turps | (no subject)

Thank you to

ephemera for the very beautiful cards that arrived this morning ♥

I've had a very nice and chilled Christmas. Which I'll talk about behind

All gifts given were well received and I was given some great stuff too. My main present was an upgrade of my fitbit, so now I have the watch style with a big face that I've set to show a red graph if my steps are down -- which they will be today as I intend to have a sloth-like day. I also got new clothes, pjs etc and Corey gave me a Lush gift set and a big version of the Snow Fairy body conditioner. Funny story about Lush. You may remember my pain at finding karma bubble bars had been discontinued. I was sorting out gifts and saw a karma gift set from my MiL and my heart leapt, then I saw it was for Shawna, Corey's girlfriend. Sadness! Actually, I love that she got that for her, my MiL hasn't even met her, but for her, if you're important to someone in her family you'll get gifts and cards, she always buys for Kayleigh for example and bought for mam every year, even though she never even got a card back.

Anyway, getting away from Lush. I also got the most adorable knitted figures from

turlough and Winterhawk badges and the Fraction series of Hawkeye books from Sperrywink. I was blown away when I saw them, what great gifts which you can see on Insta here. Though I laughed when I opened Turlough's as the first one out was red striped and James thought she'd sent it as that's the colours of our local football team and exclaimed that we'd been sent Sunderland football players.

I'd decided to use Etsy more this year for my gifts, some more successful than others. But it's something I'd do again as I liked the personal touch, even if some didn't reach the mark of what I wanted exactly.

Food-wise, Corey helped me make Christmas dinner and everything was delicious. The only mistake being, I'd bought shop made red cabbage, put the container in the oven, and hadn't realised it was supposed to be decanted to an over proof dish so the bowl melted. Thankfully, just sort of shrivelled in on itself so no dripping plastic, but it didn't look appetising.

Boxing day my in-laws came and it was a good, if very busy for me, day. I cooked up a storm again with buffet type food and made more hot chocolates in one day than I had for a year. Sadly Corey wasn't feeling well, so I didn't have my helper, but that was fine. He slept in the morning so could sit with us on the afternoon and I didn't actually phone his work and say he couldn't come in as he was sick, though was tempted to. Not that I ever would, I do actually know he's a grown man, it's just hard when he looked so drawn and was having to work until 4am in the bar.

Kayleigh and Lucy popped in for a while and she offered to get me some stuff from the Lush sale as she was going to call in herself. I was good and didn't abandon my guests and say, take me with you! But did give her the Lush gift card I'd been given and asked if she'd buy me some stuff, and she did. She came home with a bag full, and while it wasn't the crazy amounts of the last two years, one of my favourite parts of Christmas is still unboxing and taking Lush products out of the bags and into my bathroom.

My In-laws went after 6 and then we had to take Corey back to Newcastle :(

I phoned yesterday and he's feeling better now, though.

Yesterday was James' meeting with the doctor at his work. He was really nervous about it but everything went really well, and it was agreed he'd pushed himself to go back too soon after his big flair and added to some other things that cropped up everything just got too much. The doctor has put down he can go back next week after his sick note runs out, initially for four-hour shifts that's go up by two hours for the next three weeks and that for two months he can't start earlier than 9am or finish later than 9pm. Plus, stated that he was covered by the disability act in terms of his absences, so that's reassuring.

He's ready to go back but this relaxed return makes a lot of sense. While at work he picked up the gift he'd got for Secret Santa, and it was a Harry Potter tin which looked good at first, but when looked at closely was actually a set of four activity books for ages 6-8. Secret Santas' man, sometimes they're just not worth it.

Today I have no plans beyond catching up online and at some point getting out for some fresh air. Looking at my inbox this may take a while.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

shadowhive

Chilled christmases are the best kind🖤 Yay presents! You’re mil sounds so sweet

Aww those things are so adorable!

Oh no, I’m glad the melting wasn’t worse!

*sends him hugs*

That was nice of her, I’m glad she was able to get you some stuff

I’m glad it went well for him! Hopefully that’ll help and oh no that secret Santa!

🖤

From:

turps

Chilled Christmases are the best, though I seemed to spend a lot of time in the kitchen for mine. Not that I mind.

I'm glad I got some stuff, and honestly, it's more than enough really. I do tend to get carried away when faced with half-price products.

The secret santa was ridiculous. I'm hoping it was a mistake and they didn't realise it was a kids gift. As it is, it'll be going to my nephew and niece.

From:

badfalcon

Chilled Christmases are definitely the best, glad all the presents were well reeived. Good luck catching up on your inbox

From:

turps

I enjoyed my chilled Christmas, and very chilled day today.

As you'll have noticed, I managed to catch up with my flist, and made a big dent in my in box.

From:

dine

Overall, it sounds a very good Christmas, Corey's illness and the cabbage notwithstanding, I'm so glad for you!

From:

turps

It was a nice Christmas, nothing major going wrong and a lot of relaxing with the people I love. You can't go wrong, really.

From:

ephemera

Chilled Christmas FTW!

Thank goodness the melted dish didn't destroy anything but itself, and hurray for James getting the support he needs from the medics - here's hoping his return goes smoothly when it comes due.

From:

turps

Chilled was just what I wanted and needed.

If I'd thought about it I would have known I couldn't just shove a plastic dish in the oven, no matter how strong the plastic. But I was in the zone and working on autopilot, so yeah, I'm so glad nothing was destroyed!

From:

sperrywink

Sounds like a wonderful Christmas and Boxing Day! Glad you could relax amidst all the cooking and hosting duties.

And you're welcome for the gifts! Glad you liked them and didn't have the comics already!

(And I love that James called Turlough's knitted figures footballers! Ahaha, I can see it too!)

I'm glad James' meeting with the medical people had a happy outcome, and I hope the slow start works for him.

IN final thoughts, YAY LUSH!!! *g*

From:

turps

It was a lovely Christmas and boxing day. I miss the Christmas' of the past when Corey believed in Santa and we'd end up dusting footprints on the floor and building toys late at night, but these chilled ones are nice too.

I loved them! Now the decision is, do I put my winterhawk guys on my bag strap and therefore they can come out with me every day, or stick them on my computer monitor for inspiration.

James was so convinced they were footballers when I opened the package. He is right though, the striped one has the colour and shirt of Sunderland AFC *g*

As of now he's starting back the end of the week, so hopefully, it'll go well.

Always, YAY LUSH!

From:

wenchpixie

That sounds so positive for James, I'm glad the doctor's been so sensible about his return - and made it clear that the disability act covers his absences, that's really positive.

HURRAH you got lush things, I'm so pleased :D

From:

turps

The doctor was really nice and stressed that going back too soon ultimately leads to worse issues. Which is something his counsellor said too, so it was good she backed that up.

I did get Lush stuff. I should be stocked up for a good few months now \o/

From:

turlough

Sounds like you'd a great holiday this year and that's a respectable haul of goodies you got! James' comment when you opened my gift made me giggle. Yes, I totally gave you tiny football players :-D

I used Etsy to buy Yule cards a few years ago and it was great fun. I think I'll do it again next year.

Go you for being strong and not succumbing and abandoning your guests for the lure of Lush!

I'll keep everything crossed this gradual return to work will well for James!

I must say I boggled quite hard at that gift. Why would you give kids stuff in a workplace Secret Santa??!!

From:

turps

James' comment when you opened my gift made me giggle. Yes, I totally gave you tiny football players :-D

He was convinced it was a football player for our local team. A total coincidence due to the striped one being taken out of the wrapping first, but it's made me smile ever since.

You can get some great stuff from Etsy. Of course there's some terrible stuff out there too, but part of the fun is the looking.

I was a good host, though I was tempted, I can tell you that *g*

I really do hope the gradual return will help. The later starts especially should be a good thing as it gives him time to pull himself together in the mornings.

I'm hoping that someone forgot that they needed to give a gift with him being off and grabbed something last minute. But even so, a box of chocolate would have been better than the thoughtless gift he did get.

From:

frausorge

It sounds like a full and fulfilling day! I'm sorry to hear Corey was unwell, but hope he's continuing on the upward path. And that definitely sounds like a better plan for James's return to work.

Secret Santas can be a real tossup. Sometimes you just have to laugh! Do you know any six-year-olds you can regift that to?

From:

turps

It was a very full day, but I very much enjoyed it. It was just a shame Corey was unwell Boxing day, but it happens, and he's okay now.

Yeah, we've both had some good secret Santa gifts and some bad ones too. I suspect the tin will be going to our niece and nephew who will enjoy the stickers and activities.

From:

glitteryv

Awww, it sounds like y'all had an excellent Xmas and Boxing Days. :DDD

I was sorting out gifts and saw a karma gift set from my MiL and my heart leapt, then I saw it was for Shawna, Corey's girlfriend. Sadness!

Oh, noes! I am so sad on your behalf! Though, lol at you remaining steady and not giving into the temptation of going to Lush with Lucy, hahaha.

Ah, have you read the Fraction run before? It's deffo one of my fave series.

Hope you got all the rest you needed and then some!

From:

turps

I did have an excellent Christmas and Boxing day. I was talking to someone recently how they're very different from the chaos of when Corey was little, but there's a lot to be said for relaxing.

Oh, noes! I am so sad on your behalf! Though, lol at you remaining steady and not giving in to the temptation of going to Lush with Lucy, hahaha.

I KNOW! For a split second, I did consider leaving my guests, but in the end, knew I had to be a good host.

Ah, have you read the Fraction run before? It's deffo one of my fave series.

I've read it online, but having the actual books makes it even better.

From:

rikes

Though I laughed when I opened Turlough's as the first one out was red striped and James thought she'd sent it as that's the colours of our local football team and exclaimed that we'd been sent Sunderland football players.

ahahahahaha omg yes that sounds like something Turlough would do, sure :'D