Cherry takes the reins

WelshmansDaughter

Oh dear re boiler. I can see myself doing something similar.
I'm enjoying the tulips being out here too, having a nosy in people's gardens 

Cherryfudge

Boiler people are booked to come on Friday next.

I've managed to keep out of the shops, though I went into town for an appointment with the mental health nurse. She was really helpful, including picking up on a passing mention of possible autism and giving me a questionnaire about my responses which we'll follow up in our next meeting. Trauma counselling is not going to be quite so easy to come by, so I've contacted my work's system which I'm already tapping into. If they can't help, I will probably end up on the community mental health waiting list. There are other resources online that I'm going to look at too, but i need to pick my times for those.

So - a useful meeting, then I came home to wait for the delivery of DH's new prescription. This is a trial of something he's not used before, and it wasn't till a fat parcel arrived that I found it had to be stored in the fridge. Well, I'm glad I'd just cleaned and cleared it, as there's not much spare room now!

Then dinner was the curry I'd originally planned yesterday, which was okay but would have been better if I'd used fresh not frozen cauliflower. Nice to try it, though, and the freezer is very slightly less full. I also took a friend's recommendation and chopped and froze the rest of the pack of chillies to save waste. We only use them once in a blue moon. 

One small MS thing from yesterday: I gave myself a haircut. Took about two minutes, but I've yet to check I've got it straight.  

Cherryfudge

DH has corrected my haircut. Don't know how I managed to miss a bit!

We drove over to J's for her (delayed) birthday breakfast this morning, and a good time was had by all. Unfortunately DS2 had something else planned before this invitation arrived, but the rest of the gang turned up, DGD entertaining as ever as she toddled around and ate croissants with both hands. Her latest thing is to nod as she says 'yes', but she's still not learned 'no'. I like it this way. The dog was fun as well, eating her way through birthday wrapping paper, though thankfully J got the gift out first. Then DGD got hold of my diary and filled in my appointments - so there's a week in May which looks rather full, and has apparently been attacked by a jumping spider with biro feet.

After this we decided to explore the local charity shops and almost straightaway I found some books for DGD (£1 for 4) and some trekking sandals for me (£3). The shoes weren't planned but they should help through the summer and enable me to do more walking without compressing the sore bits of my feet.

We got fish and chips from J and L's local shop (they do small portions which is good as I need to get into the dress I've bought for a July wedding) then had a further mooch around, coming home with a new jacket for DH for a fraction of the usual retail price - turns out the company donates surplus stock to a charity and there was a lot there.

By the middle of the afternoon I was tired enough to doze off in the car but this evening I got my act together and had a walk out to collect my prescription. While I was there I saw the little olive trees being sold by T3sco are nearly all gone so after a hurried texted conversation I got 2 for L, who has wanted some for ages. We drop them off tomorrow (a big birthday meal for DD) and he'll send me the money. It was really nice after the last few (cold, damp) days to be walking in a spring evening, too. I'm relieved he weather is set to get warmer now.

Spending:
Housekeeping £6.69
Gifts £1
Hobbies 50p
Clothing £12 (DH), £3 (me)
Medical £2.57
Toiletries £2.68
For L (to be repaid) £24.00

P.S. I saw a cookery book that is in a series with a couple I already have - and I resisted it! What's more I don't regret it. How's that for progress?  

Cherryfudge

It's a Sunny Sunday today.

We are going to eat out - DD's birthday meal at the place where they got married. We've paid our deposit and DH is about to ring up and pay the balance in advance. That's a new one on me but saves all that faffing about who owes what, apart from drinks which we'll get at the bar.

I lay awake this morning wondering about why I always stay up late the night before I have something to go out to. I think it's to do with not really wanting to go, even if it's something I'll enjoy once I'm there. That could be an autism thing, as it refers to change or moving out of an environment where I've got comfortable. By staying up late, I'm putting as much as possible between me and the event. The difficulty is that of course I'm then more tired, so the event is a little less enjoyable and facing the change is a little more difficult. It also doesn't seems to have lessened once I could see the mechanism, which is a bit frustrating...

Answers on a postcard, please (said she, showing her age).

Today I will wear pink trousers and a summer top, I think, which reduces the 'what shoes to wear with a dress' debate.

WelshmansDaughter

Gives an excuse for feeling awkward in social situations? 

CRANKY40

I think it is an autism thing. If I have something to go to I spend hours the night before (when I should be sleeping) going over every permutation possible of any conversation that I might have with people who will be there and also dredging up any good reason why I should cancel it and not go at all. One of my friends is also auty and instead of arranging meals out and then cancelling we go to the supermarket, buy some microwave ready meals and sit and watch tv in her house while we catch up with each others news. So less stressful. 

Sun_Addict

You are always lucky with your charity shop finds. My local charity shops seem to be full of old peoples cast offs or extremely high heeled shoes, although they’re usually good for books. 

Your DGD is coming on. Make the most of these early years, my DGD is 9 in July and already at the sulky diva stage. 

Cherryfudge

WelshmansDaughter said:

Gives an excuse for feeling awkward in social situations? 

Well, yes .

CRANKY40 said:

I think it is an autism thing. If I have something to go to I spend hours the night before (when I should be sleeping) going over every permutation possible of any conversation that I might have with people who will be there and also dredging up any good reason why I should cancel it and not go at all. One of my friends is also auty and instead of arranging meals out and then cancelling we go to the supermarket, buy some microwave ready meals and sit and watch tv in her house while we catch up with each others news. So less stressful. 

Thanks for this Cranky40, it's helpful to know I'm not the only one awake at stupid o'clock because of the interface between society and the way my brain is wired. I love the solution you and your friend have come up with. Much better than masking, and I bet you put the world to rights.  

Sun_Addict said:

You are always lucky with your charity shop finds. My local charity shops seem to be full of old peoples cast offs or extremely high heeled shoes, although they’re usually good for books. 

Your DGD is coming on. Make the most of these early years, my DGD is 9 in July and already at the sulky diva stage. 

I do see plenty of past-their-best clothes and unwearable shoes too! In fact, I'm rarely tempted by clothes in charity shops (possibly because the people on the Shop charity in '23 thread got there first) but just sometimes there is something that's just right for me.

Cherryfudge

So much for the pink trousers and a summer top: I realised that outfit probably wouldn't be warm enough. I settled for black trousers and a top with longer sleeves, dolled up with a necklace and a bit of an effort with the makeup. I think that pitched it about right and also meant I could move around easily and not have to worry about it going wrong. I also had a moment of clarity and heaped up an armful of clothes as possible donations. I will probably keep some but it's time to try to reduce my wardrobe again.

Of course, the afternoon was really enjoyable, though I seated myself next to DGD so I could focus on her some of the time. I also guessed that DS2's girlfriend loves babies so I introduced them, which looked like me socialising. The setting is really unusual too, so that and the food give plenty to talk about. DD looked gorgeous and seems to have had a lovely day, so the main objective was achieved.

Dh offered a drive out to a local beauty spot once people had gone home but I chose to go home for a rest, and slept soundly for a couple of hours. I suppose that means another late night tonight but I feel better for it.

Spending:
Entertainment £34 plus the deposit (already paid) and drinks.
E-book 99p
The olive trees are now from the gift budget: I asked L if he'd like them as an advance birthday present which he was happy with, and saves him having to try to make a birthday list later in the year.

Cherryfudge

The late night didn't materialise: I had a good night's sleep and woke up at a civilised hour! That's encouraging.

It's been sunny and nice today: I'm enjoying all our white blossom. I looked after DGD in the morning as her mum had to go in to work, then walked back via the supermarket and spent most of the afternoon cooking. It's a recipe from a supermarket magazine which I thought looked interesting and it was nice though not absolutely wow. I think there was a problem because the crispy garlic topping is mis-written as one of the ingredients to cook for several hours in the slow cooker version, and I expect it adds a bit of a kick if it's kept crispy. Anyway, there are a couple of portions left for another day, and a big bag of cooked chickpeas in the freezer. I did try to contact the supermarket to tell them the recipe is misleading, but I don't seem to be able to do it without giving my details away to the public or liking a site that I don't want to like.

I'm feeling a bit bad for cancelling a coffee with my friends but I couldn't not babysit.

The pollen count is high, so I've started antihistamines but amazingly am not falling asleep with them. The blue sky and warmer weather is great, but the fields are going bright yellow and it will be like this for a while: DH is wheezy and I itch!

I noticed the washing soda, which was £1 for ages then crept up by about 25% is now £2! Eek. I use it to save wear and tear on the washer and reduce the need for laundry liquid/powder, so I'm reluctant to give it up. Our favourite pasta sauce has also climbed steeply. I generally seem to spend £15-20 every time I go to the shops now. At least it's not daily.

I'm also making a little progress through the staples that haunt the larder waiting for that moment I was sure would come, when I need exactly that quantity, have given myself enough time to cook it and we like the recipe so much I then have to go and buy an entire new supply... There's an ancient tub of custard that's made me a few banana and custard lunches recently (pure indulgence), the mini roast potatoes I made are now gone, the crushed chillies must have been thrown out because when I wanted them they weren't there, and the garlic is finally down to two cloves. Some cereal, crackers and tins have been circulated out of the emergency store cupboard and into circulation, and some spice levels are going down at a respectable rate. However, I've just found two containers of lemon juice (just having bought four lemons and used half a one), so I still have a problem.

Spending
Garden: £8.50 (Eek! That was the GW magazine with free seeds and the reduced price entry for gardens. I thought it was about £7).
Housekeeping: £11.05