Simple living in the country - back to basics

Cheery_Daff

Oh, and I had a reply about the new job I applied for. They said they'd let everyone know if they'd been shortlisted or not within 2 weeks, so once it hit 4 weeks after the deadline, I emailed to see if they were ever going to make a decision (obviously I didn't quite word it like that...). Had a very apologetic reply saying someone's been off sick and they'll email us all next week. 

Can't imagine they'll squeeze in interviews before Christmas now. I might be wrong, but given it's taken this long to shortlist, I imagine it'll take equally long to sort out dates. Anyway, fingers still crossed for an interview at some point - at least they've not ruled me out yet! 😂

Cheery_Daff

Right, banks and YNAB checked. All additional dosh from last month added into the system and decanted to relevant pots. The £350 of switching bonus I split between next year's holiday fund and the one month replacement income fund - I don't actually think we need this, given that I have 6 months full sick pay and six months half, and several months of redundancy given the worst case scenario, but I found I was getting unwilling to spend from savings pots for specific things without a more general back up being available, so here we are. Just replacing my income, not Mr Cheery's, as that's primarily guaranteed pension. Got another £700 ish to go, which might be covered by switching bonuses at this rate! 

With the remaining extra I topped up various pots that have some in, but will likely be spent from - home maintenance, dentist, car maintenance etc. Good to have everything looking a bit healthier.

Kind of pointless as I'll do a clean sweep at new year anyway and reassign everything from scratch - that's what I usually do. But it looks good for now, and there's £350 still sat in the savings 'float' too, to draw from if I need to through the month (hopefully not!)

Right, sun is shining, need to get off the computer!

Cheery_Daff

Some progress on list!

✅ workout 
✅ photos/measurements for Joe Wicks checkin 
✅ book hair cut - sent text with dates, as requested
✅ book chimney sweep - sent message
✅ book boiler service - sent message
✅ banks/YNAB start of month check
✅ remember to wait in for parcel delivery 😂 - yep, all arrived safely
✅ spend a bit of time outside - repotted some house plants in the greenhouse, took some pictures of the heavy frost
✅ washing on

Still left to do 

* washing hung up
* hoover through 
* book septic tank emptying
* check online LPG account
* flute practice
* bit of batch cooking for the week ahead
* do some online Christmas shopping
* get started on making Mr Cheery's present

Weather's looking a bit ropey over the next few days, so I think we'll pop out later for milk and any other supplies. Nothing drastic, but I don't like to feel like I HAVE to go out if it's icy.

Cheery_Daff

Right, another update of the list!

✅ workout 
✅ photos/measurements for Joe Wicks checkin 
✅ book hair cut - booked for 14th
✅ book chimney sweep - booked for this Tuesday
✅ book boiler service - sent message
✅ banks/YNAB start of month check
✅ remember to wait in for parcel delivery 😂 - yep, all arrived safely
✅ spend a bit of time outside - repotted some house plants in the greenhouse, took some pictures of the heavy frost. Went for a walk with Mr Cheery round the lanes too
✅ washing on
✅ washing hung up
✅ hoover through 
✅ check online LPG account - still not showing telemetry (smart meter) - have sent a message to query as it was fitted weeks ago
✅ bit of batch cooking for the week ahead - made moroccan chick peas stew for tea, spare portion in freezer, and made Joe wicks chocolate fudge for snacks in the week 😁

Bonus extra activities

✔ festive cafe trip with Mr Cheery
✔ supermarket for milk and some emergency supplies (mostly packet soup/pasta/noodles that you can make with just hot water - not expecting the power to go out this weekend but it is SO good to be able to make something hot if it does!)
✔ Flylady home blessing podcast 😂 So emptied bins, quick dust, hoovered, cleared off surfaces, wiped the kitchen floor
✔ had a nice bath 😊

Friend has cancelled tomorrow's pub lunch - we're meeting in the middle and would both have to drive about an hour, and it's already snowing here... We're predicted 8-15cm overnight 🙄 I was willing to make the decision in the morning, they're usually pretty good at clearing the main routes by lunchtime, but he wanted to decide tonight so we've postponed to next weekend.

Which means I have tomorrow to myself 😃 Assuming they do clear the roads and Mr Cheery can get out (his friends are clearly more hardy than mine!) At any rate, I have the daytime to finish my list.

Meant to be going to another friend's for tea tomorrow, but that's another hour away (in a different direction) and there's more snow forecast for the evening, so that might not happen.

Mr Cheery has a hospital appointment Monday morning so may not be able to get there which is a bit annoying, but we'll decide that on the day (it's an early one though).

Cheery_Daff

So, a list for tomorrow...

* workout
* book septic tank emptying
* flute practice
* do some online Christmas shopping
* get started on making Mr Cheery's present

Might attempt a bit if decluttering if I end up here on my own, we'll see.

joedenise

Well done on getting so much done - makes me feel tired just reading it!!!

              bit of batch cooking for the week ahead - made moroccan chick peas stew for tea, spare portion in                    freezer, and made Joe wicks chocolate fudge for snacks in the week"

Could I have the recipes for both of these please @che@Cheery_Daff?  Always looking for more veggie meal ideas and the moroccan chickpeas sound really nice and JW's chocolate fudge sounds amazing and presumably fairly healthy?  Thanks.

Cheery_Daff

Darn it, just lost my post 🙄

Anyway, stew:

https://www.thebodycoach.com/blog/spicy-moroccan-chickpea-stew/

I substituted a few ingredients, as usual (cashews instead of almonds, different spices etc), left in the hay box for an hour 😊

Fudge is 200g peanut butter, mixed with 50g each oats (you're meant to blitz them but i didn't), chocolate protein powder, and honey/maple syrup, makes 12 small portions. 

Joe Wicks recipes aren't  super low calorie - focused more on nutrition,  being easy to make, and a decent amount of exercise, so don't be expecting very low calorie snacks! If protein powder isn't your thing, try these, I've not made them yet but they look good! 

https://www.thebodycoach.com/blog/peanut-butter-bars/

Cheery_Daff

More snacks here

https://www.getthegloss.com/health/nutrition/healthy-snacks-and-dessert-ideas-by-joe-wicks-body-coach

I felt really good eating mostly on plan over the summer, loads more energy and felt more awake. Things went a bit wobbly with my week of events a few weeks ago - I tried but a whole wee with a different work event every day, including one with a bake off competition, did me in 😂 Then incase ill, then on holiday, and I'm just trying to get back onto it, hence trying to get a few meals in the freezer.

Have to say, I have always very much resisted meal planning until now but this seems to be finally the thing that's made me do it 😂

joedenise

Thanks for the recipes and links @Cheery_Daff.  The stew looks good and mainly store cupboard ingredients too which means it would be a good option for when just back from a holiday as I usually have frozen onions and peppers and everything else in the cupboard!

Not so keen on the snacks though as can't stand peanut butter - can't even bear the smell!  DH buys it occasionally so may make some for him next time there's some in the cupboard!!!

I'm very much a meal planner and do a monthly meal plan - in fact we got back from a short break yesterday afternoon and by 7.30pm I had the month's meals planned!  But with the stew recipe now I'm going to change something to put that in somewhere as I haven't got any new recipes this month and I like to try and include one or two each month.

Baileys_Babe

Thank you for sharing the recipe links @Cheery_Daff they are look easy to make and use mostly ingredients I have in stock. I do wish the body coach would include nutritional information.

Suggestions please on what to serve alongside the Moroccan stew?