The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Another day done and even though I left with good intentions of cleaning the house this afternoon I ended up visiting my work friend who has been off on long term sick.  Lovely to spend time with her but really should have been at home tidying - it will hopefully happen before they arrive.  She plans to tell the bosses to up my hours officially so I don't need to rely on the benefits as much, which will eventually go anyway once DD2 turns 18.

Got a big piece of work out of the way today which was good.  Realised I am not now needed for the exam tomorrow so if I can get lots done in the morning maybe I can leave early.  Have decided that if people are coming to visit in the holidays, I need at least 2 days before they arrive to get myself sorted.  This leaving work to then have people arriving straight away is not for me. This is the 2nd holiday in a row it will have happened.

Estate agents called again and have implemented some bits that I suggested but advised against other bits.  It is now just a case of waiting for the right person.  Any person would be nice to be honest, but I will try to be patient.

Tomorrow is DD1s interview - everyone please keep fingers crossed that we are about to start her new career and uni course.

No money spent again today.  Food has been from store cupboards, but the fridge is looking very empty now and I will take lunch with me tomorrow just in case I need to stay all day.  Thinking there may be some pasta bake left over from this evening.

debtfreewannabe321

Two working days left until half term! I got out of invigilating too 🙌🏻🤭.

I hope you get the house cleaned - perhaps divvy up jobs to everyone? 
Good luck to your DD! 

slm6002

Yes DFW, although I am done for today so only 1 day now.  Home eating lunch waiting for DD1 to return from her interview and then time to tidy up.  Going to concentrate on downstairs as in theory they will have no reason to upstairs as not staying here, but mum may go up to see children in their bedrooms if they try to hide out of the way.  If I find I have time I will then do upstairs.

slm6002

OK downstairs is completed, stairs and landing hoovered.  Children are cleaning their own rooms and I will have a quick wipe round the bathroom later after we have all had showers.  I still need to do a food shop but that will have to be done after school finishes tomorrow.  We all had simple meals tonight so no big messes. 

About to go shower and get into bed.  I have managed to have an hour sitting down and relaxing and reading up on the training that DD1 will do if she gets the job.  She will be away from home for a couple of big chunks of time but still back at the weekend and it would be worth the time away.  She thinks the interview went well and should hopefully hear tomorrow either way.   

slm6002

Mixed bag so far today.  Positives are that it is now half term and I think I am ready for my visitors.  DD2 got the options for her GCSE's that she wanted.  My boss bought me a lovely bunch of flowers to say thank you for my help these past few weeks.  Negatives are DD1 didn't get the job she was after and DS although he thinks he did ok in ger exam, he didn't finish the big mark question at the end as he thought he had more time (lots of different start and finish times on the board and was unsure which one was his!). Fingers crossed that he has done enough.   Really gutted for DD1 as she has gone through so many parts to this recruitment process and at the last hurdle the other person won.

Simple dinner again tonight as will need to eat before we go to mum's air bnb to stock the fridge.  Got most of the things on her list.

Benefits should have gone into my bank account today even though a little early due to bank holidays etc.  Will have a look shortly and move some money into the right pots.

slm6002

Ok been busy but everyone is settled and happy I think.  Yesterday we had planned on walking around the car boot, but it was cancelled due to the rain, so we settled for a walk around the charity shops instead.  Dinner was curry or pizza takeaway depending on what we all liked.

Today we are off to the DIY store as mums new house will need renovating a lot to meet their needs so they need some ideas to take back home with them.  I would also like to have a look again just in case I manage to sell and buy the bungalow.  I picked up an electric saw off olio this morning, which is something I have thought about owning for a while too so will have that all ready if needed.

Tonights dinner is in the slow cooker - roast beef.  Will be served with yummy gravy and all of the trimmings.  Mum is hoping to make a lemon desert for pudding that she saw and liked the look of.  Will need to check what we need and I also have a few bits to get too.

slm6002

Today mum is spending the day with my brother so we have a day to ourselves.  DD1 has gone to London with a friend and will need to travel home alone as friend is staying there.  She has only ever been to London once when she was about 7 so not sure what she will think.  She doesn't like busy places and can get overwhelmed easily in new situations, so I am expecting many phone calls.  Although we live in a town it is small and very slow going and relaxed, more like a very large village in some ways.  We are not used to city life lol.

DD2 and I are off to a fete with the band.  It is free to get into so hopefully we can have a look round before she is playing.  DD2 is off to town first to meet a friend from school for a few hours.

I have a new microwave arriving today.  Mums OH used mine the other day and saw the state of it - still works and is clean from dirt, but it has rust patches throughout.  It was my dads old one that he gave us when our previous one gave up.  Anyway mum has bought me a new one which will arrive later today.  I'm very grateful but struggle with it as it is still working.  I guess it comes from too many years of having no money and only replacing bits for free with 2nd hand and only if things had stopped working.

I will spend this morning doing the washing and clearing up, as well as resting on the sofa entering some competitions I think.  Might have to finish the pudding in the fridge too - it was very yummy and we were able to add a few homegrown strawberries for the decoration.

slm6002

Few busy yet relaxing days had.  Managed to get some time to ourselves to just potter around.  This morning we went to the car boot but as they like a lie in we were a little late and a lot of stall had already gone.  Never mind it is fresh air and a few steps.  The rain has hampered trips out a little but we've had fun staying home as well.  

We visited another supermarket and bought more food - some for lunch and some for them to take home.  We had a few games and now they have gone home for another nap.  We will collect them before the meal out tonight.  We had to change our pre-ordered meals as they had run out of mash! I am hoping new choices will be just as good.

Have put some washing on and then into the dryer as no chance of it drying outside at the moment with all the showers we keep getting.  They definitely left the sun at home.

slm6002

The meal out last night was very nice, although mum ordered her desert only to be told the last one has just been taken, which after the initial missing items didn't go down very well, but we still had a good time.  We went for a walk after around the local lake which helped walk some of it off too and the sun was setting and it wasn't raining which is a first for us at the moment.

Today the sun is out at the moment and mum is with my brother today and tomorrow, so we are doing some other bits and bobs.  Today is a visit with XH nan (the only member of his family I see still), and tomorrow DD2 has a trip to the hygienist with my dad so we might do something with him as he is staying out of mums way.

Tomorrow is payday and I really would like to try and rein in the spending on impulse items and food.  If I am to get my new home I need to stop spending on things I can do without.  I am also going to try to loose weight,  as I am very obese and it is starting to impact on things now.  I have 20 months until I am 50 so would like to aim to be a decent weight by then.  Not starting until mum has gone though as there is still far too much temptation around to start with, but in the new month there will need to be changes.

It is also time to start planning our summer holiday.  This year is a little different as DD1 will be working, and DS will finish in the next few weeks.  DD2 and I will carry on though until the end of the school year and then have some fun days out hopefully.  I haven't booked any holiday this year, so it will be days out rather than a week somewhere - or at least that is the plan currently.  Hopefully events will soon start popping up on social media

slm6002

Yay it is payday so will tfr a few more bits to the right place in my bank account.

Yesterday we went to see XH's nan, and its been a few months since we've seen her, but she looks so frail and is slowing down that is for sure.  It was good seeing her.  The sun appeared in between clouds but at least it was dry yesterday,  The sun is out at the moment so fingers crossed we get a nice day today too.  Off to the tip to get rid of a few bits and then onto the dentist for DD2.  I will also be taking back some clothes I bought online, well hopefully I am allowed to take them back to the shop for them to send back.  Need to complete the paperwork next and package it all up.

Need to look at what is left in the fridge for dinner tonight.  I think it might end up being spaghetti bolognaise as I know we have some mince that is close to its use by date.  There are lots of bits in the fridge that need using up but not enough for a whole meal, so once home I will clear that out I think so we can see what is there.

Might get a load of washing done and on the line while we are gone and get the dishwasher going.  Lots of sorting and clearing today