Hi Angie and co.
Well, we now have central heating once more. The boiler took a day to instal and it is lovely to be constantly warm in every room for a change, rather than huddling round an electric fire in the lounge. It was painful handing over a cheque for £2115 though!
My son lost his engineering apprenticeship two weeks ago, as the company were losing money and the receivers moved in. Since then we have been frantically phoning local companies in the hope that someone could offer him a position to enable him to complete the course. Finally he was offered an interview and has been told today that he has been successful. It was a great relief. On top of all this my husband is in China and my mother is still wanting lots of attention. It hasnt felt very Christmassy yet, but hopefully I will get into the Christmas spirit soon. Still, I have assembled an artificial Christmas Tree in the living room, which I ordered from Argos, so that is step one. Next step is to get the old decorations out of the attic and dust them off once more. New decorations are out of the question at the moment. Luckily we have a holly bush so I will be using that quite a lot around the house.
Are you spending Christmas at home with your mother Angie? Sending a joint letter to family and friends is a good idea, it would save a lot of time writing your news in every Christmas Card.
Changing Rooms is on tonight and I am looking forward to having a good laugh watching that!
bye for how Jacqui D

Hi all,

Yes writing one letter is a really good way of keeping in touch. I started it a couple of years ago when Mum was in hospital and I didn't have time to write in every letter I had to send because I did her cards as well. :( Still I managed and I have kept it up since and my friends now use it as well.

I leave a little space at the bottom of the letter so that you can add a personal message - it is more heartfelt that way somehow.

I am collecting Mum the weekend before Christmas and distributing pressies at the same time. I have to work the Monday and Tuesday but then I am off until the 5th January - which is a lovely break for just 4 days annual holidays. We are going up on Christmas Eve (or the evening before) to my Sister-in-Law's at Burntwood, nr Birmingham and leaving the cats to be cared for by the neighbours.

Talking of neighbours I am going to ask Emma and her two if they want to come around and help me decorate the Christmas tree - I think that would be nice for them. I have had to invest in a few cheap unbreakable decorations for the tree as I have convinced myself that Daisy is going to do her best to wreck it.

I dont think I am going to put quite so many decorations up as usual but will concentrate on decorating the tree and the stairs - I will see if I can hang the really dainty delicate glass and crystal decorations from the stairs where the cat cannot get at them and see what that looks like.

I am glad that your Son found another job - how long of his apprentiship has he got left to do?. When does your husband come back from China?, in time for Christmas I hope.

Well must get on

Speak to you all soon

Angie

Hi All

I'm back at last, the computer decided to throw a major fit and trash the hard drives :-(

But fixed and now all that I have to do is try and recover all my diarys etc.

Regards

Steve

Hi all,

I had a busy weekend - I did a bit more Christmas shopping on Saturday but avoided the main shops and then on Sunday I did a flying trip to visit friends and drop off pressents in Essex.

Today has been mainly filled up with trying to understand an Inspectors decision letter and a meeting involving a major redevelopment of the town - all good interesting stuff.

I am about half way through writing my Christmas Cards - I have done the ones I have to get off - the rest are friends and colleagues and have to set too with the wrapping of the presents - but at least I have got the majority of them now just odds and ends to get now - I have one to get for my niece - a pocket dragon but I cannot sort out getting it until I know which ones are missing from her collection, which I cannot do until I see her on Christmas Eve - talk about leaving it until the last minute...

Hope your Christmas plans all work out.

Angie

Hi Angie and the gang
Its Sunday morning and have grabbed the computer while it is free.
My husband is back from China just in time for the chaos. Ben has got the job at a local engineering firm, and starts in the new year. I started wrapping presents yesterday and the living room looks a bit like a bomb site this morning, but slowly getting there. The new heating unit is still working well, and is much better than the last one. It doesnt rattle like the old one and lights instantly and quietly unlike the old one which sometimes sounded like it was exploding when I turned it on. Have you all finished your Christmas shopping yet? I ordered a few things from Iceland, including the turkey, but realised that I forgot to order a few things, so I havnt got out of supermarket shopping after all. I have my sister and family, brother and mother on Christmas day and my other sister is arriving Boxing Day with her family - both children in their thirties and still single and having a great time. I have lots of neices and nephews in their twenties and thirties and not one of them is married - and who can blame them!
Are you working Christmas week Angie. I expect the office is quite festive at the moment,
bye for now, Jacqui D

Hi All,
I've just realized that I am sat here in the sun-room (currently with a total eclipse again!) and there is not one decoration in sight.
Mother-in-Law (150 miles away) told me on the phone this afternoon that she wouldn't speak to my wife but she was pleased to know that I knew she was thinking of finishing it all.
I know we have heard it all before but it's not the best bit of news to hear at Christmas. I have contacted her sons and the Thurrock Council just in case.
Cheers
Ernest Leslie

Hi All

Well a piece of good news for me, my brother-in-law has arranged it so that I can see the kids on Christmas Day; unfortunately my wife is now trying to use this as an item that she can use to blackmail me into doing whatever she wants - typical behaviour of BPD sufferers - and is showing every sign of going critical so I've warned the family to look out for suicide attempts and my solicitor is shoving a rocket up the SS so that they are aware of the danger to the kids and get their act together regarding all the things that the courts have ordered them to do.

So it may be not such a lonely Christmas Day for me after all (at least for a short time).

Well presents bought and wrapped, cards sent and just supplies to get in for the holiday and awaiting Angela's email address.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas.

Regards

Steve

Hi Les and Steve
I hope that you both have a happy Christmas in spite of all the problems. Les, my mother often says she wants to finish it all, but it is just attention seeking in her case. Thats the last thing you need at a time when we are all supposed to be enjoying ourselves. I hope you enjoy Christmas Day with your children Steve too, despite all the problems you are having. I suppose its a case of muddling through and hoping for the best.
Wishing you a Happy Christmas anyway, fingers crossed!
Jacqui D

Hi all,

It looks like it is good news all round which is really great. I am so pleased for you Steve I cannot tell you... and for JacquiD to have all her family around.

Lets hope it works out for everyone.

Steve - as for my e-mail address, I did sign the form that UKStyle sent me and returned it with a First Class stamp ages ago. I cannot put my e-mail address on here or risk getting barred from the site... but you have most of my name - so ring Wycombe District Council and ask for me in Legal Services... as its a works number there should be no problem.

Well have a great time everybody...

Angie

Hi Steve,

UKStyle have just told me that they have sent you my e-mail address. So e-mail me tonight or tomorrow with your contact telephone number so that I can ring you to arrange the details for Sunday 28th, otherwise I will be off and I wont be able to contact you in time.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Angie

Hi All,
I just thought you should know that I have had a message from Thurrock Council. At least we can take comfort from the fact that they are always there for us when we call for their assitance.
OK, it's Christmas Eve......can't wait for Santa to come!
Best Wishes to you all,
Ernest Leslie