Progress not Perfection

Cherryfudge

I like the actual dancing: the pretty stuff, familiar faces and party atmosphere were a great comfort during lockdown. However, I think the suspension around announcing the winners is horrible. Why draw out the waiting so long? It's pure exploitation of the contestants' misery - in the end I stopped watching, but I'd probably go back to it if they changed to a simpler and less agonising announcement.

My poor DH now has to watch enough on his own to sound as though he's following it when his auntie enthuses!

KajiKita

I used to watch strictly and enjoyed it when it was still quite a serious dance programme, there were professional demos, the individual styles of dances were explained and demonstrated in detail, there was a professional show dance demo in the week before the final etc. But now I find that it’s just so much SCREAMING!!! it does my swede in and it is waaaaay too long - I don’t want to spend ALL Saturday night watching one thing. It’s too much.

Didn’t watch it last year and didn’t miss it.

KK

Sun_Addict

Before Mr SA’s illness I had to watch it in secret as he didn’t like it. When he was in hospital I started watching it properly and when he eventually came back home I made sure he knew our house is a Strictly house 🤣 He loves it as much as me now 😆

I forgot to say earlier won £10 on the lottery this week. That’s a win every week the past 3 weeks 🥳 We have one line on a Saturday so never going to be millionaires 🤣

Sun_Addict

Morning all, happy Monday.

WFH all week this week as the office is closed for a refresh. Quite what that entails I don't know but I hope they finally get around to doing all the long-standing repairs that badly need doing despite it being a new building.

It was so nice not having to get up at 4.30 am. I had a lovely leisurely breakfast.

Mr S delivery arrived first thing, just the one sub which was fine. This was just a small order to take advantage of the £12 off £60 spend voucher and the 25% off wine. I still have a Mr M order booked for Wednesday and this will also be a small one.

Still don't feel 100% so have rearranged my dental hygienist appointment on Wednesday. I can't get in on a day/time that suits me until December but that's fine with me. I really don't feel like someone poking about in my mouth at the moment and my nose is still streaming.

Messaged the painter to let him know the plaster on the bathroom ceiling is dry so I expect he'll be back to paint it at some stage this week. Not heard anything from the electrician I messaged but she could be away I suppose. If I don't hear back by the end of the week I'm going to try a handyman as someone posted on a local FB that they needed a light sorting and people recommended quite a few handymen, some names I've seen pop up on recommendations quite a few times so might be worth a try.

I've booked a taxi to take the old cat to the vets on Thursday. The appointment is at 9am and I know from experience it's no good trying to get a taxi at that time on the day as they get booked up for school runs. Then on Friday the dog has her annual check up at a different vets.

Monday finance check done and cc balance cleared. No oddments to send to the Christmas pot though. It's that quiet time of the month when most of the bills have gone out and there's no money coming in to shuffle about. Waiting for payday now 🙂

Today's exercise is dog walking (done), strength training at 7.15 and yoga/meditation at 8pm. I'm going to take a long lunch break to try and make a start on some of the many jobs that need doing in the house/garden. I bought loads of bulbs last week so they need planting. I've got loads of decluttering to do, I really don't know where to start. Plus I need to get out my autumn/winter clothes and pack the summer ones away. Oh and fit in a full time job around it all!

Tonight's dinner is smoked tofu with curried leek and cauliflower on a bed of pearl barley, a variation on the recipe I make with smoked fish but with smoked tofu for a change.

PennysIntoPounds

Hope you're feeling better as the day goes on and that you got some pesky jobs started.

Definitely bulbs first as that's time dependent. I also think I'm going to do a proper switch of seasonal clothes but they tend to switch themselves over time depending on what gets pulled out for chillier days and evenings and what gets moved further into the depths of the drawers as it's not being used. With the climate as peculiar as it is not much point making an extra job for yourself!

ohdearhowdidthathappen

I used to watch strictly but haven’t watched the last few seasons. I watched the first episode of this series and enjoyed it. I like Emma as a presenter, but didn’t really like the other 2.
I used to find Tess a bit annoying, but I really enjoy Claudia’s sense of humour. It’s a shame she left.

Sun_Addict

Morning all.

Another lovely relaxing start to the morning. I could get used to this WFH every day lark.

It will be another NSD today - I really should keep a tally of these like I used to.

I managed to plant 2 bags of bulbs yesterday after work plus pack away some summer clothes. I have some zip up storage bags and have started popping things in. At some stage I need to pull down the storage bags with the autumn/winter stuff in then put the summer things away. A job to chip away at bit by bit I think so it doesn't get too overwhelming. Mr SA is complaining about the bags being on the bedroom floor - he's got a cheek as he leaves his shoes all over the place - I removed 3 pairs from behind his chair in the living room last night!

Other jobs to chip away at:

Bedroom decluttering

As mentioned above, I need to change over the seasonal clothes. I'm going to be ruthless with what goes back in the wardrobe and a lot of things will be going to the charity shop. I also need to sort out the wardrobe shelving and drawers. My toiletries/make up seems to have got a bit out of hand so that needs sorting to. Then the worst bit - Mr SA's wardrobe, shelves and drawers - I tidy these up regularly but he soon messes them up again.

Dining room Cupboard of Doom

Another cupboard that gets tidied up regularly then gets messy again. Realised this would make an excellent pantry - I think this is what it might have been intended for originally as it's built into the wall recess. That means I need to find somewhere to put the contents first though. I have a vast stock of ingredients/tins/packets that are just stuffed into kitchen cupboards and I can't see what I've got. Moving them into this cupboard would enable me to easily see what's in stock.

Kitchen cupboards

All need another sort out. If I'm moving the ingredients etc to the pantry cupboard then space will be freed up.

Understairs Cupboard of Doom

Also needs a good tidy up - again!! A lot of things went into the loft and shed but I still need somewhere to store things used regularly. Mr SA goes into this cupboard a lot and doesn't put anything back properly.

Home office

Needs a general declutter. I have drawers full of notebooks etc.

Garden

Aside from the bulb planting which I'm determined will be finished by tomorrow, the garden needs a really good tidy up. We still have a pile of branches from the garden clearance that need to be either shredded or chopped up for the garden waste bin. The garden bin is full at the moment but will be emptied on Thursday. I keep tasking Mr SA with the chopping up as it's something simple he can do sitting in a chair.

All jobs to be tacked on an ongoing basis. Feels better jotting it all down.

Today's exercise plan: yoga, dog walking, lunchtime Power Punch and Resistance Bands tonight.

Tonight's dinner is leftover spiced butternut squash stew with herb dumplings.

The painter can't get until Wednesday to finish the bathroom ceiling which is fine with me.

Makingabobor2

Sounds like some great decluttering there. I think its the time of year. I am constantly decluttering, but autumn feels like a new start and I have so much more to do now. Also, like you, got bulbs to plant.

greenbee

I've just had a whole lot of bulbs delivered, but am waiting for a second batch due w/c 9th Oct before I make a final decision on what goes where and planting them.

I'm also in the process of having a pantry built in an awkward bit of the kitchen - like you, I can't find stuff in the cupboards, so a pantry seemed like a sensible option. Apparently this bit of kitchen used to be the boot room, so it's going to make a HUGE walk in pantry… I may move in!

Makingabobor2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82144648#Comment_82144648

Ooh you are lucky. I would love a proper pantry. Always remember my granny's, had a window, stone floor to keep things cool & was massive. Would love something like that. My food is spread between 2 cupboards, veg & spuds in a different one & all my baking stuff elsewhere. I would love something big enough to properly stockpile & also keep baking tins/mixer etc, in there as well.