Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

FiL is still improving , thanks W. Not there yet but better than he was. DH is worrying about the care placement: whether his Dad will be upset at going, how long he will need it, whether he will be able to manage back at his flat. I didn't see him today so my little trip into town before work was spent getting various things we'd run out of, and a book. It must be the best part of a week since I've bought a book.
The weather remains idyllic, daffodils are blooming alongside the snowdrops and crocuses. I love being out of doors when it's like this.
Work has been busy the last couple of days. I have my four days off next week which I'd expect to spend clearing at Mum's house but I'm not going till Tuesday as there's a thanksgiving service for the life of a friend who died recently. I'm so tired from the extra concerns, work and time involved in DFiL's illness this week, though, that I'm wondering whether to go or not. I've even picked up a few extra hours on Monday as they are short-staffed at work and I knew I wouldn't be leaving till the next day. I don't want to leave the decision till the last minute as the tickets are so much cheaper if bought early. Another thing is that if I'm around next week it will be support for DH and his Dad.

Something good that's coming out of it is that I'm getting more sleep at night!

Spending:
Clothes (button for a coat) £0.45
Book £0.50
Housekeeping £12.03
MS:
£2 coin for the jar
10th coin savings £1
Some £ shop bargains in cleaning materials
Remembered the fish for tomorrow - this is nearly a habit now! Saves about £7 every couple of weeks I think.
Decluttering:
Not today
And I'm happy about L has painted the ceiling in the room they're in - looks good. Beautiful weather. Daffodils and more daffodils. Chocolate teacakes.

Cherryfudge

An uneventful day, and nothing spent. I've decided not to do the three-weekly trip to sort Mum's place. I have leave coming up so maybe I can use some of that. A colleague has agreed to cover a Saturday for me in March so I will get back one of two leave days I had booked but wasn't able to take: hoping someone else will cover another so I don't lose leave. An extra Saturday off is wonderful!

NSD
MS:
prepped some veg for the freezer so I have something approaching space in the fridge.
Gave my hair a trim and lots of conditioner. It needed both and is free if I do it
Decluttering:
Various veg.
And I'm grateful for pasta salad for tea, a good weather forecast (despite rumours that the gritters are out tonight! :eek:).

Honeysucklelou2

Daffodils are just so cheery aren't they....you can't help but smile whenever you look at them!

Cherryfudge

As far as I can tell the food budget has broken even this week: I had £20 left (!) but got a text from DH to ask what remained as his was all spent - so he got another £20 and I will get £20 less this week which sounds complicated but actually makes it right.
Then he borrowed £2 off me for a paper for his Dad - no idea what budget that is but probably gifts.
Work has been okay: I have been through the rota and found there is a place where I think I could probably get cover and be able to take my remaining few hours of leave. I also checked my rota against my diary and it's as well I did because otherwise I might not have claimed for everything.
Tomorrow is one of those days that won't be very easy: DFiL going into a care home to convalesce, which I hope is just temporary. He doesn't want to go but can see it's for the best for now. Dh has to be at a meeting in the morning but is able to take the afternoon off to move him. Meanwhile I have a thanksgiving service to go to for the life of a friend who passed away a little while ago, and after it I will probably have to help sort out DFiL's move so he has the clothes and things he'll need over the next week or so. (Oh crumbs - just thought of name labels! Eek.)
J and L are back after a weekend away with some activity he's involved in. I know she has been shopping because I've seen her Tw!tter posts! She finds great vintage clothes shops.
A and his FiL have spent the weekend putting down laminate in the new house. Apparently the company wouldn't hand it over without the skirting boards in place but these have had to come out to fit the laminate... presumably in an attempt to get the work for the company rather than let people do it themselves. Doesn't seem right to me. (Shakes head regretfully).
Nothing actually spent by me but I remember now I need to pay towards a gift for a friend that some of us are doing together, so that will be tomorrow as long as I get my act together.
Decluttering:
We finished the Christmas cake!
Went through the salad drawer and rescued what I could of a bag of parsnips (most went in the compost ).
Glad of yet another lovely day, going to see a film with friends this week that I thought I'd miss, and an idea for upcycling some jeans.

Honeysucklelou2

Wow, am amazed by Christmas cake lasting until the end of Feb. We're lucky if it lasts to New Year and I bake a 10" square cake

Cherryfudge

I'm amazed it lasted so long too, Lou! Admittedly it was er… a trifle tanned. Never mind, I'm sure all the brandy caused that.

Shattered tonight. I was late to bed last night then on an early shift today - my own fault on both counts but I wasn't looking forward to today and tend to keep myself up to put as much distance as possible between the day and myself. However DFiL is okay about his new room in the care home and apparently the staff were very welcoming. As I work in a related field I didn't like to point out that that's par for the course. :rotfl: I had reservations about this placement but sometimes the staff's attitude covers over quite a lot of shortcomings and we are close at hand to keep visiting him.

My friend's memorial service was rather lovely: so many stories, both funny and impressive. She will be missed a lot but she leaves a wonderful legacy.

I had a wander round town afterwards and resisted buying a few bits and pieces, then got the groceries (saved cash by forgetting a few and not feeling enthusiastic for anything!) and got home for a slump in front of the computer. I dozed for a while later (while DH patiently sat through a programme I'd chosen) but I'm off to bed soon.

Spending:
Mortgage overpayment £236.41 (this month's total overpaid is now £294.92).
Housekeeping £6.45
Gift £7.00
Book £1.49
MS:
Wombled 10p
10th coin savings 10p
Decluttering:
A bit more weeding in the garden
And I'm glad of the amazing person whose life we celebrated today. Planting some of my new aquisitions in the garden. A good move out of hospital for DFiL.

Cherryfudge

Middle of the day and it seems to be one of those days where things get done but not the things that count. I said I'd go and see DFiL and still haven't - partly because I'm so tired. Don't know why I woke up early but I couldn't get back to sleep.

I've washed a line load of clothes, a door mat and a draught excluder, so I'm definitely benefitting from the gorgeous weather. Fancy yesterday being the hottest February day on record! In fact I saw my first blossom of the year (not counting the viburnum which blooms all winter). Today the white plum at the back of us is suddenly in flower too.

I had to go in to work for a short while to sort out my leave - most of it is done. I can't work out how I suddenly have another 17.5 hours to use, though. I was so sure I had it all booked to the nth degree: I remember being so pleased I had worked out every last bit and sent in the applications, but one way or another I've just had to rearrange lots with the help of a manager with a creative mind! If the man who has the say-so objects to me still having extra hours to carry forward I shall have to point out that if he had done them when I sent them in, the situation would have been better. :whistle::o

A little plus was that I saw the admin lady and was paid some money I was owed by petty cash.

Another plus was decluttering the ingredients of some lush cauliflower cheese and a small limoncello pudding that were cluttering up the fridge.

Well, as I said, I'm absolutely shattered so I have alarm on and I'm going to give myself time for forty winks before I go to DFiL.

Cherryfudge

I didn't manage my nap - my foot suddenly developed a painful throb and by the time the ibuprofen took hold it was time to go out. Walking on it wasn't a problem and it's all right at the moment. Strange. It could be arthritis or a neuroma nearby, both of which were diagnosed years ago and both of which lie quiet for months at a time. Anyway it's settled so I should sleep okay.

The visit to DFiL was strangely quite relaxing: I felt more refreshed after than before. He didn't look very happy when I went in but cheered up after chatting for a bit. The room is tiny, doesn't give him much opportunity to practice getting about but the physio is going in on Thursday so perhaps they can arrange for more space.

Tuna pasta for tea tonight: another cheap and cheerful meal. I was dozing off when DH came in so he did the cooking. I cancelled the DVD night with my friends so I could catch up a bit, and sat in my PJs watching Sewing Bee and trying to do some stitching.
Spending:
Housekeeping £10.47
MS:
£2 coin
10th coin savings 20p
Mended a favourite tie of DH's so it lives to fight another day.
Decluttering:
The cauliflower and stilton mentioned above.
The tie gets back to being usable.
I'm thankful for kind care staff, ibuprofen, the ability to pull the plug on the evening's activity, another beautiful day and helpful colleagues.

Cherryfudge

I had a decent night's sleep, which makes a big difference. Mind you I then did little with the rest of the day. As it continues to feel more like late spring than February, temperature-wise, I made the effort to go for a run: only 3k interspersed with walks at the beginning, middle and end but I'm so pleased I went. I feel a bit tired from it but it got me right out above town, fields on either side, clear blue sky, birds singing as if it were April. Someone once planted little clumps of daffodils along that road and they are at their best today. I also saw winter aconites and wild white violets - which I love.

I texted DH to get a couple of ingredients for tea so I haven't spent anything. It's the third week running we have had lentil and chorizo soup, but it's so nice, and so cheap, and we both love it... I must get my act together and make a different soup one day!

I checked the mortgage account and the overpayment has gone through - so next month should see it below the £5,000 mark! It's quite exciting! That also means that instead of about 67p a day in interest, we will get below £20 a month interest - I'm not sure exactly what yet.

This evening I made myself sit down and map out the neglected bullet journal. I can start properly in March but it's now at the stage where I can do daily lists and start my 'Books awaiting reading' and 'toiletries I've finally finished' lists! Little things, but I've been wanting to map those out since the beginning of January.

J and L are away till Monday - I think DS2 is taking advantage of this because he's got his guitar out and is playing 'The times they are a-changing' rather loudly.

That's about it for today, I think. Nothing to report on any of the lists but probably back to normal tomorrow - payday.

Cherryfudge

Where did the sunshine go? It's all misty here and has been since I got up. Today I need to motivate myself and not let these days off go to waste. Yesterday I spent ages playing Age of Empires - let's see if I can keep off it today.

On the plus side, I am more motivated to eat healthily (though I don't have A Plan yet) and exercise more, and I made a massive start on my 'want to read' list - around 75 items and that's just things on my Kindle. :eek::eek::eek: Today I plan to add the little pile of books on the piano, anything that's crept into the papers on the dining table and who knows, perhaps get as far as the dining room bookshelf. I may leave the bookshelves in the hall, bedroom, landing and lounge for another day... and the boxes of books in the loft have mostly been read at least once. :rotfl:

And before anyone asks, books are not going to be on the declutter list. (Stamps foot assertively - they make me happy :cool:).

Last night wasn't the best sleep so I got up at 2 and made toast and a hot water bottle, which helped. Also a paracetemol for completely inexplicable back ache. I did some physio yesterday which is good as the scar is trying to tell me not to. It likes an easy life but has to work above and beyond the everyday if it's going to reach the one-year point in good condition. (Most of the time it's no trouble, only if I work the muscles, so it's too easy to let it slide). Anyway I need to think about whether to add a page to the BJ for regular things I ought to practice. I had one before - called it a habit tracker - it was a motivator but I don't know now where I got the idea from. Haven't seen it yet in my 'how to do bullet journals book'. What I have seen in there and haven't got on well with, is the initial download of all the projects I'm doing, ought to be doing and want to do. I mean, where to start?! :eek:

So for today my list is going to be:
Put washing to air
Put away dried washing
Ironing
list books on piano, table and dining room bookcase (that I still have to finish - or start)
play the piano a bit
start a list of projects to feed into the bj
Um... get dressed :rotfl:
do some decluttering in teh bedroom which is the Worst Place
Move money over from DH's wages to savings