Moving on

WelshmansDaughter

Always disconcerting when an error has been made even when it is relatively low stakes. 

I have had to develop a mental model so I don’t drive myself mad obsessing 

Cherryfudge

WelshmansDaughter said:

Always disconcerting when an error has been made even when it is relatively low stakes. 

I have had to develop a mental model so I don’t drive myself mad obsessing 

Yes, I find it throws me completely. Thinking about it, part of it is a neurodiverse thing about obeying the rules and an element of rejection-sensitive dysphoria (it's not as big a thing as my reaction would have me think), and part of it is it fear of being out of work, triggered by leaving the job I used to love. I think the way out is to battle it through: I'm unlikely to 'fail' today's course, but if I did, it could be retaken or could be a sign that I need to look elsewhere.

So this morning I've had a better night's sleep and am reasonably well set up for the day though I'm about to put together some lunch (probably overnight oats) so I have it ready for later. The table is tidied and cleaned around my laptop, zoom is set up and I have pen and paper should I need them, and also the course notes. Print outs are printed out, hair and teeth still need to be brushed, I've located the link for the meeting on my emails, I need to have a drink to hand and maybe I'll locate some snacks for the breaks. Should be all done by 3.30, and I'm at work at five.

Last night I was browsing some very old threads and followed up a mention of Butter bean curry which sounds my sort of thing, so I have plans to make it tomorrow. (Browsing old threads is great escapism, and then there's the bit where prices are mentioned in, say, a 2010 thread, and that can be an eye-opener. Sadly, there are names of people who used to be regulars and have now disappeared. There was even one who's now banned, I have no idea why as she used to be a regular poster).

Right, that's given me a list to start with.

Laura_Elsewhere

Cherryfudge said:

[...] one day I took an antihistamine which seemed to help [...] I don't think the noise helped my head, whatever the cause was, but if I get it the ache again I might try antihistamines [...]

Generally speaking, ibuprofen (which you mentioned taking) doesn't do much to diminish headaches as it is an anti-inflammatory and that's only rarely the cause of a headache- paracetamol are a better option for headache pain relief, or aspirin if you have no paracetamol. 
Wildly generalising, muscle and joint aches are best treated with ibuprofen. Nerve pain such as toothache or headache best treated by paracetamol.
It's useful to know they are completely unrelated pharmacologically so you can stagger the doses if you are taking both (for example for an infected tooth which would respond to both)- instead of taking both kinds, take one and then take the other one halfway trhough the period you have to leave before taking another dose of the first. I usually write out a 'timetable' as I am usually not very think-y in any circs where I need to take both! 

Cherryfudge

That's worth knowing about the ibuprofen and headaches, @Laura_Elsewhere, thanks. I find it's generally more effective than paracetamol for me (perhaps I'm more prone to inflammation?), though with colds I get a lot of sinus inflammation so it's useful to help me breathe! If I'm taking the over more than a  couple of days I sometimes write out a sort of MAR chart to keep track.

I don't know quite what has been behind these couple of days of headaches, but on neither day did they respond fully to painkillers, though I've used paracetamol alternately with ibuprofen. Not like me to have unshiftable headaches, either.

Anyhooo... I'm on my break from my course and have ten minutes left before I need to be back on zoom, so I'm going to have a wander out of doors.

WelshmansDaughter

Whats the temperature like where you are? Could the headaches be dehydration?

Cherryfudge

WelshmansDaughter said:

Whats the temperature like where you are? Could the headaches be dehydration?

We've had some quite hot days and I've been doing physical work, so that's a possibility. I do try to drink enough but I could well need more than usual.

Today has had a lot fitted in. The course was 6 hours by Zoom - my main achievement is probably being able to work Zoom, three years post-pandemic, but I do feel I've learned things today, and it's given structure and cohesion to things I already knew. I have a few weeks before I'm due back in the centre, so now I need to put the homework into practice, mostly by working on my own budget but also building on my list of local and national resources in case there's anything that's of use to clients.

It's been suggested we try out our budgets in both paper and online forms, and use a couple of the free online budgeting tools, have a play around with them and see what's out there.

This evening was really hard work, though thankfully the error with the signing out is now behind me. There has apparently been a massive meeting in the building (nothing to do with me signing out): I've never had to clear so many coffee cups, and rarely so many cake crumbs. Never mind. It's nothing personal.

Nothing spent today, in fact that's it apart from a quick clean of the bathroom and tidy up of a few plant pots where the slugs have decimated the veg. They've totally destroyed a lettuce and some pepper plants. 

Cherryfudge

Me again, bathed and slowing down for the evening but not there yet. DH has been out to a quiz, I've texted work with my availability next week and realised I have two days with nothing scheduled but work in the evening, so I've texted to offer to help out with church cleaning if needed (the team is two down for a while). I really don't do well on my own all day and this 'pays' me in terms of activity, social interaction and usefulness.

Talking of working, I heard from my friend that she finally has the post she's wanted for years where I used to work. She will do well. I also saw in the job adverts that the manager is leaving. I think she's been there two years and she's a nice person who I hope has given some stability there, so I might drop her a line to wish her well. 

Duolingo has kindly given me three days of 'Super'.  

My sister and her family are due to visit this weekend and my children, bless them, seem to be going out of their way to meet up with us. It's the only opportunity before my sister and her family are abroad again till next summer. Oddly, we both managed not to get each other Christmas or birthday presents this year as our respective plans fell through. It's a bit awkward as I have gifts for her husband and daughter! However, as her daughter's birthday is in a few weeks, I can give hers in advance and not miss it. I'm not expecting my sister to give us anything but on the other hand, do I just hang onto the bits I have for them against next year? It would be easier if I'd organised things for each of them instead of two out of the three, but as she's not bought for us... very strange and I can't make out how best to proceed.

Well, it's nearly midnight and I think it's time I paid the window cleaner - isn't online banking wonderful? - and ordered a book for my niece that I wanted to give her a year ago and for which she'll be too old if I leave it much longer.

Cherryfudge

So that's £6 for the windows and £14.81 for the rest of my niece's birthday present, which comes with a free trial of Pr1me that I must remember to cancel in 30 days or less.

Cherryfudge

I've been up an hour and I'm tired already! I suppose the intensity of yesterday is catching up with me.

No particular plans apart from cooking. The pan of butterbeans soaked overnight (I love the stage where they go wrinkly. Very pretty, somehow and don't you love the look of the stages of food production when you come to think about it? That bit where whipped cream looks like scrambled eggs for a year or two on the way to becoming butter, and a fast boil on marmalade or jam, or rising bread once the gas makes it soft...). I need to check I have enough ingredients for the curry.

The muffins the other day were eaten but not brilliant, possibly because I tried out using up a bit of bread flour in with the SR flour so they were a bit dense.

DH has finished the leftovers of the pasta and tonight is having the rest of the soup, so there are two things tidied away. It's time to go through the fridge to see what needs to be finished. We need fruit, and I must cook the rhubarb from the other day as it won't last. There are cherry tomatoes getting past their best so I'll freeze them to add to trays of roast veg, and I think I'll do porridge and fruit for my lunch as there are blueberries and strawberries needing a home before they spoil.

I took 15 pages of notes on the course yesterday! If I'm organised enough, I'll glance through to consolidate. Then there's the sorting out of my own budget to keep me out of mischief. As my income varies a lot, I have two options for how to account for it: either take the lowest as the guaranteed amount (my favoured option, as it evens out nasty surprises) or take an average.

My current reading matter is way back in Old Style: weazle74's Old Style vs the USDA head-to-head challenge... — MoneySavingExpert Forum . Legend. Where is she now? I've just copied out the recipe for sundried tomato bread from about page 3 but she has a great recipe index so I may look further.

Right, time I did something or other. The sun is trying to shine through the clouds and next door's apple tree is absolutely laden...

Will report back.

Cherryfudge

I reread a page of the course notes, which is at least something. I also went to the shops for a few ingredients and made the curry, which I was really looking forward to but actually wasn't too keen on. There's a lot left and DH doesn't like it, so guess what I'll be having for a while?

The mushrooms and last few cherry tomatoes are now in the freezer.

I went to get spring onions from the garden only to find the slugs had marmalised them. There was enough left underground for the recipe, but that's the end of them now. And talking of wee beasties, I've just spotted a mouse! We stood looking at each other for a while, but tomorrow I will get to work to oust it, if it doesn't do it for itself. It's been a long time since we had one but the door is often left open in summer so I expect that's how it got in, and from previous  experience it may well go out of choice, as there's a good living and no pesky humans out of doors.

Work was three hours, and I have another four days' worth next week.

Expenditure:
Housekeeping £4.77
Gift £14.81
Household (windows) £6