the hedgehog's balloons.

the_cross_rabbit

The hubbster's course that he should of been running in the next couple of weeks has been cancelled due to covid restrictions. We are currently trying to move his week's holiday from the end of the Novemeber to the week his course would have run. This news has made my heart soar as I'm desperate for a break. DD2 pushed the boundaries this morning and it was the final straw. My dad ended up coming over (breaking lockdown restrictions) to support me and ended up speaking to DD2 regarding her behaviour after 20 minutes of her banging on the floor upstairs (floor is now dented in several places from her repeatedly hitting the wooden floor with a deodrant bottle). She was very sorry afterwards but I  explained that her comments were very hurtful and she needed to realise her actions have consequences. That, did she feel better for hurting my feelings and the look of shock on her face stopped her in her tracks and she burst into tears. Sorry folks probably too much info but things are stressful and the need to offload is massive.OMG I feel like an emotional vampire.
Ok lets focus on some positives erm lets see...... erm...... so...... ok started meal planning for next week to utilise the allotment, the cupboards and freezers. Looking for new reciepe ideas,oooo I'll look on fortunesmiles as she always has some yummy reciepes. Also thinking about banking savings we make when shopping and putting them into a seperate account, although not sure what we will use the money for at the moment. Started thinking about the C word but have rapidly discarded any thoughts of sorting anything yet. Been reading several blogs on been sustainable, frugal, eco-conscious and mortgage free to get more ideas on ways of saving money or living a better life. Some good ideas out there and a couple that i'm thinking of trying to develop further. 
The county my extended family live in is going into tier 3 this week, so mum is moving into tomorrow and into DD1 bedroom( we only saw her yesterday). This is a double edged sword as mum will be around to take some pressure off me with DD2 but means less us time.
The hubbster is at the hospital this evening for a chest x-ray and then is thinking of nipping over to see his brother in their garden before restrictions come into force. 
POSITIVES
1) Looking at ways to make or save money.
2) Using leftovers for lunch.
3) My friend's breast lump is benign.
Need a nana nap.
CRx

Fortune_Smiles

Vent away @the_cross_rabbit - it's your diary and it needs to work for you.  It sounds as though the stress of the current situation has built up and up for you all and it's come to a head today.  I hope tomorrow will be an easier day for everyone.

I get a lot of my recipes from BBCG00dF00d because it's so easy to search by ingredient.  T£sc0 Recipes are good too.  If you have something particular you want to use up, give me a shout as I've usually got a 'go to' I can recommend.

Good news about your friend.

Fortune x

the_cross_rabbit

Thanks fortunesmiles. Looks like my last post was eaten by the tech gremlins.
Just been subjected to DD2 singing which sounds like someone doing drunk karaoke backwards. Ushered her up stairs to get ready for horseriding (plus it will muffle the singing)as after today it will be closing for a month. We managed to get her squeezed in which is a big relief as its excellant physio especially as swimming hasn't been a possibility. Mum checking if her art class will still be running on fridays, fingers crossed.
So since I was last on, the possibility of a week away has disappeared so the hubbster has cancelled his week off and is going to book a couple of fridays off instead which we hopefully will use to get the allotment ready for 2021 . Took DD2 to see DD1 before lockdown as she is missing her alot and I'm not sure if this is what is contributing to the outbursts. When she got there she pretty much ignored her for the first half an hour, good job DD1 is used to her moods, anyway after a small chat that ended up with her been able to put a name to the emotions she was feeling (overwhelmed), she was chattering away. Took DD1 some games, goodies for a movie night, an old DVD player and bear bear to snuggle  Operation bear bear cleaning was done yesterday in secret, removed his rattled, safety pinned him together before he went for a ride in the washing machines and then been warming his bootie on the radaitor. Rattled inserted and looks ,well still looks very moth eaten but god he smells so much better. Sent DD1 pictures of his adventures this morning . Right best get ready to go. 
Enjoy the sun everyone.
CRx

Karmacat

Just catching up, CR - it sounds very stressful for you right now, I'd echo what FS said ... sounds really good that you can start to get DD2 to use her words to explore her feelings, not wound others, thats very productive.  And bear bear is unbelievably cute!

the_cross_rabbit

Bear bear is very cute but very threadbare Karma.
Fortunesmiles if you read this, thanks for the tip on the yoga dvd. Really enjoying yoga every morning and like the fact I can pick and choose which area I want to tackle each day. Feel alot more relaxed although still very achy in various places and will not be attempting any shoulder stands never mind head stands anytime soon. I did try mediatating the other day after somebody mentioned using a candle to focus on, went really well until my flame started giggling, then chortling with huge belly laughs and ended on hiccups. Well thats what was going off in my mind and I couldn't concentrate as I kept smiling at it, as it did its own thing. Lots of exercise done lately, we went for a long but very muddy bike ride yesterday and then came home and walked the dog. So no wonder I slept well last night although I was wide awake at 5am.
The allotment continues to keep on giving harvested brussels, cabbage,parsnips, butternut squash and pumpkin,lettuce, carrots and broccoli. The hubbster has finally taken out the fruit tree that had been warned last year and the year before if it didn't produce fruit it would be out(it was 10 years old and rarely produces). It didn't listen so its out and will be replaced with a greengage. It has given us some lovely wood for the fire (once its seasoned) and some that we might be able to make some coasters out of it as the grain is beautiful. My veg prep table is working really well and its great to come home with cleanish veg.
DD1 is really enjoying uni, we gave her the option to come home before lockdown, but as we suspected she wanted to stay. Her and her (house)friends have organised movie nights,borad games evenings,d and d sessions and the one that really threw me was a cheese and wine night...... like how old are they?????? She is really happy with her course and is in the labs today which she is really pleased about and is doing her favourite subject. She often tells me about various theories etc but all I hear is blah blah blah as I don't understand any of it. But I nod and smile and ask lots of really open ended questions about it, or repaeat the last thing she says to me. It took her years to realise that I actually don't know what she's on about.
DD2 is very excited about her new PA starting today, they have been chatting on the phone and texting each other so we have high hopes that they will develop a good relationship. Other than that DD2 is fine
So for the bad news, my dad's wife was diagnosed with cancer last week which we are all stunned about and strugglingwith especially due to covid restrictions.My sister has bubbled up with them to support them through this crisis. Not much to say on this.
MSE wise nothing especially as it seems very crass to talk about money when a loved one is so ill. 
Love and hugs to those who need it and to those that don't keep safe
CRx

Karmacat

So sorry to hear about the diagnosis, CR, its always a bad thing, but so many extra precautions needed right now.  Thinking of you.
But also loving the cheese and wine party (I think that's a thing, yes!) and the veg cleaning station, I'm glad that's going well.

greent

Sorry to hear about the diagnosis, CR xx

Cheese and wine parties may be making a comeback! My DD has just finished 4 years at Cardiff and they were a thing there and also my son in swansea says there is a cheese and wine society (not sure if it exists this year - but it did 2 academic years ago!)
X

Fortune_Smiles

Sorry to hear the news about your Dad's wife @the_cross_rabbit.  It's very hard at any time but especially so in the current situation.

I'm glad you're finding the yoga DVD useful.  I'm still doing mine - an hour or so three times a week.  It's helping enormously.

Take care

Fortune x

earthgirl2

Sorry to hear the diagnonsis. You are doing brilliantly!

the_cross_rabbit

Wow I took some finding, lots of new diaries, people reconnecting with their old diaries or just generally keeping us up to date with their MFW journies.Thanks karma, greent, fortune and earthgirl2, for your well wishes. She has had lots of tests/scans and whatnots done and the good news is the cancer has not spread to her organs so the plan is chemo and then surgery in a couple of months which gives her time to shed some pounds. Christmas is currently been postponed till April when we can all get together physically until then we are considering doing a online escape room with mcmillian together. My dad can not seem to get his head round that they both need to self isolate to prevent her picking anything up that could prevent her getting the treatment she needs. He insist that he can still go out on his bike as he doesn't meet anyone. Its like talking to a brick wall (where is the head hitting a wall emoji when you need it).  Anyway that's an arguement for another day. 
Facebook sales are slow or people just not turning up. Downloaded the Olio app and the TGTG app as well. I think I'm not glued to my phone enough as I keep missing stuff.
Hmmm what else has happened, yoga going well, shoulder and back pain has improved dramitically hopefully should be able to come off pain medication soon.
We collect DD1 from uni tomorrow as her tests have come back negative, she is hoping these are the only tests she fails at uni. Although apparently her and her friends came up with several more you would want to come back negative pregnancy,STD and there was another one but can't remember. How young minds work. The hubbster is super excited and can't wait for tomorrow I expect he won't sleep tonight,abit like christmas really. I've promised him he can have the first hug because I've been to see her twice. Although I'm not sure I can keep to the rules and it may become a rugby scrum. She sounded exhausted on the phone today as she has had assignments and presentations to do over the past couple of weeks. She says she's ready for coming home.
Everything else is ticking along nicely, not bought many presents as we doing our family donation and the rest I just can't be bothered with at the moment.
POSITVES
1) NHS
2) Not having to choose to between eating or heating. (food bank advent will be done once DD1 is home as she likes to come with me when we do this).
3) DD1 Covid test was negative.
Take care and wrap up warm everyone if you need to go out
CRx