Moving on

Cherryfudge

Oh my goodness I need a baking day! I have sort of made progress towards it today, but not entirely successfully.

First off, I know the calendar says 'May' but since when did that mean 9 degrees and the heating turning itself on at lunch time? We've had it on morning and evening since DH became unwell, as he's felt cold, but usually when he's out I've turned it straight off again. Not today.

I got the bedding washed, in case the roofers turn up later in the week and I can't use the washing line because of flying slates. It got very nearly dry but the sheet went in the tumble dryer at tea time. I'm getting better at single-person duvet wrestling! There's a method where the cover is rolled onto the duvet, so I'm doing that rather than drag DH out of his chair at the end of the day to help assemble the bedding.

Lunch was parsnip soup with more of the nice (free) bread from L1dl, then I had a message through that led to taking DH's metal detector for someone to search for a lost phone. Sadly they didn't find it. I went on into town from dropping that off, and posted a parcel for DH then went to the far end of town to collected a V1nted parcel for me. It's a blue tiered skirt and I'm looking forward to wearing it, maybe even tomorrow. After that I went searching for ingredients for the cakes I had in mind, but had left my list on the table. I remembered all but one item, but finding polenta led me into the town's deli, which is the sort of place where you order hampers and buy gifts for people. When I went to pay, they had a basket of freebies - short dated cheeses and milk - and I had a chat with the man on the till who encouraged me to take something, so I have a free Shepherd's Purse cheese, worth just over £6! I've heard of it but never tried it, so, another thing to look forward to.

I met DH on the way home: he's been in better physical condition today but feels his mental health is under more strain since having the steroid, so hasn't had one today. He has also heard from the specialist team that they won't start him on the new medication until they have the okay from some tests they ran on Friday. We have no idea how soon or otherwise those may come through.

Dinner, as mentioned above, was liver and bacon. I made the bread pudding with marmalade and some chopped apple and pear - it kind of worked but was far too sweet for me. I think we may need custard just to counteract the sugariness! I found a recipe for lemon curd yogurt cake but didn't get as far as buying ground almonds, and for @Watty1 's sugar free cake, I have the polenta and everything else it needs, I just ran out of time.

@rtandon27 , how did you know I have rhubarb in the freezer waiting to be used?! I haven't finished up the bread crusts so in a few days I may be toasting pecans and flinging the whole lot in together. Marmalade and almond is another combination I've yet to try, but one at a time…

@Sun_Addict , you are right, I need to be brave! I will put it off a little longer, though, as the extra data is valid till 23rd.

@WelshmansDaughter , I tried one of those apps but in order to get a high enough step count I would have had to have bought something through the app to gain enough credit in the prescribed time, so I'm inclined to agree.

DH has hatched a plan that I could look after the DGchildren tomorrow and he could go through to be a second adult and give DD a bit of a break as she's not really getting enough rest following her flu. We've not heard back yet but I've made sure my bag is packed with snacks for me and drawing activities for the girls! I am okay with this as I can take things at my pace if I'm in charge. It will be DH who gets the very active child!

WelshmansDaughter

I did think there would be a catch. Otherwise all the posties would be on it 🤣

Cherryfudge

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81995729#Comment_81995729

That's assuming they have time to investigate it! I don't remember the details of the one I used for a while but you had to get your steps in a certain amount of time and I usually do 10-17,000 a day (with exceptions of 2-3,000!) and that wasn't taking me within sighting distance of the aim.

On the other hand, you do more steps than that, so it may be worth a look.

Sun_Addict

I used to have an app where I was rewarded with vouchers for steps. I can’t remember the name of it but unfortunately they wound up. It’s a shame because I did quite well out of it.

Cherryfudge

I imagine that between you, @WelshmansDaughter and @Sun_Addict could wipe out the profits of one of those apps that counts steps!

We've had a good day today. We didn't end up going to DD's as her husband was WFH. We may go over tomorrow instead.

We've had our usual Tuesday. looking after DGDs 1 & 2: we walked into town with them late in the morning. DGD1, who doesn't like going out, agreed to come because I said we could go in a shop for a book I was thinking of getting and she could come with me and when we've finished with the book, did she think Auntie J would like it? DGD has a special smile for when she thinks something nice is being planned for someone, which is how she looked at the idea of getting the book and later giving it away. When we got to the shop, she didn't want to get out of the buggy, but I found the book again (a whole £2.60) and she carefully went through every page looking at the pictures of Christmas cupcakes. Then DH went to the dentist - I think it's the fourth time in so many weeks that this repair has been repaired again - and the girls and I went to the library for their new books.

DH wasn't long at the dentist and met us in the supermarket as I'd decided to get snacks to eat on the way back. Both the girls fell asleep before we'd gone more than a few steps, so we decided against going to the swings and went straight back to their house instead, fitting in a restful lunchtime before they woke up. In the afternoon they iced biscuits - not a cheap activity per biscuit with a kit, but they enjoyed themselves and it's not expensive in the overall scheme of things.

When we arrived home, there was more scaffolding on the house so we hope the roof will soon be done. DH made tuna pasta for tea as it's quick. He says he's enjoyed himself but he set off his tachycardia after lunch, we're not sure why. Possibly the steroid plus exercise? Thankfully it wasn't for long and he's been fine since. I offered to take his slot on the cleaning rota this evening but he declined and did that and an evening meeting. He's short of sleep due to the steroid but otherwise it's done him good.

I've wrapped yesterday's V1nted sale and listed a couple more things, and done one quick load of laundry to cover us for the next few days.

ArtyJ931

would recommend the better points app if your local authority are funding it (mine is and quite a few do) I get around about £10 a year on average in vouchers like M&S, Starbucks, Currys etc as it tracks your walking and cycling etc. it’s to encourage people not to use their cars as much on short journeys so you gain points for each non-car journey that add up to vouchers. It’s not a lot of reward but it’s free for things you’re already doing.

Cherryfudge

I'd not heard of that one @ArtyJ931, I'll see if I can find out whether the LA here is involved. Thanks - a few rewards for all my steps would be a nice little extra!

I am fighting the printer again this morning and ended up sending DH a shipping label to print, but ot won't do it for him either. I think this means I will be asking the shop to print it when I drop the parcel off, which will of course make a slight reduction on costs as my ink and paper won't be used, but I seem to remember I've had this issue with an 3vri label before. I suspect there's something in the formatting that isn't translating for my equipment, as 1np0st labels aren't a problem. Ah well.

And while thinking about online selling, the computer sent me this article which is worth a read on buyers rights. I now think the computer is modelling itself on that cat behaviour where they bring in dead mice as a gift. Thanks and no thanks, but I suppose 'forewarned is forearmed'.

We had a text from DD to say they feel their health has finally turned the corner: DGD is back in nursery, DD is resting and, presumably, DSiL is back at work. We therefore aren't needed… which is understandable in terms of her needing a quiet day, but feels a bit odd. It's not like them not to take an opportunity to socialise.

No sign of the roofers yet.

DH and I both got a really good night's sleep, so are feeling refreshed but as the single dose of steroid wears off, DH's IBD is back. He's on a day off so he's not got either the distraction or the stresses of coping at work, but he has a routine audiology appointment later. We might then go for coffee, who knows. Honestly, I'm so glad we have the NHS. For all its weaknesses, we couldn't afford the care he needs.

Yesterday was International Nurses Day - thanks guys. 😊

And today is 'Cherry needs to find some gainful employment about the house' day. I'll let you know how that goes.

rtandon27

@Cherryfudge - try Weward, Paace & Cashwalk - there are often stipulations like check in before midnight each evening and confirm your points - and you have to link them to Fitbit and/or GoogleFit

WelshmansDaughter

Might try that out although I'm no longer tracking my steps.

Could get parcels collected from your house Cherry, they can bring a label.

Sun_Addict

Very grateful indeed we have the NHS. Mr SA’s stem cell transplant alone was worth almost £200,000 plus the £7k a bag chemo and the 9 months stay in hospital. It doesn’t bear thinking about. To offset that though, there’s people like me who never trouble the NHS unless they get run over 🤣