Moving on

Cherryfudge

My 'couple of messages' turned into quite a lot, and that was repeated after work when someone spotted a problem for Sunday mornings and I had that to sort out. Thankfully someone senior to me has taken it on now.

The forecasts of snowy weather persuaded me to go out to the shops this afternoon for some basics: we've not had snow yet but they're sure it's on the way. That makes me realise what sort of things should be in my emergency cupboard but aren't, like plain biscuits and yet more tins of chick peas, tomatoes and fruit. We get them, then we eat them.

I did have another game of Age of Empires after work, just the one. Really sleepy now so I'll pack up for the night.

Expenditure:
Housekeeping £9.87

Cherryfudge

Today is granddaughters' day: DH is taking them to toddler club and I'm about to go and join them, then back to theirs for lunch and an afternoon spent trying to persuade N to do anything we think might be better for her than watching TV which is allowed but not on in the background. F got some quality musical toys for her birthday so they might come out.

Other than that, no plans for the day.

twiggy86

You've just inspired me to sort out my cutlery drawer later!!! I did the kitchen "cupboard of doom" and my bf was laughing the sheer volume of glass bowls/ pyrex style dishes that I had! I managed to get rid of a whole big plastic tub of stuff from that one cupboard! My mum is going to go through and take what she wants and then donate the rest to charity, so makes sense to do the utensils and get them sorted at the same time! 

Cherryfudge

Welcome @twiggy86 - that's a good haul from your cupboards! You will enjoy the extra space, I'm sure.

It's been very cold here but no snow. I met Dh and the grand daughters after the toddler club and we walked back to theirs. N insisted on walking along in her tee shirt despite the temperature being just over freezing, so I let her but offered her coat quite often and eventually she accepted it. I remember as a child being asked if I didn't want my coat as my grandma felt it was cold, but I didn't. I can only assume N is similar. I was holding her hand so I could tell she wasn't chilled through.

We had an interesting hour when she got out some felt pens and started to draw on the furniture just as her sister fell over and needed to be consoled. She also coloured her hand very carefully - literally red-handed - and ended up having a bath to stop it spreading any further. We got all the marks off everywhere apart from some green crayon on her desk and I got the pens out of sight. She didn't seem to have any drawing paper so that might be on my shopping list this week. She's coming along in leaps and bounds - real progress even since last week.

In the afternoon we all headed off to admire the Christmas display at the local garden centre and listen to the singing reindeer. The decorations are lovely but I can't say the music appealed to me! I got a photo of DH singing along and N dancing. Baby F just seemed to take it in her stride. N also gathered up an armful of identical notebooks and announced she was buying them for her birthday so I had to tell her she'd have to wait, which she seemed to accept.

We called into Sains on the way home and the assistant at the till, when I questioned whether I needed to scan my card after there was a hiccup with the till, took the phone out of my hand and, seeing I'd not added the app to the phone wallet, proceeded to do it for me. At no time did he ask if he could do that so I'm thinking of complaining - taking an unlocked phone out of someone's hand, searching through for the wallet and adding something to it isn't acceptable, but at the time I couldn't think what to say. I get the logic, it's the invasion of privacy I dislike. DH thinks this person may have some condition which affects how he processes things and I can see this is likely the case, but that doesn't excuse something that should be in his training.

We had corned beef hash for dinner, and watched the Bake Off. Nice and quiet. I have some yogurt in the Instant Pot overnight, and also moved the mousetrap as, after a few no-mouse days, I could see if had been back in the cupboard while we were out. It's all tins in there now but I still don't want a mouse.

in_need_of_direction

I would definitely complain about the phone incident. There are a lot less tech savvy people who could have anything put on their phone.  

Also, have you tried the mint spray from the big river company as an alternative to a mousetrap? I swear by it

liselle

Mice hate the smell of bleach so a small cup should see him off!

Cherryfudge

in_need_of_direction said:

I would definitely complain about the phone incident. There are a lot less tech savvy people who could have anything put on their phone.  

Also, have you tried the mint spray from the big river company as an alternative to a mousetrap? I swear by it

I'd not heard of mint spray, I'll look into it, thanks. I'm still havering about the complaint as I hate getting people into trouble but I also feel uncomfortable with having my phone 'taken over' (albeit briefly and in full sight). As you say, it could happen to someone less able to complain.

liselle said:

Mice hate the smell of bleach so a small cup should see him off!

I think I tried this when a mouse got in the under-sink cupboard and it seems to have worked as the next time was on the other side of the room! I will wait till we catch this one as I don't want to drive it into other areas of the house. (I also need to ask DH not to leave chocolate or fruit lying about as it had been in a dish with an apple core that was left on the sofa arm). Anyway, thanks for the reminder about the bleach, as I think that worked in the past.

Today I don't have anything planned till work this evening but I was looking at the stocking filler gifts in Bee&M yesterday, and we have eaten our way through the beautiful fruit from last week's market, so there are possible errands to be done in town. I also feel tempted by the more expensive things in the garden centre, which gave me an idea for gifts for our in-laws. They had some nice cordials which would be a treat but not cluttersome. I think I've just invented a word there.

I spoke to A yesterday and learned they are in Scotland for a weekend early in December which I really hope means I can collect my new phone on 10th December. I'm hoping the current phone will last that long as battery life drops by big chunks now: once it's under 50% it's practically gone. I'm closing apps down frequently and I've turned lots of stuff off but it's mostly emergency use only unless it's charging.

Other than that- Duolingo gave me three days of 'super' for free, so I might take advantage of that to improve a bit. I've struck a tricky patch but I need to work through that. I also have various study options and that finances spreadsheet, both busy being ignored.

Cherryfudge

I've started to decant the yogurt that was made overnight. I used a 'high protein' milk which I saw from the label was made by adding whey. The result is a litre of whey - what should I use that for? - and the thickest yogurt I've ever made. That will be at least a litre too, and I don't have definite plans there. Probably overnight oats.

rtandon27

@Cherryfudge - In the past, I've used whey as the basis for a soup (instead of stock) and also have used it instead of water or milk when making bread or cakes (baked goods) - I find it lends a similar taste to buttermilk in cooking.

Laura_Elsewhere

Definitely do report the phone thing, please- I would be horrified if that happened to me or anyone I know!