Remember remember it's frugal November

[LonelyOversharer]

Woo hoo! I've never done the new thread before!

Mo my DD will be the same age. We're doing a stocking for DS's sake and because they're the best part of Christmas . I'm putting in stuff like dribble bibs, weaning spoons, a bath duck, maybe some nice snack boxes, some weaning snacks (in lieu of chocolate and a satsuma ). And a couple of small wooden toys - a teether and a wheel that makes a clacking sound as it rolls. I might also get a pram board book as DS's old one got drenched. If there's any space left I'll just wrap up 6-9m clothes and any of DS's old toys that might fit. Might throw in some bubble mixture. She won't have much under the tree either - a jellycat soft toy and some shape things that fit together from ELC. Maybe a couple of new lift the flapbooks as DS's are rather worse for wear. We have a lot of toys from DS so I can't see the sense in spending much.

I am excited about Christmas now! Not sure what to get DM, MIL and DH but everyone else is sorted. DH has an ancient android tablet which he never seems to use, and instead squints at his small iPhone screen to surf the internet all the time . He's always been adamant that he doesn't want an iPad but I actually think he would use it loads as he really liked the apple interface on his phone. They are so pricey though, for something he doesn't actually think he wants! So I'm undecided.

I've been gardening a bit today as DM came over to cuddle DD but it's still a drop in the weed ocean. I also started to clean my oven but quickly realised that one tin of Mr Muscle wasn't going to touch it . I have WD-40'd the light bulb covers but still can't get them off so I am still suffering from a dark oven as I can't replace the blown bulbs. No idea what to try next.

Gosh, that really is an exciting day almost to rival yesterday's flu jab /smear test fun. I am treating myself this week!

You've all made me want sausages now. Bacon pasta thing tonight for me, with fresh cherry tomatoes and garlic. Yum.

Wreck if you are bored could you ask about taking on an interesting project alongside your usual duties?

DM brought some lovely clothes for DD in the next size up. And I also received a couple of outfits in the post as a belated newborn present to DD (luckily in a big size so not too late!). So that was a nice bonus today.

Seacow, I’ve got a one to one coming up with my manager so I might mention something. It’s hard though because my manager is primarily a health visitor and I work in school nursing. Also I am employed solely to do what I do and I’m not qualified to help anyone else in the team out but I was going to ask about additional training. Unfortunately there isn’t much going on in the nhs at the moment.

Evening all!

I need to get back on it with Xmas shopping. We were doing well but have lapsed due to being too tired. DH pointed out that late night shopping has started in town though so I might go and do some child-free shopping and actually be able to concentrate.

Any suggestions of what to get our parents? We've overdone it a bit with photos of the dcs so need to think of something else that doesn't cost too much. They will tell us off if we spend much on them!

NSD but dh has just popped out for nappies and he mentioned something about a little mid-week treat. I didn't point out that it's only Tuesday as I want the treat! It'll almost certainly involve chocolate.

Nice day. Been to the park and let DD spread glitter about liberally which always goes down well. I love my twinkly kitchen floor!

Made JO butternut squash macaroni cheese for dinner. It is delicious and there's tonnes left for lunch tomorrow. DD didn't notice the absence of actual cheese and I may be getting over a life-long loathing of cottage cheese (sorry Cag!).

We do health eating by getting a paper plate and loads of food mags/ free leaflets. They have to do half healthy foods and the other half treat foods. Then we talk about why. Feels like less of a lecture to 7 year olds and who does love scissors and glue.

Mmmm cottage cheese (but only Longley farm full fat with chives)

Argh I need to be organised and sort out returns. Mermaid pillow I ordered for DD1 is totally flat. Did I misunderstand what a 'pillow insert' is?! I thought it would be a proper pillow, it looked it from the picture. But it's a heart shape so not easy to just buy one. I should've gone for a bog standard square one. Need to return a doll as well as I ended up with the wrong one.

Quite a nice day today, parents visited and took us to see Paddington 2 - soooo good! Hugh Grant is getting on a bit though bless him. Really funny film, I did doze a bit though. Had Cagletini in the sling (kindly passed on by mywhat ❤️) and she slept for most of it then fed a bit. Then had dinner out yum.

It's so horrible outside, I realised, DUUUH that's why I am feeling extra shit. I always struggle when the clocks change in October and of course that happened 4 days after she was born

Doh cag, could be it too. Being stuck indoors doesn't help either.

What about a calendar with loads of DC photos?

I'm struggling for my team 8 staff, make and female. Christmas combined with goodbye. What would you guys like off your boss for Christmas? Christmas hamper type thing, booze, or a little something you like and a scratch card, or something else I can't think of

Are you leaving life?

Bottle of wine and a scratch card please plus a massive bonus

Love the idea of socks @lonely. Got to have socks at Christmas!

Love the idea of pram books and bubbles too @seacow

@Snuggly for the parents we've got many things over the years. This year I've got the dparents a joint present with my dbro. He's bought tickets to a comedian they like and I've bought a meal out for the both of them on buyagift.

Hope you feel better soon @Cag

No fluff. I didn't get the substantive grade so I'm being replaced by some one else. I'm going back down a grade and into another team.

Ok, if you were an our generation doll where would you hide? Can't bloody find out and now dd has decided she wants to play with it again

I remember now life

In that case fuck all.

Agree with Fluffy life

Anyone with under 5s there are some lovely wooden toys/gifts in Lidls, I felt a bit sad that dd is too old for them all.

Spend day, £43 on ink for the printer - felt a bit sick forking out for that but really need to try and get the printer working. Had a computer chap come round and look at my laptop today, he told me that it needs a new hard disc and also that its worth saving out for a laser printer.

Also spent £57 in Lidls the first shop for two weeks so not too bad.

Ah it's not my team's fault. They are the good guys. Everyone else gets no fucks given.

Man I’m tired. Dh has just got back from the food shop. £45. He bought biscuits. Chocolate digestives. And they were on specials. So he bought two of the big packets!! Yayay!!

I’ve taken myself off tonbed in the spare room. Dh is on night duty. We chatted and I couldn’t handle only one night a week of full sleep. So seeing as ds is (fingers crossed) starting to sleep for longer dh suggested I do a midweek night in here too. The aim is for ds to be in here in his cot before new year. Whether that’s early or not I don’t know. But he’ll soon outgrow the Moses basket and the cot won’t fit in our room. The bed in here is made up all the time though so if he needs to be in the same room as people then one/both of us can sleep in here with him.

Me and catface are having some quiet time now though. I feel she’s being deprived a little of attention during the day time. But she still comes up for bed cuddles. Yay.

I found grown up paint by numbers earlier which I think I’m going to get for dsis.

May buy ds a play mat thing for Christmas.

Hi all. Yesterday turned out to be a bit of a fluke and I began vomiting again when I was brushing my teeth last night (as I usually do, blergh) . Today only been sick about twice so far which is still good I guess but blergh I still feel horrendous, didn't make it out for the walk or manage a shower. DH is going to be out most of tomorrow so I will be all alone so I'm panicking a bit about how I'll cope . Feeling generally down about everything too. HR called me 'to see how I am'...I know it's just procedure but I don't really know what they were expecting me to say that they didn't already know! Said they will call me back again a few days before I'm due to go back to work which now isn't til 5th December and agreed they would post me my payslip for this month. I go on SSP next week and DH still is unemployed...I don't know if he can claim anything whilst I'm on SSP? Does anyone know? We have a little bit in savings though so we will manage as long as it's not too long-term :/ just all feels so bleak and scary atm.

Cag I love cottage cheese with chives too, yum. On a jacket potato is my fave.

Life I didn't think you would be expected to buy them anything? Not that I've been in the workforce long so maybe I'm just wrong.

meadow sorry you’re still feeling rough. Hang in there dollface you’re doing amazing.

cag sounds like a nice day for you today.

Ps you’re both crazy - cottage cheese is the devils work. Neither solid nor liquid. Looking at it makes me go all wierd and want to Vom. Eugh.

I'm not surprised em. That's not enough for anyone.

Poor Catface, cats have that inner confidence their the most important person in the house though.

Ours definitely knows he's the star of the show.

£6.50 sparkling sauv blanc. Meh. Should've spent the extra 50p & bought villa Maria. There's something about being around non-drinking tinkly laughers that makes me want to set up a still in the dressing room.

You can buy stills on eBay.

fluffy just had an image of you on "moonshiners" hilarious programme on discovery. Lets set up illegal stills and get filmed for tv doing it crackers. I think they all drink far too much of their raw product.

Just cycled 25 miles round London. As you do. Very tired now. Got a carrot cake in the oven (smells amazing) and my little sod darling ds had a 2hr nap, so won't sleep now until about 2am. The joy. Blaze and the godawful monster machines is on.

Spent about £25 today, posting ebay stuff, and bits of food. And £57 in the amazon, all christmas pressies.

I don't have to buy them anything. I want to.

Meadow, not sure if your can claim anything else.. mse have a benefit checker thing

life the bigger selection boxes are £1.50 in Tesco from today. I normally get us one after the year I enviously eyed up DDs Galaxy one

Meadow I’m not sure either maybe call citizens advice?

Em sids advice is to have them in the same room as you whilst they sleep for six months. Dd was 12 weeks when we moved her but ds was nearer a year.

Will be a nsd today. Dd has a school trip and I have four schools to do to. Feeling horrible with fru flu 😷

I'm normally organised for Christmas and this year I'm not
If I get a chance today at work I'll start making a plan otherwise it'll be tomorrow night when I sit down to do it.

Today's spends will be chippy tea before art competition prize ceremony

Ooh like the calendar idea!

Sorry you are feeling ropey again Meadow. I do hope it gets better for you soon.

That's exactly how I feel about cottage cheese Em but Cag is quite right about Longley Farm. It's much nicer. OK as an ingredient but I don't think I could just eat it.

I really need to start shopping online as I'm finding it a real effort to trudge round the supermarket of an evening. I want to get a delivery pass. Any recommendations? I know Ocado are fab but I can't afford it every week. Ditto Sainsbury's and I've never had much luck with Asda delivery service.
Are Morrisons any good? Have never shopped there. Or Tesco?

Spends today £32 Riding and something in boots. We need nappies - we have enough for another 2 days but will be passing boots on my way back from the stables so figure may as well pick them up.

Catface has just had a fight with her water fountain. Water was all over the hallway floor along with little wet paw prints. I’ve just seen her attacking the stream of water. She’s now all wet. Idiot. But it’s ok - she’s settled on the couch!

We've taken "the day off" as ds finally slept at 3am. He was bright as a button at 8am, dp and me, not so much. So getting on with the shed/workshop/small house in the garden. Roof trusses going on.

Spends so far £117 on dumpy bag of sand and timber, this is living!

Saw my mum before they left, my sister was there! She drove through the night.

I've finally downloaded clicksnap. The lure of a free advent calendar (for me).