NST February A FOREST ADVENTURE

greent

Not NSD - trip to A1di and spent £22.98. Will be going to Sainz tomorrow too.

Today I am grateful for:
* OH coming home from work early - home by 3.30
* DD saying she's coming home for reading week (OH collecting her tomorrow night)
* Being offered 2 mornings of work next week - extra money
* Organising a skip for delivery tomorrow at the best price I could find (will save us around 6-8 tip/ recycling centre trips, we think)
* binmen taking a load of extra cardboard with recycling today (they don't always take extra items which don't fit in the correct containers and we had lots of corrugated card from large packing boxes - I kept some to put out next week too, as there's so much (I put lots out last week as well
* something I ordered for DD from Germany earlier in the week arriving today!
* Finding a 'spare' lever arch file in the office to use, saving me buying one (and meaning the previous contents of it are now in recycling )
* OH unexpectedly planning a night out for this Sat (essentially a freebie - have a voucher from Xmas - will just cost fuel & parking)

mothernerd

apple - I love your challenges. Unless anyone else want to do the March thread? I am happy to accept your kind offer.

Kerry woman late night sorting office sonds wonderful and free food is always good (minced kdney being the exception - it was foul).

greent a lovely gratitude list.

laurenh1 it's good to look at how far you have come. Excellent plan for growing the ef again.

f0xh0les can't beat a good hm costume and an active imagination.

apple painted stairs - love a good shortcut.

mothernerd

Did not get much sleep but I am well rested (not as good but better than I have been). Read light hearted but fun stuff, let my mind wander and ponder but stopped any thoughts of things to do or worrisome matters.

Got to mum's just after 9am and ahead of the cleaner (a relative) and her grandchildren. They did not want to do biscuits so I have let them play hide and seek (to get rid of excess energy), read to them, done stickering, made them laugh by getting their names the wrong way round (girl/ boy swap), opened the shed door and found where the toys were hiding, sneaked some abandoned toys back into the shed to ease later tidying.

Finally after lunch and when it was nearly time to go home, they decided they would like to ice the biscuits, so cue icing pouring and spreading, covering with sprinkles and dividing myself between the two of them (and a little bit of eating the icing from the spoons - not me). Everyone except mum rounded up the remaining toys and grandma and myself washed up, cleaned the table and put things away.

I called a taxi shortly after they left (I passed them on the bridge, looking at the ducks they had missed earlier - many complaints about only seeing swans). Mum had offered them a lift in my taxi but their mum won't let them in a car without child safety seats.

The injection was quick. Doctor thinks the physiotherapy will be helpful so will book that and unfortunately the knee problem (slight atm) will also be arthritis, so have the prospect of a knee operation at some time in the future - all she could tell me was "it will get worse". I am going to end up bionic (positive head can't come up with anything else for now - do I have a future as a posiible paraolympian is a bit of a stretch, DS3 said I will be a cyborg but I think that's a percentage thing). No percentage - I seem to already be one because of my hip replacement, but I don't have any computerised bits yet. I'm still in better shape than my baby brother but that isn't really a comfort, more a worry about him.

Bought food on the way home, including a cup of hot chicken soup (can someone drag the naughty chaise longue out from the back of the cupboard). feeling slightly sorry for myself. Could feel the shoulder 'loosening' but the pain (? more one of those sick scraping the bone feelings) got worse (may take a couple of days to kick ing - 10% failure in which case go back in 3 weeks for further investigation). Crawled under the sheets. Will not cry, will not feel sorry for myself.

Had a sleep and now feeling good - not quite leaping about with joy but most of the pain has gone and I feel warm and relaxed (a bit sleepy).

Going to try the sleeping routine again so may not see you again tonight (think I owe you some inspiration - will do double early tomorrow). Film club tomorrow so no need to rush round if I am not up to it and then the weekend to continue improving the bedroom and kitchen. Hopefully more sleep with get me back to being able to put one thought in front of another.

Today I am grateful for the NHS, lovely doctors (and reception staff although I managed to tame the previous dragon), for fun with small children, for some relief from the pain, for slow improvements to my sleep pattern and success in blocking busy/troublesome thoughts, for mum being a lot less stressed about my brother than she was on Tuesday evening, for a quick confirmation of the knee problem (it is what it is), for being a cyborg (wonder if anyone will write about me), for the children taking all the biscuits home with them and for the cortisone starting to work - if I can move it will help a lot, think I haven't realised how much the 'twinges' were limiting me.

Fmess

Yay for dh!!!8217;s extra earnings laurenh1

misstara

Things are super hectic here at the mo so don't think I'm up for running a challenge just now. Apple - I also love your challenges so looking forward to it. All should hopefully calm down in the next month so I will volunteer myself for the April challenge.

Yesterday was a NSD taking me to 11. Today wasn't - a particularly rubbish day at work so I treated myself to pizza, cider, chocolate and flowers they were YS flowers though.

I'm about to start eating gluten again in preparation for an endoscopy to retest for celiac. I haven't eaten gluten for almost 3 years so really not looking forward to it

Managed to go over the food budget - mostly because I haven't been properly meal planning. Will do my best not to spend any more until the end of the month.

sashanut

Hi all :j

Couldn't get on for the last couple of days, so this is just a catch up post. No more NSDs to report as spent Tues (planned) Weds (unplanned) and today (dentist :eek:). Have dealt with a few frogs, not done much of the clothes decluttering but DD has a week off after tomorrow - has only just gone back after her holiday, but loses the time if she doesn't take it. Looks like she will be storing up yet more time as she will be late back - there have been 2 murders on her patch today :eek: - she's an emergency services worker..


Always : Will try to make sure I can make/save some money this month instead of always spending up to the max..nor more NSD unless dentist spending is allowable?

First : Agree

Organise : Lunch was soup for me & brunch for the others, supper was dirty rice - some leftovers there as well..


Reserve : Already make a charity donation each month from joint acc. May make another donation this week,

Environment : Very cold today but forsythia in bloom, looks very cheerful.

Stock take : Still lunch & dinner all from stocks in fridges/freezer Need to stocktake all other food stocks (kitchen cupboards, pantry, larder, cellar ) will start tomorrow. When is this mythical tomorrow when I am going to inventory?? not done today either, spirit willing but flesh weak..f0xh0les thanks for the alternative way of looking at it, I do agree. Emptied some bags in spare room then packed all cooking bits into various plastic containers & taken down to cellar. Still a long way to go but looking better already. Must write in notebook where things are...

Takeaways are forbidden (unless as part of family entertainment night/ birthday choice). Coffee shops, vending machines, works canteens etc are also banned (pastoral exceptions): Not planning on any takeaways, too much food here to need any.

Always take your lunch to work and snacks and drinks for outings or appointments: will do.

Do something different. If nothing changes, nothing changes. We want to see small positive changes which become habits and then just part of who you are. Pick 2 or 3 things you want to change. Start with one small change and after five successful days, add another: Surface still clear but still the only one!! Cleared another very large surface & also under sink space, yuk.. Looks far better though & now its needs to stay clear, have warned DH. Surfaces have stayed clear & returned flasks to up cupboards using ladder. DH had done some clearing whilst DD & I were out (looking at some kitties!). Making an effort with this one, am trying to change how I deal with family, so far going better.


Exercise 5 times a week please: Could well be gardening or clearing, cleaning etc but will aim to be active. Active most of day.

NSDs are staying at 18 this month: NSD today (if allowed) so now 10/18

Big push on this, much clearing needs to be done but refuse to toss useful stuff, will freecycle or CS - but preferably sell! Have photos ready to list now, will list this weekend. Doing this along with DD when she has her week off next week.


Use what you have. Fix something : Have some knobs on drawers cupboard etc in bedroom that have come adrift. Need superglueing or I have already bought 4 new ones if not fixable. Not done yet. Maybe will need to buy more outside paint, the one I used was rubbish...Cord that open curtains has broken, have to get up ladder to try & see how to fix it. Need DH to hold ladder as ceilings so high. Took photo of pulley effort from upstairs so I can see how to bodge the downstairs one. DH fixed hoover from where I inadvertently sucked up a plastic bag. Used risotto rice & almond milk for rice pudding, surprisingly nice..although not cost effective in the long term I shouldn't think. Have used 'glutinous rice' mountain for rice pudding, seemed to work fine. That would be cost effective as have probably 2 large bags..Tried to fix curtain track as DH held ladder but too tricky & high up to manage without moving furniture...and taking down massive curtains. Will do. No progress. Tried to stick on knobs with superglue, massive fail. Will revisit this one.

Refuel properly: Will do this, already am taking some steps to improve health & sleep patterns. Taking supplements now & bedtime tea, seems to be working. Tea combined with pillow spray etc got me to sleep, no bother, just have to remember to make tea an hour before bed. Diet better & no snacking, sleepy tea working.

Elephants and Frogs: Frog printer tackled today & is now working, albeit intermittently. Elephant - sorted out some of DHs old polo shirts that will only be ragged at CS but that's fine, he won't wear them again as he found some that actually fitted him & never wears the old ones.

Frogs: Cleared some stuff in sunroom which I have been avoiding as that's where the cat loved to be, forced myself to go in there & although sad I was OK. Will do some more tomorrow.

Thanks mothernerd for running the challenge, it is very much appreciated even though I am not a model turtle pupil yet

mothernerd

Dentist is medical so keep one NSD.

Apple to do March thread
misstara to do April

mothernerd

Find a way, not an excuse

Believe in your heart that you are meant to live a life of passion, purpose, majic and miracles.

The best way to get things done is simply begin

Too many of us are not living our dreams because we are too busy living our fears

The secret of staying young is to pick an age you like and stick with it

And then she decided to dance with her soul

Live intensely, live totally, here and now. Paradise is not some place, somewhere. it is a peace withn you.


Be a loner. That gives you time to wonder, to search for the truth. Have a holy curiosity. Make your life worth living
Albert Einstein



Not every one will agree with this, but I think it makes some important points

To the people that say "You should respect your family"
1 Stop assuming that everyone has been treated well by their family

2 Respect is not freely given, it is earned. You don't owe anyone respect. You don't owe anyone anything.

3 This line is used repeatedly in abusive situations. It is fequently used in emotional abuse in the form of gaslighting to make the survivor doubt their perceptions of events. It is also frequently used to control manipulate and coerce behaviour.

You are
loved
valuable
blessed
beautiful
enough
and worthy
every day of the year


Every time you get dressed remember, if you die, that is your ghost outfit forever.

f0xh0les

Every time you get dressed remember, if you die, that is your ghost outfit forever.:rotfl:


NSD 14 in the bag. Yesterday was a good YS haul but no other spends

Remembered I had 8 litres of milk in the outside fridge (car boot) DH figured I would have more hidden somewhere, but couldn't ask until I got back from a school meeting at 7.30. I was prepared, just could not be bothered to carry it out of the boot.

No spends planned, going to improve my environment by cleaning and tidying the top two floors and I might do some recreational wallpaper stripping on the hall stairs.

Not sure what my outfit for strippering and cleaning will be, but it is an added incentive not to fall off a ladder. Great health and safety advice.

laurenh1

good morning turtles

today is a spend day- off to get the kids feet measured & get shopping in. so I am still on 17.

I have had a slight disaster with Tax free childcare , after a year of issues I thought it was sorted but it seems to have stopped working again. the way it works is; I pay money into it, the govt (which I shall withhold my opinion of) top it up with 20% & then i set up a payment from that account to my childcare provider. I have 1 account per child.only one of them hasn't sent my money . it was supposed to yday but didn't , so I have set up a payment to go out today but again it hasn't. bottom line- not only am I missing the govt top up but the account has £500 of my own cash that I cannot access. My eldest childs payment has gone out no problem but my youngest's hasn't & my payment is due next week. we have a small EF but the reality is that I am working for nothing until my son goes free in September & if this doesn't work I am losing cash at a rate I just cannot afford :( I cannot believe they can do this to people. or imagine what people do if they have no spare cash.

hub did get £50 tips last night which leaves our EF at £900 & I ordered a potty for my toddler with some vouchers work gave me. little wins.

off to the beach today for fish & chips , stick of worrying about childcare costs & determined to try not to panic & enjoy my day with my gorgeous boys.