I've woken up without the tension headache this morning, the tight neck muscles and pain behind my eyebrow have all disappeared, so am feeling much better. I've already printed off husband's car insurance documents (although it's all done online now, he still likes to have a paper copy) and will shortly be going through the letters I received yesterday concerning my state pension and carers allowance. Although that might reintroduce a tension headache later!
We've had another discussion this morning, I wanted to be sure that husband is on board with stopping driving and selling the car next year......he is, albeit a bit reluctantly, but does accept the reasons why. I'm not looking forward to being without a car either, but know that if we get everything set up between now and then for our shopping and medical visit needs, with some leisure activity trips out, then we'll get used to it. To that end, we're now planning things like food shopping deliveries and taking bus trips, we'll try and do more things like that from now on, gradually reducing the times when we use the car. So by this time next year, giving up the car won't come as a big sudden shock.
Thank you for all the comments concerning Wiltshire Farm Foods and the like. After some more discussion, we've now decided to go with chilled ready meals from M&S - husband didn't want the normal mass-produced highly UPF ready meals in all the supermarkets, but we have had some of the M&S ones in the recent past and both liked them. It's mainly husband who will be having them, although I might have the odd one now and again. I've just fallen out of love with cooking and baking, I'm perfectly happy with simple veggie (and cheesy and fishy!) things myself, so buying in decent quality chilled ready meals for husband means he'll still be able to have good quality cooked meaty meals without me having to cook them.
I've set up an online delivery account with Ocado, as they do M&S food - they have an introductory offer for new customers.....25% off the first order and 3 months free delivery. I've done a sort of test order, to be delivered on Wednesday. I'll also reactivate my Tesco account - well, update it with our new address, I haven't used the Tesco home delivery since we moved here. My intention going forward will be to do one Ocado and one Tesco home delivery shop each month. Between now and next July we'll do several Aldi shops (it's a shame they don't deliver) and try to build up a stock of the things we like to get from there - my frothy coffees and long life oat milks, e.g. I'll keep the stock in a plastic lidded box under my bed. This coming Thursday we're intending to use the free shoppers bus to Bridgwater retail park again, I want to stock up on some dried food and treats for Betty from the big pet shop there, get a few of the ready meals from the M&S food hall, and a stack of books from the charity shop.
I have been feeling quite unsettled and anxious about the thought of giving up the car, but now I'm starting to make plans and get things in operation for being carless, it's settling my nerves a bit.
We've had some lovely heavyish rain showers this morning, for the first time in absolute ages - the forecasters had been saying we'd get some showers for weeks, but we've had hardly a drop, the water butt has been empty for a long time.
Glad to hear you are feeling better this morning-I have had a headache for days now with the clammy weather despite drinking lots of water. Well done on planning ahead for your future needs-sadly Ocado doesn’t seem to deliver here so no M and S deliveries for us. I must look at Tesco deliveries as we have never had one from them and I do use the app instore. Good luck with the paperwork and hope you don’t get your headache back. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your tension headache has gone, but hope it doesn't return when you tackle the DWP letters! Yes, making plans does help when you're feeling uncertain about things. Morrisons and Asda do deliveries round here, too, so that might be another option for you. I'm sure you'll get things sorted. You've given yourselves plenty of time to get used to the idea of not having a car and finding alternatives.
ReplyDeleteRaining again here. The garden is loving it, but I could do with getting out there. Everything is growing apace! The seeds I planted are coming up nicely, especially with all the rain, including the poppy seeds you kindly sent me. I had some old seeds (2018) that I'd bought ages ago from one of the charity shops. I scattered them as well. I figured some might be viable and if not, nothing lost. I've covered the seed bed with some mesh fencing stuff to stop next door's cats using it as a toilet. They seem to prefer our garden to their own! xx
You can get home delivered stuff from Aldi, just not via Aldi itself. Airtasker and Delivercart both do Aldi pick up and deliveries but no idea what costs are like. Might be worth a 5 min google. Where my friend lives, retirement village, a group of them all pay a share of a minibus taxi once a fortnight to take them to a big retail park with Aldi, M& S, BM, Boots, Pets at Home etc. It needs one person to be the organiser of course, but it works for them. They also have a Whats App residents group where they say if they're going into town the next day & does anyone want to share their taxi.
ReplyDeleteSo pleased you’re feeling better today. M&S chilled ready meals are the best! When I had a second job as a university tutor, I lived on them over each semester’s marking period. I hope your husband likes them.
ReplyDeleteHave you considered Asda deliveries? I spoke to one driver and he told me they do several runs a day to our area from Swansea which is 94 miles away.
ReplyDeleteI can understand your feeling anxious about giving up the car - it's a big step, and I'm sure it feels pretty daunting. But you've been really sensible about working out ways and means, which I'm sure will help ease the transition. I have an old friend living in Yorkshire (quite rural area) who had to give up her car and was dreading it. But she says its been easier to adapt than she expected, which was a real relief for her. With luck, you'll find the same. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻
ReplyDeleteSo glad you are feeling better. You have an excellent plan on slowly but surely weaning you and Hubby from the car. Slow and steady until finally the whole thing becomes a bit easier to handle is an excellent plan.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.