NST December 2023 The Most Wonderful Time Of the Year?

KajiKita

So glad you had a lovely Christmas and were spoilt a bit @grandmanerd 😊 A lovely end to the year for you. 

KK

f0xh0les

Really happy you had a lovely time @grandmanerd. A bit of time away from the stresses of daily life. 
I am covered in plaster dust and paint. I am loving it!  DH grumped and is playing a computer game because ' he is on holiday'.  He is studiously ignoring me.  I am off to paint the bathroom ceiling in a minute, now I have sealed all the bare plaster walls.  I do love a good decorating session.  At least you can see what you have achieved.
I have a moral conundrum for you. I have been given some money to visit DH when he is working away, but I honestly can't go.** Reasons edited away****
 If I don't go, family member will get the hump.   
My plan is to spend the money on woodworm treatment,  insulation, and boarding out the loft, and doing a family visit late Summer when I have had time to save a bit more and have one fully working bathroom. 
 Am I going to hell? 
I'm off back to my roller. Any suggestions about my dilemma gratefully received . 

KajiKita

@f0xh0les, I’m not understanding why the family member would get the hump? If it was them suggesting you travel with DH they haven’t understood what the restrictions are, which all sound legitimate to me. I would write to them (not call) thanking them graciously for both the money and the thought, explain why you can’t travel then (I’d leave out the AT controllers 😉) and explain that you will be visiting later in the year when it is less disruptive to key education points. 

Enjoy your decorating 😊

KK

apple_muncher

I echo what KK said - it was much better than anything I could have suggested! And since when has it bothered you if fam members get the hump? It is TOTALLY the wrong time to go with GCSE exams before and after that week.

apple_muncher

January is live:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6494737/nst-january-2024-this-is-sparta/p1?new=1

Toni'sfriend

Me too, f0xh0les. Just say "Thank you. That's a very kind thought. Unfortunately due to circumstances I can't manage to take advantage right now. I will later". They can't take offence at that, surely?

Himself and I have had a lovely Christmas. Just the two of us chilling out. Didn't even have Christmas dinner because we didn't feel like it. Mushroom omelettes which we thoroughly enjoyed. Who says you have to have turkey?

Weather is shocking up here so I'm cosy inside watching "Where Eagles Dare" Wouldn't be Christmas without it.

Have a lovely evening and stay dry. xxxx

laura_lau

apple_muncher said:

January is live:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6494737/nst-january-2024-this-is-sparta/p1?new=1

thank you @apple_muncher for setting up January! 

I'm trying to reset today, as I've been incredibly busy since arriving at my mum's house. Lots of work to be done on Christmas eve and lots of cooking and cleaning up on Christmas day and yesterday. Today it is a much quieter affair, luckily work is also quiet.

My mum seems better, but is not very mobile yet, and has very swollen feet, so lots of running around to take care of her needs, so I can't wait for her to be better so I can be back home hopefully for new year, and I'm also going to take it extremely easy at that point!

My flight on Friday was ok, however it was a very long and bumpy landing! It suddenly went very quiet in the cabin.

I am grateful to spending a good Christmas time with my family, despite all the odd of a difficult year, and looking forward to seeing more family in the next few days.

Also these days helped to bump up my NSD's, as the last I spent was at the airport last Friday, and am not planning to spend anything until I'm at the airport again on Sunday! The perks of visiting family

f0xh0les

It was worded as ' come visit or  I guess you dont want to see me'. Honestly, every gift is wrapped in a guilt trip and attached with strings. It is manipulative cowpoo.  Honestly they would give you piles
  So glad I rescued DH from that nonsense. 

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for getting a short walk in the wind but with only a little rain, for leftovers especially my treacle flapjack, for dc doing revision with me and dh, for my slippers (I've been looking for this style ever since I au paired in Madrid many many moons ago), for feeling better.

KajiKita

f0xh0les said:

It was worded as ' come visit or  I guess you dont want to see me'. Honestly, every gift is wrapped in a guilt trip and attached with strings. It is manipulative cowpoo.  Honestly they would give you piles
  So glad I rescued DH from that nonsense. 

Oh that kind of passive aggressive twaddle. 

“So looking forward to seeing you once we’ve got past the GCSE season, so that will be … “ - written with lashings of innocent enthusiasm 😉😂

KK