Daily Project round 7

[WinterFrogs]

Here we go again. Chit chat and small daily projects. Celebrate the wins!

No higher end functionality in my office usage. I rely on people like you 💕 Thank you

( I usually just read spreadsheets that I get sent)

Evening all!

I am rubbish at Excel @Aria999 . I was asked in an interview once if I could use it and I replied that if I were to be let loose on an Excel spreadsheet millions would be wiped off the FTSE.

I didn't get that job.

I did not make anything smug today in the end. I had a craving but realised our freezer is full to bursting so was stern with myself about making more food. I think it was you, @WinterFrogs who coined that phrase! I am getting better at reducing food waste I think. That has been a more conscious thing anyway lately with cost of living and all that.

@mumofoneAlonebutokay we went to our little local Italian. Now home again and I am enjoying a lovely cup of tea. I'm trying to be alcohol free for May. I had porchetta and dauphinoise, the DCs had fish and chips and DH had a very good mushroom risotto and a creme brulee. It was good and we have not been out for so long that it was a nice interlude.

Today I potted up 3 deep pink rhododendrons for the nasty yucky corner of the garden. It's just a bit of a concrete mess but we are not in a position to do anything real to it so covering it up with pots will have to do for now!

Hope everyone is well. 💝to you all and to all your loved ones as well.

Lol @SpringingIntoSummerLobelia I think I might have hired you anyway for your sense of humor 😁

Thanks @Aria999 !

Aria, yes, decaf was a grave mistake.... rushed out to get dc to school without coffee or brekkie for myself, so was so looking forward to a latte after. Had left-over coffee from prev afternoon forgetting it was decaf. On my 3rd coffee was wondering why I was so damn tired still. Why do I need a third? Am I getting sick? Is that why I'm so tired? How much sleep did I get? I slept through the night, didn't I? Oh! DECAFF!!!!! 😭😭😭

MumofOne, ugh re the chocolate. A good carpet shampoo might liven up the old carpet in your flat. Might be worth the rental to diy or hire someone. However, I'm sure having just moved your list of things to do is long.
I had area rugs over my old carpet and that helped things, too.

Lobelia, might I suggest you didn't want that job? 😂

Got home from baby's activity, fed dc lunch (corn on the cob and ramen noodles with duck and fresh grated ginger) which was left-over as I actually planned well for today 💡and mixed up a dough for pizza later.

I need to get baby down for a nap. I don't think that's gonna happen though... alternately we'll head out to the park early. 🤷‍♀️

Oh no @Mumtobabyhavoc at least you figured it out! We don't have decaf in the house fortunately otherwise I would definitely do this.

currently having a quick caffeinated coffee before the school run. I managed to clear the laundry folding today (! I think if it were not for DH I would just put some sorting baskets in our bedroom and live out of them permanently, but he would not approve) and did a tiny 2 hour project.

If you all could've seen my attempt to get my cat into the cat sling to take her on a walk, omg 😭😭😭

She put up a huge fight, absolutely was not having it 😭 - she is now laying down playing with the leash i bought her, seemingly unbothered about her new life as an indoor cat

The tiktok accounts make walking your cat look so easy!

That's another trip to the supermarket for me to return the carrier to amazon 🙃

Hey everyone, wishing you all a lovely start to the bank holiday weekend 🥰, I'll pop back on this evening

@mumofoneAlonebutokay SpiritDoggo not made an appearance for a while (I don’t need much encouragement😂). She is a cross - Lagotto Romognola x cocker spaniel a cockatoo in fact 😂
Today

• put ironing board/ iron away
• sew up sofa cushion where the stitching has split
• washing
• book next set of Pilates classes
• see where my picture frames are
• am perking up a leather bag - need to do the first clean
• off to a birthday bbq tomorrow need to find something to wear

Not a very busy day work wise - seems to be holiday season so time to get all the admin done 😂 have a good one, SoE

A cat in a sling @mumofoneAlonebutokay!! I obviously do not look at tik tok enough
😆 We have enough trouble just get our cat's daily medication down him...
That doggo is gorgeous and looks like she has a very happy life @SpiritOfEdna Our local beach does not have much in the way of sand. Very pebbly here.
Excellent planning @Mumtobabyhavoc I'm impressed! I love your quick humour at that interview @SpringingIntoSummerLobelia Their loss!
I've had the one caffeinated coffee that I can get away with. Now I'm on the blue lid (nescafe)
I'm a bit sore from overdoing things this week, so am spending the morning finishing both my audiobook and my 'book' book while DH is off with DD and GC. @Aria999 fortunately my dh is good with living out of a clean clothes basket and/will put it away.
Hope our @Peridot1 is having fun with the kids in Ireland and 👋 @petalpower I hope all is well!
@RunningKatie thinking of you and love to your family. How is FIL?
@JingsMahBucket I hope we haven't frightened you away. @SingleThreadJoiner if you're lurking we miss you 💕

👋 to anyone I've missed, and happy bank holiday weekend to all!

Good afternoon ☀️

I've just finished the book 'Yellowface' - it was really good!

@WinterFrogs 🙈 I don't know what I was thinking 😄

@SpiritOfEdna your dog is gorgeous 😍, and i'd never heard of a Lagotto Romagnola, so cute. I've attached a photo of my cat, the cheeky thing

Today, I just need to move one of my armchairs into the alcove, to create a makeshift reading nook

Hang up a load of washing that's currently in the machine

Unpack some toys and make dd's bed in her bedroom

Fix her bike, one of the stabilisers has come loose

Have a lovely one 🥰

Hello! What a gorgeous cat!! 😍
I made a reading nook, but then the room was taken over by DH working from home. Spare room is often used for littlest now, so I'm nookless.

I enjoyed Yellowface too @mumofoneAlonebutokay I'm listening to Mike Gale's Museum of Ordinary People, and just finished reading The Yearling by Marjorie Kinnan which is old, but still a beautiful read. My mum read it at school.
Next up is The Inheritors by William Golding, which I studied for English Lit OLevel, and didn't really understand. Still got an A, surprisingly. I've been trying to remember what book it was, and eventually AI tracked it down for me when I remembered the name of one of the characters.

Well that was a ramble 😂

Thank you, she's the sweetest thing but is not into being carried, she has made clear 🤭

Yellowface was super unsettling 😄 and has had the side effect of causing me to delete my twitter for good, nothing good happens on there

Those books sound good, especially the yearling 🥺

Next for me is to finish Harry Potter 5, and kerouac's on the road, both of which I'm half way through

Rambling is good, I'm such a yapper myself 🤭🥰

I loved to read as a kid, I'm desperate to get that reading bug back. I love when I can't put down a book. Hopefully the reading nook will encourage me to ditch the tv during the day - but without a nook, reading in bed under duvet is a great second option 🙌

Reading in bed under a duvet is a great second option

Busted 😂

Hi from Ireland! All good so far here. They are great kids so easy really. Nephew is 7 and has ADHD and talks a lot but he’s great. Niece is almost 16 and fab and a great help. Been out shopping with them this morning for their birthday presents for later this month a bit early and then lunch out. All chilling now.

Loving all the book chat. I need to get my reading bug back too @mumofoneAlonebutokay. I spend way too much time aimlessly scrolling my iPad or phone. Maybe I need a reading nook.

Now back from our trip away to visit the oldies. All a bit creaky this visit - my dad was very unsettled with his dementia, stepmother pleased to see us but I’m not sure she was certain who we were really, 90 year old FIL bashed up after a fall and MIL having problems with her eyes but refusing to go to the doctors. Back home for a rest!
Big excitement today was that I managed to get a carpenter to come and look at 9 jobs of varying sizes to fix broken and damaged pieces of furniture. He has given me a surprisingly reasonable quote and is happy to take on the work. Some of these jobs have been waiting literally years!
I brought back lots of photos from dad’s so have been going through bit by bit - all a bit bittersweet but some happy memories.
Have a lovely bank holiday weekend everyone!

Aging parents is tough, Petal. I'm sorry to hear things are a bit rough.

Love to you and your family @petalpower You are dealing with so much!
Those ages sound like fun @Peridot1 😁

It's so difficult to stop scrolling and pick up a book, isn't it? I was the kid who read at every opportunity and I'm working on getting back into that.
I never used to re-read books but I've begun to do it with my teenage favourites.

I've also found that I can read when DH has the telly on, if I have ocean wave music playing through my headphones. Means I don't come over all anti social and leave the room any more. And the pillow speakers are a godsend when he's snoring 😃

I need to go sort out the fridge ahead of a food delivery

Oh a Tortie @mumofoneAlonebutokay ! Love Torties. We currently have one but have had three in my lifetime so far. All three were - well- feisty. Our previous one was so intimidating that dogs would cross the road instead of walking past her perch at the front gate. Our current Tortie is 22 years old and the RSPCA said she was totally unsuitable for a home with children when we got her 2 years back, but they were a bit desperate for a home so let us take her to try things out. However her human is DS1 and wherever he is she is. Currently on his lap. It's been so lovely to see their relationship.

So sorry about your ageing dad/step mum and Ils @petalpower . It's so so hard. Thinking of you.

My wrestling with garden activities has made my back stiff so my Daily Project for today is to sit and indulge in International Star Wars Day with the Dcs. I did go to the shops though and bought them pre-made sandwiches and snacks for lunch so I can mostly sit. We are currently half way through the original film. I can't get the hang of how they are numbered now.

Hope everyone is well and May the Fourth Be With You and all your loved ones. ❤

I used to love curling up in the sofa with DS watching Star Wars movies. Might suggest it as an activity here today as it’s Star Wars Day.

@petalpower it’s so hard isn’t it? Especially as you are dealing with both sides at the same time.

It’s a bit dull and dreary here today so we’ve stayed home so far although a walk and an ice cream have been mentioned. I’m getting school uniforms washed for the week. Need to water the greenhouse. And juggle rubbish as main bin is totally full and they forgot to put it out on Wednesday so ten days before it’s picked up. Recycling bin also full but thankfully gets picked up on Wednesday! Hate stressing about rubbish! Especially not in my own house.

A lot of my friends seem to be in the same boat with elderly parents - I think it’s just the age we’re at. @WinterFrogs and I have talked be for about being the sandwich generation where your grown up children still need you for things too! Although both sets of oldies aren’t local to us (about a three hour drive) they’re all in fairly close proximity to each other. I’m pleased that we have the flexibility to spend blocks of time with them each month which certainly wouldn’t have been the case when I was teaching and my children were school age.
Today’s tasks are to wash the car and do some more sorting of dad’s paperwork. I might even go wild and take the extractor fan apart to clean as it’s looking particularly grim. The weather has really cooled down here - I think it’s at least 15 degrees cooler than Thursday.

DH does occasionally do the laundry @WinterFrogs but he doesn't always know what belongs to whom so there is often a period of mild confusion and lost clothing items after. I did the inheritors at school too with my lovely mum as my teacher so let me know if you have any questions! It always stayed with me. Nasty and upsetting book though it is!

I went wild with my bathroom extractor fan @petalpower ....and broke it!
Yes, still feeling quite sandwichy myself, though less so as my children are older than yours and fully fledged adults. One has quite a lot of health issues so took a bit longer to be fully independent. And mum is well settled so a lot of pressures have eased in the last few months. Says she, touching wood!
Thank you @Aria999! I'm 30% in, and managing better than I did at 15 years old. It's certainly stretching me more than most things I read, but I'm enjoying it. I remember Lord Of The Flies by the same author leaving me unsettled, but I don't remember the ending of this one, although obviously we know the history. There are a few bits baffling me a little, but I'm using my imagination, and I suspect all will become clear. How cool that your mum was your teacher!
I'm heavy-duty resting today mainly. Next week is looking busy. I ought to do a bit of a reset before we have dinner though, so that tomorrow morning starts smoothly. The to-do list is ready for tomorrow.
I hope you're all well 💐

Good morning, everyone. ☀️
I was out late yesterday afternoon with dc, so it was a rush once home: baths, pj's, vacuum, wash floors, large load laundry washed and hung up. Squeezed in making dinner which was easy, actually. 😅
Weather was quite nice and we were at the Maritime museum then Kits beach. It was a perfect Sunday. Now just up with baby and will make breakfaat (coffee!!!) and take Havoc to school this morning. I'm going to try taking dc separately this week as it is very stressful handling both at the same time in the class and I really didn't enjoy it last week. (It's parent participation)

Afternoon all.

I re-arranged a few drawers today, took the cat to the vet, got a phone charger to a friend who had left it somewhere and need to tidy the upstairs today as I have a working day tomorrow and our cleaner comes on Thursday.

Hope everyone is well!