What a Year.....Climbing Back on the Wagon

Starmummy

Well done on the run. I know what you mean about the pre and post run stuff almost doubling the distance. A couple of years ago i did the Nottingham half Marathon. Mr S did the full. show off! we stayed with my sister and decided to walk to the start line...that was fine-warmed up the legs. The problem was walking the 4k back to my sisters afterwards....all up hill
:rotfl:

70m is a great time. Well done.

joeyjimbles

Well done on the 10K - and I hope this week goes smoothly. DS1 has his last uni exam today and I can't wait, second hand stress is almost as bad as sitting them myself.

triple_choc_chip

Well done on the run MT and in a fab time too . Is it too soon to plan a half marathon? Or perhaps its best to wait until the memory of the pain subsides

MuffinTops

Well done on your run. I've been a lurker of your diary since the last one and thought it was time to say hello.


It's funny you mention that you feel like Mrs Overall as that's how I described Madonna's performance at Eurovision. She seemed hunched over and unsteady on her feet. Not the performer we all know her to be. The eye patch was apparently due to conjunctivitis. She didn't seem well to me but no reports of anything so maybe she's just lost her energy.


Anyway, it's nice to see you've resolved things with your OH and good luck on the new role you want.


MT

mumblingtaff

Thank you all for your lovely comments xx

This week has been mental .... I got a call late Monday afternoon inviting me for an interview on Wednesday. Mad panic getting ready and learning the stuff I needed to know on Monday and Tuesday evenings then turned up for the interview (with loads of other tasks too) on Wednesday.
Felt a bit unsure about the school but ploughed on and made the cut for the formal interviews (they send approx 3/4 of the candidates home after the tasks) and did the full process. Went home not sure about whether I really wanted it or not but my mind was made up for me when they rang to say I'd come a very close second. Strangely, I wasn't disappointed- felt a bit of relief if I'm honest.... Just wasn't for me.
Anyway, meantime in my current school a new head has been appointed for September and the current deputies are looking for new jobs. There may well be something coming up there in the mid term future. I like my school so that's no bad thing.

Job news over - the big news of the week - PUPPY HAS COME HOME!!!!!
I collected him on Friday afternoon and he's absolutely brilliant - I bloody love him. He's settled really quickly - sleeping right through the night with no crying (he's in a dog bed by the side of my bed), only one toilet accident so far (just after he came home for the first time) and now eating ok.
He's a real little baby - bonkers and really playful for an hour, then passes out for an hour....and repeat until bedtime!

We went to the vet yesterday for his vaccinations and he didn't even flinch - she was really pleased with him and said he was a happy healthy little pup and he's been invited to a puppy party every Tuesday evening until he can go out when his jabs are all done. Really looking forward to that. My idea of heaven - lots of little snugly pups to play with.
He loves playing in the garden and is interested in everything but then puts himself to bed when he's tired - he's a lovely little character, really loving and sweet but with a bit of life to him I'm smitten....

I'm home now for a week (half term) so my life will revolve around puppy things. Not that I'm complaining....
We're going to Pets at Home when he wakes up (I'll carry him so he'll be ok) to look at food and yet more toys. It's not far away and he's good in his booster seat thing in the car so it'll be a trip out for us. I've been taking him for walks in my arms so he can get used to the sights and sounds of cars, people etc and he's just really inquisitive not nervous.

I'll report back later and give an update on the money side of things - that's what I'm supposed to be here for !

Pink_Butterfly

Awwwww reading that has made me puppy broody!!! So glad he’s settling in well

Honeysucklelou2

At least you went for the job and could come away knowing it wasn't for you rather than always wondering "what if?".

Great news on the puppy's arrival. Enjoy - like children, they grow fast!! Have you come across Konks? Hope I've spelt that correctly. They are rubber, almost hollow, shaped toys that have a 10p coin sized hole at the top. They can be stuffed with treats / tit bits, the idea being that when the dog is alone in the house they spend a lot of time playing with the toy to get the treats out. I have found them quite useful with our dogs when the children and I are all out.

mumblingtaff

Hi Pink and honeysuckle - yes I've got him a puppy kong I'm saving it for when he has to be left. Don't ever want to leave him though....
We've been to the pet shop and bought some dog food - Royal Canin for puppies - £14 for a medium sized sack. It will take him weeks to get through it so it's good value and supposedly the best food. They also had bags of treats on offer at 6 bags for £3, half price really and will last him weeks too.
Puppy was quite the celebrity in the shop - he does look unbelievably cute though.

On the money front, I'm within the budget for the month so far and don't have any big plans for this week as I need to be home or have puppy with me most of the time. My parents and sister are coming next weekend to meet him (they'll be looking after him for me when I have to to Spain with school at the beginning of July.
I did a really big food shop at the end of last week because I wasn't sure when I'd be able to leave the pup and there's plenty in - will just have to pick up a few bits for the visitors later in the week.

I'd like to try to save the majority of the £200 contingency money I put aside for the month, if possible, to reswell the coffers a bit. It's been a really expensive year so far and so being a bit more economical won't hurt at all.
I've already paid for our week in Cornwall with the woofers and have a few hundred spending money put away but I'll probably need a bit more so that's an incentive for reigning things in a bit.

As I'm home this week and can't really go far I'm going to try to cook properly everyday and freeze a portion ready for next week - it will save money and time when I'm rushing home from work.
I'm thinking ......
Vegetable Fajitas
Quorn enchiladas
Cheese, tomato,onion and potato pies
Quorn spag Bol
Chickpea curry

There's also plenty of convenience things like quorn burgers and veggie sausages in the freezer that I need to work my way through. Will just need a few bits of veg as the week goes on.
I also bought lots of toiletries so I'm ok for a couple of weeks with that kind of thing too.
The car is over half full of petrol and so will only need topping up for the last work week before pay day.

I'd really like to start saving for decorating the hall and stairs (just paint etc, the carpet is like new). I have a quote from the decorator and need to be ready with cash once the dog has grown a little bit and won't wreck the new paintwork
Then it's a possible new kitchen - that's a long way off though.....

Right, providing it stays dry we're off for a stroll round the local streets (with me carrying him) to get some exercise and fresh air.

Buffythedebtslayer

I have epic puppy envy.

Bet you have a great half term

XX

mumblingtaff

Morning all from puppy world......

We've had our first bath this morning (not together!) - he really didn't know what to make of it and hated being cold and wet afterwards even though he was thoroughly towelled dry. He's recovered now though after a sleep wrapped in a fleecy blanket and is now back on form.

We've also done some cleaning and tidying and are waiting for OH to arrive with his new puppy (from the same litter). They had a play date on Saturday and loved it so hopefully it will tire them out again.

No big plans for the afternoon once they've gone. Might walk around to the local shop for a stroll out with puppy after he's had a sleep.
I watched The Virtues yesterday when he was snoozing - the new Stephen Graham series on C4 - it's excellent, would highly recommend it, can't wait for the next episode. Have also been watching No Offence on catch up - really liked the first two series and the third isn't disappointing so far. I have a lot of time on my hands and need to think of something I can do in the house without doing work for the next few days or so. I'm going to start leaving pup for a few minutes at a time soon to try to get him to understand that if I do go out I'm coming back. So far, we've managed going to the bins and upstairs successfully so it's time to step it up to 10-15 mins.

Any ideas about how to fill time are gratefully received
I love pup very much but he does sleep a lot between bursts of bonkers....l