More Free Time and an Epic Day Shopping - W/E 14th December 2024 - Part One

This week started with another shift at work on Sunday, but I wasn't due there until 2pm, so I had a bit of time to do some stuff at home first. I decided to start doing some Xmas wrapping for an hour or so. I got a few bits wrapped, but there's still quite a lot to do. I ended up being in a bit of a rush to get ready, have lunch and go to work, but at least I felt like I'd made the most of my time.

Work was busy. I started on one job for an hour and then took over another when a member of staff went off duty. The time passed pretty quickly again today, as the store was pretty full of shoppers. I was glad to leave at the end of the shift. I'm not scheduled to work again until Saturday, but I think the rota is being changed as the needs of the business dictate, so I don't rule out having more shifts added if it's busy this week. As a consequence, I need to make the absolute most of any time I have off and keep making progress with the to do list. 

On Sunday night, OH and I watched the week's episode of Wolf Hall. I combined this with more sewing on my hexi quilt. We're in the process of booking some accommodation in Tenerife in January. We're heading out there to join OH's sister, her husband and OH's mum for a week, which should be a nice break. I'm looking forward to getting away once the festive season is over.

On Monday, I had a completely free day to spend on the weekly shop. Aside from buying the usual groceries, I wanted to pay a visit to IKEA to get a few bits for the shed. The IKEA I visited is about 15 miles away, and is close to a large out of town mall that we used to vist many years ago, before our local one was built. I went there first to take a pair of barrel jeans back to Primark. I decided they weren't for me after purchasing them a couple of weeks ago in our local store. I found a few things to exchange them for, namely a couple of pairs of pants I can wear to work and a couple of gym vests.

Next stop, was IKEA. I hadn't been since the summer when I visited the store with LB to get things for her flat. It was nice to visit at Xmas as the store looked very festive. I do love some of their Xmas designs and couldn't resist getting a few bits in addition to the things I went in for.

I had to visit what used to be called Bargain Corner, but which is now the Re-use and Recycle Store and here I bought a few plain canvas cushion covers in red, green and black which cost £2 each. I'm planning to use the red and green ones to make Xmas cushions. I intend to applique some Xmas patchwork onto these and the black one I'll do the same thing with, but it will be a design that is usable all year round. I also bought a pot of 3 white hyacinths for £2.50, which I thought was reasonable and I also bought some scented tea lights and a few rolls of Xmas wrapping paper. I didn't go mad. I'll post about what I bought for the shed when I get the sofa cover finished and get it looking how I want it.

When I'd finished at IKEA, I went to a nearby Home Bargains for a few household bits and pieces, and then did the weekly shop at the Lidl next door. I finally bought the white amaryllis in a jar, which I'd been eyeing up for a while. (Thanks for the inspiration Marlene) It cost £6.99, but looks so lovely on the kitchen table. It's something I can possibly recreate myself every year. Here's a picture of it alongside the hyacinths:

The Santa wax burner contains some mulled wine wax melts I bought from Home Bargains for 79p and the small red candle was 99p from Lidl. These are great little candles. I bought a green one a few weeks ago, but it has now run out. I find that many candles just don't have a strong enough smell, but these are okay for the money. I look forward to keeping the jars too and using them for tea lights next Xmas. The other green candle on the table is a soy wax candle that I bought from Cancer Research. It has a lovely seasonal cedarwood scent and was a good price for a soy wax candle at less than £5.  The pot containing the hyacinths was also bought from Cancer Research for £3. It's a B&Q one. I already have one this colour and a larger one in grey. I really like them. I will be spreading all of these things out around the house eventually.

Once I'd done the weekly shop, I stopped in at an out of town Cancer Research Superstore on the way home. I hadn't been there for a month, so I really enjoyed having a browse. I bought the two above mentioned items and I also bought some other great things here, including a new with tags black skirt to wear for work for £2, a couple of dresses that I may cut down to make tops for work, which were £5 each, and a lovely green plaid top that was £3. I was so happy with all of the things I bought here. I always find some great items. Here's a picture of the plaid top, which was one of my favourite purchases:

It's so pretty, I look forward to wearing it. In fact, I may make this part of my Xmas day outfit. This was my last stop on what was an epic day shopping. I really enjoyed myself and there is now virtually nothing we need for Xmas, save for fresh food, we're all set. I did completely forget to shop for the foodbank today though, so I may pop to our local supermarket to buy and donate a few bits at some point this week. Only one thing was crossed off the to do list today though, so I need to do better.

On Tuesday, I went to a gym class in the morning. It didn't go as planned as I woke up with a raging bout of vertigo and wasn't feeling too great. I managed the standing up parts of the class, but when it came to the floor exercises, I decided to leave early and come home.  I was determined to make progress with the sofa cover in the afternoon. I spent a couple of very cold hours in the shed continuing to attach the velcro. LB is coming home on Sunday, as she's due to start work in a local shop on Monday, so I want to get it finished by then. Progress is slow, but a little every day should help get it done. I soothed my soul by listening to an amazing production of Handel's Messiah on YouTube. Here's the link if you like this piece of music:

I had hoped to go to see a live production of this in London this Xmas, but sadly all the tickets were sold out. This was well worth a watch though.

Later, I decided to continue with wrapping presents. It took me 3 or 4 hours, but I eventually got all but a couple wrapped up ready to go under the tree.  All that's left to do is find a couple of small gifts for OH's cracker and stocking and then I need to make up a hamperfor OH's mum. I shredded lots of tissue paper in readiness and used some of it to make up a hamper of favourtie foods for OH. It felt very satisfying to get this quite big job done and cross it off my list.

By the time I finished, I wasn't feeling too well. I made some supper and did a few household chores, tidied around upstairs and then went to bed.  Hopefully, I'll feel better and have a more productive day tomorrow.