The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Woke early and let the cats out.  I knew there would be no chance I would sleep in, as I rarely do in the holidays.  Last night I had a sudden burst of energy and ended up cleaning the kitchen (some of it at least) and then the bathroom and living room.  When I say cleaning, I mean moving things into the right places / bin rather than hoovering or dusting.  That part can be done today.  I think it must have been because a weight had been lifted, even though it had been a full on few weeks and I was mentally and physically drained.  Who knows, but it was nice to come downstairs and not see mess everywhere.

DD2 and DS are still in bed sound asleep and DD1 will probably arrive home soon as BF is off to work so will drop her off at the same time.  Now she has decided to go to uni, she is on a money saving mission.  I said she should be used to it as grew up in that world.  She has gotten into some spendy habits since getting her first real job, but knows it wont be able to continue.

Food shop is arriving later but the remainder of the week will be sorting some kind of meal plan / food organisation for the coming weeks and months.  I feel this is where I need to take back control of my spending.

My other job for the holidays will be finishing those niggly bits of DIY before getting the new photos taken and hopefully selling the house.

slm6002

Yesterday wasn't as lazy as had hoped as DD1 and I both had a free sweet treat at lidl so she asked me to go with her to collect it.  Then about an hour later DD2 decides she cant sign up for the teen reading challenge at the library unless I go with her.  Agreed and then she announces that we are walking into town as it is good for us.  Well I know this but I wasn't planning on being 'good for me' until today.  Anyway we did it, she has signed up and already finished the book that has taken almost a year to finish.  I am hoping it might help reduce the constant scrolling on her phone a little.  The cleaning that I planned for yesterday didn't happen so still need to work on that later.

I received my child maint on time this week and in 1 go.  Hopefully that is all now sorted until this time next year, and will make a little difference to the budget, especially now DD1's contributions will be reduced.

Today we are off to pizza hut for all you can eat lunch.  I have vouchers which will cover most if not all.  One of them on the paper says it is out of date but it also said on the website that if I checked the balance before it expired it would add an extra 12 months on.  I am pretty sure I did this earlier this year, and when I checked the balance it said the amount I was expecting for fingers crossed.  Typically it is the £30 one not the £10 one.  If it doesn't work the money will come from the holiday pot.

We will also  nip to Matalan to see if there are any t-shirts DS likes (very fussy) as 3 or 4 are not enough for a week at college.  The we will pop by and see if Nana is home, and have a catch up with her.  Will take my calendar with me and book in another visit nearer the end of the holiday.

Today we are officially able to stand on our new grass.  The guy said that we should cut it as soon as it looks like it has grown like mad.  Well I think with the rain and the sun we have had it is also time to cut it.  Just hoping it still looks as good after I do that.  Also need to wait for a dry spell too as its been raining all week so far.

teapot2

If its a first time cut to new laid grass and depending on what kind of mower you have, its a good idea to make it a 'higher' cut rather than a really short one.  Most mowers are adjustable in terms of the height of a cut.  

slm6002

Thank you @teapot2 I have adjusted the height of the mower before so will do so again.  Just need to wait for it to stop raining lol.

Had a lovely day out with the younger 2.  DS went along with the shopping trip and almost enjoyed himself.  The vast amount of pizza consumed obviously helped.  He was even picking things out for his sister.  He really was in a good place today.  Also very happy to confirm that the pizza was completely paid for by my vouchers so totally free - yay.  Made it taste so much better    A couple of t-shirts found and new socks and pants for both kids.

Tomorrow we are off to see my dad and to pick some cherries / plums.  He said the tree is loaded with them and they need picking before they go off.  Will process them and freeze them I expect for puddings.  Maybe some jam if there are that many.  I miss their orchard and only a few trees remain now.  When my nan lived there there was a wonderful orchard with plums, pears, eating and cooking apples, nut trees.  There were several varieties of each thing.  I used to love picking apples and pears for the week and taking them to school for snacks.  Happy memories and the reason I would like a garden for at least a few fruit trees.

Right time for bed I think

slm6002

The sun shone yesterday, at least in the morning anyway.  I managed to get a load of washing on the line as I was able to go onto the grass.  The people who put the pole in have moved it slightly though so now anything long will end up in my raised bed.  I think it needs to be moved from the grass all together as I had first planned.  I would need someone with a big drill though to make a hole in the concrete.  Anyway I also cut the grass at a high level and while it doesn't look as perfect as it once did now it has been cut it is still looking very good.

Dad wasn't wrong about the amount of cherry plums on the trees.  We ended up having to walk round to the other side of the fence to pick a whole load.  There are still 3 times at least more to be picked.  They are about 10cm deep in a bag for life.  I need to buy some sugar to make some jam.  I intended on doing this yesterday but things happened.  DD1 will get to pick some so she wont have missed out.

DD1 had her first patient that didn't make it yesterday so is trying to process her feelings.  They hadn't even left the hospital when it happened but she was there having a conversation with them and helping them at the time.  She doesn't really want to talk too much about it at the moment but knows I am here when she is ready.  She doesn't think they will have any work to do today as the Drs are not working.  She said if they are not being discharged we will just sit there waiting for no reason.  She has taken her book with her.

I need to practice a few recipes in the next few days for the local fete that we are going to.  DD2 will be there with the band so after seeing the show last year we thought why not enter ourselves.  I will be making some sweet treats and cheese straws to fill the cupboards as a tester.  Then I will need to try to replicate them next week.

Jessy103

Hope DD1 is OK x

slm6002

Thank you @Jessy103, she has been messaging me today.  The lady she works with has been there for 9 years and this was also her first, so guessing it isn't a common thing to happen even though they often take patients on their last journey to the hospice.

I have been and bought everything I need for the cakes but am yet to make any.  I need to find the correct sized cake tins first - some are in storage in the garage.  I did finish one of the sewing projects though

debtfreewannabe321

Glad the turf has taken well. It's been so dry here our grass was going yellow. Lots of rain last week though so it's slowly going green again.

Poor DD the first time of going through that must be very tough emotionally 🫂 hope she's okay.

slm6002

Woke early again and feeling tired.  I haven't been sticking to my normal bed time so think I need to change that or I am not going to feel rested by the time I go back.

Well I have been busy practising my baking today.  Bara brith, cherry and almond cake and flapjacks.  Also cherry plum jam.  Not had time for the cheese straws as yet but maybe that can be tomorrows treat.  We all like the treats made but not sure if they are prize worthy.  Guess we will see next week.

Got beef in the slow cooker so need to prepare some vegetables and yorkshires ready for when DD1 gets home later.  

Tomorrow evening DD2 has a gym induction (I will need to join her) and then after is band.  I really need to start getting ready for our new photos and the living room needs painting.  Tomorrow might be housework / DIY day

slm6002

Weeded, strimmed, cut front garden and hedge.  Looks much better out there now.  I have decided that our current agents can try the open house in 2 Saturdays time and then that is it.  I don't think that there will be much interest but we can give it a go.  I will be asking where they are advertising the open house, because not many people actually look on their FB page.  It gives me a deadline to get the house back into some sort of reasonable selling state.