This week started with my being at work for most of Sunday. I worked an 11-6pm shift, which I don't mind, if I'm honest, as at least I get home and eat at a reasonable hour. It's usually busy on a Sunday though and today was no exception. As shifts go, it wasn't a bad one.
When I got home, OH and LB had put the final coat of sealant on the front of the shed and OH also put the hardware on the door, so the outside is now finished. The inside just needed sanding and sealing and the floor painting and then it would be ready to use, which was very exciting.
On Monday, I got up and out early to do our weekly shop. I tried to stick to just what we needed, but it was still a big shop, as I'm now shopping for 3 and not 2 for the duration of the summer, with LB being home. I was disappointed that the large out of town supermarket, where I usually recycle plastic bags and packaging, has now done away with this facility. I don't know anywhere else that does this, so they'll be going in landfill from now on sadly.
When I got home from shopping, I put everything away and then needed to get ready and go to work, which was okay. Whilst I was at work, OH had sanded the inside of the shed and LB had started painting the floor. OH had decided not to seal the inside walls and ceiling.
I managed to book into my usual class at the gym on Tuesday, last minute again. I went and it was okay, but I did find myself getting a bit irritated by some of the other attendees, several of whom were arguing over where they positioned themselves in the class. I think I might change up my routine for a couple of weeks, as I'm feeling like I need to. I may go back to the gym for a little while.
When I got home, LB decided to paint the shed floor. She did a great job and finished it whilst the rain was pouring down all afternoon. The garden was so boggy and wet. It was so depressing.
Anyway, OH and I went to the allotment in the evening after supper, to get some lettuce and I picked the rest of the gooseberries and blackcurrants whilst there. I froze them on this occasion, as I didn't have enough to make jam. I'll wait until I've foraged some blackberries and then I'll combine them all.
On Wednesday, I started work cleaning the house for a visitor we were expecting at the weekend. I began with the spare bedroom/sewing room, where she'll be staying, which was quite messy. I needed to thin it out quite a bit, as it was very cluttered. I also did quite a bit of dusting. It made me focus and put some things in their proper place, rather than leaving them lying around. I also started putting more things aside to donate. Just a few, but at least it is more things leaving the house. Hopefully, it will look okay by the time she gets here, although there's still a bit of work to do on it.
Later, after lunch, I stayed downstairs and started work cleaning one side of the kitchen. It took the rest of the day to get this clean and clean out the oven, which I hadn't done in a while. I finally installed a sheet I'd bought ages ago to line the bottom of the oven, to make it easier to clean, as any drips drop on to it and you take the sheet out and clean it, as opposed to cleaning the base of the oven. I'm hoping it will make life a little easier going forward.
I was due at the doctors first thing on Thursday for a follow up appointment. It went well and I had a good chat to the doctor who was very nice.
When I got home, OH had dissembled the raised bed next to the shed, laid plastic down over the soil and paths to deter cats littering and he'd also cleared the beds, so that I could plant out lots of plants I'd put aside. He then went off to the tip to dispose of all the rubbish and clear some space in the garden.
I got straight on with planting out the plants in the borders, which cleared quite a lot of pots off the decking. I then swept up the decking, which left the garden looking a lot tidier in time for our visitor.
I then went indoors and continued to clean the rest of the kitchen and downstairs toilet. It took the rest of the afternoon, but it was another necessary cleaning job done.
After supper, I decided to move the sofa from LB's room into the shed and start to make it into a comfortable and usable space. OH helped me to carry it into place. I also moved all my weights and barbell in there too, so that I can start to use them in there. I spent most of the rest of the evening in there relaxing. It was so calming just watching and listening to the leaves on the trees moving. It felt like a very relaxing and meditative space, which was just what I needed after a busy day.
We've now got it quite cosy using just things that we already had around the house. I don't really want to buy lots of new 'stuff' to put into it, but I do need a large rug, so I might try to find one second hand. I have had to order some solar lighting and I will also need to buy a curtain pole, but hopefully that will be all. Everything else I can make or renovate using fabric from my stash or paint we already have in the cupboard. It won't all get done for a while, I'll just have to work on things as and when I get the time over the summer.
Friday, was the last chance I had to finish cleaning the house before our visitor's arrival. I got straight on with the cleaning. I started upstairs and worked my way down the house, tidying and cleaning each room as I went, changing bedding and vacuuming and mopping.
I was about half way through, when I got a message saying that our visitor had an emergency situation at work and couldn't make it this weekend. I was a bit disappointed, but they do work in a very responsible field and I understand that in some situations work has to come first.
At least it meant that I could down tools for a while. There was still quite a bit of cleaning to do, so after I'd got over the initial disappointment, I carried on with it at a more leisurely pace, as we have visitors next weekend too and it needed doing. Besides, it felt good to get on top of the housework for once and it means there will be much less to do next week before our visitors arrive.
On Saturday, I went out for the day with LB, which was a welcome break. LB had an appointment to view a flat near to her university. I didn't like the idea of her going on her own and as I now had a free day, I could accompany her, so we got the train over. The flat itself was okay (expensive, but that's the London property market). We got the chance to speak to one of the current tennants, as we waited and what he told us was interesting. It had a lovely big shared garden and was furnished and reasonably spacious. In the end LB and her friend decided not to go for it though.
After visiting the flat we were able to walk to her Uni. I'd not seen the campus where she studies before and it was only a 15 minute walk from the flat. It was interesting to see where she goes each day, it looked very nice. We then walked on to a nearby pub and had lunch, before catching a bus into Wimbledon, to then catch another bus to one of LB's favourite haunts.
Wimbledon was busy and buzzing as a consequence of the tennis. There were tennis window displays in most shops and outdoor screens where you could sit and watch the tennis. We didn't though, as I didn't see them until we were on the second bus and we were on route to a favourite big craft/fabric shop of LB's that she wanted to show me. It was an interesting shop, with everything you could think of in it. I restrained myself, as did LB and just bought some black curtain tape for the curtains I need to make for the shed. I could see why she likes it.
We then caught the tube and another bus home. It felt great to get back home after a long day out and about, but it was a nice way to round off the week.
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