Moving on

Sun_Addict

You’d definitely get some warm weather in February in the Canary Islands. We’ve also been to Costa del Sol in February and the weather was good.

Cherryfudge

The Canaries sounds like my sort of February, @Sun_Addict. I'm not much good at sitting on a beach or round the pool, but I wouldn't need to if it was comfortable to wander round exploring.

I didn't exactly finish October with an action-packed day. Paying the price for previous late nights and Friday's afternoon sleep, I got myself out to post the cardigan parcel, had dinner then slept through the afternoon. At least I managed to make up some work time in the evening.

Today was a lot more productive: I was helping with the children this morning and DH cooked chicken for lunch, followed by rice pudding (I'd made two to use some of the lacto-free milk on Saturday), then the rain dried up and the sun came out so he went for a walk. I could have gone but it occurred to me that the rest of the month might just be like the morning: grey, drizzly and not very cosy out of doors, so I'd better get on with clearing things that needed clearing in the garden before the scaffolders need access. It took about an hour an a half and I had to stop when it went dark, but seven or eight tubs of mostly bramble trimmings have gone in the green bin and I had to ask DH to squash it down to get the last if it in. The side of the garden where the bramble grows now looks much less wild. It's a shame the blackberries were really full of grubs this year so, although there was a heavy crop, I only harvested a small amount.

It's been a relaxed evening, mostly playing on the computer though I realised late on that I had milk going out of date and the rest of the chicken to take to pieces. I'm not waiting for the milk to cool and I'll add some yogurt and put it on the yogurt setting in the Instant Pot overnight. I don't actually need any more yogurt but I could make a yogurt cake or something.

I went to pay for a birthday gift for DGD2 and the site kept telling me the transaction had failed so I'm hoping there's just a glitch with the website. I know there's plenty of capacity on the card I used and it wasn't a large amount, but I'd had to reset my password and enter a different card so perhaps something went wrong there. Try again tomorrow.

Cherryfudge

P.S. As I was still up at midnight, waiting for the milk to cool to 'yogging' temperature, I've also run the dishwasher on cheap power. This afternoon was the last of the free electricity hours from the Squid company, at least for now. I don't know if they resume when the days get longer. We charged up various things and did a load of laundry.

DH may be right when he says that app is starting to exert an influence!

And I've had another sale on V1nted: just a couple of pairs of (new) socks from a pack that didn't really fit me, and they've been up eight months, which just goes to show there may sometimes be a case for leaving unsold items up for ages! I currently have a dozen items listed and I'm hoping for some more sales as some items have clearly caught people's attention. I'll try to list a couple more bits tomorrow if the light is good for photography.

Cherryfudge

Much of the day I've been out with friends in Knaresborough. If you haven't been, it's a very interesting town with spectacular views. No, we didn't go to Mother Shipton's Cave or the Dropping Well (I have been to the 'well' a couple of times, but many years ago). This was more about having time together so we went for coffee (mine was pumpkin latte) then looked round a clothes shop and two of us came out with purchases. Mine was a jumper (£29) to go with the brown jeans I bought for smart casual. We then had lunch and spun it out long enough that it was time to go home. £14.09 spent on eating and drinking, and £2 for the cheapest ever four hours in a car park.

Back at home, I went straight out to post the V1nted parcel, then back to list three more while the light was good. To my surprise, one particular item, which I didn't think was particularly interesting, has been favourited 18 times.

DH made chicken pie for dinner and we finished the rice pudding with more of the greengage jam, then I spent the rest of the evening trying to catch up on work time as the five hour deficit last month has been noticed. I've acknowledged that but also pointed out I've made up time from September, when I think I was 9 hours short. At least the course I'm doing is interesting and I'm learning terminology and ways of looking at situations, but it's taking me much longer than it says on the tin. However, the tin also says the course is for people with the qualification, which isn't me, so more learning is to be expected.

Cherryfudge

Incidentally, DH and I now both have the L1dl app, and both of us have a voucher for £5 off a £5 spend! It's tucked away right at the bottom of the coupons, below where the evening bakery discount goes, so it's possible to miss it. DH spent about £12 and got a bill for £6-something. I've got a couple of days to spend mine.

Cherryfudge

Tuesday was, as usual, child care day. We saw DGD1 into school, allowed DGD2 half an hour of telly and a second breakfast (for a tiny person, she's always hungry), made her a sandwich to have in the push chair later and set off for playgroup. We arrived in the last half hour as usual! DH spent most of the time trying to sort out medical appointments - by the end of the day he'd put off some dental treatment and had a pre-procedure discussion for something totally different. DGD2 and I had a mosey round the church where the playgroup is held: there are 'Mouseman' carvings and various other things to spot: today's new one was a carved angel at the base of the organ pipes.

It's been another of those sunshine and showers days. We went on to the library and came out with seven books, including a K1mJ0y cookery book which held DGD's attention for some time. The weather was such that afterwards we spent some time at the swings before calling in at the supermarket where DGD zapped the code on our solitary purchase. She fell asleep before we got home so DH took her on and I called at the other supermarket where they have some very good discounts but also a middle aisle. We are now richer to the tune of three small glass containers with snap-on lids.

DH had got us Belgian buns so I had mine at once, DGD still being asleep, then dozed on the sofa for some time (the lunch I took is still in our fridge as I forgot it). DGD was very quiet when she woke up and retreated under a table. I never found out why but she eventually came and snuggled up to me to read library books. She was reluctant to meet her sister from school so we let DH go and when DGD1 arrived home, we all watched too much TV for quite some time. Eventually I called a halt to it so we had some other activities, staying a bit later than usual to allow parents to go to Parents' Evening.

Dinner was salmon with pasta and sauce and I've not got a great deal else done apart from wrapping another item for V1nted. That's four sales in the last few days.

Bed calls.

Cherryfudge

Yesterday (Wednesday) felt like full-on work but I didn't actually do a full day. I spent rather a lot of time making QR codes to go on a notice board, then hunting round work for a guillotine and laminator. For a massive complex of offices, they don't do very well for anything stationery related that's not tech or paper. In the end I braved the print room and discovered they would do the job for me (why they couldn't let me loose on it, I don't know).

In the evening I went to a training session for church children's workers which meant I didn't get home till about half past ten, but it was worth it: very useful. Today has been work again, but at least it was in class and, in the evening, cleaning.

I've sold and posted another item on V1nted, but no more listings have gone up in the last couple of days: there's not been time. I'm trying really hard to get on top of my work hours, and fit life around that. Tomorrow evening we are babysitting DGD3 overnight, then back in time to see DGD2 on her birthday, and somewhere in the melee I've a session to prepare for Sunday morning. I think I need to have a first look at that tonight so I can be mulling it over.

The only financial thing to report is that I've activated my bank card so I have full access to that account again. Tomorrow I must be brave and ring the credit card company to find out why mine has stopped working, and also look up the account that's moved due to banks amalgamating.

Cherryfudge

I was up just before seven so I put the washing machine on to take advantage of cheaper electricity. The heating went on for a half hour boost to set us up for the day but now I'm going to try to leave it off - gas is so expensive!

There are a few things that need to be done, and I'm procrastinating so here's the list:

wash hair

finish and deliver notice board

more CPD

collect DGD2's birthday present from shop

afternoon appointment

some prep for Sunday's session

DD arriving to collect me for babysitting

Cherryfudge

Much of the above list happened, but I did a double-check on some notice board headings that I'd had AI translate for me, and it looks as though it may have missed a language and scrambled bits of others. Other sections are fine, so perhaps it was my doing - anyway I've asked for feedback from some real live humans.

I've still only scratched the surface of getting ready for Sunday, but I've brought stuff with me to DD's so I can delve a bit further. I think I'm a bit tired to do much, and I'll go to bed early to make the most of adorable DGD3 being asleep.

CPD has made only token progress.

DH got fish and chips for us from the local chippy here, which has won awards and deservedly so.

DD and DSiL won't be back till tomorrow, they are way up north, gone on a waft of DD's most special perfume (bought for their wedding a few years ago and she's making it last as long as possible).

Well, just time to do a tiny bit more on the Sunday prep, the CPD and Duolingo, then I can crash out.

WelshmansDaughter

I bought perfume the other day and was shocked at the cost- £121 on sale for Chanel something or other. But then my mother has a bottle of No 5 in the fridge that is forty years old and still smells the same as the bottle in the shop.