The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

It is so peaceful here I hardly know what to do.  I may have just put a curse on things but currently the children are all occupied in their own rooms with their doors shut, not shouting at each other or pressing each others buttons to annoy them.  We all slept so well last night that none of us wanted to get up this morning so were on the drag a little, but we were all happy and smiling lots.  My dad is coming over tomorrow to put up the desk and shelf in DD1's room and that's that.
I went and got a paint sample for DS earlier as I think realistically his will be the next one painted as still no reply from the builder.  I need a colour on the bottom of the room that hides his grubby-ness so went for a dark blue / grey.  I think it is too dark, even though the top half will be white.  Ideally i need Perspex over paint  on all surfaces that he touches but that's not going to happen.  Will try another lighter colour and hope it looks better.

Kitten868

You can get that tougher paint so you can clean it? That's what I do. My little monkeys marks dirty toe-prints on her wall. She has marshmallow pink walls. Or I think green works well. Great for disguising dirt and so many more tones to work with. Doesn't seem so dark. Glad 1/3 is practically done. You are getting there. And I think you've put the money to good use. I think we will get on a more even keel with spending in this crazy new expensive world so you will be ok. xxx

slm6002

Not much going on today.  I've cashed out £15 in one of the survey sites i am on.  Not been doing so many as been busy doing the rooms.  If nothing else it will pay for a pot of paint.  The builder said he will be getting back to me with the price for the smoke alarms today and the window update by the end of the week.  We will see!
I ordered DS's new furniture and already since I ordered the girls things have gone up quite a bit.  The mattress had gone up by £75, so we have gone elsewhere.  Now to hope it is just as good.  Feel like I need to buy everything that we need now to avoid overnight price increases.
I was informed that one of the ladies I work with is leaving before the end of term, so the office will need to pull together until her role has been filled.  I have offered to work extra hours if needed in the interim.  I have also offered to take on an extra small role instead of being made to take on a bigger role later down the line, that I do not want to do.  It's no extra money or anything like, but will make the school run a little smoother, as well as avoiding another job lol.
Ok must go and do some washing, load the dishwasher and get dinner sorted

slm6002

Well the builder has replied re the smoke alarms and I've told him to go ahead as we need it for the building regs.  I have also just amended my home insurance to cover 4 rooms rather than just 3.  Thought as DD2 was in her bedroom even though not fully a bedroom, I better change it now.  I also realised that XH is still on the policy so need to send them a copy of the divorce papers to get him removed (remember that's what they said I needed to do last time I spotted it!).  I also need to research home insurance as it is almost time for renewing it.  Might have a quick look later

slm6002

Yesterday and today we have been emptying and painting DS's bedroom.  So far it has gone a lot quicker than DD1's room.  The only hold up was DS needing to choose the colour.  His quirkiness does not allow him to make decisions very easily so needed some helping hand along the way.  Once decided it has been quite quick.  I still need to gloss the woodwork, but so far very happy with the results.  We have obviously been to the local DIY a few times along with the rest of the town it would appear lol.  Used brothers discount card so got a few £'s off, and all budgeted.  I'm hoping to call the carpet man tomorrow and let him know that another room is ready for its carpet.  Furniture is arriving sat or sun (cant remember which one) so it would be great if we could get carpet fitted by the end of the week too.

slm6002

After lots of painting we are done.  Still waiting on the carpet man, but paint wise we are done.  I also need to attach the curtain pole this evening and door stop.  Almost 2 out of 4 bedrooms finished.

I spoke to the builder today about the window for DD2's room.  It is now on the lorry and will be delivered to the builder tomorrow.  He is hoping to get the man installing the window to come by the end of next week.  He will also be installing the new fire alarm system on the same day.  We will then be decorating that room.  The wardrobe will need building too so have warned brother his skills will be required.  I cant wait to see the difference it makes having a window in that little room.  Hoping it will make it feel bigger.  DD2 was very happy to hear it was on its way.

OK must get off sofa and do bits before putting dinner on

slm6002

I thought yesterdays news about the window being on its way would be the excitement for the week, but today I had a call from the solar panel people who plan to fit them on 19th May.  I then had the scaffolding people call to say that they will be here Monday morning to put it up.  It's going to be a busy few weeks.  It's also DD2's SATS exam week next week.  Thankfully as long as the back of the house is accessible I do not need to be home to supervise the scaffolding being put up.  
Tonight I have an Olio collection so it will be a busy evening.  Now charging my phone to make sure it's ready.
Also one of my managers asked if I would be interested in upping my hours (as I have offered to cover a few times).  I dont need to for benefits purposes until DD2 turns 12 in Nov I believe, so maybe something to look into.  Will look at the numbers and see how things work out

slm6002

It was a very busy evening last night.  Supermarket gave me 6 full to the brim boxes of food that needed logging and arranging pickup.  There was so much there. I had DD1 helping by taking photos at the same time as me.  2 boxes have been collected so far and the rest are throughout the day.  It is very time consuming, but thankfully the only bits not allocated so far a 2 limes and some rosemary.
We get to keep a little for ourselves too so have some pears, apples, raspberries and some flowers.  I would definitely recommend getting the app for free food, and if you don't mind donating some time, become a food waste hero.  It's lovely knowing I may have helped by giving a family food.  They may be struggling with the rise in everything, or they may be just filling their freezer.  Either way it is stopping the food from going to waste. 
I had many packs of peppers last night and each one had 1 that was very much past its best.  I took the good ones out of the packets, rinsed them off and there was a whole load of perfectly edible peppers ready for people to have.  One of the other helpers in my area had over 50 packs of tomatoes the other day and because he didn't get rid of them all, he ended up making chutney.
Not much happening today other than food being collected, DD1 going to her sat job, brother coming over to put up curtain pole as I wasn't able to, and furniture being delivered for DS's room.  I am hoping to get the washing out but may have to leave it until tomorrow as over 50% chance of rain

slm6002

Good afternoon.  Been busy washing and tidying up this morning after the kids left with XH for the day.  We had planned to fool XH by saying we were having a loft extension, which is why we were having the scaffolding up, but unfortunately the panels should be up by the time he visits again.  Instead DD1 dropped it into conversation lol.....I am giving your mother too much money blah blah blah lol.  We knew his reaction and it just proved it.  DD1 is going to text him later to say she was tricking him, but we will have a laugh at his expense in the mean time.  She then text to say her bday and xmas present is going to be £1300 worth of driving lessons.  Obviously I am giving them too much of a nice house so he is trying to show off by the amount of money he is planning on spending on her.  Not sure if he plucked the figure out of the air as the £1300 is for 15 x 2hour lessons.  I know lessons are expensive but 30 hours for £1300.  That's over £40 an hour.  Our local AA instructor is currently £24 on their website and offers discount for bulk hours.  Maybe she is getting a very good instructor, or prices have gone up by that amount but AA not changed their website.  However I think someone is trying to con someone else.
Back to work in a minute as I need to clear the paths in the house ready for carpet man and builder this week (fingers crossed as neither have confirmed).  Told the neighbours it might be a noisy few weeks but they said they will just take their hearing aid out if needed lol

slm6002

BIG NEWS .......WE HAVE A WINDOW!!!!  Honestly today is such an exciting day for us.  It still needs plastering and the window sill adding, but there is a window in DD2's bedroom wall.  It is so bright in there and the landing is lit up when her door is open.  Builder is hoping to come back on wed to finish off and bring the buildings reg man at the same time to sign things off.  The smoke alarms were also fitted today too.  I thought there was going to be 1 heat sensor plus 2 smoke but can only find 1 heat and 1 fire?  I will check when he returns and get him to adjust the invoice if needed.  After the builder has finished my brother will come and build the wardrobe before we paint.
The carpet man wasn't able to get to us before we needed to play music chairs with the furniture, so will come hopefully be able to do both rooms in one go, if I can fit DS's furniture in my room as well as DD2's.  Then I will be left just to paint my room and get carpet refitted.  It will be lovely once all furniture is in the correct room.