Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

I haven't stiffened up yet. I managed a bit of a walk at lunch time as I accidentally left my lunch in the fridge at home so headed down to the supermarket which wasn't intentional but quite nice in the middle of a day sitting in training.

L has kindly painted the lounge ceiling for us and it's looking crisp and clean so there is a small cost for materials which I've just transferred to them. Other than that I was going to meet friends this evening but what with one thing and another it's fallen through, and actually I'm quite tired after all that sitting down and still need to clear up ready for the piano tuner tomorrow, so it's a good thing.

Lots of stuff has piled up round the piano due to the decorating and I really don't know where to start... :eek: The hall is just as bad but I'm not too worried about that. Will see you when I emerge...

Spending:
Housekeeping £5.43
Household (this from the account DH's money goes into) £5.98.
Garden £4.00 (compost and seeds)
MS:
Not a good day for MS as I had to buy lunch, but good in that we've not had to pay a decorator to do the ceiling. Also trimmed my hair, thus saving ££ at hairdresser.
Decluttering:
2 pieces of paper so far

I'm grateful today for an evening off!

Cherryfudge

A few bits and pieces to add:

Gift £40.00 (train fare for DD and me to go on her birthday trip).

Some progress made on decluttering: 23 pieces of paper and the inner bit of an empty reel of Sellotape (no idea why we had that!). I've also filed three items and put away some random unused Christmas cards so those aren't clutter any more. So 28 to add to the total.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I'm glad the ceiling is painted and looks nice .

I often find that I'm too tired to go out in the evening, especially after gardening!

Cherryfudge

Another day of perfect weather and productive, too! I was rushing round this morning but didn't manage to get the place straight before the piano tuner and my friend turned up (they are married to each other). I had to wash down garden chairs as they had overwintered under the trees, but we sat out catching up on each other's news and drinking coffee in the sun - a lovely way to spend an hour or so. The piano is now tuned and sounding good, and I've been advised to keep an eye on the humidity to keep it in tune (apparently the sound board moves if the humidity changes). I can't, of course, remember the name of the gadget that does this but I can find out.

I spent the afternoon painting. L has done the entire bathroom, I've done the outdoor woodwork apart from windows and doors, and a couple of bits indoors where electrical cables had been installed. There is undoubtedly an area of damp due to the construction of a bay window so we will need to get the chap who fixed the problem at the other side of the house. I don't remember what he charged but his work has lasted.

I did take a break for long enough to get some shopping and pick up the train tickets for tomorrow, and actually did the last bits of outdoor painting by torch light! It was one of those items where the paint has to dry on one side before you can turn it to do the other. So I'm pretty tired but satisfied with what we've both got done.

Spending:
Hobbies (piano tuning) £85.00
Housekeeping £15.19 (I was a bit annoyed because the sample dishwasher tablets haven't come yet, though the laundry ones have, so I had to spend £5 on dishwasher tablets. I'm also slightly guilty that I got the cheaper ones instead of the eco-friendly ones).
Household £28.00 (lots of paint)
Garden £3.99
Toiletries £1.50
MS:
10th coins £1.20
Saved some exorbitant amount of decorator's fees between us.
Decluttering:
Four paper items, a book rehomed to a friend. However I think the house looks considerably better now the bathroom and lounge are repainted and the door steps, shed and compost bin smartened up. I mean, there's a long way to go but this is definitely better even though there are nearly as many things as ever.
Today I'm grateful for the weather, L for doing so much to help with the decorating, and good news for SA elsewhere on these boards.

Cherryfudge

A mixed news day today. On the positive side, DD and I had a lovely time: shopping, lunch and theatre. The production was outstanding. Less positively (depending on viewpoint) DFiL has had a meeting about his care needs and it's clear he can't go back to living alone as his long term condition has deteriorated and he now needs nursing care. It's sad that he isn't as well as he was, but good that he will get the care he needs. The search for a place for him has been going on for a few weeks but now we know it's definitely nursing care, the choice is narrowed.

DH has had a cough for weeks (has been to the doctor and had a chest x-ray and blood tests whch confirmed he still has the infection that began in March). The cough is getting worse, though an inhaler helps. It seems to be the result of inflamation: I'm not sure whether that's the cause or result of the cough, or a bit of both. I'm wondering if the lingering paint fumes in the house, though slight as it's modern low-odour paint, aren't helping.

DS2 is also in the wars. Things aren't looking good with one aspect of his studies and he's very stressed over it, with a deadline looming. I've told him I won't think any less of him as I know he's worked hard, and maybe he can retake the year if necessary. A very tough one especially, I think, as he's worn out and I do wonder if he could cope in the longer term with the physical demands of his chosen career.

So, not one of those days to repeat too often, though as I said, the theatre was superb and DD and I enjoyed ourselves. We did manage a little bit of shopping though I only bought hair scrunchies, a glasses case and programmes for the production. DD treated us to a delicious lunch and coffee afterwards (we kept moving to the back of the queue at the theatre so we could finish the coffees before going in!)

Spending:
Clothes (scrunchies and glasses case - not sure where else to put these!) £6.99
Entertainment (programmes) £8.00
MS:
Lunch bought by DD.

Today I'm thnkful for a good birthday treat for DD, confirmation that DFiL will have the care he needs one way or another, and inhalers to help DH. Also for a conversation with DS2 about his situation.

Cherryfudge

Nothing spent yesterday, and another family dissertation deadline of midnight last night (plus proofreading for me). However it's all sent off now, everyone's had some sleep and it's a drizzly day by the looks of it, and not so warm. DH has gone to an appointment, DS2 will be working nights tonight, J and L are out on a run and I have to make some plans to get something done before work.
My options are indoor painting (but I don't like the house to smell of paint), getting some bits of groceries (good idea) and planting up the wall baskets (nice). First I need to get dressed (!) or nothing will get started.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I hope you manage to find a suitable place for DFIL to live and that DH gets over his infection soon, that's a long time to have one. I hope DS2 gets on all right with his studies and does better than he thinks. Family do cause us a lot of worries because we care about them so much.

Your day with DD sounds lovely .

Cherryfudge

DH and DFiL went to look at one nursing home (one that isn't so well spoken of - don't know why they went there first). DFiL seemed to think it was okay but DH said it's 60 beds and a very crowded dining area. Someone I know worked there so I know it's a pressured job (as in so many places) but I can't believe a 60 bed unit can be entirely safe as the staff are spread thinly and how can they really know all the people they support? Mind you it's probably divided into areas as was the one Mum was in, so staff know the people in their area.

Tomorrow they are going to look at the most expensive one in the area. I went there when I had to look for a place for Mum and it was like a hotel so I expect DFiL will take to it! As things are he can afford it and the meeting we had a couple of months ago has led to him getting partial funding for nursing care which will help.

DH is coughing less now - we are wondering if there was a lot of pollen on the day he was bad, or if the paint fumes affected him. I'm also picking up on stories from far and near of what sounds like the same infection in a less severe form. However DH was on a medication which would have reduced his resistance back in March so that, combined with the hassles over his job, probably made him more than usually susceptible.

DS2 is working tonight and J and L are away till tomorrow evening. DH and I went looking for carpets but haven't settled on a definite. I've identified two smallish areas of DIY that I want to tackle in the next few days in the hope they will magically transform the entire house and make next weekend's guests impressed. :rotfl:

Work was tiring today and I didn't leave till gone 10 as I had so much to write up. However what with one thing and another there was too much dinner prepared and we aren't allowed to reheat so I got a free dinner today and put some aside for me tomorrow and for any other staff who want some - it was delicious.

Spending:
Housekeeping £9.11
This is £4.81 over budget for the week.
MS:
Tomorrow's dinner is a large free range chicken at just under half price.
Free meals at work so a spare dinner in the freezer that I had bought for today.
No 10th coin to save but I found 13p in small change so I'll add that to the savings envelope.
£2 coin squirreled away.

No decluttering.

I'm thankful for DH and I both liking the same carpets and Sunday tomorrow.

Cherryfudge

NSD.

DFiL seems likely to go to the nursing home they went to see today, provided they think they can meet his needs. It's within reach of here on foot which is good - expensive, which is tough but he can afford to go there for the time being and I'm hoping it may mean a better staff to patient ratio.

Work was okay with a bit of juggling of future shifts, especially as I discovered I'm actually off tomorrow when I didn't expect to be. I think I'll go and do the garden, though, if the weather holds. (I did our grass today in a big hurry before work but at least it's done). I then realised I wouldn't be able to vote if I went to do some clearing on Mum's old house as I'd planned. That would make two votes I'd accidentally cheated myself out of, and I already have a commitment on Tuesday which means I can't go earlier in the week. I'd also like to go to a live relay of the same show DD and I saw recently, which is only on midweek, and a friend has said she'd be interested in going with me.

I've had a look at my rotas and the following week is really heavy, so a trip away this week, which always tires me, doesn't sit easily with that. However, I have three days off together the following week which I could use to go on the trip - a week earlier than my usual slot but a relative has asked to visit on the week I'd usually go so it would be a bit awkward to be away when she's here. So it's looking as if I try to go for the early June week instead, which gives me this week to do the things I want to do and hopefully even make progress on our own house. It also means I have a bit more time to work in the garden at work - my 'second job' - and show them I mean business.

I think I've confused myself thinking about it! I will need to take some annual leave to get the house empty: these snatched days are just not enough, so I need to plan for that too.

Today I'm glad we had H and A here to dinner: haven't seen them properly for some time. A has nearly finished his degree work so things should ease for them for a few weeks, then H has some commitments which will take up her spare time for much of the rest of the year. In other news: DS2 has mentioned that there may be work opportunities that offer a broad basis of experience, available for him when he finishes his course in September.

Cherryfudge

I am having a confusing day with a good helping of procrastination so I'm posting to get my thoughts into order. I've also dusted off the bullet journal and spent a bit of time updating it - nice to see things I can mark as complete!

I've done two loads of laundry plus the blanket I've now completed for my g-nephew so I've now put all those out to dry. The blanket needs blocking but I've hung it carefully to start drying while I get on with everything else.

As I said, I've let myself get distracted: a computer game first thing took quite a while, and I'm being a bit of a headless chicken about everything else that needs attention. I keep boiling the kettle then doing something else so it goes cold, so I've had lunch and am sitting here till the coffee is history. I did do some cleaning and sorting in the fridge so half the contents are still out in the kitchen but the dishwasher is on which will mean clean jars for dry goods or to donate to the eco shop. I believe she takes some for customers who forget their own containers.

I threw out a jar of spiced figs which is a shame but the top ones went mouldy. I got the idea of the figs from a hotel in the Blue Mountains so making it brings back memories of the most wonderful holiday - maybe I could make more one day. I've also put lots of oddments into a huge pasta salad which is lunch both today and tomorrow - that's finished some olives and reduced quantities of salad ingredients and mayonnaise.

I've borrowed DS2's Pr!me account to order a new phone charger and a cable tidy - about £28 but they will make life easier.

My friend decided tickets for the event tomorrow were too expensive but I did a bit of googling and found the production is on YouTube - so we've arranged to watch it that way! A saving of £12.50 each, and as I've already seen the live version, there's not so much to choose between a relay screen and the same production on DVD. We haven't set a date yet but there's no pressure and it gives me another afternoon to be productive in, haha. I remind myself indubitably of DS2 - all that time and pressure to get his dissertation out of the way, and he did his best work in the last 24 hours. That is so me.

Now I'll go and put things back in the fridge - I can see some cranberry sauce has gone furry so that's another item for the decluttering. Catch up with you all tonight.