Thinking about getting a pet!

About once every 6 months or so for the last 18 years one or both of my girls have asked if we can get a pet. It used to be Guinea pig's or hamsters and over the last 5 years or so they have asked for a cat and most recently a dog. Becky has been scared of dogs since she was about 3 years old so the thought of getting one has never been a thing but a few weeks ago Becky ended up dog-sitting for someone and now she is the one asking for a dog.

I have always said no to getting a pet, my thought is if the girls can't keep their rooms tidy or do what they're supposed to in life without me nagging they are not responsible enough for a pet. Becky did remind me that she's 21 now, almost the same age as I was when I had her so a pet should be no problem. Eek! So that excuse was not going to wash anymore. I had to come up with more excuses and Becky had an answer for everything and her arguments and what she came up with were pretty convincing. lol

Pets take up a lot of time, require attention, love and care. They need you to walk them, feed them and spend time with them. They are not something that you can have a day off from but on the flipside I am always complaining that I get bored when I am home alone and could do with something to keep me company. The walks would be good too, at the start of the year I was great for going out for a walk but I have been skipping days here and there, with a dog I would have to go out at least a few times a day. We live in a fantastic area which has a lot of places suitable for dog walking which I would like to explore.

Pets can cost a lot of money. Vet bills, food, grooming, insurance and all the necessary accessories, it adds up quickly. Becky said she would pay for most of it but like I reminded her dogs can live long lives so she might not want that responsibility in a few years time.

We wouldn't just be able to have a spur of the moment day out or holiday unless it was dog friendly. We would be tied to our home but it's not like we go on holiday every year or have many days out. Going on dog friendly holidays do look like fun, especially one's out in the countryside.

It has got me thinking how a dog could fit into our lives. I am not ready to get one at the moment, it needs a lot more thought but it is something that could happen in the future, I am not saying it's a firm no! If we do get a dog I think it would have to be a rescue dog. When I was a child and teenager we have several dogs and cats over the years and they were all rescued but that is a whole different blog post. 

Do you have a pet? What convinced you to get one?

Our weekly meal plan! 15th - 21st April. #MealPlanningMonday

Last weeks meal plan went brilliantly! We ate everything and all of the Gousto meals were of course delicious even if I did get a bit carried away and added too many chilli flakes to the enchiladas. The pork spring roll wraps was our favourite meal from the week, I would have never have thought of making them without the inspiration from Gousto. That's why I like Gousto, it encourages me to cook things that I usually wouldn't.

Ellie has one more day's holiday before the new term at college so we're off into town. I need new leggings all of mine are worn out, getting holey or have bleach stains on. I only wear them around the house but they're getting just too tatty. For the rest of the week we don't have much planned, it's going to seem pretty boring compared to the last few weeks but I am ready for a quiet, boring week. It might give me chance to do some things that I want to do. 

On the menu this week we have:

Monday - Fish fingers, chips and baked beans. This always seems like a childish meal but sometimes they are the best meals.

Tuesday - Gousto meal - BBQ Chicken With Crispy Potatoes And Pepper & Corn Salad.

Wednesday - Gousto meal - Bacon & Mushroom Alfredo.

Thursday - Gousto meal - Sausage & Roasted Veg Traybake.

Friday - Gousto meal - The Henderson’s Relish Beef Burger

Saturday - Pizza. The girls have asked for home made ones, I've said that's fine as long as they help putting the toppings on.

Sunday - I think we're going to have a Sunday at home and a lazy day. Stu has said he'll cook so it's going to be a surprise.

What are you eating this week?

Week 15 of #Project365 7th - 13th April. A photo every day for a year!

Sunday again! This past week has flown over, it doesn't seem that long since I did my last Project 365 post. We have had a good week. Ellie has been off college for her Easter break, I did have to check when she went back and I'm glad I did as she has Monday off as an extra day. What a treat as it's Stu's day off work and after Becky sleeps off a night shift it means we can do something as a family. 

I don't know what we have planned for today. Stu was very lucky yesterday. His work did a Grand National sweepstake and he got the horse I Am Maximus which won which meant he won the prize money which is more than enough to pay for lunch out. We might even go to our favourite cafe for the main course and pub for dessert and a couple of drinks. hehehe

Now for a photo every day!

98/365 - 7th April

Sunday lunch out! It is so good to have someone else cook and wash the dishes.

99/365 - 8th April

I was catching up with the wrestling! It was such a big weekend with it being Wrestlemania! That man who won the title had me crying quite a few times over the past week, it has been a long time coming!

100/365 - 9th April

My pretty blue flowers are back in the garden but this time they have moved they are growing in a mossy patch on the concrete.

101/365 - 10th April

I went with turquoise nails this week. Not green or blue like my girls think but turquoise! hehehe 

102/365 - 11th April

I tidied my dressing table which was long overdue!

103/365 - 12th April

My girls and I. We were ladies who lunch. We took ourselves out for a bite to eat after we had got all the jobs done around the house.

104/365 - 13th April

I saw that Oppenheimer was on the movie channels and watched it. It was OK, I didn't really enjoy it, it was on for a long time but I've see it and now I don't have to wonder about it.

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This week my Word of the Week is: Spring! #WotW

This week my Word of the Week is:

This past week has felt like spring has sprung, it has been dramatically warmer here, we have got the garden sorted and I feel like I have a spring in my step!

It has been so much warmer here over the past week, it has still rained a lot but I suppose we are in April so showers are expected. hehehe At least when it hasn't been raining we have been able to go out without coats! We saw my brother on Thursday and knew it was warm, he was working without his usual overalls on. lol

Over the weekend Stu and I got to work in the back garden, he cut the grass and I did the digging ready to plant things. Last year I had my fruit and veg plants in one part of the garden and they didn't really thrive, I don't think they were getting enough sun so I have just planted flowers in that bed and have the longer/bigger parts ready for the seeds that I have planted.

The windows have all been opened and stay open until the kids complain or too many bugs come in, the joys of the warmer weather. There seems so many ladybirds around at the moment and what is with the bee's, they seem extra huge and buzzy this year. So far I haven't seen many wasps so that is a good thing, last year we had a nest and they terrorized me!

I have been packing most of my fleecy pj's away until later in the year. I am finding it impossible to sleep in them now, I am back to my thinner one's and t-shirts. During the week I ended up getting up in the middle of the night to change out of them into something cooler and to make sure the bedroom window was open. Becky got up for her night shift early during the week as she was sweating in bed, she has fleecy blankets and hadn't thought of opening her window. Lesson learned, she has changed her bedding and the window has been opened a little and since then she has found it much easier to sleep.

I feel like I have had a spring in my step over the last week, I don't know if it's the warmer weather or the fact I have had a bit of a social media break. I've still been on Twitter, FB and Insta but just not as much. I have been busy with real life and that has taken a back seat. The first thing I used to do on a morning was switch my laptop on, share my daily blog post and have a scroll but now I am doing a bit of real life before I even think about switching my laptop on and I feel better for it.

Stu is back at work after a week off which has been hard for him, it always takes him a bit of time to get back into a routine. He's had the added drama of his bank card stopping working. He is due to get a new one in a few months and it has been temperamental for the last few months, it totally gave up on Thursday. A cashless society is a great thing until things like this happen, he did have money in his wallet but the bus driver let him on the bus for free. A new card should be here next week, phew!

How has your week been? I hope you have had a good one!