What a Year.....Climbing Back on the Wagon

mumblingtaff

Feeling better today so am getting on with things.
Pup has been for his haircut. He looks gorgeous - like a little black bear cub she did a really good job and only charged £20 - will definitely be going back. Apparently, he was really chilled and even went to sleep twice - must like the pampering.... I popped to a little local cafe for some tea and toast while I waited for him - a huge £3.50 spent

Have done a few little jobs round the house this morning, had a good long chat with my next door neighbour (I used to think she was quite odd but am warming to her now) and caught up with a few friends and family by text and phone. I'm hopeless at keeping in touch with people and so am trying to make an effort.

It's raining again (and really cold today, have a fleece and tshirt on, it's the middle of August for goodness sake!), so the long woofer walk will have to wait for an hour or two. Will try to think about a new walk route to change it up a bit.

It's 3 more days to payday so I'm trying to be good this week - using up things and not being overly spendy. I'm thinking about what to make for tea - it will either be fajitas or veg chilli. I can make big panfuls and freeze portions for the new term.

Will also do a budget for August - need to really think about what the next couple of weeks will bring so I don't leave myself short when I'm back in work - that could be a very long two weeks otherwise.....

mumblingtaff

The rain finally went away and the sun came out so took the dog for an hour long walk to get some fresh air and exercise. Felt much better afterwards and so decided to tackle the front garden - lawn mowed, pots tidied and the unruly corner tidied up and cut back. It looks much better now.
Have also cleaned a couple of windows, done a load of washing, put the dry washing away and checked the banks and shuffled some money around.
Have done a fridge inventory and have decided to have some salad for tea to use things up. Won't hurt me after the whopping takeaway I ate last night

Feeling a bit emotional this last few days - probably due to the kerfuffle with OH, hormones and lack of sleep. I'm full blown menopausal (a bit early due to Tamoxifen taken as a preventative measure as I'm very high risk for breast cancer) and, even though I don't like acknowledging it, it's not much fun sometimes - hot flushes, disturbed sleep, occasional ups and downs emotionally and weight gain. The majority of the time I just get on with it but sometimes it just catches up with me. I refuse to wallow and have given myself a good talking to today

Moneywhizz

Sympathise with the menopausal symptoms due to Tamoxifen. I was on it a number of years ago for 5 years and the side effects were not pleasant. I still suffer from hot flushes and have resigned myself to that but you are right, sometimes it becomes quite overwhelming and frustrating. There doesn't seem to be any answer to it so getting on with it is the only thing to do. Have you worked out your new budget to take into account your new plans for getting your debt paid off sooner so that you can tackle the mortgage? A new payday is the ideal time to do it.

mumblingtaff

Moneywhizz - I'm glad someone knows how it feels - bloody miserable sometimes. I don't know anyone else that takes or has taken it. Good to know its not all in my mind.
I haven't done the budget yet - got on with outdoors stuff while the weather was dry. Might have a go this evening, tomorrow at the latest.

Have taken the dog out for another walk - he's got a puppy mood on him tonight and has murdered Monkey (stuffing all over the living room floor) and dug a huge hole in the garden. Needed even more wearing out.

Going to have a bath, watch a bit of telly and have an early night. Tomorrow is a new day xx

mumblingtaff

Morning all!!
Feeling much more human today after a proper night's sleep
Was still awake at 5.45 but did sleep through from about 10.30 - much better than normal, I must have been shattered.

The sun is shining (at least for now) and it's the pup's 20 week birthday (he's currently fast asleep again, obviously overcome with excitement ).
Heading out for a walk soon and then will definitely do a run. Need to get back into the habit after having a bad back.
Also need to do the budgets for August pay day and, if it stays dry, cut the back garden lawn.
I need to drop off the bag of dry cleaning if I'm passing too - will probably have heart failure at the cost, won't pay until it's ready to collect though. The car could do with a Hoover out and a wash too.

Just seen the weather forecast for the rest of the week - it's August!!! Cold, wet and miserable.... Need to get out and about in the fresh air today as it seems the rest of the week is a washout . I feel sorry for parents with kids off school - they'd drive me mad.....

Right, enough sitting around - off on a dog walk.

Arkers

Good morning Mumblingtaff,

Lovely pupdates!! You are not alone, I am recovering from BC and I am now taking Tamoxifen. For me this has been the worst part of the treatment regime, based on the symptoms and the fact I have to take for 10 years, I'm trying not to wallow but for me it's the lack of sleep, I think you are prepared for almost anything on the back of a good nights rest.
Weather doesn't help either.

Arkers x

mumblingtaff

Hi Arkers!! Great news that you're on the road to recovery, it must have been awful and really frightening - well done you! I agree about the sleep. I've never been a good sleeper but the restless nights, night sweats and general yukkiness makes it ten times harder. The specialist told me that many people don't stick it out with Tamoxifen due to the side effects and it's really common to give up within the first year - he told me it was "only for 5 years" and then I can swap to a different one when over 50. Only 5 years..... Only a man could say that!

Feeling quite pleased with myself - done a 2.5km walk with the dog then a 4.5km run. Was surprised at the run, considering I haven't been for a while, kept going at a slow pace and felt fairly ok. Caught a glimpse of a reflection of myself and definitely look like someone that's had a bad back... Felt fairly comfortable though and the rain held off thankfully. Feeling much better about myself today

Elnora32

[FONT=&quot]Love the future plans re the dog grooming, walking etc and it is lovely that your sister can be involved. Good luck with applying for a promotion – you deserve it.[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]I sometimes struggle to sleep so I can sympathise with lack of sleep making everything seem worse – hopefully you’ll sleep better tonight too. [/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Are you still planning to go away again?[/FONT]
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[FONT=&quot]Elnora[/FONT]

joeyjimbles

Sympathies for all the menopausal symptoms, I have them too but because I am an age to have them rather than medically induced. If I keep an eye on my diet and alcohol (most of the time), exercise and do some mindfulness, then it all helps. Agree that the disrupted sleep is the real problem as it tends to make all the other stuff feel less like what you want to do at the exact time when it is what you should do.
I've also found that having a practical project (tidying, upcycling etc) as well as at least one book on the go helps when I don't know what to do with myself. I've just had a good chat with a friend in the supermarket about it and we both remarked on how much better it is now that people - especially other women - talk about their symptoms and how they're feeling, sometimes you get tips, sometimes you get empathy but it all helps.

mumblingtaff

Thanks Joey and Elnora - it really helps to know that others are going through the same thing and I'm not going mad!
My mum's menopause was very traumatic and only helped by HRT but I'm not allowed to take it. Will plod on.....

Been for a dog walk this afternoon with OH who wanted to talk. Was civil and we talked a lot about anything that didn't matter but when I explained exactly how he made me feel and how the only way forward for us would work he clammed up and we parted company soon after. I'm glad I had the chance to calmly tell him how I felt but don't think it will have any impact. I've left him to think and in the meantime am just getting on with everything else. I won't let it govern my life anymore.
On the plus side, the dogs had a lovely time, I got plenty of fresh air and exercise and have caught the sun Forgot what it looked like!

Anyway, home now and am going to have a quiet night. I'm meeting the pup's dog walker tomorrow on her usual round so my pup doesn't forget the ropes over the holidays and she's desperate to see him.

I have a hair appointment on Thursday - can't wait as I'm currently sporting the badger look with a lovely white streak down my parting and a fringe like an Afghan hound. That will make me feel much better