The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

It contains a lot of ingredients that I don't know what they are (so must be really healthy for me!) but no sign of barley.  Get him a bottle and see what he thinks.  I must have saved a fortune over the years.  I like the Freeway cola XX - It is the one with the black label.  Although if they are out of that the silver labelled diet coke is just as good just not so much like pepsi max

slm6002

So I am about to take DD2 to do her library volunteering - only 1 more to go after this.  I have already fed brothers cat and picked up the spare coke on the way past (he lives close to lidl so easy to pop in).  They were already half a tall pallet down from yesterday.  Happy to know I have some in reserve now though.  DD1 has work later on today.

It is a lovely sunny day so think I will wash DS's bedding and the towels today.  I may also hang out his duvet and look at how to wash his blanket as teenage boys stink lol.  Might get him to help do some bits around the house too or give him the option of art or housework - that is bound to get him drawing!

Need to decide what is for dinner tonight and what is left in our box of goodies.

Going to be fairly chilled day either way hopefully.  I would like another few pounds on the surveys if I can, and there is a lot of bits in the living room that need sorting still.

Right off to deliver DD2

slm6002

Well the sun has disappeared and the washing is now inside as there are some very dark clouds heading this way.  I started off dressed for summer and have slowly added another layer, socks and a cardigan.

Decided on the pasta bake for dinner which includes veg and pesto.  We aren't normally fans of pesto so it may not be a hit, but at least we can say we tried it.  We still have choc crunch and custard left over from yesterday in case the main doesn't satisfy us enough.

Been trying to prise details of what DD1 wants to do / have later on in life.  Doing it in the hope that we can work backwards and see what the next step is.  So far falling in love with a handsome rich man is the most she has come up with.  Told her she needs a plan B!

Done some admin bits that have been hanging around and I have been putting off for some time,  Glad they are out of the way.

slm6002

Well cat fed and keys delivered for my boss as a favour.  All before 9am!

Not sure what the weather has planned today - feels like autumn at the moment - I guess we aren't that far off.  Last week of the holidays so need to get a few bits finished and make sure things are in place for the first week back.  I am still unsure if the extra hours will start straight away as I've not had any paperwork.  I am guessing maybe not.

If I have the urge I could also get ahead of myself and complete a set of accounts ready for them to be audited in the next month or so.  Hopefully they should be fairly straight forward as nothing much has happened this year. 

Not much is planned for the week ahead and cat duty is over tomorrow morning so it should be just plodding and relaxing for a week.  We still haven't made it to the carvery so will try to go out for that one evening this week.  Still plenty of money in the holiday pot, which will just get rolled over.  Still also have a few pounds of food vouchers left although not enough for a whole shop.  Need to start thinking about getting ready for winter / birthdays / Christmas too as these will all appear very shortly.

I went on a website and planned out our bathroom the other night.  It was the first time that I took measurements and this has meant a few of the planned items would not fit properly.  Still doable though and nice to see what it should turn out to be like - well as far as a 3D plan can show.

slm6002

Last cat duty done and reported back that both cat and hamster are still alive and happy (niece was worried they would run away whilst they were on holiday).  So no need to go out tonight and feed them.  Another day of not much, but I do need to find somewhere to put our vast amount of board games.  When we had our sort out in the garage they were thinned down a lot but we still have quite a few.  I think when going through them again it might go down a few more.

Yesterday ended up being wet and miserable.  The younger 2 were with XH but came home soggy as they kept getting caught out in the rain - not sure yesterday was really a day for being outside.  I sorted a bag ready for the second hand children's shop - they are having a toy drop off day which we don't need to have an appointment for.  We can still only take 1 bag in though. That will still get rid of the all of the dress up costumes and a few of the games that we could sell rather than donate.  I will drop that off after work on the first Thursday of work - may even put it in the boot of the car now so that it is ready and I can go straight there, and not in the corner of the living room. I then have 2 more bags to go in once they open the appointments for clothes again which will be beginning of oct I think.

Mum mentioned that she has booked to come over in the May half term.  Although it would be lovely to see her. I am a little concerned as we will be in the middle of DD1's A Levels and DS's GCSE's.  It just might not be the best time as we will probably be occupied and not able to much with her, which is not the idea.  I am also thinking of changing next years holiday as where we have booked is no where near anything.  I am tempted to go to the Isle of Wight instead.  We used to go every other year when we were younger and although it has changed I'm sure, it still looks just as lovely.  Who knows?  I have also decided to get my passport in case I need to make any urgent visits to mum as her health is not great.  If I was needing to go quickly at the moment it would not be an easy or quick task.  I don't plan on using it otherwise as not keen on going abroad, and happy to stay in the uk, however it would be a useful extra piece of ID, not that I am planning on needing it.

joedenise

The Isle of Wight is still lovely - it seems to be in a bit of a time warp in some ways but we love it there although haven't been since pre Covid but no reason to think it will have changed much in that time.

Good idea getting a passport now just in case you need it; it's extremely expensive to get an on the day one sorted - as DH and I know to our cost!  

Probably worth mentioning to your mum that May half term isn't a good time for her to come, perhaps a bit later in the year would be better although probably a bit more expensive!  Just changing her flights shouldn't be that more expensive if she does it now rather than leaving it longer.  Good luck with that!

slm6002

Thank you @joedenise, I am still thinking about the holiday at the moment - we have time so will see.  It was expensive for us this year so was hoping to have a cheaper one next year, although DD1 will be 18 so who know if this might be the last.  Anyway I have time.

Today I have been researching a few treats over the next term.  I am unsure if there will be extra revision lessons during the holidays or not so not booking anything as yet.  I would like to book a few treats such as a light display similar to the one we did last year.  There is a national trust house not too far away that does them so might book that when tickets are on sale.  Then there is the pumpkin patch that we missed out on last year as we waited too long and they shut because they sold out - this year we will plan to go earlier.  The children will moan but it will be fresh air and not last all day.  They will get a homemade hot choc or pizza to go with it which should help.  Plus it will be an excuse not to revise for a few hours which might get DS on board lol.

slm6002

Morning to you all.  Today we have our last crochet session at the library and to say thank you I bought some nice biscuits for the ladies.  We are aiming to get there earlier rather than later today as want to hand them over before the normal ones are plated up, and to get a decent seat.

After that we are going to the nearby town that we don't really visit anymore to have the carvery that I have promised we would have at some point.  We nearly went yesterday but prices were more expensive just because it was a bank holiday, so we decided to wait.  If it is not chucking it down with rain we will then go to the beach for the rest of the afternoon.  Because XH takes them there every week they are bored with it, but I haven't been there in ages and love the sound of the waves.  Anyway the sky at the moment is looking very much like rain so it will be a wait and see plan.  It also means that dinner will be a lunch type dinner when we get home.

Money wise lunch will come from the holiday fund as there is plenty left in there.  Today I had my bonus child benefit payment lol.  I do like it when there are 2 payments in one month.  Not sure who thought of paying this every 4 weeks rather than monthly but there we go, plus I wouldn't get a bonus one would I.  Money is ticking along nicely and it is not long until payday on Thursday.  Also hoping survey sites start clearing some of the £5 balance I have waiting so I can cash it all out at the end of the month.  So far £32.66 has cleared.

Yesterday we did our uniform checks.  All uniform present and correct, and the only stationery to check is DS's who was mid game!  DD2 will need a new blazer before long as hers does fit that well around her anymore, but apparently she doesn't do it up anyway.  I think we have a spare in the loft so will have a look later.  Her one she is wearing will be fine for a little while either way but will keep it in the back of my mind.  Tomorrow DS has his haircut and then we are ready.  Last night while lying in bed DD1 brings me my laptop asking me to log on to the school system.  Apparently the timetables were out and she needed to check them.  How dare they change it when she liked last years timetable.  I had to remind her she is not the only child in the school and yes every year she has a new timetable.  One of her teachers has vanished too leaving the one she doesn't like.  She was not happy but not much I could do.  DS has a teacher that I have requested we don't have as he is a family friend (sort of).  I know when DD1 had him briefly a lot of the private life came up in class conversation.  DS says he doesn't mind, but I'm a bit wary.  Will see how it goes.

Right time to head off  

joedenise

I suspect the 4 weekly child benefit is because previously it was always paid weekly and it's far easier to calculate 4 weekly rather than monthly!  Would be a bit confusing for anyone changing from weekly to monthly as it wouldn't be exact!!

slm6002

Yes @joedenise I'm sure you are right about the 4 week payments.  I remember going to the post office every week with mum to collect her money in cash.

Busy busy day today and thankfully the rain held off.  The curtains are shut now so no idea if it is raining yet.  We went to the library and did our final crochet session, although DD2 is still off school next week so could walk there if she wanted.  The ladies there would happily look after her.  The biscuits were appreciated by all. We then went for our lunch which was lovely although my eyes were too big for my tummy.  I couldnt finish it all, but all the veg looked so good, I had to have some bits of everything, especially as the children only like certain veg so I dont cook other types very often.  After that we carried on down the road to the seaside where we enjoyed a lovely walk along the seafront.  We sat on the beach for a while playing and looking at the stones and the sea.  As we walked back to the car we stopped for a £1 each on the 2p machines, and then a little further had an ice cream.  All exhausted we came home and collapsed lol. 

Not seen DD2 since.  DS came down as one of his computer controllers has broken so only has 1.  I was about to say he has money to buy another but stopped as by only having one he has to wait for it to recharge.  He now will have down time to revise! I had a headache and felt really cold so popped some pills and put my winter pjs and hoodie on.  Feel a little better now but head still feels heavy on my neck.  Will be early to bed tonight.

Discussed next years holiday and DD's are refusing to get on a ferry.  Maybe staying closer to home.  It was even mentioned about not going away.  I think all 3 of them would just hide in there rooms if that was the case.  We will see.