Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

I'm having a lot of problems using the forum right now so please bear with me. I don't know if it's the browser, the computer or something else.

Wannabe, every time I try to click on your thread, it tells me it's an invalid link, but I can't report the problem without a URL and I can't get the URL because it says it's not a valid link.

If I try to thank people, I get the message that I don't have the authority to edit that post. Now at first I thought I must have fat fingered something but being slow and deliberate makes no difference, though generally hitting the back button and trying again will let me in.

Oh, and I keep being sent to the page for newly subscribed threads, which is peopled by threads I've followed for ages - or sometimes just one that I've followed for ages.

I'm having intermittent problems with Faceb00k not loading my notifications or not letting me comment, but nothing like as complicated as here, and no other sites are proving problematical.

So sorry I'm not very chatty.

On the other hand, I saw the sun today! We had a few hours of sun and blue sky! It was wonderful. I know the weather forecasters are spreading doom and gloom about Britain going back into another cold spell but today was the only relief from cold greyness for a while up here - so that sun was beautiful. It transforms everything.

Spends:
Housekeeping £4.90 (and I noticed DH spent £5.17)
Book £1.75
MS stuff:
Free cake at work (though I think it's about time I took something in myself)
Leftovers-bake for tea so sort of cost me nothing
Voucher towards fruit
Wombled 5p off DH's receipt.
Spent quite a while searching shops for a fleece that I liked but didn't get anything.
Confession time:
Bought the book (which I'd just had recommended) when I saw it in a charity shop instead of checking the library.

Eager_Elephant

Cherry - its not you, its the forum - loads of people are having issues.

I think there are some comments in the Thread called Site Feedback or something. Not sure what MSE are doing to solve it though

Cherryfudge

Thank you EE, I'm glad it's not just me! I wasn't aware of that thread but I think I might have to look it up.

Terrible about the threads that are lost through accidental use of the spam button, isn't it?

Cherryfudge

Some more spending today, with a bit of a story attached because I can't resist telling a story.

I have a favourite fleece jumper which is looking a bit old now and I've been unable to find another at all like it. Yesterday I looked in most of the places that sell clothes and are within walking distance. This lead to buying a book and some other stuff, but no fleece. I decided it might be within my skill set to copy it but I didn't like the selection in the shop that sells fleece by the metre. I also noticed a couple of charity shops were selling off Christmassy stuff cheaply including some blankets that were new and seemed to be brought in specially to get the Christmas market. Long after I got home the light bulb lit up in my head and I realised the fabric in them was exactly what I needed for my fleece.

Today I went back to both the shops that were selling them at half price yesterday, only to find they were now down to a pound. Er... I bought four. That's because I haven't sewn anything for years so I have three in different colours and a spare to make mistakes on.

Well, the assistant was a good sales woman. I got some little candles in jars for 24p each (for the gifts box), three items of Christmas china (one for DD, probably two for me), and a Christmas recipe book. All great bargains but I'm not sure they were 'needs' as much as 'wants' At least the charities will benefit a bit.

And something amazing... (drum roll please) we nearly ran out of onions. That just never happens. Never. We have had a million onions like, forever. Since last summer anyway. Not always the same ones, but a million, undoubtedly. I couldn't cope with only having two left and made a special trip to buy another bag full... then I found a stray in the back of the cupboard when I got home. Result: the status quo is okay again.

Spends:
Housekeeping: £8.14
Piano lesson £10.00
Gifts: £1.10
Household: 50p
Clothing: £3.96
Book 50p
MS stuff:
Bargain fleece for learning to sew - and if I don't use it all, some may end up as gifts.
Early buy of stocking fillers.
Drink and biscuit at my friend's house
Used up another packet of sauce from the larder and will try not to replace it - gradually rationalising what's in there
Used up cauliflower cheese from freezer - see 'rationalising' above
Confession time:
The book is very nice but I really didn't need it and I don't have much space (which is why a lot of mine are downloads)
Christmas china - see ''book' above
I could probably have just bought one fleece blanket but they were a bargain
Misread the labelling on coffee and bought at full price (about £1.50 more than I'd usually pay)

Cherryfudge

Another sunny day and both DH and DS2 at home, so helpful for my mental health which is not quite right at the moment. I'm anxious and jittery in a low-key but noticeable way. I really think that running made all the difference (releasing endorphins) and I haven't done much this winter. None today as it was icy and I haven't the oomph to get myself out in the cold unless thoroughly wrapped up.

DH and I went out for coffee this afternoon which was pleasant and not vastly expensive. I've also sent off a parcel I'd been putting off for ages, and took back a bit of DIY stuff where I'd bought the wrong size. Shop was nice enough to refund even though I pointed out it had been opened.

The house is quite a mess and I'm finding it hard to know where to start. DH has been working hard on decorating but even one room will take a while (old house with attendant problems) and DD and her partner have asked if they can come to tea tomorrow. Much as I love them, I always feel I have to tidy madly as she struggles with mess and clutter. Once I've finished this post I will go and straighten up the kitchen as I'm out all tomorrow and will feel better if it's tidy (ish).

I did pack up a box of ornaments that I really want to keep but don't at present have a suitable display place. They are now in the loft and I can call them 'insulation'.

Talking of the kitchen (and vaguely MS), how come when I try to use things up, I have to buy more? I was planning to make curry tonight and the meat was defrosted, then DH requested a different sauce. We had to buy sauce, cream and tomatoes, only used half of each, used up one bag from the freezer and one packet of rice, still have the curry sauce I had planned to use, plus the halves of the three other things and an extra portion for the freezer - and decided this curry was too hot for us! So I've used up two things and brought in four more! I would make up the rest and add cooling ingredients but I don't have freezer space... :wall: Might just make it anyway and use fridge space pending freezer room.

Spends:
Housekeeping: £10.01
Household 25p
Entertainment (coffee) £4.75
Postage £13.32
MS stuff:
Wombled 16p
Let DH talk me out of getting a special box to collect our post in.
Used up a couple of stored foods
Confession time:
Still buying food faster than I'm using it.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I think that regular walking helps me to feel more relaxed and less anxious. Can you force yourself to run if you can wrap up? You'll soon warm up once you start running.

I wouldn't feel too bad about the charity shop buys as they sound amazing bargains

Cherryfudge

They were amazing bargains Hairy . I managed a run the other day but only because DH asked me to go with him. He's better at facing the cold than I am! At least I've found that I can run in the cold with a beanie and some gloves, thick socks and a few good stretches first. I'm just nesh really.

Progress made this evening in the form of a veritable vat of curry, now in the fridge, some out of date stuff into the bin instead of in a cupboard and some clutter gone from kitchen surfaces. I also had quite a happy chat with DS2 late on... we are both late night people, and making packed lunches for tomorrow is quite a companionable thing to do.

Last thing this evening I took the bin out - and it's snowing! The path was already slippery so I held on to the clothes' line as I went. Goodness knows what it will be like in the morning which is a bit worrying as my nearest and dearest will generally have a lot of driving tomorrow.

I didn't go back to the supermarket, so no further spending.

Night all x

NoOneAround

Morning Cherry,
Well done on your amazing bargains, now you just need to get busy making AM embarrassed to say I have cupboards full of bargains waiting to be "made":rotfl: but I am very sure you will actually do something with them:)
Sorry you have that difficult to pin down to anything anxiety, lets hope spring springs forth soon, it always helps me no end.
Have a lovely day
NOA
x

Cherryfudge

I got as far as looking at and stroking one of the fabrics today... mustn't overface myself.

DH kindly did the shopping so I haven't spent anything today and am feeling better about the house as the extra curry fed us, DD and her partner for tea and the cupboards still look better from a late-night purge.

MS stuff:
Curry.

That's about it for now.

Cherryfudge

Another NSD

Everywhere is iced over so no running today... or for a while really . The weather forecast is talking about ten degrees by the middle of the week, though, which must surely be balmy heights!
I'm at work this weekend then planning to go to work on Mum's place again midweek, so there may not be much to add here for a while.

Keep warm everyone.