Cherry takes the reins

Onebrokelady

Cherryfudge said:

Like everyone else, I'm wandering round the new-look forum with a sign announcing 'confused dot com'... I found myself relatively easily, so that bit was probably an accident, and I've had a look at some of the busier threads I subscribe to, where helpful people are pulling each other out of bramble thickets, turning each other round and pointing out which way they think is North, sending up flares, trying to remember Morse code and sitting round impromptu campfires writing songs about the good old days.
If I usually pop into someone's thread and don't manage it for a while, it's not personal: I'm still wandering in little circles trying to extricate the directions from the campfire songs. I'll get there eventually.

😂😂love this,I'm definitely confused.com and am currently sitting in the corner sucking my thumb 😀

Cherryfudge

Yay to a home-based day! However I did spend the first half of it in pyjamas doodling on the computer while DH went to visit his Dad. DFiL was awake long enough to say hello but he sleeps most of the time now. 

This afternoon DH and I went to see the exhibition where our neighbour's art work is displayed. We went for a walk in the locality first, with some lovely views and photogenic moments (and somebody's spaniel that turned up at my feet with a ball between its paws and a highly anticipatory look on its face - clearly anyone who looks as if they can throw a well chewed muddy ball is fair game). The exhibition itself was eclectic - all sorts of art work. Out neighbour's piece was super: he has an MA in illustrating natural history and the painting was beautifully observed. We also really liked a portrait by a young artist who is apparently just out of sixth form and I would imagine has a bright future ahead of her, but aside from not wanting to spend a few hundred on impulse, I'm not generally tempted by portraits. They do give one a feeling of being watched!

We topped the afternoon off with coffee and cake (and it was good cake) and drove back with me taking far too many photos as the light was lovely. Dropped into Mr T on the way and when we came out, the weather had completely changed. The creamy-coloured full moon was gone and it was starting to rain. DS2 was just getting his dinner when we got in and has gone to do his night shift with lots of parental warnings about driving carefully as Storm Ciara will make conditions difficult, especially when he comes home in the morning. I'm off to work soon but only overnight.

Spending
Housekeeping £5.00 (DH spent some too so total about £10.25) (remainder of mine £2.38)
DH bought the cake and drinks (about £7.50), exhibition was free to enter and walk was free too, of course.
MS
10th coin saved = 20p
Took a flask so wasn't too thirsty when I arrived (though I still accepted a coffee later)
Decluttering
None

I'm thankful for a nice afternoon out, a beautiful winter moon and the warm light in the windows of old houses on the hillside as the dusk came on.

Honeysucklelou2

I understand what you mean about portraits. DD1 painted a portrait of a lady in her life drawing class, which her tutors raved over. I was left pondering as to where exactly we would hang it. I was so grateful that the college decided they wanted to keep it ! 

VelvetFreak

Glad you had a nice day Cherry
I am feeling lost with the new forum as well. Mad that I can't seem to find my subscribed threads

VelvetFreak

Posting again to say that I managed to find my subscribed threads. It's the "bookmarks" button in the top right corner.

greenbee

Do you have the space (mentally/emotionally as well as physically) to take in a lodger? If so that might help fill the income gap. 

It needent even be full time - a term-time student if you’re in the right area, or a Monday-Friday for work (lots do Monday-Thursday with Friday as work from home). If you’re near somewhere that gets lots of business visitors (like my DB & SIL) then you could get adhoc visitors via Airbnb or similar (they often have people delivering training courses who stay for a week, for example). My SIL is doing so well the local pub now recommends her when they are full!

Cherryfudge

greenbee said:

Do you have the space (mentally/emotionally as well as physically) to take in a lodger? If so that might help fill the income gap. 

We don't at the moment, greenbee, but thank you for the thought. We only have two decent sized bedrooms and a box room, and the box room is clutter central at the moment though eventually I hope it will have office stuff and a sofa bed. The other double room isDS2's but he will be making a financial contribution s that should help.

in_need_of_direction

I feel your pain re the contribution from DS.  DD borrowed money last summer that I believed she was to start repaying end of September.  Her take on it was that it had to be repaid in full by the end of January.  Either way, this is a tight month for us and we haven’t seen a penny of what’s owed.  It makes me worry if she’s struggling financially 

Cherryfudge

Perhaps you could ask her what her plan is, INOD? DS2 is ditzy about repaying but seems relaxed and happy to contribute. He's had next to nothing for so long while a student that he's still paying off is overdraft but I know he briefly got out of it recently so his finances must be on the mend. He's also on a good wage so I'm not worrying about him not being able to afford his share of the bills.

And on another subject, I wonder if anyone has found a way either to cancel notifications s they're read, or to switch them so they occur per thread not per individual post? It's hard to know what I've read and what I've missed when I get 5 or 6 individual notifications and I'm subscribed to loads of threads: things can drop out of sight in no time.

in_need_of_direction

I switched off all new post notifications.  I was getting stressed by the flood of emails