The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Yay it is the weekend, and also payday.  It has been a long week and I have been a bit flat emotionally.  Not sure why as everything is good, maybe the disappearing sun?  Anyway we have nothing much planned for this weekend so it will be a case of resting and tidying the house to make it presentable for whoever decides to turn up.

This afternoon i have spoken to the Dr's about my hearing.  For at least 15 years I have had very little to no hearing in 1 ear.  They put it down to an infection but I figured that would have sorted itself out by now.  Anyway I have an appointment to check there is no build up of wax and then they might be able to send me for a hearing test.  Maybe a hearing aid will help, who knows.  All I know is that it is getting more difficult to hear people if I cant see their lips, so it needs sorting.

Money wise things are looking good.  All pots filled last week.  No big spends coming up, although I will be spending on petrol to collect DS from nearby town every afternoon next week, which will drain the petrol.  I will be passing the very cheap petrol station though, so will fill up there when I am done.   I have also just cashed out another £11.20 from survey site.

Just chased up the fence man, and hoping to get a firm date in the diary for that.  Re the builders and parking outside, a friend mentioned that we could claim we now own the land as have been parking there for more than 12 years without the guy saying anything or us paying any money.  Even if the threat of us doing this would stop our lack of access to the property when the builders are here, this would improve our lives greatly.  I currently dread coming home because I know there will be a row of builders blocking me.  I certainly need to look into this more.

Right I had better go and see what I can find for dinner.  Still feeling quite full from lunch as had leftovers.

slm6002

I've had a good sleep and not been up and dressed very long, even if I did wake up at normal school get up time first.  I was not getting up then and drifted back off.  I am hoping a few good nights sleep will help my mood.  The children are still fast asleep and I will let them rest for a bit longer.

DD1 has work this afternoon until 10 ish but the rest of us are free.  I would quite like to make some sort of tray for our puzzles that we do over the summer holidays.  I need to do a meal plan and adjust our online delivery.  I really need to get this working as food is getting out of control a little.  I have a parcel to package up for return and need to hoover downstairs, but a bonus is that there is no homework this weekend as it has all been done.

The gate man is coming next Monday 10th which will be great.  Will start using our outdoor space more then.

Looks like it is about to rain so no washing clothes today, although not sure what the weather will be like tomorrow.  Will go and look at the forecast.

slm6002

Up stupidly early ready for online shop to arrive - turns out it is still quite a way away!  Never mind it gives me a few hours before the children wake up to chill out in the quiet.

The younger 2 are out with XH today and DD1 says she is going out with friends, so its going to be a peaceful day.  I don't get many days when I am home alone anymore.  No idea what I am going to do with it lol.  Cleaning and washing probably.

I think I am going to up my payments to my uncle for my loan so I can start making some progress with how much I owe him (he is my mortgage lender sort of).  Up until now it has been a small amount but I think I would like to get some more paid off so will add another £50 to it.  This means I can still save towards the next building project but I need to get going with the mortgage - after all this is what this diary is supposed to be about.  The quicker I get the remaining DIY / Building projects saved and done the quicker I can up my mortgage payments to him.

I have made my payment to the savings account today with the government.  This account is building nicely.  My hope is that the car will keep going until this account matures in Oct 2024 and I will have a lump sum to put towards a new one - hopefully £3000 if my sums are correct.  I realise this wont pay for the entire car but a nice chunk towards it. 

I also realised that I hadn't made any allowance at the end of this month for new school uniform like I normally do - school shoes etc.  Now popped that in the spreadsheet ready.  I know DD2 is in need of trousers, shirts and shoes at least as has had a growth spurt in the past month or so.  I think I have the next size up in the blazer so that shouldn't be needed.  I did see lidl have some uniform for sale so I might see if they go up to her size, as she is still quite small for her age.  If not we will visit the supermarket early to make sure they don't run out of her size.

Time to get off the sofa and have a quick 5 min tidy before the asda man turns up.  Have  a great day

slm6002

Been looking at the next project in the house - upstairs bathroom.  We will be removing the bath and replacing with a shower.  We will also be rejigging the layout so things fit in better and the shower water doesn't fall on the window sill like now and we don't have to stand in front of the window for all of our neighbours to see - thankfully it is fuzzy glass but you can still see too much for my liking.  I believe I will have saved up the money I need by March next year.  I know the builders are very busy so I have asked ask them to put me in the diary - I always have a 'what if this / that happens' in the back of my mind, but I know that if I don't get it put in the diary I could be waiting a lot longer.  I am not sure how long we will be without washing facilities and wonder if we could time it to be at the same time as a cheap caravan holiday if I can get it done in one of the holidays - Easter maybe?  I will see roughly when they think it might be - I know it was around a 12 month wait.  I now need to start looking at shower enclosures and tiles again.  I am going to get the same toilet as the one downstairs as it is really good and reasonably priced.

Once that is done it just leaves the kitchen to be replaced and rejigged to make better use of the cupboards that we can fit in.  Again that will be a lot of saving up, so a good few years off as yet

I have put up the curtains I bought ages ago for the living room, and while they look good and match the rest of downstairs, it will take a little while to get used to them just being different.  Hovered the living room and given it a bit of a tidy up and it looks great again.

DD1 has offered to cook later, so I will be supervising no doubt as she likes to do it but needs reassurance.  It is DD2's turn for the dishwasher so can do that when she gets home.  DS is going to learn to iron a shirt!  He has his work experience this week so we need to make sure we are all set tonight as it is an early start.

I think I may put a film on as the washing is done, dinner is planned and it is quiet here at home

LeighofMar

I'm spoiled because I'm an emptynester but isn't having the house to yourself divine? 

slm6002

It is but very strange at the same time.  I kind of got used to it before when they would all see XH every other week, but DD1 hasn't been doing that for some time now, and she sprung it on me last night so only a short amount of time to plan to do nothing lol.

slm6002

Another day at work done, not long left really before the holidays - 13 mornings at work.  One of the people I work for is leaving so clearing everything up there.  No one ready to take over as yet so that will be fun in Sept.

Need to do some housework in a bit but nothing much else planned for today.

DS had a good first day yesterday at work experience and his lack of social skills didn't seem to get in the way of the things that he was asked to do.  Fingers crossed the rest of the week also goes well.

DD1's cleaning job started at the school yesterday.  She said people are disgusting lol.  She is focussed on the money side of things, which is very good I think.  School are trying to persuade the 6th formers to go to university (they get funding for each one that does).  Not many of her year really want to, as apprenticeships seem a better option - Work and learn at the same time whilst getting paid and the employee pays for the learning.  I have told her to keep her mind open and look at the funding (as I don't have a university pot).  She has no idea what she would like to do so swapping between the 2 every day it would appear.  Today she is fully on uni!

Right I am off to post a parcel and collect another

slm6002

Up and awake for another trip to drop DS off at my dads who will then do the second leg and deliver him to his work experience.  We will be glad once its over so we can have a lie in.  But at least he had another good day yesterday.

DD1 is in a grump with me because I told her to look at options, so this is interpreted as I'm not letting you go to university!  Hopefully she will have calmed down today and will be willing to listen to both sides of the discussion.  She has no real idea what she wants to do, which is hard.  Teachers are saying university is everything and everyone else telling her to look at the other options as well.

I have my Dr's appointment later to see if they will refer me to hearing people at the hospital - fingers crossed that they will and I can finally start hearing well again.  Work first though, and lots of meetings today

slm6002

Work done 12 to go, plus one of those is only 1 1/2 hours as I have some time off to use before the end of term.  It is looking like my hours are going to be increased from Sept.  It might not be completely what my work coach at the UC department wants but it is more, and is as many as work can give me.  It still needs to be approved but the finance manager was working things out today.  Looks like my afternoons at home will be no more, but at least it allows me to have the holidays off.

Dr's appointment done.  Ears are clear so a referral is being started to the local hospital - no idea how long a wait but as I've been waiting at least 15 years now a little longer should be ok.

DS's day 3 at work experience is done.  Still happy.  DD2 was in school as her year were allowed in.  She had 3 PE lessons then maths and english.  Seemed to have fun though and thought school was so quiet without all of the other years. DD1 was home when I finished work so we had lunch together.  She has put thinking about the future on hold for now as it is too overwhelming for her.  She is out at her pub job currently. 

It seems so late already but only just gone 6.  I must have crammed so much into the day already.  Got dance lesson next, then home for a shower and bed I reckon.

I've done some more surveys today in between other bits.  Need to make more of an effort this month as I didn't do many last month.  I need to keep entering the competitions - one day I might win

slm6002

Another week down - 2 to go.  Work experience completed and although he had a good time we will all be happy with the lack of running around next week.  All good experience though.

Nothing too much at the weekend planned - DS volunteering tomorrow and DD1 working.  DD2 is at a sleep over so will pick her up after dropping DS off.  I need to return a few more parcels that I didn't get sorted the other day. I also need to get a trophy engraved and ready for the presentation day.  Have sorted the 'how many sweets in the jar?' today, so can tick that off the list.  In fact making a list of everything needed might be needed. Sunday will be a do nothing day as we are all reaching the point of exhaustion. I will be making sure everything is sorted for next week.  We have a few sports days (parents not invited now at high school), clubs, parents evening and meet ups with friends as well as work and school.  It is getting to the end of term leaving parties etc.

As we are heading off on our holiday just a few days after school finishes I need to start thinking about what we are packing.  We normally take the basic food items like ketchup and cornflakes so we only have to buy the fresh bits while there.  Will get the plastic container out of the garage and start filling it.  With this cabin it lists on their website what is provided so that is good as I wont need to take some bits I take - just in case.  Decided to hire the bikes there rather than transport ours there and buying a bike rack.  Will see how much we use them and then decide for another time.  We will leave early and be there ready to have a late lunch.  Another list needed I think.