Monday 29th January

Well the kitchen planner came and took all the measurements and gave me some good ideas and advice.
I chose something similar  to this

I cracked on with packing up the dining room and kitchen. Just leaving essentials in the kitchen.


I had help!! See pic 4 and 7 :-))

And then the bomb was dropped

When the builder was here last week. We noticed that parts of the plan wasn't correct. Mike said he would talk to the architect and have him correct them.

He has corrected part of them. But he can'y correct the size because he says we will need planning permission. I asked him this the day he came and he said we wouldn't. It's not a problem. He will just have to alter them and submit them. But I would have asked him to draw up different plans had he have been truthful. I might have took the end of my kitchen out a little bit. 

This end a couple of foot. 

I can't do much with this end because the cellar door is there.  

Lets see what today brings 

Sunday round up

Its been a busy week with work. Not a very nice one either. We have a person in at the moment who doesn't like rules so keeps threatening us and any one else who he comes in contact with.

He actually threatened to stab the builder the other day.

Oh well people are just getting worse or the type of people I work with.

I finish work for a week today apart from half day training on Wednesday so that will be a break away from all this madness.

The drains are still leaking from the back gully. CET are coming out gain tomorrow.

Mike the builder came out to do a final calculation. And he said he is going to take that drain out and bypass it altogether that's a relief.

The kitchen planners coming tomorrow after that everything is good to go. I am just going to get my birthday out of the way and then let them start work.

I have a confession I bought another cookery book this week. I saw a recipe on another blog that looked lovely and the book looked good too. I had a quick look on Amazon and it sort of jumped into my basket.

I am making the recipe  Coconut caramel Chicken.

 https://stayhomeinstead.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Chicken%20Recipes?&max-results=20

It was delicious x

Looking forward

I got called into work yesterday, because of an emergency. And we got talking about making plans. I said I thought it was important to have things to look forward to. I like to have something every month to plan and look forward to.

We did something every month last year. This year is more or less the same.

January We usually go away this month but with all the work that's going on in the house we can't this year. So we have been out to dinner a few times and Jade took me out on Monday to dinner and  interview with a serial killer.

February it's mine and Geoff's birthdays 12 days apart. |Its a special birthday for Geoff so we may go away for the weekend.

March I am going to see Sam Smith.

April We are taking my mum to London for a few days to see a couple of shows.

May is our anniversary month (38 years) and depending on the build I may go to Greece to a yoga retreat for a week.

June it's Tasha's birthday and we usually go away after that

July We will still be away

August I want to stay at home and enjoy my new Kitchen and look after my garden.

September

October Jade's birthday

November   We usually go away

December We will be mortgage free. That is going to be the best feeling ever!


So I have some plans already made this year. I will revisit this post and update it as I add more plans to my year.

Do you like to make plans and have things to look forward too.

Making Memories

Every time we go out with my mum my daughters like to take pictures and say we are making memories. Which of course we are.

So now every time we look into going somewhere they say lets make memories. 

Last night was part of our Christmas present off my eldest daughter. My mum has always read about serial killers. Don't ask me why.   

We went for dinner at Turtle bay which was nice. 

And then we went  to 

 Interviews With a Serial Killer

One of the first British policemen to work closely with the FBI Behavioural Science Unit in Quantico, Virginia, he has interviewed over 70 of the world’s worst serial killers and mass murderers to gain insight into their psyche.

Join Paul, to hear some of the more controversial conversations he had with Britain’s and the World’s most terrifying killers. Hear why the Yorkshire Ripper was ‘scared’ of him. Learn, what drove Robert Maudsley, the UK’s real life hannibal lechter, to kill, and why he’s kept in an ‘all glass’ cell. The Amityville Murders; what Ronald DeFeo said to be fearful of, when Paul spent the night at the house of horror.

This is a truly eyeopening and entertaining talk, that covers twelve stories and interviews. Accompanied by a visual presentation, covering the history of the individual crimes, and the killers story in their own words. Sad, frightening, and at times, funny, hear how serial killers perceive themselves, their victims, and their actions.

Paul is regarded as an expert on serial killer profiling. As a consultant on the subject, he regularly works with; authors, and film and television production companies. He is author of 34 books, mainly true crime.

He has recently had published his first crime fiction novel, Revenge of The Malakim, book one of the Grooming Parlour trilogy.

‘Walking with the Dead’ gives a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the dark reality of the mind of a serial killer.

Venue: Texture, Manchester

Doors: 7pm / Talk starts: 7.30pm.

It was a strange way to spend a Monday Evening.

I made dinner before I went for Geoff and Tasha

Cottage pie using all he veg that would have gone in the bin otherwise. The rest of the veg I made into a vegetable stock that I popped in the freezer to use at a later date. 

We will have to have this for dinner today because I am working until 21:30 tonight. 

Sunday Dinner sweet potato lasagna

Because I was working today I made a start on the dinner this morning at 06:00 before I went to work.I thought it would marinate all day before I was ready to use it.

I bought the sweet potato lasagna sheets last week and forgot about them. We had peppers and mushrooms in the fridge. So a cheep and cheerful dinner using ingredients we had in.

06:30

!7:00 I forgot to take a picture before I cut into it. I have to say it was delicious and will definitely make it again 


I am off out tomorrow night. Not sure whats for dinner yet.

Finding money

 I do love the weekends even though I work them. I think it's because there's hardly any traffic and you can take it a little slower. You don't have to rush around getting ready then fighting your way through the traffic. 

I really don't know how this has happened I was busy packing away my dresser ready for when the builders start. Its a lot fuller than this now. It was a red and white stripe tea pot. When i took the lid of to wrap it in news paper.

  I found three of these

One of these 

And one of these 

I don't know how long it's been there and to be perfectly honest I don't know where it's from, or why I would have put it there.

It's gone in my savings jar. 

LAPTOP LAPTOP LAPTOP

What can I say I had a lovely day we went into Stockport to go to the world war two underground tunnel museum. we got there at 10:00 and it didn't open until 13:00 today. Well that's when my day started to go down hill. We thought we would go shopping instead.

https://www.visitmanchester.com/things-to-see-and-do/stockport-air-raid-shelters-p85561:


I nipped into Debenhams and got two lovely cushions for next Christmas. I went to Argos to get a soda stream, because I drink a lot of fizzy water and it doesn't  sit right with me the amount of plastic I am throwing away with the empty bottles. Any way the £39.00 ones were all sold out the next one was £69.00. So I thought I would have a look when I got home.

I stated to have a look when I got home and came across this. I bought one and its on it's way.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/sodastream-plastic-sale-machine-fizzi-11046244

I nipped out and when I got back my laptop again was making a funny noise it again went WOOSH, POP, BANG. And it was DEAD.

I took it back and have a new one. If this one goes I am going to get my money back.


I have spoken to a computer expert about this problem i'me having. Apparently there is a conflict with the operating system and microsoft. So when its updating it doesn't like it. It's not something Microsoft are advertising.

He told me what to do to fix my old one. And Hey Ho its working.

So a good day and a bad day.

A smashing time

I transferred all our alcohol to the cellar yesterday. I don't know how we have so much I think we pick bottles up on our travels and then just leave it on the top of the kitchen cupboards. We only really drink (me) Brandy when I have a cold in a hot toddy and Geoff Whisky in his hot toddy. Anyway it got me thinking Doe Alcohol go off??

After I did this I was mopping the kitchen floor and all of a sudden one of the wall cupboards flew open and every glass we own came flying out and smashed all over the work top and floor.

There was glass every where! I was stood in a sea of glass. Geoff and Natasha ran down the stairs shouting my name. As you can imagine the noise was deafening and they were concerned I was hurt. The poor cats ran and hid and stayed there for hours.

I had to go out and buy a couple of glasses. I will replace them after the building work is complete.

I then broke a dinner plate and side plate when  was washing up. I was gutted at this because I love this set. I went to see if they had any in our small M&S only to find out they have stopped selling them.

It's not a disaster I have white plates I will just use a white one and a blue one alternatively when I set the table.

Wombling

A couple of blogs I read are talking about wonbling. For people who don't know what that is it's picking up receipts off the floor any where in the supermarket the car park department stores.

You can have your loyalty points put on your card if the receipt hasn't already been used.

Apart from that I also use my receipts to collect  rewards I can redeem at Amazon and Paypal.

Using Receipt hog

It  must have been sunny today my lights are on on my gate

And puddings found a new place to sit

Decluttering

I promised myself I would pack a box of  kitchen and dining room stuff away a day at the start of the year.Of course it didn't happen. The reason being is I just have too much stuff.

I made a start today and managed six boxes. I am going to do another two tonight if I have 20 boxes packed by the end of the week i'me on track.

I am going to sort out what I am keeping and whats going when all the work is finished and have a proper sort out then. It looks so much bigger and better with just half the crap out of the dining room. I am not going to fill it back up I am only going to keep things that are useful.

This was me yesterday

And this is what i'm going to try and do.

I have been on a night shift and it has finally just stopped raining. We have had very  heavy rain all night with a fabulous thunder and lightening storm. 

This was Manchester at 02:30 this morning. 

15th January 2018

Well its the start of another week. Its pay day. The council are starting work on the road outside today apparently it's going to take three weeks to resurface it.
We went out to move my daughters car last night and it wouldn't start. We have had to put the battery on charge for the night. I don't know about the road the pavements are in a terrible state. I reported them in September and still have an open job.

I have a window company coming today along with a kitchen company and a builder to give us another quote.I wonder if they will get here seeing as you can't drive down the road.


I made a banana loaf yesterday thought it would last us a couple of days. No chance with these two.

Manchester Town Hall closing

I have blogged ab out this before, but for my own online diary which I look at my little blog as. I want to remember this.
Today is the last day the town hall will be  open I had tickets to go on the tour but having worked there have seen it all, So I gave them to a work colleague who hasn't seen it all.

Although I work for the council I work in a satellite   sight as they call it.

My daughter's team are still going to work out of there until July with hard hats to protect them. Ridiculous I know!!

It took 9 years to build the town hall and its going to take 7 years to refurbish it.

There will be no more filming there for a while the latest being peaky blinders and the Darkest hour.


                                                How it looked when it was first built.

These pictures are from the councils twitter account. I just think its a fabulous building steeped in history.

Frugal food

We have managed to eat out of the cupboards and the freezer all week this week.

I did a small shop in Mr T's for fresh ingredients and used what we had to make our dinners.

Saturday it was Fillet tower burgers

Sunday Sausage mash cabbage and onion gravy

Monday Gourmet fish cakes with new potatoes and minted peas.

Tuesday Geoff took me out for dinner which was nice.

 Wednesday Spag bol

Thursday slow cooker chicken in cider with veg.

Friday  homemade pizza. I forgot to take pics of our other meals.

I will have a good luck in the freezer and cupboard tomorrow  and meal plan for next week. It's also pay day on Monday so I usually go shopping. But I can't park on our road from Monday until Friday and I am not lugging the shopping up the road. I will have to do it next weekend. That should make for interesting dinners.

The drain saga Continues

Well the drain saga continues. My insurance company rang me yesterday about the complaint I put in a few weeks ago. Basically the complaint was about  the sub company they use who do all the assessing.
Every time I ring they are to busy to speak to me and that's why its dragged on this long.

Anyway she asked me if the drain company were on sight. I told her they were not they had already been last week on the 4th. Even though I had a message on my phone saying they couldn't come on the 4th and would be attending on the 10th.She said that was strange because she had just spoken to them and they assured her there operatives were on there way. Welcome to my world Love!!


Then she sent me an email

Hi Donna

Thank you for taking the time to speak with me.  Below are my contact details.

I’ve spoken directly to CET who have advised that the operative excavated on the 4^th, replaced the waste pipe, a bend and length of pipe on a drain run and then tested it for 30 mins.  As there were no leaks, he back filled and left site clean and tidy. 

There is no planned visit for today.  I’m sorry for the confusion.

I’m now speaking with Cunningham Lindsey to arrange for a re-visit from a loss adjuster to view and discuss the settlement for the internal damage.

I’ll speak with you later this week to check that the basement has no further leaks and to discuss a small compensation award for the inconvenience we have caused.

Kind Regards

Well it's still leaking Because united utilities found water under the sub floor.



Any way United utilities came out and fixed the none return valve. You can rely on some people to come on the right day. And to repair things properly the first time.

TO BE CONTINUED

The big build Decisions

Every thing went OK at the hospital yesterday. We came home had some lunch and went off to look at kitchens floors etc. I was feeling really rushed, having to make snap decisions on the spot.

STOP  

No I said i'm not doing it we are going to have to live with the kitchen, flooring, worktops etc for a long time. I have an idea what I want. I have a board on pinterest I have had for ages but that's different isn't it?

Anyway I saw a few possibilities. The builders not coming for a chat until the end of the month and the Kitchen planner is coming next week. So I have a few more weeks to have a good look around. 

I think I keep putting it off because of the mess. I'm in a mess at the moment it's the added mess.

Anyway on to more pleasant things planning days out in spring and summer. 

I have just come across this it's not far from me so am looking forward to it. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/865841390244600/

Hospital visit

I am off to the hospital with Geoff today. He had an eye test a few weeks ago and they found an anomaly in his eye. So he has been referred to the eye hospital. I am going because he might need me to drive him home after the investigation. He doesn't really want me there. He doesn't like any fuss.


If everything OK we will go and look at Kitchens afterwards because we had our quote of the builder last night. My house will soon be a building sight

Sleep or the lack of it

I don't always sleep very well. I was talking about this at work and someone said they had tried the foot detox pads, and they felt they had really helped them in getting a good nights sleep.

Well I bought some and put them on last night. I can't say I had a better nights sleep but I did feel a bit more rested. And OMG look at the gunk on the pad.

I have also been taking Omeprezole for fifteen years and due to all its bad press recently I asked the GP if I could take something else. He said there wasn't anything he could prescribe I would have to look at other options. I found these in Holland a Barrett and they seem to be working.

Hopefully my foot plasters won't be as black tomorrow.

Frugal living/ eating

We have a well stocked freezer that I want to run down so I can batch cook and fill with a months worth of dinners. That's how long I think my kitchen diner will be out of action.When the builders eventually start work.

The drains are an ongoing saga. I won't know if there fixed until it rains.  :(

I made fillet tower burgers for dinner last night. Tonight will be Sausage and vegetables out of the freezer. There is lots of soup in there for work lunches. The problem is I can't resist the yellow stickers on things especially meat which is quite expensive. Although we eat a lot of vegetarian dishes, my daughters vegetarian. Geoff does like a roast dinner. 

Two ingredient pizza dough

Dinner tonight was  home made Pizza using two ingredients flour and yogurt for the dough.

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today's dinner

Today's dinner was frittata, bacon and beans. The frittaa was lovely and just what was needed after a night shift dinner.

I got the idea from here.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-5232269/Best-diets-2018-revealed.html

The frittata had onion, red pepper, sweetcorn, peas and broccoli in it and was really filling.

Cooking new Recipes

Today's Recipe is sweet and sour chicken from slimming world. Not only am I trying to save money, add some variety to our diets I am also trying to lose some weight.I am going to buy a women magazine tomorrow  and use the free voucher to rejoin slimming world.


https://www.slimmingworld.co.uk/recipes/sweet-and-sour-chicken.aspx

Here it is cooking. It was really nice.

I am on a night shift tonight so will have a look during the night at the recipes on SW.

Happy New year

I'm not going to make New Year resolutions. I never stick to them. I am going to carry on doing what I do and chug along. 

I hope to write 12 new chapters on here next year. Lets see.

whats making me happy today.

And this will make me happy when I finish work at 21:30

Have a Very Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!