Milann’s mutterings through retirement

WinterWarrior

A lovely day @milann ❤️

milann

Typical….. it rained so I didn’t get into the garden after all.

milann

I’ve been looking at finances. I decided against an ISA for now as I have a few months  longer on my bonus savings account. I thought it was due to finish this month but it’s got until July…..not sure why I thought it finished this month. I’ve transferred some cash from my current account to the saving account…might as well get some interest on it.
I’ve finally totalled my spends. I need to reign in, as so far for most of this year I’ve had more going out than going coming in each month. I’ve taken my foot off the pedal and back spending as if I’m still working. I got the ap for my cc so have just been paying the balance every month instead of turning my laptop on and going through things properly and looking between my cc and bank account. I’m back on it now though as I can’t keep nibbling my back up money on nothingness or I’ll have nothing there when I want or need something properly. I feel much better for getting my head out of the sand and doing something about it. 

WinterWarrior

It’s such a difficult thing to work out the difference between too much, enough to be happy, or too tight. Yes you need the safety net, but also you need to enjoy life 😣

milann

I went to aqua today. I also want to the craft group I go to monthly. It is a U3A group and various folk seem to lead the activities. A couple of new ladies have joined and led the group, I think they’ve done this sort of thing before but with early diagnosed dementia sufferers. We were making little teddies. We made the head last  month and were supposed to be doing everything else today. I was promptly given a sewn tummy, arms and legs to assemble. I looked at her horrified 😳 I told her I didn’t want already sewn pieces I was capable of sewing my own and if I give something to my grandchildren I want it to be from me not somebody else’s work. So Thankyou - BUT -  no Thankyou. I was horrified. Most people seemed ok with this. I think if this happens again I’ll call it a day and just do my own thing. Anyway I stitched most of the bear but didn’t quite finish. I will finish it at home. Nest month somebody else is leading and we’re starting to make patchwork bags. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with that.
£10 spent in supermarket on some fruit and veg.
I also went to SW and stayed the same…..couldn’t get my head in the right place this week as I’ve been a tad concerned about a friend. They’ve had a treatment plan suggested today. Hopefully it’ll help, although we know it won’t be a cure. 

Floss

I'm with you on wanting to do all of the craft myself - if one wanted part-sewn, one would seek it!

WinterWarrior

That does sound annoying. You aren’t learning if it’s partly done for you. What’s next, a jigsaw with all the edges done? 😅
I think staying the same is brilliant when you haven’t been concentrating on it. That’s a win in my book. I hope your friend is ok. 

milann

An odd couple of days here.  Plans changed and my friend ended up coming here instead of me sitting for her relative. Long story I won’t go into here. But she needed a couple of hours resbite. So chocolates have been eaten and wine has been drunk. Tears and laughter have been in equal supply this afternoon….but it’s been enjoyable in an odd way. 

Yesterday I spent in the garden pottering most of the day. I can’t  say it looks any better as I’ve hacked a small box hedge which was succumbing to blight. It looks very sorry for itself but hopefully will re grow again. No cash has been spent. 

I’ve been battling on with a cardigan I started knitting last year. I’ve booked onto a crochet cardigan course at the end of the month at the local wool shop and want to have finished this knitted one first. I can’t say I’ve enjoyed doing this knitted cardigan…..crochet is definitely the way forward for me.

EssexHebridean

If they were previously working with people for whom remembering how to sew the whole thing might have been a challenge, but the assembly process might in turn prompt memories of how to do the other bits, then perhaps they just did it that way without thinking? I get that it's not what you want to do as you already have the sewing skills though! 

Lovely that you were able to provide the respite for your friend - it sounds as though she is having a tough time of it so that must have been so appreciated. 

milann

A bit of a lazy weekend here. It was horrible weather on Saturday so we just stayed in as Dh had worked extra days and was tired. Yesterday we visited ds and he cooked us a lovely meal. We had a short walk along the canal near him. They’ve been building new houses and it’s been lovely seeing the progress from a derelict factory to a lovely landscaped houseing estate. Dh has been having a lot of agro with his knee recently…will he take anything to help or go to the doctor…not a chance 🤷🏻‍♀️ hence the very short walk. I don’t get it….. We watched Empire of Light instead of a longer walk. One of the best films Ive seen for a while.
I should have gone to aqua this morning but I cancelled. It was blowing a gale and hailstoning- great big balls of ice. In between blasts it was torrential rain. It’s been more on than off all day. It stopped about half an hour ago so I’m hoping it’s passed over now. There was no way I was going out in it. It was gustier than the recent named storms. So I’ve been chasing some hospital appointments and catching up on the ironing. I’m just going to have a quick tidy and Hoover and put the ironing away then continue knitting my cardigan.
I brought lots of tomato plants from ds yesterday so will pot them on over the next week. Some are for me and some for my friend. It doesn’t feel like spring at all and feels like months away from being able to plant them out. I did some gardening last week and chopped a tiny box hedge down which I thought was starting with blight,  so best to nip it in the bud. I’ve made a garlic solution and watered it liberally with it hoping the anti fungicide element will do the trick. I’ve also diluted the solution further and doused the neighbourhood cat’s favourite toilet area hoping it’ll deter them. 😂😂😂 Knowing my luck they’ll bring their friends hoping for an Italian meal 😏😂
Tomorrow I’m looking forward to a day out with a couple of friends.