Moving on

Cherryfudge

Nothing spent by me today but DH had to buy a tyre pump: we got in the car and heard a weird squeaky rubbery sound and a tyre was down to the ground. We decided to walk, and noticed as we got out that the other tyre on the same side was half way down, so perhaps DH has driven over something. They were okay the other day. I wondered if they could have been slashed but no, as that side of the car had been close up to the hedge.

Ironically, never having been a two-car family till a few months ago, both cars are currently out of use. Good job we can walk, and DH has a bike (actually two but one requires expensive work and isn't as nice to ride as the other).

There seem to be a lot of repairs and DIY things to finish. This evening I knocked the Internet off by trying to see the Wi-Fi password: the connection is really fragile and we've yet to get round to contacting one of the companies that's recently decided to bring faster broadband to our road. We also had a text from the chap who had said he might be able to replace our path to say he's too busy. At least this one told us: most don't bother.

So anyway, this morning: an unexpected walk to church and even more unexpectedly we arrived in time due to an earlier start (DH was doing a reading and I was on the coffee rota). I don't usually stay in the service as I struggle with sound levels. This morning I had my loop ear plugs in which helped but the lighting was odd so I went out till they changed it. Instant peace in the foyer! I usually tolerate light okay so perhaps I was a bit on edge. Afterwards I helped with the coffees which is quite fun and a good opportunity to talk to people, and I also exchanged contact details with the person who is going to mentor me through the course I'm doing. On the way home I bumped into someone I knew from way back, who was also a  friend of the friend who died at New Year. We had a quick chat and she let me know that the funeral will be well attended. I'm glad I'm warned as I can be there in reasonable time.

The afternoon was quiet and very grey. We had a walk before it went dark, but just around town. Dinner was chicken chasseur, so there's some left over for DH tomorrow, extra mushrooms for me and the rest of the chicken in a container ready for other meals or freezing. I also broke my rules and made stock. I really don't like chicken stock in soup (why?) but perhaps in gravy and/or risotto?

And that's it for today.

Cherryfudge

Tyres are (unsurprisingly) flat again this morning so DH had to cycle to work in the rain, which has also made me think twice about doing laundry but I think I'll do it anyway. The weather's not so cold but there's no chance of anything drying out of doors, possibly for a few days so the airer will have to go up in the spare room.

Nothing planned today until work this evening so some cleaning and tidying is called for. I also need to do some prep as I'm going on my course again tomorrow. Despite a flying start I've not found much to update there recently, but when I look back there have been small changes that I could document, like the thoughts over reporting a colleague for not doing their job properly, which in turn can help inform how I would approach disciplinary issues should any ever arise on my watch.

I've done an update on foods that need to be used and I can see I need to be proactive. Oh dear. There are also a couple of items to write about on my personal reading and mending journals.

Over the past few days I've had lots of sleep so I'm hoping to be on a more even keel mentally. I certainly feel a bit better.

Will let you know how it goes.

Cherryfudge

A little progress this morning: the washer is on and the rain has stopped for now so perhaps it can at least air outside. I've given myself a bit a pedicure and used the heated eye mask that's supposed to help dry eyes, so sore feet (corns and calluses) and dry eyes are at least not getting worse today.

Journals are updated and a fruit bowl cleaned. How did a bag of chestnuts become virtually invisible? They might all have dried or mouldered now but I'm going to cook the whole lot of them for lunch to have after my tuna and avocado on crispbreads. I'm not sure whether I'll be overfed or need to find something to add to keep up the calories. DH doesn't eat them and I love them but it's not something I plan into meals or snacks so they just haven't been eaten. The limes: one had gone off so it's in the compost. I put the others to soak in warm water as they are a bit dried up, and yes, I'm going to buy eggs if the limes soften a bit, so I can make curd.

rtandon27

So sorry to hear about the tyres!  My OH had this problem with one of the tyres several months ago.  The tyre shop said they would all need replacing and rebalancing, but he popped over to the local garage for a second opinion and they repaired the puncture causing the slow leak as they are well aware we only use the car for pootling around town on short 5-10 minute jaunts.  They said it should hold until the next MOT in the autumn and we could think about a new tyre or two at that time.  Any chance you could get away with a repair rather than a replacement for the car?

Cherryfudge

Thanks @rtandon27, that's worth looking into. I think we replaced a tyre or two within living memory (as in, it doesn't seem all that long ago but that could mean anything) but these are definitely quick-draining damage so perhaps it's a nail or something that could be patched?

The washing didn't go out as the air is damp when it's not actually raining, but half an hour in the dryer and a spell on the airer should fix it.

I've spent ages trying to get a delay/repay claim sorted but the site won't accept the reference number on the tickets. I'm giving up and trying later as I've just heard the mouse trap rattle after days of silence! It's possible I left the door open a crack when I was putting bits on the compost heap. I'm going to get a coat on and take this mousie out to the fields straight away before work.

Oh, and only about four of 30 chestnuts were still edible so those are eaten and the rest are composted. At least they are out of the way (and the ones I had tasted nice).

Cherryfudge

The mouse has been released into a load of leaf litter and hurriedly disappeared into the depths, so I have hopes for it making a new start. As for me, I had three hours at work and the person who got in trouble the other day has had a retraining session which sounds fair to me. It's another chance to make good, and it's up to them what they do with it (this person is intelligent enough to be able to do a good job so I hope they will do so).

DH has collected the hobby car and it cost £48 to have this bit of work done, plus fuel (£37.09), so at least we have a working car again. He had a lift to the garage from a colleague so he went to pick up his bike in the evening and met me from work. A few groceries have been bought (£7.93). I finished up a not-very-inspiring bit of pizza from the freezer for tea (couldn't be othered cooking the rice to go with casserole). It's the first time I've looked in the freezer recently and there are plenty of things we could be planning meals around so I need to plan a bit. Tomorrow will be a rush though so we will have mackerel as it's very quick.

Cherryfudge

When I woke up I remembered I'd not cancelled Pr1me, but I've done it now so the payment will be refunded. That's nice of them, I suppose as I'd not used this month's it's fair enough. I also filled in the survey to say I don't use it enough to be worthwhile (mostly I use it at Christmas) and it's too expensive. It's a really clever system and I can see why people like it but I don't use the 'benefits' as they don't interest me, so the only bonus for me is the free postage and quick delivery. The ease of buying thing is a bonus when you need something quickly but it's too easy - and I would rather keep the cash than exchange it for clutter. I have enough of that without adding to it, though I admit more does creep in.

I can't believe that after a few days of absolute silence from the mice, they seem to be back. Has there been another litter, perhaps? After yesterday's capture, something raided the trap but got out overnight. I've set it again in case the opportunist comes back before I have to go out.

I'm supposed to keep a journal for this course I'm on tonight, so I wrote a page before bed about lessons learned about dealing with poor work. I liked the way that incident at my workplace was handled. I think I'd add to that to notice and ('off-handedly') praise good work. People like to feel appreciated and I think it spurs them on to stay good.

DH has pumped up the car tyres and driven it to A and H's which is near the garage, then once I take over child care, he'll take it in for a verdict on the tyres.

No laundry today: it's too grey and soggy. I have tomorrow off from my Wednesday job, by which time yesterday's washing should be dry and put away so I can launch into another round. Washing is one of those things by which I see I have meaning - sad, huh? However I remember the lady down the road saying how much she enjoyed having a line of her husband's white work shirts and her children's white school shirts, so I know I'm not the only one.

I'm still not succeeding in finding a replacement bulb for the floor-standing lamp. Local shop can't get them any more and neither does that there big river company, so I need to work out if there's a modern alternative. There's a sticker on the lamp that says Nov 2010, so it's not as though it's 100 years old.

And the blackbird has just been knocking on the back door again. Why?!

rtandon27

Wondering if your blackbird is seeing his own reflection and thinking it's a rival?  We used to have a territorial pheasant when we lived on the farm who would peck at the side of our car when he saw his reflection, and a crazy robin who would fight with himself in the side mirror if OH had left the car unlocked and the mirrors had not folded down!

Cherryfudge

Ah, that's a possibility! It's a hen blackbird, don't know if they are territorial but perhaps so? And why has it just started to do it?

redofromstart

If you share what type of light bulb it is on here somebody may be able to help.  

One of the male blackbirds here rattles the kitchen window if they have run out of mealworms.