The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

The sun is out and the first load of washing is in the machine.  If I can get at least one load dry or half dry on the line I will be happy.  So going back to my list from the other day, I have a few bits to get sorted:
- Loft
- Town to collect jeans ordered for DD2
- Mend outdoor light
- Get jabs (Sat afternoon so wont get much done after)
- Take DD2 to Oktoberfest to play in band - hoping friends may bring her home but if not it will be a late night
- Washing and clearing up

I thought I would be able to cross more off than that - oh well.  I have a few hours before jabs and hopefully the remainder of the day before I turn grotty from them - I've always had a reaction from them but am hoping this time will be different - just being realistic and planning for the worst lol.

DD1 has not emerged from her room as yet so not sure what the mood is there.  I know she is off tonight bowling with her friends so maybe she will come and discuss things with me.  I think she is also going makeup shopping with DD2 so maybe they can collect jeans ordered.

I need to see if I have a bottle of ale in the cupboards for our stew tomorrow, if not I will grab one later on way to doctors.  I only use the cheapest stuff as we found expensive ones too strong.  Will stick it in slow cooker with beef carrots and onions and thicken up with some gravy granules, then pop some dumplings on towards the end and that is that.  I may even make it up tonight and pop it in the fridge so it is even less work tomorrow.  I need to do some meal planning with DS as he is now down to about 3 things in rotation and none of them are particularly healthy for him.  He needs to try some new things.  He told me he almost made brownies while he was home alone yesterday, but then realised he hadn't got a clue.  Maybe if I can get him cooking things he might try them - obviously brownies not healthy either but you get the idea.

Right Ive sat he long enough that the machine has finished and it needs to go on the line. 

slm6002

- Loft
- Town to collect jeans ordered for DD2
- Mend outdoor light
- Get jabs (Sat afternoon so wont get much done after)
- Take DD2 to Oktoberfest to play in band - hoping friends may bring her home but if not it will be a late night
- Washing and clearing up

Ok so today has been productive.  I walked DS through making some brownies and explaining some basic technical terms like tsp and tbsp in the recipe.  Everyone was very happy with the results of his efforts.  He has agreed to try some different savoury meals, although not too much variation on the main things he eats but they will be more meal type things and slightly healthier.  He is also doing to make some porridge pots for his breakfast, so progress of some kind.

DD1 was polite and talkative today as if nothing had happened and we didn't get a chance to discuss what she said yesterday.  She is out tonight and will return home probably around lunch time.

Had jabs, picked up some ale for tomorrows dinner.  Picked up a few Halloween packs of sweets that will be suitable for the advent calendars.  From a very quick look at the Christmas decorations, I think they are all ok still.  I will just need to make the popcorn tinsel and maybe add a little glitter to the decorations.  Not too much work involved.

I need to be back at the village hall at 11pm so I will need to stay awake until then.  The whole band were in costume and I think she will have had a great night.  The only thing planned for tomorrow is to take DS to work and back.

slm6002

Jabs kicked in roughly 12 hours after I had them, so will take some paracetamol when I next get up. joints and muscles aching, headache and hot and cold  - knew it would happen as always does but better than getting properly ill.

Today will mainly be resting on the sofa with the odd slow chore split into manageable bits.  On the way home from dropping DS off I need to get the cats normal food as they are refusing to eat the aldi version of their biscuits.

DD2 had a great time last night and when I arrived to collect her I was almost pulled into a conga line of very tipsy people.  I think this is probably the first experience of that for her and she found it very amusing - none of them were too bad, but most were merry.  We didn't get to bed until gone midnight though so am tired as well.  She is still asleep.

I need to help DD1 find a second adult for tomorrows sports club as I cant make it and the lady who said she would cover on these occasions now cant.  It was part of the reason we agreed but there we go.  Might try my brother or his wife and the daughter can come along.

Jessy103

Hope you feel better, slm x

slm6002

Thank you Jessy103 I have had a very lazy day with some snoozing on the sofa and very little else.  I've kept the medicine topped up which has helped.

I picked up the cat food and finished off dinner, which was very tasty.  Not done much else and the house is a mess but I think the rest was the best thing for today, and hopefully I can cope with the full day of work tomorrow

slm6002

Managed a whole day at work and was ok as long as I kept the paracetamol topped up.  No time to take time off really as so much to do.  I did quickly work out that by the end of June (that is when they reckon I may be able to take TOIL), I will have saved up 6 weeks worth of extra time.  I think they will end up just paying me as there is no way I can take that off.  I might take the odd morning or afternoon off here and there, but there is no realistic way of taking all of the time off.  Maybe the lady will be back sooner than that?

Easy pizza meal tonight.  I bought basic pizzas and the kids can add any extra toppings that they would like.  I knew that there were 2 clubs tonight and I may still not feel great, so this is an easy meal that is quick and they can cook on their own.

DD1 went for her interview and said it went well.  The basic hours are 20 but 30 at Christmas.  She was looking for fulltime so will wait and see on the outcome before she decides.  I guess it is better than the 12-15 hours she does now.

Waiting for DD1 and DS to arrive home from sports club then I will collect DD2 from band a little later.  Heard that the window cleaners will be here tomorrow, so I need to leave the gate unlocked.  Must tell DD1 and DS or they will jump out of the skins when someone is tapping on the windows. 

slm6002

Today has flown by again.  Got something ticked off the list at work which was great, so now onto another, although most bits started and waiting on little bits of information from other people.  2.5 weeks left until half term and when I would like my list to be all crossed off.

Money news - my help to save account paid out today.  4 years of saving and earning a fantastic interest rate.  I had planned to look for a car when it was released, but obviously I found the car earlier this year.  As I took out a small loan to make up the balance, I have today paid it off in full.  I am now once again debt free apart from the loan / mortgage with my uncle. 

Other than that not much else has happened here.  Oh apart from having to take down the door curtain pole and curtain as one of the cats used the door mat as a litter tray and the curtain soaked up the cat wee.  Its all cleared now and lemon floor cleaner used to help deter them doing it again.  The door mat is outside getting a good clean in the rain and the curtain should be dry to hang up tomorrow evening.  I should use this opportunity while the pole is down, to finish the job and pull out the old raw plugs and fill the holes while I can get to them.

Need to book a driving lesson for DS's bday for half term week now that his licence has arrived.

slm6002

Another busy week done and a few more things ticked off the list at work - Only 2 weeks before half term now.  I haven't really even thought about what we are doing in half term lately.  We have the boiler man coming, I booked DS's first driving lessons and shown interest for the outdoor cooking session with DD2.  DD1 will be at BF house as his parents are away for the week.  His mum has asked her to stay to make sure the house, BF and the dogs survive as doesn't trust her son enough to do it.  I am sure we will see her at some points through the week, and she has said she would like to come to the pumpkin patch with us too.  She starts her new job at the expensive coffee shop that week too so will be worn out by the time the parents get back.

Been told not to wake the children up this morning as we have nothing planned so they plan to sleep in for a while as yet.  That is fine with me as I can have some peace and quiet too.

I managed to put the curtain back up yesterday without any help from my lazy children.  I just needed someone to hold it while I popped the screws in, but they were far to busy watching to help.  Today I would like to get the garden chairs in the garage for winter and the hose pipe, plus put the winter cover on the outside tap.  I think the garden waste bin slows down collection wise soon so need to make sure I get that put out this week.

My loan is now all paid off, but is still showing in my accounts and it looks like they are doing something their end as first of all I had more to pay, now I've had a refund and still there is a balance showing.  I spoke to the lady at the bank and she tells me its just their side that needs to catch up, but it has all be paid off and is all ok.  Because I ended up using a small amount of other money along side the help to save money, the bank balances look really low.  They should be fine, but again the buffer is getting smaller and smaller.  I still have emergency fund and the Christmas fund is looking almost full.  Once Christmas fund is spent the total balances will look quite pathetic though.  I am sure they will fill up soon though.

Time is flying, especially as I am working near enough full time hours now.  I can see Christmas being here before I know it.  I need to get sorted so I don't feel I am rushing around last minute again.  So far I have only managed to get the advent chocolates half sorted.  Maybe I will try to finish that off first as it should be fairly simple.

So todays / the weekend jobs are:
* Get garden ready for winter
* Meal Plan
* Food shopping
* Training modules I wont have time to do at work
* Washing
* Clean kitchen and bathrooms
* Look in garage freezer and start working way through it.
* Look at money situation
* Start working out what I need to get for Christmas
* Finish bday buying for the year - 3 more bday gifts and 5 cards needed.
* Collect library book that I reserved
* If time do some surveys, as I haven't done any all month

Well that should keep me going for a while.

slm6002

Well yesterday I ended up doing almost nothing.  I watched films and snuggled on the sofa scrolling through the internet looking for meal ideas and shopping bargains.  I never actually got round to shopping or meal planning.  We had enough in the fridge and freezer to get several meals together for yesterday - I think we all had different dinners.

Still not ventured out to the freezer in the garage, but will do shortly.  I am going to bring the bin in from the pathway (been there all week!) and put the garden away, then look in the freezer.  I really need to.

I have been food shopping this morning and we are planning, chicken wraps tonight, chicken stir fry, chilli, jacket potatoes and another chicken meal of some sort.  We also have a fall back meal of pasta bake or beans on toast.  There is fruit in the bowl and bread and milk available.  That should keep us going for a few more meals until I discover what is in the freezer that we can use.  Really trying to keep on top of the food budget.

I did finish off the advent calendar chocolates and popped them in a bag in my room so they wont get eaten before the day (happened in previous years).  I have a wash in the machine currently and will get a white load in there next.  Some of us will have clean clothes this week.

Right I best get working on my list

slm6002

Well today is turning out to be more productive thankfully.  I've packaged up the Christmas bits for my uncle to deliver to my mum next week when he visits, as well as the bits to be returned to shops.  Also managed a few bits off the list:

* Get garden ready for winter
* Meal Plan
* Food shopping
* Training modules I wont have time to do at work
* Washing
* Clean kitchen and bathrooms
* Look in garage freezer and start working way through it.
* Look at money situation
* Start working out what I need to get for Christmas
* Finish bday buying for the year - 3 more bday gifts and 5 cards needed.
* Collect library book that I reserved
* If time do some surveys, as I haven't done any all month

Still more to do but not too worried if I don't get it all done.  I have enjoyed relaxing at the same time as getting bits done this weekend.  Am off to collect DS shortly from work.