Cheery's path to fulfilment - finishing the DIY, looking after myself, appreciating the garden 🌻

Cheery_Daff

I think you need 30 transactions which I believe can be done in a judicious way all in one go... Will investigate tonight, and hope it's not too late 😬

Had a lovely lunch with friends, a nice big vat of root veg and lentil soup, and there'll be some left for tea. I've come to town to do some final Christmas shopping now, then meeting Mr C for a cuppa and we'll nip and get our Christmas food. 

Mr C was in town earlier and caught the very tail end of our waste not want not place at a church, five mins before the end. They still had loads left which was on the way to being thrown out, so he came away with two loaves (some of which got munched at lunchtime - it was only really edible dunked in soup) and a big carrier bag full of potatoes, celeriac, carrots,a few apples and a couple of avocados. So that was a nice surprise! 

Right, I must get on. Just got to get something for my sister, a small thing to go with what I'm giving my nephews, and a few bits for Mr C and then I'm done - which is a small miracle, as I don't think I've ever actually finished BEFORE Christmas before 😂

rtandon27

@Cheery_Daff - oooo - I've just discovered that YNAB has a new feature called YNAB together included in the subscription cost!  A little chore for me this holiday - I'll be adding OH to my plan so that he has sight of our finances, might make our weekly conversations a bit more dialogue and a bit less monologue! - also will ask my Mom who used to be a die-hard user before it went online if she'd like to be on the plan as it appears as if she can keep her details private if she wants and still share the plan!

All that to say I thought of you as you'd mentioned MrCheery could/would not access your original plan online!

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, that sounds like a useful feature, thank you! I've cancelled our plan now though - we've gone old fashioned with a paper cashbook and a Google spreadsheet 😂 

Well I am SO close now with presents! Just need one more thing for my sister - but I do now know what to get. I'll have to go and get it in person tomorrow though, but at least I know what it is! 

EssexHebridean

Briefly referring back to a comment you made earlier - just because you have many blessings, that doesn’t mean you’re not allowed to be grumpy about things that are, for whatever reason, NOT blessings. Not really wanting to spend ages in the car on Christmas Day is definitely understandable, and I think the majority of us would justifiably feel grumpy about it! Be as kind to yourself as you would be to others over this - you wouldn’t tell someone else in that situation to “count their blessings” so you absolutely shouldn’t be feeling that should be your own approach either! 😘

You are beating me with the Christmas shopping this year too - I still have to get the remainder of a present for a pal, although that is often the case with this particularly, and I knew I wouldn’t be seeing her until after Christmas so may be able to make use of the sales to get her something more than she would otherwise have had. 

Greying_Pilgrim

I have to agree - travelling for hours on Christmas Day isn't my idea of a good time either, and although I've never really 'needed' to do it, I recognise that our (wider) family dynamic has never lent in the direction of 'gathering' at Christmas - no-one has been able to 'play nicely' even amongst those that have gone along with visits.  And now we have no need, so that phase has passed.  But that's me, and I realise that lots of folks do like gathering, and being with loved ones. Sometimes the journey is onerous, but once you're there, its great and everyone has a good time.  I know it's a failing on my part that I won't even entertain 'duty' calls anymore; too much water under the bridge.  

I hope that you have a wonderful time Cheery, whether it's with clan MrCheery, clan MrsCheery or ClanCheery "at home & in PJ's" - whenever that gets to happen.  

Greying X

beanielou

Have a lovely Christmas 🎄 

Cheery_Daff

Mr C's family are at least pretty cheerful on the whole and aren't the types to hold deep seated grudges, so everyone will likely be in good humour 😊 and we won't stay too long, just for lunch, so all good. There's a cheerful dog too. Might take along some festive music for in the car 😂

Cheery_Daff

Oh, and I checked when I opened the Spanish bank accounts - 4th Nov, which means we still have a few days to make 30 transactions over each account. Looks like any card payments are OK from the thread - from the ones people have recommended I'll likely do 30x£1 into my premium bonds account, and 30×£1 into the octopods. No way of tracking if it's worked til Feb though. 

Cheery_Daff

Well we have done our final Christmas shopping and are home and slowly thawing out - it's chilly out there! I'm just about to jump in a nice hot bath and to wash my hair and paint my nails ready for tomorrow. 

Car has plenty of diesel for tomorrow's trip - it could do with a clean out but it's not going to get one  

Present-wrapping for me is nice and easy since I made a load of fabric bags a few years back I'll wrap Mr C's tonight, then re-use the bags to wrap everyone else's later  

We always used to watch The Snowman on Christmas eve so I have to do that, and when Father Christmas (Raymond Briggs) came out in 1991 we started watching that too (before The Snowman) - a nice Christmas Eve tradition for me And of course now we have to add The Snowman and The Snowdog too, so I'm going to start while I'm in the bath to fit everything in

If I don't get in tomorrow, I hope you all have a nice peaceful relaxed festive day, whatever you're doing. Thank you for hanging out and cheering me on and sharing all your wise insights this year xx

Tescodealqueen

Happy Christmas Cheery and Mr C. Safe journey today and have a lovely Christmas Day2 tomorrow xxx