The Sea is Calling

wishus

What a flipping rollercoaster!
Husband's interview went well.
*I* have an interview later today!
Looks like I have more freelance work coming in now too.

However, my MIL took a tumble last night, so husband, siblings and I were up to the small hours arranging who is going to take care of her until she's better. She has a very bruised face, eyes closed over, and a bashed knee. She's going to need rest and lots of it. I've arranged to go over Sunday. I'll be able to take my work with me so it's a no-brainer. Poor lady, so fiercely independent, she will be very upset to be in such a helpless position, as well as being in a lot of pain.

I have a couple of days though to get as much done on my work as possible before heading up. It's a gloriously sunny day so far, though storms are promised. Just like life, that, isn't it? ☀️🌩️🤕

wishus

Oh blast, I thought my interview went really well, but I got a rejection. 

At least I've had another freelance job come through. 

Didn't make the anti-waste food shop as planned today, but I did make Aldi and grabbed some chicken and chips fakeaway, which I have very much enjoyed.

I settled in to watch Firebrand on Prime as recommended by my friend. It's good, if a little free with the known history. Jude Law is excellent as Henry VIII (and unrecognizable!).

wishus

I'm with my MIL, and thank goodness she is looking much better now than she did in the photos we saw. I'm with her until Friday. I've mostly been doing my work in the dining room while she watches TV. I've made drinks and lunch, done some washing up, sorted out foodstuffs in the fridge and fixed the sink.

Good news from my husband who got the job!

I've followed up some more work leads but the server for my business email has crashed so I can't do everything today, I'll need to wait until tomorrow. I've also applied for a couple more jobs.

The promised thunderstorms haven't hit yet, but I'm  hoping when they clear tomorrow I can go for a walk in the fresh air. It's nice and peaceful here, and not far from the sea. MIL and I have been talking about our seaside ambitions. She says even though she lives near the sea, she hasn't had much chance to go and see it, which I think is another reason why I want to move while I'm relatively young and mobile. 

I'm going to have to look at our food budget again for next month. I thought if we really pared back we'd be okay, but throw in some breaks in the routine like having to go and take care of your MIL and it goes a bit pear-shaped. 

Cutting back so that we don't spend all the redundancy on frivolity has not been entirely successful, which is I think a mix of depression and temptation. We will make it work somehow.

wishus

Back from looking after MIL. She's so much better, but another family member is staying with her now.

I find myself now with freelance work stacking up, which is great! However, no answer from the builder we're trying to engage and the neighbour needs us to work on the fence too, so I can see a lot of money saying bye bye soon, and lots more admin of trying to find a builder willing to help us.

After I got in, I didn't find much time to do my work because I needed to sort out the washing, tidy the kitchen, throw out the off food that my husband didn't use and just left in the fridge or bread bin, rescue the carrots he left on the counter that had sweated and started to go in the pack (peeled and froze), take the fly-covered recycling outside (because he hadn't cleaned it properly), sweep up the many bits on the floor, open the neglected post, clean the cat feeder etc. 

He says he always knew I did the lion's share of house stuff, but he had no idea how much, and he was lost without me. And, of course, he missed me loads too. Aw!

MIL gave us lots of food she doesn't want from her cupboards that's gone out of date. Mostly peas and pickles, but I binned the 2-years out of date flour straight away, as I am not fond of weevils even if they are extra protein.

Luckily, even with so much food binned there was plenty for his packed lunch today because I bought a small loaf home from my Too Good to Go bag, and he hadn't taken any of the bakes I made for him from the freezer, so he has had cheese and pickle sandwiches, a cheese and courgette muffin, a chocolate and banana muffin, cherry tomatoes and some fruit.

My tomato hanging basket is full of ripe tomatoes, so I shall pick those today. Dinner for the next couple of days is going to have to be what I can rustle up from the freezer as best I can. I think chicken and tarragon pasta and maybe a cottage pie. Well, we have the carrots!

doingitanyway

Chicken tarragon pasta sounds nice.
I decided to live very, very close to the sea as I am basically lazy and knew if was an effort, especially as I got older, I wouldn't do it.
Good luck with the house jobs

wishus

Thanks so much @doingitanyway

Well, the dream is a little closer. We drove up to check out property in a touristy Yorkshire coastal town, and did see a couple of viable houses, but they were on the small side. Today, we drove to a nearby village and checked out a couple of properties in our price range. Happened to mention our plans to a lady in the tea room, and she was practically asking me to join in with the volunteers and knitting groups. So friendly! My husband also spoke to an off-gridder living in the harbour and he told us some good places to look. 

Apart from that, I have done so many tourist things over the past few days. I have enjoyed myself so much!
My spending came in under budget. Yes, we had to have fish and chips by the seaside, and a few beers, but walking along the beach, and in the woods listening to the red starts and sparrow hawks was all free. We had Bed, but no Breakfast, so the banana cookie-cakes I made and a pick up from Too Good to Go kept us going for days, and we still have some left.

I have a deadline tomorrow that will probably keep me chained to the computer all day, and another to reach by the weekend, but I also need to sort out fencers and builders, then put some things for sale and do another declutter session.

My husband needs to sort out a new tyre and oil change this week, but we have some offers from Halfords we could use, I think.

Anyway, we have smoked salmon tomorrow for breakfast from a yellow sticker shop on the way home. Life, it's good.

wishus

Storm Floris came and brought lots of wind and rain but the inside temperature is still 23.5 C!

I got some feedback from a friend on a piece of work in progress, so was able to finish that and submit on deadline. Hopefully that will result in a contract and payment. 

This evening has been about relaxing. We have watched Annika and Here We Go and eaten yummy cottage pie from stuff out of the freezer. 

The cat has been treated to a free sample that came in the post today. Chicken with herbs apparently. He has been blinking his appreciation!😻

The last of the surprise bag flapjacks has been munched and I am into have a slightly late night reading my library book in bed as my husband is watching TV downstairs. 

wishus

Apparently, I'm overtraining... according to my Fitbit. All I've done is walk to get some shopping. Admittedly it was 13000 steps there and back and took the best part of two hours. And somehow I'm number 1 in my gym app as well. Why am I not svelte/hench yet?

I just did my first eco-shop. It's not a foodbank, but as I'm not fully employed I thought it might help me as well as help with avoiding food going to waste. I've come back with a lot of bread. Plus, peaches, cherries, spring onions, Chelsea buns, a couple of avocados, a can of pop and two cans of soup. I'm afraid the soup has just been tried and you can tell it was past best, but it was okay. The bread is gorgeous.They were lovely there, but my maps sent me twice via walking routes that have been fenced off with spiky metal, and the area is known to be rough, so by the time I got there I was shaking a bit and just felt like getting out as quickly as possible. I'm sure it will be better next time.

I've also just had a call from my course providers. My old company offered free vocational training through Perkbox, so when I knew I was going, I made sure I applied so I could be in the running, and it should come in useful if I get the job I have been promised verbally this autumn.

I had my first poor night's sleep in a while last night, so I think I should follow my Fitbit's advice and be kind to myself for the rest of the day. 

I have also had a message that my book group book is now in at the library, but I think that's a tomorrow job, or the day after, so I can take one back when I pick it up.

MayDogsandCoffee

When you have your sauna does the 'yoga bloke' do the same when other people are around or does he change his behaviour if it is just you?  To my mind a sauna is not for yoga but to relax.  I would be mentioning it to staff.  

wishus

MayDogsandCoffee said:

When you have your sauna does the 'yoga bloke' do the same when other people are around or does he change his behaviour if it is just you?  To my mind a sauna is not for yoga but to relax.  I would be mentioning it to staff.  

He does it when other people are there, but the fewer people in the room the more 'energetic' he gets.

I think if he starts doing press-ups again, I'll probably tell him off myself. It's my time and space too, and if he needs a hot room to do that he only has to wait 10 minutes and I'll be off anyway.