Moving on

Cherryfudge

Honeysucklelou2 said:

That sounds great - being able to get apples and Iris rhizomes! It’ll be fun to see which colours emerge!

I am sure I will be excited and report it when they flower, though it could be couple of years. I noticed their tawny-coloured ones a few years ago and have been wishing ever since.

Well, last night was the third in a row of poor sleep. DH was asleep, but restless, and DS2 was in the other room, so there was that feeling of 'someone else in the house' though he's no trouble and we were delighted to see him. In the end I got up for a while which always resets my body clock, then slept till about 9.30. It's as well we had that extra hour from the clocks changing.

D left before we did, but I think we see him again in a couple of weeks for a birthday.

I was helping out with the little ones at church this morning and it was busy, though a very tiny little one attached himself to me, so I didn't really have hands free to do anything else! Afterwards we had a chicken dinner, then I showed DH the areas I think need to be mended on the chicken coop. To my surprise, he's taken that job on himself, bless him. He's not someone who would have chosen chickens if left to his own devices.

He followed this up with a long walk while the weather is good, but I stayed in and did some messages to do with the children's group. Later I did a small bit of gardening, just potting up the camellia into the rescued small planter I got the other day. I forgot to water it in but I can hear rain now.

This evening we've had the log burner on for the first time this season, and I've pushed on with the knitted rabbit I started ages ago. I'm hoping it will be done for DGD2's birthday.

Nothing spent.

Cherryfudge

There was a brilliant rainbow first thing this morning and the weather feels very mild. It's been another day of glorious autumn colours, though the leaves are thinner on the trees and thicker on the ground now.

I've done the laundry, made pea and mint soup for lunch, pushed on a bit with the knitting and finally given a second coat of paint to the kitchen door frame. Before work I just need to bring things in off the line because if I leave it, one of us will forget there is wet paint en route.

Cherryfudge

Yesterday was another NSD for me, though DH bought groceries. He made us a chicken and veg pie, which was lovely to come home to. I felt a bit down as I'd been remembering a former friend who I lost touch with after her son told her a half-truth that made her think badly of me. She now has dementia so I don't know that I'll ever have the chance to explain - and it's been years, for sheer not knowing how to do so. Anyway, remembering always brings me down so it was nice to have DH's TLC over making dinner, and a good meal is always fortifying.

Today DH has the day off and it's half term so he's out for a cycle in the sunshine. We have resumed last year's search for a small chainsaw and there's a likely one: perhaps my DIY efforts of yesterday can extend to cutting up a few branches and oversized log burner fuel. I reckon if I'm not looking for extra paid hours (well, I sort of am but not unless there's something that doesn't push me too far), then I should fill my time at home a bit better by taking on some of the never-never jobs.

I'm also reminded by a couple of diaries here that I need to update the life admin pages in the 'control journal' I made years ago. So far I've thought to add a list of bank accounts and insurance policies and a 'wish list' that doesn't have to be in a will but if I were to die, would give an idea of how I'd like to see certain items distributed.

On a cheerful note, I've made more progress on the knitting. I'm up to the tamoshanter on this little fellow. I can recommend the pattern as it's very detailed and takes nothing for granted.

Cherryfudge

DH came back from his bike ride with tachycardia again, so he's been resting. A&E got a reading on it a few weeks back, but we realised no one has told us what to do. The heart rate is slowly going back down - I guess at least he got out and about as he wanted, and it's an indication that possibly exercise could be a trigger, but we don't know so he's got a GP appointment to discuss whether there's anything we ought to be doing.

Meanwhile, I've been good and started on the 'Life Admin' document so each of us can trace the other's bank accounts, etc. There are so many things we might need details of if ever one had to administer the other's effects. So far I've got banking, credit cards, insurance, shares, passports and premium bonds. I doubt the passports are needed for these purposes (I think when someone dies, the 'Tell us once' cancels those), but it's a way of having access to passport numbers if we lose them.

I've just thought to add dentists, opticians, work managers and people we see often.

I also realised I've done almost no financial recording this month so I've entered a bundle of receipts in the notebook and checked the credit card. It turns out that the day after I paid it off early this month, they took the automatic payment out. I've spent very little since so it's now £18+ in credit. Or, as they put it, I owe -£18.

Now I need to do due diligence and prepare some notes for tonight's meeting. At least I'm not hosting. DH is up and about again - his heart rate is headed back in the right direction. And I've completed the rabbit's knitted hat.  

Cherryfudge

DH is going to fill up both cars ahead of the budget. I let him take me round the block in the classic to cheer him up! It's not as scary an experience as the ride we got refunded last year, which wasn't roadworthy at all: not a quiet ride but comfortable seating. I think I need a cushion as I sink down too far but manual seat belts and quarterlights are a nice blast from the past.

I also did a tiny bit of decluttering and uncovered five old tubes of sunscreen which I'll drop off at the supermarket when I go to get my prescription and a bit of sunshine and exercise.

Honeysucklelou2

That’s a good idea for a Life Admin document. 

WelshmansDaughter

I did have a template somewhere for mine. I did send one to my mother as well for all the things for her house, I got details by searching for executor responsibilities.

Cherryfudge

I started an inventory once but we have hundreds of books and where to start?! Looking for executor responsibilities is a good idea.

Cherryfudge

The mild weather continues - nice, isn't it? I overslept this morning but was only a little late for the Wednesday job, and then there wasn't anything much for me to do so I used the time to get ahead with preparing for Sunday's pre-school group. I was able to move some resources around too, so we have what we need at hand till the end of the year. My next task is cutting out the card for 10 paper frogs, as one does.

Shopping was a bit complicated with a laptop bag, bag of paperwork, tote bag and two punnets of raspberries  from the market (for £2 in total: I couldn't not get them, could I?) and there wasn't much needed. However, we've run out of a couple of bottles of oil this week, so a proper shop will have to happen soon. I'll check first to see what else could be finished up.

Once home, it was a quick lunch (granola, banana and yogurt with a cappuccino, not something my ancestors would have understood, I think) then out to the dentist. Thankfully she is pleased with my teeth: the slight tenderness is due to following childhood instructions to brush up and down. Now they say go gently in circles... nobody told me till recently.

My poor dentist has had some medical thing going on and while she's as nice as ever, she looks under strain. I didn't feel I ought to ask after her health as she might not want me to know or notice, but it does concern me.

Back at home, and with a couple of hours of daylight left, I was enjoying the freedom of not making myself look for a job, and somehow that freed me up to be productive. I've cleaned up another surface ready to be painted, then cleaned the dishwasher and put some jeans through the wash. Dinner was chicken and chorizo pasta, so Sunday's chicken is nearly finished.

DH has been fine today though he's not inclined to go out for a walk now it's dark. Instead, we've ordered DGD2's birthday and Christmas presents, accepted an invitation to go out for a meal with DS2 for his birthday and suggested family comes to us for a buffet tea on Christmas Day. Phew, that was productive.

Expenditure:
Housekeeping £11.57
Gifts £48.97
Medical £56.50

Cherryfudge

And just to mark to occasion: tomorrow DH gets his pension. That's not to say he's reached state pension age, but he's drawing on one of the pension pots now to enjoy it while he's younger, if that makes sense. There was also talk that the budget might tax the lump sum part of it, but that doesn't seem to have happened. No matter, we will have it to enjoy.