Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

Dh went to the doctor yesterday and was prescribed steroids as a stop-gap measure. He also rang the specialist nurse so his situation will be discussed by the specialist doctor... on Friday. Meanwhile the nurse says don't bother with the steroids as he will be back to square one when the course finishes. His previous medication is an option for the future but would take a while to work. DH is at work today but we both felt the steroid treatment might be an option to reduce damage if symptoms go on as they were. Complicated but I do worry about him. I haven't seen him this poorly with his condition in probably 20+ years, but of course I have to remember we've been here before and things have got better.

My day off today and of course I'm putting off doing the important things, like preparing for the group tonight and making the Christmas cake. There's a load of washing and a huge pile of ironing so the first load is in the machine and the kitchen is a mess. The machine is spinning now so that lot will soon be on the line, and I'll finish emptying the dishwasher and report back at 1.30 to let you all know what's been achieved.

Cherryfudge

Thank you, you have all been most helpful. I got stuff done.

Washing Load 1 is now on the line and Load 2 is churning away.
Kitchen bin is emptied, cleaned and relined.
Sink is emptied and cleaned.
Recycling is in the recycling bin outside.
Kitchen is still messy but not as bad.
I have coffee.

Just remembered that I forgot to record a bargain yesterday: posh rinse aid was being discontinued so I got four bottles at 44p each! Even the cheap one is over a pound so I'm really chuffed (and bonus: it was on my list, though not four bottles' worth).

Next list is to be done while this load washes:
Drink coffee
Do first lot of separate handwashing (there are three).
Boldly measure out flour so the cake is progressing.
Go to shops for dinner, biscuits and fabric conditioner.
Make a start on study material.
I have an hour... go!

An hour later:
Coffee finished (kettle on again)
Two lots of handwashing started, just waiting to go for a spin
Study started: DVD looks promising but some hiccups with sound meant I spent longer than expected
Cake progressing nicely: dry mix done, fruit done ages ago, butter and sugar creamed together, eggs and milk mixed, all combined except the fruit but tin still to be prepared.

So now the plan is: coffee while
hanging out Load 2 of washing and putting Load 3 to spin.
Mix fruit into cake, prep tin, get oven on... eek, nearly there!
Go to shops for well, shopping.

3.50 update
The coffee is only just made but the first lot of handwashing is on the line and the cake is in the oven. The second handwashing is waiting for fabric conditioner and I've added this morning's clothes to the wash as I got cake mix on them. They are also waiting for fabric conditioner. No idea when the ironing is going to happen, I suspect it will be on an as-needed basis. Once the coffee is gone I'm off out, honest I am. Just have to throw the eggs shells (dried: apparently they can attract rodents otherwise) into the compost and put some shoes on.

Something I completely forgot to add yesterday was that the roofer finally arrived, full of apologies and saying he is just now learning to turn down work. He does seem to know how to fix a roof, though. I came back from shopping to see him directing his mate from the vantage point of the road so that the ridge tiles would be right, and today it looks good. He hasn't sent through the invoice so nothing has yet gone out of the account but he said £650... not sure how exact that is but if he wants the work on the flat roof (which I'd forgotten about as the insulating tape has held good! :rotfl: ) then it had better not be much more.

Cherryfudge

I think I got everything except the ironing done. I also cleaned out the fridge and decluttered 13 items from it with DS's help. :eek:

The cake is done... with quite a crack across it but otherwise it's gone to plan. It's still cooling at half past midnight so I'll have to wrap it in the morning.

All that washing - three machine loads and two handwashing loads - is now drying. I had to use the tumble dryer for some but the jeans are on an airer and the socks are on those swizzly things that socks go on.

DH is feeling a lot better, and my evening group went well so a good end to the day.

Spending:
Housekeeping £10.08
MS:
Not really MS but 2 of the three people I ordered books for have now repaid me (the other is on holiday).
The £2 coin fairy has suddenly sprung into action. 4 x £2 coins to add to savings! Of course some was from the change from grocery shopping, it leaves the housekeeping money looking lean but I think I can manage.
Decluttering:
13 fridge items and 14 paper decisions. Also returned a book I'd borrowed from a friend.

Tonight I'm thankful for the improvement in DH's health and for a good evening with friends, for getting the Christmas cake and laundry done and for good weather.

Honeysucklelou2

Very impressed with your getting the Christmas cake done. I'm definitely behind this year...will have to get mine done over half term!

in_need_of_direction

Glad to hear dh is improving.

Cherryfudge

Just back from a couple of days' sorting at Mum's. Decluttered lots of bits of paper but not much else: all that rushing round before I went followed by poor sleep the first night there took their toll and yesterday I felt grotty. I waited to hear the news on Brexit (and for once there was some) then went to bed for a while late in the afternoon. Woke up feeling much better so I stayed up late sorting papers.

I think the visit was productive though as I found my Grandmother's letters to Dad from wartime, and I saw there is rain getting in in two places.

There has been some spending as I bought groceries, and I need to get new timers for the lights and possibly get someone in to clear a gutter which is far too high for me to do anything.

Anyway I'm off out tonight so I'll catch up here later.

in_need_of_direction

Hope you had a good night out. I don’t know how you cope with two houses. I’m struggling to declutter one room!

Cherryfudge

I had a super time thanks, INOD. It was lovely to be reunited with these people in this context. I actually see many of them from time to time but our paths don't cross as they used to. Interestingly, it takes me back psychologically to a time when I was pivotal in enabling some small groups to run and now I'm asking myself how much I derived my significance from that role... it certainly gave me an instant feeling of belonging which I've missed.

As for decluttering, most of it takes place at the old house. At home I'm fairly inept at it! :rotfl:

Today, I didn't spend anything and haven't managed to do all my unpacking so I've not really accounted for spending but it went something like this:
16th: housekeeping £1.25, e-book £0.99
17th Housekeeping £4.35
18th nil
19th nil

I saved money by taking a flask and lunch on the train both ways and used up some bread that had gone stale by making bruschetta. I found 1p on the bathroom floor, probably dropped by DH but it's now in savings. Oh, and a couple of eyebrow pencils turned up in a cupboard which was quite timely as mine has just broken.

There was a massive number of pieces of paper decluttered, and a few oddments of other stuff including a couple of donations to the lady who helps with the garden.

Today I'm thankful for time spent with friends yesterday, safe journeys and that I can be at home when A and H come to dinner tomorrow.

Cherryfudge

Quite an odd Sunday as I swapped my usual shift then had a couple of hours extra but it generally worked out okay apart from accidentally upsetting a colleague. I apologised to her and she seems all right about it but... there seems to be so much unhappiness at work at present, partly due to work pressures. Much, though, is individual tragedies and challenges. There are a lot of people battling very tough situations: bereavement, job loss, family sickness, uncertainty and stress.

No shopping today and no enormous savings. I spent 99p on another e-book (one I've wanted for ages and it came up on offer) and saved a pound or so by rescuing a packet of envelopes from Mum's house for our use.

A and H came for tea: I only had an hour with them due to work but it was nice to catch up. I probably won't see them much in the next couple of weeks either as they are expecting a new niece/nephew and will be dashing off to see him or her when he or she makes an appearance.

DH is still not well but is getting by. I don't know whether to be pleased or worried that he's taking it seriously enough to say he'll go off work if he feels he can't cope! Perhaps he's cottoned on that that will stop me mithering him. He is hoping for a phone call tomorrow to give him some direction for the next tranche of treatment.

Today I'm thankful for time with A and H, for DH's health holding up and for time at work.

in_need_of_direction

It may make more sense for him not to go in than to go in and maybe work below par.