The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Thank you @dawnybabes.

We are all home now and the pizza dough has just bleeped so I need to muster some energy to make dinner.

I collected my free birthday Greggs donut while DS and dad went to the tip.  I then had a drive around the village dreaming of which bungalow I would buy lol.  If I had the money I would move today.  Back to the village, as its just calmer, and although it is a large village (hence all the amenities) there is such a sense of community.  Close to dad as he gets older and close enough to schools and work for everyone to be ok with it.  Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket.  Until then it will be a dream that I work towards.

LadyWithAPlan

Happy belated birthday  and glad you have heating on again. My boiler went down last Tuesday and its shocking watching the cost of the electric radiators - even though I do have a heated throw as well.

It must be so annoying being constantly blocked in, though be careful - a friend was carefully negotiating her v large car in her own drive and the wheels slipped on the ice, damaging a friends v expensive car who was visiting 

slm6002

Thank you @LadyWithAPlan.  I hope your boiler is sorted soon.  It will be interesting to see how much it has cost me (will have a look shortly).  We are always having to reverse through the small gaps here.  I am hoping that the people that will be moving into the house being built, have 1 small car that will fit completely on their drive and they have no visitors parking in our way.  It will hopefully be better than the 5+ vans and a digger that the builders currently leave in our way.

Pizzas in the oven, dishwasher back on.  I think the lack of sunshine is what is making me feel tired today.  Just grey gloomy cold weather.  I think I am going to maybe have a look at the hygge type activities and try to embrace the cold gloomy winter weather a little more.  Films, facemasks, blanket and maybe a hot chocolate, while I read some diaries and plan my way to my nice new house lol.

Jessy103

Belated birthday wishes slm! 🎁🎉🎂

Out of curiosity do any of the kids make dinner during the week at all? It would be nice if they all made one meal a week, gives them practice for when they fly the nest and gives you a well earned break x

slm6002

Thank you @Jessy103.  DD1 will often cook dinner for us but the other 2 not really.  I really should be allowing them to though as their skills compared to DD1's skills like that are hugely different.  Even if it is just a bowl of pasta with a jar of sauce it would do me.  DS can make a cheesecake or a crumble but other than super noodles that is about it.  I need to remember that the effort it takes to supervise and teach now will pay off in the end.

Today is a day to do some more washing and general tidying I think.  Dad thinks he is going to come and collect the unwanted electric heaters back.  DS is at work so will collect him mid afternoon.  Need to look at the food situation. Not sure if we have much left for pack ups tomorrow.

Todays free cake was from costa lol.  Think that is all of my free cake collected.  In the past week I have contacted 2 supermarkets about different products.  The first was a roulade that we have for Christmas.  It was their premium range but had a strange texture and tasted frozen even when it wasn't.  The other was a sweet with a new improved recipe.  It is certainly not improved and I will no longer be buying.  I never really expected much in a reply, I just wanted them to do something about the products.  Anyway I have a £5 voucher for one and £4 for the other.  Maybe I should let them know my opinions a little more.

Had a mini pamper session and an early night and feel a little brighter today.  Will get a candle going shortly as it looks like another grey day out there.

slm6002

Last load of washing is in the machine so will just need drying and putting away.  All other clothes are in the correct rooms and I have made an effort to put mine away.  This is the part of the washing that normally gets left and looks a mess in a pile, so today my room looks much better because it is all put away. There are still too many things in my room but I will get through it all soon and be able to walk around my bed.

DD1's BF is here for dinner (Pasta bake for them and DD2), I'm having the brussel sprout gratin that I froze earlier this month.  DS will be having chicken and waffles.  All in the same oven so at least only 1 lot of energy being used.

DD1 bought herself a tv and bracket for her bedroom.  It was the wrong bracket, so she went out and bought one that would work.  I guided her through drilling the holes and putting it on the wall.  Fingers crossed it stays there, and I doubt I will see much of her now.  I did find it funny though as she needed to ask neighbour for a spanner.  He told her out of nowhere, to tell me to put the heating on.  As we are semi detached with them I am guessing that they have noticed a difference when we didn't have ours working, and to be honest we haven't had it on that much since it did work.  I did however notice a patch of mould on the back door frame that doesn't normally appear.  I guess that is from when we had no heat and very cold weather.  I need to tackle it but probably not this evening.

Still not done my food shop online, but am hoping to have it delivered tomorrow.  Will get onto it after dinner maybe

LadyWithAPlan

Well done on the vouchers, its important to complain when necessary.

slm6002

Yesterday the lady I was covering for was back at work so I returned to my cosy warm quiet room and caught up with a lot of work.  Hopefully that will continue today.  I did wake up with a blocked nose though and am really hoping I haven't caught the cold that is going around.  I really have been trying to avoid getting ill more than normal.

Met a friend after work and nipped into the pub that we used to almost live in as teens.  £6.50 for 2 very very small soft drinks.  She paid as it was my birthday treat but wow.  I clearly do not go out much anymore.   We were expecting pints for that amount.  A nice catch up anyway.

Had to give in a nip to Aldi last night, but head was not in the right place so only managed to get 1 meal plus lunches and snacks.  Will have that meal plus the jacket potatoes then pasta without needing to visit the shops again.  Last night I really fancied oven chips beans and cheese.  It was soo good and really hit the spot.

Right I had best go and make my lunch before heading to work   Lets see what today brings

slm6002

Been a busy day at work, finished off with an hour of not so exciting mandatory training.  At least that is ticked off for the year.  Had a big clear out of paperwork no longer needed and I can actually fit things back in the drawer now.

Once home we were straight back out as DS needed a haircut.  Another job ticked off the list.  DD1 is back at work until midnight so will leave her some dinner in the fridge to heat up later.  No need to go back out tonight so am in my comfy pjs and warm hoodie.

The heating is on for a hour to warm the house and the washing machine is almost finished.  Bin is out ready for tomorrows collection.  I sound almost organised lol.

I was able to look on the benefits sight to see what I would be getting paid this month and if they had actually listened to the amount I would like to pay back each month.  They have and the final amount due looks ok.  I need to request the details for overpayment ready for next month, just in case I can overpay.  I think this month has gone quite quickly even if Christmas seems ages ago lol

slm6002

Home and in comfy clothes for a 2nd evening in a row.  Heating on again for an hour as really cold today.  Its been grey and miserable all day.  Jacket potatoes are in the oven cooking.  Had left overs for lunch which were really good (or I was extra hungry as I had a meeting through my lunch hour).

Another productive day at work and it flew by.  Found out we will get the food vouchers from DD2's school for half term and easter at the same time.  I obviously only get them for DD2 now but still always appreciated.

Need to tidy the kitchen and sort the dishwasher, then sort through the donation pile from DD2 which is currently taking up half of the living room floor.  Honestly do not know where all this stuff was stored as her room still looks just as full.

Would like to start either my puzzle or one of my crafty things tonight, but may end up running out of time, especially if I stay on here much longer.