My Busy Life

Mrs_Money_Penny

Happy Birthday

Molly41

Hello x

I have spent most of the morning reading through your thread and have subscribed. I hope you dont mind as I seem to have resonance with your situation.

Im a mum to 4 children too - ranging in age from 16 to 22 years. I have three boys and one girl - they were all rufty tufty kiddies especially my daughter as she was a tom boy. I still have full on parenting though and in some respects really wish things were quieter as the stress does not help my health. I cant see the day when they are independent as my eldest has lots of issues with debt and my youngest is poorly atm and my DD is off to university after extra study. This is all such a drain on our purse and on our emotional resilience. It seems to me that you have settled into a lovely relationship with your sons which gives me hope for the future.

I think I am the same age as you and am medically retired as I was a midwife but became ill. I applaud that you have managed to get back to work after your accident and hope one day something will be suitable for me. There is a long way to go though! I have a lot of spare time on my hands and need to find ways to fill my time and create a routine - I think your daily activities such as the gym and cinema are very positive. I also have "Their Royal Highnesses" aka Princesses Molly and Poppy (white westies) who keep me company and chase the black dog away, but I can't walk them, maybe one day.

Im also a member of the WI but dont attend meetings now as it was awfully cliquey. I do however go to Denman College a lot as they really support you to learn new skills and im very interested in quilting but am very new to it all. I can recommend the courses there and going by yourself is not a problem.

I also have a similar amount of weight to lose as you have and think i will focus on home-made foods. I struggle in the kitchen though and our kids are dreadfully whingey about the food we serve. I think we should concentrate on food we enjoy! Similarly I have cupboards and freezers stuffed to the gunnels so really need to sort it out and use it up. I also need to up my activity level and try and exercise a little. Your regime sounds exhausting but very positive.

I also need to declutter my clothes and toiletries - i have accrued loads over the years but will wait to try on until I have lost weight - my skirts are too snug atm.

Really hope you ad a good birthday and that your aunt is comfortable.
Kind Regards x

sidneysmum

Hi All - Thanks for the birthday messages. A special hello to Molly 41 and your lovely post. Thank you for going to so much trouble ! We seem to have a lot in common. I am in my forties and my two oldest sons are in their thirties (oh the shame!!!) and my youngest two are 26 and 23. We all tend to rub along quite well these days but its not always been easy, especially when we all lived together. As you know four children equals hard work. However that's a thing of the past and I am determined to enjoy every day. Its the first time in my life since being a teenager that I havent had someone to look after!! Well its just me and Sid now !! I am hoping that a decision will be made fairly soon as to if I will receive some compensation for my injuries (cant say too much) but I am keeping my fingers crossed as compensation would make my life a whole lot easier. PS. Good luck with the weight loss. I am 2 stone 6lb lighter than I was on New Years Day and I feel amazing compared to just over 4 months ago. Its the best thing I have ever done (apart from getting Sid !!)

Today has been quite bitty. I have done loads of things but in short bursts !! Submitted my meter reading to British Gas and paid what i owed for this week. Took Sid to the park then walked to town and back instead of going to the gym. Bought some milk on one of my little walks. Did a spot of gardening this morning then cleaned the lounge quite thoroughly.
This afternoon I went out with my friend and we went to the local shopping centre. I actually treated myself now that I am a size 10. I bought some black jeggins to match a black and white top I bought last week. I also bought some jade skinny jeans to match the other top I bought from Wallis last week. I also bought a pair of size 8 !!! jogging bottoms and a matching fleece from the M&S outlet shop. Lastly I bought a chunky gold coloured necklace to go with the tops I got last week. I have been waiting for the day when I could pick a size 10 up off the rack and it fit me......well it does now thankfully. All my hard work has been worth it and I intend buying myself a wardrobe full of new clothes as everything I own is massive on me.
After several cups of coffee back at my house my friend went home and I managed to mulch the front garden. I still have a few jobs to do in the garden but it is looking a king to what it did before the mulch. My son then came round and dropped off some leftover vegetables from his place of work for my pets to eat this week. If I get time later I will sort them out as they are all mixed up in a huge bag.
I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving day x

Mrs_Money_Penny

Congratulations on the weight loss. How lovely to buy new clothes. I want to lose weight and have been going to the gym the last few months. I haven't noticed a difference in my clothes yet but I do have lots more energy and feel better. Hopefully the weight loss will start soon. Have a lovely bank holiday sunny day you and Sid.

sidneysmum

Hi Mrs Moneypenny - Thanks for posting. Keep up the good work at the gym. When I started dieting in the new year I basically broke my weight loss journey into small chunks. I aimed to loose half a stone then moved on to the next half stone. On New Years Day I would not have believed that I could have lost the best part of two and a half stone by the end of April. Just persevere. I am so glad I did.

Today the weather in the North West has been glorious. Took Sid out very early then did a spot of gardening before walking to the gym. As its Bank Holiday there was no zumba class so I had 40 minutes on the running machine then walked home. After my shower I had a bit of a read in the sunshine. Mid afternoon I went to see my aunt who is now installed in her nursing home. She was obviously very confused at moving to a new place but I am sure that in a few days time she will be OK.
As I was sitting on my chair on the patio this afternoon it suddenly dawned on me that apart from the 2 days I go to work, I am actually living the life I have always wanted to live and am really enjoying it. I just hope I continue to feel like this and I hope eventually that i will be able to dispense with work full stop !!!!
Anyway I hope everyone is having a great moneysaving day x

Molly41

Hi x
Glad you have had a good day today. Hope your aunt settles quickly.

I wish that I had your attitude as regards your work situation and really hope that you are able to achieve your dream. I was medically retired and it has left a huge gaping hole in my life that I am unable to fill. There are so many hours in the day and night to fill. I have been retired for 5 years now and it does not get any easier. I think having a definite structure to you day is a must but what to fill it with?

sidneysmum

Hi Molly 41 - I try to be pretty positive about most things. I know when I suddenly found myself living on my own for the first time in my forties I made a decision. I could either hate every minute or try to enjoy it. I didn't just suddenly get the life i have now. I had to build up to it. I only discovered fitness in my mid thirties so going to the gym and attending loads of classes a week is a lifesaver. I really only walk to the gym to help pass the time and the more time I spend out on foot, the more people i get to see and the more conversations I have. I have never once felt lonely. I also joined the local libraray and found it is a great place for finding out what is going on locally. I am not sure whereabouts in the country you live but you could always see if there is a Cineworld cinema anywhere near you. A months membership is £15 and you can go as many times as you like. I call that a bargain. Whilst I am spending £15 per month at the cinema, just think how much money I`m not spending somewhere else. Anyway good luck x

Today had been the dreaded work and I was there very early. I therefore finished about 1.30. Dropped off at the retail park on my way home and treated myself to a pair of denim jeggins and a blue cardigan jacket. I am desperate for clothes that fit. There is no way I am going round in massive clothes this summer. I am the priority now !!!
Took Sid to the park, then did a further spot of gardening. Today has been glorious but I believe the weather is going to change so I wanted to get the last little jobs done before the rain sets in.
I went to visit my aunt at the nursing home at tea time. It is exactly 30 minutes to walk to the home from where i live so that's what I will be doing from now on. Now that she is settling in I have decided to give her a few days on her own and visit at weekend. On my way home i passed Matalan and popped in and bought some white patent wedge sandals. The will look lovely with the things I have bought so far. I saw a couple of maxi dresses I liked but they didn't have them in my size. Must have sold out over the long weekend.
I have just put a home made cheese and onion pie in the oven and some sausages for another day. Going to have some pie for my late tea.
Anyway I hope everyone is having a great moneysaving day x

vasseur

Glad you had a nice birthday Sidneysmum. I hope your aunt settles into her new home soon and starts to recover.

A great big :T for the weightloss. I knew you were losing it rapidly but I didn't realise it was quite that much! It must be great fun restocking your wardrobe. I'm a size 10 too and I have got some lovely pieces from mata1an recently.

Keep up the good work!

sidneysmum

Hi Polesalot - Thanks for dropping by. I am going to go to Matalan in a couple more days and see if they have got some more stock. A couple of the tops I saw were lovely but just not in my size. Hope all is well with you and your daughter xx

No work today thank God. I have been able to do just what I like when I like. Fantastic. Up nice and early this morning and took Sid to the park. Didnt hang around much afterwards as was at B&Q just after 7am where i bought 8 bags of gravel. Once I got it home I used it in my garden. I already have some gravel pathways etc but the gravel has diminished over the past couple of years. I used up 6 of the bags this morning and the gardens are starting to look really good. I decided to go to a lunchtime zumba class at the gym which I really enjoyed. This afternoon I emptied my bedroom wardrobe of all my winter clothes and put them in the spare bedroom wardrobe, then brought all my summer clothes in. I am going to have to be really ruthless and get rid of loads of stuff. Well at least its an excuse to treat myself to some new things.
As I didnt have any plans for this evening (not visiting my aunt every day now she is in the nursing home) I decided to got to another zumba class at the gym. Again another roaring success. I feel great with all this exercise. Get the endorphins going. A friend of mine was telling me that he weighs himself every morning when he gets up. He is at a weight that he wants to be at. If he gets on the scales one morning and they have gone up a couple of pounds, he has a lean day food wise. If the scales show he has lost weight, he eats a bit more. Might do this for a week or two just to see if I can get my weight to stay as it is. I don't want to weigh myself once a week and find I have lost another couple of pounds when I could do with staying as I am.
Anyway I hope everyone has had a great moneysaving day x

sidneysmum

Today has flown by. Up nice and early and out with Her Highness and back from the park before 7am. Went to B&Q first thing and bought 2 bags of slate pieces for an area in my front garden that needed topping up. Not sure yet if i still might need another bag. I am going to have another check later and see what I think. My gardens are looking wonderful now I have spent a bit of money on them and I am delighted. Filled my little car up with petrol this morning. I have treated my youngest son to his car tax today so I am going to have to be a bit careful till pay day. At least I know that I wont need to buy any more petrol.
Made a pan of corned beef hash using up the last of my tins of corned beef. It has made 4 huge portions.
Went to my dance aerobics class this morning, followed by 40 mins on the running machine. I weighed myself this morning as planned and I have stayed the same which is what i want. Going to monitor my weight closely for the next few weeks.
This afternoon I went to the cinema and went to see a Disney film called "chimpanzee". It was a wildlife film and made a nice change from the usual. Called at our local discount bakery shop and bought 2 huge M&S strawberry pies which I have cut up into 8 portions each and put in the freezer. I love having a sweet treat in the evening as a reward for exercising.
Even though I have lost the weight I wanted to, I have decided to have a go at body brushing when I can remember !! I am going to see if the general condition of my skin improves by being brushed. We shall see. Had another use up on the toiletries front - a deodorant. Still got lots of stuff in my landing cupboard but its reducing !
Finally...... I have cancelled my tv licence. I have had the tv on 3 times this year. Its just a waste of money for me. I am just not interested. When my children / husband were at home it was money well spent but I am paying over £100+ per year for nothing. Anyway I am in the process of getting a refund for my licence. I have been thinking about cancelling for ages and am finally glad I have made the decision.
Anyway I hope everyone is having a great moneysaving day x