Countdown to 2016 - a whole extra day to wait.

[AbbyCadabby]

366

[santa]

Paper, I just had my second baby at 41. Congratulations and good luck.

CCC/70, that is a lovely idea re new traditions as they grow.

Constantly thank you for that, what a lovely idea However, I might not need to worry about her going away because today she announced that her first and second choice unis are both in our city and she said she wants to live at home while she's there! Oh I'm so happy, I might have cried a bit... She may be 18 but I'm not ready to completely let go yet, and she said she doesn't want to leave me yet. So at least another three Christmases with her at home! Soooo pleased. Abby we'll still be able to do all 'our' stuff - a special lunch on the last day of term, Sunday evening walks to look for Christmas lights in the early run-up, our annual 'check day' in October when we see what decs etc we have and what we need... Just keeping everything crossed she gets into uni here now!

I bought three boxes of lovely crackers today from Tesco for £2 each and all the napkins and table covers we'll need next year. That, and buying all the food for our New Year's Day lunch (we do it like Christmas Day) has helped ease the encroaching sadness that it's all slipping away. NYD is very like a mini Christmas here actually - as well as the dinner, we exchange small gifts in the morning. It's a tradition from when I was growing up in Wales and it's a lovely way to keep the festivities going for a bit longer

Aw, Ophelia, how lovely. I hope she gets into the uni of her choice.

360 - nice round figure

Two Christmas Traditions yesterday: taking the DC Christmas money and coin hoard off to the bank. They get money from family and friends, DS has his birthday in December too.
My DDad always saves £1/20p for them (they bagged them) I took them round to deposit.
Then Post Christmas Shopping with DD. She's not a Sales shopper though.

I bought some face cream, she bought a dress.
I did look at a zip up jacket in M&S but there was only £5 off it (how skinflinty of them) but I'll go back after New Year to see if it;s reduced.
Need to buy a jumper for DD too (school).

All the decorations and lights were gorgeous, it seems really naked when they go (this was Bluewater)

Just got baby DD a gorgeous snowsuit half price in Tesco. We don't really need anything else right now so I've not braved the sales other than nipping into Next on Boxing Day.

I marzipanned the cake today.

Either I'm really, really early or a little bit late...

Kinky that's brilliant

We cut ours today...it won't last five minutes now!

359

Hope you all have a great NYE, and all the very best for an awesome 2016.

Happy new year everyone!

Hope you have a happy and prosperous 2016

X

Happy New Year everyone! I look forward to discussing Christmas with you all for the next year

Happy New Year to one and all.
And Yes, we'll all be picking up the gaunlet of the countdown and running with it

Happy New Year!

358

Happy New Year! May you all have a happy, peaceful and prosperous 2016

I've just put the turkey joint in the oven for dinner today, there are candles and fairy lights lit and I've just had stollen for breakfast. It feels very like a week ago, which helps with feeling sad thinking that a week ago now it was Christmas morning... Only difference is DD isn't awake yet and by now on Christmas Day she'd been up for three hours! We have a few presents to open and lots of champagne to drink (don't do NYE at all so hangover-free), very excited to get on with the day now. Might go and wake everyone up!

I only wish there were carols on the radio...

I probably won't join this as I'm shite at staying committed but I just wanted to pop in and say it's really nice to see this thread after all the misery on Chat (people glad Christmas is over) I love Christmas!

I love Christmas too, and after a difficult year with many worries, somehow it all came good at Christmas and we had such a lovely time. I'm a bit mournful this morning thinking 'this time last week the turkey was in the oven ...' etc

I always feel like this in January. As soon as the weather gets better I'll start appreciating the coming spring and summer, which have their own charms, but Christmas is so special and it was over so soon

Haven't got out to any sales so missed out on bargain cards/wrap etc but I did spot a 'Christmas Jumper Kit' in the Lakeland sale for £3 ish and have told DD1 to look in the Brents' Cross store (am too mean to pay postage on such a small item). Thought it might be fun to decorate a plain top for next Christmas and pension off my ageing reindeer onesie, lovely though it is!

I feel the same Apples - this year, while it saw some fantastic changes (starting home ed, which also led to making loads of lovely new friends, starting piano teaching etc) it has also been very very very hard, mainly due to my health and the impact that's had on everything else. But Christmas has been really lovely and we've just had a week full of lovely people and fun.

I do generally struggle in winter (have MH problems anyway, definitely made worse by SAD when sunlight is lacking, and the cold makes pain worse for me too) so Christmas is like a beacon of hope to me! So I am sad it's over, but also actually I'm looking forward to the year ahead. :)

Another one who feels like that .

January really needs a day of celebration somewhere just to break up the misery . I might invent one...

I think some people celebrate 12th night. I'm thinking more a mid to late weekend when it's really dragging, possibly just after pay day.

Joining in but I'm another one who may be an intermittent poster.

Ophelia DD1 graduated last year. She went to uni about 20 miles from home and it was a bit strange at first doing the stuff at home without her but I was able to visit her and have a wonderful shopping day with her each year - so it's not all doom and gloom if she isn't at home. It was far stranger last night when she was 300 miles away celebrating NYE with uni friends in Edinburgh.

Tesco didn't have any wrapping paper left yesterday - I'm going to try Morrison's or Asda today.

We have DS's birthday to look forward too early this month. At some point in the next 72 hours I'll panic that I haven't bought cards or presents and I have organised a country house weekend for DH's big birthday next month - so I see myself swanning about with a cocktail in my hand all weekend, when in reality there are a significant number of primary school age children coming so chances are it will be more squash than martinis.

Wanders on and thinks back that last week was Christmas Day.
Now all the decorations are down and it's the new year,
Happy New Year everyone

This year will bring my 50th
My DS leaving school (he's Yr 11) and going to 6th Form College.
Might manage to adhere to my Resolutions ! (One of which is to stay off some of the threads on MN . I might stick to "Christmas/Small Pets/Style&Beauty" )

Fuzzpig and kinkydorito I hope the new year brings you happier, better times

I saw a suggestion on another thread to turn the misery of January around, i.e just enjoying the quietness after the madness of Christmas (but I LIKE the madness of Christmas!) - still, I thought that poster had a good outlook - read a lot - do a little gentle clearing out, 15-30 mins a day - take some winter walks.

(It hasn't worked on me yet and I'm still sad Christmas is over!)

Thank you Apples :) I'm feeling optimistic. Trying to take back control of various aspects of our life that were chaotic (eg finances... housework will take a little longer! )

357

I like January - good incentive for a fresh start, spring-cleaning, decluttering.

356

Will they let us keep the Star all year I wonder.......

The Sunday-before-the-return-to-work-bleurgh

I was ahead of the game booked tomorrow off.
Take DH to work, I thought..........................
Drop the DC at school, maybe a quiet mooch round the shops then come home and tidy up for the bin collection (Tues, usually Mondays) I thought.....................
Sort out the stuff for the Charity shops and maybe take it there rather than wait for the bags to come round...............

But my DC are off school tomorrow (teenagers Yr 9 and Yr11) so I'll drop DH (gets me up/washed/dressed early anyway) and visit one of the bottle banks and charity shops on the way home.

My lovely DD is still asleep , I have sorted the guinea pigs breakfast and put them in their Pighouse.
Big dinner later (it's Sunday) and clear the fridge out.