Get a grip woman!

Suffolk_lass

Yes, hence plan B to check my personal tax account again when we get back. The P45 will have gone to them (and they were told in advance, if normal practice was followed) so it comes down to nobody wanting a new retiree to be short and the auto settings on the pay system, if I was taking in all the details.

Suffolk_lass

Not my most successful day!

We got out in the garden, it was cold but sunny. "Let's clear the overgrown hedging (it is Blackthorn, with lethal thorns), brambles and newly shooting nettles and periwinkle!" I said! "before they really get going", I said.

So we did. :eek: Four hours later we stopped as DH was fearful for his back.

I had so many thorn tips in my hands. I have soaked them, squeezed them, picked at them with a needle (sterilised) and closely peered at them. I now have very sore hands with several bruises, and I am convinced some remain.

We still have one really troublesome area to clear of brambles, periwinkle and self-seeded perennial sweetpea and then I think we can get to the path that has euphorbia growing and spreading under the paving slabs, gravel and membrane that were supposed to be the barrier. Another day in Paradise awaits us then.

A bit of light relief in prospect too. We need to do a dump run and maintain the momentum, and collect DH's "new" metal router and pillar drill that he is buying from a neighbour. We know how to live!

I must, must, must plant chilli and tomato seeds today too.

Karmacat

You have my sympathies, SL, you *know* I've been travelling that path recently. Take care of your backs, both of you - it's *such* hard work! Especially when the "light relief" is doing a dump run :eek: :rotfl:

Suffolk_lass

Infected hands are recovering, implying the tips of the thorns are out - I must go look at thorn-proof gloves.

I am wondering what has happened in my JL CC account as the payment has not gone. It is normally the 10th (was 11th in Feb) and not even showing yet for tomorrow. I wonder if it is based on a 30/31 day month and 28 in Feb has taken it out of step. I might just be noticing it as I have time to do so. I will check again Thursday.

Oops, must get a wiggle on - 3 things to do before 11.30

Suffolk_lass

Well JL CC account will hit my CA tomorrow. It is the last really humungous one but next month will be high because the house insurance needs paying this month.

I have bought some dense leather gloves but I probably need goatskin ones to protect properly - I will see how I go.

While at the garden centre I looked at their clearance section and some of their unsold Xmas promos were featuring large and many. I picked up a tough bag with a stainless steel trowel and hand fork with ash handles in it for £12.99 (reduced from £20) - I thought this was good value and when I unpacked it, it turns out the bag is a trug/apron. Too small for me but I know someone who will like that!

I am so lazy this morning. I think it's the weather!

Suffolk_lass

Right. A bit of life focus needed. I have not posted for nearly a week!

Yesterday we took our dear friends and DS out for lunch - which was a lovely treat. Today, I have paid the house and contents insurance and TT's both the bank accounts - £5.20 was the rewards money, sitting in the running costs Coop account, and £8.30 was lurking in the bills account. I also swept the accumulated surplus from the TT savings account into the mortgage OP as it took the mortgage under the £35k marker.

Other than that, the money news is fairly quiet, with all the RS having taken their £250 now and with £1500 sitting in my new TSB account. I have the card for that now but have yet to receive the PIN.

I am reflecting on what I am eating, as my weight has crept up and I have my annual health check at the Doc's this afternoon. I think I am lighter by pounds rather than a stone compared to last year but we will see. I am also eating stuff I know is bad for me. I am going to pare back my diet this week to see if I feel better (I know I shall!) - the big difference between this week and last is that I have brought 12 crates of papers into the dining room to go through (part of retaking my ability to keep my life up to date) - anyway the relationship to eating is because three really heavy crates are in front of the dresser with the Easter chocolate in, rendering it inaccessible. I have no willpower at the moment. Anyway, there are a few H+buns left but otherwise we are good to stop eating carp and about time too! After reading about others feeling really tired I am going to concentrate on eating lots of vitamin-rich foods to boost my immune system and mitigate some of my aches and tiredness.

Do feel free to ignore the rest of this post but my degree books are in one of the above-mentioned crates and nutrition was one of my final year topics - so after a bit of revision, and mostly for my reference, here goes:

For B-Complex vitamins, to reduce my tiredness and boost my immune system -

Vitamin B1 (Thiamine): Is most obviously in fortified cereals, rice, wheat, multi-grain bread, and whole-wheat pasta (none of these are regularly in my diet). My options are better with pulses or lentils such as split green lentils, red lentils and split chick peas as they are loaded with Vitamin B1. I can also go dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach, asparagus, fenugreek, lettuce and cabbage. Some other food items that have lesser amounts of B1 are whole grains such as wheat germ, pork, fish, egg, milk, and nuts.
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin): Best sources include eggs, chicken, fish, legumes (such as peas and lentils). Also, milk and milk products such as yogurt and cheese, nuts are loaded with B2. I can also add green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli (and asparagus when it is in season).
Vitamin B3 (Niacin): is found in chicken, salmon, tuna and legumes (also whole-wheat pasta and whole wheat, again, that I do not eat regularly).
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid - which is water soluble): I include avocados, broccoli, kale, meat, whole grains, (an occasional potato), eggs, and legumes.
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine): Foods such as potatoes, eggs, beans and red meat are high in B6.
Vitamin B7 Biotin: The richest dietary sources of biotin are liver and egg yolks. To a lesser degree, avocado, salmon and pork are good sources of biotin.
Vitamin B9 (Folate): Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, fenugreek, turnip greens, and asparagus. Also to a lesser degree; legumes, dried beans and fresh orange juice (fortified bread, cereals and rice is also loaded with folate)
Vitamin B12 (Cobalamin): fish, red meat, eggs, poultry, milk, milk products and cheese. Also soya products and cereals (but not for me).

I will also include frozen berries (especially raspberries), for extra magnesium, which is essential to stop muscle cramps and aches, and tiredness. Mostly, I am including them because I like them with natural full fat greek-style yogurt as a dessert!

redofromstart

My TSB PIN came the day after the card so hopefully yours will arrive today.

The B vitamin stuff is interesting, my DS was talking about symptoms of deficiency and I was busy nodding along but your list is helpful as I can see where I might have an issue.

Karmacat

Great post, SL! I get why you mentioned nutrition on my thread now, yay! Okay, so, of the foods that you mention above, these are the easy ones for me:
B1 rice, lentils, chick peas.
B2 eggs, peas, lentils, goats cheese, frozen broccoli.
B3 legumes
B5 avocado (I drizzle avocado oil, though not regularly enough), eggs (not regularly enough), legumes.
B6 eggs and beans.
B7 eggs and avocado

B9 green leafy veg and beans
B12 eggs and goats cheese


I can do frozen raspberries



Hope you don't mind me pinching it and making notes on *your* thread, but thats really valuable.

Suffolk_lass

Thanks redo - no post yet today. I have a cheque to pay in later this week so will be popping in there this week.

I could probably add what each of those vitamin B enzymes help with to make it easier... back shortly

redofromstart

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

I could probably add what each of those vitamin B enzymes help with to make it easier... back shortly

yes please!