Kitchen stuff

 Today was payday. I've transferred my salary into another account and hope very much that it can just sit there (with the below exception), and I've also set up a slightly optimistic standing order for our savings account. I am going to try my very hardest to make it work, because the consequences are so much greater now - if I fail at keeping to our budget, I have to go back to work. 

I am planning to buy some yarn, the money for which I will take from my salary, so that I can hopefully get going with my crochet. I don't know whether I will do this straight away or wait until I am ready to begin working. I think it makes sense to wait. I need to let go of this habit of living pay check to pay check and spending money the instant it comes in. Besides that, let this be a no spend month, or as close to that as possible. It is Ivy's birthday in a couple of weeks but I have already bought the bulk of her presents, and she also wants to have a little picnic party - that shouldn't be a huge expense. 

We had a great bargain this week - Will went to a sort of boat-jumble sale at the marina and bought this 4 slot toaster for a pound. Aparently the guy said he didn't know if it would work, which I always take to mean it definitely doesn't work. But by some miracle, it does! We've been after a 4 slot toaster for ages but haven't wanted to pay out for one. 

My first loaf of sourdough turned out so so. It tastes great, and rose well, but is quite dense and not as crumby as is nice. This one I left to rise for 5 hours, but I'm not sure how warm my kitchen is, so the next one I left overnight. 

Much better. Unfortunately gluten is really hurting my tummy at the moment. 

I must be getting a bit of mental clarity and motivation back because I finally did a job that's been staring at me for weeks, and sealed our huge oak chopping board with linseed oil. This was an offcut from the kitchen counter that the fitters rounded off for us at the edge. It's massive, and so so handy. 

Trying to get back into the knack and rhythm of crochet as I've not done it for a few months - I've been making a few dishcloths and flannels, which are are things that we've been desperate for for ages. We had some wonderful dishcloths that my friend Pam in Cwmgors made for us ages ago out of an old towel that she's chopped up and edged with the overlocker, but they're just about all worn out or missing now. These are made of cotton and work a treat. 

I have work this morning, and for three days this week, then just two days next week, and then I'm free as a bird. It's going to be a bit of a trial this week as I need to work out how to handover, and to who? But I'm trying to stay positive and not make things into my problem.