Simple living in the country - back to basics

EssexHebridean

It is - but the thing is that sometimes the similarities between the "things" we do, and the way we describe them internally mean that we simply don't think about the time aspects I suspect. when we are in the Hebrides I'm a lot more meticulous about making sure that when we go into a shop we get everything we might need than I am at home. At home, if I forget that we need, say, milk, then I have the pricey local Nisa type shop along the road, another of those but open rather later about half a mile away, and a choice of 2 T's supermarkets of different sizes a mile, and a mile and a quarter away - one of which is 24 hour opening. Don't get me wrong, I rarely do go and do top-up shops, because often I'd rather just go without, or find something alternative to use, but those are the options if I needed to get "the thing". In the Hebrides, from where we stayed last time, the nearest shop is 3.8 miles away - but that closes at 6pm and doesn't open on sundays. If later than that then the next nearest would be the co-op 8.5 miles away - but that closes at 8pm, and again, is closed on Sundays - so if it were a Sunday when I forgot "the thing" I'd have a 22 mile drive to go the only option - as I say, it focuses the mind doesn't it!  Essentially - we still think of things in the same way though when we move I think - so "going to the library2 or "heading to the shops" - because the end result is still the same - it's just the time aspect that's changed. I don't think of "going to the shops" as taking much more time when we're up there - and to an extent it doesn't as we tend to shop when we are out anyway - but what it does take is a lot more planning! 

That's annoying about the swimming costume! Precisely the sort of thing I'd do mind you! (And reminiscent of MrEH and I going to the swimming pool last year for an evening swim only for me to realise I'd booked the wrong date!) Glad you got the credit back on it anyway! 

Cheery_Daff

At least it answered my question about what happens if you cancel a pay as you go class at the gym! 😂

Very pleased with myself as I got home and did the 30 day Shred video😁 Even more pleased when I did it again today!! 😮😮

Yes, I think you're right about thinking about things in the same way. And I forget how much energy that planning takes up! Sometimes I just cannot get my head together to plan, and sometimes that does result in extra trips 🙄 Anyway, something to be mindful of. 

Today has been quite stupid. A seven hour zoom meeting (not quite as bad as it sounds, it's very structured and has a very specific purpose involving making a lot of decisions) - still a long time though (we did have regular scheduled breaks!) Treated myself (completely unnecessarily) to a cafe trip 😁 Mr Cheery had set off for a band practice, which got cancelled when he was half way there 🙄 (lack of planning on someone else's part!!) He joined me at the cafe, but then had a phone call, ended up on the phone in the car til the cafe was shutting, so they put his tea in a takeaway cup and I left him sat in the car park and came home 🙄😂

Anyway, blah blah. Made £89 on the Happy wheel today - excellent, since I was £113 down in November before that. Still not in positive numbers but better than it was yesterday! 😂

Cheery_Daff

Evening MSE chums.

A pleasant and cheerful couple of days 😊 Work uneventful (as I like it!) although I learned one of my work pals will be handing in her notice shortly - happy for her but I will miss her terribly (particularly on the project we work together one - I'll still keep in touch out of work). 

Yesterday was our anniversary ❤ so we went out for tea, which was very nice and uncomplicated for a change.

I'm having a lazy one tonight after a rather late and slightly sozzled one yesterday.

Feeling pretty calm and cheerful, but slightly like I'm falling apart - had antibiotics for tooth issues, haven't worked but have given me thrush 🙄 still can't eat on left side of mouth, been weeks now 🙄 still got housemaid's knee from fitting the carpet (although that is easing, thankfully). Burnt my boob on the hot water bottle the other night so now I have a small blistery burn mark 🙄

So nothing in particular, just a litany of tiny woes 😂 

Still, not much planned for the weekend. Chilled breakfast tomorrow, we both have separate places to be on Sunday afternoon, but other than that, hunkering down out of the rain and trying to keep the slightly grumpy chickens occupied 🙄

KajiKita

That all sounds a bit uncomfortable! Burnt boob?? How hot was the hot water bottle?! 😳

I’m glad I’m not the only one with bored pets. My cat is becoming her usual winter hooligan-self again, attacking our rug with disembowelling back paws! We distract her with her string toy - I plaited, re-plaited, and then plaited some more, with a few knots, some parcel string to a point where we have something the cat can chase. It’s her best toy - all the balls, feather covered plastic handled things ….? Nah, just String please! 😂

Merlin's_Beard

KajiKita said:

That all sounds a bit uncomfortable! Burnt boob?? How hot was the hot water bottle?! 😳

I’m glad I’m not the only one with bored pets. My cat is becoming her usual winter hooligan-self again, attacking our rug with disembowelling back paws! We distract her with her string toy - I plaited, re-plaited, and then plaited some more, with a few knots, some parcel string to a point where we have something the cat can chase. It’s her best toy - all the balls, feather covered plastic handled things ….? Nah, just String please! 😂

@Kajikita my terror cat keeps her disembowelling back feet busy on a kickeroo, saves my table legs 

beanielou

My cat LOVES playing with rubber bands 

dawnybabes

beanielou said:

My cat LOVES playing with rubber bands 

It must be s9mething in the taste, mine uses them as chewing gum ! 

themadvix

My cat would eat rubber bands given half the chance - we keep them well away from him!

Cheery, I sympathise with your feeling 'in the wars' - especially with the antibiotics/thrush - worse that they've not actually solved the initial problem too! I hope things improve soon - and stop putting boiling water in your hwb! 😝

KajiKita

@Merlin's_Beard thank you for that. Always reassuring to know that isn't just me who has a terror-cat!!     I have never heard of a Kickeroo - I shall investigate further ....   

KK 

Cheery_Daff

I've not heard of a kickeroo either but then I don't have much need for one! 

Slightly grumbly day here, but at least it's relatively calm, and the incessant wind and rain have let up a bit. We had a cafe breakfast, I did some plotting and scheming for Christmas, and we ordered some flooring for Mr Cheery's dad, which has been knocking around on the list for ages so it's good to get it ticked off (although we do still have to collect and then install it!)

Mr Cheery made a nice wholesome autumnal soup in the hay box. I've just finished sewing the first thermal blind for the bedroom. It still needs attaching to the wall, and I need to make a final decision about how to hold it rolled up, but I think I'm there now, just need more hands than I've got on my own to check it works before I commit to screwing things in. 

I've been reading the archives of a blog I used to read all the time, she's not posting much these days, but I'm enjoying looking back. It's making me think more about embracing seasonal changes, and enjoying them (where I can!) rather than just being annoyed about the inconveniences of the season. I realise this winter is going to be hard for many and not everyone can be joyful about things, and as always round here, I recognise I'm fortunate to not be worrying about money on an everyday level any more. I just realised I spend SO much time focusing on things that need doing, things that aren't finished etc. Home is warm (mostly!) and safe and I'm grateful, but it doesn't always feel 'homely' to me, partly because I see all the unfinished things...

So a bit of reframing required round here I think. Not ignoring the DIY and jobs that need doing - but not dwelling on them as endless signs of our uselessness and millstones round our necks either. A (mostly/sometimes) joyful process of home creation - which can include sewing and fairy lights and appreciating a nice soup along the way. 

Anyway, in that spirit, here's the sunshine coming through the kitchen window earlier (and I am going to suggest we all appreciate the little bit of sunshine, rather than focusing on the lack of windowsill, unfinished frames, *stuff* that shouldn't be there, untidy garden, and only one coat of paint on the walls) 😂😂