A Year in the Life of...

savingholmes

Hi GAP if its any consolation I struggled at times shopping as I went almost a year with barely going in any shops and sending the kids in instead - wearing masks. So I can relate. I've found getting out in the local park has been good though and very uplifting. The autumn leaves are stunning.

girlatplay

savingholmes said:

Hi GAP if its any consolation I struggled at times shopping as I went almost a year with barely going in any shops and sending the kids in instead - wearing masks. So I can relate. I've found getting out in the local park has been good though and very uplifting. The autumn leaves are stunning.

I was the same.  I'm higher risk than a normal person for catching bugs so I avoided going out.  LMG went for everything.  The nearest park to me is about a 15-20 minute walk away and I make excuses to not go, all valid but excuses nonetheless.  I do look forward to the weekends when there is a purpose to going out (family).

enthusiasticsaver

Well done on clearing the debt ( bit late to the party I know) and for saving such a decent EF.  Good luck with flat selling and house buying.  Your neighbour sounds horrible. 

savingholmes

Glad you at least get out in weekends. Important not to lose the habit completely. I pretty much make myself go for a daily walk at least 

girlatplay

enthusiasticsaver said:

Well done on clearing the debt ( bit late to the party I know) and for saving such a decent EF.  Good luck with flat selling and house buying.  Your neighbour sounds horrible. 

Thank you!  Re the EF: I only saved £3k of the current balance, the other £2.7k is the balance of a gift.
The neighbour is horrible.  Luckily we haven't had any run ins with them recently but we can hear them screaming at their toddler.  I know most people shout at their kids but this is ridic.

savingholmes said:

Glad you at least get out in weekends. Important not to lose the habit completely. I pretty much make myself go for a daily walk at least 

One of my original plans when I started this diary was to get out every day.  Oops.  We see our family at the weekends and it's good to get away from the flat for a few hours.



I'm working on the meal plan and will be back with that later.

EssexHebridean

I grew up with an agoraphobic parent, and had it not been for that would almost certainly have been the same myself by now. Thankfully my parent saw the signs and basically MADE me go out even when I wasn't wanting to - I'm so grateful for that now. 

Something also worth mentioning probably - I used to suffer horribly with the black dog arriving during the winter months due to the short days and limited daylight. A few years back I challenged myself to go out and walk for 15 minutes during my lunchbreak each day once the clocks changed - and it proved to be incredibly effective, regardless of whether the sun was shiny or not, just that little bit of daylight time helps so much! I've kept it up, now do it all year round and often now I'm out for half an hour and walk a couple of miles. I get an hour for lunch so it still leaves me time to eat when I get back, and the break away from my desk makes me more productive in the afternoons, too. Definitely something I'd recommend trying if you suffer from SAD. 

girlatplay

This is really good advice EH.  My family have been on at me since I started working from home.  I only take half an hour for lunch and (another excuse coming) by the time I've made something and eaten it there is just not enough time to go out. Sometimes I'm not even finished my lunch when the half hour is up.  I look forward to the weekends and I think part of that is for getting out too.

I do suffer from SAD.  I have a lamp that my sister bought me for Christmas one year.  I know where it is so I need to start putting that on to try to help a bit.

girlatplay

Okay, meal plan time.

The way we work our plan is so that anything can be eaten on any day.  It gives a bit of flexibility if we don't fancy something on a particular day, we just pick something off the "menu".  The only exception (other than if we have other plans) is if something is needing used up or close to it's use by date.  Also, during the week we like meals that are as quick to make from as scratch as possible.  LMG was veggie for a few years but will now eat chicken and sometimes bacon.  She won't eat any other meats so spag bol, chilli and mince & tatties are off the menu unless they are veggie options.  Sometimes I just need to have them so I make them at the weekend for me and freeze the rest or invite bf round and he eats what I don't, so no leftovers 😆

I was ill yesterday (health stuff) so I couldn't eat anything.  LMG found a tin of soup in the cupboard so had that, I presume with bread.  I was sleeping.

This week - Thur 4th-Tue 9th

Mozz, tom & basil pesto pizza (tonight)

Creamy rigatoni with garlicky greens

Creamy mustard chicken

Halloumi & roasted veg rigatoni

Baked potatoes with cheese & beans

Saturday - at my cousin's for housewarming so need to play it by ear. I am looking after my niece and her favourite food is macaroni cheese so there's a very good chance..

LMG picks up stuff for her lunches and breakfast stuff if required. I tend to eat what we have in the house for lunch.  I'm a toast for breakfast kind of girl so it will be that this week.

beanielou

Creamy mustard chicken sounds just up my street 

girlatplay

Mine too Lou 😋