Moving on

Cherryfudge

Two things of note that I completely forgot: we had two days with rain, just in the mornings and not enough to make much difference but it was something and very welcome.

Also my sister gave me a few things from my parents' house which she had chosen but decided not to keep. There's a china dog that was bought to remember the wire haired fox terriers my Mum's parents had, a china lady that is similar to a couple I inherited and which apparently my BiL hates (😁) and some pieces of Denby that I remember from my early childhood, Ironically, my sister choosing those was what started me collecting the same set for myself so now there's a duplicate piece but I'm not going to worry about that. The shelf won't contain the whole collection now! It wasn't really big enough anyway as there are a couple of serving dishes that take up more space and have to be stored elsewhere.

I had brought some shoes that don't fit me any more but they didn't fit my sister either, so they are going on V1nted. I was 'good' and said no to a few pieces my sister offered (a sideboard, bedding and a bag) and the rocking horse, for which I've asked for thinking time! We are already housing the smaller horse that was DD's, and is strictly speaking, in the way. The trouble is, those horses have personality! One of my earliest memories is the Christmas the rocking horse arrived: a splendid thing with flared red nostrils and real mane and tail. I've ridden untold miles on him. It's a shame these things don't fold up small, but if they did, they would probably stay in a cupboard and not get used.

Cherryfudge

Unpacking the things from my sister today turned into quite a little adventure. I ran out of time to find places for everything, partly because I found a green glass basket which, with the aid of AI and a UV torch, I've determined is likely to be uranium glass. It glows beautifully in the dark with the UV behind it. Apparently if we avoid using it for food and don't touch the small chip on one side, it's less radioactive than certain household appliances. For now it's on a windowsill so we won't knock into it or anything.

The window cleaner came this morning, so that's £6 spent. I made him his cup of tea and had to apologise for it being black as I'd discovered the milk was out of date. I don't get through much and DH doesn't have it. Apart from that I've not been buying.

Dinner was sweet potato stew with rice, and there's enough left for another day.

I had work this evening and was tired afterwards but remembered I'd said I'd make a summer reading challenge for DGD2, who is too young for the one her big sister is doing. I'm very pleased with what AI conjured up, apart from that it was supposed to be a folded A4 and won't work so well if folded.

Other than that, a bit of tidying in the garden and a bit of sending messages about the children's group, and that's it for now.

Cherryfudge

Yesterday was childcare and left me with that 'idyllic childhood' feeling as their library visit included a craft sessions with a great deal of glitter and glue (there will be glitter everywhere forever: there's still some on my shoulders after a bath, which must have come from picking up a glittery child). DGD1's friend and his family were there, and are people we know slightly so that worked out nicely. After that there was the traditional visit to the swings which were busy due to school holidays but they both decided to have a few goes on the zip wire, which involved me running along holding onto the younger one as she 'zipped'.

I bought cold drinks for DH and me (I forgot to pack water bottles for us) and some biscuits as the morning session stretched over lunchtime and older DGD fell asleep on the walk home. I also picked up some stickers for the younger one's summer reading challenge, which is a home made one because she's not old enough for the real thing. Later DH went out for a few groceries and brought ice creams for us all.

DGD2 is potty training so perhaps it wasn't such an idyllic day 😂 but it's all part of bringing people up. 😊

Poor DH is struggling with the cold that DGD2 had last week and it's looking as though the immune-suppressant action in his new medication is coming into its own as he's coughing and easily short of breath. However, he did make us a really nice tuna pasta for tea, with slightly more expensive pasta and herby tomatoes that worked so well that I'd choose them again over the usual plain ones.

My friend who had the operation is struggling to sleep though healing okay, and felt too rough to meet up, and the other lady is dog sitting (in addition to four of her own) so she felt she had better stay in. I was quite relieved to have a quiet evening, watching the Sewing Bee and putting in an hour of gardening. The brambles are fighting a rear-guard action but I'm determined. Meanwhile we are picking oodles of blackberries and took some down to DS1 as he likes them and there's no freezer space here.

peb

Ooh. You have blackberries? I shall have to go look

Cherryfudge

Even more blackberries picked so far today, @peb. Beauties, but I have to soak and rinse them a few times as the grubs think they are beauties, too. I always thought there were fewer grubs early in the season but perhaps the unusual weather has encouraged them.

I've done laundry today despite a very rainy-looking sky. The rain is staying up there though a friend in Edinburgh says it's been heavy where they are. Apart from the laundry, I'm having a job getting myself motivated to do anything and made myself go out and tidy the garden a bit more. In doing so, I found one of the potato bags I used last year for sieved soil while clearing that corner that got deep-cleared. There were miniscule potatoes in it but I've tipped the soil into the last year's compost bin that's still about two thirds full. The next job is to mix it in, thus making amore water-retentive soil, then the courgette plant is going to be taken out of its too-small pot and planted in the potato bag. I don't know if it's too late to set it right, but it's struggling where it is. I know it should probably be in open ground but there's none clear.

Cherryfudge

The courgette is planted and I think I saw it smile - somehow it looks perkier, which I know is highly unlikely after just a few hours, but I'm pleased with it. I've made some inroads into weeds and blackberries then made myself stop and get the shopping. I'm pleased that I remembered to check Ol1o, as there were some very good bargains in the Ice1and discounts. I spent £8.27, including two packs, each of two gammon steaks. The original price for my basket was £18.71 so it looks as though I've saved over a tenner, though in fact I wouldn't shop there if it weren't for the excellent discounts, as I think their fresh produce is expensive.

I spent £14.18 in L1dl, buying the items for a salad tonight plus some other things. They still had the jars of Greek-style cheese with olives and herbs, which are £1.99. I got three as I really like them.

There was just enough time to put the salads together before we set off for the BBQ, to which they were our contribution. We had a lovely evening and ate well.

I'm tired tonight so I'd best get to bed.

Cherryfudge

We had half a dozen or so drops of rain this morning, but nothing to get too excited about.

I did the ironing and started the dishwasher on overnight electricity, and am pleased to see the smart meter is working again - I think it lost connection a couple of days ago in the location the engineer put it, so I've moved it close to the Wi-Fi. I've also washed my hair and given myself a bit of extra facial care.

As we are away over the weekend, today is eat up day. Also wash up, as I decided to launder the spare bed sheets, having slept there while DH has a cold. Those are going on the line asap, and I cooked a discounted gammon steak for my lunch with an egg and some broccoli (seems an odd mixture but was okay) then had a doughnut - and I'm meeting a friend in a short while for coffee, so no after-meal cuppa just yet.

I've not managed any gardening apart from admiring the bit I tidied yesterday.

Why are there more things to do than time?

Cherryfudge

I had a good couple of hours with my friend (my turn to pay and I remembered my coffee stamp sheet) then went to the supermarket for some cake and chocolates to take when we visit our friends tomorrow. Work was the last session in a particular area that I've been covering for several weeks. The usual person will be back on Monday, and I'm off tomorrow.

Exasperatingly, staff have started putting part-filled drinks in bins again - they stopped when I raised it with my manager, as not only do cleaning staff not really want to deal with old coffee, but spilled coffee leaking out of bags stops us from getting on with other cleaning. And who wants a stale milk smell in the office carpet? Carpet cleaning equipment isn't available for the team I work with. For that matter, most of the cups are in the recycling bin, which means any paper is no longer recyclable. It's so lazy and inconsiderate.

I will try to stop ranting at this point.

Then there was the strange affair of the building being locked up early, leaving windows open. Cleaners could still get out but usually security checks round then waits for us all to leave. Very odd, but I need to remind myself it's a very, very small bit of something and nothing, and I really ought to be grateful that's as interesting as it gets!

Nearly forgot to say, my sister sent through a jacket that DH left at theirs, so I've paid her for the postage - and now that I'm sure of her bank details, have sent part one of the remaining sum from Mum's estate. If I'd not been in a hurry to go to work, I'd have sent the lot and closed the executors' account at long last. As it is, I'll print out a closing statement in case it's ever needed, then be rid of it.

Spending:

Entertainment £9.55

Gifts and housekeeping £11.80.

WelshmansDaughter

Perhaps the windows are open due to the heat?

Watty1

just caught up…rocking horse…ahhhhh…..