Nst; fearless february

thriftylass

Synonymous wrote: »

Bobarella and any other cyclists - any advice on helmets? I want to get one but am aware that I might misguidedly pay too much in the name of safety. Do they all meet a certain standard anyway? My commuting is very suburban so perhaps not as high risk as in the city. Any advice would be much appreciated

Hugs to everyone x

I have got this one. Which is mid range and looks quite stylish too. Some look just hidious :rotfl: or too "professional" IYKWIM for us casual riders. I don't think I paid £35 for it, must have gotten it in the sales. I also think most need to follow safety regulations now or have been tested etc. But it should tell you in the description. Mine is.

WelshKitty85

Hi everyone!

Thanks for the get well wishes. Feeling much better today, cough/cold seems to have gone, but am just feeling really tired.

Have been making the most of my day off though and headed back into Snowdonia. Took the scenic route to Llanberis and went to the slate museum, which is free of charge. Just had to pay to park (£4) and put 50p donation into a bucket. Spent over 4 hours there, which I think is great for a free attraction, and took a picnic with us for lunch (just wish I had taken a flask - it was freezing!). They had a train exhibition on today too so the little ones had lots of rides on them.

DHs car has been for a repair which cost £30, but the garage he purchased it from have said they will send him a cheque to cover it, so I hope they stick to their word.

DS is at rugby again tonight so, thanks to the rain, I think I will have plenty of washing to do when he gets home.

mothernerd

Thanks for all your kind words. Came on the site briefly this morning and it cheered me up. Didn't sleep well. Read from 2am until 3am as I obviously wasn't going to sleep, despite feeling exhausted. Woke up with headache, earache and a sore jaw - think I must sleep with my jaw clenched when I am wound up.

Wasn't sure whether I was up to going to mum's or if it was worse to stay here and possibly stew all day. So being selfish (in the best possible way) I had my porridge and yoghurt, gathered all my clean clothes and toiletries, went to the library for a good selection of books and eventually got to mum's. Phoned for a taxi and they weren't answering, dismissed negative thoughts about the universe conspiring against me and carried on to the bus stop (taxi place had shutters down).

Only me mum and her partner today as grand-daughters (+partners, children and assorted dogs) were making their way back from holidays so a nice quiet day, lots of nice food. I so wanted to be good but was faced with chocolate eclairs, lemon meringue pie, ginger cake and some flapjacks I wouldn't even look at for fear of putting on weight. Mum is practicing for the Church Summer Fair.

Lovely shower and hair wash and I can now put my own socks on. I managed taking them off (4 attempts, 4 different positions) and tying my shoelaces from last weekend but first time I have got socks on (shoes you can shove your feet in and pull the little loop at the back, socks you need to lean forward all the way to the toes).

So I'm going to continue relaxing, have a good sleep and then return to the fray tomorrow. I have two frogs as it is now time to give written notice to the bad estate agent and if I can reach my old contract law notes,it's probably worth a read through. Other MSE'ers experiences with futiliy were a bit daunting but someone mentioned the small claims court which was something that had occurred to me overnight. Learned how to do that years ago, in case I needed it to help clients.

lilt if it is something you budgeted for, there is no problem.

Today I am grateful for warmth (so cold here after the house where the fire never goes out), for library books and lovely food (even if I suffer tomorrow).

Bobarella

Hi Synonymous
The whole cycle helmet thing is contentious. When we were looking I did some research. Apparently cycle helmets are only designed to withstand impact at up to 12 miles per hour. For them to offer any protection they must be done up properly and fit correctly.
I felt from the various statistics on actual use in an accident I was not prepared to spend a fortune as it doesn't seem you get the benefits as with say expensive running shoes vs cheap ones (actually for running in not as fashion wear)
The one my husband and I wear is a £10 model bought via amazon with amazon trade in credits.
Some people decide not to wear them altogether. I do however highly recommend being as visible as possible so bright coloured jacket or backpack and lights are vital. You will be shocked how cars just don't see non cars at times so you have to ride for the most stupid person on the road.
Good luck with it all.
Bob

Fmess

Afternoon all,

It's very quiet on here today, are we all eating frogs whilst counting down the days until payday?

I'm trying to make myself do my frig now, hence my being on here procrastinating.

Yesterday and today are spendy days but might be able to salvage tomorrow, if I can pay online tonight for something I need to pick up tomorrow. Done a 5km run this morning and will walk all the dogs after the frog is done so x2 for exercise today.

Hope you are all well, role on Wednesday and payday!

Bobarella

Hi Fmess
God yes the payday March. I think I have 6 days to go. My food budget is blown thanks to half term extra food.
I have spent the day looking after my son. My OH is working. He's a bit poorly with a cold but not to the extent he didn't just make me drag him round the block on his wheelies. Now I need a sit down.
I transferred £100 back from my emergency fund to cover the rising OD. At least it's an option which is positive right?

WelshKitty85

Forgive me Mothernerd, for I have sinned. I ordered a take away last night. £17 wasted on pizza, kebab and cheesey chips. It was actually really good, but I feel terrible about it today.

In addition, I have been completely unorganised today and had no breakfast, only just got to work in time, and took nothing for my lunch. On the plus side, I forgot my purse so couldn't buy the lunch that I went to the shops to buy. On the other hand, I have just got home from work starving! To top it off, I have just read that one of the cafes in town was giving out free tasters of food so had I known I could have had some free food!

However, I have made a plan to get more organised and have printed off some weekly planners that let me organise my time hour by hour. I have filled them in for the next few weeks and have even included 15 minutes each day for 'me time'. My skin is awfully dry at the moment so am planning to use my time to steam my face and moisturise.

apple_muncher

I've had a wonderful day! Dh took dd to her dance classes so I did a mega workout (proper warm up and cool down too!). Dd's awaited package arrived and she played with it for aaaages. I walked up to the shops and got hair dye and did an aldee shop (under £17 - yay). Dd had a friend round to play. My friend came round with her 4 yo son and he played with the girls whilst we chatted and caught up. Dd has eaten a huge tea (many food issues here so I'm cheering wildly inside ) and put on Barbie in the Nutcracker and has been dancing along to it. 4 more bunnies have been finished (yes, mothernerd, I made about 20+ as Cmas presents, but am now making some for a summer fair - or an Easter one if one crops up and I get a wiggle on! Am very impressed that you remembered :T) and tea is prepared - AGCJ pork mince meatballs and my own yummy tom sauce.


bob - good move on the money sorting out :T.

Fmess - awesome exercising :T.

Welshkitty - we all have blips, so get off the naughty step! And you have already put in a plan of action to prevent a repeat. Go you!!

mothernerd - yippee to the socks! I know how long it took my dad to get to that point. A little more independance gained. Hope you are feeling generally better today - sending you lots of hugs anyway.

Fmess

I got a Fitbit :j I'm so excited! I waited until they reduced the price (as a new model came out last month) and used a voucher so got 30% off Plus I used birthday money I had put to one side so it didn't cost me anything

All other spends were planned ones, will change totals when I get on my computer.

mothernerd

Welsh Kitty you are forgiven. I am having terrible cravings atm for all the bad things including the dreaded kebab (never had them very often even when health issues weren't prominent,so why are they torturing me now?).
Good recovery - you recognised the problem and took steps to prevent it happening again.

We all want (need?) a takeaway now and then. We just need to ensure that it is an occasional blip and not a money draining habit. Or believe that one mistake gives us license to go completely off the rails, like a dieter with a cream cake following up with a plate load of chips (I was going to do a list but am going to stop as I am making myself hungry again). I have so far managed to curb the takeaway by substituting something less harmful and/or expensive even though not an optimum choice.

DS3 has just made a hypocrite of me. Someone knocked at the door. Despite asking me earlier about the curries I made for him the other day (now mostly frozen but with a choice of 3 still in the fridge) he has ordered Chinese for himself. He came upstairs with a bowl of noodles, chips and curry and waited for me to ask for a chip, whereupon he produced a nearly full bag of chips, for me. He's bought himself a second curry for tomorrow so may as well freeze the other three and the chops I got out earlier (he was asleep) can be cooked tomorrow (might make another curry with some of them). My blood test on Monday isn't going to be great.

Frogs are being eaten I have written the letter giving notice to the bad estate agents and it's been posted first class recorded. They phoned whilst I was at the Post Office, DS3 told them I would be back in 5 minutes but they haven't phoned again so it can't be a viewing, must be another attempt to make me drop the price.

I have also mopped the bathroom. DS3 had to pull things out of the bathroom and I could only use a little bit of water in the bucket so the rest of the house will have to wait.

I have an outline of the e-mail for futility (the other account needs a simpler reply). Going to use their own words against them and am not accepting the token £100 but they have made so many mistakes that it is difficult to send a simple reply so getting all my points in order. I needed a sleep after the mopping so not a lot more done. Got myself taken off a couple more mailing lists as well.

Weather was dreadful early on, rain turning to hail but a lovely afternoon so have brought in a sheet and a quilt cover. Cover needs ironing and pinning in place over a light quilt (original silk cover has faded and disintegrated in places). Hand quilting the new cover in place (quilt covers all but a foot at each end) is going to be my project for March but setting it up ready now.

Oh spent money as wanted more diet decaff cake (something else that needs cutting back again) but also reduced price bread and 3 dozen reduced eggs which are coming out of March's budget (have a box of ten or a dozen which will get me through the week but have baking planned, will do quiches and mash cooked boiled eggs and freeze for sandwiches next month).

Today I am grateful for sleep (got myself back to a peaceful place today), for good books and blue skies. I lay watching fluffy clouds scudding across my roof window when I woke up.