The Thrill of The Auction!

 

Once the sun had risen, the day started bright and cheerful and these trees outside out our house were filled with little birds singing such pretty songs...it felt so spring like!

However it wasn't long before the cold winds and rain descended!

 

 

I have promised myself that each week I will take a meal in to my friend with the broken ankle.

This week I thought a chicken pie might make a change.

I found a pile of foil pie plates my neighbour had given me on one of his sort outs....it looks smaller than my usual pie plate so I hope the pie is big enough for a family of four!

At the very least it ought to taste better than shop bought pies...you cant beat home made shortcrust!

 

 

Once it was cooked I popped it inside my pie plate ....I guess its not too much smaller.

 

On the way to my friend we stopped off at church and I was mightily relieved to find my lens on the floor! I just need to make a trip to the opticians for a replacement screw now.

 

 

Teen One didn't have college until after lunch so was able to come along with me...she had great fun with their little granddaughter.... so did I needless to say!

 

This afternoon I sat and listed a pile of CD's, books and DS games that Teen One no longer wants.

I forgot quite how time consuming the listing was...although some aspects were more streamline I must admit.

I am hoping that we make a few sales to make it all worth while!

The worst part  I find is the parcelling up of all the items at the end and then the inevitable queue at the Post Office...sometimes all for a 50p profit...one has to ask if its all worth it!

Mind you, there is nothing quite like the thrill of the auction!

 

This evening is yet another trip to college, this time for Teen One, to listen to a talk on Student Finance/loans.

It's not the first time we have attended one of these talks, but I am hoping this time it starts to make sense!

 

 

 

 

Tuesday January 26, 2016

Today's Verse:
   Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.

Hebrews 13:8

 

 

 

One Man's Junk...

 

Last night was rather short for me. I awoke at 2.15am and by 4am was still wide awake.

So I gave up trying to sleep and came downstairs for a cuppa.

I put it down to having a cup of tea and church last night...not made with my regular decaff.

I have noticed before if I have a caffeine drink I have trouble sleeping.

Needless to say... I am shattered now!

Today has been very busy and unusual day.

It started with the usual visits with my Recycled Teenagers, then my Mammogram.

Having turned 50 three years ago, these come round every third year...doesn't seem like three years since I endured the agony of this vital screening....but this time round it didn't seem so bad.

Whether I just wasn't expecting it to be SO painful last time or not, I don't know, but I certainly didn't feel like passing out this time!

I am grateful to live in a country where this screening takes place, and on the NHS as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My old Dyson has had a split hose for some time, and I keep meaning to go to the local Dyson centre and buy a new one, but as it is the "spare" vacuum, I just haven't got round to it.

As I was driving home, I noticed a Dyson, the same model as mine...in someone's front garden.

So I knocked and asked if I could have the hose and they said, take the lot!

So I now have plenty of spares for my old cleaner...and for free!

Talking of free....look what someone was throwing out the other day....

 

 

 

...this lovely....near perfect wooden racing track.

The Friday club boys had great fun with the Matchbox cars!

 

 

 

After a very quick whizz round Asda and bite to eat at home, it was time to go to church for the funeral of a 98 year old lady.

It was a very small service...I guess at that age you have few of your peers and even family left!

After the service it was time to rush home and get changed so we could take Teen Two to college for his interview.

It was very positive and he was offered a place on the Creative Media course.

He will be taking Maths and English GCSE again (unless some miracle happens in the next few months!)

He was very excited to be offered place and is really looking forward to his new challenge in life!

The college assured us of support and we felt they were genuine assurances and not mere words.

 

 

With Hubby home early for the funeral, we decided to finally have a belated birthday meal for me.

We chose Harvester, which is close to home and we get 5% back on our card at the moment.

 

 

 

 

There was only one hiccup at the restaurant...reading the menu!

When I took my specs out....I realised one of the lens had fallen out!

I hoped it would be lurking around in my bag...nope...so I hoped it was in the bag I had used at the funeral...but when we got home and I checked...nope....so I am now hoping its on the floor at church and will pop in tomorrow.

 

Monday January 25, 2016

Today's Proverb:
   A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

Proverbs 15:1 / KJV
Put this Proverb on your site

 

 

 

Interview Number One!

 

Today, for a change, was not the usual sort of Sunday.

It did start as usual with church first thing....

 

 

...followed by our Family Service and bring and share lunch.

 

 

 

 

I took nachos along for the first time and it went down a treat.

It was very easy to prepare....my usual chilli made with mince, put on top of a dish of tortilla chips ( I used Lidls own make) then plenty of cheese.

I knew Teen One and Hubby would enjoy it if no one else did...but I needn't have worried as everyone tucked in.

 

Once home I took my Recycled Teen next door a meal, then Teen One and I  cracked on with sorting out her bedroom.

There is just the matter of sorting out what trinkets she wants to keep and then we are there.

 

 

 

 

 

Part way through the phone went...it was the care line to say next door had pressed his emergency neck cord.

Not expecting it to be an actual emergency I went next door...only to find him having fallen down in the garden!

I was so thankful it wasn't a cold or wet day.

He had been calling for us, but being in the front of the house at the time, I never heard a thing.

Thank goodness he actually pressed the  button this time.

Hubby and I were able to get him to his feet and stand down the ambulance.

The son arrived as usual about half an hour later and was of course relieved to find his dad fine, aside from a wet rear end!

 

 

During the afternoon Teen One checked her UCAS status and was thrilled to see she has been offered her first interview...at Brighton Uni.

Whilst this isn't her number once choice...she was really hoping to get one of her third or fourth choices early on so as to get some experience, so this is perfect timing.

 

 

 

 

Sunday January 24, 2016

Today's Psalm:
   The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.

Psalm 29:11 / KJV
Put this Psalm on your site

 

A Mini Bedroom Makeover

 

 

This morning started very murky and foggy...

 

 

 

...visibility on the motorway was quite limited...

 

 

...and our early morning destination...usually easy to spot a mile away...was still hidden in the fog on our arrival.

 

 

 

Our destination...if you didn't manage to see, was Ikea.

We left early so we could treat ourselves to a cooked breakfast.

Teen One and I shared a kids and adults portion between us...two adult portions is just too much for us.

Needless to say, Hubby and Teen Two had no trouble polishing off their own plateful...along with some of ours as well!

 

 

The main reason for our visit, was to purchase some bedroom fittings for Teen One.

We chose some uprights, brackets and shelving from the Algot range.

We didn't need anything as big as the above picture and what we did buy was extremely reasonable.

 

 

For too many years, Teen One's wardrobe has been a cheap fabric covered children's one.

Her clothes have been cramped in the tiny space, putting them away is a nightmare, as is trying to find anything!

 

 

 

Her desk has been used less and less over the years...with the increase in homework, the dining room table has been her preferred place to study...so it really was just taking up space, in an already small room...and I ought to add...all this is under her bed!

Having the box room, we went for the cabin bed option when she was small, which was great for playing under and then storing things...but as she got bigger we upgraded to a loft bed...also from Ikea...which freed up half of the floor space in the room!

 

 

Her chest of drawers has been behind the bed ladder....which was fine other than it meant the drawers could only be opened about 8", which was tricky to say the least, for getting clothes in and out!

So....on our return home.....what was in her wardrobe....

 

 

 

...was dumped on our bed...along with several large boxes of ornaments and a life time of girlie collections!

 

 

 

 

After Hubby's hard work drilling into our extremely hard brick walls, she finally has a "walk in wardrobe" under her bed...with  her clothes all ordered and so easy to access.

The chest of drawers is also under the bed....also easy to access...

her thick sweaters can now sit on the top shelf...freeing up precious space in another storage unit for some of the paperwork that was in the desk drawers.

 

 

 

She now will be able to get  dressed in a space bigger than a postage stamp, and with her mirror now

more than inches away, she will be able to stand back and see herself from head to foot!

This very small expenditure has really transformed her bedroom, and has been something I have been dreaming of for sometime!

There are still boxes to be gone through and new homes to be found...but its a great start for her.

She was given the option of which bedroom she wanted when Teen Two was old enough for his own room, but she wanted to stay in "her room."

Then a few years later when we were looking at getting a new bed for Teen Two, we thought it would be an ideal opportunity for them to swap bedrooms...but she still wanted "her room."

Finally when we had the loft converted into a lovely big room, with bathroom, we asked if she wanted to move up into it, but she was still happy to stay in "her room" as little as it was!

It really needs re decorating, but that is a job for another day ( even year!) but we are very thankful she is so easy going, and happy with her little life and room.

Hopefully these small changes will make her life a little easier as she moves on into being a proper grown up later this year!

 

 

After our cooked breakfast, it was a very late lunch, which was carrot, sweet potato and lentil soup.

I had a bag of frozen sweet potato, which I added to the boiling pan.

My Recycled Teenager next door was alone all day as his son was at a wedding, so I popped in a couple of times...taking some of the soup with me.

He wasn't sure if he wanted any to start with...but I was flattered when after seeing and smelling it, he was eager to try some and really enjoyed it.

 

It's been a very productive day, and although upstairs looks a bit like a warzone with the contents of Teen One's room dotted about the place,  hopefully tomorrow we can finish it all off.

 

 

Sunday January 24, 2016

Today's Proverb:
   Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

Proverbs 14:34 / KJV
Put this Proverb on your site.

Computer Hiccups!

 

I sometimes start my daily blog with "going back to last night...."

Today I am going to start with...."going back to five minutes ago!"

I had been reading FQ2FF and feeling very sorry for her and her computer problems....I had posted it was one of my top three hates...starting with car problems...then washing machine problems...computer problems are next.

Our lives seem to turn into turmoil when one of those three things don't function as they should!

Silly really...there are far more important things that can go wrong, but I guess these three things bring so much pleasure and make our lives so much easier, we feel the pain when they aren't working!

So....little did I realise when I was reading the blog...I too was going to have a bit of a hiccup in that department too!

For a few weeks the laptop battery has not been holding its charge, so hubby bought a new one and fitted it in this afternoon.

He gave me strict instructions not to charge it up until it had fully discharged.

I turned it on...checked out one or two things...and then "squeak" it went and shut down on me!

I turned it back on and, unusually, it didn't  go through the usual rigmarole that it does when it is unexpectedly shut down....which was rather strange I thought.

However...I logged on and then inserted the SD card ready to upload today's pictures....instead of the usual boxes coming up...new ones came up....and my educated guesses didn't work out to be so educated....I haven't the faintest idea how I am supposed to upload the pictures  now!

Needless to say Hubby is not here, so I can't turn to him for help...so  I am sorry to say, it will be a pictureless blog today...aside from those I can snag from the internet!

I cant imagine just putting the new battery in has changed the settings...but what do I know!

All I know is...it ain't working as it should be....and I find that a little irritating to say the least!

( And it has shut down  again twice whilst trying to upload this!)

 

 

 

Looking back on the day....it didn't  start too well...but did get better!

Firstly, I made myself a cuppa...only to promptly spill the entire cup, all over the worktop and of course it ran all down to the floor.

I had received a phone call last night to say our friend in the Dementia Home was not at all well...so I decided to make another visit today.

I stayed for about an hour, although she didn't really know I was there.

I went straight to Tesco, only intending to pick up two things...but ended up with half a small trolley full!

Just as I had loaded the last item on the conveyor belt, I remembered my purse was still at home!!

I had taken it  out, to get my credit card last night, to book the travel insurance!

I rummaged through my bag...just in case I had packed it...nope...not there....but I did find a purse that I keep church money in...a dear old lady gives me some pennies every so often to buy things for the children's work...and thankfully that had enough in to pay for what I had picked up, and I was able to replenish it when I got home.

However I had also intended going to Lidls, so was going to have to go home first, which was a bit of pain.

So the morning didn't really turn out as I had expected but nothing to complain about really.

 

 

So after all the to-ing and fro-ing, as well as getting drenched in the rain bringing the shopping in ( unable to park outside the house  either!) I was really looking forward to a cuppa...given I had forgone one this morning.

As the kettle was boiling I started to put the shopping away...opened a cupboard door..and had cold tea drip all over me!

I had realised when I had spilt the cup earlier...a lot of it had sat on the top of the cupboard door!

 

 

 

In the afternoon I caught up with the ironing...

 

 

 

...made chilli con carne for dinner...

 

 

 

...collected Teen One from college and went straight to church for kids club.

 

 

 

Our Bible story tonight was Gideon.

So to remind the children of the clay pots and torches, we got them to make little pots, just the right size to put a tea light in.

I did of course take some photo's and will add them another time.

Right now I think I am going hit the "publish" button before the laptop dies on me yet again!

 

 

Sunday January 24, 2016

Today's Promise:
   For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Hebrews 10:36,37 / KJV
Put this Promise on your site.

 

 

 

Just Another Manic Thursday!

 

 

Today has been a very normal Thursday, so much so this blog will probably make rather boring reading!

It started off checking on my Recycled Teenager next door, then going to Mother and Toddlers.

We didn't have too many turn up today, maybe a dozen...but they don't make any less mess!

It was my turn to do the craft activity and I chose a really easy peasy no effort one...colouring in large cut out jungle animals.

They were 99p a pack of 12  from The Range and the tots loved them.

I lay the cut outs on the table and then placed a toy animal that matched the cut out next to it, then we looked at what was special ( giraffe had long legs and neck....elephant had trunk...tiger had stripes etc)

We spent some time looking at the toy animal and then looking at the crayons I had also laid out to see if they could work out which colour they needed.

They really enjoyed the interaction and it made a very simple activity educational and fun...with minimal preparation needed from me!

In fact getting the animals and books was a last minute idea just as I was setting up this morning.

 I also had a book on display with a page of animals and got them to see which ones they could point out and what noises they could make.

I really miss the Teens being small and the fun we used to have with simple activities!

 

 

I haven't got a picture of this, but this week I bought a wooden floor sweeper/cleaner from Aldi, £3.99

I used it for the first time at church and it was so much easier than the broom!

It picked up the dust that the broom would have left behind and the swivel head made the job so effortless...it was also about twice the width of the broom we usually use, so a lot more floor was covered in the same amount of time!

The fabric is washable too.

I will try and take a picture tomorrow...but if you have wooden floors and an Aldi nearby, I would take a look!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once home there was  time for a cuppa and quick bite to eat, before heading next door and doing my usual cleaning.

My poor Recycled Teenager was very behind the times... he hadn't finished his dinner, so obviously hadn't cleared up, all of which took him the same amount of time to do as it did me to clean hoover the house from top to bottom!

Another indication he is not himself.

Last weeks fall and fire really is starting to take its toll I fear.

 

Once back home, it was a little bit of pottering, then getting a bolognaise in the oven ready for an early dinner.

Tonight is of course piano and footy for the Teens...its all go for the Taxi of mum!

 

Sunday January 24, 2016

Today's Verse:
   For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12 / KJV
Put this Verse on your site.

 

 

 

Some Me Time? Maybe Not!

After several weeks of what seems like nothing but housework, a friend and I planned to meet for coffee this morning for a spot of me time together and a catch up on our sons EHCP's...

 

 

 

 

 

...however when Teen Two started complaining of a tummy ache last night after sports club, I knew my me time might not be all mine after all!

 

 

However he didn't seem too bad this morning, and although he was complaining of some discomfort, the fact he was able to play on the PC, to me, meant he wasn't bad enough to be off school.

To be off school my kids need to not be able to function properly...not eating, playing, not able to do anything much at all actually!

Having taken his temperature and dosed him with painkillers, thinking maybe it was a pulled muscle, I sent him off in his school taxi....but with that nagging feeling I hadn't heard the last of it!

 

 

 

Like yesterday, today was glorious.

Blue skies and sunshine...so it was lovely to be out by the waterfront enjoying the fresh air, and also the good company of my friend.

I had warned her I was expecting a call...

 

 

 

...and just as my toasted teacake arrived the call came!

I asked if they could let him stay somewhere quiet for a while and see if it passed...suggesting maybe till lunchtime (ever hopeful!)

They did that...but in less than an hour I had another call to come and get him.

 

 

 

Ever since the Teens have been small...any time off school ( if I felt it was a little bit of an OTT decision) meant no screen...books yes...but no screens.

So as Teen Two got into the car I reminded him he would be staying in bed or on the sofa with just books...well you can imagine how his face dropped....which of course indicated to me he wasn't as ill as staff had thought.

We have to bear in mind that his inability to clearly explain himself does leave us open to making the wrong judgement sometimes...he can mask pain...but equally can think it worse than it actually is.

As his sports coach had told him last night he should see a doctor ( did this sow a seed I ask myself?)

I thought I would drive straight to the docs and see if they could fit him in.

They always reserve late appointments for emergencies...was this an emergency...well in my eyes no...but if school were saying he was too unwell to be there, I wanted a second opinion, I didn't want a repeat tomorrow when I send him in!

The doctor was lovely and after much questioning, prodding and poking, she diagnosed a case of being ticklish!

She found nothing wrong and suggested playing sport straight after dinner had probably caused indigestion/stitch etc and assured him it was nothing to worry about....which is exactly what I had suggested yesterday.

Hopefully with a doctor having checked him out he will feel easier in himself.

We all have been guilty of imagining something terrible was wrong with us I am sure.

 

So no me time today....well a little I guess...but not the leisurely time I had looked forward to and the mooch around the shops I had anticipated...there's always another time I guess!

 

 

 

Wednesday January 20, 2016

Today's Psalm:
   Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.

Psalm 25:4,5 / KJV
Put this Psalm on your site