NST February Challenge : A Winter Voyage

nannygladys

Abundant - just read your fantastic post!!!! It's a good job I packed my furry lined swimming cossie if I'm to strapped to the front of the ship, but just to warn you I HATE being cold!!!!

And as I've had no visitors for a few days the house is still pristine, but that will change tomorrow with dgd.

Anyway below decks I'm going, perhaps I should volunteer for a couple of night time lookouts but no crow nest for me please, as I don't like heights.
Nannyg

f0xh0les

Looking forward to Dolphins at 3 o'clock.

Sunday is usually quite a good haul.

Calling14

Moll thanks for the recipe sounds yummy.

Nannygladys laughing at you fur lined swimsuit and thanks for doing the nightwatch.

UP beds stripped and in washing machine seeing nice day, could tie them to the sails to dry.

Double booked today electrician and dd and kids - so should be interesting. Such a nice day would like to get out at some point or will get cabin fever.

Foxholes good luck with provisions.

Off to make list of jobs for electrician. Have a nice day

mothernerd

Thanks for all your condolences. NSD number 5 coming up. Fell asleep on Friday (lost a day), realised mid afternoon that I thought it was Saturday (found a day) and then yesterday was just strange (wide awake one minute and almost sick and dizzy with tiredness the next).

Defrosted and cooked some of the meat as I was worrying about it and because of the length of time it took to defrost, think it unlikely that it came to any harm when the freezer door wasn't properly shut.

Excellent post Abundant. I started by using some one else's checklist for areas to consider but have added bits of my own. Some of the original categories didn't feel very relevent so they are a bit sketchy. However I am going to plunge in and post the rest.

2017 GOALS part Deux

EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY. Not going to become a gadget freak but I have some 'machines' and I should learn to take advantage of them. I enjoyed a taster session on digital photography before my operation (last time I went out before I was told I shouldn't be walking) and would like to do the full course. Also think it is time I did a 'refresher' computer course. Not keen on the local college but may try the library who run a 3 week one (one session on 3 consecutive weeks). That isn't too great a commitment. FEB I will learn to do more with my new mobile phone.

FAMILY/ EXTENDED FAMILY
Only really mum and the boys. Eldest two are settled in work (although DS2 is looking for a new job as they are having cuts). DS1 saving to get on the property ladder. DS3 still with small earnings from self-employment (doing better than me) but not able to live independently yet.

Mum too many possible scenarios and trying not to borrow trouble but deal with it as it arises. I would be relieved if her partner goes into care. She is very frail and it is a lot of work. However she might then be lonely (some of her partner's children will stay in touch, some won't but all their visits have dropped off - probably because her partner has no idea who any of them are).

Think it is a matter of wait and see, continue to be supportive but try not to get too drawn into other people's lives (mum assumes I don't have one).
FEB If partner goes into care, his things will need to be gone through, some will be going with him (not sure if he is allowed to take his own armchair) but things like his family photos should be handed over into his children's care. Funeral probably next week (check clothes). Visit weekly unless things change (mum being hospitalised). Need to think about keeping in contact with the extended family.

FRIENDS/ SOCIAL LIFE
Need to work on activities outside the home. Very happy with 'home life'. I believe in life long learning. Reading is relaxing (proven best method) engaging, entertaining and educational. Sewing (mostly embroidery but want to get back to making my own clothes not just sewing dog ears for costumes) is relaxing, engaging (can't put sweets in your mouth is your hands are busy), sometimes intellectualyy demanding, keeps my hands working fully and is good for eye and hand co-ordination. Puzzles allow me to test my concentration on any given day.
FEB Get back to crafts and cinema club (cheaper than ordinary cinema and better quality films). Possible exercise class - some interaction with others. Write down other possible groups/ activities but don't take on too many for the time being.

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
I think the book's author meant s*x and I'm not saying anything more. FEB will think about it (burns more calories than doing it?)

SPIRITUAL
Daily Gratitude. Get out in the fresh air. Do things for others. Charitable giving. FEB Continue, do more? Sewing as meditation.

IMMEDIATE ENVIRONMENT
AS I remember it, this was not one of the author's original categories but she started with it. Everyone needs a good environment (especially when working from home), a solid base, organisation.
This is sorely lacking atm and I am fed up and It Must Change. NOW.
Think it is part of the recovering from being ill process and now things smell stale and musty (I feel stale and musty)
FEB number one priority. Clean the house (using flylady and anything else I can think of). Look at everything again and weed out. Read Kon Marie thread and GQ's list of reasons we hold onto things. Start with my room. Go as much into their room as they will let me.
1 Bedroom
2 Kitchen
3Bathroom.

Today I am grateful
that I orgsnised the surprise party for mum. I did think it might be the last time my cousins saw her and it was mostly a positive experience (one cousin was upset by how frail she had become).
roasted butternut squash, has to be one of the best things ever.
little penguin game (I think I like it)
Noticing things that need doing and wanting to get them done.
Excellent thread, wonderful captain and lovely ship mates.

Time for my bath and then going for my walk. I was going at 5am but when I opened the window I could hear loud music and sounds of revellry so decided to wait.

Lauralozzle

Morning crew!

Yesterday ended up being a NSD - Tom paid £10 from his own account so I won't include that spend. Didn't go shopping yesterday but will be going today - pleased about that as I've now got 2 NSD under my belt.

Next week needs to be full of NSD to get back to plan. I had a fantastic night last night with friends - although we didn't turn in until 2:00 this morning! I've not stayed up that late for a long time so I think an early night will be on the cards today.

Edit: So, today has been a pretty speedy day. £70 from our rations spent - mainly on fresh food/sandwich stuff. I've also spent £133 on wedding bits (decorations for tables) but that's out a completely different budget so I'm not counting that. I have a wedding fund for all things wedding and any spends relating to that cones directly out of that!

I spotted some dolphins on our trip out today - two sea bass, some breakfast muffins and a lovely quiche which we ate for lunch. I'm roasting a chicken tonight so will have plenty left over for dinner tomorrow (trusty chicken pie!)


Today I'm grateful for

1) great friends - fantastic night and brilliant catch up.
2) a clean/tidy house
3) the yellow sticker bargains!!!

greent

Grrr - just lost a post when internet connection was lost as I pressed post Shorter version here instead

Flare sent up today and provisions obtained from Tesc0 - too early for dolphins, but some items on the list were on offer -always good £55.57 spent on rations and £1.44 on toiletries

Galley prep today of lots of soft white rolls (mainly for lunches, but some will be eaten later with YS chicken (currently marinading in peri peri), salad, coleslaw and skin on fries/ wedges (they can choose closer to time and I'll prep those then) and also a tray of banana and raisin flapjacks, which used up 2 brown bananas and the last of the soft granola

Lots of homework with smallest 2 cabinboys today - involving a last minute trip to a museum for youngest and a raid of the animal box and lego with middle one to build and populate a rainforest! Also spellings and reading to sort...

Enjoyable shore leave trip to cinema last night - with our Ald1 popcorn

Today I am thankful for:
* free, local and interesting museums!
* the creativity of children
* OH changing our hammock linen - the mattress is too heavy for me!
x

The_Only_Girl

Sorry didn't get to post yesterday. I had a long day in church yesterday, which didn't end til 7pm, by which time I was so hungry, I could eat my own hands, so my hubby had to call a shore leave. We went to a certain Swedish furniture shop for our evening tea, which cost us £15.00. Not bad for a meal deal 2 adults, a child, dessert and unlimited cups of coffee. Dspite that, we didn't touch our dining out monies because we had £20 left of last week's food budget. We also gave £5 donation to charity while we were in church so it was worth losing one NSD.

Hubby and I sat down and revisited our budget, and we are quite happy to throw a bit more money into the Emegency Fund, which now sits at £8172.18, a jump from £7556.11.

We are not planning on going out today so it will most likely be NSD number 3, which I will declare when it's safe in the bag at the end of today.

Today's goals will be to give the kitchen and downstairs a deep clean, finish laundry and ironing and get tomorrow's lunches ready.

I hope you all are having a nice, chilled out Sunday!

Toni'sfriend

Afternoon Crew

Went to see my brother today and was pleasantly surprised at how he had brightened up and how positive he was being. Still no chance of a cure but I feel much more settled now. My brother in Canada phoned whilst I was there and had a chat with him as well. He is feeling much more re-assured.

Walked home afterwards so managed to get my bit of exercise and everything else is full steam ahead.

Can I put in a request for some extra shore leave tomorrow. C has a voucher for a very nice Italian restaurant in town and has offered to take me to lunch?

Mothernerd – I hope everything works out for your mother and her partner. It’s a very difficult situation and you are right that you need to remember you have a life of your own. How you deal with all the problems that you have in your life with such humour is a positive inspiration to me. Take care of yourself.

Today I am deeply grateful for;

Visiting my brother and finding him much better than I expected.
Talking to the other one whom I haven’t seen for a very long time.
My sister-in-law who is an absolute marvel.

SkintTeacher

Another day mainly on deck. Little one still suffering and not up for going out.
Today I'm grateful for :
1. A fabulous early morning run - I'm a stone lighter and boy can I feel it
2. A great reaction from the OH to a big idea I've been sitting on for a while
3. Popping to the toy store to get Lego to stave off the boredom of staying in for 48 hours - my little one chose one of the cheaper sets despite being told he could have pretty much anything - he's a gorgeous little boy.

Ladykernow

Can I board the ship too? I'm on day 5 of no spend.