Debt and Caring

WelshmansDaughter

Hmm. A somewhat unique individual turned up to collect the bike. I do not think he fully understood the ad so there will be no treats for me as I think I shall be refunding.
I am not in the habit of ripping off people with no teeth.
On the bright side I could not tolerate waiting so I went out and did a bit of gardening. I am currently second guessing myself as to the wee strip of land at the side. It has a pine tree, an apple tree, a viburnum and what could be a birch all stuck together in what I jokingly call the woodland. It is currently a thicket. 
I long to cut everything down except the apple tree but something is stopping me. They may look nice if the land around them is cleared so I will start there. But we shall see.

WelshmansDaughter

Ziffit boxes packed and ready to go. I must admit that I did not quite get round to the fiction books. I ran out of ziffit energy.
The grand total in the end was 54.60 so I hope at least £40 worth will be accepted.

Yesterday's £25 is sitting on the table taunting me. 

£3 spent in tesco last night. I did consider a pizza but in the end went for yellow stickered soup, salad and some prepared fruit. I think I mostly ate carbs yesterday which is perhaps why I made so much progress in the thicket last night. 

I do need teabags now though thanks to the carb hangover. And some soup or something hot for lunch. Time to investigate poundstretcher.

Cherryfudge

What did you decide to do to the thicket in the end? If the trees are too close it might be good to thin them, but the other questions I'd be asking would include: are the apples good? If not, would you be growing apples out of choice or just enjoying the blossom - in other words, is an apple tree a choice you would make and if it is, is it the right apple for you? (That question asked, I get appalled at so many apples going to waste in gardens, and have been known to cook vast quantities when available). Are the trees visible from your window, or giving pleasure to neighbours? We have a birch tree which I think is one of the most beautiful things in any season, to the extent that I'm okay with the enormous amount of tiny seeds it throws through any open window. Viburnum can smell gorgeous in winter when nothing else is in bloom - what's yours like? And are all the trees safe?

Lucky you having a handy Poundstretcher, I hope you found something good for lunch.

WelshmansDaughter

Poundstretcher is a 5 minute walk, probably not ideal for someone with itchy feet. I did get quinoa in a tin (did not know that was a thing) for 10p. 

The thicket has obviously suffered from neglect and I do think the original planting was too close together. I have photos but honestly they just show a green dense mass. The apple tree is a lovely tree and the fruit is enjoyed by neighbour who cuts my hedge as well as the birds. I do think it would be nice just on its own. 
One tree has to come out as it is rotting. 

WelshmansDaughter

part of the thicket after some clearing.from the side 

Cherryfudge

Plenty of work for you there - but at least the most vigorous growing has probably finished for this year. I wish I'd taken a photo of the little lane behind our house that I had to hack my way through last week - it was all nettles and brambles there. You are doing sterling work on yours.

I've never come across tinned quinoa either!

WelshmansDaughter

It was an Italian pasta brand of quinoa as well, all the more strange. It's in my overnight oats now with some banana and pb.
And Nutella because I'm 5.
I am trying to resist deliveroo but it may not happen. 
Waiting in for dpd to come pick up the ziffit boxes with a very helpful time of between 8 and 5 🤦‍♀️

Had a wobble yesterday and wound up using teacup's credit card in marks and spencer. She felt sorry for me and sent me some money 🤦‍♀️
Taking money from a pensioner is not doing much for my self esteem.
I'm trying to see it as a temporary measure. 

Cherryfudge

Wobbles happen - my recommendation would be to get a job in M&S as their staff discount puts prices roughly equivalent to other large supermarkets and they do have some nice stuff. When a family member worked for them we also got freebies at Christmas because the way Christmas fell that year there was loads that had to be given away or destroyed at the end of Christmas Eve. 

However, I'm sure you don't want to be waiting for Christmas.

Have you tried chopped stem ginger in your overnight oats with the banana?

I'm still eating cold pizza from when my friends were here on Tuesday, so I get the deliveroo feelings.

WelshmansDaughter

I did have a quick look, no jobs going in m and s up here. Its funny I realized it is their branding that I notice as much as the food. I like their aesthetic.

Plans for this evening went awry. I had intended to get a car and do some delivery work. For some reason I was having major panic at the thought of it and it got scaled down from 4 hours to a couple of hours and a trip to b and q. Then it got to I won't book in advance I'll just walk to where it is and see what happens... There was a jewsons nearby so I bought a saw, another booking attempt failed (as did one for an electric bike) so I gave it up and wandered to the chipper instead. 
Then my sister messaged and I ended up coming to her house so I can take my nephew swimming tomorrow morning. 

Dpd have collected 3 boxes of books.
Some of the rubbish from the thicket is now on the front lawn on a plastic sheet. My thinking is to clear out the rubbish from there and the back garden. I know it will be nice when its clear but the whole process is taking its toll. I start out keen but then get quite saddened as I go, thinking about the waste and the time lost. 
I am looking at part time jobs but can only manage little bits at a time. 
I think I might go out a bit more, spend the day doing research and drawing rather than at home.

Cherryfudge

I think we are in a similar position about jobs: yesterday I saw an NHS post that I think I could do but I just couldn't summon up enthusiasm and when I asked myself why, it's the likelihood of a pressured environment.

Have the over-enthusiastic toddler teeth put you off working with children? There seem to be lots of jobs with children with SEN, for instance. Perhaps your sister could recommend you as a babysitter to enable you to work in short bursts?

The garden... does it help to think that you were banking time in your garden while you were caring for your Dad, and now you are going to draw on that time you didn't spend over the last while? And if you cut any trees down, might there be a market for logs?

Tomorrow should be a great day for swimming: first hot then stormy, while you are cooled down then under cover.