Moving on

Cherryfudge

The children's activity went okay this morning - though sometimes we could do with a carpet instead of a hard floor as it gets noisy at times! I wasn't so pleased that not all the adults have shown up for meetings though a couple have let me know they couldn't make it, which is fair enough. Lots of people are on multiple rotas too, which limits availability, but still... 

Dinner was slow-cooked gammon with potatoes, carrots, broccoli, leek and home grown tomatoes. The gammon had been in the freezer since January so it was about time it was used! And the tomatoes are a treat.

I had a sleep in the afternoon to make up for being late last night, then I went to the cinema with A for our favourite film. It's the up-market new cinema with a 'free' drink and popcorn included, and sofa seating, so a  very comfortable experience and the film was as good as it always was.

My tea was finishing up the soup I made the other day, so it's time I made another batch.

Nothing spent today: I paid for the cinema yesterday or the day before (£16). 

Cherryfudge

Another grey day, though the sun broke through briefly and I was suddenly energised!

DH is at work but taking a couple of hours of leave to see if he can get a phone problem solved. He's taken on H's old phone and is trying to transfer his account but the phone insists he logs into an account which he can't remember ever having, but which looks to be in his name. He's now wondering if he's been hacked, but if so, wouldn't money have gone missing?

He's also investigating a possible classic car and has spotted a likely one, unfortunately at a distance. Negotiations are in progress: he has time to make up his mind.

The window cleaner has been so I need to send payment.

I've made soup (spicy courgette again) and some banana muffins to reduce the amount of things going out of date. Laundry has also been done but then the rain started so I'll get the airer out.

There's a little list of things I am avoiding getting down to: texting a couple of clients re the Wednesday job, looking into next week's Sunday morning activity (having resolved to give myself plenty of time in case I need resources), filling in the Sunday team about items some of them have missed and doing something to benefit the garden, though I don't know what. Ooh, the sun just came out! Time to make the most of it!

Cherryfudge

The afternoon cheered up a bit which was needed: I felt I was getting very little done despite lots of cooking. The washing has been out twice and is just about dry. Nothing got done from the list, but I went to L!dl for eggs and store cupboard foods.

DH went to the phone shop then rang App-le and eventually gave in and set up a new ID then rescued the photos off his old phone via i tunes. Who knew that was possible? Anyway he's happy to have a fully working phone again.

I think he's decided on the classic car he's been investigating: now to work out when to go for it.

We had gammon again for dinner, this time with roasties and veg and followed by spiced bread pudding made with oddments of bread that I'd stashed in the freezer, so relatively m/s.

I'm sleepy now and still haven't done any of my list, but I've finished putting July's figures into the spreadsheet and there's a jump in the housekeeping bill which is almost entirely accounted for from when we catered for a family with dietary needs. It's so expensive to get gluten free (though we had baked potatoes which worked for everyone) and I admit I do over-cater. I need to rein in next time and give fewer choices, and also resist buying them more baked goods than they ate this time round! Also organise myself with enough space to freeze a g/f loaf if there's one on discount. Or maybe not. I never have enough freezer space for a loaf! G/f pasta might be a better option for a main meal then baked potatoes later?

DH and I had a walk out to the edge of town this evening: it was going dark around 7.30 and the temperature was down to about 14 degrees, so it feels we are getting to the end of this summer's evening walks.

Expenditure:
Household (windows) £6
Housekeeping (including for winter emergency cupboard) £15.28

Cherryfudge

We were at A and H's for just after eight this morning to take care of the grandchildren. We had a delightful time but are now fairly exhausted! The rain was torrential for a while but that all cleared up by mid morning. We walked into town to the toddler club which was a nice experience for all of us, then back via a charity shop where I bought some children's books for the little ones and a video for me to watch while at my sister's house as they don't have a TV licence. We had brought lunch but popped into Sains for groceries as they had a discount of DH's crispbreads and my cappuccinos.

Little N showed me the packing for their coming holiday and it's a masterpiece of organisation. This from me, who left her case at home last year despite being proud of being able to pack at a moment's notice.  

We got home mid-afternoon and DH immediately went for a rest while I slumped in front of the computer! I made myself send the texts for clients in case anyone wanted to meet me tomorrow, but only had one reply, and that was for an appointment in the future, so I'm conflicted about going in to the Wednesday job tomorrow. I think I will go midmorning as I'm not expected but need to drop some stuff off before Thursday and there's the possibility someone might be looking for some input tomorrow. I really could do with a break though!

That done, I checked I had things ready for the Tuesday evening group and realised I hadn't, so some last-minute prep was needed. At least the urgency put enough pressure on to enable me to work though and come up with a finished article, if one that could have been developed better.

I've also had a message to ask if I want a place on a course next year. This is through church and would be funded by them. I'm inclined to it as I know it's been run before and I admit I was rather envious as it seemed so good, but I wasn't in the catchment group then, and now I am... but is it right for me? That, and the fact I've hung back a bit on finding out more about the admin post, makes me wonder what's going on in my subconscious. However, I don't have to make a decision yet.

This evening's group was reasonably okay though we finished a bit early, meaning we hung around and chatted and therefore the impact of the material was a bit whittled away. Memo to self - get the prep in earlier in future.

Today's expenditure:
Entertainment £5.50 (drinks at toddler club and DVDs for me)
Gifts £1.50
Housekeeping £10.96

in_need_of_direction

With regard to the admin job, you do realise that you will only need to make a decision if the post is offered to you? I’d so, go for it, keep your options open and worry about a decision when you need to make it.

Cherryfudge

That's very true, @in_need_of_direction, there's no guarantee I'd even get an interview, and if I did, there might be people with more appropriate skills. I do have an admin background, but whether it fits with that setting is another matter.

I don't want to over-commit myself or get a job that I'm then unhappy in or where I struggle to keep up. I value the improvement in my mental and physical health that I've seen since I stopped working more hours.

And now I need to get myself ready and go out, though I'm being bothered by a very strange smell in the larder and can't see an immediate cause. I'm worried what I might find!

Cherryfudge

The Wednesday job seemed to go quite well: I've just been writing up my notes and putting into practice long years of doing contact sheets! I used the walk home to do a bit of research into local facilities, which also kept me from buying too much.

I've decided that the reduced section is not my friend: I just buy too much that I then have difficulty using. Keeping out of shops in general seems like a good plan, though obviously we need to buy things sometimes.

Work this evening was only two hours but honestly there was so little to do and I felt in need of some down-time, so that was all right. I picked up a few windfall apples on the way home: it's twice I've seen other people picking them up, but I don't think they realise they are cookers as they try eating them. 

The smell remains unsolved. It's like a weird vinegar. DH thought it might be a solvent, but we can't find it so we will pull the freezer out on Friday when both of us are at home, and face whatever it's hiding. Meanwhile I've deep cleaned two larder shelves so I can eliminate them from our enquiries.

Lunch was soup again, and tea was porridge with some seeds and dates (excavating the larder has brought dates, cranberries and prunes to light).

Cherryfudge

It's felt autumnal today - I got a hot wash into the machine in the morning when I realised it's only a matter of days till we're away and this was the best chance I'd get to do it. I felt a bit chilly and checked the thermostat - 16.7 degrees, so I upped it to 17 and that was nice. I have a feeling it would be good to acclimatise ourselves to being a bit cooler so we don't feel the 'need' of it, but on the other hand I can get so much more done when I'm warm enough.

Anyway - that's the first time it's been on since spring.

I've cleared under the bottom larder shelf and looked on top of the fridge freezer, but not found the smell. However, bleaching a stain under the freezer door helped a bit so I think it will be under there. Where is the old 'eek' emoji when I want it?

It's been sunny, and the washing dried pretty well but we've decided to get another set of bedding so we're not having to use the drier every time it's washed. I will have to find storage space for it but it makes sense.

I've resisted the shops again but our annual loo roll and kitchen paper delivery arrived so it's not totally no-spend. The dishwasher tablets came too, and the other day it was the laundry tablets. I was quite pleased that I eked out the previous delivery with a laundry 'egg' type thing rescued when I cleared Mum's house. There were two and my sister didn't want one, so they've saved me quite a lot of cash and I'd certainly buy the modern equivalent for lightly used items.

Some cooking happened: I accidentally used up some oatmeal because the porridge I was making wouldn't thicken and in the end I just threw the rest of the tub in! Now I have enough for several days. I peeled and cooked the windfall apples (DH had them for tea) but I picked up more on the way home. Other than that I've cleaned the bathroom and had a text from yesterday's client so I have another lead to follow for them.

Work was only two hours - there's been very little this month after a busy month in August. It makes me more inclined to go for the office job if and when it's advertised. I also accepted the place on the course for next year: I think it's something I'd benefit from.

The aurora is supposed to be very visible this evening and it's clear but try as I may I can't find it. I did get some dim photos of it back in March. Sticking my head and phone camera out make me aware it's definitely colder tonight. The forecast says 6 with a low of 4. I can't pretend all these falling leaves are just from a few dry weeks any more!

Cherryfudge

DH kindly pulled out the freezer this morning and did the lion's share of cleaning behind it. The smell was from the drainage tray at the back which had gunged up, but is now bleached clean. Floor and shelves are cleaned too, the only casualties seem to be tuna that shot out of the fridge and ended up in a pile of glass on the floor, and desiccated coconut that was found down the back of the freezer, also in shattered glass. I suppose the positive side of that is a little more storage space.

DH offered to help with my shift cleaning at the church which was especially welcome as the other person didn't turn up. For some reason some men with a van were digging a trench along the pavement and had trapped some cars in the car park. Whoever was supposed to notify us must have thought the building wasn't in use on a weekday, which all goes to show assumptions can be problematic. They had moved on by the time we finished.

I went home via town so I've finally bought embroidery thread to mend the cashmere jumper I bought last month. There wasn't an absolutely exact match so I got the nearest in the more expensive threads but also spent a fiver on a pack of various greys. I suspect they aren't as nice quality but I have lots of grey things (like fabric-topped trainers) so they will probably come in useful. Then I bought bird food as the feeders are getting used more and there's a robin who came to one of the window feeders a couple of times recently. It's getting colder and yes, the food is an expense, but I can afford it and it will help them.

Expenditure:
Petfood £9.00
Clothing £6.30
Housekeeping £4.99

Laura_Elsewhere

Cherryfudge said:

DH offered to help with my shift cleaning at the church which was especially welcome as the other person didn't turn up. For some reason some men with a van were digging a trench along the pavement and had trapped some cars in the car park. Whoever was supposed to notify us must have thought the building wasn't in use on a weekday, which all goes to show assumptions can be problematic. They had moved on by the time we finished.

Well done on the freezer-cleaning! Apparently vacuuming the coils can improve efficiency quite a bit, as can checking that you are filling it correctly for maximum efficiency of airflow inside and so on. 

Re the parking... yes, where I swim has a very convenient parking area right nearby- it's the private parking area for a church, but you would not believe the number of swimmers who airily say, "oh but I only swim on weekdays" as if the church only opens for an hour once on a Sunday...!!
(Personally, I have an objection to swimmers using the church's car-park because it's the church who has to put up with pot-holes and puddles caused by their small car-park being used by an extra 20-50 cars a day who aren't anything to do with them! They are very nice and generous about it and simply ask people to be quiet and consider the neighbours, but still, they are going to have to find money sooner than they otherwise would...)