The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

I did wonder if I should be chasing them still as well as the bank.  The bed is now in the garage and has been dismantled ready for if they wish to come and collect it.

DD1 has been grumpy all day and not been willing to help clean the house in preparation for this evenings meeting.  If I hadn't have needed her to take DD2 out, her keys to her car would have disappeared.  Downstairs is looking good thanks to the other 2 and several hours of cleaning.  He things that she refused to move have been dumped on her bed.  She is now telling me how rude and nasty I've been all day.  Think the hormones are having fun today.

Hoping tonight is an easy quick meeting with quick decisions being made.  Got a busy day tomorrow so I don't want to be up until all hours going over things.  We start at 7 so they could appear any time now.

slm6002

Well that was fairly easy.  All done and apart from distributing funds and assets then that is that.  I treated us to a little heating but half an hour at the most.  At least we now know that the radiators are all good.  

Tomorrow we have the gutters being cleaned, DS is off to the dentist to see about braces with my dad, DD2 and I are off to the library for crochet and then home via a recycling / green event run by the council.  No idea but might be fun and might pick up some tips.  Will pop accounts to auditor as well as visiting the refill shop for more oregano.  We hope to walk into the town so free exercise too.

joedenise

If the green event is anything like the one I went to a few years ago there were plenty of leaflets showing what could and couldn't be recycled and what happens if a load is contaminated with just one thing that shouldn't be there - the whole load is wasted!  There were also free samples of compost bin liners so picked up a few of those, my DD did as well even though where she lived she wasn't actually able to recycle food waste so that was extra for me.  Well worth picking up if they have anything like that as they're not cheap to buy!

I do wish we had a refill shop where I live but unfortunately it's something we don't have.  There used to be one in a town I used to visit several times a year but even that got closed down due to people not using it enough which was a shame.

slm6002

The refill shop is never busy and I wonder how long it can last.  I think last time I was there I spend 24p filling up my jar of herbs.  So much better than supermarket prices and obviously much better for the environment, but don't suppose it did much for their profits.  I would like a bay tree for Christmas so that I can just pick what I need rather than have it dried in a bottle.  

Waiting for DD2 to get downstairs before we head off.   It is currently raining but does look fairly bright outside so hopefully it will soon stop.

slm6002

97p for 2 spice jars of oregano.  Should keep us going for a little while.  Crochet session done and the ladies were happy to see us and how far our projects had progressed. 

The green event was good and have picked up recipe cards for various pumpkin things plus a veg curry.  Several years ago at another event we picked up a bag that you kept your glass recycling in.  A few years later after a lot of use, my mums one broke.  We have been looking at every event since and today was our lucky day.  I have picked up another 2 for her.  She is thrilled and so was I when I spotted them.

The gutter man has been and all is good to go.  He wasn't here as long as I thought he would be.  Made sure everything was clean and clear and then made sure they were in a good condition.  Since moving in 20 years ago, they have never been done so not too bad.  Obviously now I am aware of what might happen if not maintained I will not leave it so long lol.

DS needs better teeth hygiene before he is allowed braces but doesn't seem too fussed either way.  They are not terrible but could be better.   

The rest of the afternoon is free to do as we wish and tomorrow is fairly quiet as we planned nothing for DS's bday.  Housework is only needed upstairs as cleaned downstairs yesterday.  Might carry on with my crochet and see if I can get that closer to be finished

slm6002

Well DS is now 16 and had a good birthday doing not a lot yesterday (just how he likes it).  Homemade pizza for his birthday dinner and a chocolate tray bake cake.  They always ask for the same one and every year I offer to bake one or to buy a different one.  But still they go for the same basic one.  This year I have noticed that the basic version is the same price as the branded one and increase.  I think last year they were £5 and yesterday it was £8.25.  That is a big increase.

DS is now on the hunt for a part time job.  With help he applied for one and then gave up looking.  I mentioned it may be a good idea to apply for a few, especially as the one we applied for may not employ 16 year olds.  I wish they would say 'we don't employ under 18's' if that is the case.  We will see what happens but he is keen to earn, and happy to work for it so that is a good thing in my books.

Today we had a possibility that we might be outdoor cooking.  We are on the waiting list.  If a family doesn't turn up then we will be called.  Nothing as yet, but as it doesn't start until 10 so we have a short while to wait before we know what we are doing today.  I do need to do some washing as I am lacking in basic clothes.  No line drying today though as it is drizzling and looking wet all day.

I hope to do some more surveys today as I haven't done as many as I would like this month,  I've not even made £10 yet which is quite unusual for me.  I also need to start progressing on the Christmas gifts.  As it looks like we aren't going to my sisters I will need to either post her items or send them with my Dad at the beginning of Nov when he visits her.

LadyWithAPlan

Well done on the 16th bday treats - sounds like a fun night for all though £3.25 is a big jump in cake price ! 

The outdoor cooking sounds great 

Hoping your DS gets a job he just needs to keep asking - and it’s a good life lesson in perseverance and not always getting what we want at first attempt - I am thinking I need to go get an extra job and the starting to look always takes new energy 

Are there  any market stalls or ideally closed in shopping places eg Birmingham bull ring as they often hire young people. 

Or Lid* l  ? They employ 16 over in the warehouse but not in stores as the stores serve alcohol 

slm6002

@LadyWithAPlan yes we do have a market, but not so sure he is sociable enough to be on a stall.  One of the places has said they do take 16 year olds but it is a busy kitchen so he needs to have the right character for the job.  He is thinking and will decide by tomorrow morning if he thinks he would like to go for it.

Well after I posted this morning I got a call from the outdoor cooking saying they had a space for us.  DD2 was still in bed so we rushed around and half an hour later we were joining the group lighting the fire.  As always we had a great time and make some yummy food.  We then bought home even more food to keep us going for the next 5 main meals.

I also forgot to mention that I got a letter through the post yesterday saying that I qualify for £150 towards my electricity bill.  It will go directly to B Gas but that is a nice bonus that will make me feel like we can turn the heating on a little more.  I also got a text letting me know the cost of living payment will also be hitting my bank between the end of the month and mid Nov.  All help gratefully received.

Tomorrow is the boiler service at 10.  Will ask him to take a look at the lounge radiator at the same time as it wasn't working last time the heating was on.  It didn't even have a warm pipe leading to it.  Need to also feed brothers cat before he arrives and then again in the evening.    Not much else planned other than making sure homework is done, and completing any washing as I only got 1 load done today as we were gone most of the day.

Right I am off to bed as I think tomorrow needs to be an early start.

slm6002

Cat fed, Boiler man been and house cleared up downstairs (as boiler man was arriving).  He really is a lovely chap and only charges £60.  We always have a good chat too while he is working.  Anyway money in the house pot for the boiler so no extra charges, plus hopefully he has mended the living room radiator and it is warming up as I type (it is yay).  Meter readings taken and submitted as well.

Children have been woken although no one has ventured downstairs as yet.  Next is homework and washing.  Tonight will either be burgers or sweet potato curry thanks to our food box.   Once the builders have left for the day I will go an feed the cat and pick up DD1s prescription.  I would also like to visit Lidl as running low on pop again.  Not managed to build a stock up in the garage as yet.  Need to start doing this before the winter sets in.  I am hoping with my new working times I can get some bits done around the house or jobs like the supermarket done while kids are at school.

Right best get moving

slm6002

Last day of the half term and a few things to catch up on.

I will pop to feed the cat next and then collect DD1 from a party.  She has annoyed me and I knew she would end up staying.  Since turning 18 the rule following for my house seems to have been stretched beyond belief.  It cant go on as she will be living here for some time as yet from the looks of it.  She has mock exams in the next week or so which she hasn't revised for, and apparently she is skipping work today too.  Not sure what is going on, but since becoming and adult she has been acting more childish than ever.

Anyway washing, homework and working out what is for dinner is on the list of jobs for today.  Will make sure work and school bags are packed and by the door.  DD2 needs cooking ingredients for tomorrow - fajitas - not exactly suitable to bring home and eat.  Her lesson is first thing so they will be sitting around all day (hopefully in a fridge).  I think the only thing I don't have is a lime.  Wondering if a lemon would do as I have some of those.

Right time to get on