NSK: The June Overhaul!!!

apple_muncher

I got in an exercise session early this morning, but dd came downstairs when I was only part way through - 7am on a Saturday! She had had a bad dream and woken up. However, she's pretty tired out now, so I hope she can get to sleep quickly.

Today, I am grateful for dd's climbing frame, for easy meals, for sewing, for tissues, for yet another lovely friend.

We spent some pennies at dd's school fair today - all planned but I'll not class it as an NSD. The sunshine was therapeutic - last year I helped set up in the wind and rain!

Fmess

It is very quiet on here today!

Thought today was going to be a spendy day so bought Freddo from the local shop (20p) then didn't need to spend again! Didn't want to waste the spendy day so bought bread which we'll need on Monday and sunglasses (£3.50!!) as mine broke last week and I've been squinting whilst driving which is giving me eye ache.

Exercise session done

mothernerd

Slow start to the day (4 different pills and 4 different creams don't help - only had one lot of painkillers and only took them because they should be taken with food, so had them first thing rather than scramble round trying to find something I could eat with them, if I needed them later).

Had a strange night - DS3 wasn't here when I got back from mum's and as I didn't know where he was, I was trying to stay awake in case he came home on a late bus and woke in the middle of the night half sitting up/ half fallen over.

Tried fb a couple of times during the day to see if he was 'talking' to anyone and give me a clue where he was - desperately hoping this wasn't the weekend of the big event in Manchester (would have been bringing 3 other people back with him if it was). Luckily that is next month (did find out he was staying with a friend but didn't know if he was in Manchester or Chester).

Meanwhile have been cracking on with jobs - 2 loads of washing (mostly dried and back inside), washing up mountain tackled, including roasting tins and baking trays (planning baking session, small roasting tin will be turkey and leek pie with [porridge oat] crumble topping), undercoated side of bathroom cupboard (took 9 minutes, 3 on steps to do top, 3 stood on floor to do middle and 3 sat on the steps to reach the bottom bit), sprayed path, edge and out of place weeds with weedkiller (avoiding plants), emptied drip bucket (old 75l kitchen bin) one jugful at a time and walked up and down garden watering anything that needed it.

Still lots more to do but satisfied with progress - had several rest breaks and came in as soon as my leg started to ache. However I have been a BAD MOTHERNERD. I have had Indian takeaway. Yes it's against the rules and no strictly speaking I can't afford it (hoping to do a mini card shuffle which will temporarily increase my debt - fees - but should put me a week or two ahead in future months instead of being frightened to breathe until all the mid-month dds go out).

Thing is, I could be going out for a free meal tomorrow. You know the old adage 'there's no such thing as a free lunch'. Well if I were to be in debt for the next 10 years (which I have absolutely no intention of being) it would be less stressful than accepting this particular free meal.

About a month ago DS1 told me that my ex (aka the Pink Whale) was planning a meal to celebrate his birthday/ retirement with our 3 sons. I last spoke to my ex at Easter of last year and he was so obnoxious that I put the phone down on him and neither myself nor DS3 has spoken to him since. DS3 is waiting for an apology but I have been waiting for at least 20 years (was pregnant with DS3 when I found out about his gambling, DS3 was 3 when I divorced him), so not holding much hope.

DS1 said it might clash with his and gf's visit to gf's mother (subtext he was going to make sure it did) in Greece. Earlier this month DS3 said he had an email about it and I was now included. Then my mother got added. DS3 and I discussed it. Nearly came on here for advice on how to word my refusal (just the thought of it was churning my insides). DS3 decided he would go, which I thought was very brave - he struggles with DS2 and when, as a teenager, he was the only one who would go to visit his father, he would often come back in floods of tears having been subjected to a barrage of criticism of himself and questions about his brothers.

Then I had to decide whether I could just decline on my mother's behalf or whether I had to ask her (wrote a long post on here then deleted it as the situation just kept on getting more complicated). Phoned mum - she wanted to go because she hadn't seen DS2 since his 21st birthday, but wanted to take her partner (of 17 years, but who hadn't been included in the invite - she said she would pay for him). She then made a stupid remark which upset DS3 who then decided he wasn't going (although I haven't told her why he isn't going).

So spent 2 weeks relaying requests (meal preferences, times - please can you ask daddy not to be late because mum's partner will have a meltdown and upset grandma [even before his dementia if they were going out for the day he would be sat be the table with his hat and coat on at 6am for a 10am start]). Yesterday (Friday - been writing way too long, well it will send you all to sleep) found out that mum's cousin and her husband are included. DS2 has been begging her to go. Feel really sorry (and slightly guilty) for her husband - don't think he has recovered from being stuck in the waiting room with mum's partner as he and his daughter went to hospital with them when mum fell down the stairs and he doesn't like curry - mum's cousin makes herself one when he is going to be out all day.

Sorry I am sure everyone has difficult family members. Have been mostly living off leftovers this week (ekeing out going well) but it has been a bit dull and today's (short of time) were near the bottom of the barrel and have got increasingly hungry as the day progressed. So ordered the takeaway in one of my rest breaks. It's a reward I haven't strictly earned yet - but it was good. Now DS3 has come home and I told him I wished he had stayed where he was - not putting it past ex to turn up on the doorstep tomorrow. DS3 says he will throw him out if I want - wasn't planning on letting him over the doorstep. Would just rather not see him at all.

traveller

Hi everyone, I have been royally MIA lately Work has just been nuts and I haven't known whether I'm coming or going for the last couple of weeks and absolutely cream crackered once through the door.

Dolly-I too have to buy cream for my childrens eczema two different ones for two different children:mad: both at just over £10 a pop. I totally agree that the sludge you get prescribed just doesn't do the trick for us. And what an interesting discussion regarding excercise:)

I have not been able to keep up with the shred, as quite frankly, I was finding it boring As a consequence, I'd put it off andend up doing nothing. Now, my target is at least 15 minutes of something, sit up, press up and leg excercise combos. I then dramatically cut my eating when I'm not at work as I realised when I'm not doing the school/work run, I'm eating out of boredom and because there are cakes /biscuits or whatever, to be eaten, but I'm not actually hungry-just very greedy. I've started this since the beginning of the month and have lost a little :T

On the spending front, renewed my passport on the 10th. That was always on the cards and due to cash back from previous months I've in total spent £90 on passports for 2 adult and 1 child :T Although whether I see it before my DFD at this rate remains to be seen

My daughter is going to a festival :eek: I have no idea what it entails really, but her aunty has promised to lend her a tent ect and her dad paid for it £158.00 including coach return from Victoria to Bristol and festival ticket as a reward for her hard work on her A levels. I will have to chip in money for clothes ect.

I forgot my lunch on Tuesday :mad: and wasted £3.99 on a chicken and chips meals which was vile! Now I double check it's in my bag!
Other than the above, nothing doing. I have not caught on this thread yet, so hugs to everyone that needs them. Take care and keep blitzing the debts :T

dolly84

mothernerd - if you don't want to go to the meal just don't go, don't worry about what others think or feel obliged to keep the peace.

I am hoping to not spend any money today and should have money coming in from an ebay sale which is cash on collection. The fees for that item will have to come out of the money from the other item I sold earlier in the week - 10% fees is such a lot imo.

We spent £12.08 yesterday on bike bits and bobs and £1 on peanuts for DH and £16 on dog food.

phoenix_dragon

Mothernerd as dolly84 said, don't go to the meal. It sounds like an education in stress that you just don't need.

I've been naughty and binge-spent on the credit card All stuff I needed/wanted but could have waited for. And worst of all have gone over £40 over budget on food and will need to spend more. At least I know now why we always end the month in overdraft or having to spend on the credit card - we spend far more than I thought on food and household items. I've put together a meal plan so hopefully that will help bring costs down.

traveller

I agree mothernerd -don't go. I think it must be a season for it as my ex has invited me for a private chat and a meal as he calls it to discuss my son. I told him we needed to talk (over the phone) in march about certain issues he was having. I heard nothing. Then on Wednesday I get that text :mad: I didn't bother reply!

Phoenix, try to halve the overspend next month If you aim for that you will probably eliminate it quicker than trying not to do it at all. I can't get over trying not to spend and seemingly going over. Yet, when I'm not trying to do it, I'm well within budget At least your aware of it, that's the main thing.

apple_muncher

mothernerd, what an emotional drain! I don't think I'd cope with going, myself.

Today I am grateful for a peaceful day, for a good kids klub, for a whole gaggle of children playing out the front for dd to join in, for finishing off my 'quota' of robins, for daisies.


Am already looking forward to Julys challenge. I've printed out a 'Jiggle free July' challenge sheet to do alongside my usual workouts.

mothernerd

Thanks for all your support - DS3 and I both replied that we weren't going but think I just needed to vent - do not understand why after all the things he has done, he expects us all to join him in playing happy families. I did go to both his parents funerals - asked the boys and they wanted me to go with them (I sat at the back for the service, in fact stayed outside minding the dog for one of them - thought they had got clearance for dog to attend then wobbled at the end). After his mother died all his family wanted to know if I would be taking him back, now that my main rival had gone - he had obviously never told any of them about his gambling. If you have ever watched 'My name is Earl' you will understand this is an essential step to recovery. He did attend an excellent GA group for a while but only took from it the bits he liked (so no apology, no making amends).

Anyway much calmer today and have had a lovely time. Dramatic start -took my anti-cholesterol pill in mistake for the hay fever pill (been worried about this since the last lot arrived, now white instead of brown). Instructions said consult a doctor or go to casualty so did a ring round (borough hospital, put through to A & E but ward sister couldn't give advice on phone, had to ring own gp to get number for on call doctor). Anyway nice doctor phoned me back and said it wasn't a problem at the dosage I am on.

Watered indoor seeds - need to make some decisions/ have a cull. Planted 9 blackcurrant bushes - have been lurking in shed/ vestibule. Re-attached shed door and started to put padbolt on (gave up after dropping all 4 screws - needed an extra hand). Lots of weeding. All indoor bulb bowls from Christmas (left outside for the leaves to die down) and about 20 medium plant pots (unsuccessful lavender cuttings) emptied into borders. Tidied up at the front (there were still lumps of plaster in the little edge border). Got hot and sweaty at least five times.

Came in to eat and top up creams - hydrocortisone and sun cream. Could do more but think I will go down the hot bath and gentle unwind route. Physiotherapy tomorrow - he can't give me more exercises because i can't do these ones yet.

nyc_451

Done some exercising. Started off while on the phone - was doing squats and lifting my legs for half an hour, even broke a sweat but the person on the other end hasn't noticed anything