Cherry takes the reins

in_need_of_direction

Good to hear you had a good day with dd

Cherryfudge

It's been another good day. I'm still losing sleep to a very tickly cough but last night it came with a nose bleed. I'm getting a bit fed up of the cough but it's so good to have the actual cold gone.

I made it to church this morning (missed last week due to feeling poorly) but walking there was enough for me so I got a lift home with DH (I usually walk both ways so he can take DFiL when DFiL is well enough to go, and still be on time which doesn't happen if I'm there).

DH went for a walk up on the moors with J and L in the afternoon and had a really good time (and it's fabulous that he is well enough to keep up with them! ) but I stayed in, conserving my energy, wrapping presents and cleaning label marks off jars so they can be donated to the eco shop. We didn't get as far as decorating for Christmas but I've put some lights in vases and lit candles and generally cleaned up yesterday so the lounge looks semi-festive.

DS2 seems to have had a good sleep and was up in time to join DH, J, L and me for Sunday dinner before setting off to the last of this run of night shifts. We had a really nice meal though DFiL is unwell and hasn't been strong enough to negotiate our steps at all this year so he couldn't join us, and A and H couldn't come as her parents are visiting. They have invited us over in the week, though.

J and L helped us stretch the new cover for the first of the dining chairs and it's now well and truly reupholstered! It looks good, too. There are another three in the set and it will take a while to do them as the original covers are held in place by a wall of staples. Still, one down...

I'm quite surprised at how many small deep-cleaning type jobs I'm getting done. I set out to track down the leather dye to refurb my favourite bag and on the way cleared and tidied a drawer, put a load of dusters to wash and found two dried up tins of furniture polish which I then warmed in a pan till the polish is smooth and hopefully useable again. Tidying up after Sunday lunch lead to cleaning the oven though I haven't put the shelves to soak yet. There are so many jobs and I've obviously got behind on things with not feeling well, as well as things I've just generally not registered could do with attention. The day to day stuff gets done but I think I need to up my game!

NSD
MS:
Two tins of polish and two scented candles rescued from oblivion.
Decluttering:
About 5 paper decisions, a parcel of L's handed to its owner, a roll of wrapping paper finished.

I'm thankful for getting ahead on wrapping (even if I still have stuff to buy), for the company of the children today, for our 'new' dining chair and for some nice sunshine in between the downpours.

Cherryfudge

What a wintery day! And so gloomy... I have been immersed in reading 'Little Women' which is perfect for this weather. However I really need to do something or other else.

Yesterday was an early shift and DS2 was still silent when I got in (it's hard to know if he's still asleep but he had been doing nights) so I went down to the shops, mostly for daily groceries but ended up coming back with two pastry brushes (one for the beeswax wraps and the other because the existing ones are shedding) and some Christmas foods to spread the load at actual Christmas.

In the evening we got the tree and some boxes of decorations down from the loft and lit the log burner. The tree isn't actually up yet but I've set out the candles and Christmas tea towels and wrapped some garland round the bannisters to show willing.

9/12/19:
Spending:
Hobbies 0.70
Household £0.70
Housekeeping £10.98
MS:
Multibuy on Christmas food
10th coin into savings 50p
DH tells me he had £13 left at the end of last week's housekeeping! That means we are holding our course for £70 instead of £80 a week between us. This week I'm using the tenner I had left from two weeks ago, and got out another £20 so that's £30 of which I have £17.02 left.
Decluttering:
I'm sure there was something but I can't remember.

Today has been laundry... DS2's uniforms need a hot wash and the dark ones run slightly so white and darks have had separate washes, plus a quick use of the tumble dryer which isn't my first choice but at least some of it isn't hanging round making the house damp.

I've listed cards to write... I always think I don't really send cards but that's apart from, well, 30 so far.x

I have so much I ought to be doing...!

Cherryfudge

One advantage of running the tumble dryer is that the laundry gets done in such a short time: apart from a small pile of ironing, today's two loads are put away. The dining room is tidier than usual as my friends came this evening and before that we had tea with A and H. It was good to catch up with them, we've hardly seen them for weeks. I have also sampled the amazing rhubarb and ginger mince pies from Mr T and they are highly to be recommended (this is going to do neither my grocery bill nor my waistline any good at all).

I managed to run a few errands including some more Christmas treats so I'm reasonably pleased with myself.

Tomorrow DH has some more tests to see if they can find out why his bloods are giving unexpected readings. He's not feeling too well as the temporary medication for his main condition is being tailed off and he seems to have hit the level where symptoms come back, but they have allowed him too keep the present level for the time being. These newer results are possibly unrelated, we'll see. It does seem to be a season for people being unwell: DH's condition rearing its head after so long, DFiL's health has not been good over the last few weeks and a friend has a close family member in ICU. Then there are the colds going round, which seem to be hitting hard. On the positive side of things we still have the NHS.

Spending:
Toiletries £1.10
Entertaining £0.66
Housekeeping £9.41 (£7.41 remaining).
Donation £3.00
MS:
10th coins saved = 12p
Some discounts in the Christmas food and our 'treat' bread which we daren't eat too fast as it's cheese and jalapeno
Free meal as we had tea with A and H.
Decluttering:
A couple of items of packaging, an old receipt, 6 jars (to the shop that recycles them to customers).

Today I'm thankful for A and H and being made welcome in their home and for a nice evening with my friends.

Cherryfudge

I didn't go out today but have been spending on presents: three of the five 'next generation Fudges' are now bought for, DH and DS2 are still present-less and we know what we're getting for A but it's a car trip away so DH will go on Saturday.

I've even sorted a present for DFiL to give to DD!

DH had his scan and... they can't find anything to account for the blood tests' results. He's going to wait a couple of days then go to the GP to see what she suggests.

Other than that, well, it's bitter here but it's stayed dry so I got the washing on the line where it dried slightly and then finished it in the dryer and on the radiators. I've ironed it all too. The new curtains have arrived and been put up so the lounge looks a lot more 'finished' though the sofas are still quite shabby. I mended seams earlier in the year but a couple of new holes have opened up! It isn't a huge job but I need to make myself get sewing. Talking of which, although I bought the shortest length in which these particular curtains are available, they will need taking up. I'm going to wait till they've hung for a while, though, as a bit of extra length won't hurt and obviously coming up to Christmas is generally busy.

Tomorrow and the night after I'll be at work so I may or may not do an update. Before I go to work I need to either make soup or shop for supplies or possibly both as I don't have a lot of 'grab-able' stuff to take for work meals. I can get by on porridge but twice a day isn't quite a balanced diet.

Spending:
Gifts £73.84 (plus £42.89 to reclaim from DFiL).
MS:
Finished Sunday's chicken in a curry sauce that was lurking at the back of the cupboard, so no food shopping.
Decluttering:
Remains of chicken and jar of sauce. Also a carton of chilli powder that turned out to be empty.

Today I'm thankful for DH getting 'neutral' health news, and me getting some of the more hefty present-buying out of the way. Also for the curtains - that room may be finished yet!

in_need_of_direction

I love when I get a really productive stay at home day. You managed heaps

Cherryfudge

Some grocery shopping yesterday, then an overnight at work. I got a pretty good sleep, too, though the building is hot and dry (I slept with the window open despite freezing fog outside) so I woke up a bit headache-y. I'm back in this afternoon/tonight. After tax the sleeps only net me about £25 a go but it's often money for just being there and £25 is not to be sneezed at. I have a few of them coming up because despite our two new people, we are once again short staffed!

I've also re-applied for some leave over Christmas as one of the relief staff was bemoaning the fact he had a long stretch with no shifts... he's happy to cover mine and I have lots of leave I need to take or lose before the next financial year.

This morning the weather is fine again so I'm planning a trip into town for stocking fillers. It's hard to buy for adults! When the kids were small they got all sorts of nonsense but more recently I've made a big effort to buy less but more meaningfully. Today's plan includes shower gel and edible treats, some nice stationery and maybe a book or two.

Yesterday's grocery shopping included me accidentally dropping a tiny IOU note into the coin receptor on a self-service till. There was no way it was coming out, either! I wonder if it will clog the machine up and what the staff will make of it when they fish it out? How very unsociable of me... but it was an accident.

12/12/19
Spending:
Housekeeping £5.65
MS:
Wombled 22p
Free food at work so the tea I took in for yesterday is waiting for me today.

No decluttering.

And I'm thankful to hear my friend with the relative in ICU has seen some measurable improvement.

Cherryfudge

More good news from ICU late last night. Such a relief though there's still a long way to go.

More shopping done yesterday, mostly presents, then a good shift at work and a good night's sleep - these 'small mercies' all add up enormously. DH has had confirmation that his scan showed nothing abnormal so they don't know why the blood tests are what they are and he's got to see the specialists. DH's theory is that it's an unusual side effect of the temporary medication, but they've kept him on that for now.

Spending:
House keeping £4.54
Donation £1.50
Toiletries £7.99
Presents £4.70 + 22.48 +15.00 + 17.82 = £60
MS:
Discovered two old gift cards are still valid: one with £19.01 and one with £15.
Some reduced prices on multi-buys.
Decluttered:
A tablecloth to a new home along with 12 matching serviettes. Finished a bubble bath.

I'm thankful for my friend's good news, for a smooth shifts and reliable new colleagues who are pulling their weight already, for a couple of good nights' sleep.

in_need_of_direction

All sounds really positive

Cherryfudge

That was the last day of work for a few days, for both me and DS2. Church this morning, A and H to lunch after, then a fairly quiet shift. I've picked up another sleep in as it was clear no-one else is going to take that particular one: it means three in a row but that's do-able if I pace myself and sleep okay.

I also had the interesting experience of helping a colleague who has mislaid certificates so has to do a numeracy test (ridiculous as it tests skills that will never be need in the job, and ignores the fact this person has run a business). I'm no mathematician: I have no qualifications in it at all but for some reason that wasn't questioned when I was employed. However, working through some algebra with my colleague was a bit of an eye-opener: I can do this stuff! All I can think of is that I've done a stupid amount of puzzles over the years so my problem-solving skills have sharpened up.

This is supposed to be my week for going to work on Mum's old house and as things stand I'm planning to go on Tuesday, but DH reports that DFiL is deteriorating. He's been unwell for the last few weeks, on antibiotics and stuck in his room. He has nursing care but his situation would be tough on anyone, and an underlying lung condition makes it harder for him - besides which he's 89 and frail. We don't know if he will rally or not... but I want to fetch a book on model railways that I found in my Dad's things and which I think might take his fancy. There's not much else I can do apart from being there for DH.

Added to that, we heard my friend's husband is worse today after a good report a couple of days ago.

Spending:
Postage £2.10 (I think).
MS:
2 x £2 coin to savings.
10th coins into savings 60p.
Loose change from the week's housekeeping also into savings - 25p.
No decluttering done.

I'm thankful for important ordinary things tonight: a warm house and people to share it with, a job and colleagues I enjoy, skills discovered, the freedom to worship according to my beliefs, the ability to stay in touch with people who matter to me.