5 OS Pleasures in your Day Today part 2

CCP

Evening all, from soggy and very windy Portsmouth.

Caterina - I'm really sorry to hear you're having such a rough time at work at the moment. I hope it picks up soon.

My five for today (I hope - I've been struggling to think of five things all evening ):

1) Frustrating and stressful though my job is at the moment, I know I'm lucky to have a nice bunch of colleagues that I get on very well with.

2) Despite the very strong winds last night, all my plants are still just about upright (although one of my tomatoes is at a rather strange angle - I hope it straightens itself up once the wind dies down).

3) One of my favourite meals for dinner tonight - chilli con carne burritos. :drool:

4) Met my dad on his way back from visiting my grandmother (his mother), and she's meant to be coming out of hospital on Monday, as long as she doesn't try and run across her room and fall over again. <roll eyes>

5) And he brought me the anti-slug rings my mum got for me - they should close the buffet dinner for slugs I'm apparently hosting at the moment.

See you tomorrow, peeps.

Frith

Hello from a drenched and windswept Worcestershire. It looks like November out there!
Sorry to hear about your work woes, Caterina.

Here are my 5:

1) Had an admin morning, made phone calls about the new DLA granted to little son yesterday.

2) Let next door's dogs out a few times. Mum and dad came round for a cup of tea and the dogs are so lovely, they came over to let them out as well!

3) Went to see little son's paediatrician. The big report hasn't been finished... Little son has a list of weird problems as long as your arm and autistic traits but the paediatrician thinks they will not go for autism in the end. He wants to prescribe melatonin for the lack of sleep (or lack of settling to sleep) and the child psych will try to tackle some of the other problems. (Like son not using any toilet other than ours, hoarding etc).

4) Made one of our favourite teas (v easy). Just some chopped up bits of chicken from yesterday's roast plus some cooked brocolli in a pie dish mixed with a tin of Basics chicken soup. Topped with puff pastry (cheating Just-Rol). We had that with sweetcorn and carrots.

5) Was pondering over smaller son's sleep problems and using melatonin. I don't take tablets unless my life depends on it because they invariably have some terrible side effect when I do! Anyway, we did the usual bath, pyjamas, stories and I was wondering how on earth I could make even more of a routine. Put him in bed and he was asleep within 5 minutes - he hasn't done that in YEARS!

6) Just sitting here in the semi-darkness now listening to a bit of Pink Floyd.

Tealady_2

Evening,

Pleasures for today:
1. Some money off vouchers in the post so that is a discount on food shopping for the next few weeks
2. Finaly getting one of my brothers to answer the phone today and sorting out the final bits of parents party
3. Paying for the party today and not havig to worry about the cash as it has all been saved and was ready to go. Pre MSE this would not have been the case:money:
4. Not MSE but had my hair cut tonight. Feel so much better for it and was given a glass of wine whilst it was bing cut
5. Buying a duck crown for £3, just need to decide what I want to do with it.

Hugs to all who need them

Patchwork_Quilt

Sparrer, I use beetroot leaves like spinach. Usually, I freeze them in a bag and then when I'm making curry, dahl or soup, I bash the bag on the worktop a few times and then tip the bits in. I use the stalk too. The very small leaves can go in salads. You get beetroot leaves in some of the salad 'pillows' at the supermarket.

1) Got the housework done and made some chocolate shortbread before I went out.
2) Coffee with a friend at the newest coffee shop in town. We had a good heart to heart, which both of us needed.
3) Started to make a dress in the afternoon. It's a long time since I did this but I'm quite enjoying the logicality of fitting the pieces together. I get the patterns free anyway in a magazine and the fabric was from Oxfam a couple of weeks ago.
4) A meal out. Not very MSE I know but it is DH's birthday and we have a favourite place. It does an exceptional buffet for a fixed price so you do know what you're letting yourself in for and with four courses for £13 it's very good value. A nice family evening.
5) All the cards that came for DH. My Mum sent him a very generous contribution to the guitar fund!

Sleep well, everyone.

jexygirl

*sneaks in to post*
Hello from a VERY most definitely more soggy Scotland ! I WIN!!!! I am sure it has not stopped raining for almost 2 weeks, my veggies are testament! I have lost all tomato plants, all my lovely dill, and the rest just look so sorry for themselves!
Just wanted to say i am still reading, but after a crazy June, people came from nowhere as we had a month almost of sun, then a soggy July, which is a worry, and the place for sale, have been just a little too apathetic to post (that or too drunk more likely!)
Anyhow, its always good to read even though I dont post too often, BIG HUGS TO Caterina and anyone else that needs them, and even those that dont!
Take care
signed
A very wet Jex, 14 VERY Wet and peeved hens, and a pic to hopefully make people smile, my boxer Kayaking!




I discovered, after 3 years of being here, that spending time out on the loch is amazing, instead of just admiring the view! My dog, also agreed, however, I am ashamed to say I ended up buying a 2nd hand double kayak JUST FOR HIM!!!!
I know its not MSE, but him between my legs on a single one just wasnt working!!! He runs to the beach, drags the kayak down to the water by its toggle, and just gets in, sits in his seat... and then looks at you as if to say... erm... Im waiting...

He isnt spoilt at all.... *coughs as she looks at him currently sprawled out on her bed...*
you have to love what you have, and not focus on what you dont right
Will try and post more often as I love the thread

sparrer

Basil is a lovely name elizabunny , just right. Sounds like you're all getting so much pleasure from him already
Good for you on finding so much good in life Caterina, when you're feeling in a spot over the job. Enjoy your time off and don't forget to take some you time
Your post reminded me of the poem woggle. We have a lake outside where the cars stand but don't think it's up to our middles yet . Take things slowly, I know how tempting it is to want to get on now you're home but as I said above, have some you time
What lovely freecyclers Ladyhawk, giving you more strawberry plants for your friend. Well done Eamon, he's obviously very good at saving
Good to hear you also can find some good in your day CCP, it rubs off on all of us in this forum I think. Lol at the slug rings...have you tried crushed eggshells? Both neighbours have slugs but I don't since I started using them and they (the shells) have a good calcium and protein content for the soil
Good taste in music Acey, Floyd is the perfect way to relax and let your mind go. Great news about little son dropping off to sleep so quickly, hopefully the melatonin might not be necessary after all
Well done on paying for the party Tealady, is a great feeling we can do that sort of thing today :T. The duck crown was good value, personally I'd scoff the lot in crispy duck rolls, yummy :drool:
Thanks Patchwork, I'll look out for them when I next shop. I'll grow beetroot next year so it'll be a bonus to get two veg from one. Hope the dress turns out as you want, let us know how it goes
Oh, Jex, you don't have to sneak in! We understand you're in one of the busiest trades there is so it's just good to hear from you when you can. Any ideas on where you'll go when you've sold? Love the pic of the dog in his smart orange life jacket . No he's not spoiled, is he? Much! This from she who has a 3 seater and a 2 seater sofa, and guess which one my dog has?!

My 5
1. The furbabies let me have a lie in til 9.30am
2. nsd
3. The plants have taken a beating in the wind but don't think I've actually lost anything
4. Bottom of the fridge dinner, a Cumberland sausage, a wrinkly tomato, a 3 days out of date egg and a toasted brown roll. All tasted good and I got to wash out one of the salad drawers...will do the other one tomorrow
5. Had a Mr M apple and pomegranate bran bar. I don't usually buy that sort of thing but it was on bogof and really nice so I'll buy some more
6. The penny phone call. A chat with the nurse, they're having a meeting to decide when to move lovely DF to the long term care unit. It's very sad but thank goodness they're giving me some information, as he requested they do. They've said he'll still be able to have his mobile, and perhaps his laptop for short periods which I know he misses.

Night night, sweet dreams
S x

mollythewestie

Caterina - Big ((HUGS)) for you.
Jexy - Welcome back, I had been wondering where you were!

Here are my pleasures for yesterday:

- An unexpected visit from DH's aunt and uncle who brought us some photos, DVDs and a CD Rom of pics taken of DD on holiday. DH's aunt is a talented amateur photographer and her photographs are gorgeous.
- Making some bread using the "Artisan bread in 5 minutes" recipe on here and having enough dough for fresh bread for the next week too.
- I had a VIP slot for the Next sale on wednesday evening and yesterday I got confirmation of my order, only 1 item of 20 was out of stock. :j I bought lots of clothes for DD including a coat and 4 packs of sleepsuits as well as summer outfits for next year.
- Our pepper and Chilli plants are doing very well.
- Taking the time to make DDs breakfast, lunch and tea from scratch, I have not used any jarred baby food for about 3 days now and DD is loving all the new tastes.

Caterina

Hi all

As always, thank you all with all my heart for your kind words about my work, which help me reflect and make me feel surronded by understanding friends.

In particular Elizabunny's words really resonate with me, as I am feeling that by being out working I am risking to lose all that she describes in her post, the gardening, the time with family, the hobbies etc...

Ladyhawk: will I ever get used to it? I don't know, I used to think that there was no other way than work, and then I changed my lifestyle and worked from home, self employed and then for a small charity, and after 7 years I started thinking I was missing the office environment. Now I remember why I left it in the first place. The answer is I don't know, I am going to give it another try but I am determined to cut my losses sooner rather than later if I feel that it is not working for me. I am on a 3 month probation when I only need to give a week notice, then it would have to be a month, so I need to make my mind up in a hurry! However I am on a 6 month fixed term (renewable) contract so I might yet decide to pack it in at Christmas if I haven't done so earlier.

It is not that I don't like the job, I want to work, it is just I don't want to go to work, if it makes any sense.

Sparrer, I am having time off now, won't be back until week after next as I have worked extra hours! I might be able to work one week of 3 days and one week of 2 days alternate, it might not be so bad then. That is one of the good things of this job, flexitime!

Watch this space!

Jexy, is that YOU on the Loch, you brave woman? What a lovely pic!

Patchwork Quilt, I also use beetroot leaves in the same way, baby ones in salad and large ones in soup (give a minestrone a really earthy lovely flavour and a pink colour!) or as spinach, they are delicious fried in garlic and chili oil and used to dress pasta. This reminds me, I need to put in an order for beetroot seeds, as I have forgotten to buy them this year!

Here are pleasures for today:

1 - Managed to have a fitness session this morning so am feeling all fit and virtuous!

2 - Went to see an old lady I am volunteering with, helped her a bit more with her paperwork and we had a great time, she is lovely company and thoroughly enjoy my time with her.

3 - Decided to have lunch with DS, DD and her BF instead of going to Central London. It was good to spend time with them

4 - Lunch was gorgeous, pasta with veg from the garden (cicoria, which is like giant dandelion leaves) and also salad from the garden (after a mighty battle to get rid of a large family of earwigs from the leaves, without killing any of them).

5 - Because I haven't ordered an organic veg box for a while, they sent me a letter with an offer, free fruit bag if I rejoin them and one bag free after I have three consecutive orders YIPPEE! I was just thinking of rejoining them and now I have, with a bonus!

6 - Good to be back on the board!

Love to all xxx

CCP

Afternoon all.

Caterina - you're so brave picking off all those earwigs - I love most types of bugs, but I can't stand earwigs. I think I might have been tempted to let them have the salad - what a wimp I am!

sparrer - thanks for the eggshell tip - I'll definitely be trying that one. I'm making quiche over the weekend, so that's a great bit of timing. :T

Jex - it's nice to see a post from you, and thanks for that lovely pic. All you need to do is teach the dog to use a paddle, then you can sit back while he does all the work.

Acey - I hope your smaller son had a good night's sleep, and that the team get to the bottom of his problems soon. I'm guessing it will be a relief just to know what can be done to help him best.

My pleasures for today:

1) Reading this thread. It's become such a regular thing that I tend not to think about it, but I should do - reading people's pleasures always cheers me up, so thanks, everyone. :T

2) Picked up a bag of ready-grated mozzarella to make pizza tonight, then my OS sensitivities screamed at me and I put it back and bought a block instead - much cheaper. :money:

3) My front door's been fixed. :j (Of course, now it's fixed, the rain's stopped. Typical! )

4) I've received a money-off voucher for one of my favourite fair-trade websites. That might actually be a bit dangerous to the finances...

5) Fakeout night tonight, and a very virtuous one as the pizza base is made with two-thirds brown flour. :A (OK, only because I didn't have as much white flour as I thought, but the end result's the same! )

Have a lovely evening, everyone.

wogglemaker

Thanks for the advice Sparrer, I'll keep reminding myself to slow down,

Lets see what I can manage today.

1. A lie in 'till 7.00 am today, not hospitals 5.30 for IV A B's.
2. Hospital case all clean tidy and refilled.
3. 4 gig memory stick refilled with new music.
4. Short trip to Bank - convert penny pot into £15 of notes = new skirt from Cotton Traders tommorrow, got a few bits from Aldi for the weekend and the forgotten batteries.
5. HM ready meal chilli & rice for tea - even nicer that we didn't have to cook.