Moving on

Cherryfudge

Watty1 said:

I am !  Goodness woman prepping mincemeat at that time, whatever next.

Do you remember the name of the person who lived like it was the 1940s?  I'd be interested if you do.   

The mincemeat is now in the oven to melt the suet... (pretend suet so I can give to vegetarians). The bit I licked off the spoon is delicious even before the brandy stage.

@Watty1, the YouTube channel is 'Real Vintage Dolls House'. I haven't watched many of them but it's interesting.

Rhyddid2026

One of her videos popped up on my YouTube last week! I had been meaning to find her again so thanks for the info 😃

Cherryfudge

I watched another of the Vintage Dolls House this evening: I see she's a fan of the Moomins!

The mincemeat is completed: it was supposed to make six jars but made precisely five: perhaps I filled them a bit too full, but I don't think that accounts for all the shortfall. Nevertheless, I hope to give some away as it will take a long time to eat all that mincemeat!

The Christmas cake is largely assembled but I would have been up till all hours baking it so that's now scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. I see I made a note to myself long ago that the assembling takes one and a quarter hours, plus whatever time is taken weighing, mixing and soaking the fruit.

I've steered clear of supermarkets today, though DH kindly went out for ground almonds for me. I admit to buying a children's book off Vinted (£4.61?) for the delightful illustrations: I hope the girls will like it as much as I do!

Dinner was breaded fish, baked potato and vegetables. We don't often have chippie chips anymore. These potatoes were freebies from L1dl, and they baked well.

DH has been unwell today: his chronic condition has been brewing again. He's due a routine check this coming week so he's reluctant to take medication in case that masks anything.

I braved the work laptop and to my surprise I can still get into my emails (it times out after a while and I have to go to to ICT to have it reset). Nothing there to worry about, but I'm glad I have it working so I can use it if needed at a class.

We missed the worst of the storm but it's been a grey day. I did some laundry and put the towels in the tumble dryer for an hour which I'm hoping will mean the house doesn't get too damp. We have a small dehumidifier so that's running next to the airer, and it's been chilly so the heating has been on.

I think that's it for tonight.

ladybird1106

Hope Mr C feels better soon and doesn’t suffer too much before he’s seen a dr.
love 🐞

Cherryfudge

Thank you @ladybird1106, he has been better today. Not perfect but a lot better.

We went to church this morning and there was a short business meeting after the service so we were a bit late home. However, we talked to my boss from the Wednesday job and I've put her in the picture with my current thinking. She passed on a nice comment from a colleague, and I've said I'll get back to her after Christmas. I'm also considering joining the Christmas choir but when I heard the music, I wasn't so keen. I've not made any commitment at the moment but would need to start attending rehearsals soon.

Dinner was roast chicken (so leftover for the next few days!) then I baked the Christmas cake with a small one for Auntie as well. Those are now wrapped and starting to mature, and the mincemeat is put away.

By the time those were done, it was about three o'clock so we did a thorough lot of warm-up exercises and went for a run (repeated C25K week 5 run 2). The bright running jackets are back in use but I still want to get decent lights, for safety's sake. Amazingly, running didn't set off DH's cough and we both enjoyed it. I ran faster for having someone running with me, which proves it can be done (though possibly not sustained). Afterwards I did some more exercises off YT, probably overdoing it a bit as I'm now a bit achy.

I think that's about it for today.

ladybird1106

I’ve tried to do the c25k several times and usually get to about week five and end up with shin splints. I’ve decided my body wasn’t designed for running, just walking. 

Love 🐞

Cherryfudge

@ladybird1106, week five is the one where it ramps up a bit so I'm wondering if perhaps (should you ever want to try again) you need to spend longer on weeks three and four to consolidate and strengthen before going on further? I'm not the expert of course, but I think shin splints can be linked to 'too far/too fast'.

Don't risk your health! But if you can get past the injuries, there's a lot of fun in running. I'm spending extra time on warming up and strengthening my knees (exercises online) in the hope of avoiding injury and so far it seems to be paying off.

That said, I've not run today or yesterday, and I doubt I'll run tomorrow. Hasn't it got cold! It's perhaps slightly less so now, but is raining solidly. I actually bought an emergency umbrella today as we walk to the grandchildren's home and it came on to rain after I'd left our house.

I'm trying to remember Monday - I'm sure it happened. I think some housework got done, and I worked at my cleaning job in the evening (3 hours), and emailed my teaching manager about this term's work. I spent some time trying to find the optimum way to travel but unless the tutor is willing to give me a lift, I think a lot of hanging round waiting for buses home is inevitable. This week, DH is kindly giving me a lift, but he's normally at work that day.

Christmas invitations seem to be arriving faster than I can keep track. My Tuesday group is trying to arrange lunch, DD and I are scrabbling for our shopping day together (one date has now had to be cancelled as that's likely to be the lunch), the Wednesday job has also invited me to lunch but I've already said I'll have youngest grand daughter that day, followed by the dog for the three days after. DS2 has a birthday next week, I have these classes on Thursdays and generally, where did all this sociability come from?

We had a letter to say our sponsored child has graduated from the program so we've sent her a farewell letter and hope she will keep in touch but that's up to her now, as an adult. We've given permission for our sponsorship to be transferred and today we heard about a child in Tanzania who has been waiting for support. 

Today has been child care, which is always nice, and DH's health has continued to improve, thankfully. He is close to how he should be today.  He puts this down to prayer and Rooibos tea! I tried the tea for the first time today and think it's probably an acquired taste but I'll give it another go. The garam masala is still a favourite as it's anti-inflammatory, but it's quite tricky getting it in often enough to smooth out all the curveballs.

This evening one of my Tuesday friends is away and the other is working so I had the evening in and cooked up a batch of potatoes I found under the stairs! The sprouted bits are now in a bag of soil in case they manage to grow us a crop despite zero care, and the rest is mashed and frozen. Dinner was salmon and pasta with the remains of a bottle of sauce.

Expenditure:

Monday
Hobbies £14.50 (frame for a picture DH bought)
Housekeeping £16.72
Donation £1.99
Gifts £4.98

Tuesday
Housekeeping £14.05
Household £5.00
Clothing (umbrella!) £3.99

ladybird1106

Thanks for the advice cherryfudge. I going to see the dr to get referred to podiatry as apparently my foot is flat and once that is sorted( probably insole of some sort) I’m going to give it another try…… maybe🤨. 

Love 🐞

WelshmansDaughter

Rooibos tea is nice with milk Cherry. They also do a lovely earl grey rooibos

Cherryfudge

ladybird1106 said:

Thanks for the advice cherryfudge. I going to see the dr to get referred to podiatry as apparently my foot is flat and once that is sorted( probably insole of some sort) I’m going to give it another try…… maybe🤨. 

Love 🐞

I had similar, caused by my ankles rolling to the inside. It wasn't very obvious but has probably had an effect on the arthritis, so it's worth getting it looked at. It's worth asking podiatry about styles of footwear and any exercises you can do to improve your arches. No pressure to run though! Well, not much. Lots of trainers have arch support so getting the right ones makes life easier.

WelshmansDaughter said:

Rooibos tea is nice with milk Cherry. They also do a lovely earl grey rooibos

Earl grey rooibos? I need to look out for that! Thanks for the tip (and I hope your moving day goes well and not too stressful).

Today there are snow flurries: the first of the year here in our sheltered valley. A little has settled on the lawn.

I'm going to have a proper look at the job I noticed the other day and Make A Decision. Of course, applying wouldn't guarantee the job but I do know it's something I'm quite well suited to, unless they are asking for a qualification I don't have and even then, if I can show I have the experience, I could be in the running. None of that will get me anywhere if I don't open up the job description and person spec and start cogitating.

I have put a hot wash in the machine - so what if I have to use the tumble dryer? Yes, it's extra cost, but I don't see us having much opportunity to dry thoroughly; out of doors and the damp is always an issue indoors - which reminds me I need to go round window frames and sloping ceilings and try to head off the mould.