Half way through the week.

Half way through the week again already.  Only 38 days until Christmas.  Good job that I finally got around to doing something about presents yesterday.  I am very behind this year.  I spent yesterday afternoon on the internet ordering stuff from the various lists that I had finally got my children to give me.  (Joshua if you don’t give me a list of suggestions soon you’ll get nothing!)  By the time Simon came in from school I had managed to spend just over £460 and I hadn’t even left my arm chair!  That’s my kind of shopping!  Most of it should be delivered within a few days as well.

The last few years I have taken to getting as much as I can online and having it all delivered.  It saves so much hassle going round the shops when they are so crowded.  I hate that.  I get each child to give me a list of things that they would like and then I choose something from their list.  I don’t like giving money as there is no gift to unwrap on the big day.  This way they get something they really want but they also get a surprise when they open it as they don’t know what I have chosen.

The other good thing about buying online is that it is very easy to Google an item and quickly check who is offering the best deal.  Much better than having to go from shop to shop.  I make sure I get shops with free delivery too. 

Earlier this year I signed up to Quidco too which gets you “cash back” on your purchases.  If you do a lot of online shopping they are worth checking out.  It costs £5 a year to be a member but they take that out of your cash back so you don’t actually hand over any cash.  They have 100’s of companies from the biggest to the small signed up with them and each company has its own rules for amount of cash back etc.  They pay the cash into your bank account each month and you don’t have to wait for it to reach a certain amount either.  I have made about £20 so far this year but yesterday I made about another £25 so that all helps.   I LOVE online shopping!  I think Simon just hopes I don’t get too carried away.

I did end up buying 3 things yesterday that were nothing to do with Christmas!  They were just things I saw whilst browsing.  The first was a blanket with arms in that you can wrap around you and still have your hands free to hold a book or whatever.  I thought that would be good for when I am on my desk top computer which as you know is on the landing outside the living room and it gets very cold there in winter even with the heating on. 

The second thing was a heat sealer for re-sealing plastic bags.  I thought that would be good for all the fruit and veg that we freeze from our allotment. Much better than those little tie things.  Plus you can re-seal any kind of plastic bag so if you have, say half a pack of crisps, you can seal it up and make it air tight!  Funny what gets me excited huh?  The final thing was something I spotted on Amazon and I have thought about getting for ages anyway.... It’s the latest 2011 Family tree software programme.  I can’t wait for that to be delivered.

I have started a list of things for Simon too.  That is for Simon to get me, not for me to get Simon!  He likes to have a list from me so that he can make sure he gets me things I want.  Of course I don’t get everything on the list!  I expect he will get me more charms for my bracelet.  Did I remember to tell you that he got me a pram when Jessica was born?  I am putting an Amazon Kindle on my list this year.  I never thought I would want one of those as I LOVE the look, smell and feel of new books so much.  BUT, those Kindles are so light weight and small and they hold 3500 books!  Much better when you go on holiday.  

I am obviously having a shopping week this week as I went out with Coralie this morning to the local Hobbycraft shop.  I was determined not to buy anything although I was very tempted by some books.   I was however a good girl and came out empty handed.  I think that is the first time ever.  Then we walked along and went in a few of the other shops there (it’s on an out of town retail park).  We went in a shop called Cotton Traders which is ok but I don’t usually buy anything in there.  Right by the door they had snow boots half price....£20 instead of £40.  They are UGLY but they are totally waterproof and they are fur lined and they have non slip rubber soles like wellingtons.  I thought they would be good for the allotment not to mention any snow we get this year.  They do keep saying it is going to be a bad winter.  They had them in a size 4 so I had to get them really.  Here they are:

Not the most attractive of things but very practical. Oh and mine aren't red they are chocolate brown.

When I got home I was greeted by a rather unpleasant “Rosie accident” in the hall so I have had to get out my Vax carpet washer and do a major clean up.  Since then I have been relaxing.  Simon should be in at 6pm and I am doing sausages, chips and beans for dinner so that’s nice and easy.  They are special pork and black pepper sausages that we got at the garden centre that is part of the complex where Hobbycraft is.  I also got a loaf of very nice looking onion bread so we can have that with it. Think I shall do some custard to go with the last of my chocolate tray bake which I made on Monday.  It got burnt because Coralie was here!!!!!!  All her fault!  

Ok enough waffling from me.  I need to go and make myself some coffee and then I am going to do some family history research.