NST: August Adventures

mothernerd

Doing better with trains. Added N-le-W and Radley into the mix (nearest to me and to Abingdon) and have more options including a Birmingham New Street (does anyone else have stations they know well but have never been outside) one which does not involve any platform changes. I am thinking of using taxis at each end to cut stress levels. Bit shocked by prices so may buy an over 60s rail card (savings for this journey nearly cover the cost for one year but 3 year option sounds more attractive).

If I intend to go off on adventures (I do, embrace the challenge) then the rail pass will help keep down costs. Meanwhile my inbox now has 3 e-mails from 'mine hosts' asking when I am arriving, by what mode of transport (including the number of the train or bus). Quietly logged out again.

Spending is totally haywire although most would be covered by my emergency fund. I have an appointment this week and will also be dropping off my repeat prescription form. This will have to be collected the following day. Yesterday i jotted down a number of errands that would have to be done by bus (including buying a metal garden sieve from toolshed) so on one or more of those days I will buy an anybus ticket and see how much I can do.

Have been to the library every day dropping off completed library books and small donations for the cs bin. Braved the rain today and battled on towards Icyland. We now have meat (and ice cream/ lollies plus a few bung it in the oven meals for them). Also bought two items off my random purchases list (including oven cleaner at less than half the price of the advertised one). Still need cider vinegar (took what remained of mine to mum's to try treating her warts). I'm currently using some balsamic vinegar I bought half price in HB for the Christmas before last.

The shopping trip exhausted me so I am now resting again to try and get rid of all the kinks. Apparently it's 'National Laziness Day' so I'm living in the spirit of the season (it didn't say which nation).

Working on improving my mood. Was reading a light-hearted period detective novel which suddenly got serious - the main character was visiting one of the less salubrious areas of her city and realised the people there lived not from week to week but from day to day or even from hour to hour.

At the moment I can 'manage' on my Working tax credit, Carer's Allowance, tiny income from self-employment (will get even tinier as my arthritis progresses) and DS3's contribution but suspect that my life could rapidly get more difficult if we continue with the folly of leaving the EU and the American vultures get their talons into our NHS. Just reading figures on the number of Americans declared bankrupt and made homeless each year because of medical bills. (apologies for bringing in politics but politics affects everyone's lives0.

Okay don't get sad, get angry. Over the past eight years more and more tax concessions have been made to the richest in our society whilst the poorest have borne the brunt of 'austerity' measures to pay for the folly of the bankers and politicians and which serve no useful purpose (national debt has increased, our economy is in freefall).

I was thinking the other day about a National Basic Income. Yes some people would choose to do nothing and fritter it away or spend it on drugs, alcohol or gambling but even then the massively reduced administration costs would give us as a society an advantage over paying benefits - years ago when I gave welfare rights advice the average £5000 per head cost for those on benefits was 50% spent on admin costs.

Child benefit was the most cost effective of all benefits because it was universally applied, was paid on a simple test - sending off a copy of the birth certificate - and had No Stigma Attached (millions of benefits are unclaimed because people are either afraid to ask or are put off by the hoops they are required to jump through, especially those who have physical or mental health issues).

Some people would continue to work to have more than the basic income or because they love what they do or they enjoy the social interaction work gives them.

People with young children or caring responsibilities would have more freedom to choose the hours they worked and many would live on their basic income and contribute their 'extra' time to good causes or to developing small businesses in areas they care about.

Local Authorities would have more income as everyone would have enough income to pay council tax. Currently areas such as mine with a large elderly population and still suffering the health issues left as a legacy of out industrial past (mining, asbestos, soil contamination from industrial processes causing cancer clusters) have to make up the shortfall of those who cannot pay by charging other residents more.

Keeping money in local economies is very important. Approximately 90% of the money you receive in wages will be in London within 48 hours. Making decisions at local level (or at the lowest point possible in any organisation) is always more cost effective, solutions can be implemented more quickly, creative solutions and ideas flourish.

Enough, enough I will get off my soapbox. I am very sorry, I have wrecked most of my budgets for this month due to circumstances beyond my control. I will not be going into debt but I don't think my savings will increase this month and i need to get back to living simply, focus on eating well and exercising regularly and getting rid of all the carp (mental and physical) that surrounds me.

Today i am grateful for the drop in temperature (though still unable to get out in the garden), for moving more and for good books.

crazy_cat_lady

Hello :hello:
Hope that everyone is staying safe in this disgusting weather. I am SO pleased that we travelled back from London on Thursday and didn't stay the extra night as originally planned.
NSD yesterday, but I've done the grocery shop today. We didn't need much but the kids need to be stocked up on squash and snacks at very regular intervals.
There's nothing much to report thankfully - I'm just trying to relax and remain not-stressed and make the most of the few weeks of holiday time I have left.

apple_muncher

Mothernerd - I grew up in bham and was often at New St station. Since moving away, whenever I returned by train, I just changed platforms to catch the cross-city line, and rarely ventured above ground. And then they remodelled it. Well, could I find my way in from outside? Could I heck! And in the last 3 years, when I've travelled there frequently, I still just do the platform change. If I go up the stairs at the 'wrong' end of the platform and come out in the new bit, I am lost! Though, bit by bit, I'm getting better...I can get to the loos that aren't on the 'old' part and then get to my platform. Ooh, and I can also get in to the station from outside via just one entrance (which is where the CLC shop used to be methinks) taking one route from one bus stop!



Good luck with getting to Abingdon. And thank you for your soap box talks. We need to hear them, so please don't ever stop them.


Today I am grateful to be back home after a week of adventurising, for already having done 2 washing loads, for finding rugby on the telly, for a friend having left a bag of clothes for dd to pick through, for picking up a bit of extra work, for sitting on my bed reading.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

HI all, DD1 and I are on our jollies We're in East Anglia staying at my sis house while she's away. DD2 and boyfriend are here for the weekend. We've had a lovely day out at the seaside and met up with another of my sisters & niece & dog. Then had chips at a different seaside place with my parents. Really enjoying re-visiting nice places I remember from my teenage years.
Been a bit spendy as we went out for lunch and ice cream; my dad paid for our chips
Gratitudes: precious time with daughters and DD2's boyfriend; DD2 & boyfriend staying an extra night; DD2 and boyfriend are getting the train back to save me driving them part-way; sis for letting us stay in her lovely house.

Hope everyone is well
Deni x

sashanut

Hi all:j

Checking in with an actual NSD....not sure how many I have but this is going to help! No spends today, just did lots of housework.....and then picked DD up from the airport. Dropping off is OK, but picking up...

Plane was delayed somewhat & they now have a new system of parking etc which involves ANPR cameras, 15 mins free, then you have to pay after that at a barrier. It was complete chaos, I am not sure how they could resolve it though. Small airport, single road in front, lots of police, plane delays due to weather etc. I was wise to it having dropped DH off yesterday, so I parked up in a field gate some way away, read my book etc till I got a message to say that she was in passport control. It worked OK, good job as I will have to do it twice more....

Back here late & not long finished supper, DD off to bed by 9.30 (though not asleep). Disgusted by lack of TV channels:rotfl:

Gave a donation to the lady collecting for cancer research

Out tomorrow for a late lunch, and whatever DD wants to do (it will involve shopping I have no doubt aargh)

Hope fmess you are feeling better. Hugs to those in need.

Checking in most days: Hello turtles!!

Fmess

Thanks everyone. Apple not sure I’ll ever recover from what I am

My parents came to visit and take me out for brunch yesterday as think they felt sorry for me after the motorway/reaction incident. Unexpected SFD number 5. Felt like doing some planning for school for next year so I did. It’s rather enjoyable when it’s not hurried! Walked the dogs and went to feed friend’s cats (20 minute drive each way) but that’s my good deed for the day and doing it again today. Not much else up report.

Pleased for those of you who stayed dry yesterday. I managed up dodge the showers but it rained on and off all day. However, it saves me watering the garden!

apple_muncher

Fmess wrote: »

Felt like doing some planning for school for next year so I did. It’s rather enjoyable when it’s not hurried!

So true! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

mothernerd

Fmess wrote: »

Thanks everyone. Apple not sure I’ll ever recover from what I am

My parents came to visit and take me out for brunch yesterday as think they felt sorry for me after the motorway/reaction incident. Unexpected SFD number 5. Felt like doing some planning for school for next year so I did. It’s rather enjoyable when it’s not hurried! Walked the dogs and went to feed friend’s cats (20 minute drive each way) but that’s my good deed for the day and doing it again today. Not much else up report.

Pleased for those of you who stayed dry yesterday. I managed up dodge the showers but it rained on and off all day. However, it saves me watering the garden!

That's how I feel about cooking. Love it when I'm taking my time and no pressure. Hate it when I'm thinking I need to do this, this and this, can't waste stuff and then run down before I've done what I wanted to.

I woke for a toilet break at 5.30 and then checked to see that the noise was not miscreants throwing scaffolding poles about (late night revellers were still going home) but only the Council workers putting out the barriers for the 10k in aid of the hospice. Did the necessary, drank lots of water and woke again at 8am when the dj did his sound check. He did turn it down afterwards but by then I was fully awake but not fully functioning.

DS2 has been round as part of his pre-run preparations and I've told him I need him to talk to DS1 when he returns. I'm sure if we had mice (none of us has seen any sign), given the amount of pizza DS3 eats, the mice would by now be sitting in semi circle round his feet begging for leftovers.

I hope DS2 can see that I have been working hard to improve things, that things are slowly getting better and I don't need a confrontation between DS1 and DS3 which will upset everyone, make DS3 less co-operative and I will be fielding complaints for months.

I've finally managed a shower and feeling more comfortable. Lots I want to do but just doing little bits for now. Need to keep my mental health up. May put utube on as I can't take much more of dj's choice (dreadful cover versions).

Today I am grateful for hot water, blueberry yoghurt and porridge oats and good reading material.

dolly84

Been for a run this morning. Asked DH to put an extra shelf in the cupboard in the bathroom so we have more space for towels, didn't need it to look pretty as it's only seen when we open the door so he just used things we had in the garage. Gathered up a very large bag of charity shop donations to go tomorrow.



I had a mop with an extendable handle which wouldn't stay fully extended, I was going to replace it but have just taped the bit that should screw tight but doesn't and now it is fine again. Did a load of washing and got it dry on the line, called at the tip shop and bought a little Wedgewood Jasperware green trinket box for a £1, have given it a good scrub with a toothbrush and it has come up lovely. Unfortunately DH parked the car right next to a post which I didn't see and he failed to mention and I opened the door onto it and dented it - he's rather cross but the car was about 6" away from it and I'm blaming him.


Off to do some ironing now.

Toni'sfriend

NSD No 8

Well, the rain has returned. Been pouring all day.

Made two kinds of soup for the Boy to take in for lunches. Made a plan of meals for this weeks although not when we're going to have what. Better to keep it flexible but I've got a few new recipes to try. All using ingredients that we already have.

Plans for this week. Hairdresser on Tuesday and a lot of serious decluttering and cleaning for the rest of the week. I want to get things sorted before the holidays and get into a routine. Also, Himself says he'll take me for lunch again.

At the moment I'm sitting here with tonic and a slice of lime (no gin!). The alcohol ban is holding up and we're both feeling better for it.

Just about to put dinner on.