22 Foxhole East

f0xh0les

Blimey what a day!
Took all the kids to school, did 3 hours packing emergency boxes at the foodbank, came home, cleaned the kitchen, had a rushed lunch, was in to pick up 3 Rainforest parcels, put up some black lacy net curtains in the living room bay window (£10) - I have left them quite flat, so the light comes through, not scrunched up, so the embroidery on them can be seen. The black is really dramatic, and I had not told anyone I was doing it. So put them up and went off to pick up 3 kids, dropped them home, drove to ds4's school, did parents' evening, picked him up from basketball, came home to find dh home early, and he loves the nets, he is properly happy about them (I would not bother, but he hates the idea of people looking in), I had a cup of tea, and then went out to the foodbank for another hour and a half. So a proper busy day for me! Just home and had supper (they left me some this week!) and VCM on Only Connect, which I love. So now I am knackered, and I have spaghetti arms from lifting all those boxes and cans over and over again. Some people go to the gym! This version is much cheaper. Will be going in on Wednesday again as well. The demand is horrific right now. So sad. So I might as well help out, it keeps me out of mischief, and shops, so win-win for everyone.

I am down to my last candle. I hope the c/shops get some in soon, otherwise I am going to have to use some vouchers to... (gulp)... buy some (yelp!).

f0xh0les

DH has just informed me that lorry jams after Brexit are going to be the cause of more dogging activity, the police fear. I don't know where to go with this, so I am just going to leave it here.

crazy_cat_lady

f0xh0les wrote: »

DH has just informed me that lorry jams after Brexit are going to be the cause of more dogging activity, the police fear. I don't know where to go with this, so I am just going to leave it here.

This has genuinely made me laugh for the first time today... Thankyou f0xh0les and dh:rotfl:

f0xh0les

Jolly good ccl. Glad you liked it.


Did another extra couple of hours at f/b to help out this morning. Going back tomorrow for the normal couple of hours. Keeps me out of trouble.
Running down the fridge in readiness for going away for 3 days, home for one, off for 3 back for 2, then back to school on the Monday.
Bought candles with vouchers, I love the candles. We have had the heating on for 2 hours, twice so far this month, and the living room is finally toasty.

I think I am on target to have £10k of readily available cash by December. Was feeling good about it, until I saw a property-!!!!!! tv show tonight where the budget for a pretty standard extension ran to £114k. Horrific.

Mr Hamster is still holding on to his life. Not sure how, he is asleep for 23 1/2 hours a day. Poor old man.
Hardly spending any money at all at the minute. The locksmith is hiding from me.

f0xh0les

Today I am feeling envious. All the mums are off abroad for half term, Spain, Lanzarote, Turkey (!) and I am going to Derby and Norfolk. Does that make me sound like a jealous old bat? I feel like one today.

Made a roast dinner tonight - stuffing, potatoes, kale, peas, carrots, corn, broccoli and gravy, followed by salted caramel ice cream. So their 5 a day was all in one meal, plus whatever fruit and salad they had in their lunchbox, plus fruit juice. Not so shoddy today then.

Brex1t may occur in 21 days. Terrifying.

The cleaning and clearing of the laundry room occured today - the 5 foot of space between the kitchen and the door to the downstairs bathroom - it holds the washing machine, a set of 4 drawers, and it has 4 shelves above it, right up to the ceiling and it just gets filled with whatever junk or diy tools are used, when you can't be faffed to lock it all away in the shed. Now it is clean and tidy, all the stuff has been put away where it should be, and all the laundry powders and stain removers are within reach. I am pushing the tat back towards the downstairs bathroom. I am clearing the way !!!!
By gods it is dull though. I spent an hour sorting bolts, screws, curtain hooks, allen keys, tv aerial bits and bobs, and all sorts of assorted nonsense into old iced tea containers. Lids on, see-through sides, good size, job done.

Cannot wait for tomorrow. After this half term, it just seems like a nice slide into the holidays, hallowe'en, then bonfire night, then before you know it, it is December (and the annual mortgage statement!!!).
I have plenty of books to see me through to Xmas. Each one read is going straight into the c/s bag hung on the coat rack by the front door.

I think I am finally getting somewhere with the cleaning and sorting, but the kids are working against me. I have to follow them around picking up their tat.

Going to run down the fridge as we are going away for 2 nights. The shop will still be there when we get back. dh will be cooking for himself and ds1 while I take ds2,3 &4 away with me to the cold, dark, windy seaside. They will eat things I hate, like glutinous rice, coriander, and okra. bleugh! Poor dh has to work so he could not have come with us anyway.

Lists written for tomorrow, I have a plan, I have roadworks which is going to sod up my school run, I have food in the house which means no spending either.

f0xh0les

It's half term !!!!!
Came down this morning and Mr Hamster is stiff as a board. Ooops. Looks like I will have to put on a funeral and bury him in a plant pot. So, we have had discussions on why rigor mortis occurs, and temperature drop after death. 'The body' has been suitable examined, so I need feel no guilt about going away tomorrow. He was a grumpy bitey wretch with few redeeming features apart from being small and extremely handsome. The kids have asked for a dog to 'replace' him. S wines.

It has kind of thrown my morning, but there you go.

I have researched Speedwell Cavern, Treake Cavern, Blue John Mine and the Devil's A*rse, and the Heights of Abraham. - any comments welcome - I have found a few cafe's that are vegan friendly, and will talk to the kids at lunchtime to see what they want to eat while we are away. Breakfast and supper will be made by me, lunch is always anyone's guess, I will knock up a cake and ice it tonight, and we can take our thermal mugs. When you are buying coffee and cake for 6 then the cost mounts up quickly.

Right, coffee and woodworm treatment feature in my morning. One for me, one not.

wishingthemortgaheaway

All of those are brilliant trip Fox. But wrap up warm.
The speedwell caverns are great and you can get a combo ticket for both.
Devil's !!!! is walkable, the other one, has about 100 steps to get down to the boat and isn't as suitable for those who don't like enclosed spaces.
It's not half term round here so you are in danger of running into a billion Manc school children as that's where we always used to go for educational visits.
If your boys are into the model railways, are you staying near the Crich tramway museum? My Dad and nephews love it.

I can't remember the heights of Abraham, but know I've been and know we had a great day.

I'm sure you will have a fab time whatever.

Wish.

crazy_cat_lady

RIP grumpy old hamster I know he had a good life

mark55man

f0xh0les wrote: »

He was a grumpy bitey wretch with few redeeming features apart from being small and extremely handsome. . ....

Sounds like your (sadly departed) hamster could have been a film star - Tom Cruise springs to mind given your description

f0xh0les

For something the size of a golf ball, he had a massive personality. He also gave the best conversation, although he had a filthy mouth. I shall miss him, although it was very considerate to die the day before we go away, so I do not have to worry about him when we go. We are only really away for 2 nights for the first leg of the holidays. Then home to refuel.

I have a RM postal thing to do this morning, so best get on with that - the vouchers they pay me keep me in candles over winter.



The boys were Salford kids until 5 years ago, so no doubt we will bump into at least one set of people we know up a deserted canyon in the darkest corner of a cave. As always happens.