The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Well we are flying through half term. Nothing too exciting happening here, just day to day jobs that needed doing

Yesterday was DS 15th birthday.  We also had the dentist (not the best choice of day).  Very long story short DS needs braces but because useless retired dentist he has missed the window for nhs he needs £4k private braces (according to new young dentist).  I intend to fight this idea that he needs to go private when we don't mind waiting for nhs (even though it will be a while).  Either that or they can admit the old dentist has messed up and they can pay themselves for his private treatment.  

Today was the vets - yearly jabs and checks all done.  DD1 had her second driving lesson and has booked theory test for Christmas holidays.  The rest of the day will be tidying the kitchen and I really must get club accounts sorted so they can go to the auditor in the next few days.  Oh and we must remember we have badminton later (tend to forget when it's the holidays).

Tomorrow is the boiler service - price has gone up from previous years but still good value in my opinion.  DD2 has the hygienist but my dad will take her to that.  Nothing much else tomorrow.  Sunday I was hoping to use a voucher we has but got national trust and english herritage mixed up.  May need to rethink that, but would like to go somewhere nice as a family 

slm6002

Boiler service done - it has had a small part for the past few years that has been on its way out.  I was advised to remind him when booking the service that it would probably need changing.  He therefore came along with the part and sure enough it had broken.  New part fitted and service done £70.  All good for another year hopefully.

Then I got a text asking if it was a good time for the electrician to come round and fit new hob (old one tripped electrics the other week as was on its way out).  Yes it's a good time.  Less than an hour later the hob is fitted and we are boiling water to test it out.  Job done.  My goodness me induction hobs are quick.  I feel I will need to learn new cooking times of things to make sure everything is finished at the same time lol.

I love the fact that I have a good electrician and boiler man.  I just need a decent plumber and hopefully the builder who came round the other day will be my big job person, we will see.

Feel like it's been a revolving door so having half hour just sitting and reading on here to relax before cleaning the rest of the kitchen and maybe hoovering the carpets.   I could do with taking the old hob to the tip and then nipping to the post office before the end of the day.

slm6002

Good morning, lazy start for us all this morning and no real plans today other than DD1 has work at 12 til 4.  I still can't get over how quickly this week has gone.  Feels like only a few days.  Think it is going to be a long few months until the Christmas holidays.  I guess at least we get an extra hour in bed tomorrow, but it will mean darker evenings.

I have some washing to do if the weather stays dry (it's not looking likely) and some paperwork that needs doing.   The house isn't too bad so not much to clear away.  I do need to do a meal plan and work out what is needed.  Tomorrow, we have club in the evening so no trick or treating for us, plus DD1 & DS are too old really.  I will give the kids some sweets and have Halloween style food maybe before we go out.

I have cashed out £15 in amazon vouchers from survey site so not bad for this morning.  That will no doubt go towards the either bday or Christmas presents.  I am in charge of the crackers again for Christmas and have found some nice DIY ones.  I thought it would be better and a good idea, but now struggling to find things to put in them.  I don't mind spending a few pounds on each little prize, but ideas are lacking at the moment.  I did wonder if a scratch card and a mint choc for after dinner would work but thought maybe a little boring. Plus, there are enough chocolates in the house so something else to go with the scratch card?

Ok must get on with the jobs

slm6002

Well although it stayed dry and warm it looked like it was about to rain for most of the day so the washing hasn't been done.  The batteries haven't charged fully today either and I am not surprised, but it's only the 2nd or 3rd time since having them that they haven't made it to 100% charged.

We had a nice afternoon as friend from the school run (that I no longer have to) do rang up to see if we were in.  So after a mad half hour of clearing the living room and places she might see, she came over and we had a lovely afternoon nattering away.  She bought us all a cone of Halloween sweets to enjoy.  We are really lucky to have a good friend like this. She is so encouraging of everything we do and has been a great listener over the years.  I have 2 really good friends (and she is one of them) and I am very lucky.  We will enjoy the sweets over the next few days.  I am however back under my blanket now and in my cosy jumper.  Very grateful I have nowhere else to go tonight.

slm6002

Quick one as already been on here a few times.  Birthdays shopping for this year all done.  Now to start on Christmas bits yay

slm6002

Woke up at my normal time this morning despite the clocks going back.  The children all had their last lie in for the holidays.  I got quite a bit done before they appeared for breakfast. 

Still feeling really pleased that I am now onto Christmas shopping, and after quizzing DD2 last night I have some ideas for her too.  I already have a few bits for DS and no idea really for DD1.  I have even had a great idea for niece who is really difficult to buy for and has everything she could wish for.  Only leaves a couple of awkward people but I think the worse ones are now sorted.  I felt really behind the other day but I now feel like most of the hard work has been done and it is a case of just going out to get things.  I do still need to sort bits for Santa which gets harder each year, but I have a few ideas.  I have even been able to provide ideas for other people on what we would like - again not normally something I can do.

Back to work and school tomorrow. Homework is just about done, bags ready for tomorrow and they are now all lining up for the shower.  Hopefully it will be a great half term and a good lead up to Christmas

slm6002

Yay payday here.  I have had some extra hours added so takes bank account up a bit more.  Less benefits though at the end of the month so evens itself out again.  I tried again to explain this to my manager who has no idea on UC's.  She was shocked and said 'so your working all these extra hours for us for nothing'.  It kind of is but nice not to rely on the government for handouts so much.  She also commented on the lump sum for pay increase that will come in the next few months.  A lot of staff are already working out what they will buy / treat themselves with.  Me on the other hand needs to keep it as benefits will be much lower that month.  It is ok because they have also saved my from becoming homeless and being able to feed the kids so whatever ups and downs, they have certainly been a help to me.

I feel like today has been quite productive and I have managed to get some bits that I was putting off done today.  I can't believe it is November tomorrow.  I am going to go and put monies into pots shortly. 

Tomorrow I need to clean the kitchen, maybe do another load of washing (if current load on dryer racks in living room is dry), paperwork, remember to take DD2 for her haircut, move money to savings account (can't do until new month), maybe start working on shopping list for Christmas and see if I can order anything.

Right off to move money before I go upstairs to bed

slm6002

Decided today to go back to online supermarket shopping as I was getting into bad habits. I have meal planned and got enough meals for the week as well as topping up on bits. Will see how we get on. Need to involve kids more with the meal plan as they have all moaned about some of the meals. Happy for them to come up with some alternatives as long as there are some sort of vegetables in there somewhere. I refuse to fall into the trap of takeaways because I'm not organised 

joedenise

Good idea to get the kids involved with the meal planning.  It's also good if you can get them to actually cook, or at least help, with the prep and cooking of said meals.

When mine were around 10 and 13 they helped with prep and cooking.  If they helped or actually cooked the other one had to do the washing up!  It worked really well with the younger one and she still enjoys cooking.  The elder one hardly ever cooked so landed herself with the washing up!  She still doesn't do much cooking apart from things like pasta bakes!

slm6002

Thank you Joedenise, I will try to get them to help but with 3 teens (almost) its hard work getting much from them, and I generally run out of patience waiting for them to help / work out what they would like.

Over half term I had the builder come round to quote on the downstairs toilet under the stairs.  Well I have had the quote and although fairly pricey there is quite a bit involved to the job (walls to knock down, pipes to be installed).  We were given a rough idea of when they could fit us in of March.  I have said to go ahead and it means the money I don't quite have at the moment will be saved between now and March.   It just means we need to stick to budget better as we have become quite relaxed lately.  I do have the money in the emergency fund but not keen to use this unless it is an absolute emergency.  Once this has been done it will be all of the structural work that I plan on doing in this house.  Yes the bathroom (which was quoted for too but is too much of a stretch to get done at the same time) and the kitchen still need to be done, plus we are still waiting for the fence man to return, and the garage could so with a new window and door, but that is it really.  I will then keep things up to date rather than leaving it for 15 odd years like XH did.  I really do feel like we are getting there.