Simple living in the country - back to basics

themadvix

It sounds like you're making excellent progress with the decoration Cheery - how lovely it will be to have a finished proper bedroom at last. 

Rubbish about the poor communication and lack of antibiotics from the vets though. I take it there's no likelihood of the avian flu restriction zone being lifted around the vets by Wednesday?

Poor chickens in their beaky prison - what an image! (Will the Cheery version of Chicken Run take place soon, I wonder?!)

Cheery_Daff

It's a possibility Vix, but who knows - it's been in place since mid January 🙄 They were within 2 that almost overlapped completely, and the other one was lifted last week. The vet is checking daily, as are we - she's going to ring before she sets off so if there's a possibility of us going there instead, we'll do that.

Doing a bit of Happy Wheeling this morning but it's not going great so far... Still, persistence is key with these things. 

Must go and get Mr Cheery up though so we can do this tablet 🙄 Yawn - I was quite enjoying NOT doing them for a few days there!

Cheery_Daff

Right. Tablet done, Bessie unperturbed - doesn't like it but is immediately fine once we've put her down. We're getting better with all this practice 🙄

Happy wheel done - down £31 for the month now 🙄

Just did a flurry of Prolific studies - £5.92 ready to cash out plus another £4.09 pending (although I'm sure it's just slow to update as I feel like the ones I just did should have tipped me over that).

Did banks/YNAB - looking ropey after vets bill, and also we've been using up bits of cash Mr Cheery's dad gave us and I've done an appalling job of tracking where that went, so I've split it between food and cafe, so both those categories now look dreadful 🙄 Definitely need some belt tightening in April, considering joining the grocery challenge for the first time ever 🙄

Still got some vouchers (and I've used some in March so not sure why the rest of the spending is so high!) So will try to focus on those and using up the store cupboard.

Right, booked an aquarobics class for 12 so best get my act together and go! 

EssexHebridean

Oh excellent work on all counts - decorating, bed upstairs and very much so Bessie's tablets - you sound SO much calmer around that situation now which is good. It's clearly never going to be something anyone would enjoy doing, but it's clearly better if it's just a "ugh, this is rotten" rather than a feeling of almost not being able to cope. 

Fingers crossed that the vet doesn't have to come and the restrictions are lifted! 

themadvix

I'm sure as you (you/Mr Cheery and Bessie) all get more used to/expert at the tablet situation, the fewer stress feelings will pass between you, making it a virtuous circle of less stress, less difficult, less stressful! It's definitely good to hear it's not so panic-inducing now.

Enjoy aquarobics!

Cheery_Daff

Thank you both 😊

Aquarobics was fun 😊 and that means I've used my gym membership 5 times this month, which works out at £7.20 a visit. However, I've been looking at pay as you go proces, and while the gym is £6.10, I've not actually been to the gym itself in March. Aquarobics is £4.10, swimming is £3.75, meaning so far I've paid £36 for membership and only used £19.50.

I'm going to try and get in another couple of swims while I'm off, but it won't take me to £36, which means I don't think I've used the full amount since I signed up...

I do need to figure out if it's as easy to book classes etc without a membership, but once I've done that, I think I'll cancel. 

I've been trying for months to just make myself go more often... but between work and everything else, I just don't manage it. In reality I like swimming on a Friday morning, and I do occasionally manage one more class/swim/gym, but even then it doesn't reach the cost I'm paying. I like not having to pay individually! But now the weather is getting warmer I imagine I'll be going out on my bike etc too.

Hmm, will have a think.

Cheery_Daff

Right, Mr Cheery has gone out and won't be back til about 8 at the earliest, which gives me 5 hours to knock about and get some stuff done 😁 Chickens are fed and cleaned out, so nothing to do there except maybe throw them another handful of treats about 6. 

So, a list! Imagine it in pretty rainbow colours like the old days! 😊

3-3.30:Tea and admin
* cup of tea 😁
* ring round to see if I can rent a power scythe
* set up computer in kitchen to prepare for later

3.30-4.30: DIY
* final coat of oil on the skirting boards
* get DIY debris (old paint cloths etc) out of new bedroom

4.30-5.45: Flylady home blessing
* put the podcast on and crack on! 
* pick up surfaces, hoover, dust, mop, wipe windows, whatever else I can fit in while she's waffling

5.45-6: bedtime treats for chickens

6-7: Batch cooking!
* homesteading video on for company and encouragement 😁
* big pot of brown rice for the freezer
* big pot of quinoa for the freezer
* curry?
* lasagne?
* something else using up some beans?

7pm onwards: freestyle
* depends how I'm feeling by this point - maybe flute practice, maybe a bath (although not if stuff is still on the stove/oven of course), maybe a bit of decluttering of clothes

Doesn't feel like very much time when you break it down like that - best get on!

themadvix

It looks like plenty to me Cheery, but mostly nice stuff. The power scythe sounds like a brilliant idea to save your back and you some time.

What homesteading video do you watch for company when cooking? It sounds like a nice way to cook

joedenise

Well done on deciding to do the batch cooking.  It will save you so much time in the future and fill the freezer!

Karmacat

Lovely list!  I'd no idea there *was* such a thing as a power scythe.  

Quinoa, though ... can't make space in my head for it today, but I'll do it tomorrow, that'll be a Good Thing