Rolling Down the Green Hill Towards REtirement 😊🌄💚💜

South_coast

I stopped saving cardboard boxes when I decided I definitely wasn't going to sell on eBay any more - but it's so hard 🤣!

killerpeaty

Suffolk_lass said:

killerpeaty said:

@Suffolk_lass why are so many cardboard boxes so nice?  I have so many and yet I still "save" more.

lol - I saw on FB it's a sign we are getting old. I turned out the cupboard under the stairs between Christmas and New Year and I am ashamed to say that two muck boot boxes and four gin bottle boxes with the nice inflated plastic bottle-"condoms" went back in

I don't need this sign! My knees already tell me that everyday! Lol

I've never heard of plastic bottle condoms before and after the image in my head I'm not going to Google, don't think it can be as funny 

Suffolk_lass

killerpeaty said:

Suffolk_lass said:

killerpeaty said:

@Suffolk_lass why are so many cardboard boxes so nice?  I have so many and yet I still "save" more.

lol - I saw on FB it's a sign we are getting old. I turned out the cupboard under the stairs between Christmas and New Year and I am ashamed to say that two muck boot boxes and four gin bottle boxes with the nice inflated plastic bottle-"condoms" went back in

I don't need this sign! My knees already tell me that everyday! Lol

I've never heard of plastic bottle condoms before and after the image in my head I'm not going to Google, don't think it can be as funny 

@killerpeaty - I have just had to go and fetch a cloth to clear up the tea that did not stay in my mouth when I read that. Very funny image of you googling

Porridgecat

killerpeaty said:

@Suffolk_lass why are so many cardboard boxes so nice?  I have so many and yet I still "save" more.

My OH decided to remove the cupboard of doom just after Christmas so we had to buy big plastic boxes to store all the stuff that was in it. The biggest 80 litre box is full of empty boxes that my OH is absolutely positive can't be disposed of.

edinburgher

Naice boxes from champagne and whisky are my downfall! I blame my first flatmate, who kept his life savings in pound coins kept in empty whisky boxes, he seemed rich to skint student me 

greent

Loving the discussion about boxes!   When our local Stap1es stationery store shut down (end 2016/ early 2017?) we went in to see what final bargains there were (both DH and I love stationery - although he is far worse than I am) - they also had a DHL counter in there and all of the DHL postage boxes were free - needless to say we came back with several bundles of them (flatpacked) - they've proved handy for packing things in for uni for the eldest 2 and then going back in the garage flattened back down. I've now actually used an awful lot of them for real - some of them on flebay sales when we had our new kitchen and I was selling excess D3nby kitchenware and Waterf0rd crystal and in recent months I've used quite a lot sending books and DVDs off to places like Z1ff1t, Mu51c Magp13 etc. (My small sales total in my signature so far this year is from sending a pile of books off - the start of the latest round of decluttering)

I used to have some lovely wooden boxes from whisky and cognac - I kept those for quite a while and then I think I put them in the chiminea the other year......! - I should possibly have tried selling them - am sure someone would have liked them to add to their random collection of boxes

My absence from here has been due to back to work and it being so busy! (although I've been keeping up with reading other people's diaries, just not this one or commenting much elsewhere) Anyone who thinks that exams staff only really have work in the Summer months is sadly mistaken - I've been putting together the Summer GCSE & A level timetables, sorting exam entries with teachers (and setting up all the base info on the MiS), planning mocks for Y11 & Y13 and dealing with a whole heap of smaller jobs and some data tasks - I've actually brought a big pile of random bits home with me this weekend (boo ) to see if I can just have a good sort out and knock some of it off/ have a clearer idea of what needs doing in which order next week (although I know that I have a large 2-3 day data task arriving on my desk Monday morning....) It is nice to be using my brain cells for something more taxing than home accounts, but I'm yet to really see any real low-volume work days - work already owe me quite a lot of time, and I'm not sure when I can take it (although I did squeeze in 2 x 3pm leaving times this week - but with a bag of work and my laptop in my hand, so I'm not sure they truly count!! )

Other than that there's not masses to report - our cleaner hasn't turned up for 2 weeks - she's a bit rubbish anyway, so I'm going to persist with the hunt for a replacement. I suppose I've saved some money in the meantime She did message last week to say she had a headache and a bit of a sore throat and I suggested doing a lat flow/ getting a PCR and that was the last I heard. The money saved is welcome, though - we appear to be sadly bereft in both our current accounts this month - mainly due to large CC bills from Dec (although DH has an alarmingly high CC bill (imo) most months, and I've no idea why!) - I can, of course, transfer some funds back from the 'slush' account (it has a lump of money transferred to it every month and is the first stop for 'lean' months - it usually builds up a nice balance and is used for smaller household jobs, like the new fencing last year or white goods like a new DW/ WM, etc)

It was DS2's 16th bday last week - he is such a lovely young chap with such a nice disposition  -and the most amazing eyes - they truly are a reflection of his soul - they remind me of the sea - they change colour and 'shini-ness' with his moods - they are a green/ grey in colour - and when he is unwell or upset they are flat and a dull grey. Mostly (thankfully) they are a clear, bright green tone. (That's a rather random side point I've just written - ah well! )

I've been awake since exactly 6am (not due to an alarm, either) - I gave in and got up around 6.45. Everyone else is still asleep in bed - I'm just on my 2nd cup of tea I expect DD to not be in evidence much today - she had 4 wisdom teeth removed yesterday under general anaesthetic and is feeling rather the worse for wear - 2 of them were impacted, one quite badly - necessitating a decent sized cut in the gum to get it out (according to staff). She is feeling decidedly bruised and battered and is very thankful for pain relief - although is having problems swallowing the pills. She also had a tachycardic incident whilst under GA - and bizarrely the staff talking about it in the operating room entered her subconscious, as she asked about it once she was in the recovery room!

I've also used the NHS this week - I had a standard/ diary/ routine check at Xmas and was recalled for some more tests to which I have to wait until the end of the month for the results.  Gotta say, though - the staff I've been dealing with were amazing! - and I think they even appreciated my (somewhat warped) sense of humour  

Moving on, I am very much looking forward to dinner tonight - nothing exciting, just steak thinly sliced and stir fried with lots of garlic, ginger, a bit of HG chilli (only a bit as these are v. powerful!), masses of tenderstem broccoli (so much nicer than short-fat-stemmed broccoli!) and some shallots and then served with coconut rice - yum! Simply, quick and easy  and super tasty - DH will probably have a very nice red to go with it (it's a lovely red - I've had it in the past, I'm just not a fan of alcohol any more) - I suspect I'll be on water as an accompaniment.  

Ooh - I've just noticed that it's now properly light outside. WM has also just finished, so time to deal with all the white shirts from the week - and then stick on another load..... and make another cup of tea whilst I'm doing that, of course  

Happy weekend! x

apple_muncher

Happy birthday to ds2! Hope dd heals up quickly. Also hope your tests don't throw up anything nasty.

Apple x

Karmacat

Your side point on DS2's eyes was rather lovely, actually 💙 blue for a boy.

And poor DD!  No wonder she feels bruised and battered.  You must be feeling a bit tentative yourself with the results of your test still to come.  Nice to look forward to tonight's dinner though (already  ) and that's a very good point about tenderstem broccoli, I'd not thought of that.  Additional "yum" from me  

f0xh0les

Another tenderstem broccoli lover to join the gang. 

Poor DD, chamomile tea will help reduce a lot of the swelling, if you have any in. Shame it tastes rotten though. 

Swings and roundabouts.

killerpeaty

Why are you having to take work home? Is this a regular occurence?

Hope ds2 enjoyed his birthday. Hope DD is feeling better.