5 OS Pleasures in your Day Today part 2

Caterina

Hi all

I won't even attempt to try and catch up with posts now because I have so much to sort out and this is the only day that I can do it with my DH (home paperwork etc.).

Sorry I have missed a few days, I have had some real challenges on the home front, our neighbour started building a loft conversion having given us 1 day notice (yes ONE day) and I have been having a crash course on party wall matters, as well as engaging a surveyor, finding out that we might have subsidence and all this has really taken its toll. All the way doing this alongside my usual work and family stuff so I really had no energy at the end of my day, just would crash to bed.

Anyway, lots of good things have come out of this and here are a number of pleasures in no particular order, including looking for the silver lining in a fairly dark cloud:

1 - This dispute has brought to a head the fact that we need to start tackling all our own house problems, find reasons for the cracks and do the necessary work.

2 - DH has finally realised, 22 years on, that I am not the moron he seems to think I am and that I know what I am talking about, so from now on I have much stronger decision power in future matters of joint interest. Hopefully also less need to struggle to persuade him that he does not always "know best".

3 - Potential for future improvement in communication with him. (those of you who remember my escape to Ireland, it was over a big issue of mis-communication).

4 - Great friends who really supported me through the last few days and confirmed that I acted well and with common sense (even if DH did not think so at the time).

5 - Garden, kefir grains, sourdough starters, cats and kids all still alive and doing well even though they were a bit neglected this last week.

6 - Last night, lovely meal here with our friends and then outing to Blackheath to see the fireworks.

7 - Today, walk to the Farmers Market with DH and feeling that there has been a qualitative shift in our relationship, for the better.

8 - DD got a nannying job, part time but sufficient to leave her some pocket money after she has repaid me in instalments for the laptop I bought for her by advancing her the money.

9 - DD and her BF chopping all the wood we have in the garden so we now have a really good amount in store.

10 - Planning a good tidy-up of the study room with DH, going to do it as soon as I finish this post.

11 - Planning a nice veggie chili con carne and rice for dinner, also squash soup (already cooked).

Good night everybody

xxx

billy858

Evening everyone.
Only one for today as family have been grumpy and getting me down.
1. The sun was shining and I finished my half marathon in one piece and got quite a good time (well, for me anyway) !
Love to all. X

DitaBombita

Hello all few nice ones this weekend -

1. Using new soapnuts off ebay in the washer and them being super (got some from mate who lives on a barge too for Xmas as dont think he knows about them and has to use eco cleaning stuff as it all goes in the canal)

2. Finishing first sock monkey & posting pic on facebook. Little sister then stated she loves it and wants one for Xmas, suggests I should make our Dad a MUFC one....which is a fab idea.

3. Oxtail stew in slow cooker (first attempt)

4. Updating the website and facebook group for the rally we are organinsing in Leeds in a few weeks and nearly 100 people saying they are coming so far!! Hooray for technology

5. Getting big thanks for Finishing off three little pretty jars ofpreserves and agreeing to make a yummy cake for my sports team raffle / fundraiser next weekend

Broomstick

My five pleasures for Sunday:

1. I woke up this morning having had nine hours (that's 9 hours!:j) deep sleep. Absolutely unheard of for me nowadays.

2. The children cleaned the kitchen and sitting room without being asked.

3. I discovered that a cottage up on a hill in the back of beyond in stunning scenery that I rented for a holiday 20 years ago (from the family who had a long lease on it and whom I had since lost contact with) has been taken over by one of the heritage organisations, has been done up and is now available as a holiday let through them. When I was there, I stayed for a week on my own. There was an earth loo outside, water from the well, no electricity, candles/tilly lamps, only source of heat was from an open fire etc. and it was magical. I had my one and only tin bath in front of the fire there. It still sounds fairly basic but at least has a bathroom, running water and some electricity now and I am determined to save the money somehow for another holiday there. It may take a few years!

4. We all have a very complicated week ahead and I have just done a meal plan for lunches and suppers (with puddings) that takes all of it into account, plus put in the veggiebox order to go with it and made a comprehensive shopping list for tomorrow morning. I feel very pleased with myself.

5. DS2 went out shopping with some money from me and came home with some very nice slippers to keep his feet warm on the stone floors. He was really sensible about price and choice. We all want to try to keep the central heating off as long as possible.

Sweet dreams everyone

B xxx

savingforoz

Mine are:

1. Reading Caterina's post above and knowing that things are getting sorted with the house, and that things are going well with hubby.
2. Finding £1 coin in the lockers at the gym.
3. Going to the gym, having a good workout, seeing 2 of the lovely instructors, and feeling great afterwards.
4. A delicious butterbean, vegetable and coconut tagine for evening meal.
5. Carrying on with getting the house cleared - slowly and surely I'm getting there...

Love and hugs to everyone, thanks for posting your wonderful pleasures x

mineallmine

Evening all,

Good to see Reverbe's posts and my thoughts to Caterina - I find house stuff intimidating so very brave you!

A mixed bag but here goes:

1. A really nice roast dinner. Cooked by the loved one, and so much better than my efforts. Not a drop of leftovers!
2. Waitrose Almond biscuits (part of their basics range), taste home-made.
3. An afternoon nap.
4. The NHS, I've had a few things seen to recently and I really don't think we realise how lucky we are to have the NHS.:A
5. Two minute silence today. We'd been out and got back in time to mark this. Dimbleby said that if a line of people who died in battle formed a march to London, the end of the march would be in Edinburgh...

:A

bellaquidsin

This weekend's pleasures:-

1. A few fireworks in the garden with DD and family.

2. A scrummy supper in the garden after the fireworks, cold but we were all well wrapped up.

3. Cuddles with DGD and DGS, he's eleven and sat the eleven plus yesterday, but still has cuddles for his Nan.

4. Nice straightforward Sunday Lunch with just DS extra to fee.

5. DH emptying DW and making me a cup of tea.

Bella.

Bitsy_Beans

Evening everyone.

Felt quite stressed this morning. Took kids out for a walk and it started tipping down with rain - NOT what the forecast had said :mad: BUT we decided to carry on anyway and it turned out cold but no rain with a wee bit on sunshine. Kids got me down a bit with some horrendous temper tantrums (DD's are especially bad at the mo) but we had a good day in the end.

Mine for today are:

Enjoyed the fresh air and being outdoors with the family

Had a nice tootle round the countryside whilst the kids slept in the car

Really tasty roast chicken dinner YUM!

DD trying to say Row Row Row Your Boat and laughing as I was rowing her arms to the rhyme

Had a lovely cuddle with DS on his bed to get him off to sleep.

Sweet dreams all

Frith

Sons' behaviour was very up and down today (more so bigger son than smaller one). Its like he's a teenager already (he's 9) :-(

Anyway, 5 for today:

1) Having a good tidy this morning.

2) Making a tray of chocolate fairy cakes.

3) Lighting the fire and sitting snugly in the living room watching The Wizard of Oz.

4) My sister coming over with some helium balloons she had saved from a party for my sons.

5) My school friend coming round carring sausages and rolls and making hot dogs for our tea!!

and 6) Going swimming with my friend, my brother and my sons and bigger son swimming 8 lengths (with a lot of fuss and huffing and puffing and moaning). This is what he needed to be able to swim to join the local sub aqua group........

L

scotrae

That veggie tagine sounded wonderful (further up the page) and I can sympathise with the ups and downs of 9-y-o sons as I've got two of my own!

Anyhow, a funny few days chez nous but I was telling one of my sons yesterday to focus on the positives and how I've started to end the day listing 5 good things that I'm thankful for (often including him and his brother) ... so I'm here to practise what I preach again, even if it's for a few days in one go.

1. Boosting my Advantage card points by around £15 in Boots yesterday using various offers and vouchers. Some kind MSE-er told me earlier that I can use these in the sale so I'm aiming to hold on til after Christmas and get myself some gorgeous goodies! :j

2. Seeing that my week eating from the freezer is starting to clear some space. Fetching out some meat and fish to defrost for the next couple of days, minutes before DH arriving home with meat for us from MIL's freezer because she's trying to clear hers for Christmas. Another week of no spend on meat.

3. Going to watch the fireworks last night and seeing DH's face light up (literally, as he gazed skyward). He's just a big kid!

4. Being very proud of my sons during the remembrance service in church today. We don't go as often as I'd like to and they were very grown up throughout, even though they sat next to each other (which has occasionally been a recipe for disaster in the past). Shedding a tear during the 2 minutes though as I thought of all the mothers and wives around the country who are spending their first winter without their loved heroes.

5. Enjoying a fabulous roast tea, courtesy of DH and a rib of local rare breed beef out of our freezer. So incredibly tasty and probably worth a fortune but we were given it a while ago. One son raved about it too!