Recently I decided I’d make American style blueberry pancakes. Great idea. I had all the ingredients, including home grown blueberries in the freezer. So, a mixing bowl – nope, packed that. Food mixer – packed that too. Oops. In the end, I used a large saucepan as a mixing bowl, and used my handheld electric whisk. It worked well, which proves that you can do all sorts with only limited equipment. The pancakes were lovely, and I have some wrapped for another morning. Sorted.

House hunting isn’t going well. So far, most don’t want to know you if you have a dog. I can understand; however, it must limit who will rent their house. When we moved into this house, we didn’t have a dog, though I did ask the landlord before I bought one and he didn’t object. My income is a sticking point too it seems. I’m only looking at properties where my pension will pay ALL the household bills, with food bills being covered by my son’s contribution. I also have a nice amount in savings from my pension lump sum. This morning however, I was advised I wouldn’t be considered for a particular property unless my proven income was over £15k, and even then, I’d have to have a guarantor. WTF? It’s proving very stressful and I may have to downgrade where I’d like to live just to get a place before I’m due out of here. On that note my landlord has gone from not wanting me to leave, to now being barely able to wait for me to go! I’m starting to feel ‘twitchy’ between my shoulder blades, and once I leave, our friendship will be over.

My Mum is back in hospital, same problem as last time: septicaemia. I visited Wednesday and whilst she did not look good, apparently, she has improved. My stepdad and niece haven’t been to see her yet because they became very upset when she was taken in again. I’m told, my stepdad was in tears – never seen him cry, so he must have been very upset.

I bought some ready meals recently; not like me at all. I’ve lost all interest in cooking and haven’t much appetite. Not sleeping well either; stress, I’m sure. I’ll be touching up the paintwork over the weekend and doing some cleaning (around all the boxes) ready for the landlord to visit next week and take some measurements. I’ll be so glad when I’ve gone from here…