A new royal start

edinburgher

I know this comment is a week out of date, but I also have siblings (and at least one parent) who I seldom (if ever) hear from between visits. I think it's a combination of busy lives, the fact there's only so much energy to go round and in at least one case, a personality clash with a sibling. It makes me incredibly sad sometimes and while I have put in the legwork to be the one who instigates correspondence, it just isn't happening, I fully expect to only see some of them at landmark celebrations or funerals I'm sure I wasn't a perfect brother (or child) growing up, but I have grown into a fully functioning and caring adult - their loss 

The worst thing about it is (as you have mentioned), when parents visit and discuss a range of family news as if you totally know about it (based on the timeless parent logic of if one of their children has told them, they must also have told all their brothers and sisters). It can be quite awkward and even a little irritating when you have to explain to mum and dad that you don't hear from siblings x and y at all for the umpteenth time.

QueenJess

I was hoping to catch up on everything this weekend and spend time with the kids. Sadly DD has been really difficult all weekend, which I think is related to her teeth actually coming through her gum at the moment. We did go to the school fair on Sat and today I took DS to a party whilst DH took DD out. Not much sleep, hay fever is decimating me and the only time I achieved anything was when DH left 45 mins before I did earlier.

Could be a long week ahead with lots of work needed and DH is going away for a couple of days (with work) and leaving me on my own 😬. I’m still behind with everything, but I have updated my to do list and started working through that today. I’ve just accepted that as I am now working things will cost more for convenience (eg food shopping as I am not shopping around as much) and to be honest I’ve been getting a few treats to offset the work stuff. But overall I’m still better off money wise at work, plus hopefully I only have just over a month before I can have a month off (as long as the work gets finished). Just means I have a busy few weeks as I’d rather work harder now than panic in the last week. I also need to start planning the summer!

I’ve been slowly clearing up and decluttering the bedroom and it is starting to really show. I already feel more relaxed in it, so hopefully when I am allowed to sleep I should find it a bit easier. I really need to sort out plant pots, the shed and gardening stuff soon as the jobs are stacking up and it’s quite messy on the patio. DH has invited his parents for a BBQ next week, so I at least need to relocate the mess! I also have a huge amount of redcurrants to pick. I picked a whole bowlful this evening and it looks exactly the same! I think that’s going to be a daily job for a while. No idea what I’m going to do with them all yet - might freeze them as there’s so many.

As I’ve been so busy, I’ve not been food shopping for ages and we’ve been living out of the cupboards and freezer. Just ordered an online shop to save me time next week. No baking recently either, which makes me sad 😞. Must find time to make something next week.

Still not checked budget from May, although I did start doing it. On the plus side, I did put all the clothes away from tons of washing, water the plants, buy a Father’s Day present, fed the birds, ordered some second hand books for DS for his birthday next year (!) and tidied up loads of stuff this evening.

Tonights dinner was salmon stir fry to use up most of the veg sat at the bottom of the fridge. Pudding was strawberries and yogurt.

themadvix

With the red currants, they freeze well (apologies if I’m telling you something you already know!) - open freeze on a baking tray and then put into bags/containers. Rhubarb and red currant crumble is nice (and easy), red currant shrub (alcoholic) makes a good present and somewhere I’ve got a red currant biscuit recipe - I’ll have a look for it if you’re interested? 

QueenJess

themadvix said:

With the red currants, they freeze well (apologies if I’m telling you something you already know!) - open freeze on a baking tray and then put into bags/containers. Rhubarb and red currant crumble is nice (and easy), red currant shrub (alcoholic) makes a good present and somewhere I’ve got a red currant biscuit recipe - I’ll have a look for it if you’re interested? 

Well sadly I have a horrible feeling I still have some in the freezer from last year!

Red currant biscuits sound amazing though if you are able to have a look. Never thought about crumble (don’t know why since I make so many of them!). I generally end up using them with yogurt, other fruit and meringue pieces, but only I like them so it is slow going… I’m sure if I put them in a biscuit everyone would suddenly love them!

I will be searching online for the red currant shrub too… I might have a drink this year 😂

themadvix

I’ll look up the recipe. I find that they hide quite well in a crumble! And I still have some in the freezer from last year too, my bush is prolific as well (Although not this year as we’ve moved it, but I’ve acquired several on my allotment, but the birds have eaten quite a few of those!)

themadvix

Red currant biscuits recipe (adapted from a German recipe, so apologies for scant-ness of instructions, I couldn't be bothered to translate!)

130g flour
75g oats (ground to a powder)
pinch salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp bicarb
115g butter
130g sugar
1 tsp vanilla essence
1 egg
100g grated chocolate
100g currants

Mix all ingredients together except currants. Form into biscuits (the mixture will spread a bit in the oven) and push red currants into the top of the biscuits.

Red currant muffins work too - as any muffin recipe but add some currants in - makes quite a wet muffin though, so eat quickly/reduce liquid in batter.

QueenJess

Oh dear, as soon as I think I am making progress, it all goes horribly wrong again. DH went away with work and instantly DS gets ill with a nasty stomach bug. Cue me being up all night running between DS being ill and DD demanding milk. DS was then off school for 3 days whilst I attempted to look after him all day and do full time work.

Was totally exhausted by the weekend and DH’s parents came over. They said they’d ring first and so I just sat down for the first time that day to quietly eat my lunch and they ring the doorbell (they forgot to ring..). So no time to myself. Yesterday we were out at an event DH wanted to go to for Father’s Day which was an early start. I started to feel pretty awful after a few hours due to such little sleep all week. Then last night DD was playing up and woke me up more than every 60 mins. So I feel progressively more terrible everyday and again have loads of work to get done today.

Anyway, that’s why I disappeared for a while because no one wants to hear me wittering on about lack of sleep and now feeling like I want to hide in a shut room and ignore the world.

Lost track of finances completely and need to catch up. I’ve probably spent more money on food for convenience, but then spent less often as no time or inclination to go out. Overall it must be more than usual, but then I’ve not spent on much else.

Hate to leave on negatives, so positives are my time off over the summer has now been officially approved, I’ve completely cleared, cleaned and decluttered my bedroom (it’s much more relaxing now) and I am eating a continuous supply of red currants, strawberries and raspberries from the garden.

Dinner today will be veggie sausages and mash with veg box veg (broad beans and summer greens).

Bluegreen143

Sending love @QueenJess. You remind me so much of me when my DD was a baby/toddler (with the lack of sleep) except I didn’t work and still found it tough. You are doing an snacking job in really hard circumstances. I hope things get easier for you soon, and I’m so pleased you’ve got some time off over the summer. Hopefully you’ll feel more rested if you don’t have to also juggle work all the time.

MagicCat

I don't know how you do it @QueenJess, DD2 is awake a couple of time each night and I'm just due to go back to work and dreading it, I only do two shifts a week! I'm also hoping things get a bit easier soon, take care.

QueenJess

DH now seems to have the same thing that DS had, so I am totally on my own with two kids, a full time job and very little sleep. Also DH has taken over the bedroom and bathroom so I have been thrown out of those.