Get a grip woman!

Suffolk_lass

Aha! Thanks for that Cheery!

Right, I have a list of tasks I need to do before hols next week so time to shift and start.

themadvix

And someone (Fortune?) posted that they’d won first thing on Saturday morning when the prize checker just kept telling me the results weren’t available yet! I think we’re all getting a bit keen! 😂

Karmacat

I just had an email from nsandi, after checking the prize list previously, thought I might be in there - but it was about the new money I'd put in  I might have known!  Well, I did know, but still 

Suffolk_lass

Yes, I got that one too KC, because my winnings are reinvested at the moment. Had to raid the instant savings emergency fund this morning so I don't forget, later in the month when we are not here. Both accounts needed a top up this month. I have allowed for all the bits that will go before my next month's pension arrives so ended up with £450 to our bills account and £400 to the running costs [eek!].

Suffolk_lass

We are off out tonight (I was out yesterday too!) and then one last night at home before going on holiday!

Karmacat

Brilliant!  Have a lovely time all through  

Suffolk_lass

Time to do a bit of an update.

We had a lovely time in the North of Scotland at the cottage with friends. Some typical highland weather but the house was warm and comfortable and the light was fantastic.

The preceding week at Mum's inevitably did not live up to her expectations of us, and neither did I. Inevitably after nearly two years, much of which has been on her own, she has become rather set in her ways and rather intolerant of variation. She had obviously said things to my sister that were an extrapolation of her mind from what I had said and my sister was angry with me for something I had not done. It was all rather difficult and at one point, DH demanded I book somewhere else to stay. When I told her how he had reacted she realised I think, and we sorted it out. I'm not going into details but it was horrible. I feel so sad as it might be the last time I see her (she is 92). We have both been super pleasant on the video calls since. We are due to go back in April.

The other woman in the shared cottage arrived having started to stream with cold that day (they had been in Scotland for nearly a week). Well, needless to say, DH caught it on the Friday, and spend the next two days we were sharing a bed and travelling back, sharing the germs with me, so I caught it too. I always worry because of my lungs (I get pleurisy if it gets to my chest) and when my temperature started to rise and fall, I took myself off to bed with light meals, lots of drink, hot water bottles and paracetamol. Feeling blocked up and crappy this morning but it is just a cold!

Our cat (stealth cat of my picture) is ecstatic that we are home. She is the only cat we have ever had that just does not sulk. She is curled up on the desk next to me. Such a nice natured cat.

In other news I raided the emergency savings pot to pay for a replacement oil tank. It had to be done as the old one was failing. It had to be a bunded (double skin) because of proximity to buildings and the road, so more than double the price of the single skin ones (like the old one). They were very efficient and pleasant. £2800 though! Peace of mind? worth it and half the size of the old one. Next time we need to review we will consider other options but the cost and options not good for us in a 17th century thatched cottage at the moment, and the market is short on competition so alternatives all too pricey for us. 

I'll stop there as this is turning into a novel!

themadvix

Novels are good! Sorry to hear you’re feeling unwell still though. And sorry to hear about the difficult time at your mum’s - that can’t have been easy. Glad the north of Scotland was good (is it ever not?!).

 Hope you continue to recover and are feeling a lot better soon!

trix-a-belle

Oh SL sorry to hear of all that, I hope the germs finally despatch themselves soon.
I hope DSs new job is still all working out well.

i'm not sure anyone can have a single skin plastic tank anymore, I think metal tanks are a bit of a different thing, the price made me wince too & feel very glad of the 2nd hand nearly new one I got to expand my storage (not that I want to pay current prices to fill up)

Did you sort the commercial dishwasher dripping problem? I guess you may not have had a chance yet with your trip

Suffolk_lass

Yes it is sorted. DH put it on a plinth and I have rewritten the usage instructions. I expect it to get used next Friday, for the monthly lunch and if they are not too dogmatic, by the bar in the evening as they have a bonfire night and fireworks display on the field followed by a bit of grilled stuff outside at the hall afterwards. The queue usually stretches to the door but we shall see. Lots of people may prefer to do the field then leave, rather than gather in a hall with lots of children