NST April 2019 - Spring Forward

Siebrie

dolly84, carefully read the conditions on the ticket; there are weight and size limits to your luggage. Share as much as possible with dd regarding toothpaste, shower gel, etc.

Rome is lovely, but large. If you want to visit the Vatican and the Sistine Chapel (sp?), get there early and bring something to cover your shoulders and knees (and maybe head, I don't remember).

Bring a refillable water flask, preferably thermos (it needs to be empty on the plane; check if they will allow you to bring it with you, empty). Small water bottles are awfully expensive there.

Have fun!

mothernerd

Got up at 6 am (mum wanted waking at 6.45 am) managed to pack all my stuff into 2 bags (came with 4), put out the bins, reassemble the sofa, put dressing gown and pillowcases in mum's wm, put out the bins twine the clematis onto the grid netting (new fence put up) as well as getting myself fed, showered and dressed.

Driver came before 8 am, little boy was grumpy from having been dragged out (normally up early but they sloth in their pjs in holidays and he's delivered to his aunt's still in his nightclothes when mum is working) but I talked him round.

Saw one of the interns (we saw mum's specialist because he was popping out of one door like a rabbit and disappearing through another, at times followed by 2 nurses pretend running to keep up with him). Mum has been mis-taking one of her tablets - thought as much when I did a stock-take last week but decided not to persue it atm due to partner's illness (filed away in my head in the sort out category). We got through it but mum said afterwards she couldn't understand a word he said - her deafness is getting worse and he went through some of the myasthenia tests which hurt her damaged shoulder. Made next appointment, collected prescription meds (one only available at the hospital), posted 2 letters, 3 things for me to follow up (not big things - 4 if I call the Attendance Allowance people to mention meds supervision).

Little boy got fed up waiting for the prescription (thunderbirds toys and visiting the nee-naws - ambulances - had kept him happy up to that point) but fell asleep in the car on the way to the city airport (formerly Barton Aerodrome). We all had a drink in peace, mum and I ate, little boy went to play on the swings and slide then he and his mum ordered food. I went outside to give them more space, then offered to take the boy back to the play area whilst his mum finished her food.

We went straight past the play area. We looked at the poorly plane (waiting to be mended), the sleeping planes (away inside), argued about a plane's house being called a hangar, climbed the stone steps to the viewing platform, sat/ stood on a bench to watch take-offs and landings (he's about 3" too short to see over the wall and there were lots of warnings about climbing or sitting on the walls) then walked back to meet both our mums.

When he decided to go back to the planes I gave in and said I would have to wait with my mum and his mum was going to have to run and catch him. These planes are all one and 2 seaters and the nearest ones are only 10' from the fence, with the air ambulance helicopters in the next field so a good place for small boys.

I was dropped off at home, finally handed over the breadmaker (boy and mum were going home to get mad dog and then going to her twin sister's house to mind the baby twins - 2 yo yesterday - whilst grand-parents picked up the older 2 girls and mummy of twins worked.

I was quite happy to stay at mum's another night but instead I've arranged a taxi to collect her at 8.30 am tomorrow, pick me up at the library and take us both to see the doctor (my blood tests have shown one thing that needs to be discussed with the doctor and mum's shoulder x-ray has come back as abnormal but expected) at morning surgery because appointments were only available next week.

I really need to hunt through paperwork (it's in the bag I packed for mum's and didn't take) to find out more about the medication and go and hack down some greenery and put the bins out but not sure I have anything left to give atm - really out of condition when you can't keep up with a nearly 3 yo.

Today I am grateful for a reasonable specialist visit (I already had an idea about the medicine, hoping it's only since this last illness aka bug from heck and translating/ making sure mum has understood the doctor and deciphering her answers - she has a tendency to say yes and i have to pose alternatives yes you have symptoms/ yes you are fine - is why I am there), having interesting and healthy food to eat (told mum to eat the salad stuff I've prepared not just have a butty) and making a small boy happy when he started off grumpy.

On reflection, walking all over 2 blocks of the hospital then half the length of a (small) airfield, then climbing stairs without using a walker or a stick was a great improvement over recent weeks.

Lauralozzle

Checking in, As I've been quiet over the bank holiday weekend.

Thursday ended up being a spend day, as I had to get birthday bits.

Friday was also spendy, as we went out for lunch, and then ended up eating out for dinner also (OH birthday).

Saturday was spendy, as we went out for birthday drinks with friends.

Sunday was spendy, as we didn't prepare any food and ordered another takeaway.

Monday was a NSD, so I'm at 7/15. Will never make it, but I hope I get 10.

I've been social this month, nearly every weekend and I can feel it. It's not a usual occurrence, maybe one night a month, usually but our reliance on takeaway has to stop because we have spent over £100 on them this month alone. That is stupid money! :eek: I know what the problem is, I forget to defrost food, or I get back from work and can't be bothered to cook. I do this, occasionally, but usually it's OH that does this (we usually take it in turn to cook, sometimes the meal I had planned he doesn't want/can't be bothered to cook so suggests takeaway - and I have no willpower to say no!) I need to start saying no, and if he gets grumpy about it, I'll just have to do the cooking because usually it's because he can't be bothered to cook. Sometimes he's super helpful but sometimes he doesn't do anything and I need to take the higher ground and cook instead. It'll reduce my weight (which has ballooned) and increase our purse.

Sorry, that got a little ranty!

Back at work today, but will be a spend day because we need to go food shopping.

crazy_cat_lady

I could have written your post about takeaways Laura. I don't enjoy cooking much, and I'm the only adult in the house. It takes little to no persuading for me to get a takeaway or go out for dinner with the kids. I must have spent thousands over the years
I have bagged a nsd today - first day back at work. It wasn't great in terms of kids behaviour but it was really nice to see everyone again, and I get a free on a Tuesday so I had a bit of time to get some work done.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for getting things done, for the garden looking nice, for dd returning to school quite happily, for my counsellor, for my workout and a swim, for a lovely helpful man at the eye hosp who found out the answer to my query and called me back, for dh cooking dinner, for fresh bed linen.

Kerry_Woman

apple muncher - Hoping you have getting into a better sleep since you returned from your holiday.
2 NSD's for yesterday and today. 14/15.
Walked 2 of usual laps round park yesterday and walked to/from town centre today.
Attended a free St George's Day event in town today.
Finally sorted out a meet up of 2 old work colleagues for next month. One I have not seen for over 20 years. She made contact with me through social media.
Trying to sort out a bigger get together of old work colleagues for July. Still waiting to hear back from people. This is always difficult to organise and does not always happen. At least I have tried. If it does not happen this July then I will have to try and organise it after I move. Everyone has their own lives now. It is 20 years since most of us have left the organisation.We were made redundant.
Took 3 small items to the cs.
Put somethings aside to be taken to local recycling points. Wait until they build up then I take them. They cannot be recycled in the communal recycling bin.

sashanut

Hi all :j


Simplicity - think about the simple pleasures in your life which you really appreciate, friendship, family, cake. Focus on those this month as much as you can (maybe not too much cake though). Nice to see friend today though she seems increasingly unhappy with her DH, at least she gets a chance to get it off her chest. Seems happier though than last week, bonus.

Persevere - I know that trying to reach your goal can sometimes seem never ending but try to remember that each time you waste money/time it can take you further away from what you really want for the long term. Shopping day today, so money spent though not very much.

Reduce - I wouldn't be me if I wasn't asking you to reduce. Think about what you really need and what will be left at the end, is there a better way to consume. Leftovers eaten for lunch. DH has had the idea that June will be 'selling month' - where we both try to shift some stuff we no longer need. All for that. tbh.

Invest - in yourself, your family, your home - the things that really matter to you. Just chilling with friend & DH finally got his way & organised a hot up meal, we already had one dish but DD managed to snag another couple - YS - she's been well taught. Did extra rice so enough for a kedgeree later in the week.

New - new month, new beginning. Don't look back at past mistakes and failures, there is nothing that can be done about them, learn from them and move on. Rarely look back - & when/if I do it's as if that stuff happened to someone else, which of course I was then. I'm stupidly optimistic..


Grab - take life by the horns. Do something which takes you outside of your comfort zone at least once this month. Now making a new sweater that is definitely out of my comfort zone. Let's see how that goes. So far so good, but only on the first sleeve. More challenges to come. No Aran wool found so far but sure I must have some. Will re-commence wool search tomorrow & intend to finish kitchen in order to unpack - and hopefully install - new dishwasher. Otherwise electrician friend coming Thursday who offered to supervise, he might well get the job.


NSDs: still 12/15

NO spending in coffee shops, work canteens, vending machines. If you do it needs to be planned in advance and budgeted for. Never go in coffee shops, no canteen, don't use vending machines either. But I still waste money! Small shopping spend today.

Go turtles!

f0xh0les

Today I will enter double NSD figures!!! NSD 10!!!!
Kids back to football, doing nothing else. Early start (9am) at the stadium so we have dissent and unrest, protest and rebellion... all for something they wanted to do. Then after their tantrums they will trot out the door nicely and be pleasant to everyone else. Swines. They really should remember who feeds them. So, will avoid parking charges by parking at supermarket, will avoid ice creams by taking jubblies and water bottles.

All food from stores.

SpekySquarehead

Yesterday seen me bag #10 for the month. Which I feel disappointed about, I should have done better this month. I anticipate that I should finish on 15, which isn't too bad I suppose, but when you consider that means a spend every other day, it feels avoidable.

Laura - I was in your position before and was partly to blame for me getting into debt. So I started getting into the habit of prepping food which in turn meant healthier food so I feel better, as does my wallet!

greent

NSD - 9 - was one yesterday, won't be one today - clothes shopping with DS1

Simplicity - youngest 2 back to school yesterday. DS1 went into his old school with some friends to see teachers and then caught up with different friends in the evening. DD's boyf arrived for a couple or so days. I dug up some bluebells from my nan's garden and brought them home for my garden Planted some very old calendula and salad leaves seeds - if they grow it's a bonus - if not, I've lost nothing.

Perseverance - Painted the rest of the side garden fence - it now all matches! Just the 2 rear gates and the panels either side of those to do with the remaining pot.

Reduce - Never worn boxed necklace (DD) added to CS box. Today I am taking in 2 large bags of old clothes/ linens to HnM to swap for 2 x £5 vouchers (which will likely then spend on clothes for DS1)

Invest - painting fence. Planting things.