Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

That's a useful nudge for me to think about a PoA, though it won't be this side of Christmas!

I spent Saturday with DD and DS2, a lovely day though the city was very crowded. I must admit that although I wore a mask even in the street, social distancing wasn't really possible much of the time so I do hope my booster jab is in good working order.

DS2 had said we needed to book our lunch but by the time I remembered and wasn't at work, the place we had considered had no spaces. We did, however, find a little Greek restaurant where the card machine wasn't working so they could only take cash and this meant they had free tables. The food was very good and we spent ages just eating and chatting. DD and I got various bits of our Christmas shopping and even DS2 got something for his girlfriend.

DD bought a book for her Dad then checked on the web and found it for £10 less so after some agonising she returned it as 'the wrong one' (as in it became the wrong one when she discovered she could have had it so much more cheaply elsewhere). Meanwhile I found three calendars for gifts so those are off my list. I also bought a little gift for DDiL, something for DD's other half, something for DD and some baby things as a gift for The New Member Who Is Yet To Arrive. I need to give more thought to things for DH!

List of spending will have to follow tomorrow.

After a glorious day I crashed out once I got home and had the usual Saturday fish and chips. I could hardly keep awake through Strictly so I went to bed about 9.30, which I never do. I woke up again about three hours later, far too hot as the outdoor temperature had gone up to about 10 degrees and DH had forgotten to turn the heating down. I got up and made toast, played on my phone and generally waited till about 2 which is when I've been going to bed recently (I know! ). Then I noticed I had a message which turned out to be night staff looking for morning cover as someone had rung up in the wee small hours unable to do their shift. I hesitated then explained how tired I had been and that although I'd originally said I would do 8-8 as a one-off, I just didn't feel up to it.

The long-story-short is that two staff had to cope on a three-staff shift this morning but the one who had called in last night managed part of her shift so we actually got clients out in the fresh air. We also have a new member of staff so although she's still finding her feet, we had plenty of hands. The Team Leader and I are agreed we need to take the staffing levels to the manager, though. When you have used everybody and lose two more, meaning gaps are covered by another service or by asking people who are already doing extra, that's overstretched and the tiredness and extra work put clients and the remaining staff at risk...

Things I'm thankful for tonight: lovely, lovely day with two of my children on Saturday, gifts bought, a nice meal and Christmassy lights and things going on in the city. Safe shifts and work getting through this 'patchwork weekend' without any disasters. Starting to inch forward on my knitting once again. One more shift then days off to catch up on Christmas stuff!

Seasidegal58

Your Christmas shopping day out with the family sounded lovely Cherry. 😃 I really do enjoy shopping this time of year - even though the crowds can put me off. I like that time in the afternoon as it begins to get dark and the town and shops are lit up with their deccies. 🎄

Cherryfudge

I've looked through my photos of Saturday a few times and every time they make me smile.

Today... team meeting at work with good news in that some clients have been cancelled and the temporary manager seems hot on not burning people out. Ironically, having heard that next weekend is sorted out, my colleague discovered she's the only person on two shifts before then! Some progress has now been made on those and they will be quieter than this evening's.

I've repaid DS2 £18 for my share of the meal and forwarded DD's share too, but not paid anything else.

The above are all to be thankful for... 

Cherryfudge

DH and I are off Christmas shopping in the city again today... I heard through work that as of yesterday there are no Omicron cases in our area, but of course those stats are probably already out of date. We are both boostered, wear masks and while in an ideal world we would stay at home and order online, I would love to take him to the restaurant I went to the other day with the 'children', and part of both of us is a city-dweller deep down, so we will both love the vibe (even if it's crowded - I'm hoping Tuesday won't look much like Saturday though).

Sorry, record long sentence.  

Work has already rung me to ask if I can cover later! I've said not till six. They will just have to start sending clients home (I didn't say that to them, the colleague who rang told me it was the case). I know that's not ideal but I really need some time off and if I do, some colleagues need it even more and it's safer than an understaffed shift.

Nice and sunny here today so washing is going on the line while we are out.

Cherryfudge

Yesterday's dinner/shopping trip was again lovely and much less busy than Saturday. It ended with a spectacular sunset (and a second collection of expenses still to be sorted out).

I remember the parking was £13.50 (:o), the meal was exactly £50 including the tip but we did throw caution to the winds and try the Greek desserts as well as a main course. Coffee later was £5.20. DH was going to fill the car as well but it was over £1.50 so he decided to go back later and find somewhere cheaper, as such places still exist.

Not a cheap day, but thankfully we don't live like this on a day to day level.

Today DH has ordered an item for L (£40 including P&P); we have also got some local shopping. The afternoon went off track as A and H had a problem but I think that's settled a bit now. There are a few bits under 'entertainment' as I'm contributing to a Christmas get together with my church group.

Spending (today):
Pets £2.99
Entertainment £5.94
Medical £1.00
Gift (DH paid) £40 + £1.50 spent by me
Housekeeping £9.10
Book (for me) £8.30

This evening I'm thankful that things have settled somewhat for H and A, for the nice time DH and I had yesterday and for finally having got myself to list what gifts I have and thus what I still need to do.

Seasidegal58

The Greek desserts sounded yum!😋. Baklava?

Cherryfudge

Seasidegal58 said:

The Greek desserts sounded yum!😋. Baklava?

Yes, and spanakopita. Mmmm!

I wasn't brave enough to try the Greek coffee as I don't tolerate coffee all that well any more, much as I like it. I'll be back to the restaurant given half a chance, though!

Cherryfudge

Yesterday evening was so nice: as a group we are fairly new to each other and most have only recently moved into the area but that gives us a good vibe. We heard some amazing stories, ate very well and had a good laugh (and were all flow tested so hopefully safe). One couple couldn't make it, waiting in for a PCR that's now come back clear.

I had a text from H so I'm somewhat reassured about them, and another text from work to see if I can cover a shift next week. As I've a chunk of days off pre-Christmas, I'm okay with working one of them.

A beautiful day today and I've got next to nothing done, with only an hour and a half left before work. I need to get the laundry on the line and wrap a gift for the lady who used to look after the old house for us - come to think of it I need to check my emails in case there's anything from the present owners, and drop them a line offering to send them some keys I'd forgotten about. If they've changed the locks I won't bother.

Cherryfudge

Work was an eye-opener today: we are so short of staff we will be open only part of the week throughout January instead of 24/7! Everyone's hours will be condensed, we will have more staff and more clients when we are open.

I'm okay with this apart from that my three days are a late (on the evening when my new group will be held) and two earlies - I'm rubbish on earlies - one of which is when I help with the cleaning.

The plus side is a Friday night to Tuesday night weekend every week instead of one in three , and we still provide something for our clients.

Cherryfudge

Don't know why, but I slept badly last night. Possibly a mixture of noisy heating at work, worrying about DS1 and being too warm or too cold. Anyway I did get some sleep.

Today is cold and foggy, brrr.

A bit of spending yesterday as I popped into shops on my way back from helping with the cleaning. A tiny bit more today so far as I bought an e-book.

Work is very quiet this weekend as clients are mostly cancelled due to staff shortages. Some little tweaks to the January rota: a weekend visit is being honoured at New Year so I will still be doing the sleep in on NYE. My prospective rota has been swapped round so I can still attend my Wednesday group, but I'm five hours short so I think I'll have to add a short shift on Mondays, or use the January annual leave I've now retracted. I'm thinking I'll ask to work the Tuesday daytime but perhaps take some of the leave on some of the early shifts so I'm not having to get up while it's dark. It won't be detrimental to the service as there are seven or eight staff on a shift instead of the usual three or four! I wonder if they are being super-cautious for when Omicron sweeps in?

I've finally remembered to send my November pay claim in (good job I get my basic pay regardless): it's quite hefty which is welcome. Our one working Team Leader said she and a member of night staff and I have been doing massive amounts of overtime but I'm not sure she's right about mine: I'm in a position to pick up more as I have a smaller contract (which makes it look more without even being full time hours) and other staff who would normally help out have been on leave or sick.

The Union have sent me an advert for free insurance in case I die of an accident in the coming year - I've not managed it so far but its a freebie and would be cash for DH if I were to die so I'll fill it in.

Spending
17/12/21 Housekeeping £2.33
18/12/21 e-book 0.49

And not to forget the things I'm thankful for: free exercise session yesterday with all the hoovering I did! Quiet shift last night and the prospect of another today.