Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

Thank you NOA. I am beginning to wonder whether learning to drive shouldn't be on my list for the New Year. I did have lessons for a while but other things got in the way.

I do feel better for having got the nursing home things out of the way, though now of course I have to find a way to reduce the pile of boxes of Mum's stuff that are cluttering up my house! There are some bits for my sister so I will probably ask DH to take them to Mum's house when he's in that area next month. There's a lot my sister has boxed up already there so the plan is to move them all the an out-of-the-way corner so I can work without falling over them.

Thinking aloud there, sorry!

I hope your day off has some time for 'you' and for relaxation NOA. It's so tempting to do all the catching up and not chill.

NoOneAround

Does having 3rd breakfast by 10.36 am qualify as time for me ...?:D:D
The only thing I have achieved so far is school run and then multitasking by catching up on work/school emails whilst overloading on food - it's really cold here!

Cherryfudge

NoOneAround wrote: »

Does having 3rd breakfast by 10.36 am qualify as time for me ...?:D:D

Ha ha perfect! It's been cold and grey here too and I've definitely found room for a few extra calories...

Cherryfudge

That's been just the day I needed - pyjamas till eleven, no makeup all day, plenty of computer time, then cleared part of the larder and spent most of the rest of the day cooking. Luverly.

It's been very Novemberish outside but improved this evening so DH and I blew the cobwebs away walking to the supermarket and spending a bit of money - mostly on basics as I ran us out of sugar and nearly out of oats.

Clearing a larder shelf naturally led to finding other things in the depths of the kitchen. I've thrown some bits out and put others in jars rather than tatty packets, so there is actually a bit more space. However, 'tidy' doesn't save as much space as shoving things in wherever there's room, so there are still a few things out on surfaces which need to find homes.

I found a tin of Thai Green Curry which DD had abandoned and had that for lunch. The best lunch in a very long time. I'm going to have to get that again.

I also made a batch of marmalade, thus condensing a tin of pre-prepared oranges and a big bag of sugar into the same amount of space as a carrier bag of empty jars. I was even organised enough to defrost some pastry and make a pie with leftover chicken and gammon, and a big pot of vegetable and lentil soup, which in turn has given me some fridge space. All mainly for the love of it but also money saving.

It's too miserable out of doors to send the guinea pig into the garden so he's been indoors giving a running commentary:

Cherry butters some toast - 'Week! Week!' (Translation: 'Where's mine?')
Cherry: 'Don't be silly. You're a guinea pig. Guinea pigs don't eat toast.'
Guinea: 'Chance'd be a fine thing.'

Cherry gets out milk. - 'Week! Week!' (Translation: 'Cucumber time!')
Cherry: 'Okay, I'll get you some.'

Cherry chops onion - 'Week! Week!' (Translation: 'I'm still waiting!')
Cherry: 'Oh sorry, I forgot.' (Fetches cucumber).

Cherry cleans the fridge - 'Week! Week!' (Translation: 'Foooood! Preferably peppers because I've already had cucumber today.')
Cherry: 'Oh, okay. How about some grass? Oh, it's wet and muddy out there. Have some bramble leaves that I can reach from the back door.'
Guinea: 'Not bad actually.'

Cherry makes pie - 'Week! Week!' (Translation: 'No onion for me thanks. Those sage leaves just hit the spot, though. Oh, and do you have peppers?')
Cherry: 'This fridge has a back, never knew that.'

Cherry gets out milk - 'Week! Week!' Translation: ' Heigh ho, human, about time for bed but I wouldn't mind some of whatever you're helping yourself to out of that there fridge.')
Cherry: 'It's for hot chocolate. Guinea pigs don't drink hot chocolate.'
(Guinea: 'Well there's gratitude! After all the help I've given you today!')

Etc. Etc.

In other news, the boiler people didn't turn up! That explains a note in his email yesterday saying he'll let me know next week how they are getting on, though originally he said quite clearly he'd be starting today. I've texted to ask when I can expect him to start.

Spends:
Gifts £2.99 + £25 (one of these was yesterday and I forgot).
Housekeeping: £13.69
MS stuff:
Soup
Chicken pie
Apple pies made with trimmings of pastry

parsniphead

Hmmmm. Time for you to have a lie down cherry.;)

That's a very greedy guinea pig and way to talkative.

Cherryfudge

parsniphead wrote: »

Hmmmm. Time for you to have a lie down cherry.;)

That's a very greedy guinea pig and way to talkative.

He says 'Greedy? Moi? You should have seen Cherry!'

Cherryfudge

Too late tonight to remember if I spent anything on 8th. 9th was an NSD. That reminds me, I never sorted out what got spent on holiday! Argh, I will have to do that soon as I need to reconcile the CC.

Plans for the Big Holiday next year are getting very real: even I am getting excited, but at the same time costs are mounting up. I can't believe we are looking at spending so much. I can see the travel company has got us some good deals and lovely locations, and I did add in one big factor of my own, but there's a reason these things are called 'once in a lifetime experiences'. They cost too much for the likes of us to repeat!

I gave some thought to timing. This is DH's dream trip and he wants to do it while we can, whereas it's not something I'd ever have planned for myself (though I think I will love at least some of it). I have probably mentioned here that my 'dream trip' is to get something done with the kitchen! However, when we get back from the trip, we will probably be thinking about paying for Christmas 2018 so there won't be the money to do the kitchen for a good while. I had been planning interim decoration of the kitchen, so now I've asked DH if he will help me and he's fine with that. Not new cupboards and white goods: just tidying up of wrecked d!cor and some more shelving. That will make all the difference.

Other than that, I have sat down and booked most of my remaining leave till the next financial year. This should give me better blocks of time in between work. I so enjoyed my day with the guinea pig, the computer and the kitchen the other day, and I want to have more time for me.

NoOneAround

Dear Dr DoLittle.....
Actually that doesn't work, there is no way you Do Little, but I am glad you have a holiday planned:rotfl:
Have a fun day

NOA
x

Cherryfudge

Another shopping-free day.

Thanks NOA, I expect I will go on and on about it now!

Spends:
None - pleased I still have £22 of this week's housekeeping though I plan to spend some tomorrow.
MS stuff:
Going to work is MS. I rarely spend from work.
Eating from cupboards and freezer.
Free greens for the guinea pig (he says 'But... everyone else got sausage casserole!')
All those things I think I 'need' seem to keep on not being desperately urgent when it's warmer in than out!
Gave my hair a trim. I don't know what that saves as I don't go to the hairdresser, but over the years it must be quite a bit.

Cherryfudge

DH had a look at our bank account this morning and had second thoughts about quite how much to spend on the holiday! That's a real answer to prayer as he hates looking at bank balances.

He's gone back to the company and they have suggested a different itinerary which would take a nice chunk off the costs. We're going to have a proper look at it tomorrow.