What are you up to right now?

[amylu1988]

Happy birthday Esme, hope you've had a lovely day! Glad you had a nice time with your niece and nephew, sounds lovely.

Lots happening for us, my craft room is nearly finished and we have nearly a full set of new windows and doors. Lots of decorating still to do, but we've got loads done this year. Hope you're all doing ok! *hugs*

[esmeiolanthe]

Oh yes, I had a great time! I did need another nap this afternoon, though. The kids wore me right out!

I hope there will be pictures of the new sewing room soon! It's like you're doing a real-life Sims house makeover, and I want to see the results!

[joandsarah]

Esme, I missed your birthday?! Happy belated birthday!

[esmeiolanthe]

No worries, Jo! I celebrate for several days - the kids sleeping over were part of my present to myself, and I have yet to buy myself two books that I wanted. Thank you for the good wishes! *hug*

[joandsarah]

Several days, that certainly sounds like a good time.

Good new on that pipeline hey, although I wouldn't trust Trump.

[joandsarah]

Merry Christmas and happy Hanukkah. Hope you all have a great time and that the new year brings you and yours good luck, good fortune and good times.

[esmeiolanthe]

Merry Christmas, Jo!

I went out to visit my sister and her family today, and oh boy was the weather nasty! It was good to see the kids, though. My sister and brother-in-law loaned my parents and me the car to get home, and I was very glad indeed of that! (I can get home from my parents' building without going outside, and often don't even bother with a coat when I go to visit them.)

I recently found out that my dad needs surgery (scheduled for January 18, which is just about as early as it is physically possible to do it), so I've been pretty worried about that.

And on an almost-certainly-unrelated note, I've had some time to play the Sims properly for the first time in a long while. I think part of the problem is that when I stopped playing because of the move, I was at the part of the rotation where I only had the households left to play that I found less interesting. But I've found a way to make one interesting again, and I'm down to one household and a dab of Uni left for this rotation. And I've got a hack that shortens Uni considerably now. It's a slippery slope you got me started on, Jo...

[joandsarah]

Hope your dads surgery goes well esme.

it's always good when you can figure something out for those less than interesting houses.

What slippery slope?! :lol: *checks cupboard for special brownies*

[esmeiolanthe]

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope 2017 is a better year for everyone than 2016 (even if 2016 was a good year)!

[joandsarah]

Happy New year Esme.

[amylu1988]

Very belated happy new year lovely people! *hugs*

Esme, hope your Dad's surgery goes ok, *hugs* for that too. Glad to hear you've been playing sims, got any pictures to inspire those of us who can't seem to play at the moment?

We had the British version of a 'snow storm' this morning, twenty minutes of sleety snow, nothing settling, then a nice sunny day afterwards. From the news, you'd think we were all snowed in!

2016 was the year of unreliable building contractors for us, we have one last set to sort out on Monday re the windows, then hopefully 2017 will see us decorating more than one room! My craft room is still not done, I've been sorting through my entire life in paperwork (school books, childhood art, university notes, birthday cards, you name it!!) so the room is finally emerging from the mess now. New furniture to come soon, along with a proper curtain, ooh and a dress form, and maybe a new sewing machine...then I'll show pictures.

[esmeiolanthe]

I've got a whole bunch of pictures for you, Amy! Here you go! Ta-da!

You understand, of course, that this means that we get lots of pictures of your craft room once you've got it all sorted out. It can be hard going through all that paper, but I always find it very freeing when I'm able to let go of all the stuff I've been saving for no good reason.

Here in my new location, the high was 7 today, if that makes you feel warmer. (That's 7 Fahrenheit, which is -13.8 Celsius.) When I woke up this morning, it was -6 (that's -21 Celsius)! I'm very glad heat is included in my rent -- and that I now own multiple sets of long underwear! I also have a nice hat like this one, which helps.

[amylu1988]

Sorry Esme, I keep forgetting to check LJ, thanks for letting me know. I really enjoyed reading that.

Of course! The other day I found the 'before' pictures from the estate agent's brochure and even I was shocked, I forgot how old fashioned the house was the first time we saw it. Today is exactly one year since we got the keys and took all the carpets and most of the wallpaper out. The poor lady who lived here before hadn't decorated for decades, bless her.

Agreed about the feeling of freedom when getting rid of stuff, I feel so much happier for it. When I lived with my parents I wasn't really allowed to throw stuff out. We currently have 8 bags full of books to take to the charity shops or to give to my friends for their children. I haven't even started on the toys yet! It's lovely finding the stuff I want to keep though; Mum liked to write notes to me, and there are some really nice ones that I cherish.

Oh wow, that's cold. Blimey. Ooh, great hat though, looks nice and warm for that kind of scary weather!

[joandsarah]

I see that link Esme, I'll be over tomorrow as I too forget to check LJ except occasionally.

Send some cold over both of you, we are having a scorching summer, every day is somewhere between 35-40C.

Yes I want pictures too Amy.

I'm quite busy right now, I've become a queue mod over at MTS and it's a learning curve. DD is away at camp for the week and then we start back at school.

Talking of not decorating for decades my kitchen or 3/4 of it is 1960's, low blue benches and wooden draws with no runners. We put another bench across to make it separate from the dinning room when the kids were small. That's my 'new' section.

[esmeiolanthe]

There's a new 100 Days of Awesome as well, Jo. (I mention because I know how much you like Anastasia. ) In fact, I have something queued up for every Sunday between now and the end of February, so check LJ Sunday night/Monday morning your time between now and then.

Congratulations on becoming a mod at MTS! I know that was something you've been wanting, and I'm sure you'll do a great job.