Keeping up appearances.......

HappyNow

In other news, my signature is updated ready for next week's payday, and the unsecured debt is down by another £900. Next month it will be 1/3 paid off!!

And I've won a camera! It was third prize in a competition I entered. I have no use for a camera (I was aiming for the 1st prize TV) but apparently it's quite a good one so I will hopefully be able to sell it on eB*y. Anything it raises will go towards our weekend-away fund. So far that fund stands at £40, meaning we're not going far!

Honey_Bear

• Technically only £1 spent - I got paid for something, took the money straight into the local chocolatier and spent it with an additional quid from my purse. I was going to buy myself some as a personal treat to scoff as a pick-me-up but stern words to self directed me back to the hidden stash of fruit pastilles (hereinafter FPs) and OH eventually let me have a couple of tubes back.
• No booze.
• Sultanas, apricots and peas. Fail.
• Four fruit teas. Tick
• Two tubes of FPs scoffed. There are days when the only answer is bulk sugar, and yesterday was just such a day.
• Bathroom sparkled.
• I've found the website that I knew must exist that brings together a lot of independent animal rescue organisations and almost immediately thought I'd found 'my' dog, but I've just taken a phone call that advised me she's reserved. Still, there is one that fits my criteria, so there will be another. Eventually.
• Nothing on new business, although one of the places I do business with gave me a place to contact. That'll wait until next week.
• No spider. I didn't even switch that computer on.

Yesterday was a bit of a down day, and that happens sometimes; the most constructive thing I did was not expect too much of myself and to watch a Sarah Millican DVD that has to go back to the library today. She made me laugh which was what was wanted, but by gum she can swear! I had a great day on Wednesday, and I feel a lot better today.


Thanks for the information about training for loud noises Happy Now. I'll have a think about that.


I think a little light stalking is what the facilities provided by MSE are for, and it may be commonplace on all of the big forums on other sites. Either way, no need to apologise for it - and I imagine regular posters all do it!


Congratulations on winning the camera! I won £500 worth of clothing vouchers once, and a complete set of Encyclopaedia Brittanica - OH says that's why he fell for me! He saw them as he walked into the house the first time, in the olden days when books mattered.


Aaleigha, I think the work that all rescue organisations do is amazing, and I've had a really good look at the safe rescue dogs website and f'book page so thank you for the information and I hope your journey today goes well. I never weigh myself before I go to bed - we eat very heartily in the evenings, so I weigh myself first thing on Monday mornings. Is there anyone, any woman, who thinks she weighs the right amount?

Aaleigha

• start to work on decluttering this month clothing one drawer sorted second drawer done
• cook from scratch dailysame as yesterday so that is easy jp with tuna and hm coleslaw
• work on things raised in counselling (Fridays)counselling today really hard session but a real break through and will give me plenty to do during the week- today was a bit tearful but only because I spent 10 mins with some of the best people on the planet
• have at least 15 no spend days 3/15 - ooops due to no jeans fitting I bought some - and also used 60quid petrol on the rescue run
• no icecream (that will save some money) gave the ice cream to daughter to make it easier - she wants to know if I want it back NO
• serve myself smaller portions (I really need to lose weight)will weigh at bedtime forgot to weigh WILL do that tonight
• weight target 3lb not much but with meds that would be good 0/3
• walk at least three of the dogs at least 5 days of the week 1/5 walked a rescue dog but not my own

apart from the spending today was so good - spent the whole day with hubby rushing to near watford to pick up a new rescue dog and take to bristol where met by a fosterer to take to her home in Bridgend
I was told I was the most inappropriately dressed dog walker in the world - pictures were duly taken of my black dress and heeled shoes everyone else had boots or trainers on

hope you have both had great days

Honey_Bear

• Another spendy day, but only because I found the second £2.25 off a £15 spend at Sainsbobs that I thought I'd lost. It would have been churlish to refuse the offer. BBs and outdoor-reared bacon for tomorrow's breakfast duly bought.
• No booze. We went out this evening with friends to celebrate one of their birthday's and the lovely restaurant we went to happily opened my BBs (I knew they wouldn't stock it) put ice in a glass because the bottles weren't cold and served with a huge smile - no corkage. I heart Platters.
• Sultanas, apricots, beetroot, juice and peas. Tick.
• Four fruit teas. Tick
• A sliver of lemon drizzle cake may have been scoffed. OH went to a baby shower (he's never been to one before - and I still haven't!) and was given a slice for me, so again, it would have been churlish not to, wouldn't it? I made chocolate and ginger brownies for tomorrow and I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to resist them. 10 hours later the house still smells of chocolate.
• No flying. Positively grounded today.
• Much less stressed by being dogless. We can't always have everything we want in life the moment we want it.
• No work done. It's the weekend so I don't feel guilty.
• Spider was played briefly, a complete waste of about 10 minutes and then I caught up on The Great British Sewing Bee. Still strangely addictive. It gives me hope - there are people who are willing to be seen to be struggling with something, and love giving it their best shot even if they don't win. They all seem to be so nice!

HappyNow

Morning Aaleigha, what a lovely thing to do for the rescue dog - but black dress and heels?? Personally I alternate between wellies and trainers, always teamed with jeans in varying degrees of worn-outiness. Must try harder ! Hope you are reading this Honey Bear; Aaleigha is setting the dog-walking bar quite high for us :rotfl: . Sounds like you had a good day though (it's always good if you get to spend time with the best people on the planet ). Hope today is good too x


Morning HB (that makes you sound like a pencil, sorry. I shall shorten you to Honey from now on which makes you sound sweet!). Sorry Friday was a down day for you but it sounds like you're back to your usual self now - amazing what a sugar-fest can do. I've not seen the Sewing Bee but I assume it's along the lines of Great British Bake Off, which I love, so I will look out for it.

HappyNow

Day 7 done. Not impressive overall.

• No spends, plus Mr H did some paid work for a friend and is there again today, so that'll boost the Weekend Away Fund assuming he doesn't blow it all at the on-site catering van
• No alcohol, even though I was watching The Voice and there were mini wine bottles in the house. It really didn't bother me
• Only three portions of F & V for no good reason - we have plenty in the house. Will do better today
• Finished the box of Thorntons Continental and also ate two choccy biscuits. It's Barclays fault, I have a Premier account (non-fee paying) and they keep sending me emails to collect free rewards at Thorntons. I know I could ignore them, but somehow I never do.........
• Only two glasses of water. Then when I woke up this morning my lips felt all dry and rubbery, so I think my body is telling me it likes the water. I will have four today.
• Cleaning. Nope!
• No Words with Friends as Miss H is struggling with a uni deadline and my mum's computer has broken. I missed it.....

Honey_Bear

Wow! Just WOW!


I've been very up and down since darling Mrs Dog died. My emotions have been pretty volatile, with the smallest negative experience having a very powerful effect on my mood. What I hadn't done was link the POSITIVES that have also been occurring - until just now. The pattern is very, very simple.


On Tuesday, Friday and Saturday (ie yesterday) I drank four mugs of fruit tea. I had my better days on Wednesday, Saturday and feel very energised today and have tackled stuff today, ie the following days.


On Wednesday and Thursday I only drank two mugs of fruit tea and had horrible days on Thursday and Friday - very sluggish, and rather sad.


The cocoa had no effect at all, and coffee isn't a factor - some days I drink more than I should and other days I drink less. The BBs don't make any difference either; it is purely down to the fruit tea.


Clearly my mood and energy levels are dictated largely by hydration levels and I need to up the fruit tea (or water) amounts.


I am so, so grateful, Happy Now, for you putting the comment in about your four glasses of water day in February, and continuing it in March. I've wondered if hydration was an issue for me for some time, and this couldn't be clearer. Because I've been recording actual quantities consumed and can remember what my mood and energy levels were over the past five days I can do something about it.


As one of my favourite Flyladies put it, 'Wooty woot woot woot!'

HappyNow

That's fascinating Honey. I had a bit of a google and it seems to be thought of as a real 'thing' although I'd never heard of it. I imagine you're going to be upping the hydration now so it will be interesting to check that your energy/positivity levels stay high . Excellent, and something I shall monitor in myself too.


Day 8 here was a major success because I made sure it was!

• Only spends were to give Miss H the travelling money to come home next weekend plus £10 to buy some course books. No waste
• No booze
• Tinned peaches, baked beans (still can't believe they count!), peas, orange juice, apple
• About six chocolates and one biscuit. That's not bad for me
• Four glasses of water
• House tidied throughout and every room vacuumed
• About five mins of Words, would have like more but my two playmates weren't available!

Honey_Bear

In all my excitement I forgot to post about yesterday's compliance!

• Money was spent on yellow-stickered cream for quichey-flan type things and eggs while I was getting yellow-stickered cream for a dessert to take to friends for lunch.
• Zero alcohol - such a cheat this but I have to know there's one I fully intend to manage!
• Kale, sweet potato, cauliflower cheese, OJ, peach
• Four mugs of fruit tea quaffed
• Fail - I ate pudding, but that was because I made it and wanted other people to eat it, so I kind of had to.
• Tidying, tidying, tidying.
• Hours spent hunting for another dog but a strategy is beginning to form in my mind so I'm going to be slightly less obsessive about the search. My favourite charity has taken in another collie, so I'm waiting to hear about four assessments from them now, and longer-term, I might eventually allow myself a puppy.
• Sunday - day of rest. No business.
• No spider.

Honey_Bear

• Final vet's bill arrived, queried and paid.
• Zero alcohol.
• Sultanas, beetroot, apricots, prunes. Oops, missed my target.
• Four mugs of fruit tea.
• I ate some of the leftover pudding from yesterday. My excuse is that I was in shock from the size of the vet's bill.
• At least a couple of hours Flying.
• Very little time spent looking for another dog. The bill made me really wonder if I can afford another one just yet.
• No business.
• Yes spider.