Cherry takes the reins

Seasidegal58

I've just caught up with your diary Cherry after some weeks. Echoing the others on your lovely 'End of an Era' post.  It was a beautiful read. 

Cherryfudge

I wrote a post the other day and lost it as the internet was being elusive. We've since found out it doesn't like being turned on and off so will have to be left on all the time which I'm not too happy about. Can't they design routers that can be switched off and on without getting confused, and save a bit more planet and a few pence off the electricity bill? Anyway it's so much a part of life that it's going to have to be on all the time now.

I've spent weekdays on training which actually turned into a good laugh though we still have reservations about what we're being trained for. Today I was back on shift and ended up being shift lead, but it was a straightforward one. However a colleague who is supposed to be working tomorrow is clearly unwell and I've been unable to get cover for her so I've had to leave that one with the morning staff.

Outside of work, we've learned that a friend who had symptoms last year and found he had a brain tumour which was then shrunk by medication, has been admitted for three weeks in hospital in a big hurry. He's very resilient but it's very worrying for all of us. Having read a bit about his diagnosis, it seems to be a case if hitting it hard with chemo, but it's also likely, given the duration of his symptoms, that's it's spread. At least they can do something for him.

We've also found that H has gestational diabetes, but early indications are that her diet is managing this well. The baby is large but otherwise seems to be growing to plan. My babies were on the larger side of normal so it's possible there are genetics in there, but I think that's unlikely to account for it all.

My training days included two at a venue across town so I had a wander round some shops I've not been to for a while, resulting in spending on food, Christmas decs, gifts and plants. It was almost like going to another town, in fact! the one day at home on a webinar qualifies me to claim tax back for working from home, so I need to get that done.

DH has been tidying the loft (we handed more of her stuff over to J this morning but she couldn't fit it all in her new car. Her jobs starts this week and she's just bought a small car to replace the lease car she had with the job she's just finished). What with one thing and another we've not made any progress on the reclamation of money from the old house, insurance etc. This reminds me, my sister never replied to my update to her but it's quite possible her internet is playing up too.

This morning J and I had a shopping morning in a pretty town just north of here so I got a ride in her new car with L as chauffeur, he having taken a day off without remembering she and I were meeting. The three of us had a good morning together: breakfast in a cafe and a wander round a couple of shops in glorious sunshine. J paid for my breakfast so I only had the gifts for my sister and niece and a greetings card to pay for.

Spending:
14/10/21 Housekeeping £4.81
Household (Christmas decorations) £5.00
Garden £6.05
Medical £0.79
Gifts £1.49
15/10/21 Gifts £8.48

What am I thankful for tonight? Time with family, medical knowledge and care free at the point of need, good news on the former colleague who collapsed the other day, lots of food treats today (a colleague donated cake as well as my totally unnecessary cinnamon toast this morning ), nice YS bargains yesterday, a sunny day.

Onebrokelady

Loved your end of an era post Cherry, it will be a bit strange for a while I should think ❤️ Also congrats on the baby news, how exciting 🎉🎉

Cherryfudge

Thanks @Onebrokelady

Not much to report today (actually yesterday). I went for a run this morning: it was colder overnight but very comfortable to run in by late morning. I'd planned to do an extra repeat of the week 4 run pattern from C25K but I'm going to move straight on to week 5 instead as I'm feeling really good off the back of this morning's effort.

Work was quiet despite my worries over the shift. A colleague told me I'm stressing too much! I realised later it was mostly on behalf of the person who felt unwell yesterday and I hadn't been able to cover her shift, but in fact she called in sick, then the two of us remaining on shift had an uneventful time so it all turned out okay.

Dh got some groceries but I don't know what they cost.

Early start again tomorrow as we're going to cheer DS1 on in the York marathon.

And I'm thankful for my colleague calling in sick rather than struggling through, for the impressive amount people have kindly sponsored DS1 so far, and for most of the family being able to go for a meal tomorrow.

Sun_Addict

Enjoy your day in York. Good luck to DS1 for the marathon. 

Cherryfudge

Thank you @Sun_Addict, we've had a very good day! We had an early start to get to the parking place then caught the first of a series of buses to ferry us to various vantage points, with lots of texting between us; J, L and the puppy and H and her parents, all of us deployed to strategic places so A had plenty of encouragement along as much of the route as possible. The running conditions seemed pretty good: a bit drizzly and on the cool side to begin with, warmer and drier later so the first hours were easier on the runners. The atmosphere was very good: quite a lot of spectators but not a crush, upbeat music blaring out to keep the pace and spectators going, transport pretty well thought out apart from village parking hadn't been limited so the park and run buses were slowed down by parked cars. It's the fifth time I've been to some sort of large organised run and I always end up dreaming of competing one day. One difference between the marathon and the half marathons seems to me to be that more of the marathon finishers were coming in strong. I wonder if that's right or if the less fit ones had already dropped out? 

We were really proud of A for running, for completing though he said he was struggling at the end and for raising a good sum for charity. He got in inside the four hour mark, too. No, he has no plans to do it again!

I took some knitting for car and bus journeys and that worked out well too as the blue jumper has grown by seven and a half centimetres.

We got home around four and caught up on Strictly (and I did a few rows of the other jumper: I'm determined to complete at least one as soon as possible), then met up with A, H and her parents in town for a meal. Good to have time to catch up with everyone.

I've been texted by work as I'd said I could be contacted for a shift if my colleague's still unwell, which she is. I'll be in tomorrow evening but that's okay as I have Tuesday and Wednesday off.

Today's spending:
(Hop on, hop off bus passes already paid for: £25 for the two of us - entertainment budget I guess).
Entertainment (meal out) £56.20.

So today I'm thankful for A's achievement, seeing family while having a day out, meal out this evening, progress on the knitting. I've almost decided on another project so I need to push on with what I've already started!

Seasidegal58

Congratulations to your son on completing the marathon!  I have a great deal of admiration for those that do this.  My DD and I were in town there but had some shopping and a lunch booked so didn't get to see it apart from the barriers being arranged when we first got there!🤣

Onebrokelady

Well done to A for completing the marathon.I just don't know how people can run for that distance or time, I once started training for a half marathon and got up to running for 7 miles sadly I had to stop due to injury but that was hard enough 
DD is planning on taking me away for a weekend after Christmas and York is a good possibility. I have wanted to go back there for years after visiting for a school trip. It's a long way for us to travel though so we would have to make it a trip worth doing 😊

Cherryfudge

Thank you! He was absolutely all in when he finished but is feeling quite positive about it today.

York is lovely for shopping, isn't it? The parking in town will have been a nightmare with the route being through the city centre. Out at Stamford Bridge the Park and Run bus could hardly get through to the drop off points for parked cars. (I'd never been to Stamford Bridge before and it's very pretty so I might plan a day trip in the spring).

Cherryfudge

@Onebrokelady, cross posted with you, sorry.

I too visited York on a school trip and later went on holiday so I'm very happy we're now in relatively easy reach. North Yorkshire does tend to think nothing of travelling for an hour to go to something, though - we once sold something on 3bay and the buyer said he'd collect as he was going to Leeds. He really didn't know that once you leave Leeds you still have a very long before you get to us (still in Yorkshire).

IMO daffodil time is the perfect time to visit York, as the banks around the city walls are a mass of daffs, but it's lovely at any season.

Well done on running seven miles - a bit further than I've done so far!