Countdown to Christmas 2023: launching into summer with more Christmas planning (thread 2)

[NoWordForFluffy]

Here's our new thread. Almost missed that it was needed!

Can somebody add the countdown again please, as I've no clue! 🤣🤣

72

Morning.

We have very changeable weather at the moment. Yesterday had a wet start but was dry and windy at the end! Wet again now though (bored of wet dog walks).

I might do more packing this weekend. Exciting! I'm still clearing the allotment, but there's no real hurry for that, so packing takes precedence.

Wreck, I have some corking bites on my ankle from the allotment. They're enormous!

Mine aren’t too bad, dh’s come up really big!

It’s gorgeous here today, cold with bright sunshine. My favourite. I’m going to take the dc to McDonald’s for lunch to get dd out of the house, hopefully she feels well enough - McDonald’s should persuade her!

I’ve been to sainsburys. Only one thing this week scanning at a higher price 🤨 so naughty.

We 'tested' the heating this morning as it was 15° in the lounge first thing.

In contrast to the new house, which is empty with windows on vent, which was 17.5° yesterday, which we thought was good. It'll increase once we're living in it too.

That’s so cold! I think our hallway was 24°.

I’ve got 15% off kids pjs and socks on my sparks so that stacked with the two for £16 pjs means I’ve just ordered ds 2 x pjs and 2 packs of socks for £23. Pretty pleased with that.

I did similar, Wreck, with the same offers. Two pairs of pyjamas and a pack of school tights for £20!

The new house will be much warmer once we're living in it. It's doing well for an empty house in cold windy weather.

Yes, the new house will be much better! I bet you’ll save loads on gas and electric. I wouldn’t know how much of a difference finishing and people in a house makes to temperature but I would bet it’s quite a bit?

We were claiming a small amount of universal credits towards childcare a couple of months ago and they’ve just sent us a letter saying we owe them £90! No statement or reasons for this just that we have a month to pay or they’ll take it straight from my wages. Imagine any other business just telling you you owe them money with no breakdown or justification. Dickheads. I’m going to call them Monday and see what’s going on. We had to report dh’s earnings every month and I’m salaried so no idea how they could have messed it up.

That's really shit. It's like it's to discourage, isn't it?

Our current house has a marked rise in temp when we're in a room. And all our curtains / blinds are thermal blackout, so will also make a difference in keeping the house warmer. I bet it would be near-20 in similar weather with us in it.

I'm doing Olympic-style training to get my showers shorter as we'll be on a water meter! It's quite illuminating. 💦 ⏰

71

Getting close to ten weeks

DD and I went to see "Mama Mia" (the original film) , I watched it on TV and thought "Ah its not as awaful as I thought it would be " (DD has seem it a millionty times but not at the cinema )
Had to watch ABBA on YouTube when I got home ....

Afternoon from the train. On the way to Manchester for a gig today.
It's clear, bright and bloody freezing. Perfect weather

Wreck I hope you get the UC stuff sorted.

70 I have an absolute aversion to Abba. I think it's because so many of their songs are relatively simple (musically) so I had to leave lots of them on piano

Afternoon!

I have a sicky headache as I've not had enough sleep for a while. It's a bit grim. I definitely need to go to bed at a reasonable time tonight.

70, not long til your holiday!

Crazy, enjoy the gig!

I've been to the allotment briefly today. I picked the last tomatoes that are likely to ripen and pulled the plants up to clear the area. I also cleared the dead sunflowers. I need to clear the old beans, then I'm thereabouts done for clearing. Other than digging, which I'm not allowed to do yet, and the raspberry canes. I need a prolonged period of dry weather so I can light a fire to burn those as I cut them. I've loads of paperwork I need to burn before moving to use to light the fire! 🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥

70

Ten weeks

I have just polished off the last Sainsburys mince pie (bakery ones pack of four) as the DC won't eat it .

Getting the last few items packed then we'll be on our way ..................

Gig was really good (Blink 182). Am fully reliving my youth this year

Fluffy did you get some decent sleep?

If we don't 'see' you before, have a fabulous holiday 70!

We're at the train station ready to come home. I've got the day off today but it'll be wasted on housework I think.

On the festive front though, I started crocheting a Christmas present on the way here (a scarf for friends daughter) so I'm considering myself in Christmas prep mode now

Bet that was an ace gig, Crazy!

I got a whisker under 7 hours. So could've been worse. I felt better for it.

I'm on my last Christmas card (that I bought, I've another free one I may also do) and then I really need to try to finish the one I started in Jan for my mum.

I bought some more stocking gifts for dd yesterday. Asos had 25% student discount. Ds put the grinch on earlier too. It’s been so cold today my feet still haven’t warmed up and I’ve been home since six 🥶

It was frosty when I went to work this morning. The office goes from freezing to volcanic in an hour or so which is unpleasant but we are under consultation to move so who knows what will happen next.

69
Morning. Very cold here today. We've had the heating on for an hour or 2 and I'm working in an extra jumper and my winter (wool lined) slippers 🥶

The gig was really good Fluffy. They've been on my 'to watch' list for 20 odd years!

I need to pick my cross stitch up tonight. I'm so so close to the finish - I have to add a chimney to the house, lots of leaves (confetti stitches 🙄) then the backstitch outlines.
Then I'm going to try and alternate between crocheting Christmas presents/decs and cross stitching.

No heating here but I have lit a Christmas candle 😁

I’m on hold to universal credit who have no idea why we’ve been sent a debt recovery letter and can’t see anything outstanding. Imagine if I’d just paid it without querying it. Useless. Although saying that they haven’t sorted it yet so who knows what will happen…

Argghhh. The dreaded confetti stitches! I'll hopefully finish the last card tonight as there isn't much left to do.

Did you get everything sorted, Wreck?

We had the heating on for about an hour first thing as it was 14° indoors. It's bearable in the dining room now with a big hoody and hot water bottle, and the front room should hopefully be ok as it's getting the sunshine.

Still no movement on the house purchase. I'm losing the will...

What a nightmare fluffy the waiting is infuriating. Well, the man I spoke to said he has to pass it for a mandatory reconsideration (although he seems to agree that it’s a mistake but obviously can’t say that in as many words) we still have to pay it though as the debt management company said they can’t do anything until the decision makers say so. It’s such an awful system, no other company would get away with acting like this. Luckily we can afford to pay it and wait for it to eventually be refunded but I’m just so mad that we have to. They also said we should have been sent a letter previously stating why they think we owe money but agreed that we hadn’t been sent one and they don’t know why. Absolutely awful. Good job it’s not thousands.

That's nonsense, Wreck. 😡

We had another hour of heating this evening. I hope it warms up a bit soon or we just get to bloody love house.

The vendor's representative has chased their sols today. I hope that has the desired effect! You'd think they'd want their money. 🙄

68 Evening. Bloody cold here, and it's been dark and drizzly all day.

Wreck UC are the perfect example of people blindly following processes. So annoying when even the people you speak to understand it doesn't make sense! I hope they get it sorted quickly for you.

Fluffy any movement with the house?
I think the whole house buying process should be overhauled in this country - I think if you're selling a house you should have an independent survey done, available for buyers. I also think for buyers, you should be able to get finance in place pre-offer, then once the offer is made and accepted, it's binding with an agreed move date. Then, if there are any delays, whoever's fault it is has to pay the other a set fee for every day...

We've given in and put the winter timer settings on the heating so it'll be on in the morning and evening for every weekday (mornings only for weekends then we switch it on if we need to).

I've been to my aunties with my mum for a very early tea and there was a lot of Christmas chat. She nabbed me and asked if I would make her a Christmas cushion cover this year so that'll be on my list once I've finished the scarf and the cross stitch im currently working on

It's been super-windy here today so we got two loads of washing fully dry, with no need for a brief airing to finish them off!

We have had the heating on a little this evening. But we're not fully-succumbing to winter timings yet. Maybe soon though! 🥶🥶

Crazy, we apparently got replies to enquiries today (I don't know if that includes a response re the lease plan being wrong), and my solicitor emailed to say she'd review them soon, but she just wanted to tell me they'd arrived. Hopefully it ties all the loose ends up and we can exchange next week and complete in mid-November. 🤞🤞🤞

67

Dog walking time soon. I think it's dry outside and not as windy as yesterday, thankfully.

I can't believe how close Christmas is now. Or that I'm definitely starting a new job before then and also maybe moving house. Bonkers!

Fluffy it’s going to be a mad few months for you!

So much rain yesterday and wind too. I think there’s some flooding and trees down this morning. I’ve got a v long drive today (250 miles round) but hopefully we will get some answers…