Diary no 3 - Still MumblingTaff's Ramblings.....

Tiggger

mumblingtaff wrote: »

I've got the weekend to myself so I'm just considering what to do and I'm thinking of driving over to North Wales to take the dog to the beach and have a potter around for a bit of a change of scene today. It's about a 75 min drive so not too far.

Think I'll just get the dog round the block for toilet duties and then shower and set off - have just talked myself into it!

Could you combine this with a quick stop in Cheshire Oaks for suit shopping for work? Win-win then! 😃

mumblingtaff

Tiggger wrote: »

Could you combine this with a quick stop in Cheshire Oaks for suit shopping for work? Win-win then! 😃

Just back (it's nearly 3pm) - got there at 10.30 and spent an hour and a bit on the beach with the dog then had a wander through the dunes and ended up in a lovely cafe at lunchtime and had a sandwich and drink and a sausage for the dog. Followed this with another wander round and then set off back at 1.30ish - the dog was really tired by then (he is 13!) and needed a rest. Had a really nice time, the weather was beautiful and it was good to clear the mind in the fresh air, it's a lovely place, might look into staying there for a few nights in the future for a chilled out outdoors type break.

Tiggger - I did consider Cheshire Oaks as I drove past but it was too warm to leave the dog in the car. Good idea though, might go back in the week.

Not sure what the rest of the day will bring, probably pottering about and maybe an hour in the garden if the sun stays out for longer than 10 mins at a time - the joys of living in Manchester

mumblingtaff

Well the sun did stay out for a while so I spent an hour or two in the garden listening to an audio book (a Jo Nesbo downloaded on a free Audible trial, will cancel in a couple of weeks before the subscription kicks in).
Then had a bath and tea (leftover bean chilli from yesterday) and walked the dog again listening to the book, he's revived after a snooze in the garden. Managed to pick a small batch of blackberries whilst out - will do something with them tomorrow .
All in all a pretty relaxing day with lots of time spent out in the fresh air - good for the soul

Going to watch something on recorded telly and have an earlyish night as I have things to do tomorrow and I didn't sleep that well last night.
A nice peaceful day.....without the currently moody OH

mumblingtaff

Morning ! Had a fairly good sleep but was awake early so I'm up thinking about what to do today. It's just 8 days until I go back to work so I need to make the most of them.
The forecast for today was good but it's very cloudy and overcast at the moment and doesn't look too promising.

I need to cut the grass in the back garden when it dries out a bit and start sorting out the old shed ready for dismantling but that will be weather dependent. Other than that, I'll do a couple of hours of school work if I can connect to the server in school - they're upgrading it and it's anybody's guess when it works and when it doesn't.
I'll also try to do one or two little jobs off the household list - maybe tidying the study or tidying out the wardrobe. The kitchen cupboards could do with a wipe out too.

But before all of that I need to walk the dog and perhaps go for a run, it's weigh in day tomorrow - fingers crossed for any loss - I have tried.......

mumblingtaff

A reminder....

Change study light switch
Change living room light fittings
Fix strimmer
Change kitchen light bulbs - done
Paint downstairs loo
Investigate new shed - done
Paint hall
Clean skirtings in hall and kitchen - done
Fix en suite toilet flush
Tidy out wardrobe
Get quote for bedroom decoration
Clean out kitchen cupboards - done
Declutter office/study - done
Reseal shower
Take stuff to the tip - done
Get quote for front door lock change - done

mumblingtaff

Dog walked in the park, popped to the shop on the way back for dog food and diet coke (don't need to do a big shop until the end of the week) and then went for a run. Felt better today, think I found a good pace, not fast but one that felt comfortable and let me run further.
Forgot to mention in the week that my smear test results came back and it's all clear so that's one more thing out of the way for a couple of years.

Going to declutter the study next whilst the grass dries out. In a doing things mood

mumblingtaff

Sorted the study - lots of recycling and rubbish. Found a brand new mascara - good because my current one is on its last legs and I was going to buy one this week. Also chucked a few bits from my bedroom and found some smellies and toiletries that need using up, some nice things that I've been saving for best, daft isn't it that you put things away and never use them? Will try to use them over the next few weeks to minimise spending - there's half used bottles of shampoo and conditioner in the bathrooms and loads of body lotions that I never use that are part of gift sets that can be used on legs and arms. I hate moisturiser on my torso, it makes me feel hot and sweaty.
Going to cut the grass next and then maybe start clearing out the long skinny part of the wardrobe, I'm sure there's things in there that haven't seen the light of day for years, whilst there are new dresses hanging on the back of the bedroom door. Feel a charity shop bag coming on.

mumblingtaff

Spent a couple of hours in the sunshine in the garden - nice and relaxing and then walked the dog again, had plenty of exercise and fresh air today, will hopefully sleep well tonight.
Then had quorn spaghetti bol from the freezer for tea and threw myself into tidying out the long skinny wardrobe - ended up with two bags for the charity shop ( including my wedding shoes, veil and tiara thingy - been divorced for years!!!) and two bags of old shoes that nobody would want for the bin ( haven't seen some of them for about 5 years.....).
Found some nice tshirt tops that I'd forgotten I have that will be perfect for this time of year with jeans. Will do a quick wash tomorrow to freshen them up.
Just the big part of the wardrobe to go now but that's a bit of a challenge - it's rammed full of stuff, I really need to be more minimalist and a bit more brutal when assessing whether I'll ever wear it again. Maybe I'll tackle it later it later in the week.

Going to watch the JK Rowling thing at 9pm and have an early night. It's fat club tomorrow morning at 10am so need to be up and sorted fairly early.

mumblingtaff

Slept fairly well but was wide awake at 6am so got up and pottered around for an hour then decided to clear out the old shed ready for the chap next door to dismantle it (that won't take long it's totally rotten) and take it to the tip along with the unwanted associated rubbish that's been in it for years. Have saved a few bits like the lawnmower and some gardening tools but otherwise the whole lot is going. Have been putting it off for ages as its full of spiders, snails and slugs but it only took about half an hour.
Then took the dog for a walk for 30 mins and checked the banking, payday on Thursday thankfully.

I'm off to the big weigh in at fat club at 10am - will be really disappointed if I haven't lost anything as I have really tried food wise and have done 3 runs this week. Will report back later with the results.

Need to shower and make myself look presentable in a minute - they wouldn't let me in the door at the moment - I'm less than glamorous in dirty tracksuit bottoms and trainers....

mumblingtaff

Oh my god!!! I've lost 8.5lbs!!!!!

I thought I'd lost some of the bloat but didn't think it was that much!
I am well chuffed! It's given me the motivation to carry on. Also saw one of the boys I used to teach last year there, he was very big so it's good to see him trying to be healthier, good for him! Can't be easy as a teenage lad.

Tried to buy new light bulbs (spotlights) for the kitchen but they don't sell them in Wickes or B&M - will try Wilkos when I'm in town getting my hair cut later in the week. There's only 1 out of 4 working now, the third blew last night -at least if I can't see in the kitchen I can't eat

The sun has disappeared and it's actually quite grey and cold now so I'm not sure what to do for the rest of the day. I don't think that the work server is working so that rules out doing school work (a colleague texted and said they couldn't access it) - I'll check to see but am half hoping that it's broken

I could go mad and finish tidying out the wardrobe (the big part, it won't be fun) or clean out the kitchen cupboards or start painting the downstairs loo - none of which are overly appealing but need doing.
Will have a little sit down and ponder it.......