Cherry takes the reins

Seasidegal58

The briquettes sound like a good idea. 👍

Cherryfudge

Seasidegal58 said:

The briquettes sound like a good idea. 👍

Thank you, I'm looking forward to trying them out!

Yesterday was one frantic rush but I think I fitted in all that I needed to. I started off by oversleeping which created the rush but was needed. Then there was a lamb joint to prepare and put in the slow cooker (the kitchen and my hands were very garlicky) before dashing off to do the cleaning. I made some sensible choices calling at the the shops on the way home: I was going to get a pasty for lunch but made a ham, cheese and salad sandwich instead. There wasn't time to eat before work but thankfully all was quiet so I could do that. I also treated myself to some watermelon to help bring up the fruit and veg intake and had plenty of fluids. I hope I'm benefitting: it feels as though I am. Too easy to eat rubbish but it subtly sabotages me.

Work was really quiet, so I enjoyed myself getting neglected jobs done: tidying the linen cupboard and cleaning out the goldfish! Very gratifying. I've also submitted October's timesheet and started December's so that side of things is up to date. I need to plan some leave dates as I'm behind with that.

Yesterday's spending:
Housekeeping: £9.08

Things to be thankful for: trip out with DD about to happen and sunshine after a week or so of grey skies. Fuel delivery imminent. Progress made at work without having to labour over a computer. Lots of steps yesterday, something over 19,000 I think, and not getting breathless so perhaps I just need to push through and get fit again.

Cherryfudge

DD and I had an excellent day, but I hadn't realised just how bad things had got with the trains, especially considering this isn't supposed to be the worst affected area and it's not a strike day. DD lives further up the line from us and was texting me while we waited at our respective stations, so I got a little extra insight into what was going on. Basically the explanation was that there is a higher than normal level of repairs needed. However, DD said the demand for the train we'd booked was so high that they couldn't get any more people on board (this wasn't relayed via my station). Difficulties getting as many people as possible in made a late train even later. (I think I can claim delay/repay). When it arrived at our station, I went the length of the train trying to find a single door where there was room for one more but in the end I had to admit defeat and wait for the next train along with most of the people on the platform. I felt especially sorry for a family with a child in a wheelchair who station staff went to help but who had to wait too.

When the next train arrived, I just managed to get a space inside one set of doors before there was an announcement to say the train had the maximum amount of coaches and couldn't take any more passengers.

Anyway we got there... details of the day can go in another post but when we went for our train back we actually had to queue for a while on the steps to the platform because so many people were waiting. We went for a train that was supposed to be something like twenty minutes later but in fact our 'official' train was so late that the next one wasn't long after. The good news was this one wasn't too crowded and my ticket, which wasn't valid for that service, was apparently allowable because services were so stretched.

Cherryfudge

The day itself was lovely: the city was very pretty with all the Christmas lights, though the centre was wriggle room only. (Madness to have attempted this, we think we could have our next Christmas shopping day in about June and get ahead of the crush).

I treated myself to a coffee on the station (£2.90 from a van, and perfect for waiting in beautiful sunshine on a chilly day). Once DD and I met up at our destination we had a wander and just enjoyed the sights for a while, then discovered an Oxfam shop which was predominantly books. We spent a long time there and came away with several: one each for ourselves and several for gifts as well as chocolate for L. After a further wander we went to a favourite cafe for lunch (almost no queue, which rarely happens) and a long chat. We had a very nice all-day breakfast (hers was veggie, mine was meat) then a coffee, and I managed to pay for both of us (sneaky Mum moment) while she bought cake to take home.  

We explored a lot of shops in the later afternoon but only got a few bits and pieces so as a Christmas shopping day, there wasn't a huge amount of actual shopping done. Where are toddler-sized dressing gowns when you want them? DD and I had a quick look at airfryers (one of this year's hot topics) and (also topical) she said they are really pleased with the dehumidifier they bought the other week. Expensive but it's helped them with the laundry-drying issue.

I saw a play tent for DGD, which was my biggest purchase (£20). She's not quite old enough for it yet but I will save it till she's more mobile. She's too little to have all her presents at once (birthday and Christmas are very close), then nothing for a year.

DH has also been Christmas shopping but couldn't get a nice art calendar for his uncle, so I bought that while out: the city shops have more choice than our local ones. And that's it for the day out: back at home this evening I saw that DH has finished plastering the wall he'd had to take back to the brick, and we tried out the briquettes for the logburner. A couple of the sawdust ones made a good blaze that has heated the room for several hours, though there was an alarming moment when the lights above the burner showed smoke going up. None of the detectors went off, and the chimney was swept so we're guessing the heat burnt off dust from the top!

Cherryfudge

Spending from the above:
Entertainment £2.90 (coffee) + £36 (meal out)
Gifts £20 (play tent) + £10.99 (calendar) + £11.97 (2 x books, 1 x chocolate from Oxfam) + £3.50 (small sundry gifts)
Housekeeping £1.40 (soft drink)
Book for me £5.99

Sun_Addict

The trains sound horrendous but glad you had a lovely day regardless. Everywhere is so busy at the moment, I bet the shops are loving it though. 

Cherryfudge

A very different day today: I didn't sleep too well then ended up oversleeping and didn't get to church. I watched online instead, and ate lunch in place of breakfast. In the afternoon I went to a memorial service with A and H, then to their house for the evening. We had a lovely time playing with the baby who is getting less shy with us.

DH watched some of the footie with A (but he never watches football!) and he's brought some of the Christmas things down from the loft.

Nothing spent, and I'm off to bed early to make up for lack of sleep.

Things I'm thankful for: time with A and family, meeting someone who used to pastor the church we attend, superb vegan brownies as made by A.

Cherryfudge

Showers and rainbows today, and it's cold out!

We had some of the lamb for our midday meal (the Moroccan lamb recipe works) and there's a little bit left either for a meal for DH or to add to a pie. The smaller joint is in the freezer.

I've spent 33p (chocolate for my locker at work) and hemmed a dress for DGD. Other than that, it's been work.

Having spoken to my manager recently to say I wouldn't be at an event because thinking about it was having a detrimental effect on my mental health, the more senior manager has now had a chat with me. I held my ground and explained the things that are bothering me, and I think she took it on board - at least she listened!

Spending:
Housekeeping: 33p 

Things I'm thankful for: being able to express (honestly and politely) what I felt, my friend buying me a cake, lots of sleep last night, day off tomorrow.

Sun_Addict

Well done on speaking up about the event. Despite there being no restrictions this year my work team are having yet another virtual Christmas party. I really don't want to go to it, it was awful last year, 2 tortuous hours of quizzes and games. I don't mind a quiz but I'm really not a games person. I've booked the day off so I don't have to go. I've noticed a couple of others have also booked the day off, wonder if it's for the same reason. I just wish the team leader had consulted people to see what they wanted, all the other teams are going out for a meal.

Cherryfudge

I remember your Christmas event of last year, SA! It does sound like an uphill struggle, no wonder you aren't keen. Perhaps you could suggest a meal 'outside of a work environment' in addition to the virtual party?

Our 'event' is a strange thing where we are told it's going to be fun but where in fact the agenda is to come down on some areas where the team needs work... as I'm not the 'guilty party', and the last such event was thoroughly miserable, I'm not subjecting myself to it. I noticed a number of other people can't be there either (night shift etc) and I've said I'm okay to do the training involved, so I'm not going to be too far behind.

Plans for today are so far unformulated: DH did most of the ironing yesterday so what's left won't take too long. There's a fair amount of housework to be done and prep for Christmas, then I'm going out with my friends tonight (bowling and a meal).