Building towards a complete life overhaul....might take a while but determined to do it

Pink_Butterfly

Your poor neighbour 😢💔 Bless him, so heartbreaking 😔

mumblingtaff

Morning all!
Its a grey, damp, dull Saturday but I'm not going to let it spoil my day off.
Have already walked the dog, been to Tesco, hoovered and dusted the whole house, cleaned the kitchen, scrubbed all the wooden floors and done the bins. Also woke to a complete mess in the garden - the fox cubs (that are teenagers now!) had jumped over the back fence with the help of the bins and completely destroyed a full grow bag - muck, plastic and lumps of soil everywhere.... Have spent half an hour trying to sort it out in the drizzle. I do love them and see them every morning when I walk the dog in the dark and they're quite tame now and don't run away anymore but they tested my patience this morning. They must have had a lovely time though

Going to have a soak in the bath soon and sort myself out - defuzz, face scrub, body scrub and toenails - I'm like a grubby yeti at the moment Will then give the bathrooms a good clean and then that's the whole house sorted.
I have a few jobs on the list for this weekend....

• Clean the car in and out
• Online Xmas shopping for me and mum
• Tidy a shelf in the spare wardrobe that I forgot to do - charity bag at the ready
• Start sorting out the study and chucking out old school stuff that I've hung on to for years for no particular reason
• Give the conservatory (or dog corridor to the garden) a good clean
• Write my one pack of Xmas cards - never send more than this
• Investigate new car insurance - the renewal notice came by email today
• Get the dog to take his wormer and flea tablets - much easier said than done

I didn't need much at the supermarket (had to go to Tesco as I needed dog food that they only sell there) and managed to stick to the list and spent £24. Not too bad.
I have some cash stashed away in an Xmas account to pay for presents so hopefully I'll be able to stick to the budget. It's two weeks to pay day and I should make it on budget providing there are no unexpected calamities - there's some contingency money put aside but I'd rather put that into the escape fund if I can.

Going to take the dog for a big walk later - my knee had a little niggle this morning so have decided not to run today - don't want to risk it again - hopefully, it will be fine for tomorrow and a little trot out.
Oh, and there's the Wales v England rugby to watch later - I'm officially having a day off

Happy_Monday

Ahhhhhhh MT so good to see you back! I often wondered how you and the pooch were. Your plans for next year sound amazing, and I’m sure you’ll love being back home as much as your parents and sister will love having you back home. 

mumblingtaff

Happy_Monday said:

Ahhhhhhh MT so good to see you back! I often wondered how you and the pooch were. Your plans for next year sound amazing, and I’m sure you’ll love being back home as much as your parents and sister will love having you back home. 

Thank you! Really good to see you too!

Had a fairly busy day - just pottering and doing little jobs and taking the dog for a big long walk for some fresh air and exercise although even at 2pm it was barely light today. Just dull and damp.
Listened to a lot of podcasts today whilst doing things - rediscovered the Motivation to Move series - used to listen to this all the time and its reinvigorated me. Just plain talking (even though its American) and common sense. If you don't like it change it kind of thing - very true.

Have done a bit more decluttering - another bin bag full of stuff for the charity shop, I'm getting ruthless and doing a second pass of everything clothes-wise that survived the first effort.
Have also done all of mum's Xmas shopping for her so she's happy now and have put things in baskets for my shopping that I'll go back to tomorrow when I've slept on them.. 
Bought my Xmas presents from mum and dad for them - they insisted on buying things for me even though I don't really see the point this year but it was nice to spend somebody else's money on things that I wouldn't usually buy for myself.

Going to watch a bit of telly then try for a proper sleep. Need to catch up on the weekends.....

mumblingtaff

Morning all!
Just back from a 6km with the dog - it felt much better today, feel like I'm slowly getting back into it after the injury. No real pain and fitness is gaining again, not there yet but its improving again. Its cold, damp and darkish again but good running weather and its tired the dog out for the morning now. Feeling very pleased with my efforts.

Going to have a bath and then crack on with a couple of hours of work to get ready for the week, that should take me through to lunch time. Might start the study tidying this afternoon - tackling a shelf at a time, got to start somewhere....The conservatory needs a good clean with the garden being so wet all the time and the dog in and out like a yoyo...it will be back to the same state by tomorrow but it needs doing.
Also have to finish off the Xmas shopping and write the cards - won't take long hopefully.
Other than that no big plans for today - will probably be bored by mid afternoon

By the way, the bloke I saw briefly in the summer has started texting again -he was nice enough but it wasn't really my thing. I'm being pleasant and polite but there's no chance of a reunion - can do without the extra things to think about at the moment.....

Honeysucklelou2

A little cube of cheese always works wonders for getting tablets into my dog! Push the tablets in and it’s wolfed down!

Have a relaxing Sunday!

mumblingtaff

Honeysucklelou2 said:

A little cube of cheese always works wonders for getting tablets into my dog! Push the tablets in and it’s wolfed down!

Have a relaxing Sunday!

He's very clever - will lick or bite off anything that they're wrapped in and spit out the tablet even if its broken up into teeny pieces.
Managed to get the flea tablet in but the wormer was a step too far - will try again tomorrow with that!

Had a busy day - am all up to date with work apart from one lesson that I still need to write but all of the other stuff is done.
Been for another big walk with the dog and managed to clean the conservatory and shampoo the little sofa in there much to the dog's disgust.... Have also started the study tidy out - lots in the recycling bin and three books offered on my estate's facebook group (all brand new but unwanted, cookery books, I ask you, who thinks that a recipe book for someone that hates cooking is a good idea!) and all three have been snapped up - will deliver them on the evening's dog walk. Another load of teaching books that I'll give to the NQTs tomorrow - about half way through it now. Will finish it next weekend.
Car insurance sorted and virtually all of the Xmas shopping done - just mum to go then I'm done. Apart from the carwash everything and more on the list done. Got all of mum's done for her too now - she decided on a few more bits that she needed so sorted them out today for her too.
Decided that the car will just get mucky again on the motorway this week so it was money wasted at the carwash.

Made some yummy tea using one of those Maggi cook in bag things - very easy and really tasty - and have a second portion in the fridge for the week. 
Going to walk the dog again, get clothes ready for tomorrow and then just relax for the evening once that one lesson is done. Have a trust/governors meeting tomorrow after school so it will be a late one - thankfully the dog walker is coming to the rescue again.
3 more weeks .... then its just one full term until I can jack it all in! Hurrah!!!

designingalife

Hey MT well done on getting your 6k done a great way to start the day 👍 I used to find it fun running with my dog she is to old now but I remember I would be charging along amd
look down and she had not
even broke into a run just trotting along 😂😂

mumblingtaff

Morning all - sorry I've not been around since last weekend - it has been quite literally a bloody awful week.
It started on Monday with a Trust meeting after school at which I got absolutely roasted for things that weren't my job - my boss did nothing to stop it and I was upset and fuming. Went to see my head afterwards (he was on the Zoom too) and ranted then went home. It must have hit home as he rang me in the evening to apologise and tell me how fabulous I am. My boss on the other hand did absolutely nothing and the next day said she was struggling with the criticism of her department! I was the one that took all of the flak!! Still no apology even though the head told me he'd told her to do it.
The week was a nightmare at work.
But, on Monday evening my mum rang to tell me that my dad's twin brother had been admitted to hospital with COVID - he died on Thursday. Dad is understandably gutted - it's horrible not being able to go to see him or do anything. My family are clinically vulnerable and I can't risk passing anything on to them and my school is still rife with virus - yet more staff and a whole year group sent home this week. It's really getting to me now - I won't be able to see them for Xmas as there's not enough time to isolate between finishing work and Xmas Eve/Day so I'll have to stay home. Arrgghhh!!! Have had a proper paddy this week.

Anyway, I was shattered last night and had to take the dog for his haircut straight after work - he looks lovely now and came home in a Xmas bandana with a little bag of treats. Did nothing last night except try to stay awake and then went to bed straight after Gogglebox.
Feel much better today - got up fairly early (about 6.30) and faffed about a bit and then decided to force myself out for a run with the dog - only 4km but glad I went, blew away the cobwebs.
Had a nice soak in the bath and defuzzed and made myself feel a bit more human. Going to have my hair done at lunchtime so that will help to pick me up a bit - its desperate for a good cut and colour. There's also the usual grocery shopping, cleaning and chores to do but there's one thing I'm absolutely not doing today and that's anything to do with school.
Have already given the bathrooms and kitchen a good scrubbing, changed and washed the bedding and will hoover and dust next - the house will be nice and tidy to come back to this afternoon then.
Right, better crack on with things - I'll pop back later.

Moneywhizz

What a terrible week you've had. So sad for those losing family members during this pandemic, especially not being able to visit or be with them at the end. You must be so glad that you have made the decision to leave your school. It sounds awful and no one should have to put up with being treated like that. I think you would be more than justified in taking some time off with stress and giving you time to isolate before you travel home for Christmas.  Given the amount of hours and hard work that you put in, obviously way beyond what can reasonably be expected and unappreciated, you shouldn't even feel guilty about having some time off. I know it's easier said than done and not something I would normally say, but it really does sound like you are stressed and could do with a break. Have a restful weekend.