The Best Is Yet To Come

slm6002

Well I've just cashed out another £15 of vouchers from the surveys.  I am getting a nice little stash now.  We went to Wickes and bought the flooring and tiles for the understairs bathroom, so that is everything I need to buy I think for the main build. Probably need to buy a light fitting mirror and maybe some shelves but will wait until I can get the layout of the room at least.  I also bought cat food, but they only have tiny boxes, so I will need to look for some bigger bags before the week is out.

DD1 is currently applying for the supermarket job that she missed out on at Christmas because her ID wouldn't go through - expecting her to come up with the same issue again soon.  Quite a few of her friends work there and are on double what she earns an hour.  Fingers crossed the ID works this time and she gets an interview.

Roast will be going in the oven shortly - need to find some energy.  Even after the good night sleep I am exhausted and lacking any energy.  Not sure what is going on.  Next door appeared just as we were off to the shops.  He let us know they were going away for the week so could I sort the bins and keep an eye on the house.  While here I let him know we were having the builders here soon.  They objected to the toilet being built onto the front of our property in a porch type extension.  This is the first time I have let them know it is not being built there.  You could tell he was going home to tell his wife the good news.  She is not good at the stairs so he is keen to see how it goes as they may need to do the same.  I can see them needing a bungalow before long.

Right must go and sort the dinner out before I fall asleep

slm6002

DD1 and I decided that the roast can wait until tomorrow as we don't have clubs because of half term.  DD2 and DS always have Maccy D's with XH so we thought about having a lunch type dinner.  That was until DD2 and I have just moved some bits over to the defrosted freezer.  We have taken out 2 baguette pizzas, 2 onion bhajis, last portion of southern fried chicken bits and 2 potato, cheese & broccoli stack type things that were left in a box.  We will have a pick something you like kind of tea.  It has cleared some odds and ends from the freezer and will fill some tummies.

We have found some lamb mince, beef steak mince, a few sausages and some sausage meat, plenty of chicken, 2 blocks of cheese and a ton of peas.  Will work the meal plan around this.  I am hoping to do a inventory of what is left in the un-defrosted freezer that can go with the  above.  It is still half full so still quite a lot in there.

Off to search recipes that all 4 of us will eat!

slm6002

What a beautiful spring day.  We were up early and all showered by 9.  I went off and fed brothers cat - they look like they are having fun and SIL is enjoying her free all inclusive cocktails!  We have been to a local town to do some banking and to prove I am now using my maiden name again.  That is finally sorted with them and will just need to wait for the new card etc.

Looked in Poundland but the item wasn't there any more.  Annoying as Amazon are also out.  Picked up DD1's new boyfriend on the way home and they have gone to cat sit for a while.  I have put a load of washing on the line - possibly the first time this year.  It may still not dry but worth a go.

Roast dinner tonight so will get that sorted before too long and while the sun is powering some of the oven.  Still re-jigging the kitchen cupboards to fit things in.  Need to store pasta and rice somewhere - next job.

LadyWithAPlan

You seem very organised and great you are using vouchers toward your build

slm6002

Well I seem to have lost my post - will try again.

Thank you @LadyWithAPlan, most of the vouchers will be used mainly for birthday and Christmas bits, but I have ordered a few bits for the building work.  Today I bought a key holder as ours will be torn down when they remove the cupboard and it is already held together with glue.  I decided to get a new one (Only £6ish and I used the voucher so really free).

DD2 and I have been busy working at clearing the cupboards and rejigging the kitchen to fit it all in.  It wont, but we have managed at least to find some bits new homes.  I think for a while I will have a stack of boxes in my room with bits in.    Second shelves have been installed and we really just need to work through our masses of 'just in case' food.  

The non-defrosted freezer has been emptied and listed and put back.  A lot of it is bags of veg.  There are a few other meat items and another block of cheese, but mostly it is veg.  Again I will need to just use up stocks and not replenish until a lot more has gone.  I have removed what I think is 1 pork and apple burger for my dinner tonight, while the children have heart shaped chicken nuggets.  I think I will still use the 2nd freezer in the garage but we will have to see how we get on.

There are 2 loads of washing sitting in the sun on the washing line.  They may need a little 20 min in the dryer but hoping the main bulk of drying will be done outside.  This sunny weather makes me feel more productive.  No doubt we will be back to grey days for a little while longer but I am looking forward to more frequent sunny days.

slm6002

Up bright and early again as needed to go to brothers to feed the cat.  I think it is a good thing needing to get up or I could easily have wasted the time in bed.

Been to Lidl to get some more diet coke - getting some stock again in my garage for when they decide they can source any for weeks on end.  I may go every day this week, but need to stop buying bits from the bakery whilst there.

It looks like today will be another bright and sunny day so need to make the most of it as tomorrow we are forecast rain.  DD1 still not appeared with her mountain of washing.  I've no idea which pile in her room it is so cant even bring it down myself.  Will have at least a load from the rest of us though.  I need to list a few things on the freebies site as need them out of the house.  DS and I are waiting for the post and if nothing is in it we will need to apply for other places for his work experience.  I have no idea where but we have had no luck so far.  

slm6002

Good evening, we haven't achieved an awful lot today.  Felt cold and tired all of a sudden and been sitting / sleeping most of the day.  Really hoping I'm not coming down with something.  Anyway sudden burst of energy a little later as we were going to brothers for the cats night feed and to close the curtains, but not done much with that energy.  Tonight was hotdogs and salad (real sausages, not the yucky tin ones - sorry I don't like them).  A quick dinner that required almost no work.

Need to work out what is for dinner tomorrow and get anything out of the freezer that is needed so it can defrost.  Might make a lasagne as we have mince and cheats jars of sauce that would free up more space.

No luck with work experience.  No post so no letter from the one company.  We did email them at the beginning of the week but no reply to that either.  All they need to do is say sorry we cant help and then we can move on to the next one to try.  Today we sent an email to the local council and can see it has been forwarded onto the correct person and they have been asked to get back to DS.  Fingers crossed they can help.

Early night and will hopefully have a more productive day tomorrow

slm6002

Well I don't think the sun is coming out anytime soon today.  Very grey but not raining yet at least.

No plans other than feeding the cat and club this evening for the children.  We need to go as I have said I will be the second adult for tonight.  One of the gentlemen who runs it had a stroke last week and wont be back for some time we are led to believe.  What is worrying is he is the fitter of the 2 elderly gentlemen running it.  Will find out more tonight.

Anyway I decided on a quick basic tomato pasta tonight as we are always rushing around on club nights.  Will save the meat for another night.

Need to make progress with clearing the cupboards so it is done and I wont need to worry about it any more.  The drain man could arrive at any time in preparation for building at the beginning of March.  I was looking at worktops yesterday to go over the extra island part of the kitchen, and the old 80's light beach top that we have, seems to have gone out of fashion so I cant get anything nearly the same.  This is fine as I hope to do the kitchen at some point so having mismatched counter tops is fine until then.  The closest would cost £100ish plus the costs for the bits to join it together.  I will need my brothers help for this one.  I also wonder if I need to cover the backs of the tumble dryer and freezer with a wall of some kind or if I just leave them exposed.  Well I will keep looking and measuring and pondering, but cupboards first lol.

slm6002

We have made it to Friday - still tired but all is well.  Today we visited XH nana.  It has been a while since we have seen her so it was lovely to see her looking quite well for her age.  We were treated to lunch out which was good too.  DD1 has been at a party since 5 and will be home around 11 tonight.  We were ready for bed before 8.  Only another hour to go before we can go to bed.

My temporary kitchen worktop is arriving at some point tomorrow - will then need my brother to help fix it for me.  They are still on holiday until tomorrow evening so it will be a few weeks before he can come and help.  When we actually get round to sorting the kitchen in a few years time I will move this worktop to the garage so it will not be wasted.

The only money spent today was on topping up the petrol.  It is the first time I have touched the fuel money pot this month.  Hopefully I can build up a small excess ready for the summer holiday travels.  It was good to see the price was down from last time.

Some progress with DS's work experience.  One firm has got back to him and I have persuaded him it would be a good idea for him to volunteer somewhere.  We had to sent the one firm a CV which is very difficult to write when he doesn't really have a lot of experience.  Some creative thinking outside the box was required

slm6002

Today is the last day of feeding the cat - morning session done, and just need to pick up some milk for them before going this evening.  They are now on their way back to the airport so will be home hopefully later tonight.  They look like they have had a great time.  I wont miss having to wake up on time tomorrow and hope to have a little lie in.  DD1 got home at 11.30 ish last night and I woke up tired again today.  Back to work Monday so will have a relaxing day tomorrow hopefully.

It looks like it is going to rain at any moment outside and is quite blustery.  Not half as much as those in the north mind you.  I moved the bins into a more sheltered area just in case.

The worktop has arrived and is bigger and heavier than I imagined.  It is currently resting against the sofa meaning no one can sit down.  I could really do with it being cut to size so we can move it out of the way at least.  House looks a big mess as the understairs cupboard is now empty and also in the living room.  Will clear as much as I can and then try to work out what to do with the pantry cupboard that also needs emptying - most of it has been done so only bits that weren't an easy fix.