Cherry takes the reins

charlies_tribe

good luck with the cycling.  I haven't been on a bike for about 20 years, not sure id remember how to ride 🤣

Cherryfudge

Thanks for the cheerleading, SSG and charlies_tribe. I think I need it - I expected to have aching muscles after Friday's cycling but that wasn't what I got. No aches is good, of course, but I have very nasty bruising/swelling, even a trace of blood. Who knew you can do damage like that without feeling it?! The bleeding stopped and the swelling's just about gone but now the bruising has come out - including changing the colour of the back of my hand, which I can't remember hurting. I only managed about 20 minutes yesterday before crying off: I just feared making it any worse.

I hasten to add that I'm on prescribed aspirin and a side effect of aspirin is bruising, so I don't think it's how cyclists normally look, even rookie ones!

I thought I'd send my bike in for repairs (one brake cable doesn't connect) and use the time to recuperate, but there is still a backlog from all the other people who need bike repairs, so it's booked in for 3rd September.

Dh and I went to the shops anyway. I collected my sunglasses (and even wore them outside - DH reckoned I looked mysterious wearing them on a rainy day) - bought some sticky-backed plastic (wrapped, sadly, in more plastic) to protect a pristine cookery book and wandered over to look at bike helmets, though I didn't find one I liked enough to buy. I've been borrowing DH's - we're the same size. Lastly we did some grocery shopping and picked up some plants for a couple of small wall baskets I'd rescued from Mum's. Those were planted up and installed later to try to cheer up our ramshackle shed.

I was on the sleep-in at work last night and that went quietly, then this morning was church and this afternoon, hopefully push on with the course I'm doing and get some exercise.

I'm thankful for still being able to get on the bike and make it go forward (!), for the flowers installed on the shed wall, for a quiet shift and the news that my colleague's husband - who was in intensive care for a long time last year - is now preparing to go back to work.

Spending
Stationery £1
Housekeeping £5.45
Garden £5.45

Cherryfudge

I forgot: we also shopped for bedding for DS2's room - £15.98 - but realised this morning that there is spare bedding of the right size at DFiL's old flat. DH fetched some back and I will see about returning the new sheet as it's still boxed. The pillowcases, we'll keep as they match the new quilt cover. Possible saving of £12.99, plus a couple of pillows that match each other rather than the oddments DS2 was hanging on to (which I'll offer to him on a 'remove or bin' basis. I washed the feather one - the label told me how - and it smells something worse than wet dog, as well as taking forever to dry, so it may have to go regardless).

Cherryfudge

Latest course finished by dint of skipping an assignment! It's all right, they said it wasn't compulsory. I took the course because I was interested in Week 1 (effects of nutrition on disease) and the assignment was Week 2 (water and air pollution and their effect on health). Amazing what you learn.

I now have a new and more understanding relationship with my adipose tissue, though I had some chocolate cake that DH made... .

Nothing spent today. I went out for a walk/run for about 40 minutes which was better than any amount of sitting at home though the running bit was limited. It's incredibly gloomy for August, isn't it? I really needed to be out of doors. We've also done some tidying for when DH's Auntie M comes to stay, but I have Tuesday off so I'm planning to finish tidying then. It might well be the first real day to myself since March. I expect DH will like having the long drive to stay a couple of days with Auntie M, too, then he's bringing her here for a few days.

I'm off to make a list of things I need to do, starting with 'cobwebs'.

Sun_Addict

Good that you've finished the course and learned something new.  I can't remember the last time I had a whole day to myself - enjoy 😁

Cherryfudge

Sun_Addict said:

Good that you've finished the course and learned something new.  I can't remember the last time I had a whole day to myself - enjoy 😁

Solitary days should be available from all major supermarkets, as should days with company. They should be available singly or in six-packs, so you could keep them in the freezer for when you wanted a change of scene. From about January, of course, they should also be available at a choice of holiday destinations - you will probably buy the Lanzarote pack, which does look rather nice, I must admit - all those bright colours and a cocktail or two in the special offer multipack. I think I'm going for days at home with sunshine, pets and birdsong in the garden. Oh, and a saunter into town to do some pre-Covid-style clothes shopping.

I haven't managed any exercise today and forgot the work Skype this morning, but work was okay. A little bit more has been done to get guest-ready, and J and I are planning to have lunch together (distanced) tomorrow, so progress is being made. I also heard that J's running club is starting up again but they are limiting numbers so I can't join yet. I just thought it would be a good way to practice running at different paces or on different routes, and give myself an idea where I fit compared to other.

DH is at Auntie's for a couple of nights now. He enjoyed walking on the sea front and it's been hot and sunny there. The sun even re-emerged here during the afternoon, which was welcome.

Nothing spent today. Not by me, anyway.

Tonight I'm thankful for hot chocolate and hot buttered toast and still being within my calorie limit.

Cherryfudge

Apart from lunch out with J (which was lovely), I've spent the entire day working on one room. Who knew it could take so long? However, everything is pulled out and cleaned and a lot of redundant triple A batteries have emerged and been put in the recycling. I have no idea why He Who Knows How To Work The Remote Controls doesn't also know how to recycle a battery.  

It's rained most of the day which hasn't helped as there's washing all over the place, but the sofa cushions that suffered in the downpour the other night are washed and nearly dry, so they won't smell musty. The pillow that smelled like a wet dog still smells like a wet dog, but is now more the size of a wet Yorkshire terrier than a wet English sheepdog. I've banished it to the shed so the smell won't greet Auntie! I suspect it will end up in the bin which is a shame but hey ho.

The not-so-good news is that Auntie arrives about lunchtime tomorrow, and the dining room still needs at least as much work as the lounge. I also need to do a quickish clean of the bathroom and kitchen, clean the fish tank - it's a disgrace and the poor fish deserve better -  and iron my uniform for Thursday.

I had a lovely smoked salmon and prawn salad for lunch which filled me up for ages, and J paid, bless her. Since then all I've had is coffee and cake. My run has been put off till goodness knows when, as I won't fit it in tomorrow, but I've just remembered and cancelled a subscription to a running app that I had a s a free trial. £48 left to spend on something else!

I started on what was supposed to be a quick tidy of the hall only to find a hole in a packet of bird seed, so I'm hoping there's not a mouse! I have some plastic tubs that can be used to keep the seed, though, so it will be out of temptation's way (and the hall won't be covered in grain).

Time I pushed on with work: nothing spent today and I'm thankful for my pretty, sparkling lounge and the fact I can have doors open after dark on such a mild evening.

Cherryfudge

So I was up till late last night but I got all the ironing done, which is an odd choice when I had a room to clean but space is at a bit of a premium and I felt better being able to put it all away and not add to the stash in DD's old room. This morning I finished the cleaning, had a quick shower and was putting a cake in the oven when DH and Autnie arrived. I am amazed.

I've just been shopping and spent £24.47 on groceries and £4 on a wire brush for getting weeds out of paving. I shouldn't be let out unaccountable, I seem to spend more than I need by quite a way. I think a bit of it was 'treat myself' as I'm tired and would just like to relax and enjoy the tidy house! DH and Auntie have been blackberrying in the garden and got nearly a kilo, though, so the garden is certainly helping feed us.

DH has also paid off his credit card: £68.68 house insurance, £95 household (new sink and accoutrements), £100 Household (worktop).

And I've found my missing diary... in the mending pile. This is not as organised as finding the mending pile in the diary.

I'm thankful - very thankful - for an organised house and a successful chocolate cake.

Seasidegal58

You've certainly been very busy!  Puts me to shame - and managed a chocolate cake too!

Hope you and DH have a nice time with Auntie!

Cherryfudge

DH and Auntie are out for the day. I can't go as I'm working later but that's all right: I just have to figure out what to do with the morning/lunchtime. There's a cloudless blue sky and a restless wind, I've packed my overnight stuff for work so all I need to prepare is an evening meal. It's nice to have time to myself!