Cherry takes the reins

Sun_Addict

My mum wasn’t a famous ballerina, she was in shows though. She gave it up when she got married. She wasn’t one for other forms of exercise so quickly lost her muscle tone. She tried to make me go to lessons when I was very young but I was more into horses which disappointed her. 

Have you got a completion date for the house? You seem to have been clearing it out forever.

Cherryfudge

My Mum was horse mad but we ended up mostly going to ballet. For a while we got some riding lessons, borrowing a pony in exchange for my Mum giving lessons for a while... good memories but I was better at ballet than riding.

No completion date yet but it must be getting near as the buyers have been contacted re handing over their deposit.

I forgot to mention a couple of days ago that DS2 took DH and me on a walk from a local village passing a building where both DS2 and I used to work. The area is really pretty with a stream and ford running through the village. The houses have character too, but I wouldn't be in a hurry to move there as some areas flooded badly a few years ago. I did look at some 'For Sale' boards on higher ground, though, thinking it might be worth investigation if we go for a buy to let.

DS2 went home yesterday and DD submitted her dissertation so I'm left with nothing urgent to do. Laundry is in the machine but there's a spot of rain so it will go on an airer upstairs. Last night's shift was quiet and I'm in again tonight as shift lead. I'm sort of okay with that as I've thought it through already but I've still not been asked if I'm willing to return to all duties. I don't think there's much alternative as we are still struggling to staff a number of shifts and not everyone can shift lead. My friend gave a me a bit of a gentle telling off last night for starting to talk about 'I could cover this if I...'

DS1 told me not to worry about repaying him for the groceries which he was so determined to get and as he earns more than I do, I might let that one ride! I went for coffee with a friend yesterday: her turn to buy then I got refills but managed to get my app working so paid for it all with points. I picked up groceries and toothpaste on my way home so it wasn't an NSD. Some items weren't available so I'll pop back today.

Spending:
Housekeeping £9.39
Medical £1.89

Things I'm thankful for today: time spent with DCs, the beginnings of a 'donate' box, weekend off about to happen (and I didn't pick up the sleep-in shift in the middle of it).

Cherryfudge

Last night's shift was steady away, though a colleague looking through the rota found some worrying staffing levels ahead. Between historic cutbacks and current recruitment difficulties, I'm starting to wonder how reliable this job is but it's a perfect match for my skills and location and I have some fantastic colleagues so I hope I'm wrong. The thing is, people keep putting the needs of the job ahead of their own needs which can't be sustained forever. Eventually someone will be long-term sick or somewhere the plates won't keep spinning...

On the positive side, the 'new' people who have returned to work with us are pretty well up to speed again, there are applicants for the lower management post and the senior management post is still being temporarily filled. That leaves us theoretically three posts down at last count, but actually four as a full time member of staff is on leave for a few weeks.

DH has taken a few items to charity. You can't tell the difference but I know it's there - a little more space!

This morning we set off for the car boot sale only to find it's not on, but we spent time mooching round charity shops and had lunch, then later coffee and cake on our travels. Some spending but not much: DH did best as he bought the perfect pair of shoes for £5. When he looked them up to see if he could buy more, it turns out they usually retail at £300+! No wonder they are so comfortable.

He bought a couple of books and I bought a knitting pattern and a mug from a favourite manufacturer which turns out to be a match for our crockery, though not from the same set. Nice to spend £1.99 on it when they are usually £10+.

I'm so tired this evening! The Bank Holiday weekend weather has been warm and sunny and we've had a lot of fresh air and relaxation, but now I need a quiet evening.

Spending:
Entertainment (lunch and hot drinks) £29.82
Household £1.99
Clothing £5
Books £3
Hobbies £2.98

Also yesterday's housekeeping £5.66

Things I'm thankful for: My shift going okay, a good day out with DH, lovely weather and nice 'finds', especially his shoes.

Honeysucklelou2

What an amazing find for your DH!

Cherryfudge

Honeysucklelou2 said:

What an amazing find for your DH!

Yes, wasn't it! Am wondering if it's the start of expensive tastes, LOL.  

Nothing spent today. I went to the church (building) instead of taking part online for the first time since March last year. DH has been a few times but he does sound/camera so was needed. I had a bit of a catch-up with old friends afterwards and met a new couple too. They are about the age of our adult children but she shares the same first name as me. It turned out she was able to give me a bit of advice on an item found at the old house and which had puzzled me while trying to find what to do with various things... she also turns out to be very creative which nudged me to get back to my knitting this afternoon. DH and I went for a local walk and I dozed off afterwards but woke up with enough brain to tackle the knitting problem and get it back on track.

DS1 (A) texted to say he's waiting for the results of a PCR test so I was a bit concerned - they have enough health-wise to cope with. However it turns out he's just making sure that two flow tests are both correctly negative, so I'm not too worried now. I pointed out to him that wearing a mask for work gives me a sore throat after a few hours so it's possible to get symptoms that are nothing to do with Covid.

DH has had a routine blood test put back due to the shortage of blood phials. I was wondering about getting my test redone but there's no point till this shortage wears off. It's just that I seem to get tired after relatively little. It's not as if I work full time.

Plans for this coming week include work on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday (my busy week), loft hatch being replaced on Tuesday, possibly a video call with my friends on Tuesday night and a trip to see DS2 on Wednesday. Then - already - it's time to go to the old house again! It's more likely than ever to be the last trip there, depending how busy the solicitors have been.

Tonight I'm thankful for making new friends, being able to meet indoors again, a text from a long-term friend who I lost touch with over the pandemic, fixing the knitting problem and DS2 being in touch.

in_need_of_direction

You may not work full time but you regularly accommodate changes to shift patterns which can be harder to deal with

Cherryfudge

in_need_of_direction said:

You may not work full time but you regularly accommodate changes to shift patterns which can be harder to deal with

I think the chopping and changing is wearing people down, tbh. It doesn't affect me as much as it does some but I was soooo tired after just two sleep-ins last week. I didn't get woken, I think staying up talking to night staff doesn't help. Quite often there are clients needing assistance till gone 10 so it takes a while to wind down. A colleague offered to take one of the consecutive sleeps off me next weekend, but she needs to check her partner's availability for childcare before she can confirm.

Yesterday's shift was very quiet and a neighbourhood cat came in to entertain us. Makes a nice change of scene, and not tiring at all!

This morning at home, we've had our new loft hatch and ladder put in. He seems to have done a good job. The new apparatus is much sturdier, with a wider hatch, so we've no excuse for not keeping the loft in better order! At some point we will need to look at re-sealing the inside of the tiles as the old mortar is very crumbly and little gaps are emerging.

I've got some laundry out on the line but the sky is very grey - so much for August! The temperature indoors has dropped from 19 yesterday to 17.5 today.

Spending:
Household £614.40.

Cherryfudge

We got a couple of loads of laundry done and the remains of it is on the airer as the rain came: steady, heavy drizzle. That has to have been the greyest August ever! However I got some gardening done and DH painted a wall in our bedroom (dark navy, very trendy!) and took some non-compostable garden debris to the tip so it was quite a productive end to the month. This afternoon we're going to see DS2, but first I need to cook a large batch of greengages before they go over.

Dinner yesterday included gifted runner beans and tomatoes - a season of plenty for those who grow their own. I had some pepper plants, a gift from DS1, but the slugs have nearly destroyed them so our harvest is nearly all from fruit trees and the blackberries.

Cherryfudge

We spent yesterday afternoon and evening with DS2, a lovely time. I'm glad I had a rest day the day before as I was over 20,000 steps by the end of the day! He took us on a drive across the city then a walk near his running route (a racecourse) and along the river. Later we walked into the city (not so far) to look for somewhere for dinner. So many places were turning people away due to staff shortages, but about the fourth one we tried had spaces and we had very good pizzas, the sort where you can watch them being made.

It's been really good to have time with DS2 twice in a couple of weeks and see where he's living (and cuddle the rabbit ).We might just see him next week as he has leave to use up, but we will be at the old house from Monday to Wednesday so maybe not.

It was also a couple of items out of the house as he has taken a step ladder from his Grandpa's flat that was cleared recently and a big bag of toiletries from his old room. He asked me if I'd made any progress with clearing the boxes in that room - ahem, no! I could do a bit on that today.

I'm working late shifts for the next four days with two sleep ins (unless my colleague has found childcare and can cover one). I've had a good night's sleep which will help me start off right. The plan for DS2's room is to move the set of storage boxes into there - they are 'on display-worthy' and match the décor - and swap out some of the cardboard boxes but also try to sort some contents. I've also promised cakes for an event DH is involved with so I need to buy ingredients this morning. 

Onebrokelady

Sorry to hear the lack of staff is affecting you too, I think everyone is in the same boat at the moment 😟 I hope your shifts are good ones x