Simplifying Life - Mark II

Cheapskate

Hello people - like to join you if I may!

Started trying to simplify our lives a few years ago when I gave up my main job working in a school as it was making me too stressed/poorly, along with problems with DD. Since then, I've had DS3 (nearly 2), still have two very part-time casual jobs, take little 'un to several toddler things, helping mum in aftermath of dad's death before Christmas, childmind a little boy couple of hours every day - so feel like stress levels are right back up there!! :eek: Oh, & am now expecting little bean #5 - must be crackers - so have to make some changes now before I end up mad or poorly (or both!:rotfl: )
House looks like a bombsite, washing up & ironing piling up, helping DH with a work project - all feels like a treadmill that's getting faster all the time - sound familiar to anyone?

Will tell minded child's family that I won't be working over Easter hols, so I can have 2 weeks to SLOWLY catch up on stuff - being pg isn't helping in the tiredness stakes either. If I ever get the time, I'll catch up on this thread from the beginning to see what help is here.

God, isn't this post long & depressing?! Sorry, folks, needed a moan - can I stay? Will go & have some cocoa & try to summon enthusiasm for washing up!

A xo

Lula-Hula

mardatha wrote: »

Mary wee pet !! I hope you don't mind me butting in here.. A couple of things for you --
First - the achey tired feeling can be long-term stress just released... maybe your health & energy levels have been dropping for a while and because you've been running on adrenaline you haven't noticed it until now. Get bloods done but also buy some good quality multi vitamins and supplements like malt.
Secondly - remember that your mum isnt gone. She isnt in the cemetary, she isnt in her empty house. She is in your head & by your side. Not gone anywhere pet, still there to talk to and to have a laugh with.
Now start TODAY and look after yourself and get back to form and enjoy your summer !:D

Thank you mardatha for putting that ^ so eloquently & echoing my own thoughts & feelings exactly :A

Mary - remember that however you are feeling about your mum is entirely right for you. You will go through all the various stages at your own pace & for each one of us those stages last a different amount of time. This has only very recently happened to you & dont feel that you 'should' be feeling any differently than you do emotionally. It's your loss & grief & you are to deal with it / cope in the way that suits you best, but obviously it's important to maintain your physical health as best you can. ((( more hugs to keep you topped up )))

My second counselling session was much less tearful & I came away feeling more positive about most things, the nest session is going to entail some 'techniques' which I am intrigued about.

I've been using the simple carpet sweeper for a few weeks now but am about to give in & buy a very cheap vacuum as I've just noticed a 'border' of dust around the edge of each room where the sweeper doesnt reach . I feel a trip to argos coming on ... :rolleyes:

Hello Cheapskate,
I'm feeling tired just reading your post more cocoa less ironing I reckon :rotfl:

lula
xx

ceridwen

Hi all

Belated welcome to cheapskate.

My mind is starting to turn to what is likely to be my other main source of input to the Transition Town Movement (food being the first one - I do like to know my food is catered for:D ). My secondary concern is likely to be the "Heart and Soul" groups that are coming together within this - because we all have thoughts/feelings/emotions about life and how its likely to be.

Anyways - hunting round t'Net I found summat re "Sustainable Happiness" that might be of interest here:

http://www.yesmagazine.org/article.asp?ID=3015

I particularly liked "The good life doesnt have to cost the planet" myself - but others will have their own favourites - 'tis worth spending a couple of hours running through those articles - some jewels there.

Take care...

In_Search_Of_Me

yes aunty C can confirm that I am in Fergus love!! I could gobble him all up!!

Gigervamp

What a lovely day it was today. The sun felt warm and there was a good breeze. Perfect drying weather! I did 3 loads of washing and it was mostly dry when I brought it in, including the jeans. Such a change from indoor drying where it takes a couple of days to dry just one load.

And of course, the best bit is the smell of washing dried outside! I always have to bury my nose in the washing when I bring it in and take a deep breath. Something so simple, yet it really boosts my day.

mardatha

It wasnt nice here yesterday bt is beter today. I got some pottering in the herb border and I have crocuses out ! whoohoo !
the buzzards and peewits are going mad and I can hear lambs further up the hill. I begin to believe that we might indeed have spring ! LOL

Gigervamp

It's lovely again today, so I've got a couple more loads of washing done. Was about to do more when hubby reminded me that the cesspit needs emptying. Oops! Mustn't use too much water until it's been emptied.

ceridwen

MARY43

Where are you lass? Mardatha is over on Nonnymouse worrying about how you are - as we havent heard from you recently....

Come in Mary....tell us how 'tis going..:hello:

firework

hi all, been missing for a while. my dads been in hosp 5 days week before last with nasty virus which caused severe sickness & diarrhea, he is insulin diabetic (IYKWIM) so he ended up on a flippin drip as he couldn't keep anything down or get his insulin in. then DS had it from the friday till tuesday just gone, he missed red nose day at school poor lamb and he's rarely off so it was pretty disappointing for him - so i spent alot of time looking at alot of sick! meanwhile me, mr firework and me mam been feelin queasy the whole time - thankfully it did not materialise into illness- think it just picked on the weakest of us!! lucky me - rarely get sick - don't have the time -lol!

anyway, all back to normal now, or normal for us at least. been doing some ruthless simplifying in the paperwork department :eek: - where does it come from and why do we keep so much JUNK?!!! read something the other day(forget source) and it was on about defining the important things in your house (people excluded) ie .. if your house was taking fire what would you grab and save, and if it was razed to the ground what would you replace?
applied this principle to my household paperwork and reduced it by 50% - and that was just for starters, still some fine tuning to go...

...hope you have all been alright and no mystery illnesses with you, seems to have been quiet here. mary hope you are ok, and gigervamp - i had my washing on the line today to and thought of you as i buried my nose in it!! can't beat it can you?:j

firework

been reading alot on the square foot gardening site, have read all the basics and checked the FAQs but i still have one unanswered question... if i'm putting it on a concrete yard, should i just put it straight down on the floor or should i put a bottom on the box, and / or should i raise it - thinking drainage, and what would i raise it up on?? breezeblocks? has anyone done it yet - any ideas please. also i have seen kits for raised beds - wondering if i should buy one or just have a go at bashing me own together.....


cheers.