Moving on

Cherryfudge

A productive end to the day! I'd contacted TK M*xx about a refund and explained I live too far from the shop to call in. They've asked for a photo of the receipt and another showing the fault, which I've just sent.

Other than that, I've been to the shops: diaries are not yet reduced! There was a pack of interesting-coloured felt tips for £1 and a little spray of artificial flowers, also £1, which came home with me. I had three hours at work and have begun to wade through a box of papers including receipts that didn't get processed because these are the ones that require thought, questioning DH, etc. However, some batteries, paper, tins and jars have all made it into the recycling, and grocery shopping has been done. The chain saw has arrived! Neither of us has dared unpack it.  To be fair, we need to read the instructions and charge it up, buy goggles and have some more clement weather before we turn into lumberjacks.

Expenditure:
Stationery £1
Household £1
Housekeeping £12.86
Cash £20

Cherryfudge

Tuesday has been busy: DH took the granddaughters to toddler club while I woke up more slowly. Sadly I broke my very old thermos flask but am hopeful of getting a replacement liner. I did make up a couple of jars of overnight oats and shared some with the older grand daughter at lunch, but we also got a bit of shopping en route.

I joined DH and the children to walk back to their house and spend the rest of the afternoon together. It has been cold but fine, so we took them on a local walk in the afternoon, too. The older one found lots of lumps of what looked like snow but has solidified into ice, and wanted to crunch them. She skated on a proper ice patch with a bit of help and had fun playing with someone's snowman (also turned to ice, but carrot nose still there).

We had a wander round the garden centre - she was a bit disappointed the singing reindeer aren't there any more - and she wanted to try the children's bikes in the shop. I let her ride one but wasn't going to pull the display apart for something I was certainly not about to buy.

I left there about 4.20, which gave me time to walk across town to work. No slippery pavements, but the ground is frozen. Even the corner of a small field I cut across was sort of slippery as the ground must be saturated really.

I managed to bash my finger hard at work, entirely my own fault but it's stiff now. Not as bad as I thought when I heard it give a little cracking sound! I think the icy water I ran over it may have helped keep the reaction minimal.

Walking back on my own in the frost under the stars, was, I've realised, a really lovely thing to do. I was plenty warm enough in all my layers, and the starry sky is beautiful. I love the winter stars.

Credit card is now paid up to date. Tomorrow it's back to the Wednesday job and an evening meeting.

Expenditure:
Housekeeping £7.15

liselle

if you did think of a bike purchase for the grandchildren, there’s a scheme whereby you lease a brand new bike, at a very reasonable cost, and exchange it for another size when it’s outgrown.

Cherryfudge

I'd not heard of that @liselle, what a good idea! I have a feeling DGD has a bike but she will outgrow it so perhaps I need to tip her parents off about the lease scheme.

This morning went well: I didn't have any clients booked in but did some phone work with someone and met another possible client, so I am somewhat reassured there's a role for me. I also saw the person who leads the children's team so was able to run a few things past her regarding my crew.

On the way home, as well as buying groceries, I bumped into a former colleague who hadn't replied when I contacted her. Turns out she doesn't really use that particular form of messaging. We had a catch-up and she seems to be doing well. Nice to know she has recovered (reasonably well) from the stresses of her previous post.

And good for TK M*xx! After a few days of emails and sending appropriate evidence, they've given me a gift voucher to compensate for the faulty item I bought in one of their shops. They usually only refund if you come in personally, but I pointed out that's not easy when you live at a distance.

Expenditure:
Housekeeping £8.68

Cherryfudge

A very cold, beautiful day. It was minus five when I went out this morning, with a cloudless sky. I enjoyed my walk into town but that was only because I had my thick 'duvet' coat, DS2's outgrown quilted gloves, dry feet and a scarf.

I didn't expect many to turn up to the toddler group but it was really busy. I'm not sure what my role is, really, so I chat to people and play with the children and that all seems to work out very nicely, thank you. One of the families I know through church and - long story short - it's been suggested I ask the Grandad if he'd be willing to help with the Sunday morning group. I had been feeling I had enough helpers and needed more leaders, but at the same time I'm considering trying to staff certain busy days with an extra helper. Quite a few things to think through to see if it can be done and keep track of my volunteers, old, new and potential!

The walk home was still cold but the sun was more than a little warm. I thought the forecast must have been wrong but when I checked, it was a degree above freezing. I think everything was cold but the sun, and there are still tiny bits of snow that haven't melted from last weekend.

A few bits of shopping got done, including a new spending diary despite the prices not having been reduced yet. I was getting a bit concerned that I'd have another backlog of receipts to follow up, but as it was, I recorded a handful when I got home. I also found bulldog clips to hold cables together in the hope of taming the computer wires.

By the time I left for work around sunset, the temperature was back down to minus three.

This evening my phone made a compilation of old photos of my younger two children, mostly from their teens. I thought they were sweet and funny, so I sent them off to the family Whatsapp but the children weren't too keen so I apologised and deleted them - then immediately had a message from DS2, who had seemed the more disapproving, to say he 'missed' them and please could I repost? Nowt so queer as folks.

Expenditure:
Housekeeping £
Stationery £3.49
Household £1.00
Medical 45p

weenancyinAmerica

Where do you like to eat your meal out in London? I used to like to eat at the crypt at St. Martin's in the Fields.  

Cherryfudge

weenancyinAmerica said:

Where do you like to eat your meal out in London? I used to like to eat at the crypt at St. Martin's in the Fields.  

Do you know, that's exactly our favourite too! Go to the National Gallery, eat at St. Martin in the Fields, have a  look round the little shop there, buy a few greetings cards because they've had nice ones each time we've been. You can get a decent meal in an unusual setting and it wasn't expensive either.

rtandon27

@Cherryfudge & @weenancyinAmerica - there is another sweet unusual restaurant in the basement of the portrait gallery - I think it's called Harry's & by day is a bistro and in the evening a jazz/wine club/bar - the food is beautiful!  Last time I went for lunch my dining companion had salmon & I had eggs bennie - the plates were so gorgeous we were both inclined to take pictures - something I never do!  It's a cosy spot with arches & nooks that make you feel as if you were dining privately!

Cherryfudge

Oh I have to try that, thanks @rtandon27! Good job we will be thereabout for a couple of days!

ETA: Found it! We have eaten in one of their other restaurants I think but Larry's is new to me. Eat and drink - National Portrait Gallery

rtandon27

@Cherryfudge - oooo - a couple of days - so much choice & so little time!  If you are feeling adventurous, then the china town bakery is fun & more importantly cheap!  Just don't mind the service which is very typical of the culture - abrupt and matter of fact - no smiling or asking how your day is!