Good Morning All! What are you all up to today?

[lucysmam]

I'm just drinking my first cuppa of the day, in my kitchen spot. Dd2's sat opposite me waiting for the toaster & the cats have been fed. There's no tinkling or rustling from the Christmas tree, and no noise from upstairs, so I think they've gone back to bed.

We don't have very much planned for today. There's the usual washing to do, a few pots from last night and a quick tidy round. Dd1's at work at 5; she worked a long shift at Southwell yesterday so probably won't be up for hours yet. Dd2 needs to sort her bedroom out again, and wants to try and get the bulk of her homework done.

I'm going to marzipan 3 small Christmas cakes, possibly bake a birthday cake to freeze, and try to disappear somewhere to wrap stocking fillers - we have no upstairs lights til Monday <sigh> so I can't do them tonight.

Other than that, I may start a single peg doll & either crochet or read depending which takes my fancy.

I have no idea what's for tea yet, I'll see who fancies what later - it'll definitely be something beige. Then tidy the kitchen, shower, and read for an hour or two before bed 💤.

What about all of you? 🙂

Good morning.

I finally have a Swedish bank account, my passport wasn’t considered enough proof of ID, so I had to be officially approved, this involved my Swedish husband pointing at me and saying my name. Very odd and not very secure! I renewed my visa this week as well so I now have a permanent resident permit, so I can also apply for my citizenship now, I imagine that involves a bit more than someone pointing at me.

Today we’re going to the museum of modern art/life and we’re going to treat ourselves to lunch out. Our oldest has a birthday party to attend this afternoon, so we’ll probably do softplay with the little one.

We're taking DD3 to a little Christmas show at a local theatre this afternoon, and she will get to meet Father Christmas at the end! I'm quite excited but she seems a bit bemused by the idea.
Easy tea of fajitas tonight and watching the last of Stranger Things before the next lot of episodes are released.
Have lovely Saturdays all.

Morning @lucysmam

Boooo to the lack of upstairs lights! Hope it gets sorted on Monday. Are you wandering around with a candle like a Victorian lady?!

First cuppa and toast with festive jam demolished whilst I wait for my bath to run.
I bought the biggest Lush box in last years sale and used the final bath bomb this morning.

Middle DS is arriving back from Uni, so just washing his bedding so it’s nice & fresh. I can’t wait to see him!! I think his brothers are too!

I need to do a bit of a pressie audit and finish wrapping. House needs a bit of a tidy and fridge cleaned ready for Asda delivery tomorrow. Dogs will be given a good forest run.

I have lots of baking plans in my brain but haven’t actually got anything underway. works been too hectic!!

Hope everyone has a great day!

I always look forward to your threads on a Saturday morning ☺️
Good morning - I’m full of cold and not long got up. Just had a coffee and a croissant with my youngest DC. 15 year old is still asleep and I’ve just heard DH stirring upstairs.
I’m taking the dog for a walk on the beach soon, hopefully that’ll clear my head a bit and the fresh air will do me some good. We need to do a bit of food shopping- got all the Christmas food from M&S on a delivery slot on Tuesday but I need food for the next few days and am dreading having to battle the supermarket today!
Later today I’m going to have a mooch around the town and pop into a few nice shops for any last minute presents. Don’t really need anything but my best friend is coming on boxing day with her family so I’d like to choose her something nice.
Other than that I’m planning to just relax on the sofa with a good book and lots of cups of tea.

We're having an early Xmas day as my DD9 is with her dad for the big day this year. She woke us up at 5.30 am so I'm on my 5th coffee but its been awesome! Going out to a nice resturant for dinner later. At the moment I'm teaching her how to use her new laptop

Morning all, Food shop and baking for me. Wrapping presents. Taking ds shopping to help him choose things for his niece & nephew, then dropping him at work.
Putting the gable lights up this afternoon if it isn't raining.

Here to ruin the festive mood. 37 weeks pregnant. DH and toddler have D&V. Wondering how the fuck mums do it all. Doing nothing but clean sick and poo for the forseeable.

Women are well and truly the thing that makes the world go round and do not get given even a fraction of the credit they deserve for it.

You are so busy Lucysmam! I’m still in bed hoping that my second cup of coffee will magically appear. DH has been to Lidl for vegetables. Yesterday he grabbed one of the chocolate cakes shaped like a village which Lidl have been heavily advertising. Let’s just say they are a lot smaller than they look in the adverts.
Then more mince pies to make, this will be the third batch of 24. They are popular here. Also brandy butter as you can’t eat a mince pie without it.
Awaiting an Amazon delivery of a present for girlfriend of DGS. He only confirmed yesterday that she will be coming for Christmas dinner, so feel a present is required.
Happy weekend to all!

Going to a surprise birthday party in town at lunchtime. Traffic will be horrible. Daytime party might be weird.

Also on a brighter note I’ve been uploading photos of my lounge onto chat GPT, requesting interior design advice. Very interesting results and I will be doing more of this!

@Simonjt that sounds...erm...interesting 🤣.

@FayKnights no! I haven't been. Clearly I have missed an opportunity there the girls might tell me off though, candles aren't allowed upstairs.

@Hayley1256 Merry Christmas to you both, have a fabulous day 🎅!

@gollyimholly hopefully your DH and toddler are on the mend soon 🤞. Wholeheartedly agreeing that we women don't get enough credit for the things we do!!

@TrickyD lovely to see you! That's a steady day, it'll all be done slooooowwwwwllllyyy with lots of breaks in between. I might also make mince pies! I made pastry the other day but ran out of time 🙄.

Lying on a Caribbean beach absolutely loving life!

Morning all, @gollyimholly sending sympathies to you and hoping you stay vomit free. This too shall pass!

Had a little lay in (DS9 had another bad night on Thursday so neither of us got much sleep), and an ongoing natter with my bestie over WhatsApp. She lives in Aus and saturday is usually the best time for a long conversation as time difference/young kids/work patterns just don't mix!
Put some washing on radiators and refilled the machine. DS was eating a tub of pringles when I came down so I joined him with a christmas pudding and a cuppa.
He's turned all the xmas lights on whilst waiting for me to wake up and watched some YouTube, he seems on good form today although some stimming and general fidgeting.
The doctor just phoned to discuss latest test results so that was nice, and miraculously on time!
DD13 is still in bed, will encourage DS into the bath and then take him for a haircut at his favourite barbers (can't get it done anywhere else!).
Panto later with my best friends family. Although she has had a horrific week so I may well just take all the kids so she can rest. This will be the 7th or 8th year we have been and we are very excited!
Pizza and baileys/bubbly afterwards and then another Xmas film when we get home.
Xmas light trail tomorrow with my family which should be really good. Maintenance Parents are coming in the morning to do some work in my utility room to give me more usable space in the kitchen. So I need to go and make some room so they can do what they need to do.
Finally feeling a bit christmassy! Merry xmas everyone x

I'm going to the beach for a walk and coffee
Then picking a few bits I ordered from NEXT
Home for a sofa hour
Going out at 3 to meet family for a Christmas lights and Reindeer 'thing '

DD is at her dad’s house so I’m having a lie in this morning, going to get up soon for breakfast and wrap DDs presents. Then I’m going on a first date, meeting for a dog walk and a coffee - quite nervous as not dated in a little while. Nearly every Saturday this year (while DD with her dad) I’ve been writing up my PhD and I’ve finally submitted a draft of my whole thesis so feels nice to have some free time as that has been my life for a while.

Then DD home at 6 and we’re finishing our Christmas cards, wrapping presents for family and Christmas movie and hot chocolates

Finding and wrapping kids stocking presents so I can top them up if necessary.

Cleaning out the fridge.

Writing Christmas cards for the neighbours.

I haven’t gone to bed yet ( it’s 5:16 am here in the US) My husband works an overnight shift and I keep his schedule ( it’s just the two of us) He will be home shortly, shower and then hop into our warm bed for a long winters ( daytime) nap.

later we will go for coffee and plan our Christmas Eve and Day food and activities

Still nursing a coffee here. Last of the Christmas nights out last night, with the gym girls, much fun and 🍷. Foolishly watched Celeb masterchef when I got home.
Going out with my Mum shortly for the last Christmas bits. Takeaway for tea. Strictly final tonight. That's about it.

Good morning everyone, after a very cold, foggy and muddy dog walk the sun’s trying to break through 👏
DS is poorly so it’s looking like they won’t be coming this weekend for my birthday tomorrow……I have a big food shop arriving at midday and it’s looking like we’ll have enough food for DH and I for two or three weeks. I am really disappointed but it can’t be helped, he’s got the awful virus that’s going around with a bad cough and fever.
So, instead of having a lovely weekend it’s going to be another quiet one.
I’ve got the beds changed, the washing machine is on and my next job is to bathe ZDog2 who’s a very grubby white and black pooch. Then I will shower and wash my hair and do very little for the rest of the day, perfectly happy with that!
Have a lovely weekend everyone x

Enjoying first cuppa in bed with a film and cleanser on before a quick shower and get ready for festive day out of late lunch and wine with an old friend. Going to pick up some mini Christmas Eve gifts on way from small shops and a deli.

Good morning @lucysmam and everyone.

I have cleaned and tidied the sitting room and downstairs loo. The pre-Christmas grocery delivery has arrived and has been put away. The person who is cleaning the carpets and corner sofa has just arrived. The chicken wings have been tossed in flavouring and are in the oven.... They will be frozen when they are cooked and cooled, ready for our post-Christmas festive celebration.

I am now sitting with a cup of coffee, before making another couple of batches of mini quiches, more quiche Lorraine and some bacon and mushroom. I have woken up with the start of a chest infection, which I am very much hoping doesn't get any worse. We're off to Butlins on Tuesday so there won't be much time for doctor's appointments and getting meds from the pharmacy.

I'm not feeling very good, to be honest, so I might get Mr Dilemma to put the baking beads in the pastry cases and put them in to bake blind before I fill them, then he can take them out for me to put the fillings in and he can take them out again once they're cooked. I have already prepared the fillings so it shouldn't take too much effort.

Mr Dilemma is, at present, preparing another couple of bags of parsnips for us to roast and put in the freezer. He did a couple of bags on Thursday, together with 3 bags of potatoes. We buy them when they are ultra cheap (5p a bag!) and prepare them and put them in the freezer for use later when we need something quick. We're going to have some of them tonight, with a cook-from-frozen meatloaf and some ultra-cheap carrots.

I have to wait for the chicken wings to come out of the oven before I can put the pastry cases in... but that is only about 20 minutes so I ought to actually put them in the trays now.

Good morning Lucysmam and others. A busy lot today!
I had breakfast hours ago because I woke early. So I've had two coffees then a cuppa and a slice of toast. After that, I headed to a nearby town for dds last gift. I went to Gregg's for Christmas biscuits for dgss. Then nipped to DD to pick up a couple of Christmas cards to deliver to my neighbours from the boys where I had a coffee with Dsil. Back home, I put on a washing for dd. Dgs2 had a wee accident in the night and she doesn't have time to do it. They are off to Glasgow to the boys' first pantomime. I then delivered the neighbours cards and I've just had a cup of tea. Shortly I'll finish wrapping then get on with housework.
Zippedy that's really disappointing for you. I know it can't be helped, but still.
Enjoy your day all

Just toying with the idea of going to the supermarket, but also thinking it will probably be like hell on earth in there today. Maybe not.

DH is seeing a man about a guitar this morning and we'll be having soup for lunch.

At some point I need to do some present wrapping, and we appear to be out of sellotape. Maybe I need to go to the shops after all. I will also need to buy some more crackers as we now need 8 instead of the 6 I bought already.

Met an old friend at the post office earlier, and we are going to have a proper catch-up in the new year.

Morning all.

I woke up surprisingly early considering how crazy Friday was at work with parties and Santa visits. I am so ready for the holidays but still 1.5 days to go. We can do it.

Walked the ddog and fed all the pets. It’s actually a nice day here in NE Scotland. Not too cold. We are heading out tonight for a Christmas event that’s outside. I’m looking forward to it. All the family going.

Right now tucking into a bacon roll with DDog puppy eyes boring into me.

Prob watching strictly final tonight. Not sure about tea though DH has just been to the butcher so sure has something.

good morning lucysmam and to u all . I’m so lazy this morning still sat with a cuppa and feel very delicate as my friend came over last night and too much wine was consumed . We are popping into town soon tho as need to collect the last 2 presents then home to chill and watch strictly final . Have a great and safe day all 🫶

I was half way through making the mini quiches and I've had to stop as I'm really feeling quite unwell and really REALLY achy. I ache all the time anyway but this is ultra-achy. So I've gone to bed and left Mr Dilemma with instructions on how to finish them off. I have already prepared the fillings, so he just had to fill them and put them in to cook.

I am feeling very sorry for myself, and I'm about to go to sleep.