Planning and optimism

 I slept a lot better last night, so feel fine today.  I'm going to do a big freezer inventory today, along with a larder one as well, and bring the root veggies box in from outside in the car port and see what's left in that.  Once I've done that, I shall be able to do a list of meals I can make from everything, to stretch out and use it all in the best possible way, before I need to do a big shop again.  I'm spending as little on food as possible this month - well, ongoing really - as I really want to build our savings up again.  The big spends this year will be fitted carpets for both bedrooms, vertical blinds for all windows and 1 or 2 fairly deep raised beds, to grow veggies.  The beds have to be deep, as they're going on a concrete paved area, so no soil underneath....and besides, it means we won't have to bend down to plant or pick anything.

We've been investigating the cheapest way to construct a raised bed....I reckon it'll be by using free or cheap pallets, assuming we can get hold of them.  Husband has used them before, for raised beds and to construct other things, so he's certainly capable of doing it - if we can manage to get some (I'll scour FB marketplace and any local pages) he'll take them apart and take the nails out, whilst I paint them with wood preservative.  When he's constructed the bed we'll line it with plastic, before filling with soil.  As for the soil, people often advertise top soil for free or cheap so I'll also look out for that.  It'll be too expensive to just buy loads of compost, although we will get some, for the nutrients in it.  Husband's fairly keen on doing at least one raised bed, so I need to strike whilst the iron's hot!  His enthusiasm ebbs and flows nowadays.  Once at least one bed is constructed (ideally I'd like 2, there's room for 2) I can do the planting up and maintenance of it, if he doesn't want or doesn't feel able to.

I haven't felt this keen, had so many plans or felt so optimistic for - well, ages and ages.  

Time for me

 We had a lovely time with our friends yesterday, I think they liked our new place.  We went for a short stroll after lunch, just to show them the area and what's nearby, such as the village hall within a very short walk.  Betty was really pumped up and excitable yesterday though, we had to shut her in the hallway a few times.  She was also really restless and a bit agitated last night, meaning I didn't get a lot of sleep either.  To be fair, I think it was a combination of things - she was over-stimulated yesterday, having visitors (she loves our friend M to bits and is always really excited to see him), and had been to the new vets in the morning, and she really doesn't like going to the vet.  She's got her usual ear infection again, poor thing, and it's clearly bothering her.  The vet put the usual cream stuff in her ears and she has to go back in a week for a check up.  After our friends had left, both Betty and husband slept like logs for 2 hours - clearly worn out!

Having not had a lot of sleep last night, today I feel like all the energy has been sucked out of me.  So today I'm having a 'me' day, after I've chopped up the Med-style veggies to go with our chicken chipolatas for tonight's dinner, I shall be doing nothing except reading and crocheting.  And possibly some garden planning.

It's sunny this morning with next to no wind, so nice after all the rain and gales we've had for what seems like forever.

We watched Food Unwrapped last night (it may have been a repeat, I'm not sure), some parts of it horrified me, frankly.  It reinforced for me that I really don't want to eat vegetarian or vegan foods that have basically been manufactured or created in a factory, the very idea alarms me.  I like to know exactly what I'm eating, so I much prefer meals that I've made and cooked myself, from real food.  I know lots of people happily eat commercial veggie/vegan products, and that's fine of course, we all make our own choices.  My choice is to eat simple, recognisable home cooked food with a mainly vegetarian/fish base.  Now we're settled in our new home, in a lovely area with walks to be had, support when we need it and lots of nice neighbours to talk to, I do feel much less stressed and want to start getting healthier.  For too long I've suppressed my own health concerns as I've had to focus on husband's - well I need to be fit enough for long enough to cope with his needs, so time to get me sorted.

What's wrong with women nowadays?

 I've done a menu plan for the next week or so....we're back to relatively healthy eating, having consumed most of the Christmas/New Year goodies.  Having said that, we have our good friends coming round for lunch today - a buffet style lunch, with some bought in snacky things (the friends don't really eat much of the healthy stuff that we normally eat).  That's fine, we'll have something healthy later on in the evening, I might make tzatziki to have with veg dippers.  Tomorrow I'm doing roasted Med veg with chicken chipolatas in the air fryer.  Sunday we'll have a homemade chicken & veg pie from the freezer, with veggies.  And that'll be me all chickened out (I usually only eat chicken perhaps once a week) so it'll be back to veggie or fish things for me next week, with home cooked ham, pork or pork sausages for husband.

This past year or so, a new fashion 'trend' has left me feeling bemused and, frankly, quite disturbed.  I'm referring to all the celebs - well, women specifically - who appear in public wearing next to nothing.  They go out in what is more or less their underwear, and very skimpy underwear at that - and in some cases none at all - covered over with completely see-through 'dresses' if they can be called that.  Quite apart from the fact that they must be freezing cold, it makes me wonder why they feel so much of a need to be noticed that they are prepared to go out more or less naked.  Have they no shame or embarrassment?  Or self esteem, come to that?  Do they not think that people will be noticing them for the wrong reasons, and maybe even laughing at them?

As for that bonkers egomaniac Kanye West and his new wife, Bianca whatever her name was, who apparently is an Australian architect, so presumably is quite intelligent - what the hell?  Well, they're certainly getting a ton of publicity (I believe he's about to have a new album out, or something, so wants as much exposure as possible).  He's always covered from top to toe in baggy black clothing, whilst he insists on her being practically starkers in public, other than some outlandish stupid thing like a giant furry hat or cushion or soft toy clutched to her chest.  And apparently he orders her not to speak in public.  Other than the fact that he's publicity crazy (or just crazy) and a clear control freak, he's also in my opinion obsessed with his ex-wife Kim Kardashian - his new wife is pretty much a clone of her.  And he appears to be using his new wife to publicly humiliate both her and the ex-wife.  So, an egomaniac, misogynist, controlling madman, with an intelligent wife who is clearly totally under his thumb.  I do wonder what goes on in some people's minds.  

Thankfully, the weather is forecast to be much drier for the next week or so, albeit colder.  Which is ok, I don't mind it being cold when it's sunny, we can always dress in warm clothes.  It'll just be nice to see a bit of sunshine and not have relentless rain and galeforce winds.  I'm just so glad we don't live in an area that floods, my heart goes out to those poor people shown on the news every day, whose homes are flooded meaning they'll not be able to live in them for months to come.  And the farmers with fields under water - how are they supposed to grow crops or feed animals?

I hate winter!

 Well, perhaps hate is a bit of a strong word.....let's just say that winter is really not my favourite season, I don't like the short days, horrible weather and being stuck indoors for what seems like weeks.

Aldi yesterday was decimated, lots of gaps on the shelves - either people had got there an hour before us to stock up, or they hadn't had a delivery, perhaps.  I got most of what I needed, except for 3 or 4 toiletries items, we'll nip into town today for those, husband needs to go to Travis Perkins anyway.

The occupant of one of the bungalows opposite us drove their little car up onto the lawn in front of their bungalow to park a couple of days ago (which we're told not to do) - I think because they were having visitors and wanted to leave their parking space free for them.  Husband saw them do it and said to me "that's not a wise move!" - with all the rain we've had the past few weeks, the ground is extremely soft.  Well, yesterday the inevitable happened - the car had sunk into the lawn and they couldn't move it.  In the afternoon a garage truck arrived to tow it out.  Must have cost them a bit.  Made a mess of the lawn as well.

I had a sinus headache which kept waking me up Tuesday night, it persisted all day yesterday too.  Not had one of those for ages, thankfully it's eased off now.  Consequently, I didn't do much yesterday, I really didn't feel like it.  Husband did a bit more of the fence, he's making a good job of it, it'll look good when it's finished.  He's running out of supplies, hence the need to go to Travis Perkins.

We're forecast a load more rain today, so no walk again.  I know we've not been flooded, so are very fortunate in that respect, but I'm so done with all this rain and wind.  The weather reporter yesterday said we've already had the usual amount of rain for January in the first few days 😲.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm sure we never had such extremes of weather years ago when I was a child.  Even the seasons are all skew-whiff now, and it must be down to climate change/global warming, which mankind is responsible for.  But winter isn't done yet, so I'll just have to put up with the weather for the next few weeks.  At least the forecast is better from tomorrow onwards, although it's getting colder.  

I didn't do the menu plan/freezer inventory yesterday, so have that to do today.  I'd also like to start thinking about plants for the garden, although I do need to see what comes up in it first.  I'm happy to see that there are loads of Spring bulbs coming through, it'll look lovely in a few weeks.  There are several big pots in the back garden, all of which appear to be full of weeds, so I'll be emptying those out and refilling them with some nice plants in due course.

Dainty feet

 The phone call from the new surgery was just a medication review, for both of us.  All done.

Thank you for the comments on the photos of our local walking area.  No chance of going for a walk yesterday, it was really blustery with rain on and off.....winds are forecast to be easing off now.  

Jane said that Betty has quite dainty feet.....doesn't seem so when she's treading on mine 😂.  To be fair though, she hasn't got huge feet.....as you know, she's half Shar Pei/half English Bulldog, and she definitely takes after her mother, the Shar Pei, in looks, although she's got a broader chest than her mother - she's more her father in terms of her chest and her strength.  Her feet come from her mother....her father had massive feet.  In temperament she's also like her mother - Shar Peis are notorious for being stubborn and aloof, and that's definitely Betty.

Husband did do a bit more on the fence in the morning before the really gusty weather started.  I did housework and washing and some admin stuff on the computer, then wrote a short shopping list for today.  I don't need much, we'll be going back to Bridgwater as the things I need are from Aldi, and that's the nearest one.

No more plans for today, other than doing a menu plan this afternoon.  There are still more boxes to unpack, but nothing urgent.  

Walk and photos

 Some photos I took on my walk yesterday morning......

Just round the corner from our home.....with all the rain we've had, the water is running quite fast.

Up the hill, a long but fairly gentle one which levels out at the top.  I walked up at a fairly brisk pace, having to stop for a breath only once.

Allotments at the top, with a view of the sea in the distance.  Only a mile or 2 away as the crow flies.

Turning to face the other way opposite the allotments - there are a herd of deer and some ponies that live on this land, but there was no sign of them yesterday.

The view from outside our home (the home in the pic is the one opposite us).  Not such extensive and clear views as from our old place, but I'm very grateful to still have a view, and nice walks right from our doorstep.

Betty making herself very comfortable on my bed!  Cheeky monkey.

I will have to take a new photo to have as my header pic, the one above is obviously the view from our old house.

Today I've got the new patient phone call from our new surgery, I assume husband will be having one as well.....his mobile is not working for some unknown reason at the moment, so he doesn't know if the surgery has texted him too.  I'll ask when I ring them this morning to tell them to use our landline, not our mobiles.

I'm hoping husband will get on with the little fence in the car port today, he literally did nothing but watch TV all day yesterday....well, doze in front of it.  How anyone can just sit in front of the TV all day long I don't know, it would bore me to tears and give me backache and stiff joints.  However, the weather forecast isn't good - showers and strong gusty winds, and the wind does seem to blow right into the car port, so he might not be out there for long, if at all.  Cold weather and strong winds do make him breathless.

The reason I nag...

 Happy New Year!

Resolutions....do you make any?  I don't, I just think it sets me up to fail, it's too much pressure to put on myself and live up to.  There are things I'd like to do - like getting more exercise by going for regular walks.  It won't be every day, it's very much weather dependent - I'm a fair weather walker and no amount of 'the right clothes' is going to change that.  I want to start losing weight again - I weighed myself yesterday morning to assess the damage.....I've put on 6.5 lbs of the 1 stone I'd lost, not nearly as bad as I'd thought.  I can and will lose that again, and more.  I want to get jobs done around the house and garden, some of which need to be saved up for, and some need doing in the short term by husband.

On the subject of which, I've had to be a bit firm with him over the past few days.  In the past week or so, since he got the TV working, husband has quickly gone back to his old ways of having the TV on all day and dozing in front of it, or sitting at his computer playing chess or looking at cars.  In the old house, I could get away from the TV by going in the kitchen or upstairs, and having the radio on.  I can't in this much smaller bungalow - the lounge adjoins the kitchen with an open doorway in between and of course there's no upstairs.  Over the past few days, even when I've been busy in the kitchen with the radio on, husband has several times just put the TV on anyway, completely disregarding the fact that I'm listening to the radio and we can't have both on at the same time when they're in such close proximity!  He's also still wittering on about the TV, he's not satisfied with it for some unknown reason, and he can't find the remote for the DVD so can't watch any of his favourites.  And yesterday he rang his daughter, who lives up in the Midlands, because he can't get access to Disney channel!! (she and her husband are far more techie minded than us).

There are a couple of jobs that husband needs to do, quite important and need doing now.  One of them is to construct a short length of fencing, with a gate (which we have already), in the car port, so that when we open the kitchen door (which leads directly into the car port), Betty can't run out into the road.  We'd discussed this before we moved in and agreed that it needs doing as a matter of urgency.  It's not beyond husband's capabilities (at the moment) and he has all the necessary materials....or so he tells me.  Over the past few days I've asked him several times to make a start on it.  He hadn't.  I asked again yesterday morning and he got quite shirty with me (he had the telly on already), but eventually got up and went outside to do it, with much scowling, sighing heavily and muttering under his breath.  He's not finished it, nowhere near it (the neighbour came out and they chatted for ages), but at least he's made a start.  I know he thinks I nag him (what is nagging but having to repeatedly ask for something to be done, which should have been done at the first time of asking!), but my worry is this:  There will come a time - and it's approaching quite rapidly - when he will be unable to do these jobs.  So he needs to do them now, while he still can.  Having depleted our savings quite a lot with the move, we can't afford to 'get a man in' to do all these jobs.  I do try to do (and have done) some of the smaller, easier jobs, to take the pressure off husband, like putting a few pictures up, putting boxes of stuff we don't need in the short term away on high shelves in the airing cupboard or the cupboard in my room.  But I can't do everything, although no doubt I'll need to learn in time.  Now he's made a start on the little fence, hopefully he'll get on and finish it soon....I will just have to make sure he does.

Yesterday I took all the baubles off the tree and packed them away, then the tree itself and all the Christmas figures I have under the tree.  I prepped a load of veggies for our dinner, and extra to be frozen.  Rearranged some stuff in the kitchen - I've done that several times now, think I've more or less got it how I want it now.  Unpacked a box of books and put them on the bookcase in my room.  Sorted out a washload for this morning.  And then relaxed with a book in the afternoon.  Yesterday evening we watched the Bond film, then went to bed.  I was just dozing off when fireworks started at midnight - not right outside (no loud New Year oldies parties here!), a little distance away but still quite loud.  Betty was off the bed straight away, running to both front and kitchen doors and the lounge window, whining like mad.  The fireworks didn't go on for long, just a few minutes, but it unsettled her for an hour, she was slinking round the house with her tail between her legs and whimpering.  I put my lamp on, read my book and just ignored her for the most part (which I don't like doing but didn't want to make her worse by making a big fuss of her), every so often encouraging her to come and get back on the bed, which she did for a minute or two at a time.  Eventually, she did settle down to sleep.  Husband says he did hear the fireworks but must have gone back to sleep immediately after, as he didn't hear Betty at all.

It's sunny and dry right now with not much wind, so I'll get out for my first walk of the year soon - it's forecast to be raining and with the winds picking up again later.