NST January 2020: A Turtle Quest

crazy_cat_lady

I am so busy at the moment I barely have time to breathe - never mind anything else. Anyway, it means racking up nsd's (apart from when I book excellent value holidays for me and the kids :eek::o like I did last night). Work is keeping me very busy and I have little time for thinking about anything else. I'm stony broke for the rest of this month now and desperately counting the days until payday - but have survived tighter months than this so I'm not too worried (yet).
Pleased that you got the drains sorted mothernerd - and even more pleased that you got someone to do it for you.
Hope all the poorlies and injured folk are on the up soon. I am heading off for a very early night tonight - actually can't believe that it's only Tuesday...

mothernerd

An early start for me as I was going to an appointment with mum. had set the alarm but was sleeping with my good ear on the pillow so I was gently shaken awake by Beloved. Went into the bathroom half asleep and forgot to do my sample so after doing most of the morning things I left my dress hung up for as long as possible and drank lots to usher things along.


Went to mum's audiology check up then to the vampires for both our blood tests (put my sample in the collection box and later showed another lady who hadn't been before and was frantically scanning notices, trying to work out what to do).


Then I sent mum to the 'helpers' waiting room whilst I went upstairs to drop off my own repeat prescription and then to the pharmacy to pick up items we were owed.


Taxi back to mum's. Hadn't even taken our coats off when the nails lady arrived. Mum thought she had left a message cancelling because she was worried about being back in time (girl was ill the week before) butit worked out fine.


I put away the toilet rolls then retired to the bedroom as I hate the smell of the nail solvents and did't think it would do my chest any good (had to stop a few times at the infirmary as I was getting breathless and dizzy).


I showed mum the photos of her new great-grandpuppy (he looks like a collie but is supposedly mostly Bernese mountain dog so will be bigger and bulkier than a collie). So far (a romanian street dog) he's walked well, didn't like the bath (destroyed DS1's t-shirt), asked to go out after his meal and then decided to wait after seeing the rain and sprawls as close to DS1 and d-i-l as he can get, looking up at them in adoration. I am going to visit as soon as I am better.


I put mum's bins out and then came home. Been on the bed all afternoon and am still tired to the bone. I have done a few bits - working on another 3 old notebooks (pulled out all the temporary and completed stuff then using up the last few blank pages - nearly have another carrier bag full). Put my bin out as soon as I got home in case I couldn't move later.


Eaten a bit more of the fish mountain.



Money and Budgets :eek:

Think I've blown my budgets for this month (best part of £200 on dealing with the drains in various ways). Today was a NSD (think that's 7).


I did give in to buying them takeaway last night (only burgers not lavish banquet) but later DS3 messaged me to say he had sent me £20 to cover the takeaway and a contribution towards next month's rent - he had been paid £100 for a commission which took him 2 hours. They've also been shopping and put some stuff in the freezer.


So as I was feeling poor and vulnerable I counted some pennies. I've roughly didvided the money I had and have £40 in my purse and wallet and some loose change in the drawer (don't like to carry too much change as it gets heavy and can't find anything under the sea of pennies). This is NOT spending money - ie it is there if I should need to buy things but will try not to spend where possible, living on what I already have in (will start cooking as soon as I can stand up for 5 - 10 minutes at a time) and making it last as long as possible..


I have put a similar amount into mum's liquorice allsorts tin (sweets disapppeared over the weekend) which is my 366 penny challenge for this year (not to be touched except in dire emergency). I have crossed off numbers on my 366 list equal to the amount in the tin.


I also have a jar of £1 coins and my £2 toucan is nearly full. Each of those has over £100 in - the £1 has a piece of paper from last time I counted it. These are savings (house jobs will need to be done at some point) but I may use them after the money in my purse runs out and let the money in the bank build up again (coming up slowly but happy as long as it's going in the right direction).


So generally tired but happy and will take things gently over the next two days but do jobs as and when I can (already collecting more recycling and have a bag for the cs bin).


Today I am grateful for ticking a lot of tasks off the to do list, for the joy of flushing toilets (no hovering to see if the water comes up and worrying until it starts to go back down, no letting the bathwater out in drips and drabs) and DS3 and beloved acting like responsible adults (even though they grumble about it being no fun).

apple_muncher

Calling - hope the pilchards were in a tin... and not swimming in a bowl waiting for you to spear them...


Gonna - I'd give you that nsd. Medical and emergency and all that. Well done on your savings, reducings and good deeds.


Ditty - not spending is a massive achievement, so don't underrate it! Well done you!


Lcc - like you, I'll push it too hard with the gym and then flop. Enjoy a gentler day.


Ccl - hope you sleep well.


Today I am grateful for waterproof clothing, for getting a foodbank shop done, for buses, for finishing my marking, for having time with dd, for getting lots of veg in our tea, for being warm and dry and safe.

abundant1972

Good evening...

Felt tired and sleepy today... but half way through my working week so I am grateful for that. Blustery and rainy today but not as bad as I thought it was going to be.

So glad you got the drains sorted Mothernerd... can't put a price on peace of mind. No date re-schedule Calling... I'm happy in my own little bubble for now! Thanks Dolly for well wishes.

Bagged an NSD again... so today = NSD :starmod: 10

My gift card refund cleared, and after topping up a few virtual pots (for things like quarterly bills) to their proper levels, I paid a little more off my credit card, and have £20 + stashed as reserve. So far this month is going well.

Am going to do a little meditation before bed as I was a bit rushed this morning, and felt blue - not for any particular reason I don't think - and found it hard to settle into it. Tomorrow will be better.

Today I am grateful for:

1) Lovely people I met at work and a chance to make a difference
2) My friend who popped over and made my night
3) For friends old, present and those that have yet to enter my life

Night all x

ditty1234

Ditty - not spending is a massive achievement, so don't underrate it! Well done you!

Thanks apple, yes it's a daily battle of crossing stuff out - that seems to be needed.

Tonight my lovely ds made me go swimming as I was in a foul mood, feeling old, failed, and bitter - but he made me go and when I got home he had sorted the kitchen out and left me a small micro wave ready portion 2. dinner with cheese on the side and a biscuit on top. What a lovely boy.

MediumDino

*Ditty* How absolutely wonderful that sounds of your DS! How was the swim?

*Mothernerd* I am in awe of all your pots and stashes, that's quite the symptom.

I am continuing on with my somewhat battered body. I had to demonstrate how to leapfrog at Brownies which was not a good idea. Later I have to go in to town, should be no spend as I only need to visit the county council, and might make a tiny profit as I can hand in a scratchcard while I am there. We all got a scratchcard for Christmas in our stockings, mine had 4 euro winnings and my partner's a free scratchcard. I got those in last week and the free scratchcard has another free scratchcard :rotfl:
Other than that, stopping in town means I'll get a longer walk home (no point getting back on the train there) which should be nice, as long as the weather holds.

Yesterday turned in to another NSD, as I raided the cupboards to make a nice dinner ; 5/16

dolly84

lcc86 wrote: »

dolly I've recently started ordering from them, my only problem is I have to find places to stash all the toilet rolls! There's so many of them! :rotfl: it's a good idea though and I feel like I'll never run out I have so many lol.

NSD here so up to 8/18. Also got an expenses reimbursement of £50 and my claim for my massage was accepted so will have £25 of that reimbursed soon. Happy days! Definitely glad I got this cash plan as it's well on its way to paying for itself already, I wasn't 100% sure at first but as long as my back is an issue it's worth having. Although would prefer to have no back pain as an alternative! Working late tonight and even later tomorrow, but did manage to get to the gym this morning. Will have tomorrow off the gym as I tend to go too hard and not give myself rest days, will probably go for a walk or something in the morning before work if this wind and rain ever stops!

The loo rolls arrived yesterday (amazing service) in a massive box, I didn't do the subscription as the frequency seemed too much for us so I will see how long this box of 48 lasts and take it from there. Buying from them ticks a lot of boxes for me though.


Have a grocery shop arriving this morning, then need to walk the dog, go into town and collect my new glasses and get fruit and veg whilst there. Will either run or do some cleaning when I get back, weather will dictate which it is, I don't mind a certain level of rain for running but raging storms are a no no.


Tea today is meatball subs, I've been saying forever how rubbish Subway are at veggie/vegan food and they have now finally launched a meatball sub, something I've been making for ages, it seems they needed a recommendation from PETA to do it, they seem to have a lack of imagination.

f0xh0les

Yesterday was NSD 8 today will not be, as DH has decided to get onboard with the moneysaving, by taking the kid's lunchbox pasties to work instead of buying his own. So he does not buy lunch ( just coffee and cake) and I have realised I do not have enough to do all of the kids for Thursday and Friday lunches now . Swings and roundabouts.....

The Quest to rid my house of tat is going brilliantly well. This week the kitchen has been blitzed, the pantry ordered, the dining room emptied, the laundry /boot store has, only this morning, been wrestled into submission, and I only ended up with one divorced wellington boot. Annoyingly I cannot get rid of any shoes, as DS4 informed me his size 12 snow boots fit beautifully, his size 1 wellingtons are the perfect size, and I am utterly bemused that he is in size 2.5 trainers at school. I do not understand. It is like he has Schroedinger's Feet. Simultaneously size 12 and 2.5, probably best not to look too closely and just split the difference if anyone asks - not that anyone will ask (someone will no doubt ask this afternoon at the school gates now.....). So I have a load of diy materials to move to the outside store/shed (freeing up 3 whole shelves above the washing machine) and the downstairs BATHROOM OF DOOM to sort, so it can be used as a bathroom again, and then re-order the outside store/shed. THE END!!

I finally feel like I am getting somewhere. I have 4 bags for life for the c/shop and a pile of broken machinery for the recycling centre at the tip. So all positive, and moving in the right direction.
Gratitudes - finding 2 packets of jelly in the pantry (now made, cooled and in the fridge) and 3 packets of creme carmelle, (also made and in the fridge), for having the motivation to get on with the cleaning and clearing and being able to see the difference I am making, for dh smelling deliciously of Lord of Misrule, for DS1 taking the absolute rollicking we gave him about his A level report and promising to do better, and accepting he is going to have to have private tutor sessions if he does not pull his finger out - he does not just get to coast along.

mothernerd

I'm awake, sitting up enjoying the gentle sunshine and admiring the trees (no buds but little swellings on the branches which will probably turn into buds/leaves/branches over the next couple of months).


Still feeling weak and any movements make me dizzy (still probably blocked inside my head as it's extremely quiet) so going to stay here for a while and just 'be'. I have been downstairs for water and even opening a can of tuna felt like hard work so settled for cheese spread to put on my defrosted ys bread buns. would like to get the domestic machines going at some point but may ask Beloved to load the Dw as bending down (even from sitting on a chair) doesn't feel like a good idea atm.


Already feeling richer. I read lots of pins on how to save various sums of money but they were all basically charts telling you how much to save each week but very few ideas on where this money was to come from. Read a list of hundred things to give up to save the money instead and I think there were less than 10 that I have ever done - it was similar to Martin's de-incentiveser (that's wrong but head's too wooly to check), how much you save by cutting out the morning latte etc. apple Can I claim that I've 'saved' the $5500 for a family trip to Disneyland because I've never been and wouldn't want to, so have no need to go to the trouble of saving it.



Finally changed the bed sheet by pulling slowly from the side I could easily get at (have thrown some things down for washing but not got a full load yet. Then noticed there was still sheet on the far side of the bed, so I peeked under the duvet (putting the cover on is a challenge for another day or may ask DS3 to do it - he's tall enough and his arms are long enough to do it easily) and the sheet was pushed right down and to the side. Pulled it back across to my bit of the bed and hey presto bed made.


The sheet I pulled out also had 4 x £1 coins in it and later I found a £10 note and then, as I looked harder, a 10p piece. These have all gone into the 366 penny tin and been crossed off on the list. Think I will work from my bed today. Still lots of bits from old notebooks and things like tissues, pills and things I used whilst ill (in and out of bags, on and off the tray and bedside table, tiny bits slipping down into the corners) need sorting properly - I may even find some more money (doubtful as it was mostly gathered up in the previous sort out)


Today I am grateful for finding money, for a 'day off'' and gentle sunshine (would like to sit in the yard but it might be wiser to sit and contemplate - make plans - from my bed).

Siebrie

Mothernerd, the bed you describe reminds me of the bed Charlie's four grandparents slept in (he of the chocolate factory).