Finally I have a mortgage I can start to pay off!

Suffolk_lass

I'm still mulling over the mental image of Sarah Millican running beside you... 

You know, I have also had two or three nights of really poor sleep (wide awake at three something) and been feeling out of sorts - dreary, grumpy and impatient here with a touch of teariness. Poor DH. I slept better yesterday and feel a lot more positive this morning! - I think it might be something to do with the month (maybe moon) phase, the proximity to winter solstice (I don't mean more than the daylight hours still reducing) and a bit of SAD here. I'm alluding to "you're not alone" I think

I'm starting on two local projects this week to see if that helps.

themadvix

Thanks lovely ladies! Sarah Millican is surprisingly motivating SL, and I did even picture her running alongside me at one point. Apparently there's a use for VR that involves using a VR person as a pace setter - I can see how that would work now.

Feeling rough again today - another night of little sleep and stuff going on (that's worse in my head). DH is out today, visiting a site for work - first time he's been out for work in months. I've hoovered throughout and need to clean the bathrooms, then I'll actually get to the zero-waste shop this afternoon. I've decided against Christmas cake. If MIL and FIL like/want it, I'll buy or they can bring on Christmas day. Otherwise, we'll have Christmas pud, yule log and mince pies (which if there's only 4 of us is plenty!). So visit to shop is to get ingredients to make mincemeat, which seems doable even in my limited kitchen facilities at the moment! (The pies themselves may be trickier.) Weather is atrocious here today - and doesn't look like it's going to improve - tomorrow sleet is forecast!

MS things:
* Daal for dinner last night - probably the cheapest meal we eat and so tasty
* Leftovers for lunch
* Clicks done
* PA survey
* YG survey
* Screened out of a couple of MM surveys - but 5 points for trying

Gratitudes:
* Cat company, even though they've just had a spat and probably put fur on my freshly hoovered carpets!
* Vaccine hope
* Today's my day for chocolate from the Montezuma's advent calendar - yum!

Have a good day all

earthgirl2

"Feeling rough again today - another night of little sleep and stuff going on (that's worse in my head)."
I'm with you on this!!

Suffolk_lass

earthgirl2 said:

"Feeling rough again today - another night of little sleep and stuff going on (that's worse in my head)."
I'm with you on this!!

Me too. Awake before 04.00 again this morning

themadvix

Sorry to hear I’m not alone Earthie and SL. But by the evening I was much cheerier - I think the instability of my emotions is as exhausting as being miserable all the time! Slept well last night and feeling better again today! Aargh! Hope you are both feeling better this morning.

newgirly

Have a good day today Vix 😊

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Thanks NG, so far, so good! Picked up a small job on the platform, as well as doing a couple more bits. Have made the mincemeat and jarred it - it smells so good! It was this recipe and was really easy - I'll definitely be making my own from now on. Also discovered that zesting a lemon is really easy when it's frozen and it can then be defrosted with 30 seconds in the microwave to juice it!

Have ordered a couple of books for presents from Hive.co.uk - when you buy from them (competitively priced and TCB available) they donate a portion of the profits to your selected local bookshop. Better than Amazon and still good value. I did look in the bookshop yesterday but couldn't see what I was looking for (and tbh, it was too hot and I couldn't see anything because of steamed up glasses due to mask!). Off out very soon to do some more Christmas shopping bits and meet mum (we probably aren't technically allowed to shop together, but how exactly is that any different to shopping alongside random strangers?!). Beginning to feel like we're getting there with Christmas present buying. Have also confirmed that BIL and fiancee won't be coming to us for Christmas, so need to ask DH's uncle. Either way it'll be very different to the usual affair (but I'm stressing less about having enough meat now!).

We did have takeaway last night (it was date night and DH was too tired after his day out to go out) - but there's enough left for dinner tonight. Am very cross that I've just had to throw half a loaf away as it was going mouldy - only bought it on Tuesday in WR - is that what shop bought bread is like?  

MS things:
* Clicks done
* Small job done
* Cashback on books ordered
* Found a bottle in the cupboard that will be perfect for BIL

Gratitudes:
* The weather isn't as bad as forecast 
* Cheery Christmas music on the radio while I made the mincemeat (I can handle it today - yesterday it just made me cry!)
* DH's Country Walking magazine freebie (with Lloyds account) is good (if enticing us with weekend breaks!)

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

Ug to not sleeping - I had 3 hours awake in the middle of the night last night, with the intensity of the 2 previous days, I'm shattered.  Still, I'm currently getting a lot of cat photos, so its not all bad  
Mincemeat sounds great - I do remember making a mincemeat once where the gooiness was made by using ground almonds and fruit juice, it was brilliant.  
Will be checking out hive for remote Christmas presents, thanks for the reminder.

Suffolk_lass

You sound more positive - sorry about your sleep KC. I am guessing WR use less preservative in their bread than some - that's one of the things (along with the mysterious "flour improvers") that I think disagree with me, rather than gluten or wheat as our own sourdough is fine

QueenJess

themadvix said:

Morning all,

 Has a really low day yesterday, quite teary and for no obvious reason. Even meeting mum and enjoying a chocolate orange hot choc didn’t cheer me up (used mum’s BOGOF voucher). Things did improve when I got home and saw DH had roughly put up the Christmas lights in the garden. I spent the late afternoon (in the dark) putting them up properly and they are so cheery 😊

 I’ve also realised that one of the major projects I was working on before Covid was the tourism one for California, which obviously hasn’t returned. That was an ongoing project and would have contributed considerably to my income this year, so I think taking that into account would considerably boost my evidence for being able to claim SEISS 3. I feel better knowing that that is an option. However, I managed to snag a small project last night and another this morning, and have had an email from a long-ago client, so maybe things will pick up yet.

 Today I will be purchasing hardboard to replace the kitchen floor. DH wants to stick it down a bit at a time so he can weight it properly so it doesn’t lift (we had a minor lifting problem after laying it the first time, which we lived with). So it’ll take a few days before it’s all relaid and we can put vinyl back down - but at least we’re on the way. Various other jobs and shopping to do but imagine it’s going to be chaos out there, so will see how the day goes.

 Have a good day all, remember, we will get through this.

I'm really craving an orange hot chocolate now!  May have to satisfy myself with a "normal" one from the cupboard