Moving on

Sun_Addict

Brilliant news about the mammogram 🥳 What a relief for you. 

Sounding very busy as always. 

Cherryfudge

Thanks SA.  

We went to another town for our afternoon out: I dropped a big hint about charity shops, so we looked in several and I bought a book. DH thinks I already have it but I think I have another in the series, which I couldn't find when back home.

We then had a walk round the castle and went down to watch the river, which wasn't very high but still flowed fast. I wish I'd gone earlier in the day, but I'd probably have spent more.

I was barely awake by the time we got home. I didn't stay up watching the election so I can't really explain the tiredness but I perked up a bit after dinner. (DH got himself a ready meal and I finished the curry, which must be about the third day in a row so I will be glad of something else tomorrow).

Talking of tomorrow, I was planning to do some cleaning and tidying ready for hosting A, H and the girls, but we've had an invitation from D and E to go to theirs for tea and to watch the England match. We're going, because we don't see them often - so seldom that D had forgotten neither of his parents is a football fan! He has just started a 'new' job though so this may be the start of a better pattern. He's been doing shifts but now has a permanent job teaching (same field, and he did the job on a temporary basis a while ago, so he knows it's right for him).

We still have much of tomorrow to set the house to rights, but I started with the messy windowsill near my laptop, which is now clean with clean windows. DH has re-oiled the wooden worktop in the kitchen and bought hoover bags as the vacuum cleaner was losing suction. My little list for tomorrow is now:
decide what to make for Sunday lunch
hoover all round
ideally carpet shampoo the two areas that get most traffic
tidy lounge and dining room
baby-proof lounge
clean bathroom

Today's expenditure:
Clothing (shower cap!) £1.19
Gift (card) £1
Household (vacuum bags) £7.98
Book £2.49

Cherryfudge

I had a bit of a lie-in this morning, and DH has done a major onslaught on carpet cleaning, so I feel more relaxed. He says the time spent up close to the dining room carpet has shown him it's getting worn, which seems impossible as I clearly remember getting it and how nice it was walking round on a brand new carpet! I actually don't know how long ago that was, though, so it could be ancient.

I deep-cleaned the bathroom so I'm happy with it, and spent a bit of time weeding the garden.

Cherryfudge

It's been a good evening with D and E, and also A, H and the girls who were also invited. J and L were having an anniversary meal so we didn't see them.

I took some plants and a few seeds for E, who loves her gardening, and she's given me a lovely chive plant - I don't know when I've seen one so big! We had a pizza feast, watched the football and played with the children, then drove home through a beautiful evening with the low sun making it very tricky at times.

I haven't spent anything: don't know if DH has.

WelshmansDaughter

Sounds like everything ticking along 

Cherryfudge

I've rather worn myself out but it's been a positive day. I 'went to' church online this morning (DH went in person) and this afternoon A, H and the girls came for a meal and afterwards explored some old photos (A's request) then we took the girls to the playground.

Our meal was a sausage casserole made by DH and a pineapple upside down cake made by me, with a chocolate pudding for H who doesn't eat pineapple. I used stem ginger and the remains of the syrup from the jar in place of cherries as we've run out and it works well, but the edges of the topping turned into a  chewy caramel which is very more-ish so I keep nibbling at what's left.

As N is a near-Christmas baby, she had a summer un-birthday present today of a book with jigsaws in (a little more space in the presents stash). Baby F just looked at everything and slept through the trip to the swings - but she did settle in the high chair and eat some custard, which is progress as she hasn't got the hang of this meal time business yet. Or at least she has her own rules for it.

It's been lovely spending time with them, and N seems to have got over being overawed by the piano so she tried playing it (toddler style) as well as making a very creditable job of stirring the mixture for Mummy's pudding (without spilling a drop).

Our house is still showing the benefits of guest-readiness, which is nice but won't last.  

Not sure what DH spent this morning but I think he bought ice cream and sausages.

Cherryfudge

I feel I've worked my socks off today. In the morning I washed my hair and got a load of laundry out to dry. It must have rained not long before I got up, but the sky was clear and the sun was quite warm by the time I saw it. I did an hour's gardening: cutting back the blue geraniums that have finished flowering, throwing weeds into the green wheelie bin and cutting back some very vigorous new growth in the hedge. I had an early lunch and looked out some ID papers so I combined doing church cleaning with completing my DBS for the debt advice centre.

I've spent about £20 on food today. Most of it was store cupboard things that were on offer. A little bottle of garlic olive oil (250ml) is now £3.50! Eek.

I got home with just enough time to throw together the curry for dinner, but not enough time to eat it before work so I had digestive biscuits, cheese and coffee and went straight to work, meeting DH who was coming home. He went for a cycle ride before his curry: I had three hours at work and had mine when I got in. It was one of these where you buy the spice blends then supply the protein yourself. I had a trial pack a while ago. This one was red lentil and butternut squash and was quite nice with yogurt in, but I'm not wildly enthusiastic. Nevertheless, it's helped use a few ingredients and there's enough for another day.

Watty1

just catching up.  Great news on the mammogram 

Cherryfudge

Thanks @Watty1.

Today - where has the sun gone? We have grey skies and steady rain. Mind you, summer rain is a lovely relaxing sound and maybe it will encourage the frogs to eat the slugs. Last night I went to rescue the basil, just in time as there were 8 or 9 slugs on it which I chucked off. Anyway, there on the step was a half-grown frog eyeing up a slug... creep, creep... one cautious foot at a time, come on froggie, the slug will notice you and zip off any moment now... pounce! Frog 1: slug 0. I am all for encouraging frogs but it does mean closing the back door on summer evenings because indoor frog catching is not my strong point and frogs have no idea that houses are not frog-friendly.

The plan for today needs to include checking the material for tonight's study which I hope won't be too onerous as it's a continuation from where we got up to last time. I'm not hosting so I don't need to think about dinner and if DH can face fish cakes or curry, after so many recently, we have both. I will eat at my friend's house.

I don't have work today but I don't think the rest will come amiss. I am still amazed how much I did yesterday! Nearly 20,000 steps... was glad of a colleague offering to help by hoovering the corridor as I'd certainly not have got round to it. She's an old hand and asked me if I'd been given a list to cover, which never happens so I've texted to let them know what I did in the hope it doesn't get duplicated.

DH wants to do some painting but I persuaded him we need to try to strip back the old paint first. It's a 1930s house and some of the paint has never been stripped, so underneath the modern stuff is potential lead, and under that is a dark varnish that turns into treacle at any attempt to destroy it. Horrible stuff. It's the reason we never attempted some areas. I thought we had one of those things that blows hot air but he says not so he's going to get another. Meanwhile I'm starting to look for better storage for under the stairs as the plastic chest of drawers we have now is cracking up and bowing.

I've decluttered five - a whole five - 'paper decisions' so far today. Easy wins are usually supermarket magazines but now I need to decide if I am realistically going to try any of the recipes I've harvested from them too. The recipes always look so nice and then I have to persuade poor DH to try them...

Cherryfudge

It rained solidly till mid afternoon, but DH spent the time removing paint. I don't think I got much done personally. We had a walk once the weather let up, calling in at the supermarket for bread and oranges (both y/s so less than £2).

The current leader of a group at church has sent out a message to say I'm taking over her role from September - it's all official now! 

It's raining again now: last night a frog was sitting on our back doorstep and tonight there was a newt, not to mention a large population of slugs. I'd quite like a pond, though not while the girls are little. I did buy a large plant saucer for a bird bath, so that will have to be the pond for now. The wild creatures don't seem to need it at the moment though.