The Diary of a Provincial Lady Thursday

[Kittykatt]

Triple Dog Dare!

Pick 3 things
Do them
Post your TaDas!

»»—-Cheers! WTG! Ygg!—-««

Don't think about it. Just do it!
~~ I Triple Dog Dare ya! ~~
Good Morning!
»»————　✼　————««

[Kittykatt]

The Diary of a Provincial Lady by E. M. Delafield is a witty, semi-autobiographical comic novel published in 1930.

Set in 1930s Devon, the story follows an unnamed, upper-middle-class Englishwoman as she attempts to maintain her dignity, manage tight household finances, and keep up with high-society pretensions.The plot tracks the diarist’s daily struggles and triumphs over the course of a year:

The narrator lives with her husband, Robert, a land agent who frequently snoozes behind his newspaper, their mischievous children (Robin, away at boarding school, and Vicky, taught by a French governess), and a revolving door of servants. She constantly juggles her limited budget, negotiates with tricky servants, and fusses over domestic dilemmas like temperamental kitchen ranges and broken household items. She desperately attempts to keep up appearances and compete socially with the patronizing, snobbish Lady Boxe of the local Big House.

To supplement the family income and escape rural domesticity, she secretly writes articles, frets over her bank manager's letters, and frequently visits literary friends in London.Through dry self-deprecation and relentless good humour, the Provincial Lady lampoons the routines and social anxieties of interwar English country life.

[Kittykatt]

Good morning everyone and happy Thursday!

Helia, no murder mittens trimmed yesterday, I ram out of time. You're right, Freddie has to be lightly sedated (gabapentin capsule from the vet - unsurprisingly, they don't want to cut his nails either, and the way one of his dew claws grows, it could grow into his paw if not managed!) so *his* nani-pedi has to be planned in advance, as the gabapentin takes 90 minutes to have an effect. I'll probably leave him until Friday or Saturday, but see if I can do the Girls when I get home from church..

How nice that Little Bit can chat to her cousins on Facetime, L.Ann!

Gma, all that experience with children certainly stood you in good stead for when you became aum!

Dogged, how nice it have an unexpected free day!

Yesterday I was out in my still cool garden by 8 am. I achieved quite a lot before it started to get hot, then moved to my front garden which was still in the shade, and gave the roses a good drink of water. Then I went to DNeighbours S and T's house, fed Cookie and watered all of S's plants. After lunch it clouded over, so I cleaned my windows (although we haven't had rain, all the dust in the air is making them.dirty!) and then cleaned my kitchen. DH brought home pizza for supper, and I sat with Matilda on my lap until it was time to feed Cookie and give * her* a little lap time.

This morning, DH remembered that he has a hygienist appointment at 8.30.am! I suggested that he gets a move on , as he'll be walking in. He's actually got plenty of time to shower, dress, clean teeth etc and still make it there in good time. Ive got a more leisurely start, as I don't have to leave until 9,30!

[Kittykatt]

SHEM:

"Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same." Francesca Reigler, Artist

[Kittykatt]

Thursday:
DH WFH
Shower etc and dress
Quick PUPA bedroom
Fresh water for cats
Scoop litter trays
Rubbish down to bins
Quick.dust / hoover sitting room
Walk Freddie
10.30 am church - DF PM will pick me up at 9.45am - leave house no later than 9.30.am
Take DF PM to lunch as a way of saying "thank you"
Any errands to run?
6-7 pm Waitrose delivery - DH to supervise
7pm (leave at 6.15 pm to ensure a good seat!) Am I going to attend DF PM's installation service as churchwarden?.(It's being held at our parish church to cover all churches in the area,.so would just be a quick trot down the hill)
Feed Cookie am, pm
Can I cut the Girls ' nails?
Pick up my meds
Order cat food and meds from vet

[Doggedly]

Thank you for starting us off, Kittykatt. So many interesting books to learn about.
I hope that your DH makes it his appointment on time. Have a good time at church!

I am afraid that I overleisured, so when I get up laundry and the need to pick up Germane's meds will still be waiting for me. Also, YesterMe got hold of my credit card and went on a spree, so I'll be putting a stop to that too. On the bright side, I did make it into the park with Germane, and we both enjoyed that. The wind must have changed direction, because the air is cool and safe to breath. I've got my patio door open for the night.

[Kittykatt]

Dogged, I'm going to confess that this week I picked books by women authors that I've read and enjoyed (not the books that I feel I *should* read because they are considered "worthy" or "significant"! ). (6s 5546 Matilda's contribution ) I'm glad you were able to have a nice time in the park with Germane.

DH has left, so it's time for me to get moving!

[helia]

Gma, your family is similar to dh's - several children in quick succession, a long break, and then more! In dh's family's case, there were 4 children in 5 years (dh is #4 - the only boy), and then twin girls when he was 12 years old. This is why the grandchildren (our kids' generation) currently range in age from 9? - 36. Dh and I originally wanted 4 kids, had 3 in 4 years - and then we both agreed that was enough, and dh had a procedure since we got pregnant super easily and chances of (another) unplanned pregnancy were very high. (DD30 was not planned by us - BUT was clearly planned by God!) Dh was traveling more than 1 week/ month back then, which meant I was single parenting more than 1 week/ month. . . That was hard with 3 babies/ small tots so close together in age. I could not handle another child in the mix at that time. Maybe if they'd been more spread out. . . Ds and dd30 are 18 months apart - not ideal. Dd30 and dd28 are 2.5 years apart - much better!
I'm really enjoying the books you're sharing here, Kitty! I should put some on a to read list! Thank you! Have a good morning at church.

Well, this morning is dark and hazy - not because of the weather but because of significant smoke in the air. Our air quality index is 196 right now. It smells like smoke outside. I won't be spending significant time outside today. I'm so glad I got in a jog yesterday. We're keeping the house closed up and dh is running our hepa air filters.

Today is pretty scheduled:
8-8:30 WW meeting
9-9:30 (I hope no longer) meeting with AC and a textbook co. rep online
11:30 - 12:30 academics check in meeting with AC online
2-3 work out with AS; I was thinking of walking to and from the gym but will scrap that idea - unless the smoke miraculously clears by then

Next:
- back exercises
- s2s and self care
- 7:45 otd to WW

Later:
- WW meeting
- payroll: meeting with AC and textbook co rep
- payroll: work on prep for AAS D7
- payroll: go in and pick up exams?
- some qt
- make the bed
- reclaim kitchen
- call Dr. - may not use the med but might be nice to have enough on hand
- pick up current prescription
- lunch
- after lunch clean up
- WF - the "fresh" ravioli I have is dated Oct, 2025 -- was it in the freezer that long??
- update lists
- 1 lol w d f pa
- start packing for travel tomorrow
- payroll: start exam prep
- dinner: ravioli, homemade tomato sauce, salad -- use the lettuce and wash well bc of parasite? OR just don't use lettuce?
- after dinner clean up
- duolingo
- update WW
- update MFP

TaDas!
- up; weighed self
- coffee
- email deletions, weather website - high of 89F (31.7C) today, so getting cooler

WEEKLY ACTIVITIES
Thu 8 - WW/ 9-9:30 payroll: mtg with AC and textbook rep/ 11:30 -12:30 payroll: CA ci mtg with AC/ 2-3 work out with AS
Fri 1:40 - 3:30 payroll: teach AAS D7/ 4ish - travel to other city for J12yo's swim meet
Sat cheer on J12yo at swim meet!/ drive home
Sun 10-church

Mon 11-1 payroll: tutorial / 1:40 - 3:30 payroll: teach AAS D8
Tue 9-12ish KS2J get together?/ Host Tuesday dinner group?
Wed 11-1 payroll: tutorial/ 1:40 - 3:30 payroll: teach AAS D9
Thu 8 - WW/ 11 - haircut in other town/ 11:30 -12:30 payroll: CA ci mtg with AC - WILL NEED TO RESCHEDULE/ 2-3 work out with AS
Fri 1:40 - 3:30 payroll: teach AAS D10/ Dinner out with the Rs
Sat 8 - 5K run/ 5:30 CG1 - will we host?
Sun 10-church/ 6ish host Sunday dinner/ 8:15 family zoom call

7/13 - 7/19 Dinner Menus
M - green salad olive chicken, rice, veggie TBD
T - on my own for dinner: leftover olive chicken, rice, hummus, cold veggie slices
W - rotisserie chicken, rice, broccoli
Th - spinach ravioli, homemade tomato sauce, salad of well-washed veggies (there's a parasitic illness from some sort of fresh veggie (the thought is lettuce) with greatly increased incidences in our state right now)
F - on the road/ in other city
Sat - chicken mole', rice, mixed veggies?
Sun - NO group dinner (I think)

JULY Brain Dumps
This Week - House
- can I spend some time decluttering in MBR?

This Week - Deskwork
- graduation card + check written to AR
- call Dr. 2nd time re: med to help with altitude sickness
- Writing progress - wip
- figure out another knitting project?

This Week - Errands
- car wash - badly needed
- return another pair of shoes
- can I return wrong coffee pods?

General Brain Dump
- progress decluttering clothes - wip
- new phone eventually
- set up new laptop

[helia]

Where is everyone? It's very quiet here.

I'm on to plan B for the day. AS moved my work out with him to 10 a.m. so my morning is scheduled/ chopped up BUT my afternoon is now open after 12:30.

Next:
- back exercises
- some qt
- finish reclaiming kitchen

Later:
- 10-11 work out with AS
- 11:30 - 12:30 payroll: academic check in mtg with AC
- payroll: work on prep for AAS D7
- payroll: go in and pick up exams?
- some qt
- make the bed
- reclaim kitchen
- call Dr. - may not use the med but might be nice to have enough on hand
- pick up current prescription
- lunch
- after lunch clean up
- WF - the "fresh" ravioli I have is dated Oct, 2025 -- was it in the freezer that long??
- update lists
- 1 lol w d f pa
- start packing for travel tomorrow
- payroll: start exam prep
- dinner: ravioli, homemade tomato sauce, salad -- use the lettuce and wash well bc of parasite? OR just don't use lettuce?
- after dinner clean up
- duolingo
- update WW
- update MFP

TaDas!
- up; weighed self
- coffee
- email deletions, weather website - high of 89F (31.7C) today, so getting cooler
- s2s and self care
- 8-8:30 WW
- gassed the car
- 9 - 9:20 payroll: meeting with AC and textbook rep

[Doggedly]

Those are often the best recommendations, Kittykatt. Thanks for sharing!

helia, we used to see that pattern (long break and then one child) in Quebec where I grew up, and we used to say "Oh, the priest's been!" When I was young Quebec was Catholic enough that if there were no children produced for years, the priest would get suspicious that they were using birth control and give them a good talking to.
We have our air quality warning back, and I can smell the smoke. We are between two fires here: the ones in northwestern Ontario and the ones in northern Quebec.

I am up at a decent hour, hoping to get into the laundry room before it gets taken and before it gets hot.