03-04-25

Morning, everyone.  How is your week going?

Not a clear photo but yesterday I noticed that this year the blueberry bush is loaded, absolutely loaded with flowers.  Last year there were hardly any.  I know some won't mature into fruit, but it looks promising, doesn't it?  Nice.

Yesterday went well.  The implant is now in and it's all absolutely fine and comfortable.  I did some gardening - the sun was shining beautifully although there was a chilly wind - and I enjoyed personal training very much.

To cap it all, the Y3/4 show was fantastic.

A really pleasant day indeed.

Today, I am off to the Riverside Shopping precinct as I gather Matalan has some summer dresses in.  This may sound daft but I will need a few more summer dresses for Crete next year and, if I don't get them this year, it will all be a bit of a rush.

No coffee and chat with Chris - she has to do something else.

In the afternoon, I will probably go to Lindsey's for a Groove class - she's happy for me to swap the morning SET for the afternoon Groove, either online or at Shimmy Studio.

So today should be a really pleasant day all round.

Take care, everyone, and enjoy the good weather.  xx

02-04-25

Morning, everyone.  I'm a bit later than usual because of the dentist but it's all done and dusted now and I'm back home and enjoying my first coffee of the day.

I felt I was drinking far too much coffee so I've started having boiling water with a slice of lemon and, to my surprise, I really like it.  It seems to start the day off well; I suppose it is very hydrating which is always a Good Thing.

Anyway - yesterday.  It was a really nice day.  The days are sunny but there's a chilly breeze and I was glad of my warm coat as Chris and I walked down.  It's a new block now and Lindsey had a new playlist and new routines which were, to be honest, a bit like hard work; one of the routines really wasn't kind to my ankles and feet but I can always adapt if it doesn't feel any easier next week.  By the evening, I was aching all over, but it's OK this morning and should feel easier next time.  It's an eight week block this time so by the end it will be fine, I am sure.

Then it was home and I got going with the housework, after which I went out the the garden room and that is now all fresh and clean and ready for idle afternoons reading or snoozing.  Very nice!  

It's shady in the garden room so the photo isn't the best but the Moroccan style blanket looks really lovely and I can see it from where I'm sitting.  I haven't got the matching cushion(s) yet and will wait until this spendy month is over and past.  They had some likely looking ones in Longacres so - well, I will think about it.

Anyway, it's all good and clean and attractive again.

Today has been the dentist, of course, and it feels so nice to not have that slightly uncomfortable gap in my mouth.  I've just had an apple and the chewing is much better too (hope that doesn't sound silly) so I am very satisfied.

There's just one more gap I want to fill with an implant now.  Tony Clough looked up my scans and measured and so on using some very complex software on his computer and, yes, the gum is suitable, so I have an appointment at the beginning of July.

This is all part of my 'spending my money on myself' thing that Dave and Kay were on about (in a nice way) at my financial review.  I don't think that's quite what they had in mind but it is right for me and I can afford it so . . . I'm going for it, with gratitude and thankfulness.  I have neglected my dental health for much of my life and want to make the most of what's left, so to speak.

On the way home, I stopped off at Morrisons as I was right out of table salt and carrots.  I can't remember the last time I needed to buy table salt, I use it so rarely, so I got a bit caught out.  And I need daily carrots in my life

Later on today it is personal; training as usual and then, in the evening, I am off to school to watch the Y3 and 4 production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves.  I'm really looking forward to that, even though I don't know any of the children nowadays.

So, all in all, it is going to be a really nice day!  Hoping yours is too.  xx

02-04-25 - March review and April's aims

Written 01-04-25.

I thought I'd get this written today and set to post tomorrow so there will be something out.

These were the aims for March in italics with progress in normal:

1. Resume the daily decluttering
   Hmmm - not really.  I've done some, just not enough.
2. Get to grips with sourdough starter and baking
   Yes - done and sort of dusted.  I have two starters that seem to be pretty robust and I'm trying out recipes.  I'm booked to go on a sourdough day course in June and, basically, it has all been jolly good fun!
3. Learn how to re-stain my coffee table tops - and at least get started.
   Started.  Two of the tables have tops ready for revarnishing and I've hidden some of the superficial marks with varnish pen.
4. Find another knitting or crochet project
   Done.  I've made several pairs of fingerless gloves for the drop off point or, maybe, the food bank but I'm holding on to them until later in the year.  I've started a cardigan and that's going great guns too.

The ongoing aims were:

needs only spending

Er - sort of, not entirely.  This month HAS to be better because of some big amounts that will go out - car insurance, dental treatment, the remainder for a weekend at Potters, the deposit for the Spain holiday next April, new glasses and, possibly, new hearing aids, depending what they say at the check up.

using what I already had

Still doing that.   Yesterday I made a list from one of the bags in the freezer and now have ten meals planned using the contents thereof.  This weeks food shopping should be pretty small, not the usual beginning of new month blowout!  I want to continue that strategy - audit and then create meals.

regular savings

No.  I had money left over but it has just carried forward into April for those big payouts.  That's fine, it's what these particular savings are for.

keeping up with the financial spread sheet

Definitely.  It's really good to know exactly where I am, day by day.

food bank donating

Again, yes, and intend continuing for the remaining months of this year and, all being well, beyond.

decluttering

As the weather improves, I am feeling the call again so this month should see quite a difference.  I hope!  :-)

weed scraping

Of course and ongoing.

So - aims for April:

1.  a substantial amount of decluttering
2.   get the varnish, etc, and do those two coffee table tops - I have to admit, I am a bit nervous about this.
3. be more frugal/economical this month so I can pay all those large bills without digging into savings much more.
4. to be back in my happy weight zone again and continue to eat Mediterranean style to keep myself as fit and well as I can possibly be

I think that will do.  Most of the ongoings have now become habits - things like keeping up to date with finances, food bank donation, knitting, weed scraping, and even frugality and saving, regardless of March and April.

By the end of April, I will be able to see my way forward in savings again, I will have paid for Potters in June, I will have new and improved glasses and reliable hearing aids again, and I will have enjoyed several meals with family and friends - out with Beth and Alex for Mother's Day, to Val's for lunch on my birthday and, the next day, Dave and Anna round for dinner.  Hopefully, also, some sort of birthday jolly with Chris and with Diane.

So there we are - March's review and April's aims.   Back again next month.  xx

01-04-25

Happy April 1st, everyone!

It was an absolutely beautiful day round here yesterday, a three load drying day with fence to fence sunshine and, after a chilly start, a warm rest of day.  Fantastic.  It is supposed to be very similar for the rest of the week, with Friday being positively summer-like around here.

I got quite a lot of stuff done yesterday including some outstanding things such as renewing my driving licence, getting my medication review date sorted out, etc, etc, and  I read the gas meter so that's done for another month.

Plus the three loads of washing, drying and ironing.

And I dusted and polished around downstairs but didn't sweep the carpets so that's on today's list as well as freshening up the Garden Room now that the weather has turned so lovely.

The only thing in the diary is Groove with Chris and I have made a note to do the finances because quite a chunk of monthly payments go out on the first and I want to check that the car insurance has gone too.

A short one today - things are just ticking over nicely at the moment.  I probably won't post until later tomorrow morning as I have a dental appointment at half past eight for the last session of implant treatment - and paying the rest of the bill - ouch!

Have a lovely day, one and all.  Stay safe and be happy.  xx