Next steps; grip-relaxing bimbling, and avoiding the temptations

foxgloves

Oh how annoying! Yes, supermarkets are just crazy at this time of year. Can well recall a year at Waitbl00m on Dec 23rd when we said, "Never again". The worst aisle blockers were the couples with 2 trolleys, discussing every item while blocking everyone else. Most of the staff seemed to be on queue management as the place gridlocked. The trick is defo to be there at opening time & to go straight to the classic key bun-fight areas of stock.
Mind you, we are calling into the Swedish Emporium later today - I'm sure I'm going to regret that.
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Suffolk_lass

I've been to the one in the big town as the road into the small town had a three way traffic control in place yesterday, and the store is considerably smaller there. This effectively killed off the market yesterday, with many people grumpy in their cars, trying to get there - and that was without the silly stitch driving her car down to wrong side of the road to try and bypass the queue. What did she think she was doing? well she was made to reverse the 300m back along the queue before someone let her in.

I had thought that stock levels might be better at the bigger one, and to bypass the small town congestion, but no simple granola and no seafood that were on my list. I do have to go for the fresh veg I did not get (deliberately) so will go for 06.00 on Tuesday before collecting the meat from the butcher's at 7.00. On the upside I got almost 20% off with a 10% of minimum £40 spend, and the same with the More or less card

I have still to face Waitflower but I think I shall go for the Monday morning opening time. It's a bit of a PITA to get there, as it involves the well known bridge that congests in the morning. Oh well, if I will invite people for drinks and nibbles!

I once went to Tosco on 23rd December and went at 04.30 to beat the rush. I think it was only the first or second Christmas after they started opening the big stores for 24 hours. Well, that was a four hour job, with 30 minutes to park, and an hour and a half getting out, 45 minutes shopping and over an hour trying to get through the till. I remember resorting to calling down the queue and asking people to pass x product off the shelf they were queued next to! I recall the two trolley days so well. It felt like that when I went into Sainsbugs this week. I do like their fruit though.

In other things, my Sis asked if I wanted to go halves on 2 different coloured cashmere sweaters she had got hold of for a total under £90 - Mum will like that - she likes it when we do things together. I've just transferred my half to her. All good really. I just need to check the grocery budget now, to confirm how things are going...

Suffolk_lass

Our tree is decorated and secured to the ceiling to protect the many pieces of breakable decorations. These are crystals from my friend's late MiL's deeply unfashionable chandeliers that I broke up and used to make hanging crystal decorations. Along with the porcelain bells (one per year since 1997) bought in and from Germany.

It's in what we refer to as the grotto at Christmas. There is a low wall with the timber frame (that was once a wall) still there, so we net off the "walls" and peg the cards behind the net of twinkling lights. We like a few lights and still have lots of bright white lights! The big leather chair is our reading chair, that the dog loves (hence the fleece blanket to stop him trying to pull the leather into his "nest").

So apart from the residual cobweb removal, the sitting room is complete. Here is a photo (sorry the bright white lights are blurred)

KajiKita

Oh that is lovely 🥰 Really pretty and cosy ❤️

KK

foxgloves

That looks fab, @Suffolk_lass. I love beams. Sadly the only beam in our house is a big supporting one from when a previous owner removed a kitchen wall. White lights manage to be both cheery & calming, don't they? I like to have some up all year round.
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Merlin's_Beard

That's really pretty!