This week started a little differently, as I didn't need to go and do the weekly shop, having done it on Friday. I had a short lie in, just to finish the book I was reading, so that I could donate it. I wouldn't have time to read for the next couple of days, so I made the most of it.
First job of the week, was to get out my summer clothing. I've been struggling to find things to wear whilst we've been having some lovely hot weather here in London and decided it was time. I always love a good wardrobe changeover. It makes me feel like I've got lots of new options. I've left a few sweater vests out, just in case it gets cool again, but all the big sweaters and boots have been packed away. I managed to donate a few items that were looking a bit scruffy, weren't comfortable to wear or I just no longer wanted to keep. There was a pile still to try on, as I didn't know if they'd still fit. If not, they will go back into storage until I lose a bit of weight.
I also did a bit of banking, as I was due some interest payments on a couple of accounts, one sum was particularly disappointing, so I'll be moving the money out of that account very soon and putting it where it can earn more.
I then set about doing some spring cleaning in the living rooms. I didn't do a proper clean of these rooms when I did some spring cleaning a few weeks ago, so it was time to do a more thorough job and change up the rooms. We tend to move into the front room in the spring/summer months and then move back into the smaller, cosier back room with the wood burner in the autumn/winter. I had to get OH and LB to help move the furniture, as I didn't want to hurt my back again. It felt good to get this job done.
I interrupted the cleaning work to go to the tip with OH after lunch. There was lots of garden debris to take away. We seem to keep finding more stuff to dispose of, it's never ending. It feels good to clear the garden a little though, ready for the warmer weather.
On Tuesday, I was booked in for Zumba, I made sure that I took it very easy, no jumping, twisting, flinging my arms around, so I didn't do any more damage to my back. It was strange going back after an injury, it makes you realise how fast the class is, when you have to tone it down. I couldn't keep up with some routines, that I would normally just throw myself into. Hopefully, in a couple of weeks I'll be back to my normal level of exertion.
When I got home, I started to do more cleaning. We were supposed to be having a visitor this week, so I needed to clean the sewing room for them to sleep in, but we got a call to say they weren't coming. It did mean that I could take my time and wasn't up against a deadline. The sewing room needed a deep clean anyway, so I took everything out from under the bed, went through all the boxes where I keep vintage bed linens and reorganised them. The boxes were very dusty, so they all got cleaned, I vacuumed under the bed, cleaned all the skirting boards and then put everything back. I did take out a few things to donate, but not many.
On Wednesday, I didn't need to go anywhere, so I had a short lie in before getting up and showered. I tried on the summer clothes that I wasn't sure would still fit. Quite a few of them did, so they got put in the wardrobe, the rest will be stored away for now.
I then changed the duvet for a summer weight one and put on some clean bed linen, before doing a bit more spring cleaning. I mopped and vacuumed down the stairs, the hallway and the vestibule downstairs. It's amazing how much dust and debris acrue, although we did do a tip run this week, which probably accounts for some of it.
I needed to run an errand in the afternoon. I had to take a library book back. I've had it for 6 weeks now and still haven't read more than the introduction, so I'm going to take it back, as it's not going to get read. I got a message, just before heading out, that a repeat prescription I'd ordered was ready, so I combined this errand with the library visit. It was really windy out and our trees in pots kept getting blown over in the garden, which was annoying.
Thursday, I was back at the gym for Aerobics. Once again, I took it quite slowly. When I got back I had some lunch and did a few household chores. I then did a bit of financial housekeeping as it was the end of the month. April went much more quickly than I expected, that's all I can say. I seemed to get through OK financially.
Later, I decided to make some banana muffins with some ripe bananas I bought the other week and froze. I had to pop out to the shops to get some eggs, and bumped into a couple of neighbours whilst out and had a chat. Whilst the muffins were in the oven, I tided the baking drawer, which had got a bit unwieldy.
OH decided to cycle up to Yorkshire this weekend, so on Friday morning, he set off at 6am. I had a lie in and read a chapter of a book I'm trying to finish, before getting up and showered. Lately, I've been collecting shower water in a trug, to use for plant watering. Just the water that runs whilst I'm soaping myself up, so it's clear of soap and shampoo. We've been using it to water plants in the garden, as there is nothing left in the water butts and we've had no rain for ages.
I'm now on watering duty, at home and at the allotment, whilst OH is away. I used some of today's water to fill the wormery bucket that we use to make comfrey juice. It was cracked, but OH mended it before he went away, so it just needed filling with water and the comfrey leaves I collected the other day putting in.
In the afternoon, I decided to do a bit of sewing on my machine. I needed to finish the cushions for our garden chairs. I was very happy with how they turned out. I'll post more in my monthly makes post. They didn't strictly get finished in April, but what's an extra day between friends.
I decided that the denim hexies I was going to make another ironing board cover with, are probably too thick for this purpose, so I decided to square what I'd already made off and make a cushion cover with them for my chair at the kitchen table. I spend a lot of time sat on it and it isn't the most comfortable. The cover I previously made from scraps will be retired. Once I'd made it to the size needed, I could take the papers out and I now just need to buy another zip. I'm going to use some prettier cotton fabric from my stash for the ironing board cover instead, but that will be a project for next month potentially.
In the evening, LB went out to meet a friend, so I had a stroll over to the allotment and watered the plot before making supper. OH messaged to say he'd safely got to his brothers house, which was good. I had a quiet evening, making hexies for my kingsized quilt.
On Saturday morning, next door's dog came to stay. He was good company with OH away and LB working. Mid morning, we went out for a very long walk, before it got too hot. I did about 12,000 steps, which equates to almost 5 miles. Needless to say, I was tired when we got back. It was nice to get out into nature around where we live though.
I spent the afternoon pottering, doing small jobs. I put a wash on, then hung it out, made some more natural roll-on deodorant, as I'd run out and tidied away some fairy lights left out since Xmas. Small jobs I'd been avoiding for no good reason. Then I curled up on the sofa with the dog and a cup of tea and watched two hours of David Attenborough's Secret Gardens, which was really good. OH caught the train back to London tonight and was back home by 7pm, which was nice.
Sunday, started off in a chilled fashion with a lie in reading. I chose some fabrics and started the new ironing board cover today. In the afternoon, we all got on our bikes and cycled over to the Olympic Park for lunch and then we all took a look around the new V&A East Gallery/Museum, which is dedicated to East London Makers. It had some very interesting exhibits. It's only been open 3 weeks or so and is free to visit, which is great.
When we got home, we headed out to the allotment to water and plant out a few more lettuce plants, then came home and OH struck up the BBQ for the first time this year, which was a nice way to end the evening.
It's been a fairly busy week, with one thing and another and passed really quickly.
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