From debt to freedom...

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you CCL. The OH person recommended counselling so am waiting to hear about that. Hopefully the counselling sessions will be a little more local to me. Unfortunately sleep pattern has gone awry again so need to get this right before going back to work.

Honeysucklelou2

Saturday went by in a blur! Got 2 loads of washing done and most dried on the line . I did pop to work and got some bits and pieces done for the new term. Took DD3 to a different supermarket so that she could use one of these photo printing machines. It's probably an expensive way to do it, but our printer literally went bang in January and she needs these pictures for her GCSE folder. We were going to do the weekly shop there but I find it so big, busy and noisy I bid a hasty retreat and drove back to our normal shop. It was on the way home anyway!

DS1 wants pasties for one meal this week. They take a bit of time so I can only do them at weekends. My mum is visiting tomorrow and she has requested a stew, so will dust off the slow cooker and use that. I must get the tins topped up. It seems ages since I had a good baking session!

Honeysucklelou2

Sleep is evading me again Ahhhhh:mad::(:wall: I've had a busy day, so you'd think I'd fall asleep quickly...
My mum visited today and we have tackled the living room. I've found the missing cutlery from the drawer underneath the sofa ( I'm thinking teenagers on their days off, eating lunch in the living room. I insist on eating at the table if I'm home!) and have enough pens to last me a year or two! The skirting boards and window frames were washed down so all is fresh and clean.

I'm trying to carefully plan out the remaining holiday days. I do have a number of phone calls to make in order to find out information for the legal forms. It's one of those jobs that I know needs to be done but I've been shying away from. They will have to be done tomorrow!

Honeysucklelou2

Got round to tackling some of those phone calls today. It seems ridiculous that I have to gear myself up to ringing but there we go. Two phone calls sorted out more legal tasks which needed doing, I also got myself to the doctors to follow up on a health niggle from last week's OH appointment. The appointment was running late and I have to say it was bliss to have half an hour to myself to sit and read. I managed a whole magazine that I took with me :rotfl:.

I did go into work again to prep for the next week. I'm hoping that a bit more tomorrow, but from home, will allow me a work free weekend.

Honeysucklelou2

I got a couple of hours work done yesterday which means that hopefully I can try and relax and enjoy the Easter weekend with the children.

I paid £50 towards nursery fees, £81 on the water bill and £100 off a school trip. Just over £200 to go on school trips. I'll be glad when they are cleared. I need to factor in the cost of a passport for DD4, which I need to do ASAP.

I had been quite concerned at the beginning of the week, that a direct debit hadn't gone out of my account. I even rang the bank to see what was happening. They said it was still active but the company hadn't requested a payment. A phone call later, it turned out that I've paid 10 instalments and no more is needed until May. .

Confession time next...the money that didn't go out, I then used. DD2 said she didn't like this rockery type bed we have. I admit it does get overgrown with grass if we're not careful. She wanted to look at plants for that bed. I never need a second invitation to go to a garden centre! I usually buy veg seeds if I go, it's quite some time since I've bought plants and what a surprise the prices were! We only bought 2 litre plants or smaller but still spent £47.:eek::cool: All the plants were perennial ( Rosemary, Cotton lavender, sedum and geranium ) so should be good value over time. DD2 and DS1 stunned me by then weeding and planting the said plants. It's lovely that they are pitching in to improve the garden but very unexpected! Just need to keep the destructive duo, aka the puppies, away from the plants.

The trip did make me look at prices. I have some plants grown from seed that I could try to sell.

DD1 returns to university over the weekend. The time has gone really quickly. Hopefully it won't be too long before she's home again. Her summer term seems very short in comparison to the other terms.

Still needing a decent sleep pattern :wall::wall:

Honeysucklelou2

A tale of 2 evenings...

Yesterday evening was lovely. After taking DS3 and DD4 to Messy Church ( which they thoroughly enjoyed) We decided to go to the beach with the BBQ. The tide was on the turn and so high up the beach I don't think I'd seen this particular beach so covered. When it started to go out, the water receded quite quickly. It's almost magical seeing the fresh clean sand and rediscovering the pools that the sea has relinquished! DS3 ran all evening! The DDs went for a dip in the sea while others walked some of the cliff path. We stayed until dusk. It was so beautiful, calm and relaxing. I thought of a possible solution to my current work situation which, if I'm brave enough to suggest it, might help my stress levels and health.

This evening has been a total contrast:(. I organised an Easter egg hunt at the allotment as I've done in previous years. It was a day early to be able to include DD1 before she returns to uni. The hunt went ok but the ex was around due to it being a Saturday. His dog jumped up at and went for DS3 as he simply tried to cross the garden. The ex's first reaction, after getting the dog under control, was to suggest that DS3 had done something to provoke the dog. He hadn't. All the poor boy had done was to stand up and start to walk across the lawn. The ex then accused DD1 of something she hadn't done and despite her doing her utmost to prove she hadn't done it, he was just unpleasant towards her which is horrible at the best of times but especially awful on her last night at home. :(. Thankfully he left soon afterwards but it proved to me I must keep plodding on to get legal stuff sorted to avoid situations like this.

DD2 has offered to drive DD1 to uni...a sisters trip! DD3 is going too for her navigation skills!! It's kind of nice to have someone else do the trip but feel a little guilty about it. I've filled DD2's car with petrol and made a batch of brownies for them to munch on their way!

crazy_cat_lady

So sorry to hear that the ex's behaviour spoilt your evening... :mad: More motivation to keep going with the legals.
However, the other stuff sounds fantastic - you always describe your days out so beautifully. You've made me fancy a little walk along the beach.
Have a lovely day.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you CCL.

Much of yesterday was spent quietly at home. The older DDs set off on their sisters trip, full of excitement! The younger DDs were quite happy playing games in the garden. They tend to take their playmobil toys outside and set up towns and villages and play happily and imaginatively together .

I had hoped that yesterday would have been a NSD, particularly as most shops are shut on Easter Day, however DD3 has to read a classic from a given list. Despite having many wonderful classics on my bookshelves, the list covered a completely different set of authors. How can a list of classics not include Jane Austen or Thomas Hardy :shocked::shocked:. ? Due to the need to have the book read by tomorrow I had to buy it in digital form so she could read it on her kindle.

I got a fair bit of baking done yesterday, 2 lemon drizzle cakes and a batch of simnel muffins. I'll need to fill the tins today to make sure we have enough for packed lunches this week.

I can't believe it's the last day of the holidays. It's been so lovely to have time in the evenings to relax and to enjoy a slower pace in the mornings. Hope I can gear up fast to work day routines!

abba1772

So sorry your ex spoiled your evening.......surely he must see how uncomfortable his children are around him xx

Honeysucklelou2

It is a tricky one Abba1772...The older DSs and DD2 will actively stay in contact with the ex but the others either can't or won't. By can't I mean they can have phone contact anytime if they want to but seeing him is dependant on when he chooses.

Today was a pottering at home kind of day which at least means I didn't spend anything other than paying a utility bill. The ex turned up and wanted to take the children out ( no prior notice). In the end only the younger DDs went, as DS2 went to see a friend, DS1 stayed at home and DS3 was too young for the activity. DS1 & 3 and I went for a walk to the local woods. The bluebells were at their best, an absolute sea of colour beneath the trees. There was a slight breeze which wafted the scent of the bluebells around...truly lovely. DS3 seems to have grown up that little bit more and no longer wants to be carried but is delighted to run everywhere.

Have been battling work dread to the point that getting out to the woods was a beneficial calming activity. I know I've been in quite a bit and prepped but just hoping it's enough. I did a bit of planting in the garden and tidied up the pots...evening cups of tea amidst pots of flowers is an essential part of the summer term!!