A new royal start

QueenJess

Oh my goodness, my week just got worse and worse last week. DD got a temperature that was uncontrollable and started breathing very fast, so I spent my day off on Friday at the doctors and then got referred to A&E.  Eventually got sent home, but was checking her every 30 mins through the night for about 5 nights before her temperature went back down again and of course she only wanted me in the day as well. So basically no sleep for 5 days. It was just a bad virus, but it hit her really hard. She’s recovered and back to normal now, but I’m still trying to catch up on sleep.

Work is making me feel grumpy because I keep fixing everything for everyone without any thanks or apparent interest that I am doing it. I am considering asking for more money as I am underpaid, but it is weird timing as I also want to drop a day. I am 99.9% sure they won’t pay me more, but I feel like it’s worth making a point. Will have a think about it..

Not much useful been happening and just got an email from nursery to tell me they are putting up their prices from September. I would be paying £1,850 ish a month under the new prices 😱. It’s basically 2x my mortgage! The increase will wipe out anything I would gain from dropping down a day.  The closer nursery is a bit cheaper and I need to go and visit it to make a decision on whether to move DD as we have a place from September. 

DS’s friends parents offered to pick DS up after school and look after him until dropping him off at Beavers as they both go. It won’t be every week, but they will give us dates. DS will be really excited and will save us money on after school club. It was lovely of them to offer.

Trying to get back to normal and balance work and home stuff, although it’s hard as I have tons of work on at the moment. Back to my 3 things a day and hoping I’ll get to the bottom of the list. DH had his first non-working day yesterday in his new work schedule and forgot about it until I asked him what he had planned!! As it was raining he decided to just mouch around and so I asked him if he could do some stuff for me. So he blasted through a small list of things to do which was so helpful! I might get to the end of my list with DH helping!

Not sure on my jobs for today, but hoping to get out and do a bit of gardening whilst DD is asleep later and continue tidying up the house a bit. Also need to put the veg box veg away and clean out the bottom of the fridge. Taking DS to gym soon and then my parents are visiting later.

Lunch today will be orzotto with leeks, peas and cheese, followed by yogurt for the kids. Dinner is burgers, veg from the fridge and chips. Pudding is jelly for the kids and cake for us that I made yesterday. It’s a yogurt, almond and citrus cake that’s really yummy and used up the orange I froze ages ago, some of the huge bottle of lemon and loads of ground almond. I still have far too much food hanging around and am slowly using it all up. The veg was a bit out of control whilst DD was ill and so loads of veg is being rammed into every meal (which is how I like it anyway!).

edinburgher

Goodness you've been facing a mixed bag since the start of April!

• A case of chocolate?!!!
• I feel your pain re. naps reducing, when DD1 stopped napping it felt like a bereavement
• Those nursery fees are ridiculous, more power to you to be able to afford pay them at all, that is more than Mrs E earns at all and her job is perfectly well paid for Scotland and her sector. They are more than double our mortgage, too

Not got much helpful to add, just wishing you some good luck as a fellow parent of wee people.

QueenJess

@edinburgher these are London prices, but we are not in London. Serves us right for living in the South?! I am counting down in my head… only another 2 years to go and then no more nursery fees… then I’ll be rich 😂

Yep - it was cheaper to buy chocolate by the case rather than an individual bar… that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!

QueenJess

A bit of a manic day today with DD’s 2 year health review, followed by a doctors appointment for DS. By the time everyone was dropped off back to school/nursery and I’d got some petrol, it was basically lunchtime!

Really need to do a stint in the garden now the weather is better. Might pop out for 30 mins before I pick everyone up later as I’ve got to fit in a whole days worth of work somehow. Need to sow more tomato seeds as two didn’t grow at all, I need to sow some salad leaves outside and dig up more of the front for the wildflower garden.  Looking forward to tomorrow though when I’m going to ask for a reduction of my hours to 4 days a week… cross your fingers for me!

Lunch today was an open the fridge job to see what needed using up in the veg drawer. So we had salad (leaves, red onion, red pepper, shredded carrot) and mackerel with a simple olive oil (from the tinned mackerel) and balsamic vinegar dressing. I also added beetroot to mine of course.. any excuse 😂

Based on the same requirements, dinner will be pasta in some sort of creamy or cheese sauce with peas, broccoli and courgette. Pudding will be the last of the citrus cake.

edinburgher

Wishing you all the best for tomorrow, think positive thoughts

QueenJess

Well I think that went down like a lead balloon 😂 I am awaiting an answer on my work hour request, but my manager really shouldn’t play poker as I could tell what they were thinking! I’ve tried to be flexible as I know there is a lot of work for 4 weeks every Autumn, so I’ve offered to work full time for those weeks and either be paid or take time off in lieu. Will await a response!

In the meantime, back to the grind and a ton of work that is about as inspiring as watching paint dry.

Been busy decluttering the house and tidying up, although it does seem like a never ending task with kids! From a money perspective I’ve had to splash out on two front tyres for the car and I also have some purchases coming up that I’m going to have to sort out. Firstly I badly need underwear and secondly I need to buy a new frying pan and probably a Wok. The horrible non stick is coming off and I’m thinking of investing in ones that I can use forever without horrible chemicals. The only hesitation is whether the pans will be too heavy, so need to find a shop to try them out in at some point before I buy. Will try and spread the purchases out a bit as am feeling particularly poor this month, plus DH is on a lower salary and I’ve basically requested one! Looking forward to payday on Friday as I can stash some money into my mortgage overpayment fund.

My three tasks today:
- Make garlic flatbreads as the yogurt is going to go off
- Pay the £1,680 childcare bill for May 😱
- Sow extra seeds for the things that didn’t germinate indoors

It’s always hard to choose 3 things as I can never catch up with myself!

I’m on my own for lunch, but am thinking a fake duck stir fry with purple broccoli, wild garlic and possibly red cabbage from the freezer (does that even go?!) and noodles as I’m the only person who likes the fake duck and so I may as well try and use some of it up. Dinner is fish, chips, peas and sweetcorn as DH is back late so I can bung his in the oven when he messages on the train he’s on his way back. Pudding will be ice cream, frozen fruit or pineapple, coconut and mango muffins (and mango ice cream) from the freezer. Dessert making day is every Friday, so we are slumming it right now!

Mrs_Money_Penny

Hope you get an answer soon in your favour. You are so inspiring all that you manage to get done in a day and working full time. Your amazing xx

themadvix

I hope the news is positive Jess. What sort of pans are you thinking? I love my Netherton Foundry ones. Heavier than non-stick stuff but definitely lighter than cast iron. However, I confess I still have a non-stick pan that is used very occasionally for pancakes as I’m not brilliant with the seasoning of my NF pans.

QueenJess

themadvix said:

I hope the news is positive Jess. What sort of pans are you thinking? I love my Netherton Foundry ones. Heavier than non-stick stuff but definitely lighter than cast iron. However, I confess I still have a non-stick pan that is used very occasionally for pancakes as I’m not brilliant with the seasoning of my NF pans.

Ooh I’ve no idea actually. Pans is definitely not my specialist subject! I do have an induction hob, so that limits options somewhat. 

I was going to have a wander round JL at some point for inspiration and try the weight of them. I got our saucepans from there and love them.

Happy for recommendations from people who know about pans though!

TallGirl

Morning really hope your employer agrees to your reduced hours. As for pans I’ve got both pots and pans in the Tefal range where you can take the handles off. I’ve always used non stick but got used to these as they are so easy to stick in the dishwasher. I’ve got an induction job too. Looking at them in person is best I got mine in lockdown so no choice but I do love them.