The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Good evening. We've just finished up the meat from Sundays roast. Added a sauce and topped with mash, all served with lots of veg. Money saving, filling and healthy. I am not very good at picking meat off the bones or eating the leg meat, but when the meat is in a pie it is easier to disguise. So far the meal plan is going well and the fridge is looking good. This morning I did pop into lidls to collect my free gifts on the way to work as I was running early (no children to get out of the house). Neither were of any use to me so they went straight in the food bank collection as I am sure they can make use of them.

Slow day at work, but at least things are starting to be straightened out and decisions are being made. Hopefully staff will start feeling a little happier from now on and peoples moods will lift. I am always the happy one in the office but even I am finding it hard to cheer people up at the moment.

I have done quite a few surveys today and all for over a £ each. I am now up to £24.46. I will wait until I am £25 and then cash out for another voucher.

As DS turns 16 soon I have been trying to find a job that would be suitable. It was easier with DD1 as she would speak to people and has manners. DS is not so sociable, in fact unless you are on the other end of a computer game you cant get a conversation out of him. We tried signing him up for some volunteer work at the museum nearby doing some gardening for them, but they are still to get back to him. He has emailed them today to see if they are still looking for volunteers. I know he needs to learn to communicate, but I know it is going to be a slow process so getting the right employer to slowly bring him out will be needed. I just dont see him working in a cafe or anywhere that he is involved with face to face customers. Will keep thinking, as he will need to save for car insurance like DD1.

Ready for another early night 😴

slm6002

Good evening, it has been a long week considering its been a short week at school.  DD1 has been out and about in the car which has had me worrying each time she has gone out, but really she has been ok.  She is gathering experience, but I wish she would not be in a rush to take people everywhere.  She has a tyre that is going down so tomorrow we need to have a look at that.  It is a fairly new tire so not sure what the problem is.  She also broke up with her BF so emotions are high.

Work has been very quiet all week which has made it drag a little.  Hopefully next week it will improve.

DS has been invited into the local museum that we go to so have a look at volunteering in the garden.  He needs to get some work experience for his CV and hopefully it will get him to socialise and learn how to talk to people a little more.

Voting was yesterday.  Normally I vote by post and I did, but the council got the ballot papers wrong so sent some more.  I ended up having to visit the local centre to hand the new paper in.  I walked in to find one of mine and XH good friends.  I have not spoken to him since he took sides and believed I could be so horrid to XH.  I was polite but didn't make conversation, even though he acted as if nothing had happened.  I don't need those type of friends anymore.

Caught up with my best friend today and put the world right.  Got almost everything for our afternoon tea tomorrow.  Going to nip to the bakers in the morning for a fresh loaf of bread.  Then home to make some scones and we are ready.  Talking of food the meal plan went very well this week and nothing was wasted or is left over.  Tomorrow I will work on this weeks meals

Off to bed shortly to get a decent nights sleep

slm6002

Feeling nice and relaxed this morning and happy to have a nice long weekend to look forward to.  I have been out and got the last few bits needed for today.  I will shortly make the sandwiches and get things ready so all I can join in with everything else later.

We really don't have that much planned this weekend other than pottering around the house.  On Monday a work friend, myself and DD2 are going to do some archery.  The local club are offering taster sessions for free and a work friend has never been before so said we would go with her.

I need to look at the house insurance too as they want another £100 on top of last years premium.  Might be time to switch I think.  I want to have a quick check of my budget spreadsheet too just to make sure things are going in the right direction in other areas too.  I paid the last instalment of the holiday this week so need to look at spending money for that too.  I also need to gather info and vouchers relating to the holiday, and put them in a wallet ready so its all in one place.

Hopefully there will be some good surveys to do as well today to earn a few pennies 

slm6002

Well I managed to get my house insurance for less than last years price and almost a 3rd of this years renewal price so pretty happy with that.

Had a lovely day with the children.  We watched the coronation, had afternoon tea and just finished playing a family game called outsmarted. 

I have also had an alcoholic drink which is almost unheard of.  The other day in the supermarket I saw raspberry vodka which to me sounded very nice.  As I don't like many drinks I thought I would try their pre mixed with lemonade cans, just in case I didn't like it and didn't want to waste it.  I only bought 1 but it is very yummy and doesn't taste alcoholic at all.  It would be very easy to drink too many.  DD1 tried a sip and agreed.  I may have to get another can for the summer.

Off to bed feeling happy after a good lazy family day

slm6002

Good morning to you all.  Had a lovely lie in this morning but did keep thinking I was supposed to be up because something should be happening.  Nothing is.  At 10am when the insurance office opens I need to ring DD1's insurance for her as they are saying they are about to cancel it because she has not arranged the black box fitting.  We have and it is on Friday so not sure where things have got mixed up.  Tried to contact them over  the weekend but it was shut.

Nothing much else planned.  The usual washing, homework, getting ready for work and school that normally goes on.  DD1 is off to local picnic spot with her friends although it is forecast to be raining by then but lovely and sunny now.  Another reason to get the washing on quickly.

Me and DD2 are off to our archery with a work friend later which will be fun as we enjoy the chance to do archery again.  Work friend has never been so will be nice for her.  We will probably end up with a drink in the cafe after too but I still have money in my personal spends pot and the archery is free. 

Easy pasta bake for dinner so a nice lazy day again.  I don't like these 3 day weekends as it sets me up to want the whole week off.  I'm in holiday mode now but know its back to work again.  I am also very aware that we have visitors for the whole of the half term so the next lazy holiday is the actual summer holidays which will come round really quickly no doubt.

Right must get on before the clouds come over and stop washing drying.  Have a great BH everyone.

missymoo81

Sounds like you had a lovely weekend! We had a little picnic today! All these BH weekends have thrown me too, back to work tomorrow though. I love all the free things you end up doing, I really do need to try and be more resourceful! Have a great day tomorrow.

slm6002

We did thank you.  We are very good at finding free things to do - you need to look in lots of places and be willing to go to some things that aren't really as expected, but most of the time the outings are great. Days out really do not need to cost a lot at all.  Missy do your children have blue peter badges?  Not that we have ever used ours as we don't venture too far, but you can get into some places for free with them as long as an adult pays.  They don't need to do too much to get one either. Another place that I have found recently is Eventbrite as you can see all of the events locally that are free.  We have been to several, as well as a few that I have paid for.

 As you say back to work today and really hope I get given some work to do to keep me busy or the day will really drag.  It is raining so at least I'm not missing out being in the sun whilst there.  

This afternoon I plan on hoovering and maybe getting another chair re upholstered as I need to start getting a few bits finished ready for mum.  Only 3 weeks to go.  Also need to book the table for when she is here at the local restaurants.

Right time to shout at children to get them ready for school!  Have a great day

slm6002

Just finished watching Michael McIntyre on netflix.  I do like him and the kids were laughing at it too.  Nice light hearted programme before we head to bed.  Had a very easy dinner of loaded fries.  A bit of a treat really but easy and lots of veg tomorrow to compensate.

Work went ok - not too slowly but I was able to leave half and hour early to go and do some errands for work.  Fingers crossed the rest of the week goes just as well, although the lady I'm waiting for is only in one day this week so who knows.  The builders were here when we got home but left before school pickup.  They still have no safety signs or proper fencing to stop people from getting hurt.  I wonder how long it will be before they get a visit.  Although they were on site nothing else had been done so who knows what they were here for other to annoy the rest of us.

We have had thunder this evening so got the cats in early and shut the horrid weather out.  Our house is pretty sound proof so we didn't hear much and the cats are happy munching on their dinner.

A big survey just cleared so I now have £26 ish to cash out on.  I need to decide what vouchers to buy with it - holiday meal voucher or xmas presents money voucher?  Will leave it there until the morning and then decide.

I didn't get the chair or the hoovering done after work - maybe tomorrow

slm6002

Another busy day almost done.  Work was ok but will soon run out of things to do if lady doesn't give me some more work.  I'm onto the archiving now so must be getting desperate!  Whilst at work the black box was fitted to DD1's car so I drove very carefully back to meet her.  We then went to book it in to the garage to get the brakes sorted and then onto the garage for her to fill it up with petrol.  Her face when it took only a few minutes to get past £30.  £30+ of her hard earned money.  It is a good life lesson.

Once the school run was done it was straight onto the opticians to choose new frames for DD2 and test and frames for DD1.  Thankfully most of it is paid for via the NHS but as DD2 wears hers all of the time we get the ones that turn into sunglasses so there is an extra cost there.  Nothing paid until they are picked up, but thankfully this is sorted by the glasses pot I have In a week and a bit it is DS's turn for his test and no doubt new glasses, but his will be free ones as he rarely wears them anyway.

After that I had half an hour before my class.  We tapped away and had some new ladies join us.  We started a new level which proved more challenging that the last and got our brains working too.  Now home and waiting for the water to heat up for the shower, whilst the dinner is also in the oven.  A very late one tonight.  Looking forward to shower and bed.

Tomorrow straight from school DS has his volunteering interview.  He is not keen but it will be good for him.

I cashed out the survey money last night and in the end bought another pizza express voucher.  We now have £70 in vouchers.  It will certain go a good way towards our meal out while on holiday.

So other than getting the voucher with survey money nothing was spent today

slm6002

Slow day again at work but all done until tomorrow.  It is currently really raining and there is thunder.  DS has his volunteering interview this afternoon after school but other than that, the evening is ours so hopefully a relaxed one.

I have received an invite to a family school quiz one night after half term.  Might be a fun night out.  I am sure we wont win but might be a giggle.  Trying to get friends to come along with me and will mention it to the children too as we need their young brains.

The builders have taken their digger away even though the only thing they have used it for is to dig one tiny square and then covered it up.  There were a group of men all standing round this meter squared hole looking into it just staring lol.  Not sure if they found something when doing this that will halt / delay things but if digger isn't there they are not going to be digging foundations anytime soon - or maybe I am wrong and its just wishful thinking.