Hang onto your hats; we're on the home straight, sprinting to the finish line! It's the Countdown to Christmas, thread 10!

[NoWordForFluffy]

Evening all! I'm not sure if this will be the last or the penultimate thread, but here goes!

Nero, O2 appears to be working now (conveniently now I'm home and don't need mobile data!).

Evening!

Busy old day today and another busy one tomorrow. I've got a trial on 4 Jan, so have to prep for it now as I've only 5 days left in work before Christmas. Whoop!

Next week I need to start on the tasks due when I'm off. No rest for the wicked!

I hope everyone has had a lovely day where possible!

Picked DS2 up, the DC had chicken empanadas for supper, I'll have mine later, DS2's just fallen asleep in our bed, DD will go to bed at 9.20. 😋🍗😴

Evening all. What a busy day! I've had appointments all over the place today. My last one was at 4 o clock for physio. I'm so glad it was late in the day because I'm sore afterwards.
Ordered dd birthday cake today. I really should have made it, seeing as it's her 1st birthday, but I don't think I'll have the time before Tuesday.
Going to get my bath now and relax with the RTÉ guide. I only buy it at Christmas but it brings back so many memories of when I was wee, and highlighting what I was going to watch.

Put home clothes on radiators because it's Christmas Jumper Day on Friday, laid uniforms out. 🎄🎅

Absolute nightmare of a day. My fucking family causing so much drama it’s fucking unreal.
Stressed out my head so will catch up another day.

Evening everyone😄
PSB my DD2 said it is Christmas jumpers day on Friday , it's for Save the Children , fabulous idea , the children will love it too 😃
Chicken empanadas 😋😋😋
Nero the RTE guide looks Fab is it the Irish version of the Radio times? If so l understand why you bought it , we still buy the Radio Times at Christmas😄, hope you feel better this evening m'dear 💐
Fluffy , won't be long before you finish for the hols 😃 YAY!
Acey glad you are going to the Physio tomoz, the clothes are darling!Am sure you are an Irish beauty with black hair to your waist and blue eyes and a clear Rosy cheeked complexion ❤️
Biddy you offload all you need to 💐 thanks for the well wishes for the parents, we will know more tomorrow. Fingers crossed 😃
PSB the bread sounds delish!!! 😋😋😋l love London so l would not care about the building site lol😄
Hope everyone is doing ok and has a good night's sleep 😃

Acey don't let them get to you sweetie❤️ let it go over your head , think if Addie and remain calm and focused on on the wonderful Life you will both have ❤️💐

Acey I hope you are ok! Please do not let them get to you. Hug your grandad and he can help you navigate the drama folks.

I hope Mav loves his tower! You'll have to let us know how he likes it!

Addie's clothing is to die for

PSB Ohhh Christmas Jumper day sounds a lot of fun.

The Empanadas sound awesome!

Fiddle I'm sorry you've had a wild day but hope you have a lovely relaxing bath!

Fluffy Woot!! Closing in on break!! Man I don't know how you guys deal with that anticipation lol I can't even wait for the post let along big things.

Biddy I'm glad you finished the scarf and please don't apologize! We are here for the good stuff but also the bad! We got your back

Frange I hope the play went well!! How old are your kiddos?

Had my appointment. Turns out I'm anaemic again. I was in 2015 and my iron was really low so they gave me iv iron. Well the doctor says it's the same thing again and he doesn't think I'm bleeding inside. I just need my iron topped off again. I go Monday at 8 am and get my first infusion. They'll start me with IV benedryl too so I'll probably feel very sleepy haha

We got our fireplace all put together! It looks amazing! I've not hung our stockings on it or put Twinkle lights along the top yet but it WILL get decorated for Christmas lol

Mrs Your sister is very hard work, people really don't live in the real world sometimes, they spout a lot of nonsense which isn't applicable or realistic all the while not really doing or contributing anything! Just ignore her because you can't reason with the unreasonable.

Wheels
I'm sorry to hear you're aneamic again, hopefully the iv iron will work very quickly and get it back up again. I'm impressed how fast you can see doctors, here a referral takes ages.

Woohoo for fixed toilet! I get my dad to come and fix things too, we had water leaking from the shower into the kitchen a few months ago and couldn't use any of the plumbing upstairs/bath/shower for days until he came to fix it!

I can't do weekly on that particular route, it's a small company run one and they only do a return or single, very very basic set up.

your fireplace looks fab! I'm probably very boring/old fashioned as we only ever put our stockings up on christmas eve!

frange I'm sorry to hear they were upset, it's understandable though it's a change of routine for kids and they want to stay with their parents.

fluffy sounds busy! wooohooo for only 5 days of work left though!

nero enjoy your magazine :) Christmas is the only time we buy the radio times too.

philomena your food sounds delicious as always.

Acey I'm really sorry to hear about the family drama. big hugs, we're all here for when you're ready to vent.

Seafood Oh referrals here take a long time. I've been seeing this doctor every year since 2015. He said when I saw him in 2015 that because it was an absorption issue that I would become anaemic again so he wanted to see me yearly. It's just very amazing timing that this appointment fell on today haha. I had to wait 19 months to see genetics when I had to see them. With my disease I try to have doctors that I see every year or two so that when I do need them I can see them without a referral as a follow up.

Dad's are great for helping out! Our toilet is 100% now no leaking at all!

I think putting out stockings on Christmas Eve is a great idea. I think the only reason we have them out all December is because that's what my family did when we were kids so I just kept it up lol.

Morning!
Sorry about last night. I’m okay now, just fed up of being the black sheep of the family and the one who gets blamed for everything because I won’t sit back and take peoples shit, I have a backbone lol.
Anyway, I had cuddles with paddy and a good nights sleep and I’m fine now.

Last day at work tomorrow, we open our secret Santa’s tomorrow too, plus it’s Christmas clothing day tomorrow so it’s going to be a grand day 😁

After work today I need to pick up a couple of presents without paddy realising they are for him! He’s been after an iPad and Apple Watch for years, but he would never buy them for himself. I’ve completely pushed the boat out and got him both, but I work hard for my money and he deserves it for all the support and happiness he gives me, so I don’t care
Also need to pick up my Grandads Fitbit, he’s wanted one for ages as even though he’s 80 he loves walking, so he will be really happy too

In a lot of pain this morning, it’s my back and hip which really isn’t fun but hey ho that’s life! I see the physio later, but it’s just an initial consultation so I don’t think much will be done. If anything even can be done as it’s just pregnancy I think!

Mrs - sort of right on the description, brown hair and brown eyes though plus olive skin, the complete opposite to the rest of my family who are mainly blonde with blue eyes and fair skinned or red haired with green eyes and fair skinned
I hope your dads test results come back good today my lovely, at least you should know more soon
I am thinking of Addie and the amazing life I am going to give her, and I’m damn sure making sure she doesn’t get dragged in to any of my families pathetic games! I will be changing my number later, as I’m fed up of the barrages of abuse texts I keep getting, and no matter how many times I block their numbers they just send them off new ones! Pathetic, pathetic people.

Wheelie - We have wrapped Mav’s tower for Christmas (yes we are that sad) but I will definitely be putting pics up when we assemble it he likes to sit on the wee coffee table in the hallway that I put up yesterday, he’s testing out my handy work I’m okay now thank you lovely, everything felt too much yesterday, but I’m back to my happy self today
I love the fireplace it looks amazing!! I love the colour of your floors too, beautiful! I think I will do stockings on Christmas Eve for Addie, this time next year she will be here and making traditions with mummy and paddy
I’m sorry to hear your anemic and need transfusions, that sucks! I hope everything goes well Monday

Seafood - thank you lovely

Apologies if I’ve missed anyone, haven’t had my coffee yet

12

Morning! I'm on the late today so everything is an hour later today. Found out I didn't get that job yesterday; I've never had such a poor bloody run of interviews. Frankly, I'm bored of them now!

Sorry about your family, Acey. Not sure why you're the black sheep when they're the ones who swerved the funeral. 🤷‍♀️

Seafood, how did you end up so far away from the school? Sounds like a nightmare situation. Are you rural?

Wheelie, I hope you can sort the anaemia out. I was anaemia briefly as a child. I'm totally the opposite now and hoard iron like a girder! 😂 Even after my c-sections my iron levels were above normal. The midwives were very impressed! Do you have the liquid iron supplements there? I hear they're absorbed more readily than tablets. Do you take that kind of thing on top of the iron transfusion? Your fireplace is lovely too!

Morning all
Not long now!!!
Fluffy that is a disappointment they are fools if they knew how brilliant and conscientious you are then it would be a done deal, never mind onward and upward bound to get the next one, take heart ! Have a great day and think like this, it's your Friday ....YAY!!
Acey don't take any heed of them they sound a poisonous lot , cwtch with Grandad , Addie and Paddy and just let them all go over your head like l have to do with my poisonous DSis! love that you have wrapped Mav's tower , you have spoilt Paddy but he deserves it bless you and your generous heart
Wheelie sorry to hear you are anaemic again mdear , hope you are better soon from that
Your fireplace is a triumph excellent well done ! You must love it !
Seafood my Dsis is just hopeless you are right, l need to ignore her because she is so unreasonable and just shouts me down all the time.
How is your DD now l so hope she is much better sweetie
I had better shift , shopio for the parents then the Drs will let you know this evening any news , fingers crossed we can at least have a Christmas to remember with them
Have a great day everyone

wheels that is a long time to wait, I was hoping you didn't have same problems as here.

Acey woah very very generous gift giving! I think their combined cost is probably more than I've spent on all our relatives! I'm sure he'll be over the moon :) They do start treatment on the first one, it's why the first appointment costs more because it's consultation plus treatment - follow ups are shorter as they know what work you need doing without checking too much, I hope it helps your back feel better quickly.

Fluffy It's not a huge difference on paper, it's just over 2 miles on paper but it's a really hilly place the walk takes 40 minutes, if I wasn't pregnant I would walk it more often but my hips make that impossible right now - pushing however much a double with two toddlers weighs up 2 hills and 1 small hill, because it goes up and down there are hills regardless of which way you're walking. We picked the school over the local one because it suited him better, he's very shy and struggles with change so we picked that one when we moved home, hopefully I'll only need lessons for a couple more months and can drive.

Mrsmad she's much better this morning, ate breakfast for the first time in ages! she was up coughing most of the night and kept us awake so I hope that goes soon. Good luck with the doctors appointment, I hope they have good news for you. .

I don't know what she has to shout at you for, you practically do everything! it's probably a defensive thing so she can't be held to order on how little she does. I would hint to her that if she keeps meddling you'll start delegating jobs to her, it might make her back off.

Morning!

Wheelie most primary schools do Christmas Jumper Day here, it's a fundraiser for Save the Children. DD's adamant that her Christmas jumper's going in the charity bag on Friday night! DS2 will wear his until next winter, when I'll get him 2 sizes up.

I have to tone down the chillies in the empanadas for the DC, I put loads in mine.

My mum's anaemic too, it makes her feel the cold much more.

Sorry to hear you didn't get the job Fluffy.

Did my usual looking at Christmassy things, having halloumi, eggs, mushrooms, a tomato, beans, hash browns and toast, a banana and Christmas coffee, Stop the Cavalry in the background.

Love an early finish! Haven’t caught up yet as we have so much to do today.
There’s no way we can afford to carpet / laminate the whole house at once, so what we’ve done is buy cheap stick on floor tiles as a temporary measure. They actually look surprisingly good, they may not match completely due to having to be cut but I really don’t care, it’s so much better than the hard concrete floor.
Right got to go, physio soon and need to go shopping and pick up paddy’s presents.
Have a grand day everyone!

Argh I can't possibly catch up! How is everyone? Have I missed anything major?

I have discovered Christmas villages, does anyone have one?

I've just googled them Redgreen my granny would have absolutely loved them! She was into Christmassy things in a big way. We even bought her Christmassy things and kept them for her birthday in August!

Physio says sciatica :( unfortunately, there is no full cure until Addie is born, and even then it may not go away straight away. However, he has worked some magic and relieved some of the pain and tension! I will be seeing him once a week :)

Got to go pick up paddy’s presents now, and distract him so he isnt paying attention 😂

Will catch up tonight!

No, we don't have a Christmas Village Red, I think DH would lose his rag entirely if I started one. Although I do a thorough examination of every one I find in good garden centres and Christmas stores.....

Your floor looks lovely Acey. I hope the family have backed off again.

I hope the results are good for DF today MrsMad. And that they get what they want at the shops.

We also had a dr's visit this morning - DD this time. So all 3 of us have been to dr this week....and I probably went a few days too early (I went for a regular visit, but now have quite a sore throat - it can go b*er off though until after 26th!!). DH home late tonight, my haircut is tonight as well, and then collect DD (and 2 others!) from Scouts tonight - they're ice skating in town. Jobs getting ticked off lists - both regular admin jobs (like paying annual house alarm and quarterly car parking bills), Christmas jobs (collected DH's seasonal beers yesterday), and ordinary housework (lots of clean things to fold yet, but there is nothing in the dirty laundry hamper). I will write my overseas cards over lunch, and then I am going early so on the way home I will collect the badges to award Cubs on Saturday morning at the end of year party (I should get time to write my speech before then too!).

I thought I was done and have had some bargains and good ideas from this thread but I have one more gift to buy and I really need your help

We have been invited to dinner, they are a family who are lovely but don’t necessarily want for anything, lovely home etc quite into designer and high end high street. Youngish couple (mid 30s) and have three dc, ds 7 ds 11, dd 15
Help!!!

Will try and catch up tonight....hope everyone is ok

Haven’t put the carry cot on yet but it’s sooooo pretty 😍

Acey I'm glad your are feeling better! I think Mav will love unwrapping a present at Christmas. I was considering getting the kittens little stockings and filling them with their favorite toys and catnip lol

Re: Sciatica I carried my babies super low and had bad sciatica all my pregnancies and one thing that helped was get on your hands and knees and rock forwards and backwards really slowly. IT won't help completely but it helps take some pressure off the nerve.

Those stick on tiles will last you a good long while too. I have a friend who did them in her kitchen because the cost was so cheap haha

Fluffy we do have liquid iron but when it gets to the point I am at (3.4 and I should be over 11) the best thing is iv iron because it goes directly into your blood and just seems to be absorbed best.

I'm sorry you didn't get the job. Hopefully there's something amazing coming up soon and you just have to be patient which is hard I know lol

Mrs Thank you!! Last night I decorated the fireplace and hung my girls stockings on it! It looks so festive and I love it.

Good luck to your parents today!! I hope you all have a relaxing day even with doctors

seafood Unfortunately it seems like waits are common almost always. Part of the problem is we have to see certain specialists that know our disorder so they are in very high demand. There just aren't enough good doctors.

If your Dsis shouts at you all the time? She honestly sounds like an unpleasant and probably very unhappy person. I've discovered people who hate their own lives tend to talk crap and down on people who are very happy.

PSB Ohhh that's fabulous. I love that idea. Since my kids are homeschooled most days are jammies day and right now everyday is Christmas jumper day hahaha

I feel for your mom. I'm always ice cold and I bet my anaemia has something to do with it too.

redgreen Christmas villages are a big thing here. My husband's grandfather had one that he put on a shelf in their living room that went the whole room. He had a train that went between the houses too. I keep considering getting some little village houses for my little forest that I've shared with you guys here.

Biddy You are always so busy and on the run. I'm amazed at you. I've had two appointments this week, the kids one, and blood work and I'm exhausted and not even getting out of my jammies today haha

Carbs I'd probably take little keepsake items for the parents and then just like do you guys have blind bags over there? There's little figures in them and they are for tv shows or games and you don't know what's inside until they open them? They are really popular with teens in the USA.

acey That is amazing!!! All the flamingos!!

Here's my fireplace with all it's lights and the kids stockings. And now I have a story of Christmas cheer that I think will cheer you all up. It's a big of a tell though.

So my daughter Calypso I've mentioned. So when she was a day old we found a little stuffed unicorn in the hospital gift shop. It stayed with her in the NICU for the next 22 days until she passed and was with her when she passed away. We still have it and I got another for me. Well then in October of this year I discovered Scentsy had released these plush scent buddies and one of them this year was called Calypso the Unicorn. They had already stopped producing it in October though. So I've been periodically reaching out to sellers to find out if anyone had a Calypso the unicorn. I emailed a very popular seller and she decided to go on a hunt and ask all the sellers she knew (a lot) if they had a Calypso. So she messaged me yesterday and tells me she has a Calypso in hand and give her my address and my paypal address and tell me how much it costs and that she'll invoice me ($48 with shipping) By the evening I hadn't got the invoice so I messaged her. She tells me there won't be an invoice because her and her teenage daughter wanted me to have Calypso for free and they are mailing her to me today!!! I cried and cried and I can't wait to get her. I'll share a photo of her too

Afternoon!
We’ve just got home and I’m about to put dinner on; pork chops, mash & broccoli cheese

On the way to shopping paddy said he had to pick up some of my presents, so we split up and went in opposite directions so as to not see what we’ve got each other we ended our shopping trip with a lovely Christmas brûlée latte and Apple streusel cake

Addie is going wild today, she had a quiet day yesterday which hella worried me, but my midwife said she had probably moved and was kicking backwards instead of forwards. She also said it’s from 28 weeks when you really need to count kicks, but to always ring if worried! I’ve accepted the fact I’m never going to stop worrying about her

Mrs - I really hope it was good news for you all today! You are right, I have to just smile and ignore them! I have completely washed my hands of them now, I don’t have the time or inclination to deal with their constant drama and belittlement of me! He certainly does deserve it as does my grandad, and mavvy too

Fluffy - I’ve no idea why either but hey ho that’s life! Sorry to hear you didn’t get the job, it’s their loss and I’m sure something perfect will come along for you soon!

Sea - I wouldn’t normally spend this much, but it’s been a royally shit year (excuse my language) aside from falling pregnant with my wee miracle Addie, and paddy has been invaluable to me, so he deserves a treat! I’ve been buying for him and my grandad all year long, so they have a lot to open and I can’t wait to see their faces! Ah that makes sense, thank you for your knowledge it’s all done privately through work so I was very happy to be seen quickly! It’s not complete relief but my god it’s so much better! I’m on strict orders to take it easy though, no more painting and heavy lifting etc as it’s doing me no favours! I don’t know how you manage the hills, I think I’d cry every time I left the house 😂

Thank you biddy - I’ve got a new number so they can’t contact me, fingers crossed this is the end of it :)

Wheelie - thank you he also has a stocking and a couple of other presents under the tree, he’s my wee baby though so who cares if I look crazy
Thank you for the advice, I will give that a go, and also pre warn paddy else he will think I’ve lost my mind or gone into labour LOL.
I’m really pleased with how they’ve turned out, and they are hella cheap!
Haha, that’s what I said to paddy ‘LOOK AT ALL THE FLAMINGOESSSSSSS’
Love, love, love the fireplace, it looks grand and so festive!
That story made me bawl like a baby, it’s so beautiful and what a wonderful thing for them to do! I can’t wait to see a photo!
It’s an Irish tradition that on Xmas eve, the youngest in the family lights a single candle and places it in the window. People do it for different reasons, but we do it to remember loved ones who we have lost and to honour their memories. This year I will be lighting it for my dad, and also for Calypso. Your story and strength has touched me beyond words could ever say, and made me cherish Addie even more than I do already ❤️

We got Addie a Christmas outfit for next year, couldn’t resist when it was reduced and in her size

Right better get dinner on as I’m so hungry!
Apologies if I’ve missed anyone, I quickly skimmed through!