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! 🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻🎄🎅🏻

gog - GIG <sigh>

I heard good things about the Abba thing, it's on my want to watch list.

I saw the Sister Act musical with DM and DSis a couple of weeks ago. I listened to the soundtrack beforehand and it was a bit 'meh'. The show was FANTASTIC, one of the best I've seen. Would highly recommend it.

That's the worst part of being off, Crazy, but at least it's done now. Roll on the next Bank Holiday 😉

Morning all
257
Fluffy glad Digger is ok after his trip to meet Why 🐶
70 and Crazy I've never been to a gig - I don't think my ears could stand the noise (tinnitus).

We've bought a new telly. The old one just wouldn't turn itself on - even when I poked it took the box/packaging and the old one to the tip yesterday...bit of a squeeeeze in the back of a Fiesta thankfully it wasn't as heavy as the new one - we'll need burly men and a skip when that dies...it's so heavy, and huge! Not sure 55" was the way to go but DH loves it already 🤦‍♀️ Woolly, the West Wing is fab-u-lous on it!

Beautiful morning again, even if it was a bit chilly at 4 (yes, he woke me up again, yes the "Patio re-levelling party" is being planned 🤬) I don't think we've had anywhere near the amount of rain some of you have. A few heavy showers, but nothing too bad.

Off to Morrisons in a bit to get some free shopping.

Morning. Back to work today for me. Rubbish. It’s brightish here but we have a weather warning for wind.

I’ve got an interview next week and have applied for another job (will get an interview for that too). Not sure which I would prefer. One is internal same pay but with progression and staying within the same sector and one is a different sector altogether, more money and with opportunities to progress but less holiday etc. I probably won’t get either and then I won’t have to make a decision.

70 I'm not a particular Abba fan, although I took MIL to see the live show version of Mamma Mia which was good.

Firefly I love a show and Sister Act is a fun one.

I know a few people who've never been to a gig puss. I love them but can't imagine how much they'd hurt with tinnitus.

Also, keep some room for my 'D'H in the patio - he's not off the hook yet!

You're being very harsh there Wreck, you've got as good as chance as anyone for the jobs! What is the new sector you're looking at? Maybe someone on the thread works in it and could give you some tips?
Good luck!

It's like winter here, dark, heavy rain, we had a small storm earlier. And it's cold 🥶 so I've done nothing except work and tidy up a bit (although DH has done 90% of it and cooked tea, making up for recent antics).

Is it ok for me to join in with the Christmas chat? The thread just popped up on the active threads but I’m glad to see it exists!!. I moved abroad and it’s warm at Christmas which I still find really strange but it would be fun to have a christmassy chat to make it feel more like Christmas 🎅🏻

Welcome Nola

I don’t think anyone does Crazy. I don’t know if I really want to do the first one but I don’t want to cancel the interview as I’ll kick myself if I then don’t get the second one.. which is why I thought just go for it and see what happens but I’m already dreading it and it’s on a day where I have an appointment miles away and it’s going to be a rush to get back in time!

Good luck with the job hunting, Wreck!

Puss, I have tinnitus because of going to gigs! 🤦‍♀️

It's been cold here today. Started nice then lots of rain. Typical April weather really. We're having strong winds too. Delightful!

256 The sun is finally shining here and we're ignoring that it's due to disappear again this afternoon so we can have yet more rain 🙄

Welcome Nola 👋 I have some friends who moved to Australia 15 years ago and even now she says she feels Christmassy in the middle of the year when they have their winter.
Whereabouts are you?

I like to go away for Christmas every other year or so but always somewhere cold.

Boring day here. Work work and more work, but at least DH is doing the final big clean at the same time so there'll be no housework for me when I'm done 🥳

Waves 👋

Welcome Nola. Weird week so far...I've been at work, but not actually working - meeting new starters, and training courses so I've not been at all productive.

DD is poorly - she's got a bug, and I've lost count of how many times she's been sick 😫 started about 12 hours ago and she isn't keeping water down. Keeping a close eye on her fluid intake, and as soon as it stays down for a couple of hours I'll try giving her some calpol - poor little soul.

Afternoon.

I've not done much today really. Washing out, then in, as it dried super-quick with the wind we have still! Plus to the doctors to have my puffy right hand looked at and then back again for bloods this afternoon. And that's about all I've done, other than walk the dog!

Sorry your DD is poorly, Tribe. I hope she bounces back soon.

Thank you for the welcome guys.

We’re in Louisiana, Crazy. I’m thankful that at least our seasons are still the same but I find it strange being able to sit on my balcony at night in the middle of December and only need a cardigan😂.

I hope your DD has improved and she’s managed to keep some calpol down.

I wish I could sit outside in just a cardigan even in summer 😂

We went to the beach today, which was fun between rain showers...

I decreed that we would use the Easter holidays to redecorate DS's bedroom. DH is painting today and tomorrow, flooring is going down on Saturday and the new furniture is being delivered on Monday and DH has booked the day off and I've recruited DDad for Tuesday to get it all put up.

I also start my new job next week. May have bitten off more than I can chew... But DS will be pleased!

To be honest, Firefly, when it’s the summer I end up inside with the air con on most of the time. But the spring is amazing here. Good luck with your new job. I loved having my room decorated when I was younger I think I had about 10 different bedroom themes in my childhood😂

Nola what sort of temps do you get at Christmas?
We went to New Orleans in August and I honestly don't know how anyone does anything productive in that heat. We walked for about 5 mins and were both very sweaty.

Hope your dd feels better soon TribeD

Sounds like a busy week for you Firefly 😬
Good luck in the new job - is it WFH, office based or hybrid?

I've had a mini garden disaster <drama Queen alert>. My little cold frame/green house thing blew over today with my small broccoli plants inside. I've done my best to save them but they look very trampled on my windowsill. Hoping some sun tomorrow sets them right 🤞🏼

We've made it 5 hours! No more throwing up!

I'm knackered though it's been a very long 20 hours of having a limpet child.

(And if she passes it on to me, I'll be putting her up for sale on ebay)

Ewww I don’t envy the sick bug. 9.5 years since we last had one in the house 😷 my dc tend to get viral infections but never sick bugs thankfully.

I’m WFH tomorrow and it’s a half day. The holidays have flown by, back to school for everyone on Monday.

It’s usually about 14/15 degrees (Celsius) if December, Crazy. Spring and Autumn are the best times to visit here I’d say, if you were to come again. The summers are insanely hot and humid but you do get used to it after a while. I hope your plants can be saved. We’re thinking of growing something in our courtyard but there’s only a tiny area where we could grow anything.

Ah tribe I’m glad she’s not thrown up for a while hopefully that continues. I feel for you!.

255

Eurgh the vomiting bugs . When my DS was ittle he always threw up on me . Oh we laugh about it now I can tell the little git off for being such an unreasonable child !
Worse thing was having to sit there till he'd one as I didn't want to upset him when he was tiny .

Now it would be No you don't Sonny Jim and throw him a bin.

TribeD can't imagine how tired you must be! Hope DD is ok today.

Nola I'm very new to gardening but if I had your heat I'd grow herbs, cactus, maybe an orange /lemon tree (depending on space).
I'm trying to grow food but it's all very touch and go because I don't know what I'm doing!

70 that's my dm's school of parenting. last year my niece came down with a sick bug while Dm was looking after her. I had her overnight. She called me to take her because she didn't want to get sick!

Counting down to the end of the working week (T minus 20 minutes). I'm so tired

I'm shattered, DD slept in our bed last night, and although she had stopped being sick I think, as parents, we're on alert when we know the kids aren't well. Consequently every time she moved or murmured last night I woke up.

And of course, she's woken up this morning, right as rain, and hasn't stopped talking for 12 hours 😆😆

Evening!

Early night for you, Tribe! I'm glad DD is back to normal though; kids bounce back so quickly.

We had rain today (wasn't forecast when the washing went out!), but it's sunny again now. The washing gets to stay outside til it's dry now though. 🤣🤣 #darkedon

Thank you for the suggestions Crazy. I’ll do some research and see what’s best to grow. It’d be nice to grow some food. I hope your broccoli plants are back on track after the mini disaster!

I’m glad your DD is back to normal Tribe, hopefully you’ll get a better nights sleep tonight. We’ve been lucky enough to dodge any sickness bugs so far as the DC are only little and still not in pre school so not catching many bugs. I’m not looking forward to them though I was always a sicky kid.

I hate when that happens, fluffy, hopefully it’s all dry now.
We’ve got heavy rain forecast for tonight and into tomorrow. I’m hoping it isn’t too bad as ideally I don’t want to be stuck inside all weekend. I do enjoy the sound of rain though.

254

I put washing out today and of course it started raining whil I was out washing the car in a biblical monsoon. <sigh>

Still at least it looks a bit cared for

Watched 3 episodes of Blue Lights , debating whether to carry on with it .

I must get off to bed now , everyone else is , even the cats , but the FemaleCat is dreaming about chasing rabbits I think , making funny little noises in her sleeep .

Now Performance Washing