Walking into another chapter ...

EssexHebridean

Hopefully it will go better than when we tried many years ago to introduce HRH The Cat to Mum & Dad's dog - think cat up curtains with claws digging into the wall, and me with blood running down my arm as I tried to retrieve her...I still have a scar from that one!  

benbenandme

Christmas is getting near and I'm nearly done. I got up at 6 this morning and did Sainsburys - wasn't too buys but aisles were full with the huge online shopping carts and there was only one checkout open ... Anyway, nearly all done, I just need to walk over there tomorrow or Sunday to get raspberries, bread and some salad.

I need to get one more present but it will be an online one, a ticket for something for best mate. Today I don't plan on going anywhere, it will be a tidying and wrapping kinda day. I seem to have a bit of a chest infection but am fighting it well. 

This week has been lovely - lots of beach walks with friends, drinks in the pub last night with other friends, just chilling and lovely

I have also signed up for my next walking challenge - 2024 miles in 2024. Those of you who have been here a while will know I did this in 2021 (2021 miles), it did keep me motivated to get out each day. This time the virtual map that you follow takes you from Niagra Falls to Orlando. 

benbenandme

And Christmas Eve is here, I'm not quite as bah humbug as usual - I haven't gone overboard on food shopping this year, in fact I've been quite restrained, and am feeling surprisingly chilled about it Normally I buy loads of picky bits, cheeses, cold meats, dips etc for the evening but most of it doesn't get touched and then I feel obliged to stuff my face for the next couple of days. This year I have bought everything for the main meal and then just some tiger bread, chutney and salad to have doorstep turkey sandwiches if anyone wants them. I have one tub of Quality Street but that's it sweets / chocolates wise. It sounds quite miserable reading it back but actually it feels quite freeing knowing I haven't bought tonnes of stuff we just don't need. 

Now I'm watching the royal carol service then will sort the table ready for tomorrow.

beanielou

Also watched the royal carol service. 

benbenandme

I really enjoyed last years service but not so much this year - I liked the carols but not keen on the Last Christmas rendition or Freya Ridings warblings.

benbenandme

Merry Christmas one and all! Wishing you all a truly chilled day with your loved ones xxx

benbenandme

We've had a lovely day today - normally I don't enjoy it and can't wait for it to be over with, but today was quite pleasant, helped a lot by not going overboard with gifts or food. It felt much more relaxed, the dinner was probably the best Xmas meal I've done, I think partly as we hadn't been eating all morning so I was hungry and ate all of it. We then watched the Kings speech and played a quiz before we did desserts. 

Now all tidied up, leftovers are in the fridge ready to make a leftover Christmas pie tomorrow - ds isn't going to his Dads now after all so we will have pie together It feels nice knowing there's plenty of food for tomorrow but that very little will be wasted. I do have lots of drinks left over (I bought coke, lemonade, J2o's et and very little of them were drank, but they will all last anyway.

Chilling nicely now with the cat - her and the dog were both very well behaved and managed to be in the lounge together all day with no problems. All in all a very successful day

benbenandme

Happy Boxing day A very chilled one planned here - pie will be made later for lunch/dinner, lots of football will be enjoyed, not much movement off the sofa is planned

benbenandme

£8 withdrawn from Pinecone, added to the holiday pot, I need to find £65 to complete it, that needs to be done before New Year. Currently the banking pot is showing I've got around £200 left til then, I am out for lunch with a friend tomorrow but other than that I don't need to spend much, it's more whether I can avoid the sales ...

benbenandme

£8 found in my Vinted account that I'd forgotten to withdraw