Monday, 7 April 2014

A week where the jobs get done

I had a very productive week last week; it was a week where things got achieved.  Last Monday I made a start on the end of year accounts; I hate doing them but I do update the accounts on a weekly basis, so it wasn’t such a big deal once I got started.  We’ve been having problems with the printer and I had months of rental statements to print out but Phil helped me and I eventually got all 12 months.  I have virtually finished my work on the accounts so can now hand them over to Phil to do his bits and then we will be ready to see our accountant.  We’ve had a good rental year so I already envisage that there will be a fair amount of money to pay the taxman.

I went over to the caravan on Tuesday morning, my remit was taking the double bed frame and I also wanted to paint the steps.  It was touch and go whether the bed would actually fit in my little car but I got it in, albeit that I had to drive with part of the headboard resting under my chin.  I also got the 2 new garden chairs which I ordered from Groupon.  I love Groupon and have enjoyed many offers.  These two garden chairs were only £79.99 for two, we already had one similar from John Lewis which Phil paid £100 for but this chair is fairly knackered as we’ve left it out in the rain.  I don’t intend to do the same with the new ones.




It was a bit damp and grey when I set out but the sun did come out in Overstone and it was quite enjoyable painting my steps, it took me almost 3 hours but they came up brilliantly.  As did my patio, I’d asked Dennis next door to jet spray it and I was really pleased with the results.  He wanted £120 but I can imagine it must have taken him the best part of 2 days and perhaps more.   I went to the gym in the afternoon back in MK and was knackered by the time I got home.


On Wednesday I went to check on Sue’s house, did some more work on the accounts and then took myself to the gym.  I am desperately trying to loose the half a stone that I put on after Christmas but it’s hard.  Sue and Ian got back from Dublin late on Wednesday evening and I went to catch up with them on Thursday morning.   Ian showed me the photos and they had an amazing time.   Sue said it was cold and they had rain on the last day, I think we had much better weather here at home.  There was post at The Manor so I went over to collect that and then went for lunch at The Nags Head with Sue and Ian.  I forced myself to the gym in the afternoon.

I was wide awake before 4 am on Friday morning and got up so as not to disturb Phil.  I was ready to go back to bed at half six but couldn’t as I had to drive to Melton.  I was on the M1 before quarter to seven and thought I would miss the traffic but alas no, the motorway was really busy.  Melton Mowbray town centre was busy as well and I arrived at mums about twenty past eight.  I sorted through her post, put the clocks forward by an hour and then we went out.  Our first stop was B&Q to try and find concrete paint for her passageway.  We spotted a big tin but it was £44.99 so we decided not to bother.  I did however find some tile red concrete paint for the steps at the caravan so it wasn’t a wasted visit.

Our next stop was Morrisons for a few bits of shopping and then I took mum to the doctor’s surgery for a blood test.  Then it was home for the usual lunch, salmon and boiled potatoes.  I quite like this but last week I had eaten salmon Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  I was a little late leaving Melton, I got stuck in the temporary traffic lights in the centre of town and it was almost five o’clock by the time I got back to the flat.

Phil had some paperwork to do on Saturday morning so I left him to it and went to the gym.  When I got back we had quiche and beans for lunch and then we took ourselves off the caravan.  Unfortunately I had a list of jobs to do, the first of which was putting up the gazebo which we managed to do before a few spots of rain came down.  Actually it didn’t really rain, it tried but it didn’t come to anything.  The next job was to assemble the bed which took a while, there was one bolt missing and a couple of the slats were broken but it will do.  Phil’s last job was to fit a blind in Sue’s caravan, this should have been straight forward but it was fiddly because the fittings were different.  Still the boy managed to do it.

While Phil was fitting the blind I started painting the steps, I was only going to one side but I ended up doing both sides which was a bit crazy because it wasn’t quick drying paint so everything had to take off their shoes because they had tile red pain on their soles as they walked in the caravan.  Still they now look fantastic and I was pleased with my efforts.
Sue & Ian arrived at the caravan just in time to watch the Grand National.  They had both placed bets but unfortunately they didn’t win, in fact I think that one of Sue’s horses fell at the first fence.  We ate at the caravan, I did lasagne and salad and Phil did home made garlic bread.  We walked down to the club house to listen to the group.  We were a little hardly and we were surprised it was fairly empty as normally it’s packed.  Still we had a good evening and didn’t get back to the vans until 1am. 

Phil felt rough the next day and both Sue and I said they had awoken with headaches but I felt fine.  The forecast for Sunday was rain but it remained fine which was just as well because the plan for yesterday was to jet spray Sue’s side.  I did a bit, Sue did a bit but then Ian took over, he seemed to be in his element so we left him to it and started cleaning Sue’s decking.  It was filthy but we had finished it by lunch time.  Sue cooked steak and kidney pie, with mash and veggies for lunch and it was very nice. After lunch we packed up and headed for home leaving Sue and Ian to do some more cleaning of the patio.  I am not sure how much more they did because it was raining lightly by the time we got back to MK.  I don’t know whether it was the late night or the fresh air but I was knackered last night and more than ready for my bed.  This morning I have woken up with a really stiff back. I really want to go to the gym this afternoon but I am not sure I am going to be able to.  I am definitely feeling my age today.


No comments:

Post a Comment