Half thing the rel just did it for the laugh every year tbh.

Can’t post up you got a nice single malt without telling me what it was mate! 

enthusiasticsaver

alt80 said:

Sounds like you had a decent day all in all mate. Not long before you’re out of there now too. 

You’re right about my wife and food she’s obsessed with the tracking back on it today lol.

Made me laugh re crap gifts from old relatives. Sister and I remember those, parents lived a long way from family so lost touch really but my parents sent gifts up and they’d send gifts back. Sure one grandparent had no clue how old my sister and I actually were. They’d send down !!!!!! like hand knitted jumpers with crocheted (don’t know if that is even the word ha) flowers or tractors or some other thing you’d send to a tiny kid when we were in our teens FML. My mum and dad used to make us get a photo in these !!!!!! god awful jumpers basically having a right laugh then throw them but make us write a thank you letter with the photo stapled to it. Looking back it’s !!!!!! hilarious but back then mortified. Half thing the rel just did it for the laugh every year tbh.

Can’t post up you got a nice single malt without telling me what it was mate! 

LOL we all remember gifts like that.  I remember without fail every Christmas my Aunt would buy my sister and I one of those cheap beauty sets which were definitely no good for teenagers and ended up going straight to charity shop after Christmas until my Mum suggested no more Christmas presents to her as we were getting too old.  We really didn't see her all year so she didn't know what we were into but the sickly sweet smell of the cosmetics made me gag. I have stopped  buying for my nieces and nephews as we don't really see them that often and they are grown up too so can buy most things they need.