Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

Very cold, sunny, blue skies today. We've been out and about with DGD though she mostly sleeps while in the pram.

Coffees this morning were paid for on a gift card and there was a freebie pastry because I'd had a birthday too, so no payment up front. (I confess the gift card was one I bought for someone else but didn't give: it's been in my bag getting older and it occurred to me it's better not wasted).

A small bit of shopping as we went through town - the big news seems to be one of the supermarkets closing much of the day when their tills went offline, but it didn't affect us too much. In the afternoon we went to a garden centre but all that was bought was a book for the baby.

Arriving home, the rest of my birthday present from DH (a craft book) had arrived - I'd forgotten I had something to come and if I get out and about tomorrow (partly depending on the weather) I'd like to get a few supplies as I've been finding sewing is relaxing. I've also realised I didn't include part of my present from J and L when I listed my gifts: they have sponsored/adopted a tree for me and suggested a family walk in the relevant woods in the summer.  

I went back on work emails a couple of times but haven't had an update on the meeting originally scheduled for yesterday. I've now suggested some dates. I decided to look up the person on the internal system as DS knows her through work and DH says he's met her in another setting. I was curious as to where she fits in and haven't found out much apart from recognising her manager's name - the son of my former piano teacher! Small town vibes going strong here!  

Spending:
Entertainment - pre-paid/free
Housekeeping - don't know: DH did this bit.
Toiletries £2.78
Gift £4.99

Things to be thankful for today: less anxiety around checking work emails. Brilliant sky, deep blue and the clouds were glowing white. Exercise and good company. Gorgeous colours of spring flowers at the garden centre. A asking how I'm doing. Remembering to fill the bird feeders ahead of forecast cold snap. More birthday cake!

Cherryfudge

It's proper cold out. The poor stall holders on the market... 

I got a few jobs done, starting with emailing work with an update and telling them I'm not likely to be back next week. The new rota has been sent out but I'm avoiding reading it for now. I've heard nothing more from the appointment I had to postpone via work, but I've made re-made the physio one and the face to face GP one so now all I have to do is remember them. I decided it was time for a bit of homework from the mental health nurse so I've also read some NHS pages she'd linked me to.

My parcel of work shirts arrived but it's too cold to enjoy trying them on. Then when I was walking through the market later I spotted some nice trousers and treated myself. Truth be told, I've discovered that if I don't have a belt, I don't have reflux! At least, very little. So drawstring trousers it is. These are pretty and if they fit, will be going on hols with me.

I was only supposed to be getting felt and embroidery thread for a craft project but I've also got the trousers and food. This evening there's a meeting at church which I will go to as I always feel better for it, but actually I feel like curling up in pyjamas! I will tell myself I'm in training for spring.

Spending:
Clothing £12.99
Hobbies (felt and embroidery thread) £9.40
Housekeeping £10.41
Book £1

Cherryfudge

I've had a couple of appointments: the physio is referring me to a podiatrist which I'm a bit disappointed about as I went years ago and was given insoles that didn't work for me. However, a different podiatrist may see the issue differently so I'll give them a  chance. This afternoon the counsellor and I had a chat which included starting to form a plan for what I need in place to get back to work. However, work is pretty chaotic at the moment (based on how it was when I left and knowing there are new rotas, new staff and a major review of an accreditation currently happening) so I want at last another couple of weeks away. I've not heard anything from occupational health so they plainly aren't expecting me yet, which is just as well: work stuff is still making me anxious.

That said, grey days on my own at home aren't a lot of fun either. Once the weather improves I will try to get some walking in, even if it means ibuprofen to limit the foot problems. Today I was going to tackle a little craft project but somehow spent the whole time avoiding solving a problem with enlarging a very simple pattern. I don't know how to enlarge on our copier so I was going to trace outside the lines but haven't any tracing paper. Eventually it occurred to me I could trace onto a freezer bag (it's a small pattern as well as simple) which will give me enough to transfer the shapes onto fabric. Talk about overthinking it.

I also helped out with about half an hour of babysitting - that was nice!

The weather has been bitterly cold out, with some miniscule snowflakes but mostly rainy. I've admired snow photos from much further south without having any myself. For anyone who's interested, the thaw after the bitter winter of 1963 started 60 years and five days ago. I bought a couple of books in charity shops and had a free doughnut courtesy of L1dl because I had a birthday last week. It was nice, too - Jaffa flavour. I think I've had four of the five a day (Jaffa doughnut not included).
Spending:
Books £3.50
Housekeeping £1.50

Cherryfudge

Snow day. Yet by the time I woke up, there was gorgeous sunshine and, by late morning, genuinely warm sun on my back (in contrast to the icy wind in my face).

I was quite late to the church to do the hoovering but there was a group in there so I didn't have to think about locking up and, without a shift to work this afternoon, I could stay till I'd done the job. Then I had a small amount of shopping to get before going home. The lady in the eco shop told me she hadn't been able to get in till nearly lunchtime as there was six inches of snow up in the Dales. The gritters do the main roads but if you live on a small side road or even if you have a steep drive, you can't get to the gritted areas. I saw on Facebook that a colleague hadn't been able to get to the early shift for just that reason.

My wellies went missing - after searching hall, car, spare room and under the stairs I gave up and found the boots I used to wear on icy days to get to work. Later it occurred to me that I'd taken the wellies on the weekend away recently. DS2 has confirmed they are still in his car but I probably won't need them for ages now. I checked for the first car boot of the season and, improbable as it seems, it looks to be happening tomorrow! I got cash out specially in case it really does happen .

My 'keep in touch' call from work didn't come through till almost six and I nearly didn't answer as it was so late. However it turned out for the best. My poor manager sounded exhausted: I gather there are three people off sick as well as one snowed in, so staffing had dominated the day. I've taken the counsellor's advice and looked at the projected new rota so gave some feedback. It doesn't look nearly as bad as it originally did: the late finishes and early starts have been pulled back to what they've been for a long time, which is a relief, and I have five day breaks twice every four weeks, which is wonderful, especially as they coincide with DH's days off! there are a few glitches but it looks as though the most serious ones can be addressed.

The downside is I was thinking about some other work stuff and I'm aware I still have quite a bit to work through before I can go back without it stressing me. I'm going to be sent the occupational health forms soon, and I have a list of things the counsellor and I decided to put forward to protect me if and when I go back. I'm saying 'if' because I'm not sure. The job itself is perfect for me but the setting is changing so much that I'm not sure how much I can take. DH's advice is to get back in and give it a try because I can always leave after that if I want to.

Spending:
Housekeeping: £14.32

in_need_of_direction

Sounds like good advice from DH

Sun_Addict

They are constantly changing things where I work. I’ve just learned to go with the flow. Definitely good advice from DH to at least give it a go. 

Cherryfudge

in_need_of_direction said:

Sounds like good advice from DH

Sun_Addict said:

They are constantly changing things where I work. I’ve just learned to go with the flow. Definitely good advice from DH to at least give it a go. 

Thank you both. This is generally the way I'm headed though sometimes, like yesterday, it all seems too much. I can see a lot of improvements in the way things have changed but the pace is terrific and some of it is difficult. A couple of proposed rota changes have been revoked so there won't be 10pm finishes followed by 7am starts - hard for people living at a distance in particular. A very welcome change on my rota is five days off at a time twice a month, with odd days elsewhere too!

I had difficulty getting to sleep last night and went back to bed this afternoon, so I'm fairly wakeful now! However I was up and about this morning as we'd planned to go to the first car boot of the season. Then I thought to check social media and it was called off due to the weather. I expect the field is under snow. We had a trip to some charity shops instead and I found a couple of books and a little ornament that has gone in my dolls' house. Lunch was chip shop chips and supermarket fish (saves several pounds on chippie fish), and I've had a look through the prints of the photos I sent off for the other day.

This evening we watched Crufts (DH isn't a natural Crufts fan but I used to watch it with Mum and he's gradually got drawn in). Lovely to see the wire haired fox terrier winning: my Grandparents had a series of them long ago so I always feel they are somehow part of my heritage though I've never had a dog!

Spending:
Housekeeping (chips) £2.80
DH bought some prints from a photo to send to Auntie - no idea how much.
Book £2.50
Gift £2
Hobby 50p

Honeysucklelou2

Catching up on diaries…happy belated birthday 🎂🎈🥳.  

Glad that your new rota has those 5 day breaks in it. 

Cherryfudge

Thank you @Honeysucklelou2, it was a nice birthday though a bit odd with the remnants of Covid! I think I liked it quiet though.

And yes, the five-day breaks are looking good!

So... a bad night's sleep the other night has been accounted for - somehow I'd switched the coffee jars round! That will teach me to look before I have a late night cuppa.  

Yesterday afternoon DH and I made the most of the milder weather and walked round to my friend's house to deliver her (belated) birthday card. We met her on the way so our walk turned into a dog walk and some time at hers.

This morning DH has been sorting bits and pieces for our holiday and I rang the doctor for another sick note. This time I think I get a month's worth! Of course I can go back earlier if I feel ready, but it saves me having to go for another in two weeks' time. I'm relieved as I seem to have quite a few appointments but don't feel I'm making clear progress or that I'll know when's the 'right' time to return. At the moment discussion of work things is a stressor so I'm probably not ready.

DH is out this afternoon so I decided to stop slobbing about and I've got the washing machine on despite showery weather. I've done some more craft and had a text conversation with a colleague who's also off sick (following an operation in her case). I've said I'll go and have a coffee with her some time this week - as long as I don't get too embroiled in my solutions to all work's problems, it will be nice.

Plans for the rest of the afternoon: I don't really know. I'll do things and report back.

Yesterday's spending:
Gift £1.50

Cherryfudge

It's been so mild today the heating didn't go go till after tea, but it's also quite wet. I did get out as far as the garden where I discovered a fence panel has collapsed. It's the responsibility of next door's landlord, and I'd really rather the fence was allowed to disintegrate as most of it is now covered by a hedge which the neighbour and I are encouraging. So many wild birds love it and probably insects, too. Little mammals have sometimes used it as a safe place, and there are plenty of flowers and berries in there. I like it much more than a fence, and doesn't cost to keep up!

My craft project is complete. I now have more felt and more embroidery thread. The threads have lived in a jar since 1988 (that's the sell-by date on the top) and today they outgrew it. There's also far more felt than I remember having. Oh dear. There are also so many oddments of yarn. I know I sorted through them all last year but I'd forgotten just what's there... The good news is the remnants of a sheet of red felt are more than enough for a small visible mend on a kitchen towel (I love my visible mends! This one is a ladybird, partly inspired by @thriftwizard 's beautiful bees.)

Other than that - DH called out a repairman as the TV was playing up but it was just a cable not tightened correctly so it was easily fixed. £20. I've sorted through a large drawer and got rid of some paper so now I just have to decided what to put back and what to throw out. That's the worst part of it! The stuff that hasn't gone back or into recycling/the bin is in a pile on the floor waiting for me to find inspiration.

I've not been to the shops but DH got some groceries. We had left-over roast from yesterday for tea. Other than that, spending has been the TV repair, so quite a frugal day.