Cherry takes the reins

11th
NSD, no run either - and a swap-round of shifts at work so I did this morning instead of this evening. That's good in that I get to see DH and DS (though sadly not for long) and watch Poldark (possibly not such a good idea as I don't need drama!).

MS stuff:
Resisted those goodies being sold at work (again)
Picked up another shift
Tracked down the payslips that prove I had had a contract I was never sent! It was only for about 3 months and was a step between two similar contracts, but it doesn't appear in my pension record which, combined with the absence of paperwork, makes me think HR either never knew about it or forgot to tell other departments. Now I have to find the pensions paperwork and go and annoy HR, but not tonight, or even this week.

Today 12th: has been a bit spendy. I'm off to work on Mum's house for 3 days and decided to do an online order rather than try to carry all my food or buy locally, which is costly and limited (though they do nice cakes). I will tweak that order last thing tonight so the total will change. I've also had some successful bids on 3bay (holiday wear). Another non-run day: I did intend to but work was long (2.5 miles of trudging corridors so it was sort-of exercise too), it's already late and I have lots to sort out for the trip to go to plan. My running belt has arrived, though! I'll take running things with me and try for at least one, maybe two - such a gorgeous area to be out in!

The diet...? The diet is progressing, but I've had to slacken off the pressure. It just felt as though I was losing strength. I've gone a shade easier on myself which means of course it will take longer but I'm less likely to crash and burn.

When I come back from Mum's, it's quick change time then out for another shift, so I may not manage to log in again till some time on Saturday. I'm nearly out of roaming data, but it tops up in a couple of days so at that point I may well have a brief catch-up. Got to be limited, though - and reception is terrible.

Spends:
Housekeeping £43.14 + £11.44
Clothing £29.73

MS stuff:
Found some nice marinated yellow-stickered chicken for tea, coupled with rice and some cauliflower that needed finishing... and it was low-calorie.
Had a sort-out of the fridge and found some interesting stuff... will take a bit with me and take those things off the supermarket bill.

Confession time:
Going to way over on the food bill again, due to having to make the most of that online shop.
Some treats as well as needs in that food shopping list.
I'm going to have to chuck out some of the veg. Lettuce lacks appeal when it goes funny colours at the edges.

The hens are planned but I really didn't expect to start this year!

When I was a child, we always had chickens, usually a RIR x Light Sussex but in later years Mum had bantams and that's what I've decided to do, too. Mum said they were less mean to each other than larger hens! This is only a very small coop, recommended for 3 full sized birds, but I think 3 bantams would be happy there instead. I did some research a while back, which I've now forgotten, as to breeds.

It will probably be August before we can collect the coop (didn't attempt to carry it on the train). I wonder if August is too late in the season to buy pullets? More research is needed.

This morning I went a bit mad at the car boots sale which is entirely my Mum's fault for leaving me with some nice planters. I have 3 tomato plants, a saxifrage, (even more) lobelia, a diascia and 2 handsome petunias - that's in addition to lots of cuttings from Mum's garden. Al I can do with the rest of today, as work starts soon, is water everything and stand it in the shade.

I also bought sandals and a book on herbs.

Accounts to follow.

I've just spent the last however-long googling bantam sales in my area, Honeysucklelou2!
I haven't even got the coop home yet...

My spending over the last few days (I'll add things like 3bay purchases as they arrive):

13th
Spends:
Train £57.10 (to reclaim from the estate)
Clothing £17.00
Toiletries £4.00
Holiday (luggage strap & tags) £3.00
Electronics £7.00
MS stuff:
Took sandwiches for the day, and flask so I didn't have to buy coffee.
Confession time:
Discovered I can break the journey and visit a very big Primarni...

14th
Spends:
Food £3.00
Chicken coop (I suppose that's 'Pets') £30.00
Chicken feeder/waterer £10.00
Confession time:
Took money with me when I went running, therefore caved and went to buy ice cream. It was a hot day so it seemed justified. Shop that sells ice cream has small ads. I had mobile phone on me... end result: trip later in the day to buy a chicken coop.
MS stuff:
It was a very cheap chicken coop!

15th
Spends:
I think it was an NSD. I think.
MS stuff:
Took cuttings from the garden and found an old flower delivery box in which they travelled beautifully. Today they are in jam jars awaiting roots.

16th
Spends:
NSD
MS stuff:
Flask and sandwiches for the journey.
Picked up another shift at work.

17th
Spends:
Book on herbs 50p
Clothing £3.00
Garden: 3x tomatoes £1.00, tray of lobelia £1.00, saxifrage £1.00, Diascia 80p, 2 x petunias £2.00, total £5.80.
MS stuff:
All plants watered to survive till I can pot them on.
Confession time:
Threw out a pint of milk and plums that have both suffered from the heat (though I gave the guinea pigs some plums and they seemed happy with them).

I haven't really got time just now to sort out the 3bay acquisitions so I'll edit them in later.

I managed two runs and found a beautiful flower meadow and a cobbled footbridge, not to mention the hen house... did a load of work on the house but discovered lots more still to do.
I probably won't do any more work there for the next month but my sister will.