Morning all
OM/Toffee/Swan/Deck/Linzer Thank you very much (as ever) for your words of wisdom earlier in the thread which cheered me up no end.
It's good to be reminded about tackling things in small steps from time to time!!!
Only trouble is, I'm so behind with Christmas prep that I think giant strides are going to be mandatory ...!! Have decided to go for direct approach and buy certain presents in shops this year instead of on-line. (Not easy because choice is pretty poor here and everything costs a fortune.) However, it will save all the ridiculous shenanigans of having stuff posted to Belgium and then wrapping/personalising and posting back to UK which is time-consuming and costly and well, a bit mad really. Just going to have to compromise and if it's not the perfect thing, then "good enough" will have to do.
Really stumped over in-laws and sil though. In preceding years have already done:(a) music dvd theme (b) book theme (c) posh smellies theme (d) woollen throws/scarves/gloves theme (e) food hamper theme (f) posh bedlinen theme (g) sewing/knitting theme and I am now officially stumped. Pil are elderly and infirm with traditional tastes. Double whammy because sil and mil have birthdays end Dec/beginning January too. Aaarrrrggggghhhhhhhhhh!!!
Deck think you have hit the nail on the head about relationship between sleep and weight btw. I definitely have less willpower to resist carbs when I am tired and generally eat more too. (Agree with you about cut of clothes atm too btw) Have plumped for (and I use that term advisedly 
) boring black flared trouser option ....
Feeling slightly more energised than I did however.... Caught my very first whiff/hint of Christmas spirit this morning (St Nicolas will be visiting tomorrow)!! Respect to those of you who already have your decorations up though.
So much to do ..; so little time ...
But off to a bad start because (a) dd went to school late because she has a cold and so didn't go swimming and (b) tis one of the most important days in the office - some of our most important clients invited for afternoon/evening seminar - and there has been a serious flood overnight - office kitchen sink has backed up - and it has taken most of the morning to clear up. Our office cleaner discovered it and heroically dealt with the worst of it but we are now having to hastily organise alternative meeting rooms for this afternoon/this evening (c) second in command to dh is off sick and not likely to be back for some time (d) credit card company has called and they think one of the 'merchants' that I have recently used (bought a few presents/cards on-line last week) has used my card fraudulently ...
Here's hoping the week will get better!!
Now to catch up with rest of thread:
Nice to see yet more newcomers - a warm welcome to all!!
Thank you for round-ups Blue (life-savers for me atm - this thread is moving so fast!)
Sympathies to those of you who are sleep deprived - it's a stressful time of year [proffers tray of triple espressos]
Sympathies too to Lauren/A bird in the hand My fil has vascular dementia so I know what a tough situation it is for all concerned.
And sorry to hear your ds2 is unwell OM and that you've had a difficult morning. Hope he feels better very soon. Congrats on your 10k btw!!
A very happy birthday to your dh Swan!! Hope he has a lovely day! (My dh is same age btw and not looking forward to next year!)
ChitchattingElf decluttering info here
Good luck with the fling boogies Pootros
Well done for being on top of things Whoknows
Sorry for no more personals but had better get cracking ...
To do today:
Finish morning routine inc huge pile of washing up from weekend 
, s&s, boudoir tidy
Laundry- start washing and sort clean clothes
Wrap St Nicolas presents
Tidy and hoover ground floor
Recycling
Chuck dead flowers and rearrange the rest
Sort supper
Office laundry
Tidy play room
A bit of organisation towards Christmas
Evening routine
Early bed
Exercise
Sorry for such a long post!
Humungous waves to everyone!! Hope you all have a very good week ....