NST December: Festive Fun

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a lovely day at work, for some sunshine, for people having outdoor twinkly lights for me to enjoy, for fresh water, for dd starting her project, for live WSM, for good books and good chocolate.

misstara

Foodbank/charity donation - charity donation has gone out. Have added a few items into the food bank collection. Gift bought to donate to charity.
Eat well - definitely doing a bit better at this.
Savings/debt repayment - nothing paid recently.
Treat yourself - got my eyebrows done on Saturday.
Invitations - girls night planned round at one of the girls houses next week and carol concert the weekend before Christmas.
Very merry Christmas - Christmas tree is up. All presents wrapped except one that I still need to buy this week.
Exercise - steps: 149,602/310,000, gym: 2/4, run: 0/4.

Fun - did some colouring in, watched Christmas film.
Understand what motivates you - done.
NSDs - now on 7/15.

lcc86

Toni's friend sorry to hear about your niece, I hope your sister in law starts to recover soon.

Foodbank/charity donation - waiting for the second DD to go through, Crisis donation done.
Eat well - terrible today, I forgot my breakfast and lunch at home so had to buy food.
Savings/debt repayment - done.
Treat yourself - nothing today, has a longer day than normal at work so my treat is just to come home, eat and chill.
Invitations - no further invitations. Did meet with my old work colleagues yesterday which was lovely.
Very merry Christmas - nothing today.
Exercise - went for a walk this morning and then did a workout with my resistance bands. Really felt good on my lower back which has been getting worse recently, I definitely need to keep moving to keep my back from flaring up.

Fun - nothing today, just glad to get through a long day at work.
Understand what motivates you.
NSDs - Aim for 15 NSDs. Still on 8/15 as had to buy breakfast and lunch today due to my own forgetfulness. Also bought some vitamins as I needed some, thought I might as well use my unexpected spend day wisely.

abundant1972

Good evening!

Thank you Calling14 for your advice - and I agree. This time of year can be harder for many people. I am fortunate in that I love my own company perhaps a bit too much... My challenge is making myself socialise - because I usually enjoy it and feel better for it when I do.
Since moving back up North and with Mum and Dad - I haven't made many friends... as haven't had the time, energy or inclination to do so. Friendships take time and effort to build and sustain, and after several bad endings with friends I've kind of lapsed into being quite insular. I think for me that's where the internet is a life saver... It is on my hit list for next year to try and join a group or something to get me out more, and build on making friends where I live now.

Bought a few things for our Christmas lunch at work as we aren't having a meal out, and I still need to get my Secret Santa (emotionally blackmailed into joining it lol!) as they didn't have what I wanted at Arseda!.

Started a new self-care routine this morning, incorporating some mindfulness, card reading and journal writing etc. Will see how I get on.

Night all x

mothernerd

Went to mum's, ordered a taxi to our friend's house and one for the return journey (I was originally supposed to book one to pick us both up and take us but realised I didn't have the address). Mum hadn't quite finished her lunch (I was later than originally planned as I stopped to have mine at home) so I found the presents.


Not Christmas presents. These were bought from Pickering station (North York Moors Railway) when we went by steam train to Whitby in the summer. The man we were visiting used to drive steam trains (he quit rather than retrain - unintentional pun - to drive diesel locomotives) so I had bought a 'train driver' badge (like the old station signs), a wooden version of the whistle and a 'pewter' steam train keyring (all available online if you have any train fanatics to buy for in the future).


Pleasant afternoon chatting and looking at photos (6 holidays to Canada) + him in dress uniform at his b-i-l's weddding. He's off to his sons' for Christmas on Wednesday so we went yesterday, even though we were both slightly wobbly. Both his sons have flats for him but he doesn't want to live with them all the time.



Taxi arrived promptly. I was being chucked out in the town centre 'anywhwere it was safe to do so'. Had decided to go round the slope behing little Arseda but the lights were on stop as we approached so I hopped out. They passed me as I walked down, but then stopped at the lights again, so I waved as I passed them and again as they went past as I waited at the crossing round the corner.


Nipped in little Arseda for a couple of things and bought 2 mini trees for mum (to go in the holders I bought in Keswick as the christmas roses are in too large plant pots) and some chocolate for DS3 (I've bought him some of the clothing he needed - no socks, underkecks or 'loungewear' yet - but I don't actually have anything to 'wrap up'). It will be in either brown paper or turquoise with tiny white spots (found under the drawers when I managed to hoick stuff out from under the bed and other crannies).


Went to the library -actually finished my last library book on Saturday evening and was on the verge of starting my 'Christmas' book but am okay until weekend now (going to stock up before the break because reduced staffing levels mean more time closed so they all get their required holidays). I may also buy a couple from the cs to take away and redonate them when read.


Ate again (had put a selection of leftovers in the microwave before I went to the library), read a few pages of one the books before turning off the light and going to sleep (went to brush my teeth but crawled under the sheets in my good dress and t shirt).



Just woken up, put the laptop on to see what time it was and came on here. Will stay awake for a couple of hours reading then have a few more hours sleep. Did condense my lists (3 pages, mostly done, transferred to half a page in my current 'use up' notebook) and started to jot down items I 'need' (won't be disastrous if they don't get bought but know I missed a few things because of a wonky website).


Want to check today if I can finish off the two handmade items for DS1 and his wife before Thursday (short answer is no, I started well ahead but sore eyes and short days have hampered me - some things have to be done in strong daylight and there is very little about atm) and start to move things to mum's. I'm aiming to have a week's worth of pills, 3 days clothing, a nightdress and some toiletries there (now I have my own drawers to put them in). I can also take her presents as the oven gloves arrived.


Would like to finish hemming her curtains, have a go at cleaning the couch and chairs (especially the arms - why do people buy cream coloured items) with some 1001 and put the tree up (so the presents can go under it instead of cluttering the surface of her new bed). I will see how strong I feel and do 15 minutes at a time (hemming could be done over the holiday period or next year).


Today I am grateful for friendship and companionship, for mostly being happy with my own company (I relish solitude and have to force myself out of my shell occasionally) and feeling okay about progress (bit fatalistic - if it get's done, good but a lot of things aren't essential and certainly not worth endangering my physical or mental health).


Need to take off my clothes and have a good wash (if I can make it downstairs I will turn off the heating as I suspect they have had it on for several hours). See you tomorrow turtles.

dolly84

One of our lovely neighbours has died. He was taken to hospital last weekend by his son and it turned out he had pneumonia, he was sent home as well enough, when a neighbour couldn't get a response they rang his son and he found him dead on the bathroom floor. So sad, he was a really nice man, I think he was about 82 so it was his time I suppose but it feels sad that he wasn't tucked up in bed and just passed.


I seem to be very spendy at the moment, had a hair cut last week, I only have it done about twice a year and it was just a wet cut so not a big spend, then I took two watches in for repair, they are both expensive watches and one has a lot of sentimental value but neither have worked for years, both now working but at a cost of £115. Today I have a dental appointment which will cost as I have a private dentist and need a filling replacing - maybe two.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Hi everyone

Had a busy Sunday as went with DD1 and her bf to visit DD2 at uni; did some more Xmas shopping and went for lunch. DD2 works at expensive chocolate shop so got a few gifts using her 50% discount

Worked yesterday and then left in the early afternoon to visit new job and meet new colleagues; was lovely, offices are nice, people very friendly, parking is a 5 min walk away - feel very relieved as taking slight pay cut and got longer commute. Have hated current FT job for a couple of years so had to get out for sake of my MH so feeling hopeful for next year ....

MSE updates as below:
Foodbank/charity donation - regular payments made this month
Eat well - only had one Xmas chocolate yesterday! All meals were good
Savings/debt repayment. CC payments made, awaiting self employment pay to put more to debt
Treat yourself - had nice lunch on Sunday, no treats yesterday
Invitations - Accept a maximum of 2 invitations during December. no new invitations accepted but have a number of farewell lunch dates cos of leaving my current job
Very merry Christmas - Don't get sucked into all the consumerism that surrounds Christmas, set your budgets for presents, food, etc and stick to them. Being careful with spends and have stash of £2 coins I saved for Xmas which I keep forgetting to take with me when shopping (plus they are heavy!!). Not done food shop - tbf not even thought about what food to buy -but won't spend much as visiting family after Xmas
Exercise - lots of steps done on Sunday, no exercise yesterday, will go for a walk while DD2 at counselling
Fun - off out with DD2, taking her to counselling but its going well and is positive for her and will be nice to spend time with her afterwards
Understand what motivates you - debt repayment; being with DDs
NSDs - so far have achieved 3 / 15.

Love to all
Deni x

[Deleted User]

Sorry about your neighbour dolly xx

Calling14

Extra hugs to everyone who needs it with bad news and illness going around this time of year.


Off the next two days off work using holidays up and spending time with dd. Back in Friday for hopefully a short day before 2 weeks off can't wait.:T


Happy I have had a xmas bonus, nothing life changing but it all helps, and pay rise of £1000 from January. First xmas I am not up to my eyes in debt and struggling, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel.:T:T


Today odd spends, little stocking fillers, need petrol and might get few pressies on the way home.


Chest is better today, hot curry last night helped I think.:D


Excited on countdown to see daughter after 15 months, today is the day.:D:D:D:D:D:D


Happy Birthday for tomorrow Toni's friend in case I am not about.


Exercise - Will try some walking tonight after work and more next few days being off work.



Not long to go before the big day. Have a guy in the office who is not in the real world reminds me of Elf. Chatting to him about homeless situation here and he just comes out with- "surely if they go to social services they will give them a roof over their head" I despair he has lived with his mother all his 60 years on this planet. Watching Elf the other day too many similarities:)

Toni'sfriend

Thank you, Calling. We were supposed to be going out with some friends but I've cancelled and we'll just have a quiet day by ourselves.

Dolly. So sorry to hear about your neighbour

Well, I didn't spend any money today which is good. All the presents are wrapped and under the tree. Cards are all written and posted. Just the neighbours to deliver in a little bit.

I have made the hugest pot of spicy tomato soup ever using cheap tomatoes we bought on Saturday and a cottage pie for tonight. Simple but very tasty and healthy compared to what I've been eating recently.

Contacted the lady we rent our December holiday accommodation from and given her our dates for next year. Think that's all our holidays organised.

Made our donation to Salvation Army. The children from the local school were going around today handing out food/warm clothing hampers to those in need. They were so excited. Lovely to see such a nice act of kindness. There's a lot of that going on in our little community just now. One of the local clubs has opened it's doors to anyone who is on their own on Christmas Day and has been inundated with offers of food, gifts and practical help.

I feel so tired today. I've just had a nap. An early night and I'll be right as rain.

Have a lovely evening and thank you once more for all the good wishes and kind thoughts. Very much appreciated.