Good Morning All! What's everyone doing today?

[lucysmam]

I'm just drinking my first cuppa of the day, in silence-ish, in my kitchen spot. The cats have been fed & boy cat is wandering around upstairs shouting so I'm guessing he's lost his sister again 🙄. He'll find her in dd1's room I think!

Dd1's home for Christmas 🥳. I picked her up from the station on Thursday evening & she worked last night until about 2am. She's working again tonight - she's been put down to work until 10 but wants allll the money for next term at uni so will probably be asking to switch & stay later again.

I'm taking dd2 to the Christmas market in Sheffield for a wander later this morning. I'm hoping the Sheffield Candle Co are there (I think they're Yorkshire Candle Co now, actually 🤔). She has lots of school work to do, and is stressing about homework, but I think she also needs a break to do something nice. I'll head up to shower and get sorted when the washer's done.

When we get in, it'll be pj's and see if there's one thing I can get done off my Christmas list - assuming it's not too late in the evening, before reading for a while & then an early night 💤. Probably won't be as early as last night's 5:30!

What about all of you? 🙂

Good morning Lucysmam and others. How nice to have your girls there for Christmas.
I have had two coffees and a slice of olive bread on butter. In a little while I will be heading out for second breakfast at the garden centre with friends. Then a quick trip to Aldi for bread and milk then home to do housework and begin wrapping presents. Tonight will be the semi final of strictly. Have a good day all.

Good morning @lucysmam & following folk, it’s a very frosty but beautifully sunny morning with a wonderful golden sunrise as we walked the dogs.
I’m just enjoying my usual avocado toast before starting an all day zoom art class.
DH is in charge of getting dinner (sausage, mash and beans), he’s supposed to be doing the Christmas cards too but at this rate they won’t get finished until New Year 🙄
Oohhh @LadyMacbethssweetArabianhand I fancy olive bread with lashings of butter, it’s lovely toasted with cheese too!

Zippedy I had one small slice with a meagre amount of lurpak because of second breakfast which will be much more substantial 😂

Morning @lucysmam and all.
Up at 7am this morning, had a really good sleep last night. DS was in my bed the night before as his anxiety is really bad this week so it was nice to stretch out.
Having a quick tidy up, putting washing away etc. DC are at their Dad's this weekend so want to try and get the house cleaned and tidy for Christmas. I expect this to last until 6pm tomorrow when they return.....
DM is picking me up to go to a relatives shortly. I'm not really looking forward to it for various reasons but I'm sure I'll be fine once we get there.
Later I hope to see my friend and I will probably cook a lamb curry. Haven't eaten properly all week!
Tomorrow my parents are coming to fit a fridge for me, so that means I will clean out the other fridge and can start reorganising the utility.

Work has been very exciting but brutal this week so need to get some rest and organised tomorrow. Loads of medical appts upcoming so also need to get some life admin done and calendar/diaries up to date. We all break up for christmas on Thursday (with exception of DD who has a half day on friday) and I can't wait. We all need a serious break. Which reminds me, I need to book a slot at the ice skating rink 🙈

Thankyou for allowing the absolute stream of consciousness- i love these threads every week. Have a wonderful weekend with your girls @lucysmam !

Happy weekend to everyone.

We're battling illness here, not the awful flu thankfully but everyone is low level ill / run down.

I'm taking DC2 and DC3 swimming soon. DC2 swims at a higher level but I'm taking her to an earlier practice today as she is just recovering from a horrible cough (she has asthma so the horrible cough is her thing!)

We'll change our library books after and grab some naice bread from the bakery for lunch.

Will head out and grab some baking stuff this afternoon and we'll have a baking / movie afternoon.

Steak, garlic green beans and and mashi for dinner.

DC1 has a party this evening (it's his first "teenage" party. Parents and older siblings will be supervising but its a 9pm finish!) and he's excited for this. I'll be long in my pj's but daddy will collect him later.

Trying to make sure everyone is well / healthy for the festive period but illness is rampant and both the kids schools.

I will also get to cuddle my baby nephew at various points today which will absolutely make up for the drama of this week!

I've been up most of the night with my 2yo, so I'm still in bed (so is a hungover DH).

I think DH baba and I will, after breakfast, pop along to the play park then do some tidying in the garden if the weather holds. Then try to get them both to the hairdressers for a cut.

Haven't thought about dinner - perhaps a nice stew but will need recipe inspo...

Finally getting round to putting the tree up later. Room needs a good blitz before that though.

Not much else planned. I work in a primary school and all my reserves are nearly depleted. It's so draining at Christmas when there's so much to pack in and everyone is a mix of tired and excited. And if I hear about one more elf's antics I might scream! This week is going to be loooooong.

Good morning @lucysmam and everyone.

First - my news. My CT showed 'no significant change', so I guess I'm OK! I have a follow-up appointment with my oncologist next week when he will confirm and I expect him to move me to yearly CTs from now on.

Now that's out of the way. I didn't wake up until around 8am this morning, so I had a lovely lie in. I did loads of cooking yesterday, the sticky glazed pork belly bites and the gingerbread stars for my post-Christmas celebratory meal with my local family, a plum tarte tatin and some rhubarb tarts because I picked the fruit up at reduced prices and they needed to be cooked, and Mr Dilemma made his delicious apricot flapjacks. We wrap them individually and leave them in a box on the doorstep for our delivery drivers and post people to help themselves to, and we always give a batch at Christmas to the chap who comes to us fortnightly to help us try to keep the garden under control because he loves them. He gets some money in his Christmas card as well, of course. So anyway, I was completely knackered by bedtime!

We have nothing planned for today or tomorrow, which is great as there is something in the diary for every day next week. There is laundry to do of course, and the first load is already in the machine. It is a bright, frosty day and we should get some power from our solar panels which helps with the electricity cost.

I went to our local scrap store last week, to pick up some fabric and ribbon scraps to trim the Christmas stocking decorations I have decided to make for the family for next Christmas. I also picked up a few sequins and some seed beads. I have everything I need for the first stocking and I will pick up other bits through the year. I have certainly given myself plenty of time to get them all done in! I think I will on on doing one a month... but I confess I am itching to get started on the first and I might do that today.

In the meantime, the audit of the second shed freezer needs to be done desperately, so I know how much space there is and what we have to eat between now and next weekend, when our next grocery delivery is due. It's only a small shop this time as we are away for Christmas, but I want to get some extra veg when it's cheap towards the end of the week so that I can put part roasted potatoes and parsnips in the freezer and prepare carrots for soffrito and for putting on stews etc. I think there might also be swede on offer this year. Also, I intend to see if there are any post-Christmas meat bargains to be picked up, and those will need to go into the freezer. I have just let Mr Dilemma know that is what we are going to be doing this morning - and he is JUST as thrilled as I expected him to be about it! He is a good man though and won't complain more than necessary, whilst still getting on with the job.

I'm also intending to make a big batch of mini quiches and filo parcels for my post-Christmas celebration and those will also need to go into the freezer.

It's a big day in the Tayto household today. We have DD's 21st birthday party tonight. Her boyfriend stayed over last night and he'll be here for the day.

I'm heading to Tesco shortly and I've to pick up a few bits - as well as my usual weekly shop, I've to pick up a bouquet of flowers from the florist and helium balloons for the party and maybe some catering foil tins. Hoping I've ordered enough pizzas for all the party goers. My brother will pick up the cake for me and sneak it into the party venue. Which reminds me, I need to pay him for the balance of the cake.

I've a hair appointment this afternoon.

I was missing my favourite pendant necklace (has a stone shaped like a heart - a present from DD) but I went searching for it last night and found it. So happy to be able to wear it tonight.

In the midst of the madness, I'm hoping to dig out her baby photo book (I have it stashed away in a safe place) and we can ooh and aah over her baby photos. And she'll be mortified at her boyfriend seeing the photos. But secretly pleased.

I did a big chilli yesterday for dinner. There's probably enough left for a small bowl each, for dinner. I always underestimate how much her boyfriend eats .

Christmas has taken a back seat for today.

@ShipshapeShore I hear you! We're expected to "work" right up to the last day...no-one needs or wants to do that. Everyone's ready to relax a little!

@DilemmaDelilah fabulous news! I'm so pleased it was nothing to be concerned about.

@Taytocrisps happiest of 21st birthdays to your dd, I hope she has a wonderful day 🎁

Morning all, I’m out bright and ealry in the cold sunshine to explore the area I have moved to. Really struggling post move and lots wrong with the house so trying to find some bright spots!

I’m sat in a bakery with a (very good) coffee and once finished, I’m going to go to another just to compare 😉.

After a walk I’ll head home and get finish painting the hallway. I’m taking it from black and dingy to light and warm!

Then I think I’ll watch the new Taylor doc and unpack some boxes, before having steak pie for tea. Will do some jigsaw puzzles this evening to help keep my nervous system regulated.

i need a new tv series if anyone’s watching anything good?

Morning all!

I'm on my second coffee, I did get up with the thought of having an hour on the treadmill but have been floored with a cold all week and am only just coming out the other end so decided to chill and will ramp the exercise back up next week instead.

I'll head for a shower soon as I'm going to see my mum and we're heading into town for lunch and a bit of shopping - wish us luck... 😬

Then Uni collection tomorrow so we'll have both boys back for Christmas and I finish next a Friday so im on countdown for that (35 hours and counting!) 🎄

Good morning everyone,

Dh is out at the moment looking for some specific vegan sweets for a Secret Santa.
I'm home with the DC 'tidying up'.
After he is taking DS1 to football and to choose a Christmas tree.

This afternoon my dad is coming round with his electric drill to help hang new curtain poles. I will also decorate the tree with the DC while DH is at work this evening.

Then when DS2 is asleep DS1 and I are going to pit 1kg of cherries that we are going to use for chocolate covered brandied cherries that we are giving as Christmas presents.

Morning all
just waiting brewing a coffee usual two left for a cold wet field and a ball, the opposition team were dangerous last time so they are primed they might have to walk off the pitch so they might be back before it’s even begun we shall see

then cooking Mexican for 7 teen boys
that’s enough for one day

we were going to get the tree but will do that tomorrow I guess

it’s starting to feel like Christmas I am not going to stress out it’s a time to enjoy company, cook nice food and generally have a house full of cheeky teen laughter - could be worse
(they do eat loads though)

Morning all! I was up at 5am as usual, went down stairs and a couple of hours on MN and reading the news. Took a cup of coffee up to dp at 7am and had snuggles in bed. Have an appointment to have my nails done at 11am, so am about to get ready to go. Ds25 is still in bed. Exdp is picking up ds20 from uni and he should be home at 2am. Will need to get chicken out of the freezer to defrost for later- our fridge is empty, but the freezer is full and I want to run it down before the Christmas shop arrives on the 22nd. Plenty of chicken in there so can cobble a meal together each evening between now and then. Will put on a Christmas movie or two this afternoon and may start wrapping presents. Which reminds me a jumper has to go back to John Lewis. Will take it to Waitrose tomorrow.

Morning all.
Well, sorry to be clichéd but I'm in bed with the lurgy! It's made its way through the household and I was last man standing but I've finally succumbed. Normally, when I'm unwell, I feel really down and anxious but for some reason I'm feeling upbeat and completely unbothered. So bizarre. DS is also feeling off so he's likely going to have a disgusting amount of screen time today. Poor DH will be running around tending to our sickly whims plus some house stuff. But he has his works night out tonight so he'll get to escape for a bit. Chicken and rice soup for dinner tonight, if I can get DH to make it. 😆

It is sunny but frosty here. The second load of laundry is underway, DH has been to the supermarket early and then I plan to be in the garden for a few hours. There are lots of leaves to sweep, pruning and tidying to be done and I might sit in a sunny spot with a cup of tea and my book for a while.

A friend is coming round later. She and I both have very poor immune systems so we are avoiding crowded places like cafes and pubs until the flu situation has improved.

Just popping on to say Hi as unfortunately I have to go to work - have a good day folks & I’ll do a full post when I get home 🙂

Busy day for me today, was up at 6 to drive DD to the bus pick up point as she's off to away matches today, then I baked some Christmas star tarts for the cafe I'm volunteering at this afternoon (boccia tournament cafe) then, if the boccia finishes in time I'll meet OH and DS at a Christmas event in town, then in the evening there's an ice hockey match to watch (local team's home game).

Really I just want to spend the day vegging in front of the telly but alas I can't.

Morning everyone!
I’m scrolling with a coffee in peace and quiet.
DS is back from Uni and has helped with Christmas decs but I need to finish them today.
I have the day to myself with no DC’s to get the last of the Christmas presents bought/ordered.
Tomorrow will be lively day with DS so planning for a quiet night in tonight as I was out last night with friends.

Another week for me until DD is home from uni (well she's spending this week with friends and boyfriend, uni is done) but I'm meeting her tonight for a show.

Going to spend the day doing absolutely nothing. The toddlers are all pre Christmas feral this week so work has been brutal. Last weekend I had events Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon night plus drove over 500 miles to accommodate it all. And tonight will be a late night so I feel justified in just drinking tea all day!

Today is our annual pottery painting day! We go down to the local pottery shop and paint something for Christmas, it’s been baubles for a few years and then last year we did a plate each for Christmas. This year we are painting Christmas mugs to have hot chocolate in on Christmas Eve. I’m very excited and telling very festive, we put the tree up yesterday so that’s adding to the excitement .

Good morning lucysmam and to u all . Late start for me after an awful nights sleep so sat with a cuppa . Popping out later get some last minute Christmas bits . Il read all your news later . Have a great and safe day all 🫶