NST December A - Z

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

evening all

I wasn't awake early today - i can't wake up this week!  I had a good day WfH.  Dried some washing on the line and attempted a walk at lunch, it was too icy so i only went to the end of the road then came back home Not been very active this week.  I have managed to decorate a small sprouts day tree for my table and put the 2021 Ken Bruce c-mas decoration on the top - very festive This evening i finished my self employment work from last week ready to get some more on the 'to do' list tomorrow.  I have bought 2 presents, one for each of my DDs  

Hugs kerry_woman a hard day for you

Gratitudes - DD2 had a good phone consultation with the consultant; clean sheets on my bed; focusing this evening on getting some work done even though i wanted to watch Maid on Netflix (resist, resist....)

love to all 
Dx

mothernerd

Friday 3rd December 2021

Food Holidays (just in case you're short of ideas)
3   National Apple Pie day
4   National Cookie day
5   National Sacher Torte Day
6   National Gazpacho Soup day (Will watch Red Dwarf)
7   National Cotton Candy day
8   National Chocolate Brownie day
9   National pastry day
10  National Lager Day
11National Noodle Ring Day
12  National Cocoa Day

Some Important, some quirky
1   Rosa Parks Day
5   Last Day of Hanukkah,   International Volunteer Day,   Bathtub Party Day
6   St Nicholas Day
10  Human Rights Day,   Jane Addams day

Cost of Christmas
I put this in because I don't have a current total. It's quite low really. I have 'buy our own present' pacts with DS1 and DS2, as in DS2 will buy himself a coat from Ace-oss at £100 in the sale, which is his present from me and I will buy myself a coat from Oxfam for under a tenner - we both get what we want at a price commensurate with out respective incomes. This has varied a bit (DS2 usually turns up with things for me and mum on Christmas Day and I feed him). He spends too much and is into brands.

I spend more on DS3 as he's still living under my roof and a lot of it is practical stuff (socks and underpants, new jeans and t-shirts I practically had to force on him because his old ones were so shabby and house things). Last year I sent all 3 boys and their partners £50 each via my bank as we couldn't meet up and it was such a stress free thing to do, but I can't really afford to do that. DS1 often asks for donations to a mental health or domestic violence charity for men.

When they were young I had a set budget and tried to end up spending the same amount on each of them to within a few pence. One year DS2 had a paddy, claiming I had spent more on DS3 and demanding to check in my little book. I refused but said I would let DS1 look at the figures for DS2 and DS3 (but not his own) - DS3 had had least spent on him and DS2 had the most. DS2 was the one who worked out that I had spent an amount in a certain shop that was the same as something he had asked for (I got the other two to distract him whilst I paid) when I was checking my credit card statement. Nowadays it's not enough to hide the presents, if they're old enough to read you need to hide the itemised till receipts.

I think when they were very young, I budgeted £50 which was to cover big present from Father Christmas, big present from me and their father and the contents of their stockings (lots of practical stuff that they would need anyway and some fun bits - all colour co-ordinated to stop any 'he's got my pencil' arguments). Later on I think I went a bit higher but I got every penny of value for my money (husband's contribution - saying 'What have we bought them' as we were setting things out on Christmas Eve). Buying second hand, from charity shops. making things myself, refurbishing cast offs and recycling are all recommended (when they are very young, you can put away baby toys and bring them out for the next one - only noticed once and I said that Father Christmas had noticed how much he enjoyed playing with them when he was little, so had brought some for his baby brother).

I hope I've always given my children what they need (which is slightly different to treating them all the same). I bought toys which supported the developmental stage they were at (and no 'boys' toys and 'girls' toys at our house and no war toys). I have given them help when they needed it, as they got older. One of the reasons I have no money was debt incurred in getting them through university. They all got grants but I have had to pay outstanding rent/ deposits for the next year at times.

DS3 stayed at home but messed his up his GCSEs and took a circuitous route via a number of BTEC courses before getting to university so a long journey. He's lent me money/paid advanced rent more often than I've had to subsidise him - he had a few months after uni when he had no income (was still designing and selling his own t-shirts). 

fDS2 had several rare illnesses (cellulitis diagnosed at the end of his first university year when he was within hours of dying, heel spurs finally diagnosed towards the end of university, he's 34 yo and still having skin problems and has just got another diagnosis caused by a genetic mutation) which meant he had time off that meant he had to repeat years, reduced his earnings which supplemented his grant and did the last year with no grant money at all.

Roughly 8 years ago DS2 was renting my little house from me (DS3 and I and numerous other people were still living in the 'big' house doing renovations in preparation for selling) I called one day and he was ill in bed - flu like symptoms, looked like a pregnant Pikachu beanpole and was in agony. He couldn't work, had no rent money for me, barely any food in the house. I went for his prescription and bought food and later in the week I went back with mum's old tiny Christmas tree, put a few presents under it, including fresh fruit and a few foodie treats.

Will be back later as I still owe for yesterday

f0xh0les

Morning! Happy Friday! yay!

I just bought a keyboard for DS4s birthday (from the meedle of leedle) the box is huge, I hope the keyboard is too - runs on 6 AA batteries as I thought that was better than him leaving it plugged in all the time and burning the house down... or humming....plus we have loads of rechargeable batteries - not had to buy a battery in 2 years (except for the 5 year smoke alarm one - not allowed rechargeable in that one). All the games console handsets take batteries, so they all got a pack in their stocking and it has worked really well.

Managed to get Xmas lists off 2 kids and a birthday list off one (only one has a birthday!) and not a unicorn or hang glider  in sight for once.  I know DS4 really wants a harp though. He has never touched a harp in his life.

Off to put the fleecy duvet covers on the beds, and bake the tropical fruitcake.

Still not been paid.

apple_muncher

I think I remember you buying your rechargeable batteries f0xh0les!!!

f0xh0les

Not had to buy another pack since, the kids never ask for them, they just stick them in the charger and take the ready charged ones out of the jar.  No arguments, no robbing batteries off each other and nothing in the recycling bin.

Calling14

Hugs Kerry woman xx

December not going well so far.

Trapped a nerve in my neck, wasted 2 days holidays as even driving with it so painful. Back in work today  might go home early as now it's started to annoy my back as well.

I still have ongoing drama with Water board scared to ring them now after yesterdays investigations think they will try to get me to pay to relay the service. My point is not my fault service runs up my neighbours drive, that should never have been allowed. The leak is still not found after 4 investigation teams out. Not able to deal with this when in pain so maybe left until Monday.

Spent all 3 days so far some food shopping, couple of pressies and some xmas outdoor lights today - can always light up the trenches being dug lol

Grateful for

Lovely xmas lights in house next door to office this morning, so cheery on a dark damp morning,

homemade leek soup for lunch

Not raining.

DawnW

Your ongoing drama with the water leak sounds a nightmare @Calling14!  Hope it gets resolved sooner rather than later.

NSD 2 for me today, which I am rather pleased about.  I was at work all day yesterday and have spent today cleaning. Took everything off my big dresser and dusted it, likewise other surfaces in the lounge and main bedroom. Also cleaned the fiddly light fitting in the bedroom, all the sort of stuff that doesn't get done very often   I shall tackle the dining room next.

Made an appointment for the dog's booster jab, which I dread because he is so naughty at the vets'. The major surgery he had earlier this year hasn't improved this! I'm afraid he has to be held in a vice like grip by me, and the vet told to just get on with it please, as he would nip (the vet, not me). Not sure what else to do. He is cute and playful elsewhere, loves people, especially children (they drop crumbs and don't get bored with playing ball) and is perfectly behaved at the groomer's. He is even friendly to everyone at the vet's, until they try to do something to him. I'm afraid he is terrified - as far as he is concerned nothing pleasant ever happens at the vet's, and I can't convince him otherwise. Luckily he only weighs 4.5 kg or thereabouts, so he isn't hard to control. Anyway, that is next Wednesday's frog!

Wrapped up a stray present and put it away

Finished off some leftover wraps for lunch, with bits from the fridge

Dinner tonight will be macaroni cheese with mushrooms

Banks need checking

Ought to think about writing some Christmas cards - not my favourite job!

Better get on with cleaning the dining room first.

lcc86

Evening turtles 

First NSD of the month today. Got some work done first thing, also managed to get some housework done. Got the small Xmas tree and some decorations out from the basement and put them up. Feeling more festive now. Will need to buy a box of cards as I've only got 3.

Not much else to report, still haven't had my offer letter for the new job, chased it up and my soon to be manager said she spoke to HR on Tuesday so I will chase if I don't receive it by Monday.

Easy dinner tonight of tortellini followed by some terrible TV. 

Happy Friday everyone!

ditty1234

Just posting a quick grateful for deep pan pizza in the oven, ds1 snuggling with friend on couch, probably what he really needs after 18 days in self isolation. In only 2 weeks he is done with residential rehab, I am so happy with where he's gotten to. 

ldee2111

I’ve been a bit off-kilter so far this week. Very unfocused… scatterbrained.  It’s been weird but I’m sure it’ll pass.

I hadn’t set any goals for myself this month, but now I think I should to give me some focus. So here is what I’m now aiming for:

1.  a 20 minute walk every day
2. a deep clean of every drawer and cupboard in the house (I’ll do this by room)
3. every video and photo on my phone uploaded to a hosting site

Today I cleaned the corner that’ll host the Christmas tree which we are putting up tomorrow with DS, wrapped presents, and made some carrot and rice soup for my lunch - I’ve ladeled the rest into tubs and they’re now in the freezer for another day. Homemade pizza for dinner. OH and I have planned this coming week’s dinners which includes a couple of new recipes to try.

I went for a 50 minute walk at lunchtime today and listened to my current library audiobook - Made in Scotland by Billy Connolly. It was so interesting, uplifting, and heartwarming to me. Really enjoyed it and will probably read again. 

Grateful today for a dry day, tea, toast and chat with Mum, and for great books.