The Final Furlong

beanielou

Glad that you have had a good day.

Dottles1

Thanks Beanie, I really love cooking for others, especially the "kids" , it takes me back to when they were all at home. 
I've had a productive day so far.  Changed the bed, collected the duvet from the launderette (£17.50 but worth it), posted GD1's birthday card to the US, banked private work money from Friday, taken 2 carrier bags to the charity shop, tidied the kitchen, made vegetable soup, moved some clothes into the new chest of drawers and bought and collected a lamp from FB for my bedroom.  I also repurposed a bedside table that has been in the garage for a while and I'm now prevaricating before doing some more marking.
It was sunny here this morning but is getting progressively colder as the day goes on.  It's still quite windy and I wouldn't be surprised if we had snow tonight.  Still, we're lucky not to be dealing with flooding like many places in the country at the moment.  Tilly and I are snuggled under a throw, she really doesn't like going out when it's cold but we will have to venture at some point.
I realised that I missed my brother's birthday yesterday by getting the dates mixed up (I thought today was the 9th) so will have to pop over to see him tonight with his card and a small gift.  
I hope you are all keeping warm and dry
Dottles x

savingholmes

So glad you took the step and told them at work. Countdown to freedom. The butternut squash curry sounds tasty too

Dottles1

Thanks Savingholmes, It has made such a difference to me and my moods, I feel so much happier in general and I am definitely sleeping better.  Even more so since I've started making my bedroom a nicer place to spend time in.  
I had a coffee with my brother and his partner last night but did come back and mark another 2 assignments so I'm creeping towards the end of the pile.  If I can manage another 3 this evening I should be able to complete them all by tomorrow.  Today has been another good day.  I had a great class, with plenty of interaction from the students.  I think they are all looking forward to the half term break and so am I.
It is windy and very chilly here and we have had some sleet showers.  There has been snow in nearby villages and we are being told it's on it's way in the next couple of days.  I don't mind so much if I can curl up with a book and the radio so long as I don't have to go out.
I'm having GD4 on Saturday for a few hours and I think we may go to see the new Dr Doolittle film,  it looks like more of an adventure than previous versions.  Then on Monday I am going to see Bombshell with friend P as I received 2 free cinema tickets for the cinema in the local arts centre as I recently signed up to booking online.  That will be an enjoyable start to the half term.
Back to the bedroom plans - I am contemplating painting the shade of the lamp I bought from FB yesterday.  I seem to remember that you can paint fabric with Annie Sloan chalk paints.  Has anyone tried it and can you do the same with other chalk paints?  My thinking is that if I make a mess of it and have to buy a new shade, it will still be a bargain for £5.  It is originally from M&S and has tall glass upright on an antique looking brass (?) base and a small shade.  It looks fabulous on my new (to me) chest of drawers along with a buddah that has been waiting for a home, my silver photo frame and a spider plant in a ceramic pot.  Very happy with that.
Today has also ben NSD no 4 for February.
Anyway, I'm off to make some food.
Keep warm everybody
Dottles x

doingitanyway

Getting your bedroom how you want is important. I have found I now have enough furniture and stuff and when I decorate a room I can generally repurpose furniture from elsewhere in the house. What colour are you going for in your bedroom?

savingholmes

I'm sure utube will be able to tell you how to repurpose your lampshade. The lamp base does sound a bargain

Dottles1

I did just that Savingholmes.  It looks quite easy so I'm going to source some paint in the right colour and have a go this weekend.  I always like to repurpose furniture DIA however, I have had a tendency to hoard things in the past so I try to balance that with also trying to be realistic about what to hang onto. Luckily I have a garage so can store things out of the house.  I have a couple of pieces I'm taking out of the bedroom but which I love, so will hang onto them to see whether they will fit elsewhere as I go through each room.  
As for bedroom colours, I have 2 porcelain light fittings, covered with small purple pansies, that I love so I'm trying to work a bit of purple in to the colour scheme via accessories.  I inherited one wall, behind the headboard, painted in a sort of heather colour (gorgeous) and the rest is white.  I really fancy a touch of country style without being too shabby chic so I've decided to wallpaper the facing wall, repaint the other two white again and keep the heather colour.  Once I've chosen the paper I can decide on the bedding.  The bedroom furniture is mostly old, second hand and painted white except for the bed which is  an antique dark wooden bed frame, the sort that has the springs on top of the base.  It was given to me by a friend who was having a clear out.  No wonder my kids nickname me Steptoe !!
Well, I completed another 12 hour shift on Thursday but all marking is finished so it was worth staying back for and it's now half term for me.  Hooray !!  So here I am, still awake and so I thought I would catch up on my diary.  I plan to do a bit of painting in the bedroom while I'm off but also catch up on some reading.  I have 2 new classes starting the week I get back so I will spend some time planning for them but a couple of hours should cover that.  I was given some information today that has confirmed to me that I'm doing the right thing by leaving work.  I'm a little sad because it involves something said by a colleague who I have trusted and thought was my friend.  It's not a big deal really, I'm just disappointed and it has made me take a step back, but I'm determined not to get drawn into the "he said, she said" conversations as they don't help or solve anything.  I can't address the issue without dropping the person who told me in and I really don't think she had an agenda, just struggling to understand some behaviours, so I'm just going to let it go rather than escalate the situation.  I want to leave on a positive note so I'm going to concentrate on the good bits but just be a bit more aware. 
Tomorrow (today) I'm meeting up with friend P for a coffee.  She has heard good reports about a coffee shop that has opened up in the local prison so we're going to give it a try.  Then I may, or may not make a plan for the week ahead, or just have another coffee because I can.
I hope you all enjoy Valentines Day if it is something you celebrate.
Dottles x 

beanielou

Can’t remember when you leave? 

Enjoy your half term😊

Dottles1

I don't leave until the end of July Beanie but hopefully I'll be able to take a couple of weeks holiday and have my last day on the 15th.  It's surprising how just having an end date makes such a difference though.
Friend P and I went to the prison as planned and what a surprise!  The café was cosy and inviting with sofas and a log burner, the staff were delightful and the food looked delicious (we didn't eat but saw it coming from the kitchen).  They sell C03ta coffee for £1.50 per cup and tea for £1 - bargain.  Next door, there was a small garden shop with plants and both wooden and metal garden items handmade by the men.  There is also a hand car wash so can have your car cleaned while having a coffee.  We'll definitely be visiting again and perhaps have lunch next time.
Yesterday I spent much of the time with GD4.  She decided she didn't want to go to the cinema after all so we hung out what some you tube and chatted.  We made tea together and generally had a fab time, she's such good company.  Then today friend P is coming over for a cuppa and a catch up.  I haven't seen her for weeks as I've been so busy and she has been away so lots to talk about.  Later I'll be heading over to DD1's to take her birthday presents.  I have those fromDD2 and GD1 too with them both living away. Other than that I plan to read a little this evening or maybe catch up on some TV.
Storm Dennis appears to be receding.  It's still gusty but at least the rain has stopped. I'm bored with this now and ready for spring!  However, I must now get up and get dressed or I'll miss half the day.
speak later
Dottles x

savingholmes

It must be so nice to have a date you are working towards. Sounds like you are having fun with the grandkids too. I now understand those movies with the mums all pressurising their kids to produce grandkids - not yet mind - but in time. Not sure whether our kids will. Only time will tell.