turps | (no subject)

I got my first card from

dine Thank you so much! Fun fact, Dine has been my first card received for at least ten years now. I aspire to be so organised. We also got a card from one of the neighbours already. People are putting me to shame!

James' birthday went nicely yesterday. I bought him a new coat and he was thrilled with his Airwolf t-shirt. In fact, as it's dress-down day at his work he's wearing that today.

It was nice that our Christmas dinner with Pauline, my aunt and uncle and that side of the family fell on the same day as it meant he got more birthday wishes then. Because there were 12 of us they'd split us up on to two tables, which Pauline wasn't very happy about, but there wasn't a thing they could do due to space issues. I ended up on a table with James, Corey, my brother, niece and nephew. That was good as I got to talk to my niece more, she's thirteen and looks and talks ten years older. But at least she will talk now, and even let me take a photo of her with my brother and nephew. Though I did have to promise not to put it on social media. I mean, how could I possibly know what filters to apply to make her look amazing? The only slight downside was my brother's partner didn't turn up. Her meal was paid for, so that wasn't an issue, and she's training to be a paramedic atm, which is full on so I'm sure she was exhausted. Chris did say she was ill but went on to say she's gone to the steam room at the gym to try and sort herself out. He should have just said she was sacked out on the couch, really.

Slightly dodgy photos of me, James and Corey, Corey and his gran, James and me showing off my new jingle bell earrings here.

Soon I'm heading off to Newcastle on the bus, meeting James there when he finishes work. We're going to the Christmas market, at least that's the plan. Our last Christmas market plan fell through as the weather was horrendous on Thursday, then we were going to go to the one at Sunderland yesterday, but were too early as nothing was set us. So we're two for two in terms of failing markets right now. However, we did buy train tickets to York for next week, so even if today fails too, a Christmas market will be achieved then.

Tomorrow it's my next lymphodema appointment, and then after that I have bandom big bang stories I want to read and words to write myself and at some point, I may actually get caught up with online things. Fingers crossed, anyway.

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it's always great to hear the card arrived - I try to mail international cards around Thanksgiving, as they aren't held up by the bulk of holiday cards. it's funny, because this is really the only thing I'm pretty organized about; but given the number of cards Ive mailed for so long, I had to learn how, or they wouldn't go out.

I'm repeating myself I know, but you really are the best mailer I know. I always enjoy getting cards and postcards from you. So, thank you again!

Oh that’s awesome! Oddly we got our first Christmas card... in October. Which was odd, but I’ve not had any since yet

Oh that’s nice! Glad he had a good birthday

Hope you have a nice time in Newcastle! I’ve never been so I hope you have fun

Hope your appointment goes well and yay for reading and writing! I’m hoping to do a bit more today *crosses fingers for you too*

October, wow. That is really early.

If you want a card from me feel free to fill out my card poll -- though you may have done so already. Like I said, I'm behind in stuff online including clearing my in-box. No issues if you're don't though, I know some people aren't comfortable sharing personal info.

We live about 12 miles from Newcastle, but with Corey going to uni there and James working there we spend a lot of time in Newcastle. I think at this point our car could drive there itself.

Hope your writing went well. I'm going to dust off a Gdoc this afternoon when I'm back from my appointment.

Oh totally! It was right around my birthday too so when I saw it was a card I thought it was that, which made it even more ‘what?’

Aww really? That’s very sweet of you💜 I know what you mean about online stuff I can be a fail with it sometimes (or the opposite, replying to things super fast as soon as I see them)

Oh that’s cool! Hee. I live near Birmingham but since I don’t drive I’m reliant on the trains which can get annoying sometimes

Thanks! It’s going ok. I wanna finish the bandom holiday fic before doing anything else and it’s about... 60-70% done I’d say. I hope to get it finished this week then work on one of the ones I listed in my last post

I'm being something of a bum and not sending any holiday cards til the 9th as the earliest so...you know, don't expect mine to arrive by the 25th, LOL.

Good luck on the Christmas market an the lymphodema appointment!

I'd be the biggest hypocrite ever if I complained about cards being late. As it is, I fully believe it's never too late to get good wishes. Up to now I'll be starting to write mine tomorrow and then hopefully get my ass to the post office and Wednesday.

Thank you! The market has happened, and the appointment will be early afternoon.

It's such a special feeling when you get the first card of the season in the mail! And how cool that yours always are from her.

Good to hear James had a nice birthday. I love your dress with the santahatted penguins SO MUCH!

I hope you'd lots of fun at the Christmas market in Newcastle!

Good luck with the appointment tomorrow!

It is. It's like Christmas is starting to fully kick in. I'll be so surprised if anyone ever gets a card to me before Dine. If it happens in the future I may have to hide the early card under a cushion or something as it would feel just wrong *g*

I love my dress, too. It's so cheerful, and I'm sure I'll be wearing it often this month.

We did have fun, didn't actually buy anything this time but we got to browse the stalls and check out the window of Fenwicks, a big store that always goes all out with its Christmas window.

Thank you. I need to book my taxi soon as no can give me a lift and it's two buses and a long walk to get to the hospice.

That sounds like a nice celebration. And I hope the new coat will serve James well (and remain in his possession for a long time). Your earrings are fantastic!

There's no formal Christmas market here, but there's a craft fair on Tuesday where I'm hoping to find some goodies. I hope your trip was successful!

It was a nice celebration, and so perfect that it ended on James' birthday. I do love my earrings and the matching head band. When wearing them I sound very festive.

We did achieve market, didn't actually buy anything, but did eat street food noodles standing up surrounded by twinkly lights and wooden cabins, which was nice.

I hope you find all the goodies you want.

I love your jingle ball earrings!! And the pictures are cute! You look fabulous as always.

My first Christmas card is almost always from my Aunt Sue, who sends domestic around Thanksgiving, so I always get it the Monday or so after it, well before December.

Happy Birthday, James!! Glad he had a good one.

Thank you! My headband has matching jingle bells, wearing both there's no way I could be stealthy *g*

I'm so impressed with people who get cards sent out well in time. It's a level of organisation I still haven't manage to achieve.

He did have a good birthday. I had to smile at his gift from Corey. He always buys James chocolate from Thorntons, and did this year too, but also a Snowman advent calendar from the same place. Random, but just right too, somehow.

happy birthday to james! i'm glad you had good family times.

It was a good day, mostly anyway. Obviously, there was sadness for those that were missing. But having the dinner out helped.