Mrs. P's Diary

MrsPorridge

Well its been a financial struggle since the last entry - what with stuff being done to both cars and then DS getting the opportunity to go to Cyprus with the Air cadets and also we made the journey up to see Dad which involved petrol plus food out and an overnight stay coming to almost £300 so I'm afraid the old CC has had to take a bit of a hit

As usual at the moment it is one step forwards and 2 steps backwards. I know this happens and I know things will change. I am so annoyed as we started the year off really well.

In other news Dad is out of hospital and staying with brother and SIL. Things not going too well with Dad though - problems after his op and the district nurse is going in each day. SIL and Brother suggested he needed a couple of days of respite care but Dad was horrified. So he is still with them.

Brother and I finding it hard to cope with as it has brought up lots of memories of how Dad treated Mum and also how Dad treated us when we were younger. It is only since Mum died (just over 10 years ago) that I got close to Dad. I also feel guilty as I live a 5 hour journey away and work full time. SIL does not work and brother does odd bits and bobs so both have free time - although they do have 3 children - one is 13 and the other two are 5 and 6 so they take up their time as well. Families.

Some positive stuff:

Bedroom is almost finished And it looks fantastic - just a little bit of glossing to be done on the window sill.

I made the Hairy Biker's chilli on Saturday night and it was out of this world - there was plenty left so DH and I both have it for our packed lunches tomorrow and Tuesday.

We had a joint of pork for lunch today where again I used the Hairy Bikers recipe and it was really nice but there is loads left. Tomorrow we will have the pork stir fried with hoi sin sauce, water chestnuts, veggies and noodles. Tuesday we may have special fried rice (Gok Wan) which will use up some more of the pork. I think I will freeze the rest. I had forgotten how economical a roast actually is.

MrsPorridge

Payday tomorrow. January was a great month but February has been a bu@@er. I will be glad to see the back of it.

Pie and veg for tea tonight - pie was from the reduced shelf. If we are passing by Sainsburys we sometimes stop off and check the reduced stuff - especially if it can be frozen.

DH and I then went out to a parents meeting at the College about applying for university. DS wants to go. I find the whole thing quite scary as neither DH or I did that (I wished I could have - but it wasn't encouraged by my parents). The College are really supportive and very approachable and will guide through the whole process. DS is very motivated and knows what he wants and how to go about it. He just has to decide what course to do - something in the science field I am guessing.

Last month I started a coaching and mentoring course - next 2 days are next week. I am really enjoying this. Its quite expensive but work are paying. I have to do 3 assignments and 24 hours of coaching (business). I am three-quarters of the way through my first assignment. I am thinking its another string to my bow and may be something I could do on a freelance basis part time in a few years. We will see.

By the weekend I need to do some meal planning and then my monthly main Lidls shop. I have found it cheaper to shop once a month in Lidls and then just do top-ups in Sainsburys for the kind of things that Lidls don't sell.

Am going with my friend for a cheap College lunch tomorrow £3.50 for a main course - it is our treat

MrsPorridge

Have just joined the March take lunch to work challenge. Must try and make my packed lunch more exciting - I hate packed lunches and once I have done DS's and DH's I end up with rubbish for mine. Not too keen on sandwiches.

Tomorrow I have got hot cross buns x 2 and a banana!

Will be doing my shop at the weekend and try to aim in March to have more exciting packed lunches. There are lots of ideas on the packed lunch thread so I will be trying to gain inspiration from them.

Things with Dad not going so well. He is not recovering too well - think he may be in shock at having such a big op. May have to face a family conference in the future and think about Dad's future in a home. Its horrible and its something he won't contemplate - but it may be something we have to do. Feeling vey down today about it - but trying to be upbeat and keep smiling for the sake of DS especially. Its horrible but life goes on.....

Money_Fritter

Hi MrsP,

Hope you are ok,

One thing I do with my pack lunches sometimes is to make an extra portion of tea the previous night, that way I don't always have boring sandwichs

Money Fritter

MrsPorridge

MF - thanks for that - a good idea.

I have had an NSD today which is a good start to the month.

Tonight I will be doing my meal planning for the month and will be writing out my shopping list.

No real plans for the weekend as such. DS is driving us to the nearest town tomorrow for practice where we will have some tea and toast at a little cafe for breakfast. We will then go to Lidls. Back home will be DH finishing off painting and I will do some batch cooking for the month and housework. DS is going to a sleepover tomorrow night so we need to drop him off about 7.30 and then the evening is ours. We will probably watch a film and have a couple of glasses of wine

Jazee

MrsP, hope you have a lovely evening once you've done taxi service!

MrsPorridge

Thanks Jazee.

I have had a "Jamie Oliver" morning. I have made his recipe for pea soup and also for leek and potato soup. They are all in tupperware now ready for DH and my packed lunches this week. I have been spurred on by joining the March challenge take your lunch to work! We also had some of the pea soup for lunch today.

The bread maker has also been on the go and the dough is now shaped into rolls and proving.

Later today we will have roast chicken, all the veggies are prepped and I will make some home made bread sauce. For pudding I am going back to Jamie Oliver and we are having banoffee pudding, which is basically sliced banana with vanilla ice cream, raisins and whipped double cream with some toffee sauce on top.

Am going to have a relaxing afternoon surfing the net and watching some TV.

MrsPorridge

Oh and today will be an NSD

MrsPorridge

Just had a phone call from SIL and brother - we have now taken the decision that Dad needs to go into respite care/convalescence for a couple of weeks. SIL cannot cope - its too much to ask of her what she has to do. Dad keeps forgetting to change his catheter/bag etc., and there have been several incidences - always in the middle of the night.

All I feel is a sense of relief - he does need round the clock care at the moment with professional people. The blessing is that Dad does have money so there is no problem on that front.

I do feel sad as well. Hopefully this will help Dad recover properly. Well, we have 3 choices, he gets better, or worse, or stays the same

I am glad that he is going to be properly looked after - and I don't mean any disrespect to SIL with that - I mean by "properly" by medically trained people as that is what he needs. SIL has been absolutely wonderful - without her Dad would have had to go into a home straight from hospital. I told her that she had been able to give him a couple of weeks at her house with her family.

She and brother have spoken to Dad and he now agrees that this is the best course of action - for that I am grateful.

MrsPorridge

Not updated for a while. Had a couple of days off work and went to see Dad. He is now on his own in his own home. He seems more positive now - but I am still worried. for instance the District Nurse is supposed to come in every day but hasn't come in yet and its now after 6. I have phoned them and left a message. Dad isn't worried but I am - he needs to have a dressing changed each day. I guess I always need something to worry about.

Dad very kindly gave me some money so I have paid off one of my CCs and 3/4 off another one.