On your marks, get set, go...it's the countdown to Christmas 2020. Thread 1!

[ThatsMySantaHisBeardIsSoFluffy]

366

Afternoon.

Here we go again! It feels slightly bonkers setting off again before today is over, but it's tradition, so who am I to argue?!

Well done Mrs on being brave xx

Ooooh flouncy were the sweetpeas seeds or plants? (I am a fair distance from Morrisons but I could swing on by there ...........)

I haven't planted snowdrops for ages , years ago I bought snowdrops-in-the-green (plants not bulbs) they grew really well but I think they got destroyed in building work.

I need to get the nasturiums ready soon ( I start indoors) we want loads of leaves rather than flowers so lots of compost and feed . (If you want flowers put stones in the compost and 'starve' them)
We get cabbage white butterflies a-calling , really nice to see them hatch and grow

Last Feb our old girl guinea-pig had some grazing time , it must've been really warm because we guarded her like fine china. (Hutch in the run , grass bone dry )

Lovely dog PJ
Fanny he is forever banned from attending or even peeking at an online sale ever ever again!

PJ thank you m;dear , it was all down to Fluffy she gave me the courage to challenge them . l REALLY think something must have gone wrong with their system tbh . Anyway he is banned , banned l tell you

70 that was lovely for your darling old GP bless her l bet she loved it

Oh I love Collies!

So after feeling very pleased that DS' school application was all done our second choice has just gone into special measures and we only have 5 days to make a final decision

350

Morning!

Em, what a nightmare. Do you have many schools near to you to choose from?

70, it was warm last Feb as we have photos of the kids playing outside in short sleeves!

I need more seed trays and I need to get outside and wash my pots too. Maybe on Sunday as I'm at the allotment tomorrow.

I'm trying not to start things too early this year (it's hard, as you just want to get growing) as you end up with a house full of small plants which really should be outside when it's not quite warm enough for them!

I've got my bulbs for flowers, plus I sowed two boxes of wildflower seeds. I also have some other packs that I'm going to sow when the time is right. Flowers bring bees to pollinate the fruit and veg!

We live in a city so loads of schools just hard to find ones we like! They are mostly massive 3 form entry ones and coming from a small town they just seem so big to me and I worry about my little boy getting lost and upset. Probably massively overthinking it though.

Feb half term last year was very warm. It was that freak heatwave.

Off to sign for the allotment today and also going to measure it so I can start planning. Definitely going to do a wildlife area with lots of wildflowers :)

Emrys it's not the worst thing. They'll have loads of money pumped into them. I know a couple of schools who had scathing ofsted reviews and they turned it round really quickly. Remember why you chose that one in the first place. What has the report said?

I'm off to get my car battery done today and collect food shopping. Annoying as it means I can't go to Aldi so have spent more than usual.

Morning!!

My kids school didn't do well a few years ago, now it's one of the most popular in town, they are improving every single year too.

2 jobs today, the school one, then my hospital one boooo.

Morning everyone 😀
Em that's really anxiety making for you m'dear. Why did they send it into special measures? That may give you some relief especially if it's easily sorted by more money for staff employm
ent. Em great plans for the allotment 😄

Fluffy great idea re the wildflowers, we just have to support nature and it's such an easy lovely thing to do 🤗
Wreck have a good day off and try to chill today, it's been a bit stressful for you lately 💐
Better shift up Mum's , have a lovely day everyone 😀

PJ have a good day at work and even though it's a busy day for you think how much you are helping others by it💐. Also helping the bank balance 😄 & keeping you busy so no time to nibble on the post Christmas left over tubs of sweeties 🤪😋😄 it's a win!

Mrs I'm a bit excited because there's a matalan, b&m and home bargains which I never get to go to so will have a look there too!

That's fabulous Wreck 😄
You enjoy yourself, you deserve a break 🤗
They had loads of stuff reduced in Matalan here. B&M are always excellent bargains too. Have a great day out m'dear 🤗

I am sitting on my hands to avoid looking at coats (for next year) in the sale .
I bought one from Asda in about Sept and it's been really useful, (I cannot wear anything too warm -menopausal flushes) but it'll last another couple of winters. (It's faux down filled )

I don't want to buy just because (and I'm on Low Spend 2020) but next year I'll wail and whine that I want A New Coat .

Might have a look , it cannot hurt , and DD quite firmly takes things out of my claw like hands and says There's a reason why that's on the Sale Rail

Your DD is right ! 😂
Am also trying to get some sense to my budgeting plans / present buying 70 😄
Best shift am at Mum's 😄

Morning all.

I'm also trying to refrain from buying anything in the sale but dd needs yet another pair of shoes. I've bought the clarks measuring gauge on amazon and I'm just going to buy either second had shoes on eBay or just buy them in Asda. I know I should be buying good quality shoes at her age but she has massive feet and grows out of them in about 4 weeks.
I don't know where she gets it from because I have tiny feet and can still buy in the children's section. If we keep going at this rate she'll have to have adult shoes for school .

Congrats Emrys and enjoy the planning!!

70s and Neros, do you need the things you are looking at? - your DD speaks much sense 70s!! (I empathise Neros - DD went from a size 4 in September of 2018 starting 1st year, to a size 8 by May!! Which meant new school shoes twice, new runners 3 times AND new hockey shoes 3 times!! At least she only needed 1 pair of hiking boots (she'd done the main spurt by the time they were needed) and had given up soccer and gaelic so no more studs needed)...

I hope your DM is doing ok MrsMad.

I'm not too worried about the standards side of things to be honest wreck as I know that will get fixed quickly. My concern is that the report mentions fractured relationships between staff and someone we know says the leadership team is toxic and everyone hates the head.

That doesn't sound healthy, Em.

FWIW, our school is a 4 form entry, and it's fine. It feels smaller! Shy DS loves it too.

Biddy , I'd looked at the long non-down coats last year , so if there is one in my size (unlikely , they all seem to be XS or S now) then I could put it aside .

I took a very warm coat to the Charity Shop in November because it was too warm for me .

I don;t tend to buy things unless I can say "Yes I would buy this at full price" there is a lot of tat out there .

Once it's warmer I'll wash my Asda coat and see how it goes (it should be fine)

I fancy a buff pink coat but I'd look (in DD words) like a Giant Prawn.

(There were some M&S sale coats but I'd already tried them on instore in about October and they didn't suit me . So no point even at 50% off )

If there's any nice Christmas things I'm going to push DD into Holisters while I buy them and hide them in the Christmas Cupboard

Thanks fluffy that is reassuring to know. We have removed the second choice and left the big school as second choice.

I think staff morale being low is never a good sign. Sounds like they need a new head (they will probably get one now)

Wow fluffy that's big. The biggest we have round here is two form entry and that's 20 miles away in the city. I have been to a four form entry school once in Crawley and it seemed v nice. My colleagues from places like that laugh at me and my small schools I go to I carry wellies in the boot of the car for some of them.

Car all sorted, food collected. I got dd two bras and a nightie and ds some socks in matalan then a couple of food bits I'm b&m and home bargains but spent less than £10 on those.

I just did a work out now I'm booking bacon and halloumi for lunch