Bringing in some light

[Lidlfix]

It's hard for everyone right now, by varying degrees granted, and sometimes it's nice to blether. I'd like a thread that doesn't turn into political debate. A Chat if you like with a Scottish perspective that has a gentler vibe. I admire the posters with strong political views, knowledge, interests and thick skins - qualities I lack. But it's not for everyone.

My fig and blackberry candle is lit and my nice coloured gin bottles have wee LED lights in. I feel refreshed after my two week hols but worried about the term to come. Come share what you're doing to bring in some light, your wee treats, autumn booze concoctions or just blether.

Lovely prettybird.

Sitting in front of that fire with some of the lovely light up gin would be most enjoyable

What a lovely thread. Enjoying the nostalgia of paper chains and rhubarb and sugar while waiting for DC and ddog to wake up so we can go and try to spot the otters that have moved in to a city centre loch. I don't think I've seen an otter in real life before. The weather has been great this weekend - still and sunny which makes the outdoors all the more enjoyable so in good spirits. Looking forward to a roast later too, I rarely have time to make one these days.

Fire can't be used yet and we won't be able to get it done before Christmas: need to line the chimney and buy a new (original ) cast iron insert and a new slate hearth. The "ballpark" quotes we got from two fireplace places we went to was over £2,000

We're going to go and look at the Architectural Salvage place on the Clyde to see if we can find an insert to fit.

But it doesn't matter as the house is now lovely and toasty from our new central heating

In other positive news, the flowers on the mantelpiece are freshly picked from the garden (on the hearth, they're a week old)

Thanks for the photos @prettybird. V impressed by the gladioli and the wall colour - seriously dramatic.

Now for the bad news - reclaimed cast iron insert will be the same price it more than a new one. But it will make you feel good if you can find one. Wrap up well if you go to GAS - it’s always colder in their building than outside.

Getting the chimney lined is always the most expensive part I’m afraid. No way around it if you don’t want to set your ( and your neighbours ) house on fire. And then discover that your house insurance won’t pay out because you didn’t follow the building regulations.

But think of all the money you are saving by not eating out / going to concerts this Christmas.

And I don’t know about you but I’ve not bought a single item of clothing since March - that must be a record for me since I was an impoverished student . Plus no summer ( or winter ) holidays abroad.

That’s my excuse anyway - you are welcome to use it .

Don't worry: we're not going to skimp on the lining - for the moment we'll just make the fireplace a focal point with flowers. I'm going to paint the already painted tiles black to make them recede.

The fireplace itself has been stuffed with loads of paper at the moment to stop the draft from it. Once we do open it up again "formally", I'll get a wool chimney plug thing which will be in place for most of the year, as we'll only be lighting the fire on rare occasions.

I still have 3 or 4 more gladioli in my "cutting bed" which I'm gambling on with the frost as they still weren't close to opening.

You will be ok with the glads because it wasn’t frosty last night and it’s going to be like this for the best few days.

We have an inflatable balloon thing in our chimney but wool sounds more eco friendly .

Prettybird, your hoose is looking great!

Im another one whose whole body suits winter clothes, so I’ve been loving the chance to wear all the jumpers. I just got some Snag merino tights but haven’t got a winter skirt to go with them. Feel like something long and tweedy right now, we’re living in a cloud and everything’s gloomy and dripping wet like we’re on a moor - loving it actually.

Think I’ve got used to the shorter days now, the sad lamp has had a wee workout though. Necking VitD too.

How are you finding the Merino Snags? I bought their SOS voucher way back in spring and can now spend it but have barely worn tights since March. Tempted by the merino to keep me warm over winter.

I’ve not had them on yet...lockdown level 3 yoga trousers all the way right now 😬

I’ve booked a wreath making workshop for something festive! It’s socially distant. I’m quite cack handed but will be nice to get out plus there’s coffee and mince pies 😊

Lots of nice cord and tweed skirts around - favourite clothes season! I bought some merino tights about 6 weeks ago when weather turned, fantastic!

@anon444877 there a loads of nice clothes around this year. Sadly, I’m too fat to shop 😂

I love the idea of merino tights as long as they're machine washable (but then there's very little I won't risk to the delicates cycle).

OOAOML - I'm with you. If an item of clothing can't survive a delicates wash, it doesn't survive in my wardrobe.

Only exceptions are good (lined) suits and evening dresses.

Gosh I haven't bought any clothes in forever it seems.

I'm never out and the cat doesn't care what I'm wearing at home.

I've also been a bit better with the eating of crap lately and have lost 10lb since May. That's with no real exercise and not that much effort (she says as she is sitting eating a magnum...)

I really need to do a clear out of my wardrobe and drawers.

Loving the sound of the cosy tights etc. Autumn is my favourite season - when it's not always raining anyway.

How is the painting going pb? It was looking fab in the last photo.

The tights have survived the delicates cycle so far! Many things I've shrunk over the years and I've made peace with some of my covid weight gain for a bit - I'm loving the fact that you can only be seen from the middle up on zoom etc!

Ah yes I know but I was 30lbs lighter 2 years ago (and still wasn't at the weight I wanted) so I've got a fair bit to go.

It's going well Wax . Just need to do a third coat on the panels of the door and a wee bit of snagging (with a tiny paint brush to use the teal paint to cover errant specks of white) for me to do, while dh still has to fix sections of skirting and paint the picture rail. We're avoiding doing too much on the fragile Lincrusta frieze for the moment, although he's going to try washing down some of it with sugar soap and he might also paint the decorative cornicing. I'm still not sure of the colour of the ceiling but it's a big job to re-do, even if Valspar will refund the cost of the paint with their colour guarantee

Now playing around with furniture placement and combinations and working out what we need to get - and the order of priority. I've still to do another coat on the fireplace to make it neutral until we can afford to open it up again with a cast iron insert. We also still need to start putting pictures up again - and decide whether to put the mirror back up on the mantlepiece or to put it onto the back wall to reflect the bay.

Really pleased with it so far!

It's looking lovely, that's one of my favourite colours.

I had my colours done many years ago and I only decorate my house in colours that suit my own colouring on the basis that I should at least look okay in my own house :o

I love it prettybird - I yearn for stylish rooms but we just seem to have so much stuff (cleared out loads when we moved a few years back but still seem to have so much).

You should see our dining room at the moment Two large sofas and lots of "stuff" Plus our upstairs area outside the "loft" (the "new" room where the boiler is) is chockablock full of junk stuff. We need to resist the urge just to use the new place to continue storing the junk stuff and do a good clear out instead And you can't move in the study for all the painting and decorating paraphernalia

Things I didn't know I needed but now coveting; merino tights and a wreath making workshop. Anything else my life needs, suggest please? I have a teal living room but a fireplace from Amazon that was supposed to be a stopgap 12 years ago .

This thread is most cheering 😊