NST February Challenge : A Winter Voyage

SkintTeacher

short_bird wrote: »

"Interesting" week.
One of the joys of working for someone else's small business as a self employed person is that things are subject to change without a lot of notice or to be presented with a fait accompli. (Defined as "a thing that has already happened or been decided before those affected hear about it, leaving them with no option but to accept it.")

So it appears that my part time post is soon to be no more but no idea has been given as to when; I don't think I would have been told if the subject hadn't come up by chance.:mad:

The conversation started as "did I have any holidays planned during the summer because of alteration work mentioned 2 days previously when the person turned up to look round and sort out a quote" and deteriorated (for me) from there. Good thing that most travels are paid for and nothing is planned after first week in June _pale_

Batten down the hatches, me hearties...

Grateful for:
A kick in the pants
I hadn't cheered up so this wasn't a setback
My roof has survived Storm Doris :rotfl:

:mad:how annoying!

mothernerd

Beautiful day, blue skies and sunshine so washing lines fully loaded with wet washing queuing to be dried. Tried writing down the 3 most important things to do today but list is so long it might be the base for next week. Was hoping for a NSD except for film club (annual membership + £2 for tonight) which has been allocated for the past 3 months.

However one of my boot laces snapped as I was putting them on. They have done good service as I remember having to put them in for a funeral over a year ago. Have been out doing multiple small errands (mostly for mum) for over an hour with the broken lace wound round the hooks.

Confessing to having spent money (lots by my standards) and hoping I don't need to walk the plank. Went to the library, made a food bank donation, returned a book, checked my account (books due back in March but didn't have the date written down and picked up green bags (for inside the food waste caddy) for me and mum (I only use a few so most will go to mum's).

Went to buy some of mum's favourite sweets (forgot to buy any this week and got told off). Hoping to send them and the other bits with partners DS2 as he takes them out for a drive on Sundays. That wouldn't have spoiled my NSD as mum gives me money for a taxi and I would have used her change. Have also asked the proprietor if she can price up a whole bottle/ box of them so I can avoid the temptation of sweets/ mags for a while (hardest when I am in low spirits).

I spent £6.30 on assorted boot laces, as I expect DS3's will go any day now (also noted that the shop has a few pairs of his big foot socks). Tried the pound shop first (usually have mixed packs and I take out the boot laces and donate the rest) but no joy (but again resisted lure of the sirens).

Big spend was £14.50 on clothes. Two large (slightly bigger than I am) olive green dresses (one sleeveless/ one short sleeves) that fall straight from the shoulder to below the knee (same as the much worn black dress, my favourite put on) so hoping they are equally flattering (don't make me look great but are comfortable, easy to wear and fairly smart. Also olive isn't the jewel colours I was aiming for but it is a step up from black and again, flattering to my skin tone.

They are light materials but hopefully loose enough to layer with t-shirts jumpers and leggings for now and will be loose and cool when it's warmer. Should also give me the breathing space I need....

(It posted itself, an improvement on losing it)

.. to dismantle the black dress and use it as a pattern to make another couple from material I have in (probably coffe beige and either black 'velvet' or grey-black ribbed cotton). Had the material for ages because again 'was waiting until I reach the magic dress size'.

Self- justification. My wardobe is truly meagre. When I was losing weight I worked my way through 3 sizes of old clothes (wore them down to rags and then for painting/diy) and into relatively new smaller sizes. Reluctant to buy new clothes until I reached my 'target weight' or at least another dress size or two (bust doesn't go less than a size 16 even when my waist was a 12 and I don't want to go around like Dolly Parton) but have bought 'of necessity' (black dress was bought for the same funeral where I had to replace the boot laces). Otherwise I would have to spend my life indoors (struggle to have enough clothes for successive days when the weather slows down drying). Again I have been talking about having a look for a couple of items (for about 3 months) and if it is what you need and is there, you need to get it when you see it.

The third item of clothing was a pair of turquoise (with silver writing and some other colour splashes) shorts. These are men's large and unless the diet and exercise shows dramatic improvements, they will only be worn on very hot days in the 'privacy' of my own back yard (privacy is relative when you live next to a public car park). I know some large women wear shorts in public, I am not one of them (and if mum saw me, I would never hear the end of it).

On the down side I have over spent (or twice spent?) my 'extras' budget/ personal spends. I am going to film club - not been for a while apart from the special event so feeling a bit shy but I must start going again and I needed the clothes.

Today I am grateful for lovely weather (raises the spirits as well as drying the washing), for finding just what I needed in a charity shop and for film club and all volunteers.

I also need to pay for a (non-budgeted) phone top up. Bought the phone 4-5 months ago and was still using the original £10 credit (got £20 free but that expires after a month)

SkintTeacher

An NSD!!!

I'm grateful for:
It being Friday
Great afternoon of work from my class
An unprompted apology from OH after he was a bit grumpy last night

Lauralozzle

The sirens have caught me - yesterday and today have not been NSD. It's going to be really difficult to hit target now - as I've already spent money today though I'll buy food bits for tomorrow/work food for next week tonight when Tom is out. Then Saturday/Sunday will be NSD and I'll try and make sure Monday/Tuesday is too.

mrshubbard

Mothernerd I wish I could make/alter clothes. I looked for a class near me but could only find one on the night I work late. Might see if my mum can help me learn bit by bit.

Another nsd for me. Went to pay money off my cc and avoided all the cafe sirens I walked past Hoping to get nsds for the rest of this month as I've put pretty much all of it on the cc so there's nothing sat burning a hole.

Today I'm grateful for

My manager being off work today - the office is a nicer place when he's not in it!
Peanut butter on toast - comfort food
My hubby reading to the little man while I have a brew & chill

x_raphael_xx

abundant1972 wrote: »

X_Raphael_XX– I am really impressed with your clothes clearance – you’ve inspired me to go through again and haul out anything I’m not using. Assembling flat pack furniture is a legitimate way to relax if you enjoy it (I’d have no hair left haha!), and your BF sounds AWESOME. Totally get the gaming thing – I have OCD when it comes to my inventory slots haha… 3 hours later… Right! Let’s go adventure!!! I’ve heard good things about Skyrim… I might need to invest in it. Cheers for the advice re. running shoes. I’ll check them out.

He is awesome I'm very lucky.

They have just released Skyrim Special edition, might be a good time to pick it up.

I've been awol for a few days, it's been my week to cook, and after a full day at work I'm just too tired after for anything but staring at youtube.
I need to get back out running, but my laptop has been taking over everything, so I have decided that for lent I will be giving up my laptop!
I will post my end of month review on tuesday, then I will rejoin you all mid-april.
I'm hoping that with the laptop out of the way I will be able to focus on my sax practice, my running and my cleaning.

NSD no.15 achieved today.
I had to buy my music book for my exam yesterday (was hoping to find sheet music in the library, but it has to be a specific piece and they had nothing on the authorised list.
I also bought a pack of felt for £1, but that comes out of my present budget, I'm making some bead coasters for my friends birthday.

f0xh0les

Got grabbed by the dolphins today - found a bin full of socks and pants in T0sc0 reduced down to silly prices (45p for 5 socks!). All 4 kids now kitted out for at least a year.

I noticed DS3 had worn patches on the soles of both shoes (!) so made a note of the size this morning, and while I was madly tidying and hoovering, found the pair of shoes I bought him the week before Christmas that he said he could not find. Just need a polish and they will do him until Easter at least. Money saved!!

Went into B&Q for the bits and bobs I need to make shelves to put up in DS1's bedroom this weekend spent £10 but I think I am going to need to go back and get the same amount again. Anyway lots of DIY jobs getting done in anticipation of S-i-L visit next weekend - doors painted, shelves going up, curtain rails going up, and all that jazz. Might have some bearing on the manic cleaning and tidying today. Will be easier to keep on top of it if I blitz often. Bathroom cleaned and all bathmats and pedestal mats washed and dried and back in the room.

I have toothache, boo! so went into the (NHS) dentist this morning to ask for an appt. They will see me Monday morning. I was most impressed! Not looking forward to it though. I think I have lost a bit of a filling as I have heat sensitivity on one tooth. Hopefully an easy fix and not too ££. While I am there I will book the kids in for their free check ups. Might as well when it is free and they will listen to the dentist whereas I obviously have some sort of hidden agenda when I tell them to brush their teeth.

All menus planned for the weekend and week, will have to wing it with S-i-L, she is a fussy mare. Small spends as most of it is in the pantry and I just need interesting veg to pad it all out nicely, I have a hankering for aubergine this week. Probably will be eating out when S-i-L comes, so that I don't have to deal with the faff - I will need to save time as well, as I use up so much of it stopping DH and his sister bickering like idiots. They regress to learned behaviour when they are together. It is eye-opening to observe. You honestly would not believe it unless you witnessed it with your own eyes. 40 yr olds becoming 12 year olds. Utterly bizarre.

So, only a few days of February left and it is all looking quite healthy on the financial front, will have a few DIY spends, but Tuesday is payday and it looks like there will still be money in the bank to sweep into the mortgage o/p fund. Yay! Being onboard this boat has stopped my spending dramatically.

Gratitudes :
Our roof tiles staying on the roof (not so for many of the near neighbours) even though we have been told we have nail sickness.

I am ready to paint the doors!! Yeah pathetic I know, but it will be another job off The List and I do love getting another job gone from that.

Only Connect on tv tonight! Embrace my inner Geek!

The house slowly taking shape, and more things being put in their final resting place, in the rooms where they need to be, instead of moving them between rooms and wondering what on earth I am to do with them and feeling I am actually getting somewhere.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for having a warm coat, for the book Contented Dementia (I totally recommend it if you know someone with alzheimers/dementia), for my wonderful big sister, for hm fish and chips, for a plan for tomorrow.

thriftylass

Everybody seems very busy, loads of achievements etc. Good going.

Hugs to those who have a hard time. Sorry about your job situation short-bird

Avoided the sirens tonight as i went straight home with the kids and OH went out to pub with work. Didn't do any painting but got loads of other things done. I cleaned the tool and bits box (found a light switch so don't need to buy one tomorrow), cleaned under the couch (OMG), made some soup for lunches and sorted my seeds out so I'm organised and know what to sow when.

Have a good weekend

misstara

I had a day off today so took a load of stuff to the charity shop/tip, saw a friend and her daughter, did a wee top up shop to do us over the weekend and started planing the doors.

Today I'm grateful for a lovely catch up with my friend, having more space in the flat and having a bedroom door again only 5 more doors to go!