Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

It's been a great Mothering Sunday. Great weekend over all actually. I used to find Mother's Day very hard, having miscarried, but this year it's been idyllic. Perhaps DGD is part of that, and also the sunny weather and having seen my three children too.

I had a 'Grandma' mug from A and family, a pot of hyacinths from J and L and a box of cakes from DS2. The cakes were salted caramel Snickers, Victoria 99er, Dairy milk and Eton mess. The diet begins on my next weigh-in.

Today was morning church then hurriedly home to collect DS2 (who had reappeared in the middle of the night and was unusually hung over) before driving to J and L's for a BBQ. It's amazing that we've been sitting in their garden in blazing sun - and it's not the end of March yet. Was it really only last year we had our first family get-together for a year, sitting in their outdoors room with snow blowing in to avoid air-borne Covid?!  Ironic that rates are so high now but it doesn't feel at all the same. I've had all my vaccines and a booster but I'm still being careful as boosters are probably wearing thin, yet it absolutely doesn't feel as it did.

DS2 spent the middle of the afternoon on their couch trying to sleep off the alcohol but the rest of us had a riverside walk with the dog. They are working hard on training her and her recall is great, so she could go off the lead for a while. She found a similar pooch to play chase with and the two of them seem to have had a lot of fun. They were both very fast. The other dog was bigger but J and L's dog kept ahead, then went and dunked herself in the river for a drink and a cool-down.

Back at their house, we had doughnuts, drinks and fruit, the men discussed how they'll dress for the wedding (L had lent DH appropriate shoes as it's not a colour DH would naturally wear) and just lounged around for a while before heading home. DS2 has gone back to his place so we had tea in front of the TV and I fell asleep. I think I've yet to adjust to the clocks changing, but surely that works the other way round and I shouldn't have been tired yet?

Nothing spent today, and I'm thankful for all of the above.

Cherryfudge

A very, very wet Monday! I've only been out of the house to put recycling in the bin. DH's volunteering was called off due to lack of staff so he's been trying to put a shelf up in the hall instead. He was thwarted by the drill running out of power. A few hours of recharging hasn't been enough to complete it.

I've spent most of the day finishing my book or knitting: the side panels of this blanket have been rather challenging but I've finally got it going as it should. Other than that we braved using the pressure cooker for the first time. The potatoes were well cooked but neither of us really understands what we're doing so a few more cautious attempts will be required.

The wedding trousers have arrived for DH so he's the first of the men to be fully kitted out. The outfit is really nice. L certainly has style!

DH bought some groceries but I don't have a receipt.

This evening I'm thankful that the rain held off over the weekend! Also that we didn't manage to blow ourselves up using the pressure cooker.  

Cherryfudge

Not much to report today: the weather hasn't been as wet but the washing is on the airer. Work was on the quiet side: two of us staff and one client! That was the place where I'm helping out - tomorrow I'll be on an early in my usual place. My colleagues are starting to come back from sick leave which is good.

I came home to see Dh has succeeded in putting up the shelf that looks like a dolls' house. I fell for this in a charity shop a few weeks ago and now it has a home and actually looks quite intentional.

Dh had a long bike ride. I had a text to say he was glad of the waterproof trousers I bought him for cycling! He's back to work tomorrow and hoping the technology doesn't let them down again.

Nothing spent by me today, and I'm grateful for DH making a sauce from scratch rather than getting a jar, for the birdsong in the garden and for daffodils that I brought from Mum's old house flowering alongside her primroses.

Cherryfudge

Another okay day at work: my first shift with our new person who is very pleasant. There are ongoing difficulties booking my remaining annual leave which I've already taken. The requests show as having gone out of my account but haven't arrived in my manager's.  I've sent a screen shot to the relevant people so it's in their hands now.

We are still doing PCR tests twice a week so I walked into town to post them in the afternoon. It's been cold with snow showers - who would have thought it so soon after the BBQ-and-shorts weather of the weekend! I was glad of my umbrella, scarf and 'duvet' coat.

I picked up some grocery shopping and spent £14.88. It wasn't all advisable: I checked the market for DH's rusk-type rolls. They'd run out but I ended up buying three bags of good old-fashioned broken biscuits. I'm allowing myself one biscuit a day, hold me to that. One of the bags is for DS2 as he likes shortbread and has saved a tin of it from Christmas to dip into when he's home. More commendably I bought a curry sauce and used up some of the vegetables from the freezer in it, but I think some of it hasn't frozen well and might just get thrown out.

My new plants have come into the hall overnight in case it gets frosty. Such as shame for the fruit trees as the blossom is just coming out on some, but the new little plants have grown and are looking vigorous already.

This evening was a meeting for the newer church group who are always great company and I brought some muffins along as I'd had a birthday since we'd last met. Of course there are a few muffins left at home and some ingredients that I now need to find homes for.

This evening I'm thankful for being able to get what I want from the shops, for managing to fit in all the cooking and not being too tired after work and for a lovely evening.

Onebrokelady

Ahhh I love broken biscuits but can never find them anywhere 🤷‍♀️  You Mother's Day sounded lovely and I'm envious of the walks you have been on. I can't wait to get out for a good long walk 😊

Honeysucklelou2

Your plant shopping sounds good 🙂. So glad you had a lovely Mother’s Day with your family.

Cherryfudge

Onebrokelady said:

Ahhh I love broken biscuits but can never find them anywhere 🤷‍♀️  

I've only seen them on markets... don't know why they are so special but undoubtedly they are!

Honeysucklelou2 said:

Your plant shopping sounds good 🙂.

Oh it was!  

And Mother's Day was a treat too.

Cherryfudge

So I woke up to snow and sunshine and meltwater pouring off our misaligned gutter! It's been sunshine and snow showers all day.

DH worked this morning then went to have some dental work done: he's spending some of his money from his Dad's estate as this is an investment in his health. I don't know quite what it came to but the money was there and this is a good use of it. Now he's on painkillers but I hope that won't be for too long.

I had a lie-in then went round plugging things into chargers to make the most of lower electricity rates before they go up tomorrow. Some towels and tea towels went on a hot wash. My toothbrush, Fitbit and Kindle, DH's camera and hair trimmer and our phones are as topped up as possible! DH reports the website has crashed so March meter readings can't go in at present but our provider has given till Saturday midnight to send them in. 

The post brought my new tax code: it says I have £312 in job expenses but the difference between the tax codes is £31. I'm not sure what that means in real life but never mind: at least I have some benefit and if it's £31, then that's £31 I didn't have before.

March wages are also in and looking very healthy, largely due to a retention payment which I don't remember seeing before. Maybe it simply means I haven't left them yet! I know some of this month's money is due to a pay increase which has come in part and may come in full if the powers that be can agree.

I try my best to understand these things but I've come to the conclusion my genius lies elsewhere.

Spending today:
99p e-book (The New Larousse Gastronomique, which the website says retails at £75 but I can see elsewhere for £40).
(So if a penny saved is a penny earned, I'm a good bit better off today).

This evening I'm thankful for how pretty the snow was in the sunshine, for Martin and crew who enable us to make the best of what can be a poor deal, for DH being on board with meter readings and suchlike and most especially for the work he's had done and him coming though it all right.

in_need_of_direction

Broken biscuits are desirable as the calories escape when they break

Cherryfudge

in_need_of_direction said:

Broken biscuits are desirable as the calories escape when they break

Thank you for that valuable piece of information INOD! As calories = energy, I shall be careful to consume broken biscuits while playing on my phone, so it will charge for free, or on a cold day to keep the house warm. Am also thinking of converting my laptop to run on crumbs...