Debt Reset....

CRANKY40

Good evening all. NSD today, yay. The HT went to college and I went to collect my friend from dropping his car off for an MOT. We sorted a few bits of his admin out - I was paid in coffee and chocolate biscuits 😁 I've started knitting him another hat. He washed the good one that I made him and it didn't survive. Luckily I made him one for his birthday which I gave him on what turned out to be the day he killed the other one. I'm thinking that a spare may be a good idea though. 

My sister messaged me to say that the storm is really bad in Ireland. She's hoping not to lose power but won't be surprised if they do. I went for a doctors appointment and have been referred to a consultant rheumatologist. The doctor seemed surprised that I've never been seen by one before now. I've also had a change/increase in medication which hopefully will help my pain levels. HRT has had to stop because although it was good for the brain fog, the pain it caused was too bad on top of ordinary joint pain. 

The cat has rearranged the tree skirt several times but hasn't stolen any of the ornaments yet. At least she's too old to move into the tree like she used to when she was a kitten. The sound if tinsel being chewed goes through me  🤣

Only me for lunch today but three of us for dinner. 

Take care all of you 😊

CRANKY40

Good evening all, 

My sister and her family (and her house) survived the storm intact thankfully. Even the power stayed on which is rare in that kind of weather. She lives way out in the countryside and something usually falls down across a power line. 

Yesterday I had lunch with my friend and we did some crosswords because it was too wet to go out in the garden. Wednesday is the HT's day off college and as LAP's mum had swapped nights  I wasn't working so I took the HT out to buy himself a new backpack. We had a browse around the big M&S. I didn't buy any clothes but I was tempted to try on the coat that made me look like Grandma from the Giles cartoons  😂 

Today the plumber came first thing and fitted my Surestop. It's instead of a stopcock which I can no longer turn properly. I'm happy that I can stop the water supply at the flick of a switch now.  I also went to help friend move some furniture around and move a few other bits so his living room is ready for other furniture that is being delivered tomorrow. We put some squirrel food out and watched squirrel wars being conducted in his garden. 

Only me for lunch today but three for dinner as LAP is here tonight. I've done the top up shop and I'm under the weekly budget by about £2.50. Not much but it's a nice change from being over budget. 

Take care all of you 😊

CRANKY40

Yesterday was a busy day so I didn't have a chance to post. I went straight from dropping the HT at college to the opticians for an eye test. I wear contact lenses but I'm at that age where I need reading glasses as well as my ordinary glasses so I've ordered varifocals. Fingers crossed that works out. I wear contacts during the day so I will mostly be wearing them at home during the evening. 

I collected a Christmas present for a friend - one of the few that I buy for. It was paid for in November and it had to be ordered so I'm happy to have collected it at last. I bought the HT some earrings while I was there. He had his ear pierced earlier this year and keeps borrowing mine, but just one at a time. I need to hide the good ones. 

I met the HT in town then came home with him for lunch and to do washing/drying/various kitchen things. Dropped him back at college and went to collect some hot chocolate bombs which are presents for HT and partner. Had to go and buy pizza for tonights dinner for LAP as I'd forgotten that I was feeding him as his parents are going out so I put some extra petrol in the car while I was there.

I went back to collect the HT via a quick call to Home Bargains for cat treats for Greedy Guts the cat, a cake tin as part of a present and some bird feeders for another friend whose first attempt at bird feeding has been scuppered by squirrels. He chose bottom opening bird feeders and may as well have poured the nuts etc straight on the ground for the squirrels 😂 By the time we reached home it was dinner time and after that shower time then online gaming until late on. We added another person to our group last night and it was good fun. 

NSD today as I'm working which is probably just as well after yesterday. It's good to have the money saved up to pay for the opticians visit and a few extra presents though. My job is supposed to be ending in February but it depends on funding for LAP's house move etc being put in place so we'll see. 

Take care all of you 😊

Sun_Addict

I like the sound of the sure stop. Since we had a new kitchen I’ve no idea where the stopcock is. We put nuts out for the squirrels, I love to see them, they can be quite cheeky 😆

CRANKY40

@Sun_Addict the squirrels are hilarious. There's one greedy one that sits in the food bucket and punches the others if they come near (we put food elsewhere for the others now). This is the surestop. 

Blackcats

Well done for coming in under the weekly food budget.  When I read your diary it seems like you have a very sociable house and cook and cater for family and visitors very generously so you do brilliantly to keep to a budget.  

CRANKY40

Thanks @Blackcats. It's usually the same people though - the HT's partner who is often with us from Friday to Sunday or Monday, the person that I look after as my job who is in his twenties, six feet tall and fairly skinny (ADHD as well as autism so he burns a lot of calories) and of course my lovely best friend who now lives five minutes away from us instead of two and a half hours.

Best friend was persuaded to make lunch for me last week for the first time ever but I bought the things for him to cook. He's not mean, he's actually extremely generous but he hates food shopping even more than I do, mostly because he has a food allergy which means that a lot of things that he would like to buy and eat would make him very ill. I make cakes and "safe things" for him as well as us having lunch together at least once a week. 

The HT made brownies this morning which made his partner and LAP very happy. 

Seasidegal58

Hi Cranky - I followed your last diary so I'm pleased to see you posting again. Have subscribed and look forward to reading your updates. 😀

CRANKY40

Hello @Seasidegal58. thanks for stopping by. 

I had a day out today with a friend - garden centre then her dad's house for a cuppa and some cake. I did buy a few things but I came in under budget. My friend bought some mistletoe which she has kindly shared with the HT. Goodness knows where that's going but the HT is very pleased with it. 

I've just joined the library online so that I can look at their ebook recipe books. I thought that if I liked any enough I could put them on my ebay list of things to buy if I see them cheap enough. It's better than buying them and then deciding that I don't like the recipes. 

I wasn't in for lunch but there was three of us for dinner. HT's partner and I had braising steak, mashed potato and broccoli. The HT had sausage, chips and beans. If my c-section had been under general anaesthetic I would have sworn that I had the wrong baby as he has zero interest in food. 

Take care all of you 😊

CRANKY40

Good evening, 

Grocery shop done and under budget (just). I will need a few bits on Wednesday ready for the weekend as LAP is eating more meals with us this week but his mum has given me extra money so I can use that instead of my grocery budget. 

The HT wanted lunch at Costa today but was easily persuaded to dine at home - cheese and ham toastie and some crisps. He was offering to pay by the way but we have plenty of food in so I suggested that he save his money. 

Three for dinner tonight. LAP and the HT have had pizza and yum yums. They share very similar sensory eating patterns so it's fairly easy to make food that suits them both. I will have curry once I'm back from dropping LAP off. 

I've been tired today so tonight's plan is to try and go to bed on the same day that I got up ie. before midnight 😄 I've just been making a list of things that need doing next week to get it all out of my head and on to paper - less things to worry about. The HT won't be at college so without the taking and fetching back of him I should manage to do all the baking etc in between working. My last work day is the 22nd then I'm off for the rest of the month. I'm really looking forward to some time to myself. 

Take care all of you 😊