The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Well we did some revision but the pure scale of things he needs to do is huge.  We have a plan but I do wish he had started a little earlier.  Can't do anything about that now other than help and support him.  For one of his lessons he hasn't actually had a teacher for the majority of the course.  In 2 years he has had someone for 1 term who is a teacher and even then he hasn't been teaching them, I guess he realises they know nothing and has almost given up.  We are attempting to teach ourselves on this one.  So unfair and the school realise this but did nothing to help.

Anyway today we will be revising, washing, delivering eggs to brother's family, cleaning the kitchen and that is probably it.  I still need to post sisters birthday card - it is going to be late.

Yesterday was a no spend day other than the voucher sent to my sister, but that came out of the birthday pot.  No plans to spend anything today either as we have plenty of food in.

slm6002

Yay everything we needed to get done has been completed.  Brother came to us instead so we haven't had to leave the house, and he even took sisters card to put in the post box.

DS sent off his CV to a local café the other day and has a trial next Sunday.  It is the café where DD1 works so they know about him and his slightly quirky ways already.  They will be working together.  It is washing up which he is happy about as nothing too much to remember.  He didn't accept the job until he had spoken with XH as it would be on the same days that he sees him, and he is still keen to keep contact.  After a quick discussion XH decided the best idea was a few hours on a Sat evening going for something to eat.  I am sure XH will be happy as he wont need to find things to entertain DS with, and DS can also work Saturdays too if needed, so better for all.  DD2 has been working there today and bought home a big bag of food that didn't sell, including jacket potatoes, so we will have those shortly for our dinner.

Next door has let us know that he is no longer able to cut our grass for us, which is fine,  I may need to get a brown bin from the council for plant / grass cuttings etc as he used to get rid of those for us too.  I have been thinking that maybe we need one for a while.  Will get the mower out before long and hope that it can cope with the first cut of the year.  Not been used since XH left as neighbour took pity on us and did it.  Just looked and it would cost me £59 a year and a 1 off £10 for the admin.  Yes I will have more than normal but will it get full that often?  Something to think about.

joedenise

Our council have put up the brown bin to £59 this year too - it was £36 last year!  Quite honestly you don't want to fill it up ever - particularly with grass cuttings, as it is just too heavy to move!  We just decided it's easier, although not cheaper of course, than having to bag everything up, book an appointment at the tip every so often, just to get rid of garden waste.  

I don't know about your council but ours gets emptied every 2 weeks so 26 times a year so it only works out at about £2.30 a time (or less than £5 a month).  With a 16 mile round trip to our closest tip it's probably no cheaper doing it on a DIY basis!  Certainly something to think about.

slm6002

Thank you @joedenise for tip about it being too heavy - wouldn't have realised this until too late.  We have the tip about 2 miles away, but each time we have needed to take the weeds etc to the tip in the past, they have been left in a container too long and gone stinky.  Maybe my laziness needs the bin.  It gets collected every 2 weeks apparently apart from over Christmas and new year.   I was thinking of cutting the grass this weekend but the weather forecast is rain almost constantly over the next 2 weeks.

Happy Easter to you all.  I may have eaten a very small chocolate egg for breakfast.  I didn't sleep well again and kept waking up.  I eventually came downstairs around 7am, which I later realised was really 6am as the clocks changed last night.  I think I may end up having a little nap later on.

No plans for today other than cooking a roast later on.  I think we will still need to do some revision even if it is a little less than yesterday.  It is now raining so not sure we will make it outside much today.  But it should be a NSD as the shops are shut.  I can move money around tomorrow too.

debtfreewannabe321

Well done to DS getting a job (and free food is a bonus eh!) 
My DD is revising for her GSCEs too, I have heard that one of their science teachers has been off 'ill' for over a year and it is no wonder she is predicted such a bad grade now. Had I known I would have been able to support her with some extra learning. Not too happy about that really.
Our green bin collection has only just started, end of March to end of October and we have to pay £44!! I'm very close to the tip and we often do extra runs for green waste in the summer. 

slm6002

Been a good day of relaxing and revising (DS has had plenty of time on the xbox too as I'm not that mean).  We've just enjoyed a lovely roast dinner and will be watching a film on the tv before getting an early night

Just cashed out just over £26 from survey site.  I will be buying a voucher for xmas as soon as it has cleared.

slm6002

Happy April. The sun is shining although lots of clouds about and chilly, but it is bright at the moment.

I have transferred the monies over to other accounts for this month and recorded it on the spreadsheet.  Am about to wake the children and get going again.  No plans to leave the house again, but if it stays dry I may consider cutting the lawn

slm6002

After watching the weather all day, and the rain never actually turning up, I decided to bite the bullet and cut the front lawn.  It is the first time of living here (20 years) that I have cut the grass.  XH or neighbour have always done it.  So I got the mower out hoping I could start it as it has been in the garage unused since XH left. Thankfully it worked and I soon remembered what I should be doing.  It is cut quite short so I need to look at that for next time, but it is done and will do.  I can improve any technique over the summer, and to be honest it is mainly moss rather than grass - maybe I can also work on that too.  Seeing the amount of grass I think I will be getting the brown bin.  In fact I may order it now as I think they deliver them on the round, and that is Friday. (Done - although it says delivery 3-4 weeks).  If I don't use it as much this year, I will cancel it

slm6002

Off to pizza hut shortly as DS's treat.  When asked last holiday what he wanted to do this was the only thing he came up with.  Fitting it in last holiday was not easy so it was postponed until today.  We will also visit Nana while there as she lives very close by.  I have a voucher for 2/3 of the cost so it shouldn't be too extravagant of a treat.  I have enough points possibly for the remaining cost but the website isn't working so cant claim it which is a shame, but will put towards the next treat - maybe when we are on holiday.

Book trip to the not so local tip on Thursday in the main town 20 min away.  We have just had a new primark open and the girls are keen to visit.  I thought we could combine the 2 tasks and tick them off my to do list.  Also booked the blood test to check on my levels again for next week.  Been quite productive this morning

slm6002

After an enjoyable but not very productive day yesterday, I must get going (already gone 11am- whoops) today and get things done.  I have printed out the food vouchers as I will need to top the fridge up either today or tomorrow.  I need to get a good meal plan together as food costs have been creeping up again.  I would like to be able to put some premade dinners in the freezer before the end of the holidays, ready for those days I come home exhausted and not knowing what to cook.  I will also need to empty some space in the freezer first so need to meal plan around that.

I want to get the car loaded ready for our trip to the tip tomorrow, and need to remember to put the bins out for neighbours and us.  I also need to see what pots are empty and if we will need any more compost for growing things as I can collect that tomorrow when in town.

Right going to hurry children along again so we can get going