The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Happy Easter Monday.  My uncle decided to go home this morning rather than later today as the weather is awful.  The rest of the family met up at a fairly local woods for a walk and a little bit of Geocaching.  It was grotty weather and I am still trying to dry off and warm up, but we all had a good time.  The whole morning was free and we came home with easter eggs and were treated to a hot chocolate in the local cafe to warm up.  This went down very well.

It is always nice having visitors but it is also nice when they go and we can relax a bit more.  I am therefore on the sofa with the radio on and catching up on emails.  Almost fell asleep at one point but must not loose track of time as we are off to pub for dinner with the family.  Again we will be treated so it wont cost us anything.

Have managed a few surveys since being on the sofa and reached £10.  Decided to wait and perhaps turn it into a pub / pizza voucher for our holiday.  I cashed out the Tesco points yesterday for pizza restaurant to take with us on holiday.  I have looked at activities while on holiday and kids have agreed they want to just go on walks / bike rides and spend time in the cabin.  I have a treasure trail in a local place as well as an outdoor escape room booked that is run by the campsite I believe.  I am guessing it is like a treasure trail but with added puzzles to solve along the way.  There are also forest walks  so we will be doing lots of out door bits.  I looked at hiring bikes when there but at £35 per day per person I cant bring myself to pay that.  We will instead bring our bikes and borrow my brothers bike rack hopefully.

Not heard from the builder as yet about if they are here tomorrow.  Fingers crossed they will be and the plumbing can begin.  DD2 has art session including lunch tomorrow and thurs and they we have outdoor cooking fri so will be kept busy and not a lot of time for resting.  All free though so really cant complain.

slm6002

Good morning.  I am up bright and early again as the builders are back today.  They said mid morning so guessing they will arrive soon.  I am hoping all of the pipe work can be done today, but really I have no idea what the plan is.  The joint where the upstairs waste pipe meets the one at the base of the house outside has been leaking lately (a job XH tried to fix but used the wrong type of joint as he had no idea at all).  I am hoping when they join the new pipe, that they mend this and it will no longer be a problem.  It may even be some of the reason the toilet keeps blocking - probably nothing to do with it but I am hopeful lol.

We went out on Monday evening to our family meal.  I chose very well and am still really impressed with it even after a few days.  Everyone enjoyed their food and it was a lovely relaxed few hours. I just keep thinking, that really was a great meal and nice night out.  Highlight of the weekend I think.

Mum has mentioned coming to visit for maybe a weekend again soon.  I suggested the half term or summer holidays so we can relax and enjoy rather than getting ready for work.  We could make the most of it then.  Will wait to be told some dates.  (Update - look like May half term it is).  Might  see if it is possible to hire her a mobility scooter as she is still very wobbly on her legs.  Time to work out what we are going to be doing.

We have no plans to go anywhere today but the washing pile is getting bigger so will do a couple of loads.  DD1 has a driving lesson at 12.  She seems to be getting worse each lesson rather than better.  He test is next week and I do wonder if she will pass.  I guess we will see on the day and she can always retake.

The children have requested a takeaway for dinner so we are having a chinese tonight.  I will then be hoping to start the new school term and new eating habits.  My easter eggs will be done and it is time to start looking at my health again.  The house is on track and my mental health is a lot better since XH and him leaving caused me to feel so low, so I need to look at getting myself back on track and loosing some (a lot) of weight.  Slimming world has worked in the past but I cant stand the meetings.  I will follow with the knowledge I have gained over the many years of paying.  I am aiming to loose 1 stone by the summer hols.  I am going for a low goal as this should be possible given the amount I need to loose.  I shouldn't fail then and feel like I am useless (the reason I don't like the meetings).

Right off to put a load of washing in the machine before the builders arrive

slm6002

Well the builders are here.  We have no choice other than to watch really unless I go back to the bedroom or go out (might do that just to get out of the way shortly).  Anyway they are rehanging the door on the opposite side of the doorframe so the new door doesn't bash into it.  I am a little confused as rather than just turning door round, they seem to be making a new hole for the handle and hinges.  Maybe that is the way to do it, but looks like a lot of faff rather than just turning the door round.  I am sure they know better than me what to do.
The other builder has placed the toilet and sink unit in place so that we can see what it looks like.  He is now doing plumbing and pipes etc.  They are hoping to have it almost complete by the end of the week

joedenise

@slm6002 - if you would like to join the SW thread on here you would be very welcome.  The thread is here:  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6439264/step-into-a-lighter-summer-23-with-slimming-world#latest - it's for anyone who is following SW whether attending group or going it alone as you want to do.

There may have been some changes to syn values since you did SW before so can always ask on there if you needed to.  It's also 2 HEAs and 1 HEB now rather than the one of each it used to be.

Look forward to seeing you over there if you decide to join us.

slm6002

Thank you @joedenise I may head over that way and have a look.
DD1 has had a drama as the driving instructor who turned up at 12 rather than 2.30 and sat outside without knocking on door for 30 min and then driving off. She cant really afford to loose the time or money.  Why he didn't come to the door to see where she was I have no idea.  She was grumpy to start with so this hasn't helped

Crazycatlady2

That’s not good, my son’s instructor would ring or text after 5 mins. Although anyone pulls up outside our house gets barked at by the dog so we know someone there 😂🤷‍♀️

slm6002

When she replied to his text he sounded relieved that she was ok.  Surely if there was no sign you would knock on the door.  The builders are here so it wouldn't have taken much to ask if someone was home.  If he had parked out the front I would have seen him, but he goes out the back and unless I look on the camera I have no idea.  Anyway all sorted - fingers crossed she will do ok on her test

joedenise

slm6002 said:

Thank you @joedenise I may head over that way and have a look.
DD1 has had a drama as the driving instructor who turned up at 12 rather than 2.30 and sat outside without knocking on door for 30 min and then driving off. She cant really afford to loose the time or money.  Why he didn't come to the door to see where she was I have no idea.  She was grumpy to start with so this hasn't helped

Glad you decided to come over to the thread.

Can't believe the instructor didn't knock after a few minutes with no sign of your daughter.  I'd be really annoyed by that.

slm6002

@joedenise I thought knocking would be common sense but who knows.  Up early and had to put the bins out this morning as it was too windy last night,  On the streets that had been emptied all the bins were lying down from the wind.  I didn't fancy all of my recycling all over the road by the morning.

The builders are back today and got on well yesterday.  They put things in the correct places so we know roughly how it will look once done.  The big boss was under the floor most of the day putting in pipes and on the drive is a waste pipe so I reckon that might be todays plan.

DD2 has an art workshop at the library and I have lunch with some of the ladies from work.  We then have club this evening - must not forget this as during the holiday we tend to forget. DD1 & DS will be doing the next session so I we need to make sure we have dinner first and that we take something to do while we are there for 2.5 - 3 hours.  The older session will be much better for them as they are really too old for the first session.

Money wise the only expense will be lunch but that will come out of my personal spends pot and should be fairly cheap as its wetherspoons and club is £4.50 which will come from the change in my purse hopefully.  Have a great day

slm6002

Great day had by all. 
* Meal out was good and cheap. 
* Builder put more pipes in, including ones above ground for the radiator and sink, as well as the waste pipe - or I assume that has gone in as is no longer out the back on the drive. They are back tomorrow and believe it should be finished by the end of next week.
* Club was good although it has now gone up to £2 per child as cost of the hall are rising.  I still think that is good value for what it is and all 3 children will get some training and exercising for £6 per week.
* Some of the plants I ordered have arrived.  Will try to plant them out at the weekend as tomorrow will already be quite a long day.
* Had a call from tomorrows outdoor cooking just to check we are still going.  I will need something warm to wear I think as I have been quite cold today.
* Been to check out where Mum will be staying in Half term.  Nice and close to the station and near a good pub.

Right I think I am off to bed as I am sleepy, or at least to watch some tv in bed