NST December: Festive Fun

Suffolksue

I didn’t realise you divvied up the packs ,Great idea ,will remember that
Usually get as much as I can for a fiver from Savers and go next door to the building society bin .
Do you divvy up loo rolls as well?

DawnW

Toni'sfriend wrote: »

f0xh0les - I'm never sure what to donate to the food bank. I would never have thought of washing tablets. What sort of things are they really short of?

Our local food bank has a FB page (and also a web page), and list on there each week what they are short of. They also put a printed list on the collection trolleys in some of the supermarkets (Sainsburys and Asda round here)

Toni'sfriend

Thank you all. I'm feeling a bit more positive today. Nothing else for it really.

So I stayed in waiting for a parcel to be delivered, Needless to say it hasn't arrived and probably won't as it only arrived at the delivery office a couple of hours ago. Don't know why they bother telling you it'll be delivered between such and such a time when it's obviously not going to happen. Anyway, things to do tomorrow so can't stay in again so they'll have to just redeliver it..

Casserole in the slow cooker using what we had in and to go with it some mustard mash which Himself had frozen and obviously forgotten about.

Speaking about forgetting things. I discovered a perfectly good warm jacket in a cupboard. It's now been washed and will keep me toasty this winter. Looks quite smart too.

Another early night I think whilst Himself watches the football

abundant1972

Good evening...

Back at work this week and survived it. Sorry I have been M.I.A for a few days too... Caught up on posts...

Hugs to Toni'sFriend. Sending you and your cousin positive vibes :grouphug:

Clocked up another 2 NSD...
Today = NSD number 8

Pay day today early for Christmas... I have done my budget for Dec/Jan, and set aside all of my money for bills etc.

Am really pleased with myself, as I have managed to do my self care routine every morning this week... mindfulness, affirmations and visualisation, a card reading and journal. The only thing I have let myself down on is physical exercise. Must do better there!!!

Night in this evening... and parents tomorrow. Have a good one folks x

apple_muncher

Today I'm grateful for getting stuff to the tip, for clearing things up, for cutting back the apple tree, for getting what I wanted from aldee - and so much for £40!, for the twinkly lights we have, for getting things wrapped and ready to leave the house, for dd just chilling out, for dh doing his own wrapping and writing of cards.

lcc86

Sending hugs Toni'sfriend and also to anyone else who might need some.

Foodbank/charity donation - all donations now done.
Eat well - had Chinese at my sister's yesterday, just had veggie noodles and some spring rolls, there's not much variety for a vegetarian! Today have eaten well, I'm trying to up my protein intake to about 100 grams, which is making me much more mindful of what I eat, but it's a bit harder when you're vegetarian as the obvious choices aren't available.
Savings/debt repayment - done.
Treat yourself - had a nice day off yesterday, just tidied up, went to the gym and visited my family. A welcome change from work.
Invitations - all done and under budget.
Very merry Christmas - got a surprise gift from my old PT today, really kind gesture from her.
Exercise - really went for it a the gym yesterday and am aching all over today! But went again this morning, am suffering the effects now as am walking like John Wayne and it hurts whenever I go to stand up/sit down! :rotfl:

Fun - had fun yesterday not being at work. Glad it's the weekend.
Understand what motivates you.
NSDs - Aim for 15 NSDs. Up to 10/15. Bought my final Xmas present today so no NSD. Also been paid so have put the money into savings ready to transfer back in January.

mothernerd

WEnt to the library to get more books and wrote down which days they will be open. Short trip to the town centre for eye drops (will carry on looking for an eyebath as would prefer to bathe my eyes in cold tea), a couple of things mum wanted and some cs books to take away next weekend (always slightly nervous taking library books away).


Gathered clothes, two loads of washing, a few ingredients that mum might not have, half the library books and the ones to take away. Have put two trees up (one decorated, one by tying cards onto it's branches), done two loads of washing most of which is drying on mum's radiators. Cooked and sliced up a turkey crown (for Christmas day) and cooked a leg of lamb for New Year to a made up recipe (read a Nigel Slater online, Mary Beery cookbook from the library, two ancient recipe books I think mum got as wedding presents (temp in farenheit) and the instructions on the lamb - then did something different from any of them but knew my timings and techniques were correct). I've cleared out a cupboard and mum's new bed, took off the mattress topper and put on a fitted sheet, made lists of all the things I've left at mum's (I'm going there on Tuesday and will be sleeping there for over a week except for 3 days in LLandudno, for haggis rolling and other jolly stuff - I want to leave an emergency supply of 3 days clothes there permanently but need to know what's already there to save hunting for holiday clothes that aren't here).


I now have 2 days at home to knock things into shape.



Today I am grateful for finding good things to read, for the turkey and lamb tasting wonderful and for mum's house looking more Christmassy.


I'll take any hugs going. DS3 is fairly good at giving hugs, back rubs and head patting/scratching (I growl if it's unwanted).

greent

Foodbank/charity donation - bag of items donated via DS2's school to next town's fbank, bag of items donated via Tesc0 dropoff to our city's fbank
Eat well - hit & miss
Savings/debt repayment. All CCs paid in full . Savings made by stos/ ddrs/ salary deduction. Some extra paid to BTL mtge and Small bits being added to hol fund
Treat yourself - Make sure you take time for yourself during December. Relax and read a book, have a bubble bath, light some candles, etc. - still watching old episodes of 'House'
Invitations - Accept a maximum of 2 invitations during December. - Had 2 outings - both were kindly paid for by others
Very merry Christmas - Don't get sucked into all the consumerism that surrounds Christmas,should be fine
Exercise - At this time of year, it can be difficult to motivate yourself to get out the house and exercise. Aim for at least 10 minutes outside, even just a short walk around the block. - nope still have lurgy and walking too much results in coughing fit and damp also sets it off.

Fun - Think of fun things to do during December, preferably free. - cathedral service, Xmas carol service , decorating the trees and rooms with the kids, some cheesy Xmas films and the escape rooms (family outing instead of panto. Plan some walks up the common too)
Understand what motivates you - Think about what you want to achieve next year and why. How will you achieve your goals? - need to give goals and plans some thought during the month. Florida being all paid for before we go is a definite. A good reduction on BTL another, increased pension contributions (want us both retired in 10 years) Oh - and we've vaguely planned a renovation project for 2 parts of the house - likely cost c £7-10K:eek:
NSDs - Aim for 15 NSDs. - 2/15 - must have had a couple in the last week but have no idea really

f0xh0les

Toni'sfriend wrote: »

f0xh0les - I'm never sure what to donate to the food bank. I would never have thought of washing tablets. What sort of things are they really short of?

With us at the minute, big sized nappies (like pull-ups) washing powder, washing up liquid, toothbrushes and razors are all in short supply.


Yes, we divvy up loo rolls too.:money: weighing up laundry powder and putting into sandwich bags in a cellar makes you feel like some kind of drug lord. Fantasy on the inside, reality on the outside.


Sometimes we get in whole pallets of things from supermarkets that have over ordered, or changed the packaging(?!!??), so we end up with things we don't usually give out, like body lotion, or at the minute, about 600,000 mince pies. :rotfl:.

Most f/bs have a facebook page. Or ring and ask if there is anything on the urgent list. But I know with us, washing tabs or powder is always in short supply because it is not something you think of as food, and you can buy a lot more tins or cup soups for £3-£4 than a box of soap.

Having said that, we cleared an awful lot of stock at the last session. Lots of empty boxes and shelves, we look like we have been robbed! Luckily the donations are coming in thick and fast, and the supermarkets are donating huge amounts of stuff too, which is terrible that they have overbought, but great for us and the other community food recycling places that are springing up.

DH sat and wrapped presents last night. bless. I kept him stocked with 'cooking' amaretto. Not bought any of the good stuff this year. Bargain basement stuff. :rotfl:.
Bought car insurance for me last night, will do dh's at some point this weekend. I think I actually physically have the money for it all. Closed down two bank savings accounts and have rolled it all into one. Only small amounts, but now it looks like a bigger amount.

Going to go and trawl some charity shops today, and buy a Wevversp00ns voucher (grrr! dislike Tim Wevverspoon) and that is pretty much my shopping over. I have reduced the amount of plastic and tat I have bought this year. Fewer gifts, but more expensive and better thought out. I suppose this is what happens when they get to double figures and increasing ages.

Toni'sfriend

Thanks, F0xh0les. I hadn't thought of basic cleaning and hygiene products but I'll keep it in mind now.

Honestly, you couldn't make up all the things that are happening to me just now. Last night Himself fell downstairs and whacked his head off the front door. Blood everywhere. On the door, walls, carpet. Didn't know a scalp wound could cause so much. Of course he refused to go to hospital and there was nobody about that I could go to for help. Anyway, he seems OK this morning albeit his head hurts a little (his words, not mine. I suspect it hurts a lot). Going out shortly as we now need to buy some new towels as I had to throw away the ones that I used to try to stem the bleeding. How long till Christmas?