NST December 2023 The Most Wonderful Time Of the Year?

ditty1234

Hi Just a quick check in 
Grateful for a peaceful pre Christmas at home
For both my young men home, healthy and fairly happy
For no outstanding major conflicts

Only blimp is a killer cough.

Hugs and well wishes to all 

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for pip going out for a walk with a friend, for dh planning most of the Christmas food, for finally feeling a bit better, for generally sleeping really well, for fairy lights, for knowing we're going to Australia next summer, for my family.

Toni'sfriend

Merry Christmas, Everyone. Have a lovely day. xxx

abundant1972

Happy Christmas ⭐🎄🎅🏻🔔⛄

I hope everyone has had a lovely day and that you are all sat with your feet up relaxing with a glass of something nice 🍷🍷🍷. Had a lovely chilled day here myself! 

Today I am grateful for:

1) Family & friends
2) Food, running water & shelter
3) Good health 

Today = NSD number 10

Have a great night x

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a lie in, lots of lovely presents, good food, enjoyable telly, good friends.

Thrifty_Taylor

Merry Christmas to you all!

I've clocked up another 3 NSDs, so now on #11 😊

Sunday morning I iced out Christmas cake, then collected mum. Yesterday it was me cooking (the only day I usually cook, though had to do extra this year when DH was in hospital). So spent most of the day cooking or doing the dishes, but was quite happy listening to music or watching Utoob, which I've not done for a while.

Today I trimmed the raggy bits off the wrapping paper, so I can reuse some next year, but the food presents away & made soup using the 15p broccoli bought from Tosco at the weekend. Took mum home & brought DS3's GF back.

Grateful for speaking to my auntie yesterday (had been allowed out of hospital for a few hours to have dinner with her family), laughter with family here, everyone enjoying their Christmas dinner.

Thanks for offering to do January's thread @apple_muncher. How about reflecting on favourite things that you used to love doing, but no longer do? Casting off things that don't make you happy, decluttering these things & items to give you more space mentally & physically? Bringing joy into a new year! Just off the top of my head, will be happy with anything you decide! 😃

ladybird1106

Not sure how many nsd I've racked up, but no money spent the last couple of days. Christmas was different and today has been relaxing kind of. Looking forward to new year's day when DH and I get chance to spend the day on our own. 
Love 🐞

apple_muncher

Ladybird, some months I know exactly how many nsds I've acquired, and other months I have absolutely no idea!

Today I am grateful for watching the pottery throwdown, for leftovers, for making a big salad for lunchtime, for some friends popping over and us being able to help a friend of theirs by giving them a laptop, for video calls with family.

weenancyinAmerica

Christmas was a fun day - I didn't have to drive, my sister did, and we went to the other sister's house.  Only thirty miles away so didn't take long. We had a sandwich lunch, lots of fudge and other goodies, and then opened presents. I got several gift cards plus a couple of presents from my doggie nephew for helping dog sit for him. Then home to relax. Don't even have leftovers to worry about. Left those at my sister's house. I think everyone enjoyed their presents.  We drew names among the adults but there were extra presents as my sister gave everyone an ornament for helping decorate trees. We go up later in January to help her take them down. I only counted about 18 this year. But lots of other decorations up too. Fortunately her large poodle doesn't knock things over. I wouldn't try it with our cats. It was also a NSD (#16).

Boxing Day was a slow day - I got up and fed the cats - then went back to bed for some more sleep. We then went to the bank and then grocery shopping, so it was a very small spend day. Tomorrow I will need to pay the last of the December bills if I can, so it will be more expensive. After shopping, we came home and I took a nap. I must have been much more tired than I thought. Over the next few days, I need to conquer several frogs - my own and roommates. So a lot of stress involved. But once past that, should be better next month. Hope next year is an improvement - as long as I totally ignore the political climate over here. 

grandmanerd

I've had a lovely time and felt stress  free from the moment I got in the car.. I had to take gift  wrap, ribbons and tape with me to finish the wrapping but used the extra time to put in a shopping order which will come late this evening (free slots started from about 9 pm but I picked a green van slot - the van is already delivering near you so uses less fuel). 

DS1 was into his second day of cooking - he'd made mountains of cookies to give away as well as prepping for the big meal (with enough leftovers to cover thee  week's meals). I had warned them that I might need a nap but felt more energised by the time I got there. Darling d-i-l and I sat on the sofas with books and laptops and the dog leaving the kitchen to DS1. I started to doze around 5 pm so left my order for tea (either going to be chip shop or Chinese) so as not to disturb d-i-l (she had headphones on) and asking to be woken when the food arrived. I just put my mask on and slipped under the top cover and read and dozed (sometimes the extra oxygen is enough to revive me). We  ate and puppy decided he loved me very much by hugging me round my neck. 

Presents were wrapped and stacked under the tree, DS1 went upstairs to wrap whilst darling d-i-l had a shower and I read my book. Quite a late bedtime but was unable to sleep until much later (very rested as I read my book) and was woken for present opening. before going back to get washed and dressed slowly.

DS2, darling d-o-l and the baby came in the afternoon in matching  Christmas jumpers. The baby wasn't well, they kept her dozing on her mum for as long as possible and she was very clingy until  later. We went to the kitchen/ diner to eat the magnificent feast (baby did very well dipping her broccoli in gravy and eating other bits with her parents help).

Another grand unwrapping session. baby revived after the food and her determination to befriend the dog. All presents well received and I was spoiled. I had given DS2 a list of  suggestions so they could buy something according to their budget and I think they bought the lot - William Morris patterned mugs, pasta and rice bowls (but teal instead of white), gorgeous suede gloves, a jute bag with a highland cow on it and surprises of a calendar with photos of the baby and an extra large bauble with the baby's footprint on it. DS1 had bought me a teal chunky cardi and the cannel coal  owl I had requested. Baby made everyone try on the fireman's helmet I had given her and finally came for cuddles.

We took photos before they left (they wanted baby to have a proper tea before bedtime).

Yesterday was very relaxed. Slow  packing and managed to condense it to 2 bags my suitcase and a handbag (2 less than i cam with). I asked for a doggy bag of food (enough for 2 meals, possibly 3) and enjoyed the journey home (sunny but cold, lots of fields and even some sheep and cows about) past  lots of places I haven't seen for a while. I was home shortly before 2 pm but DS3 went back to bed after letting me in so I settled on the couch with my mask and book and a duvet. It was 5 hours before I made the trip upstairs - my knees are very creaky and I definitely missed having handrails on both sides of the stairs.

I've been awake about 6 times this morning but drified back to sleep nearly straight away. I had a shower before getting into bed so will  stay here until I feel up to doing more.

Thanks ffor volunteering to do January apple, perhaps think about what people want more/ less of this year - more joy, less stress and what was good/ bad about this year - not in a 'I completely messed up' way but more this is going well, I'll carry on, that was a bit hit and miss, I'll make a plan (or take smaller steps). I also like a clutter fairy idea about re-imagining your space. If we move house we have to work out where all our furniture fits in our  new space but doing something similar without moving, playing with layouts and paying attention to things that don't quite work. You might end up with a whole new house (we often stop seeing things when they've been there 'forever') just using what you have.

Grateful for lovely food and presents, spending time with family, relaxing and being  looked after (the antibiotics helped too, I'm not full of beans but I;m not exhausted)