The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Yesterday seemed so long but today was far more productive.  My list at work is getting things ticked off it, and the people I am waiting for are doing what they need to do.  I do keep adding to my list as well though.

Tonight we are off to meet a sports club person who knows all and can tell us what we need to be aware of in our group now DD1 has taken over.  She is in a grump today and has already snapped at me in the first 5 minutes of being home.  We are going to visit nana hopefully for an hour before we go to the club.  We will then eat dinner, shower and get into bed. I've been tired all day so could really do without going out tonight.  At least tomorrow is a night off, even if it is the only one this week.  Less than 2 weeks left until the holidays though, so will keep going, however zombie looking I am.

slm6002

Well tonight was definitely worth the effort, and we have made a contact that should be very good for the club. 

Nana had forgotten and gone out so I said that we will see her another time.  We ended up getting burgers as we had an hour and a half to spare.  I guess it stopped us from needing to eat when home, but I wasn't planning on spending that money as it is getting quite tight now.

I am just letting the water heat up before I head for the shower and bed.  DD1 has gone out again with BF so can lock up when she gets home

slm6002

Well what a week.  Busy busy at work, busy in the evenings, but we made it.  I have just taken DD2 to the towns theatre to hear a local group perform the musical Six.  It was a surprise early birthday present for her.  It was really good and a great way to start the weekend.  It didn't matter to her that we were not in the west end, she is still smiling.  Next weekend we are off to see the musical Legally Blond but will get the train for that one as it is slightly further away.  I do need to find her a little something to actually open on her birthday as she will have had all of her gifts before her actual birthday otherwise.

Money in the current account is tight until money starts coming in on Tuesday.  Nothing is really needed as I stopped off earlier to get some basic bits.  We have plenty in the freezer, I just need to remember to defrost things in plenty of time.

Something has bitten me on my finger, my shoulder and the side of my body.  Not sure what it was but I haven't reacted very well to them and may resort to taking something to settle them down.  The one on my finger almost looks infected and is swollen a little.  Will see how it is in the morning.

Right I think it is time for bed

slm6002

Just been on and checked the benefits for this month.  It is the first month that DD1 has been taken off the calculation.  It means it's about £325 down, but I am to get slightly more than I had worked out, which is good.

We have all had a good sleep and I didnt wake up until 9.  Just waiting for the water to heat up before getting in the shower.  I realised I have no fizzy left in the house which is never good, so I will need to nip to lidl to get some.

Todays jobs (as a list seems to work well)
* Send friend bday cards
* Clear kitchen
* Clean living room
* Meal plan for this week
* Write shopping list for this week (hopefully not much)
* Make more decorations for tree at the museum - lots were broken in the end when I got then down from the loft, plus I need to do the popcorn tinsel too. Decorating day is 16/11 which will come round very quickly.
* Washing
* Maybe nip to pharmacy to see if they can look at my finger - top of hand is now a little puffy too.

Right time for a shower and getting dressed  

slm6002

Ok so I have been to see the pharmacist and paid for some antibiotics for infected finger, then I popped to lidl for fizzy.  They were out so picked up a branded bottle to keep me going until I try again in the morning.  Money just feels like it is just slipping through my fingers at the moment.  Will have a quick look at the budgets in a minute.

Decided on tonights dinner but not got much further than that.  DD1 has gone out and DD2 is in a grump as she is not keen on her homework tasks.  DS has helped her with the RE and I'm helping with the maths so hopefully it will be sorted soon and happiness can be resumed.

DD1 starts her new job on Monday, but I haven't been told about her shifts for the rest of the week as yet.  This week after school looks a little quieter but  still the normal clubs happening.

slm6002

Weekend is over and we are on the countdown to the half term.  Money is tight  (£47 current in my main account) but it is child benefit tomorrow and benefits on Friday, then next week is my wages.  Apparently I will be getting a back payment and pay increase which will be adjusted in next months benefits so not really going to make any difference to the overall pay, but a pay increase none the less.

I need to try again to take DD2's jeans back to asda today - they were shut the other night when I tried.  They are normally fairly quick at returning the money, which will help a little.  I've also just this second received the £15 voucher from the school for the holidays for DD2.  Will ask for it to be at Aldi as I can probably get more for my money there. Not sure if the college are going to send a payment, but if they do it will be to DS's bank account and he will need to transfer it over to my account - they were unsure when I asked if they did vouchers or not.

I'm going to pop the ingredients into the slow cooker for lentil dahl.  I will turn it on in the morning and have it for dinner tomorrow.  Not sure if anyone else will eat it, but if not I will pop some portions in the freezer for another time.

slm6002

2 days to go until half term.  I always seem to be counting down to the holidays, but I really do like my work, I'm just exhausted.  My throat is sore today and I expect that is because I am tired as that normally happens.  Anyway I will soon get a rest - kind of.

No money spent for a few days, but I do need to buy a bday card for DS as his birthday is tomorrow.  Could do with something small to wrap for him as well but no idea what.  His main gift will be a driving lesson.  

Spent last night updating the calendar - weekends are fairly busy with band commitments that DD2 will need taking to.  What was scary was Christmas fits on the page so that isn't far away.  DS is supposed to be going on a school trip tomorrow but not sure he has a space as yet.  We have no details and no permission slips to sign.  He is so forgetful and laid back that there is no rush in sorting it - its tomorrow!

Right I better go and make my lunch to take to work

slm6002

We made it to the holidays - although my throat is very sore right now.  We have a number of things planned for the half term but sorting the house is one of the main things, as well as getting on top of the food budget and meal planning.

Benefits pay day today so have allocated it to the money pots.  Will fill up the car with petrol tonight on the way to collect DS.  It is his 17th birthday today and he went on his college trip.  I have only heard from him once and his sounded like he was having fun.  He is due back around 8pm.  I am looking forward to him telling me about his day, opening some more cards and then getting into bed.  

DD2 and I are off to watch the legally blonde musical tomorrow.  We are off on the train so no need to panic over finding a parking space.  We will look around the shops and see if we can do some Christmas shopping at the same time.  On Sunday we are off to a local fudge factory to sample some of their new flavours and to eat from a fudge fountain.  Looking forward to that too.  We may find some Christmas gifts there as well.

Ok I am going to get going DS as he reckons half 7 arrival now 

slm6002

Rant alert - feel free to skip this long paragraph for more happy events rather than my ranting!   XH annoyed me and DD1 last night.  By 9.30pm he hadn't even wished DS a happy birthday.  DD1 sent him a rude text (she has already given up on him) saying send your son a text (plus a few not so nice words).  Sure enough a few min later DS got 'happy birthday'.  DS was the only 1 of the 3 that was still willing to meet up with him before the stroke, you'd have thought he might have tried to keep that relationship going.  It has been 5 months since he last contacted DS. I feel sad for all 3 of them.  Yes he had a stroke, but from very trustworthy friends that have seen him, he is now fully functioning and back to normal life - other than working/driving.  He is also very good at updating his social media accounts so mobile phone use is more than normal.

Anyway happy thoughts and events.  DS as expected had lots to tell, although half way home I could tell he was mentally and physically drained as he just stopped talking.  Having so many people in one place with so much going on around him was exhausting for him.  He was by himself all day which made me a little sad as all his class were going.  I thought he would stick with them, but sounds like it was his choice to go off and wander.  He met our very distant relative who works in the industry - don't think he has seen her since he was about 3, so had no knowledge of her.  Said they had a good conversation.   He also went to the convention next door which was more Comicon than games and said that was the better of the 2 exhibitions.  I'm sure we will get to hear more throughout the next few days.  He is obviously still fast asleep.

DD1 is house / dog / BF sitting this week.  BF needs someone in the house with him as is quite impulsive and well he is a teenage boy!  His mum asked DD1 to come and keep an eye on him and the dogs otherwise who knows if they would get fed and walked etc.  Anyway the other day DD1 asked me to print out a weeks calendar for her so they could meal plan.  Seemed like a hard / boring task for BF, but to be fair they did it together.  The budget the parents gave them was £60 for food, which on these boards should be more than enough for a week.  Last night came the shop.  Off they went to Asda, list in hand.  Lol she said he obviously never goes food shopping like this.  He kept popping things in the trolly as 'they are only a pound'.  BF ended up putting and extra £20 on top of the budgeted amount.  DD1 said she will not be taking him again and will do it herself if she ever has to.  The mum taught her their dishwasher and washing machine, and walked her through the dog food / care bits.  I think this will be a good learning curve for her.  Yes she is more than capable, but I don't think she realises how much her brain will be on the go all of the time, and how tiring it will be.  She will have to remember what others need and always be thinking, right once home from work I need to do this and then that, oh and get that ready, oh and then cook dinner and clear it away.  She is always wondering why I am so tired all the time.  She will be making BF do some of the work but I feel it will mostly be up to her.

I need to get a load of washing going (maybe PE kits and uniforms) and then get sorted to go to the musical.  Make sure I have all tickets and paperwork as well as rain coats and a shopping bag.  Maybe make a small Christmas shopping list, although I don't want to buy too much and have to take it to the theatre.  DD2 needs a shower so the water will need switching on for a little while to warm up.  

Just done a few surveys - think they may be the first ones for quite some time.  Hopefully over the holidays I can up the pennies in that account, as we will need them for christmas.  Right I had better get going

Jessy103

Shame about XH and if he continues he will just end up being a person that the kids having no feelings for. Me and my brother don't speak to our biological dad and haven't done for some years, people think it's sad but as I say we have no feelings towards him anymore and he is just someone that exists out there and that's it. I think the thing to remember is that you do everything you can for them and spend time with them, all the activities you do together sound such fun and that's what the kids will remember in the future. You're a brilliant mum, don't forget that! X