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Christmas

My best present to myself

(94 Posts)
MawBroon Fri 21-Dec-18 10:16:48

OK perhaps I need to get out more, but the “present to myself” which has given me most pleasure was to have my range cooker restored to looking like new last weekend after 3 hours’ attention from Ovenu (other firms are available)
£135 for the 4 ovens, all the shelves and linings, fan, glass doors, new lights, seven burners - money well spent!
(I do have a sneaky delivery from the Sahara sale due today mind you)

Grammaretto Fri 21-Dec-18 10:27:36

MawBroon that's my kind of best present too.
Last year I had my old settee reupholstered and the year before my old bath reenamelled. Both were very worthwhile and in both cases it would have been cheaper to buy a new one.
This year I had hoped for another similar treat by having shutters fitted to make the room cosier but the builder has gone quiet.

JudiDrench Fri 21-Dec-18 10:38:06

Grammaretto, I am really interested to know more about the bath re-enamelling! I have an old cast iron bath which the bathroom was partially built around so to remove the bath would be expensive. Did you have the bath removed?
I looked at different firms but reviews were mixed.
My present to myself, I do hope.

EllanVannin Fri 21-Dec-18 11:17:06

I'm the last person to think about myself at this time of the year so I haven't thought about treating myself to anything.

More fool me I suppose but the thought of spending on myself doesn't bode too well. Apart from the fact that I don't need anything I'd be wasting money.

Maybe next year I'll pay for someone to give my place a good " bottoming "-----something which I now find my energy depleted for such a thorough cleansing. That would give me the greatest lift/pleasure.

Grammaretto Fri 21-Dec-18 11:18:51

JudiDrench it was done by a local man who was properly trained. He quoted almost half what the big companies charge and we are really pleased with the result. He did it in situ. I hope you find an equally good experience. I've never had such a comfortable bath and now I'm not ashamed of it any more and it's easy to clean.
The taps are dated 1938 so it's not antique yet but hopefully will see us out.

Grammaretto Fri 21-Dec-18 11:24:46

EllanVannin I really recommend getting something in the house, garden or for your person done to lift your spirits.
Ofcourse it isn't vital but every time you look at it you'll smile.

suzied Fri 21-Dec-18 11:27:07

I bought some lovely skincare products from l'Occitane. We don't buy each other presents so I justify buying something for myself.

dragonfly46 Fri 21-Dec-18 11:33:08

I bought a robot mower last year. My DH hates gardening and when my son sent me the ad telling me it was greatly reduced on Black Friday I couldn't resist. So last summer we set it up, sat on the garden chairs and watch it work its magic. My lawn has never looked so good. Of course he, Charlie, is tucked away in the garage for the winter.

Jane10 Fri 21-Dec-18 11:39:05

MawBroon I just discovered Sahara. There's an actusl shop. I loved everything in it and bought a comfy but smart dress. My favourite thing I bought to wear is a beautiful dinner jacket made in gorgeous pashmina fabric. In a range of blues. It's a real treat.

Jane10 Fri 21-Dec-18 11:39:56

That didn't come from Sahara though. House of Bruar. A visit there is a treat in itself!

Witzend Fri 21-Dec-18 11:40:10

Someone once told me that her best Christmas,present ever - with relatives arriving to stay and the whole house needing a good blitz - was just that. Her dh paid for a team to come and clean absolutely everything, inc. windows, carpets, oven, etc. IIRC even the inside of kitchen cupboards, too.

Which reminds me, mine could certainly do with it, but there's no way I'm doing it before Christmas now, and luckily nobody who's coming to stay is the type to tut-tut anyway.

MissAdventure Fri 21-Dec-18 11:42:41

I bought myself cushion floor for the kitchen, and 'treated' myself to an evening of laying it myself.

Dontaskme Fri 21-Dec-18 11:52:01

Hair dye smile

MissAdventure Fri 21-Dec-18 11:54:56

Oh, now I was thinking about getting some dye today, and maybe giving myself a bit of a haircut.
tchshock
I don't know why, because I'm useless with hair..

EllanVannin Fri 21-Dec-18 12:03:58

Cushion floor------now there's an idea. A piece for my kitchen would be the ideal gift to me with me doing the fitting of it------on Christmas Eve. I'm going to measure it now as I'll get it on Monday morning when I do my " fresh " shopping at M&S being as the carpet shop is near there.

kittylester Fri 21-Dec-18 12:19:50

I love Ovenu maw. I treat myself once year and was just thinking it's due!

Jessity Fri 21-Dec-18 13:28:15

I’ve used oven cleaning companies in the past with great success. Only drawback (if it is!) is that I don’t want to use the oven again, it looks far too pristine.

Last summer, I decided to do it myself with products from Lakeland. Took for ever and I felt quite exhausted and in need of a restorative glass or two.

Back to professionals next time.

lemongrove Fri 21-Dec-18 13:48:13

I have the oven cleaned by a firm once a year usually about April, what a difference it makes and worth every penny.

Day6 Fri 21-Dec-18 13:57:27

I have just bought OH two smallish things (for Christmas) which I'll benefit from. One is a blood pressure monitor, the other a set of lovely, delicate gin balloon glasses.

I have also got into the very bad habit of browsing Amazon, and invariably I'll buy myself a book for my Kindle or a piece of hand-crafted jewellery. I am worth it - but all these little treats to myself add up!

And yes, we had someone come and clean the range cooker too about a year ago. It took most of Saturday but as OH said, that's what we worked for all our lives - the luxury of paying someone to do the grotty jobs.

GrannyGravy13 Fri 21-Dec-18 14:04:10

Totally agree with "Ovenu" my range will get the once over in January. My treat to myself is having a cleaner, who,does all the jobs I absolutely detest especially cleaning 3 bathrooms.

Willow500 Fri 21-Dec-18 16:06:01

My son and DIL had someone come in and clean their range cooker a few weeks ago - it was in the cottage they bought earlier this year but in quite a state and they (and I) had struggled to get it clean. They made a brilliant job of it.

GillT57 Fri 21-Dec-18 17:08:25

I agree about oven cleaning specialists, really worth the money and they generally don't use anything toxic either, not like the products available to do it yourself. Mawbroon I love Sahara clothes. I always thought they were too expensive but when I bought the best fitting pair of trousers I have ever owned from them I changed my mind.

phoenix Fri 21-Dec-18 17:19:22

I thought of booking a professional oven clean for Mr P's birthday in November (don't ask!) but the firm's I contacted didn't cover our area, tchsad so back to the Oven Price here

phoenix Fri 21-Dec-18 17:20:05

PRIDE! Damn autocorrect!

MissAdventure Fri 21-Dec-18 17:26:43

My neighbour asked if she could cook her pork in my oven.
I said yes, but its quite grubby.. silence..
"You could do that quite easily" she said.
"I probably could, but I've no intention of doing so"..
Silence again. smile