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.