Moving on

Cherryfudge

Sun_Addict said:

Oh no to the mouse 😞

That's roughly what I thought! Perhaps it realised that the dog we were looking after couldn't open drawers?

That drawer is now cleaned out and drying before being reloaded (why do people give coasters that never wear out?) One lovely little bonus was dusting off a set of place mats that we had when the children were growing up. Each of us had their favourite but over the years they've got chipped and damaged beyond repair. I've never been able to find a replacement set till a quick search on V1nted today showed me exactly the same, in what looks like pristine condition. I put in an offer of 20% under the asking price (which I thought was a bit high) and it was accepted, so now the grandkids can have favourites of the same set their parents were familiar with.

Cherryfudge

Sunday was lovely. The morning service was taken by someone we have known for years and who quoted parts of the Anglican service. That took me right back: in the past I've heard those prayers so often that I've internalised them, but still find I get something from them every time I hear them - so that was helpful.

I'd been up till stupid o'clock the previous night, getting more gifts wrapped despite DH having put in a marathon effort to do a lot earlier. We loaded up the car and drove to DS2's house where the family gathered for a super meal prepared by DS2 and his partner. We had a family quiz which is a bit of a tradition that we've not been able to do in recent years as DS2, the quiz master, used to work shifts and rarely got the time to do them. And we opened presents, which was great fun as usual. My secret Santa did very well for me - a book I've wanted, sashiko threads, a darning loom and a sack of food for the wild birds!

DGD1, who has been rather overwhelmed, seems genuinely happy with the sequinned unicorn cushion I got her. Her little sister helped her parents open their presents - I think she just likes unwrapping, no matter who it's for! And the baby took to the push-along primary-coloured steam roller that DH picked out for her.

None of us could stay late but DD has sent photos including a really good group one. I haven't added mine yet as I found I'd taken 120 and I'm still deleting the excess!

Nothing spent on Sunday but after midnight I remembered I wanted to order replacement charger cables as the ones we've had a few years are breaking down. That was £6.99 which is a small drop in price since last time and makes the temporary Pr1me membership worthwhile in itself.

WelshmansDaughter

I see your 120 and raise you 250 🤣 I took so many videos and photos I couldn't get the link to share the album for ages 

Cherryfudge

I actually saw a mouse late last night, running under the bureau in the dining room. Two humane traps went out but it ignored both and this morning one of the traps got broken but I think DH didn't see it and stepped on it, breaking the trap door. So there's one trap out tonight and another to buy tomorrow. Meanwhile we are taking trouble not to leave access to any foods.

I had a really lazy morning as all these late nights are taking their toll. DH, however, sanded down the bit of the counter in the kitchen that's been splashed and was getting discoloured. He wants more exercise so that was okay. After lunch we walked to the garden centre to get the month's entitlement to free drinks, and spent some time trying to get our phone diaries to synch. No luck, but we now both have paper diaries and DH is happy that he's getting his filled in: he's not a diary person but I am.

We wandered round not buying much (£150 for a larger-than-life white penguin?) but eventually I  ought a tub of kitchen clips (£2.50) and DH bought a very small spade for metal detecting (£5). I also picked up free coffee grounds for the garden.

We trudged home via the new Adl1 (my first visit) and Sa1nsbury, so there was a bag of groceries to lug with us. I bought a half price ornamental planter of Scilla, mostly because I like the pot, so they are now planted. (£3).

I was exhausted when I got home, though I've lost the heavy sensation my legs have had recently. I put it down to being tired as my legs are probably the fittest bit of me. I went to bed for an hour and dragged myself out for tea, which DH made. Chicken and gammon pie, and that's nearly the end of the Christmas meat. There's cold pie for tomorrow plus a couple of sausages and a small bit of gammon. Sa1ns is giving away sprouts but I still have about two thirds of the ones I bought on discount and DH doesn't like them... I didn't get round to making the carrot and ginger soup today but that can wait. At least I've finished the spicy veg soup for lunch.

Cherryfudge

I nearly forgot: I paid off my cc and we've booked a winter holiday! (That should give me a useful handful of points on the cc).I'm not good at going away but every year I say we should have had a bit of winter sun, and this year, for once, it looks as though it may happen. £719 thanks to the sales, but insurance still to be bought plus, of course, all the other incidental expenses and self catering when we get there.

Sun_Addict

I was the exact opposite of you photo wise and only realised I hadn't taken any when a friend said she hadn't. Must've been too busy living in the moment 🤣 

How lovely to have a winter break in the sun to look forward to. 

Baileys_Babe

We all failed to take any photos on Christmas day, I hadn't even realised until you mentioned how many you had taken 🤣

Honeysucklelou2

Winter Sun sounds good!

Cherryfudge

Mouse is presumably still on the loose but it's been so cold out that I've not the heart to set a trap. However, I've not seen it or recent evidence either so perhaps it's scared off for a few days (nights).

I was too tired to write, yesterday, but we had a day at home and got a couple of jobs done. The gutter was dripping so DH cleared it, meaning we both had time out of doors, which in turn does me good and helps with the body clock. In the afternoon we were looking everywhere for the goggles so we could chainsaw some branches that had been littering the garden since I discovered they were too wide for loppers. The goggles were nowhere to be found but DH set to work tidying the shed, and I seized the basket of kindling that he tidied away there and took it indoors, then, having searched shed, understairs, hall and garage for the goggles, I found them in the corner of the lounge next to where DH watches TV. Then I had a thought, sorted through the things by his seat and there were my computer glasses. Now DH doesn't wear glasses to watch TV, and I've not sat in that seat in as long as I can remember, so I can only guess that he tidied the glasses away there at some point just before Christmas, and the goggles got there in another absent-minded moment, but who knows? By the time these were found, it was getting too nearly dark to chainsaw anything but we made a small start and discovered the chainsaw battery was too low and we didn't know where the charger had been put...

So really, we benefitted in that we have a tidier shed, my computer glasses are back, the gutter works properly again, we didn't need to buy more goggles and we had kindling for the log burner in the evening.

We also found the head of the old yard brush that I inherited but which eventually came to bits and was replaced, so I fed that to the fire and today the ashes were thrown to the same rose tree that gave us a Christmas bud.

I spent the evening sorting the curriculum for Sunday mornings according to a suggestion from one of the team, and I think it makes sense and should work. It meant another late night as I work best after DH has gone to bed, when the house is still but not empty and I'm not struggling to concentrate.

Today, DH had to work from home which he really doesn't like but having him opposite me answering emails was surprisingly conducive to doing admin, so I've sorted more things for Sundays and this afternoon I went down to the church to sort some practicalities out for the coming term. To my surprise there was a team in there with a tall scaffolding tower, painting the ceiling, but apart from telling them how nice it would be to start the new year with new paint, I just got on with making notes, doing photocopying, etc. I'm very satisfied with what I've got done. Then I met DH in the supermarket after he finished work and we both walked home with the shopping. Once again I was really shattered after tea and have spent the evening reading in bed.

We are still using up Christmas stuff and today for lunch I had 'episode one' of the carrot and ginger soup (quite nice) and more Christmas cake. I'm still drinking Christmas coffee but at least the original one is now empty and I only have nearly two packets left! The original one smelled beautiful, though. It's just the size of the task that's a bit much.  

Dinner was the rest of the pie with sprouts, sausages, gravy (all 'finish-ups') and broccoli, and the rest of the broc is blanched and frozen. Carrots are reduced to one large jug, parsnips to one ordinary jug plus a bag in the shed, and sprouts are about two handfuls. The cabbage has barely been started and the swedes are untouched! I'm glad I didn't buy more broccoli as I couldn't get through it. We now have a few meals' worth of chickpea tikka following yesterday's dinner, but that's an easy one for days when one or both is working and we can grab and go.

Cherryfudge

For once I don't have any New Year's Resolutions, so I may dig out and revise some old ones tomorrow! Seems a shame to miss the opportunity!

Happy new year everyone. Whatever it brings, there will be positives in there somewhere.