Progress is...

Cheery_Daff

So sorry to hear about your rotten journey, and I know that you are unfortunately not alone 😕 Very glad you're keeping written evidence though. Good luck with the ombudsman - a very worthwhile task if you're able, particularly as plenty of other people won't be capable for whatever reason, and will just resort to not travelling. Good for you xx

rtandon27

@badmemory - how true, having a plan in any situation is good - I'm just a little out of practice atm!

@Cheery_Daff - I am still recovering - I took it easy today - got a few things checked of the list and tried not to exert any further than halping OH to make us some simple low fuss meals!

@KajiKita - the littley brought it all up, had a cry, had to be bathed and went to sleep!  Mama on the other hand had to then clean herself up along with the mess he made, find herself & hubby some dinner (he made it home eventually as he can take the underground!)  I hear the wine and cheese meant for our visit was easily scoffed down!

@Watty1 & @Cheery_Daff - I recently did a work related course on being an Active Bystander - part of witnessing is to keep written records - it's a valuable tool, and one I already use for other purposes, but diarizing is essential to assist memory!

Thank-you all for stopping by to commiserate and share the burden!  This is a lovely little part of t'internet to be on!

rtandon27

So another weekend, another overarchingly long list in progress!  I have Monday off so plenty of time!

Here goes...

Meals today have been easy peasy - OH is still suffering from his cough and doc appt availability in our neck of the woods is rare as hen's teeth!  I've not been able to get him one with one of the better doctors until September 1st - he refuses to see the unpopular ones and understandably they all have availability this week.  I just hope that come Monday I'm not trying to get him an urgent care one as he'll then have to take what is given!  Honestly though, that is a saga for another day.
                  
looming tasks...
❗ renew passports - one is expired - the other will expire soon - this is the next big frog that needs chomping
💡 do bus pass application - once blue badge is on it's way
🔱 check date for home insurance renewal (Aug 16th) - check out offer that was sent to me!
🔱  check when current energy fix ends (Oct 3rd) & diarize 49 days for switch (Aug 15)
🔆 my savings need juggling
🔆 never ending paperwork filing!

routine tasks...
✅ YNAB juggling - I got paid! - there was some back pay and over half of it went to taxes - grrrrr
🔱 weekly digital planner
✅ grocery order
✅ meal plan (last week's plan for reference!)
✅ supplements
✅ Weekly surveys & contests
✅  laundry - four loads this week!
✅  evening Pilates - seems to help put paid to night seizures!
✅ nutritionist daily homework & catch-up!

non-routine tasks...
✅ compact umbrella return - defective - finally got company to contact me by leaving a public review giving them a failing grade on product quality and lack of customer service
✅ returned expensive earbuds which fell apart and the cheap replacements which won't hold a charge
✅ e-mail Mom's friend with direction to my office 
✅ reorganize dinner & baby visit
✅ plan in free cake at posh cafe
✅ plan bogof pizza lunch date
✅ Big river subscriptions edited - not much needed this month
* renew garden centre membership - worth it for the coffee's
* across the pond banking - Mom & Sis both have birthdays this month so need money shuffled for the pressies
* order cards & pressies for Mom & Sis
* send a message to BFF across the pond - I owe her some money for various bits and need to arrange payback
* clean up of spare laptop that needs to go back to the office
* wall calendar needs updating
* Delay Repay
* Nightmare Train Delay snot-o-gram!

medical follow-ups...
✅ next dentist appt - oct 9th
❗dermatologist referral
❗physio referral
🔱 follow-up on OT recommendations for work assessment
🔱 follow-up on private eye specialist

never ending garden things...
✅  lots of garden tidying in progress - weeds & pruning
✅  another pound of blackberries & raspberries picked, washed and frozen
✅ order some cactus & succulent soil for indoor plants - added to next month's Big River delivery
❗ get gutters cleaned - may have to tackle this one ourselves
❗ find solution to counteract Mr Plastic grass dumping his spent soil behind my shed - this will involve a solid barrier! 
🔆 finish taming climbing jasmine & add more supports for it to grown on
🔱 new trellis needs to go up for the climbing rose in the front - OH has acquired the hardware! - now to put it up!
🔱 trim down and rehome butterfly bush - sigh - it's emulating a trifid
🔱 once lavender is dry from rain make lavender bundles for drying - the bees are enjoying it, I didn't want to disturb them!
* start getting quotes for new felt for flat roof & summer house & shed (needs doing in autumn)
* transplant baby trees into their new pots
* transplant sale plants into the vacated medium pots

social calendar...
💖7th - lunch with work 'auntie' & postponed visit to friend & her sweet new baba (yikes - two in one day - bad planning there! - hopefully lunch will be rescheduled, will wait and see)
💖12th - meet with mom's childhood friend for lunch
💖14th - ladies who lunch summer edition

rtandon27

Another Friday & I'm WFH - Have been up nice and early and working since 8am so thought I'd have a coffee break and do a weekend list! (two are already done!) - lots in progress but would like to get them ticked off this weekend!

looming tasks...
❗ renew passports - one is expired - the other will expire soon - this is the next big frog that needs chomping - renewal started - guess I'll have to give in and get my hair up to scratch this weekend so on Monday I can get a decent photo done!
💡 do bus pass application - once blue badge is on it's way
✅ check date for home insurance renewal (Aug 16th) - check out offer that was sent to me! - renewal was the best one out there!  I'm rather pleased with this as it's an all singing and all dancing policy!
🔱 check when current energy fix ends (Oct 3rd) & diarize 49 days for switch (Aug 15)
🔆 my savings need juggling
🔆 never ending paperwork filing!

routine tasks...
✅ YNAB juggling
✅ grocery order - we are currently ordering once a week, have halted the veg box for the moment & eliminated the bi-weekly Waitflower wander - I like the consistancy of a regular order
✅ meal plan - see below for comment about freezer!
✅ sunday supplements
✅ sunday Weekly surveys & contests
✅ laundry - only one load! - we are caught up on regular laundry - I may do our curtains while the weather is good this week!
🔆 weekly digital planner

non-routine tasks...
✅ compact umbrella return - defective - finally got company to contact me by leaving a public review giving them a failing grade on product quality and lack of customer service - OMG the ongoing saga to get my money back continues - even found myself quoting the 2015 Consumer Rights at them! - OK - RM will be picking up Sat morning - let's call that done and dusted
✅ reorganize dinner & baby visit AGAIN - mama got sick! papa passed on a stomach bug - hopefully baby won't catch it! - for the 21st
✅ wall calendar needs updating - OH needs visual help!
✅ major freezer audit & ruthless tidy up of contents - ensuing mealplan involves not one, not two but three freezer dives!  This will free up much needed room and make it easier to use up what is in their!  I did sadly find several items from summer of 2023 - they were mostly veg & are now gone!
✅ renew garden centre membership - worth it for the coffee's
🔆 across the pond banking - Mom & Sis both have birthdays this month so need money shuffled for the pressies
🔆 order cards & pressies for Mom & Sis - thinking on this one - Sis might just get a WhatsApp message
🔆 send a message to BFF across the pond - I owe her some money for various bits and need to arrange payback
🔆 clean up of spare laptop that needs to go back to the office
🔆 Delay Repay
🔱 Nightmare Train Delay snot-o-gram!

medical follow-ups...
🔱 dermatologist referral - have docs names - now need to book
🔱 physio referral - have to do online assessment on mon
🔱 enquired about OH appt - have to book him this on Sat
🔆 follow-up on OT recommendations for work assessment
🔆 follow-up on private eye specialist

never ending garden things...
❗ get gutters cleaned - may have to tackle this one ourselves
❗ find solution to counteract Mr Plastic grass dumping his spent soil behind my shed - this will involve a solid barrier! 
✅ planted up sunflowers, potatoes for xmas & chives
✅ gave everything a heavy watering ahead of the next heatwave
🔱 new trellis needs to go up for the climbing rose in the front - OH has acquired the hardware! - now to put it up!
🔱 trim down and rehome butterfly bush - sigh - it's emulating a trifid
🔱 once lavender is dry from rain make lavender bundles for drying - the bees are enjoying it, I didn't want to disturb them!
🔆 finish taming climbing jasmine & add more supports for it to grown on
🔆 start getting quotes for new felt for flat roof & summer house & shed (needs doing in autumn)
🔆 transplant baby trees into their new pots
🔆 transplant two pots of flowers & two chili plants - all have outgrown their pots

social calendar...
💖12th - meet with mom's childhood friend for lunch
💖14th - ladies who lunch summer edition
💖21st - rebooked cuddle with baby & dinner with mama!

rtandon27

Meal plan for this week & straight through this week's shop and up to the next!
I've done a freezer audit so we have three meals from there!

Today, Saturday - Chicken Grills with Baby Vegetables & New potatoes  🥔 (last of our fresh food)

Tomorrow, Sunday - Lunch - Salmon & Rice (leftovers), Dinner - Lamb Biryani & Steamed Green Beans (Lamb and coriander chutney from the freezer)

Monday - Chicken Day - Puerto-Rican Chicken, Peppers & Rice (Chicken from the freezer - the rest from the stores)

Tuesday - Veggie Day - Eggplant Parmasan (from the Freezer) - needs to be a quick meal as OH out of the house getting our car fixed - we are part of the airbag saga

Wednesday - Lunch - Ham Rolls - Dinner (Fish Day) - Salmon & New potatoes & Broc/Corn/Beans 

Thursday - Meat Day - Italian sausage meat ragu (sofrito & meat from the freezer, bay leaf & tomato from the stores) with pasta (possibly spagetti)

Friday - Lunch - Bagels - Dinner Fakeaway Day - Pizza 🍕 with smashed potatoes in lieu of wedges

Saturday - Easy Eating Day - Brunch bagels & avo 🥑 & poached eggs 🥚 - Dinner - leftovers? or noodles & takoyaki

Sunday -  Roast - Duck with plum sauce & pancakes with cucumber & onion & choi sum

Next Monday - Veggie Day - tortellini & courgettes

Lunches - Mon - lunch in the city meal deal, Tues - lunch with Mom's childhood freind, Thurs - lunch with my chum of 13 years!  Wed & Fri wfh & eat from home!

badmemory

I too need to do a freezer log.  I also want to check what I have that will go in the air fryer a friend donated to me.  I confess to being totally clueless.  I did some sweet potato fries a week ago & must say they were better than the ones done in the oven.  But beyond that absolutely no idea.  I will get there or it will go in the bin but it seems very small which I suspect is why the friend got rid of it.

rtandon27

@badmemory - haha, I only got as far as the clean out and audit, the list only got to the bottom drawer and then I called it quits! 

By next week, I'm sure to have forgotten the contents of the rest of the drawers so really must get up the will to do a proper list!  Today was all about coming to terms with things that will not get used or eaten vs things that are stored as ingredients!  Sadly a bag of mostly frozen prepped veg and mystery containers went into the bin.  We've decided that going forward leftovers need to get eaten and not frozen.  Freezer is for cook once eat twice types of meals and storing of frequently used ingredients or fish/meat/poultry/cheese deals.

Cherryfudge

How nice to have not one but two catch-up-with-old-friends meals to look forward to!

badmemory

I have a spreadsheet which shows what is in each drawer.  It avoids me being convinced I need something & not realising that I really need something else.  It actually started many years ago when I used to buy a lamb or pig & divide it up & then price it up & put the money for each meal aside ready to buy the next one.  It is a lot easier since the introduction of computerised spreadsheets.

dawnybabes

I spotted a tip for a chest freezer where you buy a big sheet of whiteboard roll and write on it what’s in it - you could do it cheaply using paper but I loved the idea of being able to rub it out as you used stuff ! 

I’ve just ordered a cheap roll off Temu !