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

joeyjimbles

Happy new puppy.

So off the top of my head, sorting through your drawers and wardrobe - especially with summer and holidays in the offing
sorting your paperwork, checking EHIC, passports etc
surveys
taking up a new hobby - crafting or something

mumblingtaff

Thanks Joey!
I do have a few drawers to sort through and the work based wardrobe. Good idea...

Had a very exhausting play date yesterday (for the dogs) and went for a walk after he'd had a sleep. Did a bit of pottering in the evening, had a yummy tea of quorn ultimate burger and salad and we were both sound asleep by 10.30. Slept through until 5, then into the garden for a wee and poo then back to bed until 7. He's a really good sleeper bless him!

Have cleaned the kitchen, put the bins out, had a play in the garden and changed the bed. The washing machine is a source of fascination for the mini woofer - it's like he's watching telly!
Today's plan is to go for a stroll around the park to get him used to the sights and sounds (being carried), go for a short run to get some exercise and test leaving the pup for no more than 30 mins (will make me run faster to get back at least!) and do some cooking and a spot of ironing.
We'll probably pop over to see OH and puppy at some point too.

Need to start off with a shower though - not a good look at the moment....

mumblingtaff

Busy day yesterday - went to the park for a stroll, did some training with various degrees of success and went to see puppy's brother at OHs. He was worn out by the evening and slept like a log all night.

Been to a different park this morning for a look around and he's tired again now.
The dog walker is coming round late this afternoon to meet him properly before she goes on holiday and we need to do a bit of cleaning later but I think it's a quiet morning to recover from his new experiences.

Honeysucklelou2

It's lovely that your puppy has opportunity to meet up with his brother regularly. Lots of socialisation for them both. How long is it before your puppy can go for a proper walk?

mumblingtaff

Hi honeysuckle - he has another 2 weeks before he can go for proper walks - last injections are a week on Saturday and then it's a week after that - he can then officially make his public debut
He's out and about with me a lot though but just with me carrying him. He loves seeing new things and is genuinely inquisitive about everything we see and do. He does play out a lot in the garden so has plenty of exercise and fresh air.
Big puppy news - he learned to sit yesterday ! Clever puppy he can still do it today so it wasn't a fluke.
The dog walker came round last night for an hour - she's lovely (lives round the corner from me and knew my old dog well) and is really excited about adding a puppy to her pack. She'll walk the two pups alone to start with, then slowly introduce them to one of the packs she walks when they're a bit bigger and can keep up (bless!!!) OH brought his pup round too so they tired each other out.

So this morning, I've had a bit of a tidy round and checked the banking and finances - 2 weeks to payday .....
I need to submit my claim for lunchtime duties today - it makes about £100 difference to my take home salary by isn't paid automatically. I couldn't do it last month as the system was being upgraded so next month I should have double - will come in handy. I think I'll put it towards holiday spending money - should have plenty then with what's already in the virtual holiday pot. The cottage is already paid for so its just spending money and petrol to get us there but OH will spilt that with me.

I've also been for my first proper run this morning since I did the 10k - the week following the big run was bonkers with the interview etc and then pup came home on the Friday and I couldn't leave him for more than a few mins until he was confident that I was coming back. He's getting more independent now so I hoped for the best and went and it was fine. He was fast asleep when I came back and I did one of my fastest 5k times ever to get back to him!! A good incentive to keep going in pouring rain.... It's amazing how much better a bit of exercise makes you feel. I've felt a bit sluggish and fat for the last week or so (provably due to being marooned in the house) and just feel a bit more positive today now.

So, the rest of the day will revolve around sprucing myself up a bit - need to have a good soak in the bath, defuzz, sort out my nails and hair and do a face scrub and mask and maybe a bit of self tanning moisturiser. I bought the Dove one as it had good reviews and supposedly looks quite natural so I'll test drive it on my legs that can be covered if it all goes a bit wrong
I'll also do a couple of loads of washing and get some work clothes ready for next week as I have visitors all weekend. I think a little sort out of the work wardrobe will pass an hour or so - the weather is horrible today and so there won't be much playing in the garden going on.
I'm also going to make the filling for fajitas and portion it up, and a chickpea curry ready for the freezer.
The spare rooms need a clean and tidy too, ready for the family.
So, a domesticated day ahead ......

mumblingtaff

Managed to get all the jobs done except the cooking - took the mini woofer to the park for a nosey around and popped into the tesco express on the way home and they had a reduced Camembert and reduced crusty bread so I succumbed and had that for tea instead. Yummy but not in the plan- never mind, £2 well spent
Have cleaned right through and done the washing, bit of dog training and sorted my work claim (took ages on the new platform, not progress!!) and done a bit of preening, even though I'm scruffy and make up free the basics of defuzz, self tan, nails, face scrub etc have been done.

I've just cleaned the kitchen, sorted the bins and tidied up (again, it's amazing how much mess a tiny furry can make).
Settling down now to watch a bit of catch up telly. Strangely, it's been a bit of a busy day.....

mumblingtaff

Morning all.....
Had a mad hour with the mini woofer - he's always full of beans after a full nights sleep. He does 8 hours at a time without any toilet needs so I think I'm very lucky in that respect. He's pretty much toilet trained now - will ask to go out and will wee on demand

So, today - my friend is coming over this morning to meet the pup and will stay for an hour or two before she has to go to an appointment . OH is bringing his pup round too so they can play together.
I need to do a quick tidy, put the dry washing away, give the wooden floors a quick wipe over and pop to the shop for some biscuits for the visitors. I'd also like to do a quick run whilst the dog is tired out.

OH has offered to cook tea so we'll go over a bit later on for a couple of hours.
Other than that I have no big plans - might nip to the supermarket this afternoon for a few bits for my family visiting for the weekend.
This week has gone so quickly!

Caught up on The Virtues last night - only one episode left now and I can't work out what's going to happen yet.
Also started watching What If on Netflix - Renee Zellweger stars in it. It's basically a rehash of Indecent Proposal but with roles reversed. Very American trashy telly but completely watchable. I'd recommend Workin' Moms on Netflix - funny and easy to watch with a lot of issues I'm sure mothers everywhere would identify with.

Just finished an audiobook too - The Rumour by Lesley Kara. Very good and not too long. Will need to investigate the next one....

Right, better get started on the day properly....

mumblingtaff

Morning again. Puppy had his first sleep over with me at OHs last night.
Went fairly well - he slept all night but his brother was up during the night for toileting. He did settle back for a few hours though.
I was wide awake by 6am so we came home to let the others sleep a bit more.

My family are coming to visit today for a few days and will probably arrive by lunchtime . The house is clean and tidy but I need to pop to the supermarket for some supplies this morning.
I don't need much, just some basics, and so would hope to spend less than £20.
Not sure what we're doing, probably not too much apart from puppy play - OH will bring his round for them to meet at some point this afternoon too.
If it stays dry I'll cut the front lawn this morning but the promised heatwave looks doubtful. It's very cloudy and quite cold so far. The car also needs a quick clean inside, won't take long,
If I can summon the energy I'd like to do a quick run too.
Need to book a hair appointment for next weekend - will have to work around the vet appointment for the next set of jabs.

mumblingtaff

I am officially shattered...
Family went home this morning after I'd gone to work so at least the house is nice and quiet again now. Just me and pup tonight. The two pups stayed together at my house today with my neighbour playing with them for an hour or two in the garden - he's kindly doing it every day this week until the dog walker starts after the final jabs are done. I'll pay him what I'd pay the dog walker (OH will pay half) so if I ever need to ask a favour again it won't be awkward.

Work was mental - feels like I haven't had any time off and I've only been back one day! Was very glad to come home ....
Since being back I've played with the dogs to wear them out, hoovered, tidied and dusted right through and cleaned the wooden floors (parents make more mess than dogs!), sorted the recycling and bins ready for collection, cleaned the kitchen, cooked tea and done a load of washing.

Have also checked the banking, no surprises but I need to be frugal between now and pay day at the end of next week. Used up some bits from the fridge and freezer for tea before they marched themselves to the bin - was actually very tasty (quorn lattice thing and cauliflower cheese) and saved the fresher things for another day.

Need to get clothes ready for the morning and make a packed lunch but other than that it's a bit of telly then bed. Will sleep tonight!

mumblingtaff

What a week!
Work is super busy - I literally haven't stopped - no lunch, no break, no respite at all.... Will be very happy to see 3pm tomorrow ....
The pup is doing really well - my neighbours are being really good at letting him out a couple of times a day before the dog walker starts.
He has his vaccinations on Saturday and will be able to make his public debut not long after.

Been fairly frugal this week and don't have any big plans for the weekend so will hopefully get to pay day in tact.

Have done a few jobs since being home - cleaning, tidying and cut the grass before the rain forecast tomorrow. This week has been a series of early nights and very early mornings - just can't sleep past 4.30-5am, meaning that by 9.30pm I'm shattered.
It won't be a late one tonight....