Settling in for the long haul

jwil

Great result with the MOT!

Dakota_Rose

It’s been a nice day. Weather has been hot, as I’m sure it has been everywhere, so lots of time spent outdoors. We visited Mum and had a lovely couple of hours at hers under the parasol out in the garden.

Back at home, we ate our dinner of picky bits at the garden table. By the time we’d finished the wind had picked up and it was cooling nicely so D Dog finally got out for her walk after 7.

I think everything is ready for the birthday boy tomorrow. It’s always a relief when it’s here as the children get so excited when we’re building up to something. It’ll be fairly low-key in the grand scheme of things, but they still seem to get themselves a bit hyper.

I’m hoping for a slightly cooler night but my bedroom resembles an oven right now. I do struggle to sleep without being snuggled into my duvet 🙈 - definitely a creature of habit.

Thinking of those working through this heatwave. I feel so fortunate to be at home this week!

Dakota_Rose

Eldest has had a great day for his birthday. We’ve had good company and good food, and he loved his gifts. The weather has been nice enough for us to eat outside but not too hot that anyone was uncomfortable.

Not much else to report really. We ended up within budget (just) and I put my leftover petrol money of £30 towards some extra food treats for everyone to share.

Tomorrow ought to be a no spend day before pay day on Friday. It’s been a lovely half term so far and I’m trying to appreciate it without stressing about being back at work next week.

I’ve started a new book but may not continue with it. It promised to be a it simple read and is one I picked up from a charity shop, but upon starting I think it may be a bit too triggering. So far, lots of detail about a child’s hospital visits that mirror our own a bit too closely for my liking. I know it can’t end well for the child character due to the blurb (unwell child tries to match-make for his father so he won’t end up alone. The blurb reads with a likeness to the movie Sleepless in Seattle) so it may be best for me to give it a miss.

An early night calls. Happy hump day for those working!

Dakota_Rose

Today has been a no spend day with lots of leftovers used up for lunch and dinner.

I’ve enjoyed lots of time in the garden, catching up with Mr D and starting a new book. I was just about to get ready for a dog walk but my weather app is still showing high temperatures so I think she will miss today to be on the safe side. To be fair she has spent most of the day sniffing around the garden and alternating between sun/shade bathing, so hasn’t gone without a change of scenery or outdoor time.

I am looking forward to pay day tomorrow but not so much towards the hospital and dental appointments we have booked in. The good news is that they’re both morning appointments so by lunchtime we’ll be free.
Little Miss began complaining of a stiff jaw yesterday and is at Mum’s today but has messaged to say it’s got worse. I really hope that’s nothing to worry about but will get it checked at the dentist tomorrow. Eldest seems well in himself but we will see what the cardiologist sees on his scans tomorrow - hopefully all is still stable.

Tonight’s plans are a nice bath and perhaps a movie. I am really loving the warm, light evenings.

Dakota_Rose

Both sets of appointments went well today, so I’m feeling relieved about that. I have had an IBS flare up though, which is unusual when I’m off work, so some really bad cramps and discomfort while attending said appointments 😞.

Other than that, it’s been a fairly quiet day. Mr D and I both feeling under the weather meant we were both nodding off mid afternoon which isn’t like him but not unheard of for me lol.

I spent some of my personal spends on a bakers lunch and some hair mousse. It’s pay day today so the money shuffle is done. No quicker does it come in than it is shuffled away again. All relevant pots have been contributed to, and I’m just wondering if I can skim some of my petrol money off to put into savings. I’ve noticed a definite difference in petrol use since the weather has been warmer as the car battery is far more effective.

It’ll be a typical Friday night for me: bubble bath and a book. I’ve started ‘The remains of the day’, which I am finding pleasantly easy to get into. This is another one of my brother’s bookcase clearance; clearly bought brand new and never touched. I’ve got half a shelf of others to read when this is finished but I have to be in the mood to try something I haven’t picked for myself.

Wishing anyone stopping by a lovely Friday night 😊

Dakota_Rose

I’ve had IBS pain in the night which has meant lots of time awake. Today I’ll mostly be feeling groggy! I’m going to simplify my diet today and have another day of drinking as much water as I can to try and flush my system out a bit.

We need to do some food shopping today as we’d like to have a nice final day off together tomorrow and go out for the afternoon. Uniforms and back to work things will also be prepped.

An end of the month sale would be lovely but I don’t seem to have much interest in my listings at the moment. Need to refresh them and the prices.

Dakota_Rose

I’ve had a much better day than I expected and have been fine with a simpler diet. Breakfast was Greek yogurt and granola; lunch was just some fruit, nuts and crackers; Mr F really fancied a barbecue for dinner so I had some bbq chicken breast and half a beef burger with flatbread and homemade potato salad, corn, tomatoes and beetroot. It was really delicious. Lots of water with lemon throughout the day, I did have a lemonade with dinner though and finished the day with a peppermint tea.

The weather has been just lovely again today. It was becoming uncomfortably hot when we were out visiting Mum but by dinner time under the parasol, it was perfect. We have never eaten outdoors as many times as we have this week and that’s been a real treat as it’s felt like a proper holiday. We’re certainly getting good use out of the new (to us) garden furniture and parasol.

We have planned a day out tomorrow to make the most of travelling to a market town to collect a piece of furniture we have won on an online auction. Mr D loves the range of pieces (all handmade) and got it for a great price. It’ll be cherished in our house. He’s treating us all to fish and chips for lunch in celebration. It should be a lovely way to end the holiday.

We will be returning for a super busy few weeks of school and work. Eldest has just over two weeks left and the excitement is riding high with him as a result. I keep reminding Little Miss that for every week we are in now, we have a week off in the summer to look forward to. Who isn’t motivated by a ‘buy one, get one free’? 😂

I have gained enough rewards points on an online home store for a £15 gift voucher following my mattress purchase, so we’ve put this towards a new dog bed today. That left us with £20 to pay and including delivery. Considering she is currently sleeping on a cut-out section of our old mattress, I’d say we’ve done well to last as long as we have without a replacement for her old one.

I’m off to have a quick catch up on the other diaries now and then to chill with a few pages of my book before bed.

Honeysucklelou2

That’s a good way of looking at this half term…will have to use that with DS3!

Dakota_Rose

We’ve had a good day out to end the holiday week and are home, fed and worn out.

It was nice to have a final browse of some charity shops (only Little Miss picked something up) and a stroll through a very pretty market town.

I did indeed get a last minute sale for the end of the month! That’s just been collected and is an extra £12 halved between Mum and me for some fun money. It’s tempting to hang on to it, but I’ll probably be sensible and send it as an extra payment to the 0% CC. We have £200 left on there now so it’ll be good to bring it down to the next hundred.

carboot_karaoke

Love the "do one week get a week off school" my kids will love that !