friday 19 AF December

[treetops]

How is everyone today? Great I hope. Don't let the Christmas countdown get you down. I am always torn between wanting to buy presents and getting annoyed at all the rubbish on sale and the rubbish we (and I) buy. Its incredible what the merchandisers will try to convince people that they need. And then, we see it all marked down after Christmas - well its often marked down now before Christmas. I hope in all of this there is lots of kindness and we get to relax - although Christmas Day can be an quite the opposite especially for those who are cooking and looking after lots of kids, drunk rellies etc.
I have to go - daughter just called me - so this is a brief - very start to the thread!

[Lavande]

Good morning Abbers!

Thanks for the start up TT!
I still need gifts for my adult kids, they are most likely going to end up with Amazon gift cards at this point. I do not like shopping at this point in my life. They can do their own shopping

Today is my birthday & I'm going to spend it visiting cemeteries where the elders are buried. YB is going along because he wants to buy a plot. Nice way to celebrate your birthday, Ha Ha!!!

Wishing everyone a great AF Friday!

Lav

[porqoui]

MAE ALL....

TT...thanks for the quick start. I'm grateful I don't have to cook and can truly just relax.

Lav...:balloons: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU :balloons: Don't know if that's how I'll spend my birthday but whatever floats your boat. LOL

Last day of work and I've been invited to another groups dinner and card game tonight. Great way to start my holis.
Hope everyone has a Fabulous AF Friday.....:smile:PPQP

[Mick]

good morning everyone..and how are we this morning then?hopefully all good...before we start ...its happy birthday to birthday girl Lav...a sprightly 21 and a teensy weensy wee bit more..but hey they are just numbers anyway...so have a good one madam...and heres a big big brew for you

ok everyone wee brews for us ...lets go..

hiya tt..hows you then?..I can see that wee Christmas cheer peeking thru somewhere!!...Im waiting till poundland have a sale after Chrimbo..just been up the loft this morning..that gentle hint..oh look everyone else has got their lights up!!also havent told Julie yet but looking at the possibility of Kerala next year...

hiya dtd ...hows things with you today?have you done all your chrissy shopping yet??sooooo glad the weather is glorious for you..personally I prefer the wind and rain and jus luuurve the cold weather here!!

hiya Sam...how did you get on at the races..any big winners?..you all prepped for the weekend market??

hiya pie..how are you then?did you get all your pressie shopping done then?could be right about the rice..it draws the moisture out..not sure about laptops tho...

hiya SL...well have you started on the decorations yet?you need to give me a shout when you come over and we can meet up for a brew..whats the daughters after for xmas?

hiya ppqp..well theres certainly mileage on the old saying .."what goes around comes around!"..thats it then xmas hols for you...anything planned for it?

right peeps ..its time to go...so in time honoured fashinon...see yawl....

562590_429008483790640_307507148_n.jpg



I asked my wife, "What's your opinion on the state of English football?"

"Its shit," she replied. "Absolute crap."

"More than likely," I said, "but let's hear it anyway."

I see Denmark has claimed the North Pole as their own.

Sorry Denmark, but you can't just take something just because you want it.

That's Russia's job.

Apparently tonight is the first night of the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah.

Hanukkah lasts for eight nights in a row.

Unlike Christmas, which lasts for three and a half fcking months.

The EU high court has ruled that obesity is a disability...

Which explains why, when I ordered my usual three Big Macs, they asked, "Would you like an application form for a Blue Parking badge with that?"

I'm all prepared for Christmas now.

And by prepared, I mean I found out what time the garage shuts on xmas eve.

Ladies - want that flawless skin look?
Learn how to use Photoshop properly then.

How does the man in the moon cut his hair? ECLIPSE IT.

[Samstone]

Morning all
went to see the last Hobbit movie last night. The previews were a little overwhelming, don't think I'll be going to see any of those! Anyway, went to the 2D one instead of 3D, my daughter gets motion sickness watching 3D. Not exactly a Christmas feel to it.

Happy BIRFDAY LAV!! Soooo.... graveyard shopping eh??? well have fun ?!

PQ, enjoy your card game, what game is it? I always wanted to learn bridge but usually when I tried to learn, everyone knew the game and had no patience with my blunders.

Morning Mick. How's your day going? What you get into today? What's the next project on the horizon for you?

well hope everyone has a fab friday!!
Sam

[treetops]

Hi there - sorryI had to dash off last night. My daughter thought she could hear something moving in the Christmas presents under the tree ! Turned out it was the music from her headphones but she didn't have them on. Haha.
Happy Birthday Lav - Have a lovely day!! I wouldn't be worrying about plots at the moment. Or ever. But each to their own.
Mick - Kerala sounds lovely and I say do it. Its on my bucket-list too.
Happy 300 days SL - thats so great!
Sam - the Hobbit has had very mixed reviews and everyone in my house are over the Hobbit movies. I don't watch Peter Jackson's stuff - its just not to my taste - although the scenery is wonderful as its close to home. And I like the cute ears those elf-people wear. Last night the family watched 'Paris Texas' which is an old movie from the 80s - and I am finally watching House of Cards - this should feed my Christmas TV addiction. I recall the original House of Cards - the British version (do you Mick?) and it was magnificently creepy!
Its Saturday here already but i am joining you guys on Friday today. One way to avoid the Christmas madness.

[scottish lass]

Good grief Lav - hope you do something fun for yourself too:congratulatory: Your day sounds special, lots of reflection I am sure.
OK - cards finished and all in the mail (except those i forgot!)
Tree shopping after school today. Girls haven't really worked out what they want - I think they just want to be happy and are not sure how to put that when asked what they want for Christmas - they focus on material things but have not realized that it does not need to all be material - I am trying to role model and seeing their faces as the penny starts to drop is great.
Tomorrow will be cookie baking - they bake for the older neighbours and just love this, so that is a really fun tradition we have started.
Hope Amy's phone call was a good one Mick!
Hi TT, Sam and PPQ - see you soon Pauly and Det?
Last day of school today for two weeks break - I work all next week, then I get my week off. :exclaim: Last day of school - better go wrap before they come home:eek-new:

[treetops]

Baking sounds lovely SL. Can I have some?
My daughter got her archery bow and kit yesterday - its her main Xmas present. Not under the tree!
We had to be a bit organized as we travel next Tuesday to the relatives place and we are on summer holidays.
Lav - I keep meaning to have a 'cemetery sweep' (not chimney although that seems appropriate with Santa coming) ) one of these days. Its a Chinese term (but I am not Chinese). But first I have to locate where some of the ancestors' graves are. Will be at different cemeteries too. Not easy as we don't have clear records in my family.

[scottish lass]

OK - wrapping done - used to do that with the aid of a wee drinkie or six! It was quicker than I thought it would go, wonder why!!! Pouring with rain - don't really want a wet tree in the house!
Interesting discussion - my families graves are in many countries....I have been trying to plan my exit from teh earth as I am now single, feel some more need to get it taken care of, I don't want a a grave stone, was thinking of a sea ash scattering and a tree planting - is that selfish? Would future generations want to do a "cemetery sweep"? hmmm....
Apart from the Tuesday trip TT, are you doing anything else for summer hols?

[treetops]

SL - the Tuesday trip is a big drive to another city and we are staying there for 3 days - then another big big drive to a holiday house for a week or so. Temperatures should be hot, beaches and walks.
I know what you mean about how AL was part of what we used to use to get the chores done. Sometimes it really did help - I am not denying this. But it usually got out of hand. I would try to be the superMum-lots of baking etc- and wonder why I was tired and cranky. Christmas day was an excuse to start drinking much earlier than usual - since most others were - why not. Always nice and proper for a few hours - then the slow melt down. Nothing really nasty in our family - but I always drank way way too much. Things have changed - not just me - but some other family members are now older, have other health issues and the younger ones don't seem to be interested in AL.
I don't worry at all about what happens to me when I die and I have never been interested in planning my funeral etc - I just worry about how the few who really love me will be.

[scottish lass]

TT- so many alikes! I used everything as an excuse to drink and some of it was good - but as it did not stop, it soon turned around!
I also liked the excuse of champagne to start the day and then it was non stop! I have had 4 af Christmas's and really in the end, much prefer them. I did like the drinking until the not stopping occurred - i would get grumpy, then sleepy and would fall asleep when others were still trying to enjoy the day!
I am not too interested in planning my funeral, just don't want my girls to have to do this, so will be doing the planning - something less that they will have to take care of...
I am envious of the beach - we usually go to the coast, and have lovely photos of girls in bikinis at NY - but due to the tooth extraction I will not be getting my ocean therapy - you better get an extra dose for me

[Lavande]

Well ~ we went to the two cemeteries to 'visit' the relatives. But I put my foot down & said NO to the buying of plots today.
I don't think YB has any idea how morbid he has been since his brother died last month. I'm sorry about that but not sorry enough to be planning my own funeral today - no fanks!!!
We picked up our girls on the way & had a nice lunch after the visits. It was kind of sad seeing funerals in progress today, so close to Christmas. If I play my cards right I should get another few good years to enjoy before I have to worry about funeral planning.

Greetings to everyone & sending wishes for a peaceful night for all!

Lav

[scottish lass]

Many good (make that great) years to go Lav!
Tree up xmas 2014.jpgxmas 14.JPGxmas 2015.jpg

[treetops]

The only thing you should be doing in plots of land Lav -is planting a few flowers! I imagine it would be especially morbid going to a cemetery where you are at this time of the year.
My sister's husband is now in hospital and she is especially morbid. He will be out for Christmas - but she is holding the spectre of aging and death over our family events next week. She is the one member of our family who has never drunk AL - so I can't even blame that on her attitude. I am trying to be mature and philosophical - haha.