Cherry takes the reins

badmemory

I found 6 carving knives & I have never ever bought even one.  Then there is the problem of how on earth you get rid of them.  I think they must breed.

Cherryfudge

LOL, that must be it, @badmemory. I found homes for some of the small knives but a new batch were lurking in the depths of utensil jars, along with an alum key, a tent peg (we've not had a tent in over a decade) and some squares of chocolate. All tidied up and put away but for the chocolate (binned in the interests of safety), one utensil jar that's cracked, and various pairs of tongs. What's the best way to store tongs, I wonder? We use different ones for different purposes (e.g. wooden ones for the toaster) but they invariably lose the bit that keeps them shut so they become too wide for most utensil jars.

Sadly, the usual thing has happened: I've cleaned and tidied and have more bits left over than I have homes for.

badmemory

Why is ot though we can find all this stuff that we don't need but I have just had to buy even more central heating bleeding keys.  I should have five now!!!!!!!!!!!

Cherryfudge

badmemory said:

Why is ot though we can find all this stuff that we don't need but I have just had to buy even more central heating bleeding keys.  I should have five now!!!!!!!!!!!

Some sort of obscure natural law, no doubt.

I offered some of the kitchen bits to my sister and to my surprise she said yes. Her surprise, too, by the sound of her reply, but at least they are rehomed.

Cherryfudge

Quite an unusual day and a positive one if you don't take finances into account!

I was up early so I could babysit as DGD isn't well. We had a very good day together, though the prescribed eye drops were not well received and resulted in a couple of screaming sessions. (Hers, not mine). However, she has a new word: 'yes' (pronounced 'ess'), complete with smile. We had some good conversations as she's using it correctly, and can't yet say 'no' or tackle a complex question, so the general feeling was that I was the granter of wishes.  

Both her parents and DH were working, so I was the main carer, with help from A on his breaks. We had to juggle things at one point as I had my phone call with the counsellor at the same time as he had a meeting, but he finished first and took DGD to have her nap.

The rainy morning turned to lovely sun so DGD and I had a couple of walks: on the first I popped to B&M for a couple of bits and on the second we bumped into the friends who've just had a baby (now five days old) and were on their first family walk. I also managed to fit in a phone call to a former colleague and learned that someone who used to be a client at our work has recently passed away. I've said I'll meet my friend for coffee sometime and have a proper catch up.

The time with the counsellor was upbeat: she affirmed all the things I came up with for my return to work, and we've agreed to have a week off next week while I wait to see if I have any unforeseen hurdles to cross. We actually finished early which felt right as there wasn't anything outstanding to discuss with her, and I've decided to go back to the mental health nurse for a couple of things that she isn't trained for. The counsellor thinks this is a good idea too, so that needs to be my project after the Easter weekend.

By the time I'd finished babysitting it was almost time for the call from my manager and I was walking through town with the wind blowing: not the best way to have a conversation. I suddenly remembered DH was on the church cleaning rota at just that time so I went in (and helped clean some windows) while I waited. In the end we finished there, went to the supermarket and had just cooked tea when L turned up to collect J's birthday present and card (they are away for her birthday this weekend) and had nearly finished by the time my call came through. The poor manager was tying up loose ends before going away for a break, hence delay. They are currently three staff down but coping (I know how that one feels: it's been the case so much!).

Then this evening I logged on to online banking and for the first time in years, we are overdrawn in our main current account. It's largely because of the summer holiday payments that I'd paid off my credit card, so I've transferred the money from the holiday account - but it won't reach the bank for another five days due to the Bank holiday weekend. What timing.

There's nothing more I can do about that apart from learn the lesson that even near the beginning of a month I need to double check before paying a large amount. At least we had the money: I just need to manage it more carefully. Meanwhile I'll put payments on my CC again rather than go further overdrawn, and we will just have to be careful the rest of the month.

Oh, and yet another piece of shrinkflation: the chorizo I usually buy is down from 250g to 225g.

Spending:
Gift £1.49
Household £8
Housekeeping £12.55

Things I'm thankful for: DGD saying 'ess' to me such a lot and so clearly . A good talk with the counsellor and a feeling I'm making progress. Being able to push the pram without getting short of breath again.

Cherryfudge

I made it to church this morning and met a former neighbour on the way home. He's in the same line of work as I am, so we put the world to rights for some time. We're both agreed the sector is overstretched every way you turn (one of my reasons for not looking elsewhere for work).

DH is making progress with the decorating so I've gone to ground on the computer and put through an order for a year's green bin collection (£43.50). It should go through in the next ten days. (I'm afraid it's on the CC as will be anything else I get over the next few days. I'm still within the agreed overdraft but this feels more controlled and normal service should be resumed once the bank transfer has gone through).

The other plan for the day is to get my summer clothes out of the loft and choose an outfit for a family meal tomorrow. It's a tradition on DH's side of the family and takes place elsewhere so we have a lift arranged with A and H rather than take two cars. J and L are in London for her birthday but hopefully DS2 and his girlfriend will be joining us.

Cherryfudge

I forgot to add that between the OD and practical use of supplies, I've taken tuna, hot chocolate and herb tea out of the emergency cupboard. There's still too much in there! I've learned that cheap cake is not a good option but cheap digestives are, because I like them. Baked beans aand cappuccinos are important (well, okay...) and if I'm to have a reserve of tins of fruit, I need to be rich and have access to a barn, as DH eats a lot of them. On the other hand, the reserves have been useful and saved after-work journeys a few times.

I'll also confess that when DH said he was going to buy more paint, I asked him to get hot cross buns and cappuccinos too.

Cherryfudge

A couple more items to declare: I found a dress on ebay that I think might work for a wedding we're going to in the summer so I've put that on on the CC (£28.69).

Also an e-book (99p), which will come straight out of the bank as that's how the payments are set up.

I'm glad I have the dress ordered. If it fits, it will save a lot of time and money trawling the shops for something I will probably never wear again. It's pretty, too.

I went up in the loft and fetched some summer things down, including a dress for tomorrow's lunch. Forget to find shoes to go with it... will have to sort that in the morning. Shoes are the worst part of dressing up as my arthritic feet don't allow pressure across my toes. I'm fine with strappy sandals or trainers, but not smart shoes or dressy boots. At least under a dining table they won't be on view!

Cherryfudge

We've had a really good day. A and H gave us a lift so no travel costs for five hours in the car, but I will think up a thank you gift for them. 

The family meal was quite a gathering of the clans: 15 of us. For DH and me, the first time we've met his younger great-nephew, aged five months, and for DS2's girlfriend, the first time she's met wider family. That worked really well as, having met her, the couple who are getting married this summer have invited her to their evening do. (This is going be a logistics exercise as we have already booked an apartment for an exact number, but DH is looking into this one).

We also heard of another wedding! This one is a bit of a formalisation as the couple have a legal agreement according to the country where they live but are changing it to an actual marriage at midsummer.

I'm pleased to say I found an outfit to wear and even boots to go with it, though I changed to scruffy trainers when we went for a walk after our meal. The weather was warm and sunny, so DS2's shorts and Hawaiian shirt were a good choice! It has given me the idea of going with the smart white trainers plus skirt look, which will give me a lot more freedom in nice weather, but will of course also involve expenditure.

Today's spending was the meal and a snack at the services on the way home as we didn't get back till gone 7.

Spending:
Entertainment (meal out) £45.75, (snack at services) £7.45.

Cherryfudge

Happy Easter! Where did yesterday's lovely weather go? It was much colder and grey most of the day...

I helped out with the little kids at church again: it was the church's 25th anniversary of being in this building, so there were lots of people and cake afterwards! We had Easter egg and hot cross buns at lunchtime, of course. In the afternoon we assembled our new lawnmower and tried it out. So far, so good. It's nice and light and doesn't take up too much of the shed, so I'm hoping it will encourage us to mow more often.

I got the remaining lamb joint out of the freezer and was supposed to be slow cooking it but somehow failed to turn the slow cooker on, not once but twice. I'm hoping it's not broken as it looked as if it was on. After I discovered the failure of my second attempt, there wasn't time to slow cook so it went in the oven with lots of veg and almost a whole bag of potatoes that needed to be used as they were sprouting so much. It's left us with lots of leftovers to use up.

This evening I've cleaned out the fridge and had a facetime with DD whose birthday it is today. She's having a weekend in London which seems to be being enjoyed a lot.

Nothing spent today, and it will be an early night. We're both tired. DH seems to be tired a lot: not sure what's going on there but tomorrow he's babysitting from early on so he'll be even more tired. For me, I've had a few later nights and yesterday was quite a long day.