Challenge of a lifetime!

cotswoldaccountant

Crumpets wrote: »

HI CA, I hope dd and Ds didn't come down with anything and that you've caught up with your work now.

Crumpets x

Thanks Crumpets! They were fine so that was good. I never catch up with my work - it's an ongoing battle trying to keep on top of it. I am working hard today, but things are taking longer than I had planned, and I was distracted this morning by a coffee with friends and we ended up chatting for quite a while. Lovely, but not very productive! I feel it is very important to maintain my social life though - my friends are very important to me and keep me sane!

It was a busy weekend - all day Saturday was spent with the group I volunteer for, tiring but great fun. Sunday we had DS1's birthday party and took 9 children (including our own) swimming. Fortunately he is now 9 and most of his friends are fairly competent swimmers. We went out for a pizza afterwards and I was dismayed to find that this is definitely the last time that he and his friends will be satisfied with a children's size meal - they all ravenously devoured their little pizzas and OH and I ended up sharing out our own leftovers. I had no idea that boys would eat so much at such a young age!

The party was reasonably pricey, but we've had several bookings for our holiday let and our B&B over the weekend so that has all helped.

I am being utterly hopeless at my resolutions to pack the night before (done it about twice), walk to school (not done at all - but it has rained a lot), but the meal planning is going quite well. I have bought some reduced chicken thighs this morning to cook for tonight - need a tasty one pot dish that I can put in the oven before I go on the school run, so any ideas are welcome!

CA

Crumpets

This is a tasty easy meal http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/10760/chicken-and-couscous-onepot

cotswoldaccountant

Crumpets wrote: »

This is a tasty easy meal http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/10760/chicken-and-couscous-onepot

Thanks Crumpets for the idea - we had it for dinner, delicious. Very much enjoyed by us and two littlest children. The older two complained that the couscous was "plain" but otherwise generally enjoyed all round.

cotswoldaccountant

Morning all, time as ever whizzing by and I never seem to have enough of it to attend to my diary!

Our planning application for our conservatory has finally been submitted, so I am not making any OPs at the moment in case it is approved and we need to find funds from somewhere! I am keeping my fingers crossed - being Grade 2 listed and a fairly ambitious project we will have to wait and see whether it is allowed. I hope so though - I have set my heart on it now. We have a lovely garden but can't see it from the house at all, so it would be amazing to be able to sit and enjoy the garden from indoors.

We've had a run of B&B guests which helps with cashflow, having had a couple of quiet months. Although the B&B is fairly sporadic, I do love meeting the guests and they are usually really interesting and nice people.

I had a bit of a spendy weekend last weekend as I had a girls weekend with a couple of friends, one of whom has recently moved abroad, so we flew over to visit her for 2 nights and had such a lovely, relaxing time - mountain walks, lovely food and lots of chatting!

Work is absolutely manic and I am struggling to keep on top of it all. With no childcare other than pre school hours (and half term now upon us) I find myself working most evenings. I have booked all 4 children into a local holiday club for a day on Wednesday though. They will hopefully have fun and I will be able to get a much-needed few hours to catch up.

We're off for a few days to a cottage at the end of half term - can't wait! Today, we are planning to visit a National Trust property where there are some fab adventure playgrounds and hopefully it will stay dry!

CA

greent

Enjoy your break later in the week x

Crumpets

Sounds like you are having a really busy time lately CA! Fingers crossed for your planning application, it sounds ideal, and lovely to be able to see your lovely garden in all weathers.

I'm sure your children will love the holiday club and hopefully you'll be able to get lots of work done so that you can enjoy your break away, are you going far?

Have a fantastic time

Crumpets x

dangers

Lurker here - I'm interested in which NT property you were visiting that has the adventure playground - we're not too far south of you, so another NT property within easy reach would be good to hear about.
Cheers x

cotswoldaccountant

Hi Crumpets - we're just off to Devon for a few days so not too far. Am tired out with half term already so am looking forward to a holiday! Hopefully it will be relaxing...

Hi Dangers - we went to Waddesdon Manor, which is in Buckinghamshire near Aylesbury - well worth a visit!

FloppyDisk

Hi CA, did you ever make it back from Devon?

Crumpets

I was wondering that too Floppy I hope all is ok with you CA

C x