Cate's Diary

You're right Liza. It could have been anything really. I'm glad it's done. I'll be in touch with M over Christmas to wish her MC. I think they'll get along anyway & I should have just left it. I usually mean well, but I'm not always right that's for sure.
I'm getting a lot done today & feel almost ready for Christmas. G & I will go to "town" on Wednesday to buy the food for Christmas day. It's too soon tomorrow. I have been stripping beds & spring-cleaning, wrapping presents etc.
I almost always feel a bit out of sorts at Christmas. I think of the ones I love who are no longer with us, like my sister & brother. I always feel I should fuss more, but then don't usually. I think there's lots of pressure on everyone. I only see our older son's wife on Christmas evening(yep- only once a year) & it always feels awkward. I wish it was different, but I don't think I can change how she must feel about me. They never just call in to say hi. It hurts, but I try not to think too much about it if I can.
I might message him now to see who is coming along (ie her youngest daughter?) & roughly what time.
 
Meaning well and sometimes not quite achieving perfection is way better than not caring!
Cate said:
I only see our older son's wife on Christmas evening(yep- only once a year) & it always feels awkward. I wish it was different, but I don't think I can change how she must feel about me. They never just call in to say hi. It hurts, but I try not to think too much about it if I can.
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I'm sorry, that must be so unpleasant :grouphug: Kudos to you for trying to accept it and not pushing it.
 
Cate said:
I'm getting a lot done today & feel almost ready for Christmas. G & I will go to "town" on Wednesday to buy the food for Christmas day. It's too soon tomorrow. I have been stripping beds & spring-cleaning, wrapping presents etc.
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I still always have to get used to that idea that Christmas for you is in the spring and can include spring-cleaning! I have always thought that would be an odd experience to not have Christmas in the winter as Christmas is so tied into wintry things for me like hot chocolate and sledding and stuff...but I suppose if you grow up with it as a spring thing that feels natural! I listened to Tim Minchins White Wine in the Sun again yesterday :)

Cate said:
I almost always feel a bit out of sorts at Christmas. I think of the ones I love who are no longer with us, like my sister & brother. I always feel I should fuss more, but then don't usually. I think there's lots of pressure on everyone.
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yeah I can get that too. All the ways I think Christmas "should be" and isn't. The things I should have done, the people I should be connecting with etc etc...
My idea and celebration of Christmas has really changed over the years. Now I do very little around it...I do prefer it this way, but there is that idea of Christmases past and how it used to be...
 
Llama said:
Meaning well and sometimes not quite achieving perfection is way better than not caring!
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Thanks, Llama. I wonder sometimes.
Llama said:
I'm sorry, that must be so unpleasant :grouphug: Kudos to you for trying to accept it and not pushing it.
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It really is. I doubt there's anything I can do to change her view of me or how she thinks I feel about her. I think a lot of it is to do with ex-MILs.
liza3 said:
I still always have to get used to that idea that Christmas for you is in the spring and can include spring-cleaning! I have always thought that would be an odd experience to not have Christmas in the winter as Christmas is so tied into wintry things for me like hot chocolate and sledding and stuff...but I suppose if you grow up with it as a spring thing that feels natural! I listened to Tim Minchins White Wine in the Sun again yesterday :)
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I love Christmas in summer & wouldn't have it any other way. It's hard to get cards & decorations that aren't northern hemisphere ones though. As a child, it was always stinking hot & I'm grateful that here in Tassie it's not. I have never liked being in the snow, but love seeing it from a distance.
liza3 said:
yeah I can get that too. All the ways I think Christmas "should be" and isn't. The things I should have done, the people I should be connecting with etc etc...
My idea and celebration of Christmas has really changed over the years. Now I do very little around it...I do prefer it this way, but there is that idea of Christmases past and how it used to be...
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I am trying not to fuss about Christmas, but I do like my decorations & we'll be seeing our family on the day, although not altogether. G & I will have lunch on our own, which will be a nice break in the middle.
I feel I had a big win today. I lost my favourite hat & had not given up yet on finding it, but on my walk today with Arch I spotted it on a post tucked away at an intersection, weighted down by a horseshoe. It has my name on it & most people I know would have messaged me & let me know they found it or put it in my letterbox, but it must have been a stranger or my crazy neighbour who doesn't talk to me. Either way, it made me feel really good! I had already ordered a new one online, click & collect, but will see if I can swap it for a navy one.
 
Cate said:
I have never liked being in the snow, but love seeing it from a distance.
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:) I love snow. Both being in it and seeing it from distances. I don't like my winters long and cold and harsh but a bit of snow in a forest to walk through and then to come home to hot chocolate is one of my favorites! But yes I know not everyone's favorite for sure!
Cate said:
but on my walk today with Arch I spotted it on a post tucked away at an intersection, weighted down by a horseshoe.
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Oh so good! So lovely when people make the effort to make it an easy find.
 
Llama said:
Yay for finding your hat! That really is a win.
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liza3 said:
Oh so good! So lovely when people make the effort to make it an easy find.
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It really made me happy to find it. It's such a comfy, practical hat & I have had it for well over 10 years & it still looks brand new.
It's the vets' golf Christmas day today & I'm going out with G to help with the food. I'll take him out so that he doesn't have to drive home & will come back home & then I'll drive out there again at 1 pm to serve their food as they come in. It's all ready & I'll just take it out of the oven, add the cold stuff & plate it up (on paper plates). T is coming to keep me company.
I have an explanation as to why M may have seemed a bit cranky the other day. A collapsed on the golf course yesterday & ended up in A & E & they kept him in overnight. His son messaged G to tell him & I messaged M a few times last night. We had both thought he hadn't been himself for quite a while. I would say she has been worrying about him.
 
Oh dear, that would be such a shock! I hope he'll be ok.

I lost my favorite hat when my parents rebuilt the house and I still miss it 10 years later.
 
Llama said:
Oh dear, that would be such a shock! I hope he'll be ok.
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They think he has a pinched nerve in his back & he has been advised to stay away from golf for 3 months. I think there's more to it. Pain alters everything, including blood pressure & I know he's seeing a cardio.
Llama said:
I lost my favorite hat when my parents rebuilt the house and I still miss it 10 years later.
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It really did lift my spirits. I hate losing things.
Emilyrose said:
Sorry to hear that about A. I hope he recovers quickly.
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Me too. G worries about him.
Emilyrose said:
Good news on the hat!
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It was :) I wished I hadn't gone straight online to get another one. I'll try swapping it for a navy one when I go to pick it up today.
We're going to do our last Christmas shop today & will leave Arch at home. We're getting him used to it. He doesn't stress as much these days about it.
 
Pain stresses the body so chronic pain is chronic stress and we all know how unhealthy that is by now.
Don't feel bad about ordering a new hat: the chance of getting something back you lost outside is very low and doing things right away instead of putting them off is a positive thing that saves stress in the long run.
 
Llama said:
Pain stresses the body so chronic pain is chronic stress and we all know how unhealthy that is by now.
Don't feel bad about ordering a new hat: the chance of getting something back you lost outside is very low and doing things right away instead of putting them off is a positive thing that saves stress in the long run.
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I was able to swap it for a navy one, so that was good. My old one can be kept for dog walks & gardening & the blue one for when I'm out & about & usually wearing navy blue.
Emilyrose said:
Happy Christmas shopping! I just have to get two small gifts for my housemates and I am done with it also. Phew! :)
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It was mostly Christmas food shopping, but we did well. It was quite extravagant- English Stilton in a pot, expensive leg ham, French brie.......We didn't stint & the shop was over $300. No cherries this year though- they are way too expensive & don't look good.
We fitted in a library visit & I got G organised for a library card so I can now order double the books :D
We had a bit of a list of things to do but got everything done. It was so busy. We had lunch when we got home- warm roast chicken with a big salad.
G & I are going out to play 9 holes in the Turkey Run this morning. We have lots to do, but we feel like a hit. I have to build up my golf fitness.
 
liza3 said:
Fun!
Wonderful how much you enjoy your reading. i'm pleased if i can get one book read in a year! lol!
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I have always loved to read. Now that I have the time again I have to try to stop myself from reading all of the time!
Llama said:
Yay for twice as many books! And your food shop has me drooling 🤤
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Yay indeed, LaMa. It means I can order more books as sometimes I have to wait months.
Our food shop was wonderful. We usually don't skimp on food but are a bit indulgent for Christmas. There is a specialty grocery store in Devonport called Hill St Grocers & we only shop there occasionally. I do love it though. Their produce is very good, especially their deli section.
G & I played golf this morning & I played reasonably well. I beat G :D I won't win a turkey, but I am happy with how I played mostly. It will take me quite a while to get back my match fitness.
 
Llama said:
As long as you have fun doing something that does you good there's no rush :)
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That's true, Llama & it's really good for me. I have much more energy & positivity afterwards & I sleep well.
I'm not sure how much time I will have over Christmas to be in the forum. R & C & his dog arrive about lunchtime today & I won't type in here while they're up & about as it feels rude. I'm really looking forward to them being here.
 
I really hope (and know!) you will have a fantastic time with R's visit and all the Christmas merriment and festivities. Well done on beating G! ;) I love that you are back into the golf life, such a positive for you.
 
Enjoy your Christmas with the family Cate :)
Sounds like it should be a wonderful time with all that good food waiting to be enjoyed and good connections with the family :)
 
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