Moving on

Cherryfudge

Two thirty update: church cleaning was easier than usual as the main space has been cleared for an event this evening, so I didn't have to hoover round scores of chairs. I've also been asked if I want to help out with the debt advice centre. This is something I trained for years and years ago but my training is well out of date. However, they are looking at the next stage forward and I know they need meeters and greeters. Funnily, this comes straight after me losing those TA hours, and also coincidental on me noticing that somehow I've gone from being 'not sure what to say to strangers' to appearing confident to the point where I'm wondering where that's come from. (Perhaps from having a year of fewer pressures?) Anyway, there is is: something to consider, and it's nice that the team there have remembered a conversation I had months ago, though I'd all but forgotten. It's not paid but it's something that I think is important and would be upskilling (did I really use such a modern bit of jargon?) as well as a way to be of service.

I've got half the shopping. All the 'peripherals', as I couldn't carry a supermarket shop as well. However, I did get a small tarpaulin for the wood pile and a garden bag for kindling. Next job will be to finish filling that and put it in the shed, so the lawn is wood-free. I was pleased that I decided against paying £12 for a big blue tarpaulin and held out for what B0yes could offer, which turned out to be smaller and green, much more what I wanted - and £2.99. I bought some cleaning stuff in Y0rkshire Trading, though, and the same product was 25p more in B0yes. Sorry for those not in this region for whom the satisfaction of local bargains must ring hollow. It's probably not worth a trip to the Northeast just to get cheaper plastic covers, honestly.

I've sat down and had a break and a proper lunch. Not as young as I was.  

All the morning's washing is now on the line apart from a couple of bits that are dried. Sadly there's an ironing mountain that I can't leave on the spare bed, but I'm going to concentrate on jobs that need daylight for now.

milann

Taking photos is a great idea. You could also keep the photo as a memory and pass the actual item on for somebody else to enjoy. I’ve been watching sort your life out on catch up. I always find it inspiring .

redofromstart

We have Boyes in the East Mids, they took over some of the Woolworths shops. Great for crafts and hardware/cleaning. Mr Redo never leaves empty handed.

i agree on the photos that help us to 'see' the things we otherwise smooth out. I also find comparing to older pictures helpful.

Cherryfudge

Thank you @milann and @redofromstart, though I'm not sure I want to keep photos of the mess! There will be a few things to pass on at some point, but there are some that won't be of interest to anyone but me.

According to my app, I've walked six miles today. I got more shopping on the way home from work but once again couldn't carry everything I had in mind to buy so planned a trip for bread buns and cheese on the way home from my course tomorrow. Then when I got home, I discovered the packet of salmon I bought is open and although it's well in date, it smells too strong. I thought about taking it back at once but to be honest I don't have time tonight and I need what energy is still around.

This afternoon I hoovered then shampooed the heavy traffic areas of carpet, so the house smells lovely. The bins are all done. I left the washing on the line, but while I was in work I saw it was raining so once I got home, the dryer went on and I have lots of damp clothes to be dried before I go to bed. I've also got to finish taking my stuff off the guest bed! I will tidy the kitchen in the morning, but at least the shopping will go away tonight.

Expenditure:
Housekeeping (including entertaining, haven't even looked at how I separate the two but maybe I will divide by three and call the guest's third 'entertaining'?)
£46.31
Household £1.00
Garden £4.98 (or should that be 'fuel' because the tarp and the garden bag are for storing wood as it dries for the log burner)?

Cherryfudge

I'm about to call it a day - not bad as most of was actually yesterday. I have to leave just after nine tomorrow to get to my course. I don't think I'm even going to attempt to get that salmon refunded before: it's time I need for other things and besides, who wants to sit through a course with a bag of fresh fish?

Done:

• those things mentioned above, and 90% of removing my stuff off the guest bed. I've also moved a few boxes around so it looks clearer.
• Some of the kitchen tidying
• some of the laundry is dry and the rest is spread out so I need a nominal 30 minutes to put it away in the morning. The ironing won't be happening so those things that need it will probably go in my room until I have a chunk of guest-free time!
• Shopping is put away.

Not done:

• making the guest room look actively welcoming
• putting the laundry away
• straightening the lounge when the laundry is gone.
• tidying the rest of the kitchen
• putting the dishwasher on

There might be more but I really need to sleep. I had a dizzy spell just before midnight and sat down till it passed. I think I was just too hot as I'd had a bath and put the heat on to dry the clothes. I seem okay now but I've pushed myself far enough all day and I'm actually only judging myself, if you see what I mean. Auntie won't see cobwebs or whatever as her eyes aren't good. I just feel I need to live up to some standard - goodness knows what. It would be interesting to try to work it out one day, but not now.

Cherryfudge

I got a good night's sleep, which is a blessing, and woke up to a lovely sunny day. I staggered round doing oddments of remaining jobs but only managed a bit of the ironing so I've dumped the rest in our room till I get time and energy. It's very crumpled so it's not going to be a case of trying to pull it into shape.

I made it to the course at the last minute, only to find we'd been given a time half an hour early to ensure we all got there in time. There was an mail with the timing details, but I'd not checked my email. I was a bit torn between 'I could have done with that extra half hour' and admitting I would have been last minute even then. Anyway, the course itself was worth doing and a couple of friends turned out to be attending so I had a catchup beforehand and afterwards one of them mentioned she had me in mind for a new thing she's starting up, and would I be interested in helping? Second time in two days I've been asked specifically if I'd consider helping with something, which is very flattering. Neither is paid but both are areas where I could possibly be of use and would certainly gain new skills. I did point out to my friend that I don't have experience of the area but she came back with a skill I know I do have and the mention of training.

After this I went home via shops to get more of the garden bags for the rest of the kindling. I'm not sure where to store them as ideally they need circulating air, but an open bag in the shed will be better than exposed to the elements - I think.

Auntie had gone to walk round town and get some shopping when I arrived home so I said hello to DH, who was making a cake, and had some lunch. I chatted to Auntie when she got back then went for a rest, which meant dozing a bit then feeling better. I left my credit card for DH to get the refund on the salmon, and later he went to get a massive order of fish and chips for us all. After this we discovered my credit card was missing and having scouted round, concluded he might have dropped it while getting the chips. He headed back to the shops but it wasn't there and I was just ringing to cancel it when it turned up down the sofa. Phew. However, in logging onto my account I find they've charged me £6 interest. They'd already taken out the set amount I have on SO  to ensure I don't miss a payment, and all my paying back amounts had gone through days before. I've come to the conclusion it was an irregular DD of £46 that triggered it, because that went through after all the bigger repayments, leaving me owing despite everything. So annoying, but at least it was £6, not the £11 of last month.

DH got the salmon exchanged but ended up paying more as there was only more expensive salmon left in the shop. So that was annoying too! I also don't know exactly how much I've been refunded, but that will need to be set against the extra he had to pay.

Apart from the financial aspect, it's been quite a good day. Lovely to have the sunny morning, and the prospect of something else to be involved in.

Expenditure:
Housekeeping/entertainment - unknown till it shows on the banking app.
Garden/fuel/household (possibly the last of the three when I think about it, for kindling bags) - £3.98.

Cherryfudge

It's rainy today so a change of plans and DH has taken Auntie to a museum instead of the seaside. I realised late last night that was I'd thought was a reflux cough was leading to swollen glands and I probably have DH's cold, so I'm staying in. I cough if I talk too much and I'd rather not aggravate it, besides which, people don't want my germs (though they may already have them) and rest will help, especially after Friday being so exhausting. I don't feel tired, though.

A funny thing happened this weekend: I'd made carrot cakes for my Tuesday group the other week and let my friend F have the recipe. Yesterday F texted to check she had all the instructions so I sent it her again, then late last night I heard from J to say she was making the exact same recipe, which I gave her years ago. Now J's husband's mum (K) is best friends with F and it's looking very much as if K is bringing some of her family up to see F then going on to see J and L. Basically, I hope they all like carrot cake, because I think they are getting the identical recipe in both places!

Cherryfudge

I've stayed in most of today and taken it easy: online church in the morning then sorted out finances and updated the spreadsheet this afternoon. It's easier with a clear table, no interruptions and when fully awake! The credit card is now up to date WRT things that I know what they are, but there's still an amount I can't account for. I assume my adding up went awry at  some point. Once all the current things have cleared I'll have a look and get it paid right up to date. I was going to do that the other day but spent on the card because I forgot to take my debit card with me, which meant a few things were pending (I included them in payments today). I decided I'd sat at the computer too long so I filled the kindling bags and stashed them in the shed. This doesn't achieve the wood-free lawn I mentioned the other day, as I'd forgotten there's still a big branch waiting to be sawn up.

DH is using his credit card for expenses while out and about with auntie, so I don't know what the payments are there. They had a café lunch today and will do the same tomorrow. He found we had set up an account with the museum years ago so we pay as local residents, which is a bit cheaper. When they got home we all went for a local walk: the birdsong was glorious and we stayed dry despite some blue-grey clouds coming in from the Dales.

DH cooked salmon for tea: I was alarmed to find we've spent about £100 more on food so far this month than at this time last month, though there's plenty in stock so we shouldn't need a huge amount more. Planning is needed.

This evening while the others watched TV I took further advantage of having a clear dining table and did some work on a baby blanket I started ages ago. I've stitched about three quarters of the backing in place, so I've one side to do, then there are some stars to sew on - wish I remembered where I've put them!

Cherryfudge

I've let the others go out without me today - taking it easy again as my voice sounds as though I'm a heavy smoker and there's a bit of a cough, so while I can avoid talking, that's all to the good. I also had a text to say my friend can't make the Tuesday group tomorrow so I've suggested we postpone till next week.

I am still enjoying the benefits of the lovely clear table! It's quite a big one so I can spread projects out. Today it has five yarn projects that need to be finished: a jumper, a scarf/shawl, a toy rabbit, some gloves and the baby blanket. Baby blanket is next in line to complete. The gloves are puzzling me, as I thought I had six (for Christmas gifts) but can only find five and three are different measurements! Yet I was making them in pairs and kept checking against the others for length. It might come to pulling one out and redoing, but I don't have to decide yet. I also noticed that they look really good against the dark red tee shirt I have on, which gives me the option of another colour for decoration.

Other than that, I've done some washing and spent ten minutes filling a box with another lot of twigs and dead raspberry canes. I went online to see if the CC payments have cleared and absolutely nothing has moved. I'm a bit frustrated as the main payment isn't showing either in the bank it came from or on the CC. It's as if I haven't made it, which I suppose is okay in that it's not too urgent and at least it hasn't been taken out and disappeared: I can just redo it if it doesn't show up.

And today is beautifully sunny so I need to get out in the garden again.

I have work later, but I work on my own so I just need to pace myself, I don't need to think about setting off the coughing.

Cherryfudge

It's so nice being able to work outdoors again. Two boxes of bits filled from the garden (lots still to do of course) and the grass has been mown for the first time this year. Some areas are mostly moss and the ground elder is invading a lot so I need to consider a broadleaf inhibitor. I don't like to use chemicals but it's spreading fast.

Auntie and DH seem to have enjoyed their day by the sea, and she's now gone to have tea with J and L. Apparently she can outwalk DH despite being twenty years older!

I've managed not to spend anything today: I had a healthy lunch in mind then remembered there were chips and mushy peas left over so I had those. Tea was ham and cheese of crackers and the rest of a jug of custard, and in a nod to being healthy I had a banana before work.