Cherry takes the reins

Sun_Addict

I keep a storage box of charity shop finds for the GKs when they visit. As they outgrow them I give them back to the CS. They particularly love the giant Lego type building blocks, sketch pads and crayons. 

Cherryfudge

That's a good idea, SA. I love those giant legos, our kids had them years ago and when they were old enough for real legos, the giant ones were still good for playing dens. I admit to having an eye open for some at bargain prices.

Yesterday was quiet and restful: I stayed in watching the program about making dolls' house furniture and practising my crochet, then did the sleep in at work. DH has gone to visit his auntie for a few days.

It seems chilly! I've resisted putting the heating on and have a fleece over a sweatshirt over a long sleeved tee shirt.

I ruined a 400+ day participation streak on one of my language apps. Never mind, the learning hasn't suffered and this app isn't my main focus.

This morning I had a training course then was on shift this afternoon (my choice to do it this way round so I get a full day off later). My friend came in early for tonight's sleep in so I could go home early, for which I was grateful as I've said I'll work an extra shift at the partner service tomorrow. I hope that goes okay: there's one member of staff I don't find easy but if she's there I will just have to do my best with the situation. Then DH is home in the afternoon so I look forward to seeing him!

Nothing spent.

And my things to be thankful for: opportunities to earn a bit more (a colleague pointed out I may be able to claim the new fixed rate extra payment for extra weekend working even when, as yesterday, I only worked half an hour!). Finding a ready meal in the freezer which gave me a 'proper' dinner today and provided space for the discounted salmons I got on Saturday. Good news from DH's niece who is expecting her second baby close to DH's upcoming 'big birthday'.

Sun_Addict

I ruined my Duolingo Spanish streak when I went to Greece a couple of years ago and there was no WiFi in the room. Didn’t feel I could sit in reception learning Spanish in Greece 😆 Good news about DH’s niece 😀

Cherryfudge

That's a shame SA. I do see what you mean about not being seen learning Spanish in Greece! If it happens again, perhaps you could switch to the language of the country you're in just to keep the  streak going? You can always switch back later. I used to vary languages but I could only do the 'game' aspect in French otherwise I'd lose all my lives so the other attempted languages have fallen by the wayside.

Another chilly day - definitely layering up again! I did my extra shift at the other service and they allowed me out for about three quarters of an hour for my optician's appointment too, so I have my new glasses and I'm happy with them. DH is back from the visit to Auntie so he cooked tea, bless him. By that time I was feeling the effect of four lots of work, albeit light shifts, in 48 hours.

I'm not sure how much DH spent (potatoes, corned beef and fruit) but I nipped to the shops later to get a cake to take round to my friend's, and ended up buying yellow sticker fruits too.

I've cashed in £5.50 in supermarket vouchers to replace a piece of Denby that we've chipped, only to find it's out of stock but the vouchers last till the end of November so I must remember to check back.

Spending:
Housekeeping £4.75
Photos £2.67

To be thankful for tonight: a day off tomorrow, a good shift with someone I thought I didn't get on with (they may have thought the same about me!), my friend sorting out my crochet for me, DH safely home.

Cherryfudge

Happy first of June! There is a little bit of light far in the north at ten to eleven.

This morning was chilly and rainy but after lunch the sun got through and June arrived. I even changed into short sleeves so it must be serious. DH took the car to get new tyres so I spent some time pruning the holly hedge that he parks against and which had overgrown quite badly. It's not perfect as I've left the twigs that have berries forming, but it's a lot better than it was.

I've also been into town and treated myself to various pieces of makeup ready for J and L's wedding. I needed moisturiser as I've just finished one and am at the end of another (I know - two at once?) and my mascara needed to be replaced (both of them... yes, I didn't throw out the old one when I started another. ). I've also got a lipstick and a couple of eyeshadows. One of these was from a range that was being sold off for around £2 an item and is probably the best suited to my colouring of the things I bought. My determination to reduce the amount of toiletries and makeup I have has taken a bit of a knock. A few months ago I had something like 175 but that's gradually crept up to 181, minus 24 used up: three have just gone and seven have been bought. It's crazy that I have so much, though I did include things like little shampoos and soap from hotels and I had some duplicates that had been kept at Mum's.

I did manage to pay for one item using loyalty points so £5.99 saved (and not included in total below). Also 28 loyalty points and a BOGOF costing £5, which I thought was worth it even though it's another item to house till used.

This evening was a relaxed social meeting of my group from church and I walked there and back in honour of it being June and nice weather, and my needing exercise. I walked home a different way so I could see the garden of a house one of the group has just bought. It's a dream: beautifully planted with a big variety of cottage garden plants. Then I went home via the shop to get a few yellow-stickered items, and enjoyed the coral-coloured sky and a river of blackbird song as I went. June is currently my favourite month.

Spending:
Toiletries: £28.97
Housekeeping: £4.24 + ?£4.


Lots to be thankful for tonight: a beautiful evening, time with the person who has the lovely garden, some food bargains, being able to treat myself to makeup, the sound of the birds in the twilight.

Cherryfudge

Credit card paid up to date - I hope. I'd not really registered that these two bank holidays before the weekend could mean it takes longer to clear and I might end up paying interest on most of what I paid for my glasses. However, I've not received my reminder yet so perhaps that means there's enough time.

DH has had the day off today and we watched the Trooping of the Colour before going to work - me as usual and DH to do a shift at the voluntary place. I think that makes it an NSD for me, and the bank holiday means I will be paid time and a half. In fact it was going to be a quiet shift anyway, before one of the people didn't turn up and the other went to bed early, so a member of staff was able to go home ahead of time and the rest of us caught up on training and reading.

I think I've rather overbooked the next few days as I've said I'll help with a couple of things at church in the mornings, am on late shifts through till Monday and am doing the sleep in tomorrow night. DH and the lads are going to L's not-quite-a-stag-do tomorrow so I'll have to clear my stuff out of DS2's room so he can stay over. Good job tomorrow's job at church won't take long because both things need to be before work and there's still a pile of winter clothing for the loft.

Things I'm thankful for today: an uneventful shift, managing to rescue the plants people had planted at work and not watered in, white chocolate chip cookies and remembering to pay the CC.

Cherryfudge

I meant to get up in good time this morning but DH (rightly) decided I needed a lie-in so it was a half past nine start. I didn't get off to the most positive start either as I had a text from DD's future mum-in-law inviting us to a meal out the night before the wedding, and because of my work schedule, I can't go.

DH offered me a lift to water the church plants - some folk have donated beautiful bright tubs of flowers and some strawberries as part of the drive to be an eco church - and he thought to fill our watering can and bring it along in case the place was locked, which it was. The job is now done apart from one trough and tomorrow I'll be on the cleaning team so will have access to water for that.

I popped into shops on the way home to spend my nearly-expired L!dl vouchers (free pastry and half price smoothies with a long shelf life). I was still feeling miserable about the work/life balance (and tbh I think the loss of fitness since Covid has contributed to this) so I found a few items for the food bank and some cake sprinkles to donate to work as we'll be baking this weekend in honour of the Jubilee. I know there are people a lot worse off than I am.

Spending:
Housekeeping £8.46

Things to be thankful for today: DH doing housework and cooking, me seeing a hover fly on the church plants this morning - a sign we're headed in the right direction! - DH remembering to wash bedding for DS2's stay (I'd used that bed post-Covid when I snored ) and a ready-meal veggie lasagne to take to work tonight.

Cherryfudge

Two more shifts behind me. Yesterday I finally submitted April's and May's timesheets! April's won't be worth much as I was off quite a bit but May's is bigger. I also did the sleep in at work last night: all quiet.

DH and the lads went to L's pre-wedding meal and apparently it was excellent. DS2 stayed at ours after so I saw him briefly at lunchtime. He and his girlfriend have parted company, though it seems to have been amicable. We didn't know her very well and it had been a bit of an undefined relationship.

This morning DH gave me a lift down to church and we both helped out with the cleaning so I had an hour free before lunch and got as far as washing my hair and having a brief conversation with DS2 and some fish and chips. DH and I then had a flying visit to the car boot sale: I was delighted to find a real post-war ration book, as well as a WW2 booklet on the RAF (my Grandfather was in the RAF) (the two books together were 50p), an old-fashioned children's book (£1) and a large plant pot (50p). DDH spent £10 on a couple of paintings and £1 on a book.

Work was an odd mixture of juggling understaffing ad celebrating the Jubilee. Best bits were the Queen meeting Paddington Bear and me eating a very chocolatey cake.

Things to be thankful for: seeing something of DS2, time during work to watch much of the Jubilee concert, DH managing to fit the things I enjoy into a busy day.

Cherryfudge

We did 'church from home' today as DH was making curry: it's the first time A, H and baby N have been here all together for ages. the baby has grown and moved on in the week and a half since I last saw her: rolling and watching any eating movements closely! It won't be long till she tries eating something other than milk. I gave her a soft spoon to entertain her while we ate and she put it straight in her mouth. Upside down, but you can't have everything and upside down is quite logical as a good fit if there's not food involved. Mind you she does put everything in her mouth.

We had a bit of time to look at some photos of A and J as toddlers, and show the books and toy box I got for N, but I had to get to work.

The afternoon at work was all about the Jubilee so in addition to wall-to-wall TV coverage there was a table of party food and staff were allowed to join in. I'm far too full and most of it was very calorific! There was also a lot of hilarity when we discovered the blue icing (red white and blue cakes) turned teeth and tongues blue too!

The credit card payment has gone through but I really don't understand why the front page of the online statement says I owe nothing while the balance payable is just over £20.

Nothing spent.

Tonight I'm thankful for time with extended family, three days off about to start and the prospect of a day out with DH on Tuesday.

Cherryfudge

I woke up at gone 10.30 this morning! DH had left me a text to say he'd gone to the shops. I also saw he'd put DS2's bedding in the washer and rightly guessed I've been snoring again and have been demoted to the spare bed! Can't blame Covid any more so this time I think it's a bit of hay fever.

DH had a search for his glasses when he got home: he only really needs them for driving so they don't usually stay lost more than a  minute as he can see to find them. This time we couldn't see them so he revisited places he'd been in the morning and they'd been handed in at a shop.

I thought I'd check my work email, having sent several over the weekend and curious about possible replies. As it was I spent over an hour replying to replies. I use far too many words then have to edit to make it readable.

We've done a bit of shopping to prepare for a trip to London: a railcard and tickets. We're hoping we can use the railcard to give ourselves a few other trips when we have our days off at the same time. DH was all for waiting till he's sixty and can be 'senior' but I think it's worth getting a 'two together' so we can use it this summer.

DH was at his voluntary job this afternoon so once I'd extricated myself from the emails and a computer game, I went to the shops, which turned into a wander round town to find the best prices on a few groceries. I don't think I did too badly, with a some yellow stickers. I also saw a shop selling tomato plants for 5p each which was too good to miss as most of them were decent little plants just needing water and a larger pot. They are currently soaking outside the back door (no shortage of rainwater this year - last night was a deluge and today's on the cool side).

This evening I've finished crocheting the ball for DGD so I really should look at going back to one of my two shelved projects, perhaps the blanket for DGD as she will have outgrown it soon! We were sent a photo of her in her new high chair today: definitely not the tiny baby any more.

Spending:
Garden 20p
Housekeeping £4 (T3sco), £1.44 (M&S), £2.43 (!celand), ?? (Sainsbugs), £2.16 (greengrocer's).
Travel (holidays?) £30 + ?? (about £70, DH paid that part).

And this evening my things I'm thankful for are DH's glasses turning up safely, the raspberries ripening outside the window (so many I'm sure they're taking light from the house!), tomato plants, a nice passport photo of each of us for the railcard and not having to go to the expense and bother of finding a photo booth as we did in 'the old days'!