nacho cheese - what a delight

We finally have a carpet on our stairs. It has only taken four months to get this done. A small job is not an interesting job for trade. We opted for a sisal boucle, exactly the same we had previously. You may think this is very boring and I agree it is and we are boring. On a positive note, it is very hardwearing, forgiving and visually interesting. The underlay is quite thick and the steps feel a bit bouncy. I like it. You know, a spring in my step

I spent a short time in the garden last weekend, tidying up. It looks dismal. I am not a keen gardener, which makes no sense because that's what I do when I go volunteering (which I love). It must be the company that makes all the difference, and the biscuit tin that we pass round at break time. There are also lots of people walking by, often expressing gratitude for caring about our environment and making it more accessible and welcoming for all to enjoy. Today we cleared a bramble wilderness, picked up all the litter and planted food hedgerow plants instead. Food for animals that is, not people. We found lots of Scarlet Elf Cup mushroom, see above. It was most enjoyable and the weather was kind, too. Very rewarding. 

More so than work sometimes. I have been reading through a job description for a new post in my own unit. I can't make up my mind if I should apply. It would be a sideways move rather than an upwards move and I am not sure it is an attractive enough post to give up some of the perks I have in my current post (like a large budget for books and travel). Also, decisions. I don't like to make them. Finally, I am worn out and maybe cruising until retirement is a less exhausting option than starting anew. 

I am definitely getting old and grumpy. I am providing you with new evidence. Ads on blogs irritate my mood more and more. I want to read about other peoples lives and adventures, not being bothered by ads. I avoid those blogs now, which is a shame because I miss the stories. 

Moving on swiftly.

James spends every penny he earns on sweets, chocolate and fizzy drink. That's six hours of wages every single week. He also spends his train money on junk food. I no longer bail him out when he doesn't have enough money left to buy a ticket to go to college. He usually texts me en route to the train. I don't know what he wants me to do. Teleport to the station with a fiver? I hope but doubt that being caught without a ticket will be a (somewhat expensive) life lesson? The funny part is that James is doing really well in a personal finance course at school. On a positive note, he enjoys his job at the corner shop and has been asked to pick up an extra shift. 

Alistair meanwhile has completed his car valeting training at school. He loved it. I am really glad he gets the opportunity to gain employability skills at school. 

Time for a glass of wine, it is Saturday evening and I have no other plans than chilling out. That, and cook then eat chicken fajitas. 

Oh, before I go, I found another account on the Instagram to watch. It is a chef viewing people cook on Instagram, and live commenting. Some amazing food being cooked up but also some horrendous stuff. The commentary is entertaining. I watched on video of a woman making a kind of nacho dish in a gigantic plastic container, the size of my laundry basket. She started of by crunching six bags of different flavoured Dorito chips up and throwing them into the vat. Then many layers of highly processed obscenities from tins and squeezy tubes, including many tubes of nacho cheese and tubes of guacamole. I had to look nacho cheese up. To scoop it out and serve she had to use on of those pick and mix scoops, only on steroids. My gag reflex was well and properly challenged. 

On that note, I'll leave you to finish your cup of tea. Thanks for visiting 😊