Keeping on the Straight and Narrow...

DancingInTheRain

Hope everything settles down enough for you & DH to have a celebration 🤞
Up at this early hour due to DH snoring incredibly loudly, I'm wide awake 🙁 but I'll forgive him as I've just managed to secure a click and collect slot with A$da for Thursday. There's been nothing available since before lockdown started so we've been using up cupboard & freezer supplies then getting deliveries for us, my Mum & M-I-L from our local fruit & veg shop and butchers then getting bread & milk from the local T3sco express but I could do with a slightly more substantial stock up now and hate the thought of going in to the shop - I went in our local L1dl on Thursday for a few basics and hardly anyone observed the 2metre rule, it made me feel really anxious 🙁 

beanielou

Good news on the delivery slot. 

DancingInTheRain

Annual leave for me and DH today. Ironically I've taken the opportunity to do some work 🤣
I've spent a good 4 hours interrupted this morning (I'll get them back later in the week) and created a clear plan of attack for completing my work around DH's work hours (he's a full time key worker). I can now spread some of my work across evenings and weekends as long as my mobile stays on during office hours & I attend any important online meetings (even if I remain on mute 😊) feeling better about managing everything and have my boss's agreement. It'll help to stop the feeling that I'm neglecting the kids while working while ensuring I've got dedicated time to complete my work in a timely manner. Kudos to anyone who is managing full time working from home and childcare, it's so difficult juggling everything!
I've also had confirmation today that I've passed the 2nd unit of my qualification so that's another frog swallowed, on to the third unit now.
This afternoon we went for our walk, managed to avoid seeing anyone and then had a picnic in the garden. Both boys looking tired so hoping they'll settle a little earlier tonight as have had a couple of later nights over the weekend.
Hope everyone else is well x

savingholmes

Congrats on completing another unit. Must be a relief to finally have a system in place to balance work and childcare. Good to have time with the kids too.

DancingInTheRain

Good evening, it's been a while!
Life's been super busy, time has just been flying. Unfortunately the plans laid out in my last post regarding working from home didn't really materialise as DH's job is so changeable in order to meet the needs of frontline key workers (he's part of the support team for our local police force), he's been working crazy hours both at home and in local police stations so basically my job has to fit in around this and the demands of our boys and supporting both our Mums who are over 70 and, thankfully taking government advice seriously and staying at home, so life is one big juggling act at the moment.
Thankfully those we knew who had Co-Vid symptoms are recovering and, so far, we're blessed that no-one we know has succumbed to the disease.
Basically our days are following the pattern of get up, get dressed, breakfast, neglect the boys while we work/neglect work while we look after the boys     , fresh air either in the garden or out for a walk, kids bedtime routine, evening meal, catch up with Mums, bed and repeat (with the exception of once a week doing the grocery shop for the 3 households and 1 small top up shop over the weekend), we seem to be getting through a ridiculous amount of bread/milk and I still haven't quite adjusted the weekly shop to reflect the fact we're all home all the time.
As with many others, grocery spends are up this month (and I daren't add up our recent alcohol spends  ) but outgoings for everything else are pretty much non-existent - did buy DS1 some vests and t-shirts while in Mr A's this week as he's had a growth spurt and nothing fit him anymore, was very noticeable so decided to get him a few bits.
Have sent a couple of small payments to the CC to tidy our bank account but we're now moving into the 'save as much as we can' stage of Co-Vid as it's looking inevitable that I'll be furloughed by the end of the month - me and my teammates have powered through our outstanding backlog of work and once we complete this there's nothing else we can do until we can return to our office and be customer facing again. The work we've put in recently will generate sufficient income to safeguard our jobs, so although it's been a challenge, it has been for our benefit as well as our employers. 
To be honest furlough will be a relief as I feel constantly torn in 2 trying to balance everything. I will only receive 80% of my wage but that will be manageable with the reduced outgoings and DH's job is secure.
I haven't commented much on other diaries but have been checking in and silently cheering everyone on, lots of love and best wishes to everyone in these strange times. Stay safe xx

beanielou

You stay safe too. Xx

savingholmes

I did wonder where you had got to. Glad you are all okay and trust you stay that way. It does sound like you are juggling a lot. As you say - it may be slightly easier once you're furloughed.

DancingInTheRain

Yes it definitely feels that way @savingholmes but in the meantime I'll just have to make the best of a strange situation and keep my fingers crossed for furlough, even though it's not very MSE of me to be wishing for a 20% paycut 😳
What a beautiful day it was in my part of the world yesterday, took advantage and got a small top up shop for us, our Mums and brother & sister-in-law and then enjoyed a family walk to drop the supplies off.
As it was so lovely each family member came outside to pick their goods up so we had a quick chat from a distance 😊 was good to see everyone.
When we got home we stayed out in the garden and had ice creams and a picnic in between the boys playing and DH and I getting some weeding and jet washing done.
Neither of us are very motivated gardeners but as there's nowhere to go at the moment we've been doing little jobs over the last few weeks and it's starting to look like a nicer space, I've even painted our fence for the first time in 4 years (even if it has taken me 3 weeks to do it all 🤣).
Our decorator neighbour has agreed to paint our external walls at some point during lockdown so this has given us a bit of motivation to get other things done. The painting won't get done anytime soon as masonry paint seems to be out of stock everywhere when we've checked online or by phone, might try Mr A when I go for the weekly shop. I know it's not an essential purchase but like many people, it's nice to try to improve our home surroundings if we're going to be spending so much more time here.
Right time to crack on with Monday, take care everyone x

[Deleted User]

Hope things calm down for you soon, DITR, and well done for all the juggling so far! X

beanielou

Have a good week.