A Very MSE Advent 2025

Suffolk_lass

I gave Mr Sl his Christmas T-shirt (he has got fatter!) and sweatshirt (fits perfectly) and he really likes both of them! He commenced cobweb catching while I put the rest of the lights up; around the windows and  in the inglenook fireplace in the sitting room. Just the cards, tree and a few hanging baubles around the room to go. The tree is now the right way round and securely tethered to the ceiling, ready to be adorned later. A box of what looked like letterbox flowers arrived - it is an M&S afternoon tea hamper from my Sis and her husband. A coincidence - I ordered some seasonal fruit for them to be delivered to my Mum's on 23rd, earlier yesterday. Up before light this morning, planned to be at the SM by 06.00 to beat the rush and they don't start opening at 06.00 until Monday! So here I am, listening to TMS and catching up on here for another 30 minutes!

KajiKita

Rhyddid2026 said:

I wonder if my bracelet goes with your earrings @KajiKita

I will have to take a picture once I’ve cleaned them 😊

KK

Wednesday2000

We did an OAT yesterday, we tidied up the garden (slightly) with the pressure washer as it was a mess after the workmen had been here. I just went out and moved the little table and chairs back to where they were supposed to go. I want to get the garden looking a lot better, but the decking needs cleaning and painting so this will be a Spring or Summer OAT for 2026.

I just renewed my library books for my book group for mid January. I hope to get them both read as I have joined another book group to I have to keep up. I am going to return my other library books today and drop off a donation bag as it has a Christmas wreath. I really need to do a deep clean (or book a deep clean) once the tree and everything is packed away.

I am out today to meet my friend and get a glass of wine, although I'm assuming the local bars will all be rammed at this time of year. I am about to book my first class for next year. I'm only going to stick to the classes I thoroughly enjoy, although I'm glad I did try new things.

Rhyddid2026

Today my advent joy is joining a friend and camping near a beach (in a campervan, the tent would blow away in 40mph winds). I'm hoping the beach is empty and the dog can enjoy a good run and splash.
I'm going to make sweetcorn chowder to put in a flask for a coastal walk tomorrow.

daisy_1571

If anyone has sky showcase I highly recommend watching morphs epic adventures.   First one was on this morning at 6, another tomorrow and another on Monday.   If they are as funny as todays you will have a lovely advent laugh for free (in the sense that you are already paying for your TV package)

Dxx

Cheery_Daff

An OAT for me yesterday - re-doing the tape on the car headlight casing. It got broken well over a year ago, been taped since, but the water had got in and quite a bit of grime. I stripped all the tape off, spent about half an hour scrubbing the sticky bits off, and re-taped. Looks like a normal headlight now!

Wanna_Bee_Free

OH tackled a huge OAT. The cats from next door had been using our vegetable patch as a toilet. OH bought a cover a few weeks ago and today he spent digging out all the yukky stuff and adding fresh soil etc. It looks totally different with the cover on it. Hopefully that will deter the cats and squirrels for a bit.

Cheery_Daff

That's a great OAT @Wanna_Bee_Free

An excellent MSE OAT for me today. Our kitchen (and my study next to it) are always cold - the way the heating is set up means the heat is quite uneven through the house, and there's less insulation. The back door isn't very well fitting, and a draught comes through the air vent in the downstairs shower.

We've got brush strips round the back door, but I kept meaning to do something about the loo/shower door. 

Someone on here (and I'm so sorry, I can't remember who) mentioned clear plastic tape - I bought some and it's sat there for a couple of weeks. But when we came back in today and it was 10 degrees in the kitchen (heating hasn't been on today, but still) I decided now was the time to tackle it. 

Anyway, five minutes later, and look at the difference in the billowing of this curtain between the offshot and the kitchen! 😱





😱 there's not even that much wind today! 😱 it's not perfect, it's still gently moving - but I've not done the back door yet. The brush strips are just down one side, and are starting to come away at the bottom, so I'll take them off altogether and do the whole thing later (including the middle as it's a stable door).

There's no insulation in the offshot, and there are issues with the ceiling, so it won't be perfect til we tackle those things, but in the meantime this is a massive improvement, so thank you to whoever suggested it! 

KajiKita

OATings:

- PiR solar powered wall lights put on the walls by the steps on the way down to the cellar, on the outside of the garage where Mr KK unloads his van and on the wall of the DIY shed next to the wheelie bins. Huge safety and quality of life OAT 👏😊

- Self adhesive draught excluder strip has been added to conservatory and front doors - if it stays put, it should make a huge difference 😊

Adventings:

- Tree is in, up, and decorated, as is the rest of the house 🎄

- We have decided that Christmas has now begun and we are each allowed to open one of our treats - I have cracked open the Belgian chocolate nuts (very good) and Mr KK is enjoying some Brazil nuts 😊

KK

Cheery_Daff

Ha, we cross posted Kk - I see we have both been weilding the draught proofing tape this afternoon! 😂😂