An Expensive Week, But With a Few Good Surprises - W/E 31st May 2025

This week began with a couple of shifts at work on Sunday and Monday over the Bank Holiday Weekend. I was working 2pm til 6pm on Sunday and 1pm until 9pm on Monday, so work took up most of the rest of the Bank Holiday weekend.  It was fairly busy at work, which meant that time passed reasonably quickly.

I did the weekly shop on Sunday morning, as I had a bit more time before work, but it was a bit of a rush - shopping, getting lunch and getting to work on time, but at least it was done. I had a dental appointment on Tuesday morning, so I couldn't do it then.

Whilst I was working over the weekend, OH was working hard on the brick patio. He's just got a little bit of finishing to do and it will be done.

It was just as well that I worked extra hours over the Bank Holiday Weekend and that I've got more hours for the next couple of weeks, as my trip to the dentist on Tuesday morning was very expensive.  When did having a filling and a clean cost £300? I was shocked. So, there may be very little money put in savings next month, as it will all be going towards paying the dental bill. I was glad to get it done though and I don't need to go back for a good while. I'm even contemplating moving to a different dental surgery, if I can find one, as it's become a lot more expensive at my current one recently.

The remainder of Tuesday, I decided to spend doing exactly as I pleased. It was half term, so there was no sewing class, but because I'd not had time to sew at all for a week, I was feeling like I wanted to do some sewing. It is my happy place afterall and I had an idea for a new project that I wanted to get started on, something I will be doing at home, not at class and that will use up more fabric from my scraps and stash. I'll create a post about it at some point.

I also wanted to finish the dungaree dress, which just needed hemming and the buttons attaching, so I did that first. I had a bit of trouble with buttons, so I'm just hoping they work out okay.

I then did some work on the new project which was fun. By the end of the day, I'd totally changed my plans about what I was going to do, but all will be revealed at some point. I've still got more work to do on it.

We got the news today that OH's brother is going to be leaving hospital in a few weeks and going back home, which was good.

On Wednesday, I had a long lie in. I think my body was still traumatized from going to the dentist. I laid in bed reading my current book, which I'm enjoying, before getting up and making a good breakfast of two soft boiled eggs, as I was planning on going to the gym.

I got some good news today, which has saved me financially heading into June. I was notified that I was due a tax rebate, so I quickly got onto the HMRC website to claim it. I probably won't receive it until next month, but it will nicely cover the cost of the dental treatment,  thankfully. I knew I was due a rebate, as I'd paid tax last year, but hadn't earned enough to merit it, it was my tax code which was incorrect for some reason. I was hoping to put the whole of the rebate into savings, but this will now sadly not be possible.  On the positive side, some of it will get saved. I guess health must come first, dental or otherwise.

I eventually got ready and headed off to the gym which was okay. I then walked into town to check the balance on my building society account, as I was due some share dividends, which hadn't actually gone in yet and I wanted to check out and use my new account card for the first time. I also picked up a few things that I needed whilst out and dropped into our local charity shop on the way home for a mooch, but I couldn't find anything I wanted to buy, which is rare for me.

After lunch, I decided to do some financial stuff, as it was almost month end. I did a bit more sewing later on and I also created a pattern for something else that I want to make, using an item I already owned as the template.

I had another lie in on Thursday. I think because I've been so busy in the last few weeks, I just needed some downtime at home, doing very little aside from sewing. My soul just needed it. I probably should have been doing some college work, but my heart just wasn't in it. I know I'm just procrastinating, but I'm enjoying the process.

I read more of my book, which is interesting. It's like a social history of work and clothing combined and I do like social history, so I find it fascinating.

After breakfast, I did some cutting out for two new projects. One using the pattern I'd made the night before, the other was cutting up fabric for another patchwork project, but not a quilt this time. I'm using lots of fabrics from my stash, which is all good. It needs using, instead of just sitting in the drawer.

I had a no makeup, t-shirt and tracksuit pants kind of day today, where I dressed down knowing that I was going to stay home and potter and not go out of the house. These are my favourite kind of days and besides, it gives my skin a rest from wearing makeup.

In the afternoon, I retired to the sewing room to do more work on one of the  new projects I'd started. I also cut out all the pattern pieces for the dress I want to make next at my sewing class. I now just need to stitch in the notches before I go back to class next week.

Later, I did some laundry and hung it out, so I'd have clothes for work over the weekend and in the evening, after supper, OH and I watched Race Across the World, which was good. OH did the last few bits he needed to do on the patio today, so now it is all finished and I'll be posting about it shortly.

Another lie in on Friday morning, reading my book, making the most of it whilst I can. I decided to go out for a run this morning, when I eventually got up and ready. I was due to work in the evening, so I didn't have a lot of time to do much today. 

After lunch, I decided to do a bit of cleaning, well, vacuuming and mopping through the house, as there was lots of sand on the floors due to the patio building in the garden. By the time I'd done that it was time to get showered and go to work. I've enjoyed having some time to myself this week, doing my own thing. Pity that it's now come to an end, as I will be working over the weekend.

On Saturday morning, I read for half an hour in bed and then got up and ready to go to the free gym session. Afterwards, I dropped into the supermarket for a few food bits and then tried the building society again.  This time my dividends had gone in, which was good news, as I'm always happy to get extra bits of income that can be put towards savings. 

When I got home, I did a bit of blogging and blog reading, then made some eggs for lunch. I was working at 5pm again, so I couldn't get settled into doing anything much. Work was okay, but I wasn't doing a job that I particularly liked, so it dragged a little and I was glad to get to the end of another working week.

It's hard to believe that another week has passed, it's gone by so quickly this week, probably because I was having so much fun sewing and planning new projects.

I hope you've enjoyed your week.