Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

By the way, has anyone seen the film 'The last bus', and is it any good?

Cherryfudge

I wrote a post and lost it... spent on various bits this afternoon, mostly groceries to last us till Monday with the addition of lots of fresh stuff found in the fridge which won't last a week. I bought a fridge drawer from L!dl which helps corral my collection of small jars, and a block of holiday food for the goldfish. I also got him some pond weed but the pet shop I used to use is under new management. The assistant was helpful but it's now much re expensive (£3.50 instead of £1.50) and they didn't have bags to put the pond weed in. The assistant found me some bubble wrap for the plant but it then dripped through my bag for the rest of the afternoon.

I've bought some greetings cards and DH got us fish and chips for tea.

I've cleaned and sorted the fridge and dashed out in the twilight to pick greengages and blackberries which would otherwise have gone to waste. I've given some to a neighbour, and she gave me apples and tomatoes. I do like this swapping harvests!

Tesco receipt is missing: I think it was about £15. Other groceries were £10.17.

I finished the ironing, too - while watching Last Night of the Proms which is probably sacrilege but at least I got two important things done.

It's been a productive day: a run, niece's engagement, groceries bought, fish fed, fruit harvested, neighbour shared with, the tradition of watching the Proms. I need sleep now!

Honeysucklelou2

Hope you have a good holiday at your sister ‘s house.

Cherryfudge

Arrived safe and sound. ☺️

Spent much of the day in Newcastle where we had a very late lunch with J and L after the race. J finished in a good time but found the new course much more demanding than she expected. She’s run the usual version before but this year it’s different to enable social distancing.

We arrived at my sister’s about tea time, only to discover I’d brought the wrong key! Thankfully the neighbours are lovely and helpful and found us the spare. ☺️

I’m so tired - again - but I’ve got plenty of time now to relax. Why is going on holiday enough to make me need a holiday?! Looking forward to exploring the town tomorrow.

Spending
entertaining (lunch) - £57.35

Cherryfudge

What a nice treat - a super mattress to sleep on! (The rest of the bed is okay too). So many times I’ve struggled with sleep on holiday but not only did I sleep well last night, but I went back to bed and slept again mid-afternoon.

It’s not a warm day: we actually had the heating on for a bit this morning but that’s fair enough as the house has been empty for a month so it will benefit. We had a walk into the town to get our bearings and buy a few groceries but managed to discover some other shops: there is an amazing hardware shop which stocks seemingly everything by dint of using every inch of available space. This led to some unusual juxtapositions, notably ovulation tests next to oven cleaner (why?). I bought WD40 for the door…

Another find was an antique shop where we resisted a real Tiffany lamp for £145 but DH spent 50p on a postcard and I spent £2 on a jug.

£8.23 on groceries.

Off for a local walk later.

Cherryfudge

Yesterday afternoon’s walk went a bit awry: beautiful country but we don’t know where we went off-route or how far we went… saw a heron as we walked by the river. So yes, we got lost but it wasn’t scarily lost.

This morning was rainy to begin with but it’s dry and warmer now. We went into the town to get a key cut and some key fobs too - no excuse to lose track of this one! I added a couple of spare fobs for other keys that we hold. No point being so security-minded that we don’t know which is which. £3.80 spent.

DH has topped up his data: £5.

I wanted a look in a charity shop we passed and ended up with various bits including a gift for my sister (£1), some fabric that I think might be suitable to reupholster our piano stool, a prize draw ticket for DH and a little Kilner-type bottle (£4.50).

We went for a short walk afterwards. Short because it turned out to be very steep! In the way back we got chatting to another walker who’s given us lots of good tips for walks and eateries: the people here are so friendly!

We are off on another expedition this afternoon, but first I’m going to send my sister a photo of her laden apple tree and ask what she wants done with the fruit.

My things to be thankful for so far today: clean hair! (I know… but it was over conditioned and felt so much nicer when washed). Friendly locals. Small treats found while shopping.

Cherryfudge

Yesterday’s expedition - to Sir Walter Scott’s house - was well worth doing: we got annual tickets and a guidebook but will donate the book to the place where we’re staying to save someone some money and not add to our clutter. After all we can borrow it back if need be!

It’s a very beautiful place and the guides were good. We stopped for afternoon restoratives which came to around £16 I think (cakes weren’t cheap!) I’ve got lots of garden photos to cheer up winter days and possibly help me with ideas for our own garden.

I was tired and sore-throated so of course started to worry I’d got Covid but then started sneezing and that’s not a symptom. My sister says her family had the sneezes while here so that part could be environmental. I can’t quite suss the tiredness: it’s not many months since my bloods were okayed for the year but I suspect my thyroxine needs a review. That will have to wait till the supply problems with blood vials are overcome as it’s not urgent. I got beyond the point of decent sleep in the evening, so I need to find out how to improve my quality of sleep. No point moaning if I’m not willing to do something about it! 😊

Dh got fish and chips for our tea and my sister has said we can have apples off their tree so no grocery shopping yesterday.

Today we plan to go sweater shopping for DH, that wrecker of all things jumper-shaped, get groceries again and explore Melrose as it was shut by the time we finished at the house yesterday.

Cherryfudge

Groceries are expensive here! Mind you, I gather they are going up in general and this morning’s shop included things I would normally have in at home.

After lunch we drove to a couple of touristy/clothing/gift shop places outside town where I bought presents and DH got himself a jumper, then on to Melrose. We spent some time browsing (I bought myself a skirt) then went to the Abbey which is semi-closed till some masonry is made safe, but we could still see most of it. We got membership discounts there.

I’m not so tired today: I was yawning by about 4 but haven’t felt unwell so things are definitely better.

This evening we had pizza for dinner and I’ve baked a vegan banana bread as the bananas I brought with me are going over. I also have ingredients for my overnight oats with I’m hoping will be nice and nutritious and help me feel stronger. Seems to be working so far!

Spending:
Housekeeping £27.38
Gifts £16.72
Clothing £10.70 (me), £25.00 (DH)
Entertainment about £4

Today I’m thankful for feeling better, being able to bake, discount on some healthy ingredients and DH understanding I simply don’t have his levels of energy!

Sun_Addict

Sounds like you’re having a lovely time away. Great news that you’re feeling better and don’t have to worry about Covid. Getting to that time of the year when the seasonal colds/flu start doing their rounds. 

Honeysucklelou2

Sometimes unwinding can make you feel more tired, if you see what I mean.

Hardware store - alphabetical order perhaps?!