Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

I had a lovely time today looking after DGD while her mum had her hair done. I took her for a walk to get her to sleep: it was really bitter out but she was well wrapped up. Her Mum's hair looks lovely but she told me how much it had cost - hair is so expensive! Mine needs a bit of gloss before Christmas but I'm so glad I'm happy to do it all myself!

They offered me a lift home but I decided to walk, and went via some shops local to them where I found a few more Christmas presents. I'm pleased about that but once again wore myself out a bit.

DS2 has been in touch - he's seen a flat that looks perfect for him and wants to put in an offer, but will need to borrow a bit from me. It's been a possibility for some time but it's hard to work out how best to go about it... negotiations are in progress.

Spending:
Gifts: 31.40
Phone data £3
Household 1.80

MS things... very little. apart from DH using some of Sunday's chicken in pasta for tea tonight.

Things I'm thankful for: time with the baby, and her not being so worried if parents aren't in sight. 

Cherryfudge

We had a long phone call this morning with DS2, sorting out the money towards his house. He contacted us later to say his low offers have been turned down but he's now offered near the asking price and the vendor is sleeping on it. I had a nice chat with him DS2 evening actually, and he has got me back into my favourite computer game which I'd been locked out of.

DH had an audiology appointment in the big town so we went in early and I had a very successful Christmas shopping trip, mostly from £1 shops, though I notice a great deal of the merchandise is now more than £1. There's also a place selling end of line stationery and books, and I found one for each of the boys that was perfect for them - and when I got to the till, one had a further discount so I paid £3 instead of £20. Ironically, the cheapest item had the security tag left on so the door alarm went off. The staff paid absolutely no notice so I went back in and got them to remove it - I knew I'd paid but I didn't want it setting alarms off elsewhere!

I've also ordered the gift for my family Secret Santa - the quickest piece of shopping ever and I'm relieved to have it done. I confess I'm probably spending a bit more on stocking fillers as I'm only buying two grown-up people and a baby a 'proper' present. On the car journey I all-but finished the crocheted present for DGD, though the finishing will take some time. We went for diesel, which is still nearly 1.90, and the garage hadn't any... we have enough for immediate needs but I hope they have a refill soon. Then DH bought groceries - I don't know how much - and we went home for tea. The house was 14 degrees when we got in.

I fell asleep on the sofa after the meal. Last night's staying up while I ran the dishwasher wasn't a good idea. In future it goes on the quicker, hotter wash if it's run after midnight. I'm going to fill the washing machine, though, so Dh can set it off before work tomorrow.

The Christmas tree is now decorated, though the lounge is still strewn with boxes. We've gone for red and gold from our huge cache of decorations.

I've just been asked to cover a sleep in at work at the end of the week: I'd picked up the Saturday, which would have been a day off, to help out a colleague who is affected by the rail strikes, so I'm the logical person to cover it though I had been looking forward to time off! At least I'll get the Sunday off, and an extra weekend rate payment.

Spending:
Household £8 (includes Christmas window stickers)
Housekeeping ?
Medical £3
Parking £1.80
Gifts £34.99 + £28.99 (Need to check that one online)

Things I'm thankful for tonight: a successful shopping trip, progress on the crochet, DH suggesting he starts the laundry on cheap rate electricity!

Cherryfudge

DS2 has had his offer on the flat accepted! Excellent news! Of course that's not the same as actually owning it but it's a good start.

I went out for coffee with my friend this morning (£6.10) which is a nice touch of normality in the midst of all things Christmassy. Much as I love Christmas, I feel I've given myself a few too many things to do. This afternoon I was going to make marmalade, cranberry sauce, peppermint creams and a tray bake. Written down I can see what my subconscious was trying to tell me: that's too much. So I'm going out to buy an alternative to the tray bake to take to my church group Christmas 'do' this evening. DH is going out for a work meal then on to his church group 'do' and he's very sensibly already bought crisps.

It's bitterly cold out today: the water barrel is frozen, the poor birds are getting quite bold and still searching for food in the twilight. Not just the blackbirds but smaller birds too. I put a little saucer of water out but I don't think they've found it, and I suspect some of the food I put out for them has frozen solid too. I did throw out an apple and a pear that were deteriorating, in the hope they will eat those. They've nearly gone through the damaged apples I put on the grass a while back.

The new window stickers are up, which was fun. I got them in a pound shop: there are some jolly coloured ones for the window near the main door, but the glass door at the back has snowy pine trees and a snowy church scene at the bottom and a snowflake corner at the top.

Cherryfudge

In other news, I had a phone appointment about possibly increasing my omeprazole. I spoke to a doctor I'd not met before who is obviously into lifestyle changes where indicated. As I'd much rather adapt my lifestyle than take more medication, I listened eagerly! I already knew about chocolate and caffeine as exacerbating factors in reflux, but apparently carbs are too. His advice is to reduce bread and similar and replace some of it with vegetables.

Then see how it's going in six weeks' time.

CRANKY40

Omeprazole didn't work well for me. It did what it was supposed to do but it also made me very hungry. I was swapped to lansoprazole which works much better for me so if your lifestyle changes don't work maybe it's time to ask the doctor about other options. Good luck!

badmemory

So nice to have a doctor who gets it.  I do think that more of them are now thinking about how to do things without meds.  I didn't realise about chocolate but certainly caffiene even in tea & as for bread!!!   I certainly don't find that home made bread is a bad as bought & bought wholemeal is not as bad as bought white.  For some reason I also need to avoid lettuce, no idea why, it could be psychological as my stomach started playing up after over 6 months of eating salad every day.

Sun_Addict

Mr SA is on omeprazole and eats loads of bread. I’ve advised him to cut down but it falls on deaf ears. 

badmemory

Sun_Addict said:

Mr SA is on omeprazole and eats loads of bread. I’ve advised him to cut down but it falls on deaf ears. 

Oh I am so shocked that it falls on deaf ears - not.  Have you read the side effects, they are not good especially for long term use.  I don't know why they gave up cimetidene, now that actually worked which frankly I can't say about omeprazole.

Cherryfudge

Thanks for all the comments on Omeprazole - I now need to do the research the doctor recommended (I thought I had, but obviously not enough as the thing about carbs had passed me by. I will have to give up late night bread and biscuits which I'd been having to stop me being hungry when I get up, and also because I thought it might decrease the reflux.)

He also mentioned gently that it might help to loose a few pounds... he's right!

Talking of pounds, I spent some: I went looking for more bird food but W!lkos seems to be completely out of the fat balls I usually get. I bought loose seed instead. Then I got Christmassy food for this evening's meeting (and brought a lot of it home as we had loads) and, full of good resolutions about healthy eating, had a look in !celand's reductions where I often find good value fruit and veg. I got broccoli and an enormous cauliflower for £1.13. When I say 'enormous', it weighed in at 4lbs 10.9oz!

There was a spare hour so I got the marmalade made: half a dozen jars, one of which will probably go to Auntie and the rest of which will last DH about a month.

The evening with the church group was lovely: I am feeling slightly virtuous for resisting garlic bread in the interests of reducing both carbs and general calories, but I think I rather countered that with two slices of stollen. I must put it away in the tin where I can't see it.

I'll dig out the receipts and add them tomorrow.

Lots to be thankful for: hope for a flat for DS2, time with my friend, a helpful doctor, a sunny day, seeing a friend who's been out of circulation caring for her mum.

greenbee

Just delurking to say that I’ve found time-restricted eating helps with reflux. I try to ensure I don’t eat (particularly carbs) too close to bedtime. This podcast misfit be helpful https://joinzoe.com/learn/heartburn-causes-and-what-to-do