NST October ORGANISE OCTOBER

Was so busy replying, I forgot to report on my own day yesterday.

Early morning phone call from mum's cleaner, worrying about the kettle (leaking water including on the electrical bits). Assured her that it was on the day's list along with the garden sieve and a rail for hanging more cups (mum changed things round and put utensils on the hooks I put up for cups).

Was nearly ready so set off to get cash for mum, small purchase for me (I had to take my NSD back as I temporarily forgot it) as I only had £20 notes and needed change for the taxi, then onto the shop for the bulky items and then phoned for the taxi to mum's.

Set up the new kettle but was mostly a quiet day (Thursday is my old visiting day so I don't feel guilty if I don't do too much 'work'). Weathe was too changeable to continue armchair gardening. Put together a shopping list for mum but it may not be a SM delivery. There are a few items needed from different shops so it may make sense to 'batch shop' next week.

Will also start separate lists for different shops and get those items if I go near that shop. She is low on tinned soup so one day next week I will go the little Arseda, buy 3 of each variety she likes and then get the taxi to mum's, so I'm only carrying them into the house.

Did more embroidery and some sewing for crafts (just finishing bits), watched a film, made tea. Second set of antibiotics was delivered by the pharmacy, so hopefully that system is now working.

Before anyone asks, yes I could make soup for mum but she likes the tins, they are easy for her to do whilst she is feeling the benefit of the pills (may change as we go into winter and then I will be the one pleased with an easy to do meal), we are stock piling for winter (I've tidied enough to now have cupboard space for things like that) and she was telling me all her plans for making cakes for the Christmas fair - aaargh.

Now she is feeling so much better, she's planning to come out of cake retirement and use her 1/2 hour of energy a day (she even gets exhausted writing a letter) to prepare cakes. Of course I am included in these plans. I don't want to have the freezer space blocked for all of October and November and tried to suggest alternatives (making cakes that would look colourful and inviting on the stall but don't involve hours of work and use up the ingredients already taking up shelf room).

Now that she can't control her hands sufficiently, she has decided my icing skills are sufficient. One of her plans, once I decoded it, involves making seven fruit cakes in cans (6 small, 1 large grapefruit tin) which will then be turned into candles covered in icing stars, for 'them to raffle'. I'm going to need that break in December. Meanwhile will keep trying to talk her down - she always forgets that I am not a bakery full of staff. The year before I made her retire her cake tins she put us both in bed for a week.

Mum said I didn't need to go today. I had intended to but we did the 'after you, no after you' thing until finally I said I would decide today and surprise her. I wrote a list of things (I need) to do, including several for mum so will work on that and may go later so that the day is broken up. Her hairdresser goes late morning and she has people visiting on Saturday and everyone knows to phone me if there is anything wrong. I really have to catch up with things like laundry (that might be the decider as I might be out of socks). Already thrown the bath mat, towels and bedding down.

For yesterday I am grateful for a project turning out well, quiet time with mum and for some lovely sunny bits between the downpours.