Let's not forget about romance and love...grab your Valentine and join the Countdown to Christmas, thread 2!

[NoWordForFluffy]

Here we go, brand spanking new thread.

If you could finish the old one off first, that would be great!

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Woolly Thank you so much for saying that about my auntie. It's a really nice way to think about it.
I hope you don't mind but I just want people to know how lovely she was. She always took in and rescued animals - she had a way with them, whether it was birds or cats or horses. She was so gentle and they always seemed to know she meant no harm.
The only time I ever saw her raise her voice or argue was when she was sticking up for her children (always remember her shouting at a hospital dr because they were trying to send her home saying my cousin was fine. She refused and he had his second epileptic fit an hour or so later). The world is a sadder place without her.

I can't imagine how hard Mother's Day will be for you 💐 Maybe put a face on for the morning and lunch then give yourself some time in the afternoon to just be sad if you need to. If I remember rightly, your dc are old enough to understand?

Cish I hope you have a nice time tonight!

Fluffy do you have any cross stitches lined up for when your shoulder is better?
I would say about the bruising, when I had my op just after Christmas, the external bruising disappeared a lot faster than the internal - it was sore for a few weeks after the outside looked fine - sorry!

PSB I hope DS is feeling better soon.

I stuck to my part of my plan yesterday and finished work on time. DH had made a plan to go out for a curry with some friends and forgot to tell me but they invited me along so that was nice. Was home, PJs on and reading on sofa by 9, in bed and asleep by 10:45 and I didn't wake up until 7:30 which is amazing for me!

I'm feeling productive today - I have put my washing machine on to its monthly hot cycle to clean itself, cleaned downstairs and eaten a bacon and egg sandwich.
Will clean upstairs soon (although DH is doing his share) then may watch the local rugby team play.

What is everyone else up to today?

Morning all.

We came back from Center Parcs yesterday. It was an amazing break and the dc had a great time. The only down side was the boat on the way back was really bad.

Afternoon. Busy day here, kind of (everything takes way longer with one hand so it's not my usual busy, just feels it!).

Crazy, sounds like a lovely evening yesterday for you; just what you needed!

I've got those 3 cross stitches I bought a while ago to do when I have two arms again, the bird ones.

And actually it makes me realise the internal aching is normal, from what you've said, so you've helped me! 😁

I've been to a kids' party and potted about 50 seedlings on today, one-handed, solo. Get me! 😂 Just need to get them back under the daylight bulbs upstairs.

I'm feeling a bit less tired today, so that's a good thing. I'm still amazed how much surgery takes it out of you.

Oh hell, Nero. Were you all 🤮🤮 The Irish Sea is awful.

I'm glad you enjoyed it though.

Evening everyone
Been up the parents as per, popped to the shops after then went to see my NDN so been a bit busy today .
Just settled down to the telly and a cuppa so thought l would pop in and see what everyone has been doing
Crazy, your Aunt sounded like a lovely person l can see why you want to tell us about her
Nero, your Center Parc break sounded lovely, pity about the rough crossing though but not long before the Irish one is up and running
Fluffy well done on the planting and the Kids party , soon be able to do everything you want to m'dear
Going to have some tea now, think it is roast pork salad tonight , my DH is going to do it for us he is an angel
Have a great evening everyone

Hello all. I used to post on here a lot (redgreen) but have been absent a while. As my username suggests I have recently found out that DH has amassed a lot of secret debt which has been pretty devastating and we will be paying it off over the next few years.

Therefore I am starting to think about Christmas and ways to keep the cost down, suggestions much appreciated!

How is everyone doing?

Yes Fluffy, but I have children who, faced with something they don't like, would go hungry.

I hated the Irish Sea crossing, I was always very sick!

Secret We don't have a lot of money, save your loyalty points for Christmas, ours pay for meat, a bottle of port, puddings, chocolates, beer, naice juice and an extra present each.

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Morning! Lovely day here. Might have to get outside a bit today!

Red, I'm so sorry to hear about your husband, it must've been a shock. I'd suggest maybe budgeting / buying through the year to get things on offer etc. There's always sales about, so keep an eye out for these year round.

I hope your (not new anymore) job is going well. Are you still enjoying it?

PSB, my kids are no different to yours. But they'd both eat rice, apples and toast and DS would also eat bananas. Won't your DS eat those? He can't carry on with bouts of diarrhoea though, can he, poor boy.

Maybe sticking to home-cooked and prepared food for a while might help as you know exactly what he's eating with regard to RDAs / nutrients etc? Tasty but plain food to settle his tummy.

Or could he have developed a short term intolerance to something? Might be worth doing food elimination with him? See if it stops when something specific is removed. Some people get temporary lactose intolerance after a stomach bug, for instance. Or some people just develop intolerances generally. Worth thinking about.

Secret I wondered where you'd gone. You're local to me I believe (s Wales)?
I'm sorry to hear about your H's debts. Are you doing ok (as a couple I mean)?

Costs down for Christmas - I know not everyone agrees but I regift things, particularly bottles of booze and smellies sets.
Set a budget and stick to it - going £5 over on a few people will soon add up as I remember every year
As Fluffy said, maybe aim to buy something each week / month. If you go to Sainsbury's/ Asda / Tesco to do your food shopping, they tend to have games, clothes, home wares etc in store so putting one in the trolley is less painful than buying a huge haul in November.

It's a really nice bright day here so I think we'll go for a gentle dog walk later (I'm on a new blood pressure med and as a lovely side effect, I have swollen ankles 🙄).
Then I'll be doing a roast as we haven't had a home Cooked one in ages, then have some sewing to do - mending and another badge for DHs backpack.

We're trying it today Fluffy, I don't think he'll eat much.

Also Secret, Asda's really good value for toys.

The other alternative is stick with the normal diet and keep a comprehensive food diary. You'd be asked to do one anyway, most likely, if another sample shows no infection, so you could get a march on it by starting now. At least you might see a pattern as to what foods trigger loose poo, which would help you then remove or reduce from diet.

This is an interesting study about diet and ADHD which might be of interest, PSB. I think I recall you saying something about your DS being suspected as having it?

Yes, it's almost certain Fluffy. He also seems to metabolise carbs into sugar very quickly, then burn it off quickly and crash.

Had coq au vin with potato gratin for lunch, beef madras for supper, DS2 was in bed by 6.15, DD by 8.25. 😋🍗🍷😋🍛😴

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Morning! Drinking coffee, watching Ninjago. 😋

Afternoon.

We've had a productive day today. I gave lots of instructions to DH on the allotment and also got more seeds sown in trays at home ready to plant when they're big enough and I'm fit enough. It's been a gorgeous gardening day today too!

I'm starting to get some energy back now, thankfully. I must be on the mend. 😊

Good evening all. So a sickness bug hitting my DB's house resulted in him looking after DC's at our house on sat rather than them sleeping over at his. It was a lovely evening but the late night combined with the very early morning has resulted in me feeling like a zombie for the best part of two days.

FIL had already made DC's dinner before i got in tonight. DH is out playing darts so im sat on the sofa eating chocolate biscuits because i cant be bothered cooking. Im planning on being in bed soon.

Morning all. I'm trying to get on here everyday but sometimes life takes over.
We had a great time in Center Parcs but you are right, the Irish Sea can be hell. Dd and I were really sick along with quite a few others. Some people though must have stomachs of steel because they were throwing back the drink and eating all round them. But only have to do the round trip once more before Irish Center Parcs opens.

It'll be a lazy day kind of today. We are getting a bit of work done so I need to stay in to supervise the work men.

Morning all, you have all been very busy!!

Our Cub pack had their first overnight trip of the year at the weekend, 17 of the 23 active members came for the hike/overnight, 2 went home (homesick) in the evening, 1 set of parents had to come to check out an injury but the tears there were to let the Cub stay (nasty cut, but enough steri-strips pulling it together worked and Parents were happy if I was to keep her - once Cub was no longer in a panic, it was fine). And 1 more who couldn't stay overnight did arrive up in the morning. So not a bad turn out.

I had taken yesterday off, in the expectation of being tired. Lucky I had, as the tent was blooming cold Saturday night (there were enough beds for everyone, but the layout of rooms and the need for various gender and age splits meant there was only 1 room for adults and I couldn't share with the 3 male leaders, so 1 or 3 out in tents? I felt it was fairer that it was just me. The 2 Scout Helpers also had a separate tent). I went to bed at 9.30 on Sunday night, and slept until 5.30 PM yesterday. PM!!! I NEVER do that!! But it was built up over months and I do feel a bit better today for it.

I'm still going to take Thursday off though, to finish up my leave before the year end at the weekend, and try to make some progress on my list of jobs I had intended doing yesterday.

Nero, any word on WHEN CP is opening in Roscommon? We are looking forward to trying it out too!!

Biddy it's in Longford and I think it's opening in August, but don't quote me on it. We've booked for November. It'll be the first week of the winter wonderland and we can't wait.

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Afternoon. We've been to the allotment again today. The flower area is almost fully-weeded so I'll go back on Thurs to get it, and between the onions, done.

My shoulder aches today a bit, hopefully it's because it's healing and nothing sinister.

Biddy, epic sleep or what?!! You must've been exhausted. Did you sleep last night though?

Nero, enjoy your lazy day. It sounds ideal!

Sorry Neros - I keep thinking of "Lough Ree oh Lough Ree, where the 3 counties meet, Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon", and then forgetting which one I mean....We are pondering a late autumn quiet weekend but it looked seriously expensive! (Like, mid-summer full week in Sherwood Forest expensive!) - maybe I will have another look and it will have dropped slightly.....

Fluffy I presume that means you had the surgery and all is going well?

And yes, I slept from 10.30 last night until 7am this morning without a problem!! I think I really really needed it!

Biddy we got Monday to Fri in a 3 bed executive lodge for €449. Though I think weekends would probably be dearer. We got last week in Center parcs Whinfell for £349 because although we had a bank holiday here there wasn't one in England.

Fluffy hoping it's just your shoulder healing. Does it feel like a bruised pain or something different?

Biddy, yes, I had it on 7th. It went well, apparently! I'm now left / only-handed for weeks.

Nero, after reading your post I touched my shoulder and it's sore where it aches, so I'm assuming it's caused by internal bruising. Would you think that's feasible?