A Year in the Life of...

EssexHebridean

That all sounds really tasty! It’s far from unheard of for things to get swapped round here too, although at the moment I need relatively speedy options for Tuesdays as I’m late getting in after the gym. I’ve also found something a bit quicker for a Wednesday works well. Monday I tend to try to have something prepared to just bung in the oven or microwave - this is where weekend batch cooking comes in! 

savingholmes

Hope you are feeling better. Could you batch cook and use that for lunch - eat it while working and then still have your walk?

girlatplay

savingholmes said:

Hope you are feeling better. Could you batch cook and use that for lunch - eat it while working and then still have your walk?

Thank you.  I am much better than yesterday.
I sometimes have meals ready that just need heated and I can eat while working. I suppose I'm a little afraid of bumping into those darned neighbours.  I've just read EH's suggestion on Beanie's diary about standing/sitting outside and I think that is something I could manage.  It sounds like another excuse but a major part of my health issues is I need to know it's not far to the nearest bathroom and I have to plan all trips around that.  Sitting outside would work.  When the sun shines (hey, it's Scotland!) it shines on my back garden all day, and nasty and nastier downstairs don't use the back.  Could be a plan.

savingholmes

That sounds like a way forward then. I just know for myself - I have to make myself go out or I too would struggle. I've never used the local park so much - but now I love it and adore seeing the colours the different seasons bring. I used to always travel further afield and not appreciate what was on my doorstep - but in conserving fuel - I've gains so much. I sit in the park and journal - as well as walking round it and let my dog chase squirrels. Her boundless joy and delight is amazing to watch even though she fails it never bothers her and she just keeps trying while the squirrels taunt her by staying put until the last moment and then scampering out of reach.

girlatplay

I'm probably taking it to another level here but instead of going downstairs, I am sitting in LMG's bedroom with the window open and feeling the sun on my face while I eat my leftover pizza from last night.  I totally lost track of the time so didn't get the chance to eat before lunchtime.  I don't want to eat lunch at 2pm.  Also (and this has to be my best excuse yet) I managed to stab myself in the face with my thumb nail around 4am this morning when I was pulling my covers up.  Luckily I was awake (thanks neighbours 🙄).  It is just under my nose and looks like a horrible spot.  I'm going to sit here quietly.

EssexHebridean

Ahh sorry to hear the neighbours are still giving you hassle - I can sympathise too as we had awkward/noisy ones for a while elsewhere in the building, it’s definitely not fun. And you aren’t alone in the finger/thumbnail to the face either - I’ve done that before! My worst “tricky to explain” though was the time managed to stick sellotape to my lip while I was trying to bite a piece off the roll and it pulled a bit chunk of skin off my lip as it departed. Ouch. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 

Glad you’re managing to get some sun/bright daylight too - makes a huge difference. 

Create a reason to get outside when you can - whether it’s a tiny bit of shopping, posting a letter or just a walk round the block - there is a lot of truth in the old phrase “use it or lose it” on this one, and I think in this case it applies just as much to the mental will to step outside. 

savingholmes

How are you getting on looking for somewhere new or have you put that on hold?

girlatplay

EssexHebridean said:

Ahh sorry to hear the neighbours are still giving you hassle - I can sympathise too as we had awkward/noisy ones for a while elsewhere in the building, it’s definitely not fun. And you aren’t alone in the finger/thumbnail to the face either - I’ve done that before! My worst “tricky to explain” though was the time managed to stick sellotape to my lip while I was trying to bite a piece off the roll and it pulled a bit chunk of skin off my lip as it departed. Ouch. 🤦🏻‍♀️ 

Glad you’re managing to get some sun/bright daylight too - makes a huge difference. 

Create a reason to get outside when you can - whether it’s a tiny bit of shopping, posting a letter or just a walk round the block - there is a lot of truth in the old phrase “use it or lose it” on this one, and I think in this case it applies just as much to the mental will to step outside. 

Ohhhhhhhh 🙊 that made me cringe.  That's an awful thing to happen to your lip.  I do understand the difficulty in explaining how we come by certain injuries.  I once broke my finger because it got stuck in LMG's boyfriend's jumper.  All completely innocent, LMG was there, I was helping him, he went one way and I went the other.  Trying to explain it though, a different matter.

I won't manage to get out every day as long as those neighbours live there.  I'll keep doing the weekends and hopefully they'll move out soon, if we don't manage to first.  Which brings me to

savingholmes said:

How are you getting on looking for somewhere new or have you put that on hold?

We have had to put it on hold until the new year.  LMG started her new job on 11th October, won't get her first payslip until end November and we need three months of them.  I keep looking but luckily nothing suitable has come up.  A couple we might have been able to compromise on but nothing that has upset us.  We have seen a new build not far from us which would be perfect.  A bit further out of the town than we planned but it has everything else on our want and need list.  It's not for sale yet and there is a waiting list for it but we are on the list.  There is another builder planning to build on land a little bit closer but they're only just starting to clear the land now.  I've got us on that list too and we will hear once they are ready to start selling.  We might not be able to afford those ones but worth hearing about them anyway.

savingholmes

New builds sound interesting. Good to have something to focus on and hope for when other things are not going to plan

girlatplay

savingholmes said:

New builds sound interesting. Good to have something to focus on and hope for when other things are not going to plan

One of the new builds would be great although at the very top of our budget.  Just need to see how they pan out.


LMG was on an early yesterday and is again today and both of us were so tired last night so the meal plan was adjusted slightly.  We had beans and cheese on toast for tea (a good old cheese beano) instead of potatoes.  We had bread so no extra expenditure.  I like how our plan is adjustable like that.

We're off to my cousin's today for her housewarming party so I'm not sure about tea tonight but mac and cheese is on the plan if I do need to make something.  I have a hack for making it quickly (within 15 minutes) so we'll see what happens.

Probably won't be on much over the weekend as my niece is staying over tonight.

Have a lovely weekend all 🙂