Moving on

Cherryfudge

I cleaned out the fridge, job done and I'm happier about it. The parsnips were made into soup. Expired medications have gone to the pharmacy for disposal but I didn't have time to do the church cleaning before work, or pick up my parcel. As it's worked out, DH has offered to do my share of cleaning for this week. No progress on the preparation for the class.

DH brought the washing in for me, as it came on to rain while I was at work. He also gave me a lift home to avoid the rain and cooked some Southern Fried Chicken for me when I came in.

The cough has persisted and had me awake in the night. I've come to the conclusion it's probably RSV as it ticks all the boxes from symptoms to length of incubation. I'm not in a risk category and don't feel too bad, but I've sent my apologies to the group tomorrow as young children are at higher risk: DGD2 was hospitalised with it last year. That means we've also called off helping with DGD3 today, though I feel sorry for her Mum who is still tired from having had flu, and I'm considering telling A and H that I may not be available to help on Tuesday in case I pass it on to DGD2.

Cherryfudge

It's not felt like May at all today: so odd to have beautiful blackbird song and the first roses blooming when it's wet, windy and eleven degrees! We haven't done a great deal, though DH kindly did my church cleaning while I went in search of my V1nted parcel which turned out to be at the far end of town. I also went to various shops in search of Interesting Bargains and found a few, such as butter down from about £2.20 to around £1.20. I've sliced up a pack and frozen it as there's some in the fridge already. Bananas down to 28p from 94p for six, and a pepper at 14p instead of 28p from 4sda. Pasta down from 75p to 53p at S4ins on a N3ctar offer as well as a couple of other N3ctar prices. I also had a L1dl coupon for a free bakery item so I checked carefully what was allowed and got one of their nice bloomer loaves, which is normally £1.99. I had a couple of pieces for tea with some of the soup I made yesterday.

We've got chicken out of the freezer to make a chasseur tomorrow: dinner today was breaded fish fillets with leek, cauliflower, sweetcorn and couscous.

The cough hasn't been too bad most of today. In fact, I feel that being out of doors probably helped. DGD3 has come out in a rash which they think is viral urticaria. So much for keeping infection away from her! She doesn't sound to be uncomfortable with it. DH is tired as his condition takes it out of him, but at least he was able to get out and do useful things, which is how he needs to be.

My V1nted parcel is interesting: a 1930s book of sewing and a few knitted items too. The book has obviously been well-loved: I wonder whose it was and what they made from it.

On a more expensive note, we tried the carpet shampooing facility on the vacuum cleaner again and it's still not working. I downloaded the manual and we think the pump has died and it's time to replace the whole thing, though we only bought the new hose the other week! At least we can still do some vacuuming while we decide on a replacement.

Cherryfudge

Sunday was unusual: I'd cried off helping with the little ones as I didn't want to pass on the lurgy but, after a really good rest on Saturday evening, I've been feeling better and better. The cough is nearly gone and my energy is back.

DH, on the other hand, had a really rough day with both conditions getting at him at once. He also had two things he felt he needed to attend, though the second one, with a charity he supports, turned out to be a positive. However, he's back on the steroids, specifically the topical one as the doctors don't want him on the more general one in case that triggered the mental health problems. Very oddly, he's gone from being physically debilitated and mentally low to feeling fine and obviously better this evening, but the steroid doesn't kick in so quickly. He said this sometimes happens when the sun goes down, so he's been looking into the possibility of the form of SAD which affects people in summer. Who knows?

Good to have him feeling better tonight, of course.

I made a chicken chasseur for lunch and DH was very happy with that - to the extent of a couple of tiny glasses of the leftover red wine in case they helped him feel better! Doesn't seem to have done any harm, and saves us having wine go off even if I did only buy it for cooking. I'm not really a fan.

While DH was at his charity thing this afternoon, I got the paths swept then turned my attention to the kitchen. I've made a batch of vegetable soup to use up some odds and ends and create fridge and freezer space. There are therefore about four portions of onion, swede, leek, spinach, broccoli, cherry tomato, red pepper, yellow pepper and spinach soup in the fridge! I don't think it's one to repeat but it's probably edible. My tea was a tuna melt - how come I've never made that before? Tuna, mayo and dijon mustard mixed on a baked potato and topped with cheese. No matter that the mustard went out of date in 2015… it was still nice.

I've also made yogurt with a couple of pints of milk that went out of date on Saturday.

DH is doing a sponsored 10,000 steps a day in May so we went for an evening walk to top up the steps. A beautiful evening but a million tiny insects and DH is getting tired easily so we didn't stay out long. I've also typed up a story written for the children's group by one of the helpers which took less time and effort than I'd expected.

Spending today has been milk for my hot chocolate tonight and £6 of new data. The wifi extender is only occasionally effective and my data just gets gobbled up. I keep saying I need to be brave and change phone providers.

Oh, and I washed my hair and am enjoying the new haircut - which is just the same as the old one but shorter.

WelshmansDaughter

Feel free to send a pedometer my way to top them up if needed, I seem to be doing as much walking on my days off as I am working 🤣

Cherryfudge

Are you doing one of those apps where you get paid for steps, @WelshmansDaughter?

Today doesn't have much of a plan here, and in fact there's not much set out for this week so I will have to be self-motivating. The roofers and scaffolders aren't here: 'we were told sometime this week', depending on weather and how the previous job flows.

DH feels somewhat better but didn't sleep as well, which is the steroids taking effect. He is hoping they get him an appointment this week for the new medication, which is an infusion. He's set off to work this morning anyway.

I have no work till Thursday and Friday evenings, so I need to be productive at home. There's plenty to do, depending on impetus and energy. I feel well again but am still slightly symptomatic and my glands feel swollen, so perhaps I need to take it steadily. I will look out some more things to list on V1nted, and perhaps do some baking. The yogurt has turned out nicely and is potted up and in the fridge. Tonight we're having liver and bacon again, which will use some of the liver from the freezer, plus bacon and red wine for the gravy. I'm also thinking about alternative flavours for bread pudding as we have lots of crusts in the freezer and eggs to use up. I could do mincemeat I suppose, as there's plenty, but that's quite similar to the usual spiced version that we've had a couple of times recently.

Fortune_Smiles

Bread pudding sounds delicious 😋 What about marmalade?

Fortune x

Cherryfudge

Now that's a good idea - I still have lots left over from the Miser's Marmalade batch that was too strong for comfort! Thanks @Fortune_Smiles

rtandon27

@Cherryfudge - I was thinking along the same lines as @Fortune_Smiles - marmalade & almond or even rhubarb & toasted pecan. We discovered a little crunch in the bread pudding is quite nice! Mine will never be as good as OH's Grans so I aim for different!

Sun_Addict

You could get a much better deal with data included instead of keep having to top it up - you need to be brave 😆

Good to hear you're feeling better. I hope DH feels better soon.

WelshmansDaughter

No I did have a look once but they all seemed a bit sketchy