Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

milann

Thanks Hairy - I’m just interested in what other places do 👍

teafor2

Hi HHD Glad to read your BIL doesn't have Covid, your sister must be worried sick about him without having that to cope with as well. I know somebody who sent their baby to a nursery that did sign language. I'm not sure what the point of it was though, it wasn't a necessity, they just seemed to do it. I'm playing catch up with diaries again so I hope you're all keeping well and things are ticking over for you. xx

[Deleted User]

Good news that your BIL doesn't have Covid-19, HH.  That's one less thing for your sister to worry about.  Here's to the doctors being able to offer some treatment to BIL very soon so he can go home again.

Incidentally, HH, Makaton isn't particularly for deaf people.  Far from it, although I think you know that from your course. It's not the same as BSL.  Makaton is used extensively across all age groups and in all kinds of settings.  I've used it a lot over the years, mainly with adult stroke victims, and run workshops on it as part of my work.  Anyone who isn't familiar with it might find this useful (and the rest of the website too):

https://www.makaton.org/aboutMakaton/whoUsesMakaton/

HairyHandofDartmoor

teafor2 said:

Hi HHD Glad to read your BIL doesn't have Covid, your sister must be worried sick about him without having that to cope with as well. I know somebody who sent their baby to a nursery that did sign language. I'm not sure what the point of it was though, it wasn't a necessity, they just seemed to do it. I'm playing catch up with diaries again so I hope you're all keeping well and things are ticking over for you. xx

Thanks TF2 it is a big relief.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Delichon said:

Good news that your BIL doesn't have Covid-19, HH.  That's one less thing for your sister to worry about.  Here's to the doctors being able to offer some treatment to BIL very soon so he can go home again.

Incidentally, HH, Makaton isn't particularly for deaf people.  Far from it, although I think you know that from your course. It's not the same as BSL.  Makaton is used extensively across all age groups and in all kinds of settings.  I've used it a lot over the years, mainly with adult stroke victims, and run workshops on it as part of my work.  Anyone who isn't familiar with it might find this useful (and the rest of the website too):

https://www.makaton.org/aboutMakaton/whoUsesMakaton/

Thanks Delichon . I stand corrected. Speech and language difficulties was the first assignment I did back in September, so I'd forgotten that Makaton can be used by anyone who may need help to communicate. It shows that it would be useful for me to re-read my assignments from time to time.

HairyHandofDartmoor

BIL had a good sleep and seems fairly bright this morning. It probably helps that his pain is being managed.

It's a lovely sunny day here and feels warmer ☀️. I nipped to Mr M first thing to get milk, bread, bananas and a few other bits  🥛🍞🍌 🍎🍫. While I was there I picked up two more geraniums and some pansies 🌺🌸, so I definitely need a gardening session tomorrow. I keep seeing the same person from school there and it's nice to have a short chat with someone other than DH and the DSs.

After that I went for a walk in the park for 35 minutes. There are some lovely rhododendrons flowering as well as the blossom on trees so it was a lovely walk and quite easy to avoid people if I cut across the grass 🌳🌹🏵.

This afternoon I want to clean the toilet window and frame and do some more washing. Then I'll see how much energy I have after that.

I hop everyone has a good Friday 🙂. I can't believe it's May!

[Deleted User]

Good news about your BIL.  Sleep is a great healer.

Those rhododendrons seem early to flower but  you're in  a much kinder climate than us.  May is such a lovely month for blossom.  Well done on your shopping haul.  I haven't managed to get any bananas in my home deliveries ever since the lockdown.  They are even 'greyed out' on the website of both the supermarkets I use for deliveries.  It must be a bit like what wartime was like, not seeing  bananas for years LOL.  They had melons on the website and I ordered one as we love melon as a pudding but they'd run out and sent a net of 3 rock hard 'wonky' mangoes as a substitute.  As we're self-isolating the groceries are delivered bagged and left on the doorstep with no opportunity to hand any unsuitable subs back to the driver.  In normal circumstances I wouldn't have accepted them. I've had them over a fortnight and we ate the first one last night.  I can't say we're fans. The others look like they'll never be ripe enough to eat.

HairyHandofDartmoor

Delichon said:

Good news about your BIL.  Sleep is a great healer.

Those rhododendrons seem early to flower but  you're in  a much kinder climate than us.  May is such a lovely month for blossom.  Well done on your shopping haul.  I haven't managed to get any bananas in my home deliveries ever since the lockdown.  They are even 'greyed out' on the website of both the supermarkets I use for deliveries.  It must be a bit like what wartime was like, not seeing  bananas for years LOL.  They had melons on the website and I ordered one as we love melon as a pudding but they'd run out and sent a net of 3 rock hard 'wonky' mangoes as a substitute.  As we're self-isolating the groceries are delivered bagged and left on the doorstep with no opportunity to hand any unsuitable subs back to the driver.  In normal circumstances I wouldn't have accepted them. I've had them over a fortnight and we ate the first one last night.  I can't say we're fans. The others look like they'll never be ripe enough to eat.

Thanks Delichon 🙂. Yes our rhododendrons come out in April/early May here in Devon. We're lucky that we have an earlier spring and a later autumn than some regions due to our benefitting from the gulf stream. The purple azalea 🏵 in my garden is going over now but my red rhododendrom 🌺 is starting to flower. 

They had tons of bananas 🍌 in Mr M this morning. There must be a localised banana shortage near you Delichon; perhaps your neighbours are all banana lovers 🤣. Substitutions can be a bit hit and miss, but last time we ordered a small bottle Mr M basic fabric conditioner they substituted it with a large bottle of Comfort at no extra cost, so we were delighted 🙂. 

HairyHandofDartmoor

Today has been quite productive 😃.

In addition to the previously mentioned Mr M visit and park walk I've cleaned the toilet window and frame. It's one of those lovely old window frames with a grooved pattern but it doesn't half trap the dirt. However I used an old toothbrush and an old nail brush to reach the dirt. The window pane also has a sort of grooved daisy pattern set into the glass which traps dirt in the petals 😡, but the nail brush and toothbrush worked a treat and it's all sparkling clean now and letting in much more light 😃. 

Inspired by my window cleaning efforts, after a short rest I cleaned the toilet itself and pedestal, cleaned the skirting boards, cleaned the floor and wiped over the bin with antibac wipes. The whole room looks sparkling clean now 😃 (apart from the damp wall where the wallpaper has peeled off, but that needs money to fix which we don't have 😥).

I've also washed a load of clothes and they're drying in the garden on two clothes horses. It's sunny with a gentle breeze so they should dry nicely.

I'm having a well earned rest now. I hope everyone is enjoying the first day of May  🙂.

doingitanyway

Glad you had a productive day.
Enjoy your evening