Countdown to Christmas 2023: get past the post-Christmas slump by thinking about the next one! (Thread 1.)

[NoWordForFluffy]

364

Morning (just)!

I failed at eating yesterday which meant I got blotto far too early and wasn't well. Oops! 🙈

But we had a great time anyway and I avoided having to tidy up!

Countdown to next year is go go go! 🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻

I've got some wrapping paper and tissue but I don't really start buying gifts until the new academic year starts. My earlier planning tends to centre on food and crafts.

348

Morning.

Wet and windy yesterday. Windy today, but hopefully not as wet!

I struggled to wake up today. Think it's the amitriptyline. I either can't sleep for pain or can't wake due to the painkiller. 🤷‍♀️

Hello all!

Nothing much going on here - I've just added some notes to "Mum book" for future reference but need to concentrate on dd1's 16th birthday over the next week ish.

Tesco's just been & I've added the first things to the Christmas box - tea and coffee (don't worry; the dates are fine!). I find it easier to order the everyday stuff earlier in the year, then a couple of months of festive stuff, then my Christmas shop is mainly fresh from Tesco and a trip to the market on Christmas Eve. Feels nice having made a start.

I'm just about to transfer a list from last year's diary to a notebook, then I can destroy the diary. It was only used for 'diary dates' apart from this one list, so probably normal recycling once I check through it.

Anyway, enough waffle, on with the list then frozen pizzas for tea & then pin some trousers to take up.

I almost forgot - any ideas for small gifts beginning with "L", for the Lucy my name refers to. They don't need to be incredibly personal - she's asked for a couple of things she'll be given as well, but 16 small gifts beginning with "L" sounds fun to do. I'm going to order the lavender edition of Midnights by T.S. but haven't got further than that yet 🤔

Lollipops
Lipgloss/balm
Lunchbox
Liquorice
Lights
Laces
Lillies

Leggings
Loofah
Locket
Luggage Tag
Love Heart Sweets
Lashes (?)

Hello , I'm back

The amount of Christmas Decorations still up was amazing !
Houses, pubs even large shopping centre , still be-decked and a Christmas Shop (50% off ) which I resisted as I'd have to carry it all myself .

I made some bloody lovely tomatoe soup in the soup maker (had some very squidgey tomatoes, fried onion, basil, oregano, tomato puree , tinned plum tomato and Marigold bouillon) not spicey and vegan.
Delicious .

I'm taking DD shopping tomorrow , I might sneak a look in M&S and John Lewis sales if there's anything interesting , but I don't think there will by now .

Ah, if we’ve doing it by initials I’m a bit stuck, erm

Rubies - can’t afford them
Nuke for the ex boyfriend- I might struggle to order that online

Can we see pup @Room4onemore?

My Busy B Christmas planner arrived today and I love it. Argos cancelled my garland order though so need to find new garlands.

I hope those of you in pain get answers and some relief soon.

347

I got an email yesterday for Kew Gardens at Christmas selling their Christmas 2023 tickets .
They are organised

We went to the Lighted Walk the year it opened , it would be interesting to see how much its changed over the years

@70isaLimitNotaTarget There was a television programme about Christmas at Kew I watched at some point last month, it was really interesting.

I love those sort of programs got loads on my iPad. I wish bbc would release Back in Time For Christmas on dvd I loved it best one of the series yet. I’ll collect the others as I go along.

Oh lesson learned save 150 for the sales just after Christmas next year.

Got my best friend a festive gin set in the sale today 🙌 that's another one ticked off!

346

Morning.

Cannot wait for this week to be over and done with!

I've got a phone nurse's appointment today to be referred for NCS, which will be fun. I've no idea what that entails, but I'm starting to feel like a scientific experiment, what with the MRI Arthrogram and x-ray I also need. 🤣

It's been really windy overnight. 60+ mph. It's back down to 40-ish now. Just a light breeze.

Morning. I have my phone call rheumatology appointment today Fluffy, so we are all about the phone calls! #SisterlyFun

I can’t wait for January to be over. So broke. Dh’s van needs a new tyre now too. MOT next month. Will lose two days pay due to strike and still can’t claim my mileage. Have my medical this afternoon though so at least that’s happening. First day in what feels like forever that it’s not raining poor ds’ school shoes were still wet this morning.

Why can't you claim your mileage Wreck? Jan sounds tough for you - you have my sympathy. We had our new mortgage amount confirmed yesterday, £150pm increase 😩

Good luck why and Fluffy for your phone calls.

I saw my parents yesterday and ended up rescuing a Christmas blanket from their donate pile. Dm said it was childish and 'not very classy' but I think it's nice - it's fleece with one side white with a few Santas, sleighs, reindeer, trees and red cars with a tree ties to the top on it and the other side is red tartan.
DH just rolled his eyes

This week has been rubbish and I can't wait for it to be over either. Tomorrow I need to sort my house out top to bottom, do a freezer inventory then do a food shop. Exciting stuff!

That’s rubbish crazy. I can’t claim as my licence expired and the system won’t allow me to put it through. I’ve emailed expenses but haven’t had a response yet…

My appointment went fine. I'm being referred for NCS and she prescribed more amitriptyline for me too, so I can sleep.

I have a diary in my phone to renew my driving licence on pay day. Wonder how long it'll take?! I'm also ordering passports for the kids. We don't need them til October, but I don't want to leave it til holiday season to order them, as it could take god knows how long. I'll tap my colleague up to do the identity checks for me!

Fluffy passport prices go up next month, is it worth doing them now? Dh’s driving licence only took about two or three weeks when he updated his address. I’ll have to update mine once the new ones come up as I couldn’t change my address before the medical 🤯

I'm doing them before they go up. Pay day is 27 Jan, so that's when I'll do it! Squeaking in before the increase!

That's annoying re your licence.

The appointment went OK. It went from a phone call to a video call so he could see my swollen elbows and hands. I looked horrific, I had my slob clothes on and hadn't brushed my hair the poor guy is probably traumatised forever now 🤣

I have to have x-rays, ultrasound and more bloods to see if they have changed from November. He mentioned fibromyalgia, lupus and arthritis. I kind of hope he is not thinking all at once but who knows. I have been prescribed amitryptyline as well.

I have lupus in the family why and I have ‘lupus tendencies’ with positive blood work but no flare ups so not active. I actually know a few people with it. I’m pleased you’re hopefully finally getting some answers.

dd and dh together managed to ruin dinner (that I had prepped) and I’m pissed off so am being a mature grown up and sitting on the sofa in a strop refusing any other offerings of food.

I know how you feel Wreck...Just had our car MOT'd today.

£600 please Mrs Tribe 🤯