Moving on

Cherryfudge

It's gone grey and windy! I didn't expect that: there's so much washing to do... and a chance of rain. However, I'll do some anyway, I can always bring it in and put it on the airer.

Last night I sent out a message to the group I'll be leading in September, asking them to send their availability for September's rota. Thankfully a couple of other people jumped in with pertinent questions so I wasn't left wondering whether people would defer answering (though it's in their interests to let us know). I've also arranged to meet the children's leader (by which I mean adult in charge of children's work, rather than a sort of young Union rep) to sort through the large amount of resources we have accumulated but which were accidentally moved to the wrong part of the building and need to be retrieved...

Today I'll see if H and the girls want to come over but before that I will start the laundry off, wash my hair and get dressed. That way I will feel more able to cope with any other jobs.

Cherryfudge

The washing has been out, come in again and is now out again, but I tumble dried a sheet just to have it out of the way. The guest bed is therefore back in order.

For some uncertain reason I really didn't want to get round to washing my hair but I got there by way of taking an inch of it off (it needed a cut) then washing. After that I suddenly decided to have a Kon Marie-style sort of my jumpers though none have left the house. I've now got a drawer of 'want to keeps' and a drawer of 'not sure I want to keeps'. That's as close as I probably get to a sort out! However, should I go to the less liked items, I'll know I have that item for a reason and it can transfer to the 'keeps'.

D has texted to ask if he can borrow Pr!me so his girlfriend doesn't see on their joint account what he's ordering for her, so I have put his order in and taken the opportunity to remind him he's not paid us for a meal out earlier in the year! He's happy to pay, but of course I don't have the numbers to hand any more, so there's a job for me.

I've managed some kitchen tidying, though I got side-tracked into cleaning the bread maker and replacing its rubber foot that came off and should hopefully stop it making a horrendous racket when in use. Those little feet really get to me - twice I've had to get new scales because a tiny bit of rubber fell off so they couldn't weigh properly. There ought to be a law about making the rubber feet stay put! I also managed to retrieve one of the bread maker buttons that had fallen into the casing but I can't get it back in place so till I succeed, I will have to poke things into the hole to press the inner button.

H texted back to say her parents are staying, so I have the somewhat tidied up house to myself.

Cherryfudge

I was going to say that's another NSD, but remembered I bought a gift on D's behalf, so till he pays me back, it's not an NSD. DH has just bought some food, too.

Work was three hours and for some reason lots of people are off today. Yesterday there were 14 of us - usually ten or so - and today there were eight. I got three shortish 'runs' to do and the manager took on six. I have no idea how she does it. One of the staff mentioned to me that I could look into having contracted hours so I'm thinking about that, but it may work out better for me to stay as relief. I scooted round and cut corners where they didn't matter - so long as the basics are done, the work evens out over the week and I needed to skip disinfecting desks in order to get toilets and kitchens right. Then I discovered a cleaning cupboard that I'd not used for a while was in a real mess - I ended up throwing lots of old cloths and torn gloves out and was rather pleased with the result, and the rest didn't take too long as the regular cleaner does a good job - of everything but the cupboard, I think! I struggle to work from a disorderly start, and that was very disorderly.

My new team for the children's work has started to put forward thoughts which is interesting. At the moment they are working on the practical things (pencil sharpener, crayons, scissors) but I need to drag some criticism out of them - what works in terms of running order, what do different leaders do differently, how do you see your role etc.

Floss

Cherryfudge said:

My new team for the children's work has started to put forward thoughts which is interesting. At the moment they are working on the practical things (pencil sharpener, crayons, scissors) but I need to drag some criticism out of them - what works in terms of running order, what do different leaders do differently, how do you see your role etc.

That may come about on a more individual basis, they may not all want to divulge to everyone.

Cherryfudge

Floss said:

Cherryfudge said:

My new team for the children's work has started to put forward thoughts which is interesting. At the moment they are working on the practical things (pencil sharpener, crayons, scissors) but I need to drag some criticism out of them - what works in terms of running order, what do different leaders do differently, how do you see your role etc.

That may come about on a more individual basis, they may not all want to divulge to everyone.

Good point, they are free to PM me of course, or catch me for a chat.  They probably won't say anything on a group that includes team leaders.

DH has the day off today and helped me with the church cleaning as well as watering the plants, then cooked lunch (tuna pasta). I have a load of washing on the line, but not really time to iron before work. Nothing bought today (I had to hunt to find my purse, it's been a few days and it was in a going-out bag from Tuesday) but DH will have bought bits and pieces.

WelshmansDaughter

Could always phrase it as this is how I think it works, any comments?

Cherryfudge

WelshmansDaughter said:

Could always phrase it as this is how I think it works, any comments?

I think I might do a version of this one to one with people, so I can judge the temperature.

Yesterday work was full-on: a kindly colleague did a bit for me as I had the three areas to cover again. I don't like it when it's so pressured that I can only do the basics, so I was quite happy that after all the rush, I was able to spritz up a couple of offices that didn't 'need' it.

It's lovely outside today and a little cooler. I think upper teens to low twenties is perfect for me. We have another set of curtains in to wash while the going is good, and this afternoon I'm being outgoing and accompanying DH to the other car boot sale. I've not been there for a year, as that's where I saw the person who attacked me eighteen months ago, but I've heard that that person is in a better place mentally so even if they are there, that decreases the chance of anything happening. And the chances must be very low, so I'm seizing the day.

I also want to revisit my huge list and tick off something or other, probably potting on a houseplant or two.

The other thing is that my arthritis has been active recently. It's mostly in my feet so I'm wondering if my trainers are getting worn and the feet aren't being supported enough. I don't feel stressed or unwell, and the weather isn't damp, so that eliminates some suspects (though of course there could be aspects of those that I'm not conscious of). Anyway, This morning the middle finger of my right hand is stiff, which I definitely want to discourage, so I've followed DH's good example and swapped the mouse to my other hand for a while.

Floss

I put new orthotic insoles into my trainers as the soles were still good but my feet were aching - result was amazing!

Cherryfudge

Thanks for that tip, @Floss, it's a good idea. In fact I have some that aren't being used.

Cherryfudge

It's been a good day: salmon and cous cous with peas and tomatoes for dinner, cooked by DH and very nice too. For the second day running I managed not to have chocolate after the meal.

A very small bit of decluttering: DH had two items for the charity shop and I added a recipe book that I've never used.

I braved the afternoon car boot sale that I've been avoiding, and didn't see sight nor sound of the person I was worried about. In fact I had some good finds: two dresses for £5, though one of them isn't a good fit so I won't keep it. The other is a Per Un a sundress with beaded detail and is somewhere between a sun dress and a going out dress, so could be useful as well as very comfortable. I also spent £1 on a plate storage rack and 50p on some slippers. DH spent 50p on a tee shirt, 20p on some stamps (he collects in a small way) and 50p on a badge.

He's also been to the flat to finish the repair to the carpet following the new heater being installed.

DH had cheese on toast and fruit for tea, I had oatcakes then banana and custard.

I had a useful evening: we watched a series about blue zones and I did the ironing so the curtains are back up. I remembered to use furniture polish on the curtain track so we don't have to tug, and went on to polish a bookcase while I was in the mood. I've also re-potted my lovely tradescantia along with some rooted cuttings so it's looking bigger. Then I divided up the maranta which was three cuttings in one pot. Having three plants looks good but is too many so once the roots are established, I'll rehome a couple. Before it got dark I fitted in one more: a Christmas cactus that has grown lop sided so it kept falling over. That's gone into a heavier pot with a  broken rim, the idea being it's planted at one side of the pot and leans across, over the break. I'll see whether that works.

I've also attached loops to some pegs so I can hang my work gloves up and let air get to them between jobs. They get disgustingly sweaty and I hate the smell! They are okay once I've hung them on the washing line at home but this allows the air in during the shift. It's an experiment so it may or may not work.

Expenditure:
Housekeeping - unknown as yet, but DH bought salmon and pastries.
Household £1
Clothing £6.50
Hobbies 70p (DH's)
Entertainment £2 (car boot entry).

Note to self - all except food were cash.