Moving on

Cherryfudge

badmemory said:

Is it possible to make any of the spices into tea rather than actually cooking them, although I suppose pouring boiling water over them could class as cooking.

I expect it is - I've added herbs or spices to hot water to make drinks - but I think I read somewhere yesterday that the length of cooking time and method of cooking affect the available nutrition. I wish I could remember where, to look it up!

rtandon27

badmemory said:

Is it possible to make any of the spices into tea rather than actually cooking them, although I suppose pouring boiling water over them could class as cooking.

My OH flat out refuses to drink herbal tea, but if the same spices are in food, he'll eat it, no questions asked!

Cherryfudge

I think herbal tea often smells wonderful then we are disappointed it doesn't taste like ribena!

Cherryfudge

Another hour in the garden. Twice it tried to shower, twice the sun came out. I've got the current clearance patch back to the old stones that were laid as a path boundary, probably 90 years ago. It's slow going and, while I've got the growing things out of the path area, I'm still pulling out stones and gravel and occasionally roots so I need to go through the same bit again once the mud has washed down, in search of more. Today's non-soil has been flecks of plastic, half a sweets bag, a plant label, a plastic bead and another bit of very old pipe stem (two bits of stem and a piece of the bowl now).

I'm having a coffee break then I need to sort out what's in the bags I've dumped in the hall.

Cherryfudge

Nothing spent today: I resisted wandering home via the shops but it wasn't too difficult as I was tired. All the late bedtimes are catching up with me.

I discovered the mushroom pasta I had for lunch is much nicer cold with cream cheese stirred in, real comfort food.

Absolutely nothing done for tomorrow night's course, but I'm not going to worry about that now. Strictly, we don't have anything to prepare, though I find its useful to read through the handout first.

Cherryfudge

We had a lovely day looking after the grandchildren: J and baby A joined us most of the time. A, at five and a half months is able to get her knees under her and move around, but not at the same time. I took loads of videos trying to catch that first crawl, but she's not quite there yet! The older girls were lovely with her, and I think the baby sees them exploring the swings and slides and gets ideas about joining in. J bought me a takeaway coffee and to my surprise the middle grand daughter asked for the cup which I washed out before handing it over. They then made their own play café - which is interesting as neither of their parents drinks hot drinks. It's really surprising what children take on board.

We called in for groceries and I noticed reduced picnic cutlery going for pence, so I've bought a couple of sets for the children to use while at ours. Full sized cutlery is too big for them but three sets of metal utensils, used over just a few years, would work out expensive. They don't often eat at ours so I though this was worth a try.

N had a very good go at persuading me she was allowed chocolate and juice! I let her have a chocolate coin but said I'd check the juice with Daddy and would have to wait for him to get home as the cupboard is too tall for me. When he got home he confirmed she doesn't have it!

This evening was supposed to be the course but we had a message to explain that something had happened so it would have to be postponed. It also appears that three of the five of us didn't feel prepared, so perhaps a postponement is for the better. Whether we will have a catch-up session or the course will run for an extra month, I don't yet know.

Tomorrow I need to email my course mentor to let her know, and also the Wednesday job: I'm 99% sure I need to give it a break for the rest of this year. The manager made a good point that she and I are the only ones able to work with certain clients but that doesn't necessarily mean it's the right thing for me to do. It could be that I will restart with a negotiated different role, but that needs to wait till the course is completed.

Expenditure:
Household: £1.34
Housekeeping: 11.82

Cherryfudge

I had a massive lie-in this morning but used the time to write some messages so I think it was productive. Most importantly I've told them officially I'm stepping back from the Wednesday job for the time being.

It's our anniversary so we're eating out this evening, but ironically then going to separate evening activities! That's the difficulty with a mid-week anniversary, but at least we get to do something.

Well, it's obviously rained overnight but is drying up now so I need to think about whether I can do some garden work - and any collect more greengages and blackberries that can be found.

Laura_Elsewhere

You share the day with my parents, although I suspect their 61 is possibly a bit more than yours! Many more of 'em to all four of you...

Cherryfudge

Congratulations to your parents @Laura_Elsewhere! 61... wow! We are only 37. 

Sun_Addict

Happy Anniversary 💐 🥂