Simple living in the country - back to basics

Karmacat

Fortune_Smiles said:

Not surprised you're feeling a tad emotional Cheery - it's all the stress of the last year catching up with you and some further challenges coming up just when you thought you could relax.  Isn't that always the way.  Just be aware of what you need right now and be kind to yourself.  Remember - you can't pour from an empty pot.

Fortune x

Hiya Cheery - totally agree with Fortune, I'm sorry it's all getting to you on your first few days back.  And no, you don't sound harsh that you wouldn't consider keeping the dog - I adore cats, as I think you know, and I'd never have another cat till I was practically housebound, I don't want that tie, I don't want to spend my energy on them, rather than on me. 

OTOH, I too have cooked some sweet potatoes both my siblings stab a few holes in them and cook them in the microwave, let them cool, and pull out the flesh to eat.  Easiest way of cooking fresh food I've ever found it was good.

And since your frittata is good ... take your wins where you can get them.  All the best.

savingholmes

Hugs - it does sound like you have a lot going on. I get it on the dog too.

badmemory

I wish more people were like you & were sensible/faced reality about pet ownership.  All those people who bought pets during the first lockdown & are now abandoning them like they are nothing make me want to scream at them.

Cheery_Daff

Thank you all for your kind words, both about my emotional outburst, and about the dog. Your support has really helped me today 😊 xxx

We are pretty realistic about pet ownership I think - partly because we know how ridiculous we've been over the chickens, which are pretty low maintenance pets as these things go! We've only left them alone overnight a handful of times, and never left anyone else looking after them. We'd be dreadful with our own dog, we'd never go anywhere, and as you say KC, I just don't want to put my energy into that right now, that's exactly the right phrase.

So I did make it to the evening in one piece, and Mr Cheery is now home and we are cautiously forgiving each other for our earlier tantrums 🙄😂

And I did make my sweet potato curry! I absolutely would not have bothered without having told you lot about it, so thank you for your encouragement! It was simple, but tasty, and it was also the first time in 2 years I've made rice, because it's been such a faff having to drain it in a sink in a different room 😂

Not sure there's enough to go in the freezer as Mr Cheery unexpectedly wanted some for tea, so I'll put the leftovers in the fridge and have a bit of a blatter tea tomorrow with the frittata and some leftover sausages.

Had a phone call from the nice plumber - he has found us an electric water heater, and can fit it on Friday if it's arrived by then! Most exciting. Not a major priority in the grand scheme of things, but we were going to have it done as part of the kitchen work and it dropped off the builder's list. It's been broken since a pipe froze 18 months ago, and fixing it will mean we can have hot water in the downstairs/visitor loo sink and the utility room sink, which will hopefully mean that the chicken treats bowls will get washed regularly rather than building up for weeks like they do now.

It's also a back up hot water supply in case anything happens to the boiler so it's nice to have that bit of extra resilience 😊

Right. I've been doing bits of work (mostly just watching a recording of a conference presentation I missed) while making tea so I'm going to get changed and settle onto the sofa with a film.

Thank you for being nice to me today xxx

rtandon27

Awww Cheery, so glad you & the Mr. have come to a truce - it's so hard to be at odds with your OH so it's nice to hear of a resolution of sorts xxx

Also hooray for self-resolving plumbing issues!!! Hot water is always a good thing!

Cheery_Daff

Certainly is RT! 

And don't worry about us, we're at odds pretty often, I just don't complain about it in public much 🙄😂

I forgot about premium bonds!! Until someone mentioned it on Fortune's thread. Sadly I haven't won, and I must say that is most vexing - I didn't win last month either, and after a long streak of winning every month I am most displeased!

joedenise

Cheery - there's really no need to drain rice.  Just add 2 parts water to 1 part rice, add some salt to taste, bring to the boil and simmer for about 7-8 minutes, stir, cover and leave to steam for about 10 minutes and then fork through to separate the grains.  Not had any problems with rice since I started doing this.

Glad the curry was tasty enough for Mr Cheery to help himself to seconds!  LO curry is nice on top of a jacket potato.

Four_Seasons

Sending you hugs cheery, love your diary x

VintageHistorian

Just read through your new diary Cheery. I wouldn't adopt someone's dog either, but then I'm not much of an animal person myself (which shocks and occasionally upsets people). Hopefully some extra support for FIL can be arranged that means pooch can return home and you can have some normality.

Cheery_Daff

Thanks all 😊

I do occasionally manage to do rice without draining! But good to know there's an exact ratio - I always did it by eye, sometimes it works, sometimes  it doesn't....

Well today is progressing slightly more easily, although I had a rotten night's sleep thanks to restless dog. I've been on the sofa bed for over a week now, and I think between that (it's VERY springy compared to normal bed), walking more than I'm used to (mostly in wellies), and sitting back at a desk, my hips are starting to object. Need to do a bit of yoga I think, and maybe have a nice bath! 

Mr Cheery has gone to see his dad again today. Not ideal - it's a five hour round trip - but we can't take the dog back until the dog flap is installed. We're both going on Sunday and are going to take the dog, but he's also ordered a skip, and Sunday is the only day we can fill it, so the dog flap needs to be done on a different day.

Anyway, me and the dog have had a brief walk, but neither of us very enthusiastic as it was SO cold. Tried to take him in the garden in a break between meetings, but it's sideways snowing now, so it was literally a quick wee and back in.

Food today. Smoothie for breakfast, frittata for lunch, and then the rice and curry never made it to the freezer, so I'll fry those up together with an egg or two for tea.

Tree surgeon rang - I'd almost forgotten I'd contacted him before Christmas. He's going to bring me over a load of woodchip at tea time today. I'm delighted - the last lot lasted literally the whole year. It's brilliant in the chicken run, especially when they're shut in all the time at the minute, and stops the place becoming a mud bath. It's also great for the veg patch paths. Last time it was £100 so that can come from the chicken budget.