Apple muncher's number crunching

apple_muncher

Thank you shs - it does indeed feel like that. And I am back to work on Thurs...

greent

Oh, apple, you've really been through the mill recently I'm so sorry to hear there's a new thing for you to deal with xx

apple_muncher

My last day of hols and we all trundled up to Lunnon to go to the Museum of Childhood. Dd had been there in y1 and was chuffed to be going again. We also went further along, to a Park, where she found a little friend to play with. We are all rather worn out now!

I cannot get my head around the fact that I have to get up and go to work tomorrow. I know that I'll have a mass of paperwork that will need doing (and that I have approached in a true ostrich way). I also know that I do not want to talk to anyone whilst there. Given that I have no choice but to face up to the paperwork and talk to people, I need a plan.

I shall aim to get in fairly early and get up to my teaching room without being seen, where I can write up a paper list of necessary docs, along with their due dates. And I shall tackle the one that is due in first. I shall also make a plan to tackle the rest - ie get hold of data I need to analyse.

I shall take my own lunch. Food will be provided but it is often not suitable for me to eat anyway, and this may give me time alone. The whole day is taken up with 'organised stuff', with more flexible time being allocated to Friday, but I don't work on Fri, so don't get the benefit of that. There is no rush for me to get home,as dh is around with dd, so I may not finish early (I'll not be teaching the last lesson of a Thurs this year).

Enough wittering!

apple_muncher

NST: Sailing into September Welcome to September’s Ninja Saving Turtles challenge – it is the start of Autumn on 22nd September when we have the Autumn Equinox and on 29th September we have Michaelmas Day to celebrate the end of harvest.

Also on 29th September Horatio Nelson was born – Wikipedia says this about him ‘He was noted for his inspirational leadership, superb grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics, all of which resulted in a number of decisive naval victories.’.
I believe that all us Turtles are Nelson, we are inspirational and we are taking the lead in our own households, we are very good at strategy – just look at our challenges each month and most of all we may be seen by others as unconventional but really we are making the most of what we have and planning for our futures with victories along the way.
Everyone needs to be more like Nelson!!!

Rules:

Spends – aim for at least 14 NSD’s.

Eating – menu plan for September. Can you start using up bits in the freezer ready to make room for Christmas food? Make sure you take lunch to work every day.

Presents – make your Christmas lists. Who needs a present and who will just have a card? Can you reduce any of the people you ‘have’ to get presents for? Could you make any presents - we have plenty of time to prepare things? Do you need sellotape/wrapping paper/bows etc? What are you doing/where are you going for Xmas this year? Can you start buying food ready – remember a lot of meat goes up in price from the end of November so get it early while you can. (This might be controversial but anything you buy from your Xmas list this month will not count towards a spend day unless you buy other stuff as well – I want everyone to be well underway for Xmas by the end of September)

Time – make time for yourself this month. Even if it’s only 10 minutes a day do something for yourself whether that is going for a walk, having a bath with loads of bubbles or sitting outside with a drink – we need to make the most of the evenings.

Empty – pick a drawer or cupboard to empty and sort through. If it’s the junk drawer what can you do to stop it becoming a junk drawer? Keep on top of this drawer/cupboard all month so nothing that shouldn’t be there goes in.

Meet – meet up with a friend/family member who you have not seen for ages but keep meaning to. Ring/email/text them now and arrange something for this month.

Bed– either start bedding down the garden for winter or you will start making the bedroom suitable for the cooler weather.
In the garden, start sorting out the pots – do they need a wash before being stored for winter? Does the garden furniture need any oil/paint before it gets put away for winter? Do any flowers/bushes need cutting back yet?
In the bedroom, do you need to put the winter duvet on? Do any duvets need washing? Can you have a clear out – clean under the bed, wash down the bedside tables?

Exercise – do as much exercise as possible, aim for every 2 days as a minimum. Can you make the most of these evenings before it gets dark at 5pm? For those like me who have dogs, can you walk them a different route or for longer?

Reading – the first public lending library opened on 6th September 1852. If you have not yet joined your local library could you join it? Everyone will read a book during this month and report back with comments – hopefully it will encourage others to try new books. Books can be either fiction or non-fiction.

• The challenge will run from 1st September 00:01 until 30th September 00:00.

• Everyone is to budget their income for the month and remember to pay your debts first.

• To celebrate Michaelmas Day I would like you all to donate to a food bank or to host a share meal with friends/family. I used to love the Harvest Festivals when I was a child; everyone would bring in a tin of food to be donated to the local food bank and the local vicar would do a lovely service all about harvest. Could this tie in with the Meet part of our challenge?

• Were you a NST last year? 12 months ago applemuncher asked:
  12 months from now, you will be one year older.
  But will you be one year better?
  If you want to change where you are in your life, it is up to YOU and you alone.
  Where do you want to be in 12 months’ time?
  Plan for your future.
  So what did you want to happen in 12 months -has it happened?
  
  Here is a link to Sept 2014 – find your post and report back:
  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5314988

So who would like to join me for September?

apple_muncher

The First Day Back has been survived. Paperwork tasks have been distributed and although I do still have plenty to do before Monday, it is less overwhelming than before.

Must remember to prep some teaching at some point too...

A first NSD of the month and I shall read my book in a while.

I had several lovely cuddles from colleagues today with lovely words. And some tears were shed too. My Head basically gave me licence to take time off if needed, which is liberating.

apple_muncher

Who took the sun away? Can we please have it back...

Dd and I are chilling out with our tablets and Harry Potter books this morning. I have done a little lesson prep as I am teaching y1 on Mon. Yikes. I've decided to use bunnies in the infant classes and already have a boy one in the school colours, but not a girl one. So I have had to cut out another bunny...

Dh, meanwhile, is having an interview!

Having done a load of ironing, I realised that I really, truly do have enough work clothes. No more purchases required.

muddywhitechicken

Fingers crossed that Mr Apple's interview goes well

Enjoy your chilled out day!

apple_muncher

Dh says that he wasn't the person they need for the job. He had quite a nice time, and may be contacting an old work colleague to tell him about the job as he thinks it would suit him.

So, dh may now apply to aldee...


Dd and I popped over to see a friend for a couple of hours. We always have an uplifting time over there. I told my friend that there are times when I simply want a job, not a career. But given that my current workplace is so lovely and pays me pretty well, I'll be staying put until I get kicked out!

I have been kicking around the fact that dd may well have to go dairy free, and am slowly starting to get my head around it. I'm not fully there, by any measure, but it scares me less than it did yesterday.

Another NSD in the bag so 2/14.

Tomorrow:
-go for a run
-aldee shop
-wrose shop for gf pizza bases
-put some of dd's Rbow Magic books for sale
-some will and money stuff

apple_muncher

I took dd to the ch shops this morning and boy did we get a good haul! 7 dvds for £1.40, 2 of which were boxsets containing 7 dvds each. 4 books for 10p each, 4 embroidery threads for 50p each. A bag of doll clothes for £3.50, a duvet cover for bunting for £1.50, 2 dolls for £1 each for dd to mangle and adapt. Result!

And I went for a run this morning without falling over. Another result!

`

earthgirl

Sounds great Apple. Glad you got work organised. I'm going to be really strict this month and make/update a to do list every two days. If I don't I get stressed - I can't hold it in my head. Hope it goes well next week.