A whole new world, for now

milann

Good to hear from you. Pleased booked a holiday and done some clearing. 

Cherry makes perfect sense 👍

Seasidegal58

Glad to hear you've got a nice hol to look forward to!👍 Celebrating American Mothers Day sounds like a great idea!😀

Buffythedebtslayer

How are you doing? 

I haven't been around much, but hope you are ok XXX 

beanielou

How are you?

in_need_of_direction

Thanks for checking in. I’m absolutely fine if you can call hiding under the duvet at every available opportunity, fine.  On the plus side, I’ve discovered some unread books plus some I have no desire to re read so those have left the house.  My mental health vacillates and when I was due my May review, I got a different gp who said there was no need for review and has just put my anti depressant on a repeat prescription. The talking therapist still hasn’t been in touch but that’s waiting lists for you.

We had our holiday in early June. We cruised from Amsterdam to Estonia and back.  Not a cruise line that we will use again but it was still a fairly good break.  Not the cheapest of holidays but for me, it’s the best value way to see multiple places where you know the costs beforehand. Also, as a non drinker, the expensive bar prices aren’t an issue.  The downside was that my dodgey knee played up which I believe curtailed DH’s enjoyment although he very nicely claims not. 

The other health issue, my diabetes, I’m trying to stick with the wonder drug.  It is regulating my blood sugar and reducing my appetite giving me weight loss however the nausea is still present after 8 weeks. Sometimes I wonder if it’s worth it. 

Family wise, all are doing well.  The ramifications of my mum’s death rumble on. It’s highlighted things concerning my siblings that I had managed to be oblivious to but that I believe are best to ignore. 

Workwise I have picked up some new assignments and it looks that there is an end in sight where the nightmare client is concerned. This is after their solicitor threatened high court action then backed down when I shared emails their client had failed to disclose. The absolute irony is that this is a faith based non profit.

moneywise, things are still quite drifty, we finally found someone to remove all the vegetation from the chimneys and to repoint.  They charged less than expected which was great but, as with all our workmen,have left one tiny thing outstanding. It’d be a ten minute job for them but he’s a nightmare to get hold off.  Still, at least the chimneys are no longer at risk of falling.  Fingers crossed the budleia will find somewhere else to root next time.  

We have now started setting aside for our big annual bills so, any month where payment isn’t required will see a £400 pb purchase.  If we have sufficient cash when payment is needed, we will leave the pb alone. 

I’m continuing to do daily sb and pa and this week, we reduced prices on 7 vinted items and one sold.  We also cleared out major numbers of dvds, mainly to the charity shop with some going to resale sites. It’s freeing up space as is the work in progress to re establish my office in the formerly little used dining room !!!!!! dumping ground.  

I’m still aiming to discard 2023 items this year and am currently around 1k.  I’m not convinced that any space is appearing.  DH had a few days off which helped with a clear out.  

I’m sure there’s lots more to say but to anyone who has persevered to here, you really need help with your insomnia.

today, the plan is to organise my working space properly. I can’t go on hiding from life.  Today I am grateful for

my family’s general good health
a pb win this month
a relatively peaceful NI july

jwil

Lovely to hear from you again.

It's interesting to hear your experience with the wonder drug.

Glad you had a nice break as well.

It will be nice for you to see the back of nightmare client once and for all.

Well done on your decluttering.  From my experience you see no progress at all for ages, then it seems to hit a tipping point and you can suddenly see that things are improving.  1k items gone is fantastic.

I like your plan for the monthly bills in PBs, but paying for them directly if you can.  Well done on the win as well.

beanielou

Glad you are as well as you can be at the moment. 

Cherryfudge

Hello INOD, it's lovely to hear from you! You seem to be making real progress which is fabulous, especially when you consider how much you have on your plate. I feel the first year after a bereavement is particularly hard, with anniversaries and everything.

I would struggle with nausea too. I hope it wears off, but if not, can they give you something to counteract it?

The cruise seems like a good break, I've done a mini-cruise to Amsterdam which we enjoyed but the food was horrendously expensive. I did enjoy being on the water, though (my parents met on a very similar trip so perhaps it's in the blood: they were the only ones not too seasick to make friends!)

I feel for you with the nightmare client dragging on. Well done for standing up to them.

Counselling can take ages to come through. I got some through work which started in a couple of weeks, but I'm still waiting to start the NHS specialist ones. I did have a possibility but turned it down as it would have been hard to get to and maybe someone nearer that surgery can use it. That fact it was suggested means the list is moving, though.

in_need_of_direction

Thanks for the encouragement. Day 2 of not completely avoiding the world. Major progress was made on the sort out yesterday but it’s kinda like weightloss.  It didn’t get that way in a day so it’s not gonna be fixed in a day.  The shredder is working overtime-need to remember to wd40 the occasional page before putting it through.
i have set up a place to archive stuff that is close to full with old work diaries and one off client jobs from more than 3 years ago.  I will fill that today and stick a list of what it contains to the inside of the lid.  

Other tasks for today include cleaning at least one of the 3 pressing pieces of client work.  Two would be outstanding. Work will be done in ds’s room as it will stop me distracting myself with the office clear out. Today also requires a grocery shop but I’ve found some clubcard vouchers to inform which shop I’ll use.  I will also call to my sister’s to offload some books.  

Right, laptop beckons. Paid work needs done.

today I am grateful for
a surprise present from dh - he bought me a smaller size of a favourite tee shirt.
the recycling being picked up today, stuff sorted yesterday has gone!

Work time to coincide with pop master

milann

Good to hear from you. 

You have some positive plans there INOD to get you through this tough time for you. You’ll get through to the other side. Tiny steps all help the journey 👍