Moving on

Cherryfudge

So this morning, we bought a chain saw... at last. It should be delivered in a few days.

I was on the church cleaning rota again and made it down there half an hour earlier than usual, but it still took absolutely ages, partly due to a long conversation but also clearing up chippings of candle wax from the Christingle candles. Am in danger of becoming grumpy cleaner person. I did also have a brief chat with one of the staff who's supposed to be on holiday but came in to get ahead on a term's planning, then with a couple of the elders to get my head round fire evacuation policy for the little 'uns.

The other person on the cleaning rota did their stint and finished before me but DH came in and did a lot of my hoovering, bless him. At least I know that the area I've focussed on will cope with just a spot clean for a while if necessary.

I've also got some materials ready for the preschool group, so this week it's back to cutting out crafts ready for Sunday.

Home again and a late lunch of tuna pasta, put out water for the birds and paid off the credit card, though once again this morning's purchase isn't yet processed (interesting how often this happens) so I'll have to log in again till it comes available to pay.

DH has been fixing something on his hobby car and is now vinegar-ing the mould patches on upstairs ceilings. I've forty minutes before work so I think there's time to attack the ironing pile.

Expenditure:
Garden £130.00

Cherryfudge

Another three hours at work this evening, and a walk home in the frost. This evening I've been experimenting with making a wooden spoon doll to help me tell the story for the kids on Sunday. They are very simple but they seem to help the little ones relate to the story: the other week one of them even picked up the dolls after I'd finished the story and began a sort of puppet show. Anyway the first one, an older lady, has a fetching up-do but no arms. I'm not sure arms are necessary, but the pipe cleaners I have are too short.

There are lots to choose from as I've just picked them out of the story props box and most haven't got further than a face, and possibly a simple tube dress.

Another £10 spent as a deposit for the meal at the baby shower. I bumped into H in town and asked if I could have a lift with her, so that's sorted.

 

Cherryfudge

I forgot - I finally sent off the photo of the kettle that stopped working just inside its warranty, and they are refunding, which almost covers the cost of the replacement kettle.

Justcrackingonwithit

You’ve had a very productive few days @Cherryfudge, you always sound so organised with your time, finances and getting things done. And great news about the kettle. Have a lovely weekend x

rtandon27

Fabulous news about the kettle!  I just love when a warranty is actually honored!

Cherryfudge

A quiet Saturday so far. DH has gone to his volunteering and I have so many things I ought to be doing that it's been hard to make a start.

So far I've cleared out my 'Sunday School' bag and repacked with things that need to go in the cupboard at church including four booklets, a tube of bubbles, a dozen wooden spoon dolls (having kept back the ones I'll use tomorrow) and a gift wrapped donation of preschool books. Then I texted the person who gave the booklets to thank her. That's two donations we had over Christmas, and I appreciate them.

At some point I need to start on a list for next week's team meeting.

A load of washing has been done and some is on the line. Whether it will dry a bit, I can't tell.

Last night I looked up the possibility of Fitbit giving erroneous heart rate readings and yes, there are plenty of posts. Interestingly, many refer to the model I have and issues with fitting (mine was loose the first time I caught a strange reading). I've given up worrying about it - I feel absolutely normal and if there's a condition that makes your heart rate jump on random days at 4pm, I've yet to hear of it. Cherryfudge syndrome?  It's more likely that the Fitbit, which is several years old, is getting dodgy, so it's definitely on my 'costly things and when I might need to replace them' list.

Off to catch the last of the daylight: I've no idea if I need anything from the shops but I'll just check.

Cherryfudge

The 'Costly things and when I might need to replace them' list (excluding things like the car which is not a personal spend):

Fitness tracker - but given recent experience, and coincidentally an episode of the sliced bread programme just now, do I want another? But probably this year if I do.
Laptop - replaced 12 months ago so not urgent. Four years?
Kindle - hopefully another couple of years, no problems looming unless you count software changes that cut across all the things about using it that I'd transferred to my subconscious brain.
Phone - replaced a couple of months ago. Not new, so possibly three years +.
Dental work - the dentist is pleased with me and hasn't found any problems in years so nothing expected in the foreseeable.
Glasses - probably in the next year as these frames are old and getting worn. Routine eye test not till about November.
Footwear - more trainers at some point this year but I'm difficult to fit so it might be a spontaneous purchase.
'Big' coat - two or three years, this one is lasting well and I have lighter ones for warmer days.

Cherryfudge

I met DH from his volunteering and we had a bit of an explore of soe charity shops: he bought a couple of records and I bought two pillowcases (I left the 'nice' ones for people who are actually looking for pillow cases: these are to cut up to make dresses for the above-mentioned wooden spoon dolls). So £2 each spent.

On the way home DH bought flowers for the lady who supplies him with bags and bags of apples, and we got groceries. With a  bit of consultation we bought extras so as to get the extra points on a Mr T voucher which means effectively 75p back off some future purchase.

Main meal today was fish with chip shop chips.

In the evening we watched a programme on Britain's extreme weather last year (it's amazing how much you forget till you see the pictures again) and I've been cutting out gingerbread doll shapes for the children to make 'families' for their activity. I just need to finish writing out the story then it's off to bed.

Expenditure:
Hobbies £2 (DH and £2 (me)
Housekeeping approx £23
Gift £10

Cherryfudge

I didn't get to bed till about 2.30 last night, but I got the prep done. That's a lesson to me to get ahead with crafts and stories for the little ones.

It started to snow before I went to bed and snow was just turning to rain in the morning.

I'm not sure what was up with the group this morning, they didn't seem unhappy, just very quiet, and something went awry with the order of service so we had a longer session than usual. Fortunately little kids are okay just returning to play after their structured activity.

DH didn't get his exercise today: he tried but turned back in a few minutes. In fact this evening someone we know who was out at work helping people whose electricity was off, got stranded for a while. Thankfully a colleague with a tougher vehicle rescued them. It's rained heavily and solidly all day and so far, all night. However, there's a FB page (North Yorkshire weather updates) showing what the conditions are like elsewhere - including the area where our acquaintance got held up. 

Dinner was another Moroccan veggie stew - plenty left for other meals and uses up more Christmas cheap veg.

I'm a bit dispirited as I contacted TK M*xx about returning an item that's faulty and apparently store-bought items can only be returned in store. That's ridiculous when you live as far from their shops as I do, so I've suggested they accept a photo of the fault rather than make a two-hour trip to return something worth less than £10.

And I fell asleep while watching the Pottery throwdown which is why I'm awake now and really ought to go to bed.

Cherryfudge

Paying the price for yet another late night last night, but it's not too bad.

We have sunshine again! That's really good to see after the huge amount of rain yesterday. The last little bit of snow outlasted even the deluge but it's gone now. DH is at work, probably dealing with flood calls.

There's so much to do that I'm in danger of doing nothing. I systematically dealt with all sensory distractions (been to the toilet, got dressed, brushed hair and teeth, trimmed sharp corners off some clothing), and placed and order for my next prescription. Next steps are to close the window I opened to refresh the air, grab a drink and make a shopping list.

I'm keeping it small scale and achievable so I may well be back with more later. Work this evening, so I have a time limit on the day.

1.30 update: Shopping list is made - and all Christmas decorations taken down and packed up! We didn't have a huge amount out. Then lunch. I'll wait for DH to put the decorations in the loft so they are currently cluttering up the spare room doorway.