The Final Furlong

Dottles1

Good morning, I hope you have all had a good weekend.  Mine was quite relaxing as I sent a couple of hours on Friday evening getting all the reports written that were piling up so I was able to spend the weekend without that niggling away at the back of my mind.  It was one of those tasks that I put off and then when I get round to it find it's not as bad as I thought.
Friend P and I went for our walk on Saturday morning and managed over 6 miles with a take away coffee in the middle.  There was a lot of frost and thick ice about and I don't think the temperature reached 0 degrees at all that day; still, it was good to be out getting some exercise.  I didn't take Tilly as it was to long for her feet to be in freezing conditions so I took her out later and eventually completed over 21000 steps that day.  On both days over the weekend I took time to sit with a coffee and finish my current book.  I find there's something comforting about curling up on a winter's afternoon with a good book though I'm still have to work to get rid of the feeling that I should be doing something.  I suppose that after all the years of work spilling into my personal life it's going to take a while to change that.
DDS invited me round for a late dinner yesterday and we played Monopoly afterwards which always brings out the competitive behaviour in our family as I watch my son revert to being twelve and winding everyone up.  Good fun though.
DD2 has been offered a dog by the Dog's Trust and all being well on the home visit, she will get her in a weeks time.  She has been looking without luck for a few month's now so didn't really expect to be successful.   So it looks like we will have a 6 year old dachshund joining the family.
Well today is my first weigh in day as I battle the post Christmas weight gain so I'm off to tackle the scales.  Wish me luck and if you hear screams, know that I will be ok.
Dottles x

beanielou

Have a good week 

savingholmes

Hope the scales were kind. Dog sounds good option for DD. Stay safe and well.

Dottles1

Thanks Beanie and I have everything crossed for her Savingholmes.  I have already volunteered as holiday home for when we are out of all this.  
I had a call from the guy who is going to replace my interior doors on Monday and have booked him in for 2nd February.  The money has been put aside for this job for some time and I got a good deal on the exact doors that I had been looking for so I've gone ahead.  I did think long and hard before agreeing even though I know it is within the rules, but he has good Covid safety strategies in place and Tilly and I will stay at the other end of the house and move around as necessary.  It also means that I can have the work done while there are no clients coming into the house so seems like a good plan.
I lost 2lbs in my first week so happy with that and I'm working hard at getting my 8,000 steps in each day so fingers crossed it will continue.  I have found that if I can get out to walk in the morning my joints don't hurt as much so that's what I intend to do when possible.  For those days where I'm working from early I could plan in a longer lunch hour so I can get out then.  Hopefully the more I move the easier it will get. 
Yesterday I signed up to the Olio app and have collected my first items, a large wholemeal loaf, a bag of stir fry veg and a bag of baby salad leaves, all things that I will use.  They are short dated so I have changed the meal plan to have chick pea stir fry this evening and tuna salad for lunch tomorrow.  I can't bear food waste and this app satisfies my need for less waste as well as saving money so I can see me using this from time to time.
Have a good evening all
Dottles x

savingholmes

Great about the app. Good if you can get work done in a low risk way

Dottles1

Morning fellow frugalers, Some positive news from yesterday, though I have lost a couple of clients due to lockdown, 3 of my online clients block booked further sessions (I offer a discount for block booking) so that has secured some income for the next few of months.  I feel very fortunate that I still have an income in these difficult times and that I've stayed well enough to work.  The health secretary's announcement that vaccinations will begin for over 50's in March suggests that, being 62, I shouldn't have to wait too long for my offer.
Friend P and I went for our weekly walk yesterday and managed 6.5 miles with a stop half way for coffee and a biscuit.  It is getting easier though my joints ache later in the day (arthritis) but even that isn't as bad and doesn't last as long so it's obviously doing me some good.  I also like having time for a long chat as we go and a giggle.
Today's job is to buy some more fruit pellets and fat balls for the birds.  They don't seem too bothered about the seed mix so I'm going  move that feeder to the other side of the garden and bring the fat ball one to where I can see it outside the french doors.  I have a table there that I put water, meal worms and fruit pellets on and love watching the birds come close to the house to feed.  I have a few regulars but also the occasional new visitor who appears. I was gifted a new bird box by DD1 as it was a present and she doesn't have a garden, so I'll be having that put up as soon as the weather improves a little and friend P's husband can come round to do so.
It is DGD2's birthday tomorrow and I'm a bit sad that I can't go to see her but hey ho, it's how it is at the moment.  I've posted her card and I'm putting money into her bank so that she can enjoy buying herself something nice.
 
Ooh I nearly forgot !!  There was a Covid outbreak at the Dog's Trust in Liverpool where DD2's dog was based so they moved her to Manchester and she picked her up yesterday afternoon instead of Monday.  She is a 6 year old Daschund and is beautiful.  I've seen her on facetime and can see that DD2 is already smitten.
The ice and frost from yesterday has disappeared overnight and it's a little milder here today.  Tilly and I will venture out for a wander shortly and then I must do some housework as the house is looking a bit sorry for itself.  l'm also going to set aside some time to curl up with my book.
See you all soon, have a good weekend
Dottles x

savingholmes

Glad things are going well. It's my little nephew's birthday Monday - and like you I'm sad we can't see him... Thankfully Am**** can deliver. Still need to post his card... Oh well - it spreads out the fun at that age to get cards and presents on different days.

Dottles1

Yes it does Savingholmes, I know a few people who have had a birthday week during this past year due to people not being able to get to shops or post office for one reason or another.  I had to go out today to pick up some fresh veg so I bought the cards I need for February whilst out.  I'm definitely trying to keep my trips to the shops less frequent at present.  GD4 came round for her tea this evening (she's in my bubble);mushroom pie, root mash and green beans followed by mini victoria sponges, very tasty.  We always have a good chat and a catch up on what she's doing at school etc. and have some varied discussions, this evening being philosophy as she is learning this at school.  Tilly was delighted to have a visitor and brought most of her toys out to play with her.
I haven't worked today though I have answered a few emails and arranged appointments and so I vacuumed the house and did a bit of tidying and too some time to read a magazine given to me by friend P last week.  I have a few small jobs that need doing around the house, most of which I think I should be able to do myself but I need to make a list and decide whether I can or if I should get someone in.  I only have 3 clients tomorrow so quite an easy day.  I have also scheduled in a Zoom catch up with friend P and friend S which should be fun.  I think this may become a regular thing.  Friend S is recovering from cancer (her second bout) and is shielding so we haven't seen each other face to face for a long time.  This is so much better than a phone call and I think will become a regular thing.
I have only done half my planned steps today as it has rained all day here and is forecast the same tomorrow.  However, I must get out and do some in the morning and then can top up later in the day.  I have been over target every day so far and have a long walk planned for Saturday so I should catch up but I don't want to get into the habit of falling short.
There is still plenty of money in the food budget and my personal spends for this month, not surprising as none of us are going anywhere or doing much at the moment, so hopefully I will have extra money to put into my savings pots this month.  I'm hoping to get ahead in the birthdays pot as I have 2 in February then only one more until July when it gets hit hard.  I also want to put some extra into the car maintenance pot as I will be getting the brakes checked soon as it was flagged at the last MOT and even though I'm not driving far, I'd rather get them done if necessary.
Ok, time for me to get some sleep, I have an early start in the morning.
Goodnight all
Dottles x

savingholmes

I always prioritise safety stuff. Glad you had a visitor and your money is stretching

Dottles1

Well it's been a funny couple of days with clients cancelling due to having flu (makes a change from Covid) or having to rearrange times/days.  My diary for this week is a complete mess and I think I may have to colour co-ordinate it to be able to see what is what.  This has allowed me to get a few small jobs done in between work sessions though.  The sun is shining but windy and cold here so I've put some towels on the line and hopefully they will dry to some extent.  I've also managed to find and photograph some documents to support my new DBS application and have sent the email off.  In the process I realised that I have misplaced my passport (not that I will be using that for some time) and have spent some time trying to locate it without luck but at least I know some places where it isn't
I'd better get back to work but just thought I'd drop in for a quick chat.  May speak later
Dottles x