Cherry takes the reins

HairyHandofDartmoor

That was a good haul from behind the bookcase . Mystery mould smells are a bit unsettling :eek:.

Cherryfudge

Crazily, I was up till 3.30 this morning, though I then slept till 9. At least I have a lot of the presents wrapped and stashed, and am nearly packed to go to work at Mum's house.

Train ticket was £54.00-ish but that's a fiver cheaper than the full fair as I got split tickets. This time I wasn't even tempted to stop over at Pr!marni!

I've got a flask of coffee and a packed lunch, so will save a few pounds on the journey there, and the same on the way back, then I've got work on Friday afternoon so Friday evening may be the next time I catch up here.

Be good while I'm away. Wannabe, shall I wave when I go past the station near to you?

Cherryfudge

I'm weary! Been overdoing it physically, I suppose: the rain the other day was inside the train as well as out. Honestly. The floor was awash and there was water running down the window and wall! Then I walked from the station to Mum's old house, which took longer pulling a suitcase while holding an umbrella, but the lady who cares for the house when I'm not there was in when I arrived and putting up Christmas decorations, and I was as warm as toast from exertion (wearing my very warm coat) so I didn't suffer too much. Once she'd gone home I washed my hair and got into pyjamas, though, even though it wasn't time.

For the first time since I've been trying to get the house to rights, it seemed clean... the nice shiny surfaces are finally winning over the grime of years. I didn't do much heavy work but I've cleared a few more things: just a couple of bags of rubbish and two of things to charity, but I found a whole treasure trove of old family photos so the visit was definitely productive.

I spent nothing yesterday - an advantage of the rain! The diet didn't go particularly well, as I remembered I'd stashed a chocolate orange in the cupboard, and of course it's the time of year to eat them. Goodness knows how long it had been in there but the expiry date is later this month so I felt obliged...

Today's train journey was dry but the second train was so full I stood for two hours. I did, however, learn from last time and once the trolley left the service I sneaked into first class and borrowed the space where they lodge it for my own little picnic of things from my bag, which I'd already stowed in the first class luggage place! There's a sort of shelving unit where I could put my flask and look out of the window and by then the train was emptying so I could have sat elsewhere but that would have made it hard to get to my food. Without the trolley person needing the space, the crew didn't seem bothered I was there. In fact I got the idea from a lady on my last trip who had already discovered it and ironically, because the train was so full, the trolley had to stay in first class and only two people braved the crowds to buy anything.

Work was very quiet but I spent £1 as we needed to get some gift tags for a project. Not very MS as I started to get hungry and wanted a 'proper' tea, but I had a tin of curry in my locker so I had some of that and will have today's tea tomorrow.

I have a lot of envelopes of photos to sort through over the next few weeks and I need to push on with it as I can't rescue more stuff till I've found homes for what I have. Oh, and I smuggled in a gorgeous jug and cut glass bowl. The bowl will replace one we already have so only the jug counts as smuggled.

WannabeFree

Sounds like a real busy few days Cherry

Hope you get a good nights sleep

x

Cherryfudge

WannabeFree wrote: »

Sounds like a real busy few days Cherry

Hope you get a good nights sleep

x

Thank you Wannabe - and the same for you. Someone reminded me today of the saying of Julian of Norwich 'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well'. A comforting thought for the end of the day.

Cherryfudge

I don't seem to have got the hang of bed at a reasonable time so I'll put today's entry in now, before work.

I had £10 left of housekeeping so I've given it over to DH to get this afternoon's shopping. We are going out for a meal tomorrow as a relative is visiting which means a bit of a get-together, and our dining room won't hold 10 without a spare room for all the things we'd need to take out!

The Christmas tree is up: am leaving the family to decorate it, but at the same time having nightmares about the boys climbing the loft ladder as it still has one foot bent, which (as I discovered too late) was why it toppled so easily under me. At least A has agree to face it the other way around so that if it goes over it will fall towards the wall - but I'm not sure that's a good option either.

A & H had some news this morning: their new house won't be ready at the projected time. Some time towards the end of January is looking more likely, but they've now been shown round inside it. Yes, there are walls and ceilings and bits of wire poking out, so it's definitely taking shape. For the meantime they are with us, though spending Christmas with her parents and away on hols for a couple of weeks in January. I'm disappointed for them though it's nice for us to go on seeing more of them, and of course they can take advantage of carpet fitters being much more available after Christmas than before.

I've just checked the mortgage and it has indeed gone beneath £6000! I'm very pleased though with a complicated figure in the 900s at the end it lacks visual impact. .

I have also sorted out all the loose photos from my parents' house that I'd just brought back. There is still a hamper of them that I haven't touched as well as those still at the house but for now they all fit in a small neat box.

Lastly, DH and I went through people's wish lists this morning and made a few choices. He will make a start this afternoon (he also helps his Dad shop for family) then I have Tuesday and Wednesday to make further inroads. So glad I've wrapped a lot of small items already.

WannabeFree

Sounding very organised. It's scary how quick Xmas is coming up :eek:

Hope work goes okay and you get to bed at a reasonable time tonight.

x

HairyHandofDartmoor

You have been busy Cherry!

I'm glad you're making progress on your mum's house. I like your cheeky first class stowaway escapade .

Cherryfudge

So much for not writing tonight...!

The Christmas tree is now up (no one else has fallen off the loft ladder), and DS2 has helped me clean the fish tank. It's not perfect but better than it was. I might just get some time to give the ornaments in it a good clean before Christmas but I haven't made any promises to the fish as I doubt I will.

I owe myself some physio but I'm hanging back as my arms both ache from suitcase-hauling. I've made myself do a bit though as I stiffen up more if I neglect it.

DD has apparently had a large and unexpected car bill, which isn't what you want before Christmas. She and L didn't think they could afford to come on the family meal out tomorrow but DFiL has said he's paying - bless him! So we should all be there. I've contacted her to say we could cancel our planned Christmas shopping day as I don't want to make life even more expensive for her. I thought of a nice alternative that we'd both enjoy but I haven't heard back yet. I'm sure I can find a bit of time to fit in the rest of my shopping somewhere!

Work has been quiet, which sometimes happens just before a big holiday. I've put in my timesheet - all of four and a half extra hours, but that's my first extra since May - and booked some leave in the New Year so I can do more on Mum's old house. Meanwhile DH has his mind on our next holiday - after the last one I am entirely spoiled but I don't want to spend much, so I had no good ideas to offer unless we do as we planned a year and a half ago and get everyone together somewhere like Eurocamp.

Nothing spent by me today, and tomorrow will be cheap for us though we might get the drinks with the meal out.

Cherryfudge

Nothing spent yesterday.

I was supposed to catch up on sleep last night after feeling woozy throughout work and generally feeling a bit under par, but I had trouble falling asleep then I woke up when DH did (before 7) so I don't think I've succeeded there.

Yesterday's family meal was nice and we didn't even buy drinks as we met in the foyer and went straight to our table. There was some good catching up with the visiting couple then a lot of people went out for ice cream (!) while DH went for a rest and I went to work!

Today I need to get some shopping as we are almost out of loo rolls and it's time to take stock and make sure we have things like washing up liquid and suchlike ready for Christmas. I also need to sort presents for my sister and her family as these are going with her mother in law who sets off on Thursday - so not a lot of leeway. I think it will be mostly vouchers (again), partly to save space in luggage and partly because I know they can then get things they want. DBiL, who likes his coffee, will again be getting coffee vouchers, etc. As well as Christmas presents, there's a December birthday, so it's going to be a big shop.

I know I should have some sort of housework on the list today but I'm prioritising the shops. DD got back to me to say she has budgeted for our shopping trip on Wednesday so we are going after all, but I don't want to fill that day with housekeeping shopping especially as I have so many main presents still to get.

Then it's work this afternoon...