NST: November 2019

f0xh0les

Morning!
I am knackered and grumpy this morning, the teens decided to be in and out of the bathroom from 11pm to 1.30am, and as neither of them can close a door quietly, I was woken often and had less than 5hrs sleep. I am a mess.

Mothernerd - as it is outside, and thus the drain is not plastic, I would use Caustic Soda and a kettle of hot water. Leave it to do its magic. Think Wilc0 sells it for pence compared to other drain cleaners. Old school but works.

As I am avoiding falling asleep, the top two floors have been cleaned, half the ground floor is done, and I think I am making sticky gingerbread today (parkin style) as the kids have been asking for it.

Finally got another UGuv £50 paid, so it has gone into the car fund. Now up to £300 for bits needing fixing immediately.

Gratitudes - I still fancy my dh after 21 years of marriage, I can still make him laugh like a drain, Werewolves, having lots of leftovers in the fridge that I can get rid of tonight and not have to do more than ping it in the microwave.

Toni's friend - great news about sil
Calling - I think I know that Chester park with overly friendly squirrels. They took licorice torpedoes out of the boys' hands - they are virtually kleptomaniacs - then they heard the rustle of chip paper and ran off to a bench where an unsuspecting couple were trying to have lunch. They are utterly fearless. Happy times.

Today will be NSD 11

mothernerd

Thanks foxgloves, I was trying to remember caustic soda. I checked late last night and it was clearing a lot better. This was after poking it (one thing about my yard, I'm never short of a poking stick) and removing another layer of gunge - think the washing up liquid and slow application of water may have broken up some of the lower down blockage (about a foot beneath the grid) and made it rise to the surface. Later prodding found holes down to a depth of about two foot (I'm slow but determined). Broke my poking stick but still have a useable length.


I did a brief cut back of some things in the garden but wasn't worth putting the bin out. Have only just woken up having slept and slept and slept. Plan is to get the washer and dishwasher doing their stuff then some light activities such as finishing the wrapping (so far).


It may be a spendy day as I had some planned purchases (25% off) at the weekend. Then I lost my weekend (I'm not resentful just disorientated). Still feels like the end of a long week and need to rest and get going on the 'stuff to do at home' list. Anyway having missed the offer, when I got round to checking the email accumulated from Saturday, they have offered me a bogof offer with up to 4 buys.



This is from the company I bought DS3's t-shirts from and there were 2 he rejected (I'd initially said he could have 6, he found 8 he liked and stuck to the limit of 6 even though I said he could have all 8 - it's so difficult to get him to look at clothes). They also have some designs that I thought DS1 and DS2 would like but I didn't know what size they would need.


My present buying has been a bit erratic. D-i-l and daughter outlaw (beloved) are doing well. DS3 is doing fairly well but it's all clothes he has been 'owed' for at least 3 years (having 2 pairs of 10-15 yo jeans stolen last year caused a bit of a crisis). DS2 has a few bottles of craft beer bought in Keswick and DS1 nothing. He did tell me not to buy anything and he doesn't really 'do Chris Mouse' but there are some sarcasm quotes which I was intending to embroider at some point and now can't.


Sorry I'm justifying spending money again, aren't I. But I've already signed up for infinite puppy and baby minding (both of which are still under discussion atm), offered to take them for a meal and there isn't much else I can do living where we both do.


So, I may do that and then see what else I can do.


Today I am grateful for sleep, for the drain clearing and for DS1 having a start date for his new job (not the best paying option but most stable offer, no evening or weekend working and they close for Chris Moose).



ccl the drops are good but I found the best thing was to use a household spray on any carpets, especially places like by the radiators and (definitely not recommended) on the foot of the beds - you aren't supposed to put it on beds but putting it at the foot end of the beds (away from any possibility of breathing it in) really helped. The little b**!!?s spend 90% of their time not on the animals.

Calling14

Mothernerd I might be using your tips, as I have a drain smell on my drive. Will ask neighbour to lift the covers for me. Doesn't seem to be a blockage.

Spent yesterday 4 advent calenders kids/ gkids. Look great I want one. Huge Cadburys ones.:D Needed some anti - acid tum stuff £1 well spent.;) Perhaps I need to stay off chocolate.


Decluttering - gained 1 item, old neighbour asked if I wanted a dvd player so I said yes - ended up with really old sky box. Will recycle next week in electricals.:rotfl:


NSD 11/15 today maybe another one. Still coughing like mad mornings and heating in work isn't helping. Love staying in at night in this weather,



Exercise - trying to get 10k each day Monday 13.5k yesterday 9960 how maddening I didnt look at my fitbit before bed.:)



Have a good day everyone. :T

dolly84

mothernerd - your poking stick made me chuckle. When I am in a farmyard or any similar place I always say I would like to get a stick and just poke it around. No one really gets what I am talking about, I am very misunderstood .


ccl - When I had my cats I used flea collars and found that they worked fabulously, I used a herbal one.


I am very annoyed with myself. Last winter I bought some knee length M&S fine knit wool socks which look like opaque tights when worn with shoes, I cannot find them, I have so much stuff they have disappeared into the midst of it all. Yesterday and today I have been into the loft looking for them, I have had everything out of my drawers in the bedroom to no avail. I am not buying anymore clothes for the rest of they year. There I've said it now.


Have done some cleaning this morning, walked the dog, scoured the loft for socks, taken delivery of the groceries, made curry for tea and had an early lunch so that I can go cycling soon.


I told DH yesterday I needed a couple of palletts and he came home with three for me yesterday, I plan to make my own composter with them at the weekend rather than buying one of those plastic ones.

Calling14

Good luck with the sock hunt dolly84. When I lost a pillowcase realised it had gone it the charity bag. Still annoys me odd pillowcases on my bed.

Foxholes I have seen the squirrels running along peoples arms there for food. Cute to watch but when I was surrounded by gang of them I only had a bra in my shopping bag:rotfl:Will take grandkids next them they would love it.

Toni'sfriend

NSD No 14

Thank you all for your good wishes. Much appreciated. I haven't done anything today as I was visiting sister in law in hospital. Although it's not that far away it's a three hour round trip by public transport. She's very positive but looking so tired. Not surprising really. I was expecting her to be swathed in bandages but she was sitting up, fully dressed putting on face cream. You can't keep that girl down for long.

Got back just in time to meet the two little blonde bombshells coming home from school. They covered me in hugs and kisses and told me how much they'd missed me. I saw them only two days ago but what a boost.

All in all it's been a pretty good day.

dolly84

Toni'sfriend wrote: »

NSD No 14

Thank you all for your good wishes. Much appreciated. I haven't done anything today as I was visiting sister in law in hospital. Although it's not that far away it's a three hour round trip by public transport. She's very positive but looking so tired. Not surprising really. I was expecting her to be swathed in bandages but she was sitting up, fully dressed putting on face cream. You can't keep that girl down for long.

Got back just in time to meet the two little blonde bombshells coming home from school. They covered me in hugs and kisses and told me how much they'd missed me. I saw them only two days ago but what a boost.

All in all it's been a pretty good day.

Good news. Hope she gets to come home soon.


I found my socks:j. Went back to the drawers and there they were in the exact drawer they should have been, they were sandwiched between two black tops, laughing at me.

mothernerd

Went shopping, spent more than expected (4 bags full) but nothing really extravagant. Tried a different pound plus shop - they had the caustic soda. They also had 1 window sill type planter which I wanted but had not expected to be available unless I bought a special bus ticket and went to the award winning (but expensive) garden centre.



Bought some cleaning things (I am using things up) as they were items like copper scourers which aren't often available (have bought two coconut ones with my present money). Went back to the shop which had tin tea caddies for £1.99 and decided to buy some store cupboard items and some Chris Moose items I had noticed last week (we are talking oatcakes not chocolate - brand I love but much cheaper than elsewhere).


Also got the sweet items to complete mum's present and a gingerbread man to cheer myself up. I set the washing machine off before I went and scraped another handful of gunge from the grid (that's about 7 so far).


I spent money

a) because I'm tired and ill (but it was doing something useful)
b) have reached the stage when if I see something I need to get it. Had seen the oat cakes last week and made a mental note to go back for them (wasn't wht I had gone out for). The shops are staring to get busy and I'm starting to feel pressured by time - the sewing I had allowed plenty of time for now feels urgent, especially as it will be handed over early. Really don't want to put it off for another year. Hate shopping when it's crowded - not keen on shopping at the best of times.


If I can sort out what everyone wants to eat and get stuff ordered in plenty of time (last year mum's food delivery was one week before Chris Moose and everything was fine) I will feel much calmer and in control. Then when illnesses, injuries and domestic disasters happen, we will be okay.


Need to bring the emptied bin back, load the dishwasher, find space for wet clothes to dry, make a reindeer gift bag (have cut antlers from brown paper and I think that's the hardest bit), wrap stuff, stash stuff (my oatcakes all got eaten last year whilst I was at mum's) and do a bit of sewing.


Today I am grateful for ticking a lot of random stuff off my list (it's all those shops I don't visit very often), for the drain continually improving and finding things to do that I have enough energy for (had to rest after brushing my teeth and showering this morning and I only had the shower because I didn't know if I could drag myself out of bed again if I stopped after teeth brushing).

lcc86

Sorry I haven't posted for a few days, work has just been manic and I haven't had time to read through and post. Not much to report, have had another couple of NSDs but not sure how many I'm on in total. Shopping is being delivered tonight so no NSD but it's within budget and nothing that's not on the list.

Got given some chocolates yesterday at work which was a lovely treat so will be enjoying those over the next few days.

Grateful for an early finish today, for yummy chocolates and my house bunnies who never fail to amuse me.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for central heating, for 85% choc, for working with some great people, for my y11s being so lovely, for a huge pile of dry leaves to jump in with dd, for 'winning' a bike for dd for cmas on ebay, for dh's curry tasting even better on re-heating.