NST February A FOREST ADVENTURE

sashanut

Hi all :j

Have been out today which was nice but did spend so no NSD again, though grateful for the return of the dentist NSD..nice trip through the valley to collect something but it was very cold. So cold that we decided to eat out, which wasn't really part of the plan.


Always : Will try to make sure I can make/save some money this month instead of always spending up to the max..have been trying not to spend my cash as saving up for dental bill. Expensive but will be the last bit to complete the treatment.

First : Agree

Organise : Lunch was HM pasties, have 4 left so that was good, supper was eaten out..

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

Environment : Very cold today but lots of crocus (crocii?) on the verges all the way down the valley, purple and yellow.


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 another few bags but not yet thrown away as out all afternoon, more to do tomorrow.

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 a takeaway, but did eat out. Felt slightly guilty..

Always take your lunch to work and snacks and drinks for outings or appointments: Not today.

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!). Decided to invite aunt & uncle to stop off here on their way down from N Yorks for lunch on Sunday - not Sunday lunch as such, just sandwiches and cake. They did invite us up there & would have bought us a meal out, but I know that they stop off quite near here at a caf! and I though it would be good if they came here, give my aunt a break - as she does all the driving - and they've had a difficult time recently. However, they have no pets ( we have lots) and the clean up is quite a task especially as it has been so muddy. looking forward to seeing them though, hope the weather doesn't mess up the plans.

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

NSDs are staying at 18 this month: NSD for yesterday so now 11/18

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, seem that nothing we have tried will fix glass knobs to metal.

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. Ate out so not so good today, 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 more stuff in sunroom, still plenty to go but can see where effort has been made.

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

mothernerd

Go back and take care of yourself. Your body needs you, your feelings need you, you perceptions need you. Your suffering needs you to acknowledge it. Go home nad be there for all these things.

Love your parents. We are so busy growing up that we forget that they are also growing old.

Its the friends you meet on the path that make the journey.

I think that when enough time has passed , when you've survived that which you didn't think you could, there's a dignity in that. Something you can own. A pride in knowing the pain made you stronger. The pain made you fight to succeed. Someday, when I'm living my dreams, I'm going to think of all the things that broke my heart and i'm going to be thankful for them.

Quiet the mind and the soul will speak

Stop worrying, if it's supposed to happen, it will
Allow yourself to be a beginner
Don't let your happiness depend on anything outside of yourself
Stay close to everything that makes you feel alive
Listen to your body, it will lead you to unlimited health
Support yourself with people who see your greatness
Make peace with your past
See all setbacks as growth and expansive possibilities
Comparing yourself to others will only hurt your health and steal your joy
Don't give up, ever
You always have a choice
Stop chasing what's not working
Believe wholeheartedly in miracles
Don't postpone joy
Trust the universe
Wake up every morning with a grateful heart
Remember things take time
Always trust your gut instinct
No need to change people. just love them for who they are
Don't resist change
Forgive yourself
Your life is a creative adventure
Release expectations and enjoy the journey, there is no destination
Just do you
You're not broken or damaged, you are perfect the way you are.

At any given moment, you have the power to say "this is not how the story is going to end."

Please don't be too hard on yourself today.
I would come over to your house and sit on the couch and eat pizza and watch your favourite movie with you, if I could.
But I can't
So you have to be nice to you since I can't do it, okay?
Promise?

Things we all need more of
Warm HUGS Good sleep Adventures Laughter
Interesting conversations Happy dances

:j:j:j Have a cute happy weekend :j:j:j

Fmess

Morning all

Spendy day yesterday as it was payday and the start of my next financial month. I did my monthly food shop and batch cooked chilli. I also did the monthly
dog and cat food shops and stored them away. Then did some school work and went on a walk with a friend and her puppy. I love being off school!

Today may be spendy, I!!!8217;m out shopping with my sister, no intention to buy anything but depending on timings may get food out.

Yesterday I was grateful for good friends, my lovely family, having plenty of everything I need and the biopsy results coming back negative for my dog so relieved

greent

Great inspirational stuff there, mothernerd - we are responsible for our own happiness. We cannot change what others do to us, but we can change how we react to it - as per my signature, 'I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul' - the closing lines from WE Henley's famous poem 'Invictus' which Nelson Mandela is said to have recited to himself/ fellow inmates whilst in Robben Island and also apparently had it written on a small piece of paper in his cell. Unconquered and undefeated

Yesterday was a spend day - although I didn't get to planned trip to Sainz I woke up and I had a fully flat tyre from a nail in there. Thankfully OH was home so did the school runs (would have been a 'mare - discovered it when was due to take DS2 to his school bus stop - 25-30 mins walk away and he would not have had time to walk there - no other bus and his school is 15 miles away.
Thankfully OH changed my tyre to my spare - which is a 'spcesaver' and therefore only a temporary measure. All 4 of my tyres were changed at once and have done less than 4000 miles, so the tread is still fab, so I was a bit peeved. I looked up the cost of a replacement for just one (hoping that I could just get one changed due to condition of others) and it was over £90. I found a local tyre place (thankfully we have many to choose from) with that tyre in stock and phoned up to see when I could get the car in (online appointments were from late Monday) - the chap on the phone said 1pm, and I asked if he could look at the flat tyre first to see if it was repairable. Anyway, it was, so the cost in the end was just £21 - brilliant! What with that and a hair appointment (freebie - was a groopon offer, paid for with groopon credits) (much needed - haven't had hair cut since last May!!! :eek) and then the flooring co coming out to fix some problems with the floor, I never got to the supermarket, so that's a job for today.

Yesterday's gratitudes:
* brilliant service from flooring guy
* great haircut and fab service from the hairdresser (new business - just starting up by herself)
* repairable car tyre :j:
* DD coming home for a week
* Long catch up with DD (meaning I'm tired this morning as I didn't go to bed until 12.30, but was worth it )

Happy Saturday, everyone! My plans are helping OH fill the skip with kitchen and bathroom rubbish (when he's up!), Sainz trip and washing and ironing. Big family brunch later when everyone is up, which should hopefully see OH and myself through to when we are going out for a 'tasting menu experience' tonight for dinner (Xmas present)
x

greent

Great news re your dog, Fmess! :j

laurenh1

calling your pie comment made me chuckle

dolly yes you're so right. I spoke to nursery yesterday who said they have women crying down the phone to them because they have had similar issues. The sad thing is it sort of taints these precious years with your kids.

laurenh1

Morning Lovely Turtles

today is a spend day as my washing machine packed up

laurenh1

oops I never meant to press enter :rotfl:

yes so...washing machine packed in :doh: which was all I needed yesterday after my childcare issues but at least that's my 3 disasters over with (tyre too) HOPEFULLY!!

now I do have an emergency fund for this exact scenario as my 200 a month budget is not covering any large kitchen appliances :rotfl: but I did panic at the idea that if I have to re- pay childcare and replace my washing machine then that's 750 of my 900 EF gone in a day :j_party_:T however I spoke to tax free childcare who are TRYING to pay the nursery directly and have assured me I will get it back/sorted at some point.
my lovely mum then gave me £400 as we are going to center parcs in August & she said she wanted to pay. this has always been the case(she paid the origional deposit) but I didn't like to rely on it & so I have already paid most the balance myself . (just another 100 due in June) my mum doesn't have a lot if cash herself & so I wanted to make sure I could pay it if it was too much for her. any way I used that to buy my washing machine, & I have put the extra back in emergency funds to get us back to £1000. :j (I told my mum Id already paid c parcs & would use the money this way Im not being sneaky)
hopefully tax free childcare sorts itself out but if not at least I have my EF back at full strength & I know I will get it back eventually.

stocked up on my Easter Eggs yesterday - good deal on topcashback where you can claim £3 off eggs for anyone intetested. I am doing an egg hunt for the kids so I took advantage of it

budgets now-
100 xmas 18
1000 EF
205 spends (march)
700 paris spends

today is a day of cleaning the house & getting organised

wishing you all a lovely weekend

dolly84

DD had her friend to sleep last night and they didn't go to bed till 2am so she is in a foul mood today. The rest of us left home early to go to a good as new sale at the local church but they were charging £1 each to go in and as a matter of principal I will not pay entry, any money spent in there/or charging people for a table is the way to raise funds. DS went in as children were free but there wasn't anything he wanted.

Called into town after that and spent £5.50 in the charity shops on a pair or jeans and a brand new White Stuff scarf - very pleased.

Went for a long walk yesterday with a very moany DD, she is very unfit so doesn't like moorland walks which is exactly why we make her do them. On the way home we called into a BHF furniture shop and got her a wooden table which will be upcycled during the coming bedroom makeover and used as a dressing table, we paid £5 for that.

Mine and DH's anniversary tomorrow so we are having a takeaway and a bottle of wine tonight.

DS is going to a trampoline park this afternoon with his friend, as he was invited by them I am assuming they will be paying and I have sent him with a drink to save on a plastic bottle. DH is going to a football match with a free ticket which DD won at school and I am going cycling in the sunshine before the arctic temperatures really kick in.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a day watching rugby (gotta love those legs!:D), for sunshine, for warm clothes, for taking a bag to the Sally Army, for not buying anything from the 5 ch shops I visited while dd danced, for dd enjoying dance, for a lovely chat with another mum there, for dh's rotten cold improving, for big sis not being locked out in bham thanks to lovely neighbour.