Settling in for the long haul

FootyFanDan

You are closer to the weekend tomorrow than you were today - hope it turns out better than expected

Dakota_Rose

Another day closer to weekend and half term break - just one more get up to go.

I think a week off with some sunshine is just what the doctor ordered. We won’t be doing much other than life admin, which is typical for us at half term. We have the MOT for Mr D’s car, hospital appointment for eldest, dentist for all and eldest’s 16th birthday in the middle. The weeks following are looking incredibly busy so with that in mind, we’ll be hoping to chill out a bit too!

Mr D has a list of DIY to do which includes finishing the shower installation. We’ve had most of the parts here for a while now but some arrived damaged and sorting replacements has been a headache. I am so used to looking at a half finished bathroom, it will be quite a shock to see it done. If I go back to work with it complete, I’ll be happy.

Dinner tonight will be use-it-up chicken wraps with whatever sides I can rustle up. Looking forward to a few more pages of my book this evening (and even more so to this time tomorrow).

Dakota_Rose

Blimey, am I pleased it’s Friday and we have a week off ahead! I am feeling really burned out.

No financials to share today but I have my next read update as shared on the 26 for 2026 thread…

It’s taken me a while to find the time and energy to get through my tenth read of the year but I finally finished it tonight. I must’ve enjoyed the last quarter of the novel as I’ve been hooked tonight and stayed up late (for me) to read to the end. It’s The Twyford Code by Janice Hallett and is a story about a wartime code that’s entwined with a children’s book. This is cleverly linked to an ex-criminal’s re-telling of his past and pays tribute to the saying ‘never judge a book by its cover’. It was written as a series of audio files and was really engaging if not a bit frustrating in places as you felt that you were missing something. Anyhow, it was a page-turner but a difficult one to score. I’ve gone for my gut reaction of 9/10.

26 books for 2026

1.You Are Here (easy read) 9/10

2. The Seven Murders of Evelyn Hardcastle (time-travelling murder mystery) 9.5/10

3. Love Untold (ending made a middling read worthwhile) 8/10

4. Way Back (engaging easy read with a farm theme and a few typos) 8.5/10

5. The Cuckoo’s Calling (first of the Strike detective novels) 8.5/10

6. Yellowface (‘too awful to look away’ page-turner) 10/10

7. A Thousand Splendid Suns (emotive, heavy but worthwhile read) 10/10

8. Before the coffee gets cold (Japanese coffee-shop time-travelling scenarios) 8/10

9. Us Three (screenplay-style friendship story) 9/10

10. The Twyford Code (a puzzle within a puzzle) 9/10

Dakota_Rose

Well it has been a beautiful day here weather wise and we enjoyed being able to spend time in the garden. For Mr D this was spending a good few hours cleaning and valeting my car before making a start on his own. It looks like new again 🥰. For me, it was enjoying the newish garden furniture under the parasol with my next read while littlest splashed and scooted about. We’ve eaten well today and D Dog had a nice evening walk too.

I always think that the days seem longer, and end up being more productive, when we just plan to stay at home and potter. It’s been a really nice day.

Only thing financial to report is that I’ve enquired with a different vet practice for a second quote for D Dog’s procedure. I wouldn’t compromise her care but it’s optional surgery and I wouldn’t spend £1000 more than I needed to on anything else. I think it’s sensible to at least compare costs.

Another shower part has been purchased and I really hope this is the last! Tomorrow may see me at a bargain store collecting the treats for eldest’s birthday treat basket. We started hampers a year or so ago for a birthday gift and they’ve been really enjoyed and requested by each of the kids since. We typically spend £15-£20 on them and they always turn out pretty impressive. The items chosen are to the taste of the person receiving it and tend to last them a good few weeks.

I was hoping to pick an old(ish) console and games up from marketplace as a bonus surprise for eldest’s birthday. He has been reminiscing about it recently and has kept hold of an old game that he would need the console to play as he loved it when he was younger. We thought that having it set up to play on his birthday morning would be the cherry on the (birthday) cake. I just need the seller to reply to me! I’d planned to put some cash in his new wallet so would adjust the amount accordingly.

Dakota_Rose

Another really lovely day. Borderline too hot for us but I’m trying so hard not to be that person who complains!

We had a lovely visit to Mum’s and spent longer than usual as being able to spill into the garden made it feel less claustrophobic. Her bungalow is lovely but tiny so we often feel like we are outstaying our welcome. Whilst there I walked to her local shop and spent £10 on a top up that meant I could avoid a big shop at the supermarket. The children had a sweet treat as part of this and I am still delighted that I found a yellow stickered still-soft packet of brown pitta breads for just 6p! That was lunch sorted with some coleslaw and cheese from Mum’s fridge. I rarely get a good yellow sticker bargain so I was chuffed.

Back at home I finished my next book. ‘The Shock of the Fall’ was a really readable story and enjoyable. I’d give it 8/10. I’m not sure why not higher, although I did have a sense of Déjà vu reading it - perhaps it’s my second read of it, or maybe I’ve trialled a sample chapter on my kindle at some point. Other than that, it was perhaps too like others I’ve read in the past.

It is odd. I’m feeling so much more energetic and happier than I have for weeks. I’m sure having the week ahead off work is helping but I do suspect my hormone levels have balanced back out which goes to show they are disrupting my every day life. Perhaps I should get back to the doctors soon.

Dakota_Rose

26 books for 2026

1.You Are Here (easy read) 9/10

2. The Seven Murders of Evelyn Hardcastle (time-travelling murder mystery) 9.5/10

3. Love Untold (ending made a middling read worthwhile) 8/10

4. Way Back (engaging easy read with a farm theme and a few typos) 8.5/10

5. The Cuckoo’s Calling (first of the Strike detective novels) 8.5/10

6. Yellowface (‘too awful to look away’ page-turner) 10/10

7. A Thousand Splendid Suns (emotive, heavy but worthwhile read) 10/10

8. Before the coffee gets cold (Japanese coffee-shop time-travelling scenarios) 8/10

9. Us Three (screenplay-style friendship story) 9/10

10. The Twyford Code (a puzzle within a puzzle) 9/10

11. The Shock of the Fall (first person flashback story) 8/10

Honeysucklelou2

Happy half term…🥳

Dakota_Rose

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82010866#Comment_82010866

Right back at ya 😊

Dakota_Rose

Today we will mostly be praying to the MOT gods that Mr D’s older car passes 🙏

We have a big shop on our to-do list and will be visiting a close friend who is hosting a barbecue for lunch. We always have a nice time and the food is great, but she is a lot more sociable than us (we are natural introverts and would literally not socialise if we had a choice). She makes new friends easily and often invites them too so it can take us a while to relax. As the gatherings are rarely big, its hard to blend in to the background so we often feel that we’re trying to get to know new people in a fairly intimate setting - this is so far out of our comfort zone! She is a very special friend though, and we’ve known her over 20 years so it’s worth making the effort even though we dread it every time 😂.

Must be money-sensible today. I have a long shopping list, including some special birthday food and treats still to buy, so just need to take care to stick to budget. I still have all my personal spends and petrol money left for this month though and get paid on Friday so do have some room for extras.

Dakota_Rose

…and they answered 🥳 the oldie passed its MOT so that was a positive start to the day.

Shopping was okay and within the budget I’d set but have just realised I bought the jam, cream and strawberries to go with the scones on Wednesday but not the actual scones!

The afternoon at our friend’s was nice but extremely hot so I sat with a huge hat and sunglasses on - it’s no fun being fair-skinned. We’re home now and there’s not much else we can do other than sit with the fan on. I think we’re all a little sun-drunk. I can’t believe it was only a few days ago that I wore my light knitted dress and boots to work!