A whole new world, for now

Cherryfudge

I can see that day off doing you good  

We have the same staffing situation: they have staffed for a worst case scenario and thankfully we haven't needed it but work is too quiet! I am pretty sure that eventually there will be more people needing help and things will be busy again, but for our service this may not look as it used to. For yours, who knows? One of our managers is looking for donations from a garden centre so we can spruce the place up while we have staff spare - it cheers people up and looks hopeful. I know you've already done things for out of doors but is there anything in the way of longer-range planning or preparation that staff could be used for? Whether it's decorating or projecting the future direction of the charity, deep cleaning (or did you already do that?) or finding outreach projects that might benefit residents' mental health... I don't know really but I'm sure you will come up with things!

in_need_of_direction

the big limitation on our gardening project is that we don’t have a garden.  We have a rear yard, a small balcony and some small beds outside the building that I believe can be dealt with by remaining 2 m apart. Still, we are doing what we can within those limits.  

Yesterday dh pitched in and helped with a piece of client work that was defeating me.  It was neither complex nor difficult but I just could not get to grips with it.  It’s not entirely finished but I can now see a way forward.  

Yesterday we also had the money discussion.  Sometimes I’m such a muppet. So to get to my offset goal, I worked out that I need to save £80 a month and was in a bit of a tailspin as to how this could be done.  It took dh to point out that it was only an extra £20 as I currently save £60. However, I had also managed to forget about the need to pay our rates bill. Hopefully there will be a bit left from the current building work to go towards that otherwise the topped up emergency fund will be raided.
the gardening fund currently sits at roughly £200 as we both had pa cash outs in PayPal plus dh was able to lodge a cheque by phone. I will call the gardener today and see what his working arrangements are / will be.
yesterday I cleaned the kitchen and had an attempt at the living room. Amazingly the stuff I decluttered including a burnt incense cone and an empty match box. I can’t understand why only I can see these things! 

Right, need to get moving to go see another staff member returning to work today.
today I am grateful for 
hitting my sb target yesterday 
killing eve, it gives a focus to Sunday evenings
sausage sarnies for Sunday breakfast

beanielou

Hope that your day goes well 😊🌈

jwil

Glad you will be getting some jobs done.  I think your plans for a gardener and entertaining are fab.

I am also worried about not making changes as a result of this pandemic.  I don't want everything to go back to how it was before.

savingholmes

Glad you have found a way to get to your target. Hope works goes okay.

Cherryfudge

in_need_of_direction said:

Yesterday dh pitched in and helped with a piece of client work that was defeating me.  It was neither complex nor difficult but I just could not get to grips with it.  It’s not entirely finished but I can now see a way forward.  

Yesterday we also had the money discussion.  Sometimes I’m such a muppet. So to get to my offset goal, I worked out that I need to save £80 a month and was in a bit of a tailspin as to how this could be done.  It took dh to point out that it was only an extra £20 as I currently save £60. 

He has his uses. It's great that you are so close to your target.

I see what you mean about the limitations of your work garden, though I'm sure the small beds could be persuaded to provide a splash of colour. Is there any potential for vertical gardening? Even if it's just a  couple of trellises or pots attached to drainpipes. Or, if you have any unimaginative brick walls, especially facing windows, a coat of paint might cheer them up.

Has the return of staff been a help or a hinderance?

in_need_of_direction

the returning staff have been a mixed blessing.  This afternoon I’m having a meeting with the team leaders to tackle how to get the best out of where we are.  I’m also taking a day or maybe two half days off this week.  Good point about vertical gardening especially as I have trellises in the garage that I bought in Aldi but that weren’t suitable for what was needed.  Bamboo screening was used instead.

our builder didn’t appear yesterday but promised to be here today.  On other news, the gardener is coming today to look at what is needed and to price it.  That’ll be fun.  I probably won’t be here for that but have left dh a list.  The furry one will not be impressed by two different people invading her territory.  She will bark like a fury and then lavish them with attention.  Ideally what I want from a gardener is a regular scheduled visit rather than one off big jobs.  I want to be able to enjoy a garden even when I’m shattered.  I like taking a cuppa outside but not to survey all the jobs I’m not on top of.

right, have lots to do and need to get moving on it.
today I am grateful for 
a task nearing completion 
the possibility of another 4 items leaving the house (trellis)
fresh tiger bread

doingitanyway

I so agree about sitting in a garden and not being smacked in the face by all that needs doing. Good luck with the gardener.

beanielou

Fresh tiger bread ~~drool 

in_need_of_direction

I came home last night and cried.  I have no idea why. It was not a particularly difficult day I think I am just worn out.  DH pitched in with a piece of work and at one I called a halt.  There’s still a big bit outstanding.  This was due to someone having made a mistake and me not checking until the last minute. 

On other news, I spoke to ds yesterday.  He has managed to escape furlough by two thirds of his team, including him, taking leave. As of Monday, he is back at work albeit working from home.  I hope that this will teach him the need for an emergency fund but I fear not. 

Today I’m just feeling meeeh so will go. Also, the gardener was a no show
today I am grateful for 
contact from ds
help from dh
a dog who seems to be getting stronger.