Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

Thank you @Honeysucklelou2, yes they do live abroad. They still aren't sure about being able to go back home as my niece is too young to be vaccinated: they think she will have to have extra testing and that should be okay - so long as the rules don't change in the next few days!

I got lots of sleep last night so I feel much better and am hoping I've caught up a bit. It was at the stage where I was too tired to sleep properly.

Today I'm researching a new iron as ours has suddenly decided it can't be bothered with all that 'getting very hot' business and is holding out for the right to be hand-hot.

Cherryfudge

Some expenses today:
Household £74 (deposit for new back door), £39.99 (iron)
Garden £5.97 (2 lupins and a delphinium)
Housekeeping £5.50 + whatever DH spent on fruit

I forgot half the items I wanted today so will be going back at some point.

I've also sent off the application for police checks as work has randomly selected some of us to be updated. Won't cost me anything but I can see why they need to keep checking.

Sun_Addict

I’ve recently had to replace my iron as it wasn’t getting hot enough. I’m really fussy about irons as I like them to be quite heavy so can’t order online as I like to feel the weight. Managed to find one on offer in Mr T. 

Onebrokelady

Wow you have been busy Cherry no wonder you are tired. I will be lucky when clearing my parents house because they don't keep anything. They cleared their loft out a while ago so that's completely empty, then Dad cleared out his workshop so that's empty, I know the only things they own are on display or clothes 

Cherryfudge

Sun_Addict said:

I’ve recently had to replace my iron as it wasn’t getting hot enough. I’m really fussy about irons as I like them to be quite heavy so can’t order online as I like to feel the weight. Managed to find one on offer in Mr T. 

New iron seems just the job - I'm delighted I've found one that turns itself off if left! I had this feature before: could have been made for me.

Onebrokelady said:

Wow you have been busy Cherry no wonder you are tired. I will be lucky when clearing my parents house because they don't keep anything. They cleared their loft out a while ago so that's completely empty, then Dad cleared out his workshop so that's empty, I know the only things they own are on display or clothes 

Are they available for hire, please? My friend and I are in dire need.  

Cherryfudge

One of those days today: A is struggling with mental health issues which is hardly surprising considering the horrible time they had last winter. Recently it's escalated, today he spent some time talking to us about it but there's only so much we can do. His employer is paying for some counselling sessions and we've suggested the GP. H's parents are visiting them this weekend so I hope that will take some of the strain off as they are a very supportive family.

We have also had a couple more items break. A window catch snapped off and is out of guarantee so we will need to find someone to replace or repair it: at the moment the window is stuck open. Then the internet went down as DH was trying to log on for work and four calls to the company resulted in a promise for them to come out on Monday or Tuesday. However it started working again at lunchtime and seems to be fine now. DH had to take the day off so he may have to make the time up elsewhere.

Work took some organising: I'm glad I wasn't shift lead as we are short of staff. Two former employees are back with us which is lovely, but their training needs to be brought up to date and they have to get back into the swing of things.

I got some shopping this morning: I finished off a gift card on toiletries so a reduced actual spend, and I remembered to get bin liners but forgot yogurt and marmite and will probably need other stuff over the next few days. There were freebie cakes and chocolates at work as someone was leaving, so I've had several.

Spending
Toiletries: £9.62 of which £3.04 gift voucher and £6.58 in money.
Housekeeping £5.48.

This evening I'm thankful for time spent talking with A, for a supportive colleague, for the shift going smoothly with none of the possible problems, for the return of the internet and for a shopping day with J to look forward to.

Cherryfudge

More work today. Beforehand I ironed an enormous tablecloth for J to try in their dining room. It's one I found at the old house and would probably fit our dining table (which extends to seat eight) but I already have plenty of cloths and for the time being at least am not going to be using the table as DH's office is on it as well as the laptop I use. J likes things that are in keeping with their older house: she already has a few ginger jars reclaimed from the old house to go alongside her blue and white pottery.

I'm looking forward to spending the day with her tomorrow.

Work is still overstretched: we have our two returning staff back on shift though not up to speed with training yet, and are down to two out of three team leaders and a temporary manager (who may turn out to be permanent but we don't find out till next week). Then various people have had annual leave or had to isolate... you know how it is. It's nice that I've got a weekend off!

Nothing actually spent today but I've paid the CC off up to date, cancelled Amaz0n Pr!me and transferred the money from the Executors' Account for the most recent set of travel costs. DH has heard from a solicitor - I'm not sure which one - with a couple of queries about the house. One is a request for a  receipt from the knotweed company to prove there is a treatment plan in place (we have their confirmatory email which is most of the way there, but DH has requested something in a more receipt-like format). The other is enquiring about something similar to planning permission for alterations which was sent to a neighbouring authority earlier this year. As this wasn't us and the authority wasn't the correct one for the house, I can only assume it was done by the previous buyers who pulled out when they couldn't get mortgage funding for an extension they had planned. Hopefully neither of these will turn out to be a problem, I can't see that they would be.

I was looking at my pay slip and wondering how best to invest any extra money... I have some overtime and sleep in payments most months. The overtime isn't much but the sleep ins are enough to put into something, if only there were something to put them into! I'm wondering about Premium Bonds, but am a bit wary as they are a sort of gambling - but then so, in a way, is any form of investment.

I could also top up my pension a bit but I don't know how to work out if this is worthwhile and of course if I didn't live long enough to benefit from it, it would be dead money (oops ). However if I weren't alive I wouldn't miss it and DH has a reasonable pension in his own right so wouldn't be depending on the very small amount he'd get from mine.

I suppose I need to get over to the pensions board.

Things I'm thankful for tonight: J wanting the huge table cloth (partly because I want it to be used and appreciated and partly so I don't have to store it!) Day planned with J tomorrow (even if it rains solidly). Having Internet back again and DH therefore being able to work today. Last and best: hearing that DH's older niece has just got engaged!

Cherryfudge

J and I have had a very enjoyable day out! She came to collect me this morning and has also taken possession of the huge tablecloth and an embroidered one (I offered to all the children: one said no thanks, another hasn't replied but she was keen so she gets first choice). We drove to the town of our choice where she worked a few years ago and where we decided it wouldn't be too busy. I honestly forgot about Covid a lot of the time though I've got a bit of a sore throat now from wearing a mask a lot.

We had takeaway coffee and cake in a park then explored Primarni: I bought a bit of makeup, some masks and a bag to keep them in and slippers with a sole that will withstand me wearing them to peg the washing out. I had wanted canvas shoes and new hairclips but couldn't find any I liked, either there or in other shops. Never mind: the battered ones are okay for a bit longer!

Lunch was my treat in a cafe she recommended. I've ended up with box of leftover pizza to take for tea at work on Monday! Nice to have lots of time to talk to her, too. We discussed wedding dresses and how weddings have changed since I got married, so a special talk though we don't have a date for the wedding yet!

We've visited a very good art gallery/shop which seems to have set her thinking about taking up art again now that her dissertation is nearly finished, then went on to TK..Maxx where we spent most of the rest of the afternoon and bought all sorts of wonderful things. I spotted a gift for DS2 and another for my brother in law which I will leave wrapped at their house when we borrow it (reflects his interests but is rather too bulky for him to take when they are abroad/working) and a stocking-filler for DH to give to me. (I save him a lot of stress this way every year, I'm such a thoughtful wife. ). A couple more makeup items for me and a nice mug so we don't run out of large drinking vessels so soon.

We finished up with a trip to what J says is am amazing doughnut shop where she treated us and our 'other halves' to a huge doughnut apiece. Ours are going to wait till we have space for them!

I'm really tired again tonight: partly my fault for being up late last night then waking rather early today. I had a visual migraine before lunch which happens about once in six months and doesn't last long. This one was in the way when I was trying to read the menu and came with a bit of the blurring that I mentioned to the optician the other week. I'd been expecting the migraine for a while so it's out of the way for now.

I felt rather stressed when J and I talked about A's situation and managed to change the subject. I know she knows about it and can offer professional advice but I'm trying not to worry about him. He's planned an evening out with friends tonight which I'm hoping will be a dose of normal life.

I had to pop into work after tea tonight as I'd forgotten to sign for something but a colleague tipped me off before it became an issue (that's team work!). All quiet and I was there less than ten minutes.

So before I head off to try out my new nail varnish, here's the list of spends:

gifts £27.78
Entertaining (meal out) £25.80
Household £4.99
Toiletries/makeup £10.49
Clothing (slippers) £4.00
Masks and bag (medical) £4.00

Total £77.06

Things I'm thankful for this evening: the weather staying nearly dry despite the wet forecast, time spent with J, new things and treats to eat, thoughtful colleague, migraines that don't last long and don't hurt, A having something to distract him this evening.

evebeme

My grandson gets visual migraines. His doctor has put him on B vitamins. I hope it works. He's just finishing his paramedic training. Can't have him trying to drive an ambulance and looking through a purple haze. Eve

Cherryfudge

evebeme said:

My grandson gets visual migraines. His doctor has put him on B vitamins. I hope it works. He's just finishing his paramedic training. Can't have him trying to drive an ambulance and looking through a purple haze. Eve

I hadn't heard of using Vitamin B to help prevent them but a quick Google showed me there's lots of info out there. Thanks Eve