Countdown to Christmas 2022: spring has sprung, bring on the longer days! Thread 2.

[NoWordForFluffy]

Here we go...thread 2.

@crazybaubles needs to do her thing on the last thread. Bruce, Bruce, we want Bruce!

Morning. Sat at my desk and wishing it was time to log off already.

We wasted this weekend - spent Saturday just mooching around the house not really getting much done (except planning the dream extension) then used yesterday to sort the house and garden.

I potted on my chillis and sunflowers (2 of the 4 seeds I planted have grown so I also planted 2 more), my carrot seeds are sown and I repotted a little aloe plant I have that seems to be dying and I have no idea why.

Blue skies and sunny here but the wind is bloody freezing - not great for me while working in the coldest room in the house 🥶

I think you're going about it the right way dreaming - this way you'll be away from home for a reason rather than doing it just to push yourself.
Obviously you don't need to answer here but have you considered / are you having any counselling and/or meds? My dm suffered quite badly with anxiety but a course of counselling (plus a maintenance session every so often) and medication has made a massive difference.

Also, what's next on your list for decorating?

Oh, sunflowers! I need to sow mine, Crazy. Thanks for the reminder!

I haven't potted my chillies on yet as they'd need to go into the greenhouse and the nights are too cold this week. Next weekend, maybe.

Dreaming, is this an issue since you moved, or did you have it before? CBT is a good idea.

I strongly suspect that I have CPTSD due to childhood emotional abuse. I have had CBT in the past but need trauma focused therapy I think. Just in the process of going through health insurance to see a psychiatrist for an actual diagnosis. I can’t carry on as I am. I can’t work, I can’t go on a proper holiday, I struggle to even go on day trips without DH. I have built myself a very safe, small world but I don’t want to spend the rest of my life limiting myself this much.

my symptoms have been my entire life but have worsened considerably since having DS which my last therapist said is extremely common when dealing with childhood abuse. There are effective therapies out there though (trauma focused CBT and EMDR being the main ones) so just need to find the right person.

You're welcome for the reminder Fluffy.

My chillis are still in the conservatory but I initially had 2 in a smallish pot so I've separated them out so they have a pot each for now.

I also put some seeds from a pepper I bought in Sains into the propagator (saw it on Fb and thought I might as well try it) and they suddenly came up with some green shoots this weekend.

Dreaming I think you're similar to my dm. She has told me she started to struggle when I was a toddler, then she had my sister and essentially stopped doing much of anything. She definitely didn't take us anywhere on her own for a long time.
I think some basic counselling and meds started helping when I was around 10 and she built things up over time.
3 years ago her sister (my lovely auntie) passed away and it sort of opened the floodgates of what happened in her childhood - My dad found her a specialised counsellor (not sure what type it was though) and it helped loads - she's better now than she's ever been.
I hope you can access the support you need

Goodness Dreaming I had no idea that you had such complex reasons for being reluctant to travel. I didn't mean to make it sound like it was a touch of separation anxiety. I'm sorry if my post sounded dismissive.

Not at all woolly! I am myself only just really confronting everything and sorting it out in my mind.

I’m glad your mum got the help she needed crazy!

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Morning!

Busy day today. Lots to do. As ever! 🤣

We succumbed to 30 mins' heating last night as the front room was only 16.6°. 🥶🥶🥶

We had it on last night for half an hour or so too, and it kicked in this morning when I got up.
DH off out for brunch today, so I'm pondering whether to shop/browse or do some cleaning...I think it will be option 1.

Morning. Mn is still being shit then.

Dreaming I hope things improve for you.

I'm so tired, ds and I got home at 11:40 last night. He was allowed into school late so we've had a slow morning. I'm probably going to go back to bed once I've hung the washing out...

Ooh puss, what have you bought?

Wreck a nap sounds like a good plan, I don't blame you.

It's very sunny and warm here so I've emptied the wash basket and have been working alone while ddog has abandoned me to sunbathe in the garden 😎

I had a nap. Could do with another one! Will have an early night tonight.

My electricity fixed rate is coming to an end. I don't know if I should fix now or not? Anyone know what the current advice is? Any googling just brings up things from before the last price rise.

Don't fix. You'll be robbed blind!

We had to have 30 mins' heating again tonight. It's really not warm right now!

I was also forced to buy a third litre of Bailey's for the Christmas stash to make our shopping up to £40 for the delivery today. Paid for with points, obvs!

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I put a reply on yesterday and it's vanished...
Crazy a glass worktop saver with cute fox cubs on, a tiny Japanese Maple and some groceries.
Couldn't keep my eyes open last night, so went to bed at 9...still yawning now. 😴

Morning!

Thanks fluffy I guess I'm worried about what will happen in October. We can have the standard rate for £160 a month (estimated) or fix for £219 a month so I assume even if it goes up it is unlikely to go up more than £219 so we might as well not fix and stick with the lower one for now? (Hope that makes sense). Also we are obviously still hoping to move...

Back to work today for the first time since before Easter

Morning!

Sounds like a good haul, Puss.

Wreck, what are the unit rates on those two? I can tell you then.

Morning all

energy prices are just crazy now. Thankfully we haven’t needed the heating for about a month.

i haven’t done any Christmas prep yet but have £50 in nectar points at least.

Dreaming, the only prep here so far is Bailey's, wine, bamboo Christmas socks for the kids and making mincemeat! I'm not sure I'm doing that well!

I've £231 in Nectar points but have spent about £90 already on booze and mincemeat ingredients!

My Nectar points seem to have dried up a bit. I think there's just under £50. They keep offering extra points on stuff I don't want to buy. 🤦‍♀️
Wreck Check to see if you're paying more in standing charge on the fixes.
Our fix finishes in June, DH has already said we're probably staying on the standard rate. Hopefully the new CH boiler means we'll be using a lot less gas too.

The glass worktop protector sounds cute puss

Our fixed rate ended in March and we've just gone on to the standard for now. Our direct debit has increased from £70 per month to £110 but the best fixed we could get was £170 so for us it was definitely the right decision for now!

We've also not had the heating on for 10 days. Although the evenings are a bit chilly I've made do with a blanket on the sofa and DH has insisted he's warm enough.

No Christmas prep done here apart from buying myself stuff I've bought myself a Christmas t shirt and Christmas purse in sales but that's about it.
I am working on a Christmas card cross stitch if that counts?

I keep getting bonus points on a) things which aren't in stock and b) things I don't want / need. A drives me more mad than b!

Crazy, I'm working on a Nutcracker cross stitch. I forgot that!

Ooh I am also working on a nutcracker Christmas card cross stitch!

Careful, you two...you know what @nerosnewfiddle is like for Nutcrackers...😂