Oh come all ye frugalers, joyful in December, oh come ye, oh come yea and chat

[babsmam]

New Fred, hope I've done it right I've never done one before.

collie I'm well jel, in my head I look like Zooey deschenal in reality, not so much.

fuzz fingers crossed for your Dh's interview, I bet they went a lot better than he thinks.

babs hope the dentist wasn't too painful

I love all the foods lists! I'm going to be completely unfrugal this year and get mine ready prepared from M&S. There is only 4 of us this year and I want it to be as relaxing as possible this year. Last year dh was in hospital for 3 weeks over Christmas and new year which was a complete nightmare. This year is going to be different.

I'm off out for our school mums Christmas dinner tonight. Dinner is already paid for so hopefully £10 will cover my drinks tonight.

Dentist was fine except he is still complaining the tooth hurts. One needed a filling but the next is partially through the gum so the pain could be either. Will see how he goes.

Need fuel in the car but will do that tomorrow.

Ordered Christmas turkey from the butchers while I was on too.
Lilac I missed you bumped the car. Hope you are OK.

Good luck with the interview fuzzy dh.

NSD. Not surprising, as I haven't left the house.

lilac I'm so sorry I missed the bit about bumping the car too. And now MN won't load previous pages!

I have £35 magic beans left at M&S. Thinking of a tasty food hall haul.

Posted too soon! Hope you're ok lilac.

lilac hope you're ok.

£13.50 at paperchase on more neon baubles for the tree.

Still feeling completely wiped out. But am powering through. Except until tonight when I was meant to go spinning. But am eating leftover apple pie.

spotty I always add lentils to mince too whether it's for bolognese, cottage pie or chilli. ds made bolognese at school today which we've had for tea and he was positively smug at the fact that there were no lentils in it . I made some pizza type garlic bread to go with it which, I have to say, was scrummy.
NSD today. Tomorrow won't be though, dh & I are having a Christmassy lunch at a local pub. Really looking forward to a bit of time together and no Christmas shopping involved.

Hello
Been signed off sick for this week. I fainted over the weekend whilst out for a meal with friends and the ambulance couldn't get my bp up to a decent level. It was 62/37 and they couldn't feel my radial pulse. Scary. So having a heart monitor on Monday for a 24h trace.

Pretty sure it's not my heart. It's probably stress.

Oh my goodness nk that's so incredibly low! I'm glad you're ok and they're looking after you. When are you flying out to see your dad? Are you feeling any better now?

Dh wants me to write a Christmas list all I want is a surprise!

Gosh NK hope you are ok.
Bought a game this afternoon which is a joint Xmas pressie for niece and nephew. It is one they have asked for and it was cheaper than buying them something each too so that's all good.
I've done all the easy presents now, just have tricky ones left like my dad and step mum. Am thinking of doing them a hamper with lots of nice food and drink treats but that could end up being quite expensive. Will have a think.

Pointless I got some hampers from bhs they were half price so £80 down to £40 then they had a 25% off weekend so I got it for £30. Worth keeping an eye out.

Nk...there have been occasions in the past when hcps have been unable to get a blood pressure reading at all from me...and I'm still here :)
Yes it could be stress...are you eating and sleeping ok?

Thanks spotty will have a look.

NK glad you are being looked after!

Rest up nk

Thanks guys and thanks spotty for remembering! I returned last weekend from Asia and did see dad and step mum and it ain't looking good.

We are flying back out there for Christmas and actually leave on the 15/12 (actually got authorised absence from school for kids!) so I'm slightly on edge with work stress, family stress and everything else.

I am actually eating ok - I usually am quite healthy but sleep wise - not sure why although I sleep at 9 (through pure exhaustion) and wake up at 6 that I still feel damn tired. Even on Sunday when I woke up later and vegged all day (day after I was in hospital) I felt tired.

I think it's my body saying we're done with this crap at work.

Incidentally, interview for Melbourne is on! 18/12. Eek!

Hope you are feeling better now NK

Spotty give him a list of wildly expensive things, diamonds, a sports car, weekend in Monaco or...a surprise.

I spent another £30 finishing off the DD's Christmas presents, that is it now other than food and I'm not going overboard. We aren't having any visitors but will be visiting so I have chocolates to take. DH did ask me to get his nephew a present but I haven't because he literaly has everything so I have no idea what to get, DH can sort it out with his sister.

A NSD through sheer will-power Things I have not spent money on today:
Lunch - my diet is out today as I had to make egg mayo on whitebread but it was free!
Beans/eggs - which is what we always have on a Wednesday after swimming lessons. Had some fish fingers with a head of yellowing broccoli tasted ok though!
Petrol - it can wait till tomorrow or Friday.

I really wanted new glasses I don't think my prescription has changed but I desperately want new frames (I bought a pair from the spec savers budget range a few years ago where you don't get a free pair so can't even switch for an alternative look)

I'm away with friends at the weekend so need to start planning a budget. Train is paid for and staying at friends house so just need to be realistic for food/drink.

Gosh, NK. Look after yourself .

Wow nk you have got loads on no wonder you're feeling stressed.

Adora I like your thinking

Goodness NK, sorry I missed that bit. Take care. Is your interview in Australia?

NK is the interview over Skype or do you have to fly over? Is that a daft question? rest up you!

Blimey NK you have got a lot on your plate that Bp is silly low though so glad they are checking you out properly.

Spotty sorry to hear your little one is still poorly, poor little chap.

Ursula well done on not spending!

Am hoping dd is o.kay as she was moaning about a bad headache earlier, did perk up with meds and we made it to swimming however she voluntarily went to bed at 7.30 which is unheard of these days! Maybe she is just knackered....

I have been quite industrious this evening, tidied the kitchen and living room, hoovered and washed the kitchen/bathroom floors plus sorted washing and another load in the machine not bad after a busy day at work and taking dd to her swim lesson

over skype! Although I much rather it was face to face. I'm already flying 13h to my home country. What's another 8?! Well face to face is better coz I can sense what they are thinking. But I hear that a majority of the other candidates are doing Skype as well - so I guess we are all
Equally disadvantaged!

It all sounds v exciting. Although the pay is higher I'm not sure it's high enough to justify a family relocation. I don't think I'm being overly greedy though. But well it'll be a good experience regardless. We shall see.

Girlfriend - sorry to hear your daughter is headachy. Could it just be end of term tiredness? My kids don't sleep either so when they do have an early night I get worried!!