NST December 2025 A Different December

thriftylass

Oh shiny new thread. As we'll be in Germany for half of December I'll be cheering from the side lines and joining back in a bit late in January (6th) when we're back

Paragraph "E" totally resonated with me, having to hug and cheek kiss elderly relatives as a kid. It took a while for my parents to accept that my children won't do that with Omi and Opi unless they want too. Shaking hands is fine and good German manners but any more is not.

grandmanerd

Monday 1st December 2025

Protecting Your Peace

Unfollow the chaos darling
Unsubscribe from the circus
Take back your thoughts
Take back your joy
Make peace your home again
(S.C.Lourie)

Do not let the behaviour of others
Destroy your Inner Peace
(Dalai Lama)

How to Protect Your Peace
1    Say No
2    Ignore Negativity
3    Set firm boundaries
4    Choose battles wisely
5    Prioritise your mental space
6    Let go of what you can't control
7    Focus on progress, not perfection
(denellia)

Some People will always have to be kept (or loved) from a distance.
Don't feel guilty for protecting your space or peace of mind
(Alex Elle)

beanielou

Thanks @grandmanerd for the reminder.

grandmanerd

Mrs Builder came on Saturday. I'd tried to keep on top of things so we could work on other bits. The laundry was a mess. Things needed rewashing (mainly rags and unimportant stuff as I had prioritised actual clothes) or draining and spinning in small quantities. I hung things on hangers to dry and put towels draped over garden chairs. We concentrated on the front room (me mostly directing, Mrs Builder walking back and forth). Nearly all the presents are on one armchair ready for wrapping. Several large boxes have been relocated to the kitchen. Lots of floor was cleared.

Yesterday I set about organising my trolley. All the prescription meds and OTC supplements are in 2 boxes (1 on the top shelf, 1 on the 2nd) and the creams, drops and other bits are gathered. Pens in one pot (giveaway pens and pencils set aside), the remaining pens including sharpies in a second pot with scissors, shears, a ruler, magnifying glass. A small tin with coins (coins may go elsewhere but the tin fits snuggly in the corner. Later I'll add the rest of the tbr library books and put the already read ones on the corner of the bureau by the door. I watched Flint Street Nativity yesterday and have 'The Preacher's Wife' cued up (Cary Grant makes a wonderful angel). I'm also half way through 'Fantastic Mr Fox'.

Today I'm snotty. Started yesterday, today it's in full flow so I haven't move much. I got in the shower, towelled myself dry and put my clothes back on (a full length nightie/ dress and 2 jumpers). I'm very grateful for my stock of soup, rice pudding and baked beans as I can't get my head around anything more complicated or difficult to swallow. I've found a cinnamon scented votive and put it in a container. It's near enough for me to smell but not so close that it makes me cough. That's quite festive enough for me for now.

I don't want to do cards or wrap presents in case of poorly germs. I need to have a look at my bank account and check a couple of things (I need to set savings goals) and I could usefully look at dates available for food deliveries. My last order was mainly stock cupboard top up with one or two items that won't go off (pickles and crackers). The freezer's full but most of it is 'everyday' foods. I never chase after the Christmas delivery slots, I don't need them but I want to know how booked up they are and set this week and next week's shopping. I haven't a formal meal plan but have stuff in and will use up/ cook fresh depending on how mobile I am. Lots of scraps of veg in the fridge to work through.

Today I am grateful for clean soft rags for my nose, easy to eat and prepare food, being warm and fairly comfortable.

apple_muncher

Pinch punch first of the month!

No returns!

Seriously?? How did you all miss the opportunity!!!

DawnW

NSD #1 for me today - I haven't lost count yet 

Not done much either, just a bit of cleaning and tidying. Went into work this afternoon to check my sales unit and pick up my money. The shop is very quiet, despite it being so close to Christmas. Sign of the times I guess. The weather is horrible, which doesn't help, being rainy and windy.

Still sleeping in till about 7.30 am after not getting much sleep for the last week or 10 days due to a cold / chest infection. Most unlike me to stay in bed that late. On the plus side it has gone now, though OH is still suffering a bit.

Used up various leftovers for meals today - no food waste 

Grateful for being paid, being warm and having plenty to eat.

Rowan9

Day 1 and I did spend but it was a bag of wonky potatoes and ….. I’ve forgotten the second thing haha. Anyway £2.99 spend and shouldn’t need anything for a few days. 

Really enjoying the thought of different December. I’m liking the feeling of more ease about things. 

I have been organised and bought the small gifts for family. Adult presents are £5 worth. We have done this for years now. Makes you think and hunt down a bargain. Splitting multi packs of nice socks is good. Add bar of choc etc. 

I am enjoying not buying into consumerism. Grandchildren do get more though but it isn’t the expensive. 

Relaxing this evening as work was busy and pretty full on. 

Grateful for a job which I usually love, being paid for said job, free bus to work and a lift home. 

Have a good evening all 

f0xh0les

Dentist visit done. Festive Filling was most (not) exciting. Face was fully numb for  over 4 hours. Then as soon as DH came home tonight, I got offered work on Monday and Tuesday next week in the (Midlands) Second city which is handy because I have work in the true (Northern) Second city on Wednesday and Thursday booked already.  Lots of commuting and trains next week, but ££s, and I really really want to be a taxpayer.  
Wonder if the pb fairy 🧚‍♂️ will pay me a visit?🤞 

apple_muncher said:

Pinch punch first of the month!

No returns!

Seriously?? How did you all miss the opportunity!!!

Too busy checking and worrying I might be drooling 🤤 and not noticing, and being quite desperate for a cuppa but being 'sensible' and 'careful' .  So utterly out of character.
HAPPY DECEMBER LOVELY TURTLE-FRIENDS 

apple_muncher

I think we always have a different December, and this one even more so as Pip's not at school, so none of the tinsel and jolly jingles to attack his senses ❤️. He said recently that he's actually allowing himself to enjoy the build up this year, and get excited about it.

My presents list has 5 family members on it, plus one friend and a couple of more distant friends. Big sis took about half of the presents for her, bil and niece when she visited last month. I'll post the rest. The friends' presents are bought already. And I'm just pottering on getting items for dh and Pip. Plus buying a few things for me for dh to wrap 🤣. Gotta love v1nt3d! And we're going out for a meal with some close friends at some point, using a £50 voucher dh was given to pay for some of our bill.

We'll watch a Muppet Christmas Carol on Christmas eve - Pip has just watched a video on how true to the original story it is, so I guess well be hearing about that...

Christmas food is simple. Pip has his normal food and dh and I have scrambled egg and smoked salmon for breakfast (already bought at 50% off), and steak and chips and mushrooms and veg for lunch (dh cooks as he cooks a mean steak), and then cheese and crackers for tea.

I bought 3 tubs of chocs weeks ago when they were on offer in liddle, and dh will use them as presents for people.

Our 2 live Christmas trees are no longer fit for purpose. One is tall and scrawny and is shedding its needles outside. The other has about 5 viable branches that make it really lopsided. It has also rooted through the drainage hole and won't want to be moved 🤣. So I've ordered a new plastic one from vntd, as per Pip's request. Apparently a 10cm felt tree is not acceptable 🤣🤣🤣.

Today I am grateful for working with some lovely people, for missing the worst of the rain, for progress in the garden, for my book, for good coffee.

DawnW

No NSD for me today, as it was grocery shopping day, plus I paid some bills (milk bill, car breakdown cover renewal) and made a charity donation.

I have done very little Christmassy stuff, and have little motivation for it. I have cards to write and post and presents to buy and wrap, but am not feeling it. Must be done though. I think I have some cards somewhere, so will try to find them tomorrow. If not I will need to buy some.

Apart from the shopping I took the dog for what turned out to be a long walk first thing (he chooses where to go, within reason), did a bit more cleaning and tidying, putting stuff away etc - it is never ending! Also did some admin and finance stuff. That reminds me, I need to pay my self assessment tax bill. It is easy to overlook online stuff, whereas untidy bits of paper get sorted sooner.

All meals were from home, as usual.

Grateful for getting admin done and associated untidy bits of paper gone