The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Thank you Jessy you are right, I just know if it were me I would be fighting to stay in touch with my children.  Guess the new family take all of his energy up.  His loss.  Thank you also for the kind comments too, I don't always believe I am doing a good job, but then I think about it and they are all happy and content (most of the time), and hopefully will turn into lovely human beings.

As mentioned earlier, DD2 and I have been on another adventure today.  The show was good but there was a little scenery glitch about 2 minutes before half time.  We all had to exit the auditorium so they could sort it and then returned for the remainder of the show.  Thankfully no one was hurt and they were very apologetic.  I am exhausted though as we have walked miles (double my target steps for the day).  I am going to go up to bed very shortly and when I have locked up.

We managed to find DD2 her pjs that she was after and an idea for her Christmas gift.  Nothing else was purchased, but now all birthdays have been sorted, I can fully concentrate on Christmas.  I will also be going through my bedroom to sort out the gifts that I do have.

I need to do a food shop tomorrow as we are out of the basics and not a lot else in the freezer - inside one.  The outside freezer has joints of meat and food that the children will turn their noses up at.  I will sort a meal plan tomorrow and then after dropping DS off head towards the shops.

slm6002

I was very grateful for the extra hour we had in bed this morning, before being woken up by the cats wanting to go out.  The sun was out and I have felt much more awake, although my throat is still very sore.

Today has been quite spendy, but mainly from pots already accounted for.  I filled up with petrol, bought some vouchers with survey money (made £16 off 1 survey today), did a good food shop and stuck to the list apart from buying the turkey crown for Christmas.  I also bought some fudge from the event we went to.  It was free to get a ticket and included free drinks and a fudge fountain.  Yummy but sickly.  We got to try all of the flavours before being able to purchase some.  Of course we could have come away without buying it but really who is going to manage that lol.  I have taken the money from my personal spends pot for this bit.

Tonights dinner was chicken mash and veg in a yorkshire.  I didn't finish it all as there was too much, but did mean that we didnt need a pudding.  Off to bed shortly to catch up a little more on my sleep.

slm6002

Another late start this morning (well late for me).  It looks grey outside although dry at the moment.  We might pop to the pumpkin patch today.  DD1 is still BF sitting and DS said he doesn't want to come (he has done enough socialising the past few days and needs some quiet time), so it looks like it is just DD2 and me.  Other than that we will be plodding around the house until later when it is time for band practice.  I think it might be quite a lazy day after a busy period of time.

DD2 needs to get a couple of bits of homework out of the way and I will work through the washing pile and bedding.  Tonight for dinner is homemade nuggets, wedges and beans (coat chicken in bbq sauce and then crushed tortilla crisps).  DD2 will be making this.  Downstairs needs to be cleaned as the boiler man is here from 10am tomorrow.

Just heard from DD1 and she is cleaning because although the parents left the house clean on Friday, it is already such a mess.  Yes it will be (DD1 is very messy but thinks it is everyone else).  I imagine she will be cleaning every other day before they get back.  This week will hopefully be very eye opening for her.

Right I had better wake the others and get going for the day or I may sit here all day

slm6002

Boiler service has been completed.  All ok and safe, although there is a light that wont turn off.  Boiler man thinks it could be on its way out, but for now it is safe to use and no leaks.  The cost of a new one would be 2k to 3k.  Time to start building up the funds.  I think DS was a very young baby when this was was installed so it is probably about 15 / 16 years old if not slightly more.

Because the boiler man was coming I spent this morning cleaning the kitchen, so that is pretty much done.  I need to hoover the living room and that will be downstairs complete.  First load of washing for the day is in the dryer and another load will soon be on (when DS brings it down) if he wants some clean clothes.  I might sort both bathrooms and I need to empty some bins as it is bin day tomorrow.

Will also be looking at my to do list in a minute to get some bits crossed off that I have perhaps been putting off.

slm6002

DS's driving lesson went well - he was surprised at how sensitive everything was.  I need to contact the chap to get some more lessons in  - grandma is giving him a chunk of money for it so that will help.

I have today attached the spice rack to the side unit of the cooker.  It has been wobbling around / falling over since before XH left so a good amount of time.  It is now off the surface of the counter and firmly up so no more needing me to refill the shelves.  I left the drill out so that we can make patterns in the pumpkin - well maybe.

I had to nip to the supermarket as aldi do not do the cats preferred brand of food and refuse to eat aldi version. That was it though so not too bad.  Wondering what price hikes will be coming after the budget and making life harder for us all.

Easy dinner tonight as it is jacket potatoes.  Kitchen is still clean and dishwasher needs unloading again.  Finally caught up.  I still need to have a good look at the to do list to see what else needs sorting.  Am now comfy on the sofa with hoodie and blanket on, so it will be a paperwork type job that I tackle if anything.     

slm6002

Booked a Christmas food shop to help make things less stressful come the busy time around Christmas.  I have it for the 22nd so it will still allow time to go into town should anything be missing.  DD2 is carolling outside a large supermarket on Christmas eve so anything we need can be picked up then, although the thought of that is really my worst nightmare.

I am very much on the way to Christmas now, even though I still have DD2's bday in a few weeks, all her gifts are bought (although I do need to remember to pick up a card).  So the next thing is Christmas.  I would love to have all gifts bought by the end of Nov so that I am an not rushing around in the crowds trying to buy bits, as that is not my idea of fun.  I'm wondering if I can book a day / several hours off one day from work and go shopping at the local town.  I certainly have enough time off to use.  

Tomorrow is payday and I cant wait - pots are ok but the bank balance is very low, thankfully only DS's haircut to pay for today.  

So today I need to continue with cleaning the house & washing.  Bedding today I think.  I need to do some admin work and get the club paperwork sorted ready for tomorrow.  I would also like to get the Christmas decorations made so that I can decorate them over the next few days.  I need to find the Christmas cutters first.  Right must get on as just seen the time!

joedenise

I always used to take a day off when I was working during November to do the Christmas shopping so much easier than trying to do it in December.

slm6002

Need to work on my list first to see if it is worth it, or if I can get things online.  I think it will be stockings that I struggle with this year.  Even though they no longer believe we still do them, but it is mainly things I would buy them normally like shower gel and socks etc.  Maybe I can collect the months petty cash at the same time as having the afternoon off.  That way I would only miss lunch duty and could nip to the pound shops and Primark.  Something to think about.

slm6002

My kind DD2 has shared her cold with me!  Back to having a sore throat and now a head cold added to it.  Will get plenty of rest and hope I feel better before we go back to school.

Well we made it through October, I have been paid, will pop the bonus in a different account as will need that next month when I get benefits deducted because of it.  I will be a little better off each month going forward.

Sorted some bits on my list yesterday but still have a few more to go before the end of the holidays.  Went to club last night and no one turned up meaning we still need to pay for the hall.  We realised that not as many kids would turn up but some had replied and said yes we will be there.  Well they never showed.  If we had know we would have cancelled the nights hire.  We left early and came home for dinner.  Pulled pork yesterday and it was very good or we were very hungry lol.  Slow cooked beef stew tonight.

Need to drop DD2's glasses off at the opticians as the nose bit has snapped off.  Hopefully it is an easy and cheap fix.  I might head in first thing to get it out of the way.  She has her identical old pair to wear while the others are repaired.

slm6002

OK glasses mended and a loaf of bread bought from the bakery next door which will help not need to shop for anything else today.  Beef stew is in the slow cooker.  Small pumpkin, tomatoes, old butternut squash and garlic is in the oven roasting in the hope it might make a good soup.  Never made it before but seen this type of recipe online before, so fingers crossed.  Dishwasher is on and I need to put a load of my washing in the machine shortly.  The house is looking in a reasonable state.  It's kind of best friend / brother are allowed to visit tidy, but not work friends tidy lol.

I have been into the garage to find the Christmas cookie cutters, so my next job will be making the salt dough decorations for the tree I am decorating in the museum in a few weeks time.  Will google the recipe and see if DD2 would like to help.

Waiting on a call from a local group that our band group is wanting to donate money to.  Been on my list for a while now, so just need them to call back with bank details to get that sorted and I can start shutting down the bank account then.