Flying solo

Baileys_Babe

Don't forget to take some snacks for the car, we usually have water, fruit, some nuts, and tea in our resuseable thermal mugs.

twiggy86

Productive weekend - drove to bf's dads Friday afternoon and then came back Saturday afternoon as we had managed to do everything that we could do at this stage. It doesn't take long to fill a skip when there's 5 of you! Bf and his sister aren't very sentimental about possessions, which made it very quick - we did spend some time looking through some old photos though. 

It meant we had an unexpected day at home as didn't think we'd be back until evening. So yesterday we went for breakfast, went to the driving range (bf's thing - I'm rubbish at golf!), visited his mum, went to B&Q and then came home. Bf built our new BBQ, whilst I built my new office desk. Yes the BBQ is another house expense but ages ago we had said we would have friends over for a bbq and had forgotten it was coming around! It will be nice though, as before I never invited people over as was embarrassed about the state of the house, plus ex didn't want to do those types of things. It meant I had to "re-allocate" funds that were set aside for debt busting to cover my half of the cost. That does also mean that there are a few things we should get up-together this week e.g. bf is going to finish painting the fence, do a tip run, cut the grass etc. 

twiggy86

Separate post for this week's goals/ tasks...

Finances/MSE:

• List bf's bits on Vinted done - 14 items listed, 8 sold (£45)
• Get bf to glue my sandals decided I was perfectly capable so they're currently drying - hope it sticks as they're super comfy! 
• Send off penalty notice done

House:

• Build new office chair done 
• Finish painting fence
• Cut grass done
• Do a tip run bf has done this
• Do some organising in utility area (few things been dumped in there!) done! Including bag of clothes taken to clothes bag and bag of clothes listed on Vinted, few other bits and bobs but in their rightful places! 
• Pull up at least a few weeds from the front garden may have to wait as I've filled the green bin with stuff from the back garden! At least I've done gardening though! 

Crafting: 

• Progress knitted top - need to sew in the ends but also work out how to unpick the bind off and re-do! most ends sewn in
• Make at least some progress on jumper finished the first sleeve and made a start on the second!  
• Start next project - makes sense to start with a pattern I already own got all materials together from stash and started a gauge swatch 

twiggy86

And on to today!

I'm working from home again today (and tomorrow). So this morning I was productive and built my new chair - also means if bf decides to do a tip run, he can take the packaging (recycling is full and have a few boxes as well!) I also need to prioritise listing the bits on Vinted so that I can post (i.e. get out of the house!) as much as possible this week! Bf nearly threw out a paid of trainers but I grabbed them and added them to the pile of bits to list! I need to pop out and do a few bits at lunch, so I have the bag of clothes for the clothing bank in my boot, so will drop that off. 

My plan re the knitted top is to sew most of the ends in so that I can at least wear on Thursday for my knit night. At some point I will need to undo the bind off and re do it looser, but it is wearable so will be able to get away with it for Thursday if I haven't had time to fix before then - also thinking I can ask for some tips/ recommended techniques before I tackle it! 

So bits and bobs for today...

• Build office chair 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Snap a couple of receipts 
• List bits on Vinted 
• Bf currently outside painting the fence
• Washing on 30 degree quick wash
• Hang washing on airer
• Put bits in clothes bank
• Food shop with bf maybe  
• Meals from stores
• Get bits together for next knitting project 

twiggy86

Already sold another two things through Vinted! I have another 4 listed and am slowly working my way through the pile - must just crack on and get it all on there! The two things will get me another £12, so I posted them off at lunch time. So 8 things listed and 4 have sold (£15.75 total) - probably another 8 to get on there from bf's clear out. I did also put the stuff in the clothes bank, so that's more rubbish out the house and another job ticked off my list!

Bf painted one more fence panel - he's said he plans to do a panel a day as not in the mood to do it all in one go. He is off work through stress/ compassionate leave so I'm not putting pressure on him to do anything in particular other than look after himself - although he is doing a lot of "admin" for both his mum and dad. Plus there's no reason I can't do any of the bits anyway - hence why I built the desk (and may have challenged him that I could build it quicker than he built the bbq!). He did take most of the stuff to the tip as well - there was one thing that wouldn't fit in the car so will need to go again to get rid of that. 

Floss

Maybe you could suggest to your BF that every day he does something for his parents (admin), something for your home (painting a fence panel) and something for him (gym? Bike ride? Long dog walk?). It might give some structure to his time off, chips away at the admin & fence, and is also looking after his own wellbeing.

Baileys_Babe

I like @Floss suggestion of BF having some structure without it being overwhelming.

twiggy86

@Floss that seems to be the approach he's taken on his own tbh. So today he has been to the gym and played some games (for himself), done some admin and visited his mum, and painted a bit of the fence and been to the tip. I definitely think it's right that he balances being productive with allowing himself time to relax before he starts his new job in a couple of weeks. I don't honestly know how he would have juggled all the admin of sorting out his dad's estate and taking over his mum's finances (given her diminished capacity following her stroke) as well as holding down a full time job! 

twiggy86

Fairly productive day yesterday. I got everything listed on Vinted and sold a couple more things - although annoyingly someone who had received their item complained that it had marks on it... even though the pictures showed the marks! I couldn't be bothered to try to argue the point, so agreed for them to be refunded the £2.75. So I currently have £1 available and £19 pending - but need to post off two things today at some point. I sent offers to people this morning who had "favourited" items to try entice them to buy! 

I also managed to sew in all the ends on the top that I can do - the rest need to be left until I unpick the bind offs and re-do, and I may also add a couple more rows to the neckline whilst I'm doing it. Which meant I actually worked on the jumper for a bit last night! Nearly at the point of starting the cuff of one sleeve - I may try get that done and the other sleeve picked up for me to work on at stitch night on Thursday, but not sure I'll have enough time to get to that stage. Or I might work on my gauge swatch for my next project... 

Also spent some time in the garden trimming back weeds/ dead-heading the rose bush, whilst bf was cooking us duck burgers on the BBQ! Garden is looking so much better now, even though there's still things to do out there! We were discussing how best to organise the garden for the BBQ on Monday - just hoping the weather's good! 

I have a chat with my new boss later today - as I had a 3 month notice period it's been ages since the whole interview process. I'm sure it's just a catch up but I'm still nervous! 

Anyway, on to today... 

• Update spreadsheet 
• Post off parcels later (hoping to make some more sales before I go but probably be as soon as I get back!) 
• Try for a NSD (funds are looking a little low!) 
• Wash bedding on 30 degree cycle
• Hang washing over airer/ banister 
• Some sort of tidying in utility room 
• Plunge bathroom sink that seems to be draining slowly 
• Work on knitted jumper 
• Meals from stores 
• Do some more gardening 

Bf is also just sorting out some other bits to take to the tip and then that should be that job completely ticked off! 

twiggy86

I appear to have been a little too productive in the back garden and have pretty much filled the green bin and it isn't due for collection for over a week! There is a tree/ bush in the garden that seemed to have gone a bit mad but also lots of dead branches(?) so I went out there for "2 minutes" and next thing I knew, I had a huge pile of branches next to me! However, when bf got home he said it didn't look any different! But I can see that it looks better now much of the dead stuff has gone, even though it looks a bit thin in places! Also trimmed back my roses a bit more, so hoping a few more will come through. 

I have also put the clothes airer outside with the bedding on, so that's already dried. And the tortoises and pooch are out there enjoying the sunshine! So the garden is seeing a lot of action today... well, if you can count two tortoises slowly mooching around as "action"!!!