NST March 2020 Merriment

apple_muncher

F0xh0les - I live next door to someone who is very capable of waking up at 6.15 and starting shouting...

Today I am grateful that I get to exercise, for dh choosing some new specs and getting an old man discount!, for dd enjoying dance, for her manky ankle not needing to be strapped any more, for leftover curry sauce making a second yummy curry, for TED talks, for being fit and well.

mothernerd

Visit to grandpuppy was great. He's lovely, liked his presents, was a little unsure of me until I sat down on the couch. He's learning well especially considering that 7 weeks ago he had never been inside a house and had to fend for himself on the streets of Rumania. Feeling much better today but took the walker, which was a great help. Couldn't find my address book but messaged DS2 who was online for DS1's phone number (to phone when i was on the way) and the postcode (so I could feed my start and finish points into the route finder. Had the book earlier in the week but knew if I started to hunt for it I'd end up stressed and exhausted.

Lunch was excellent. Bus back into Manchester sets my down outside a SM (not huge but more than an'express') so went in there to get a salad before walking down to the stop for the bus home. Also bought a couple of non-essentials although one has been under consideration. Knew I would need to eat when I got home to avoid waking in the middle of the night. I try not to eat after 8 pm but having had a heavy lunch I just needed something light - so have been eating it slowly and mindfully. F0xh0les and dolly I always say you should take what you need (anything helpful) and discard the rest. Different techniques work for different people (and different tactics for getting your offspring to do what you want them to do).

DS1 appreciated the t-shirts I had bought (arrived two days after our pre-Christmas meal. A Shroedinger's cat one (the glow in the dark bit is a skeleton with 'I'm dead' speech bubble. The other says 'Sarcasm - just one of the services I offer'. D-i-l says he should wear it every day.

Today I am grateful for my new grandpuppy, my 3 sons and their partners (all have their faults and good points). For a lovely day, good weather (lots of trees down where I've been today) and the name of the bus stop I had to ask for 'Boggart's hole Clough' (Boggart's are the things that make Billy Connolly 'afeart to go to the lavatory' (for more information see 'Treacle people' on youtoob)

mothernerd

Happy International Women's Day

Day 8

Things to do when you are sad

Don't listen to Bob Dylan

Wear a big sweater

Drink tea

Clean your room

Go for a walk

Make paper cranes

Look at recipes (for when you are better)

Watch anime

Read the newspaper

Hang fairy lights around the house

Bake an apple pie with a friend

Organize old pokemon cards

Think about how beautiful outer space is

Draw your sadness

Go to a cafe

Sleep on a pile of blankets

Ask someone to hold you

Cry

Be okay at some point

Go to the library

Pick flowers

Sit with someone

Remember that there are always cupcakes

(I love this quirky list but it's also a reminder that both boys and girls are struggling with M H issues at ever younger ages.)

Day 8 Mental Wellness

How do you make things harder for yourself and how do you rein that in

WARNING - This had made me laugh every time I see it but some peope may find it offensive or upsetting. Laughter is a great survival tool and I have a very DARK sense of humour.

dolly84

mothernerd - I had never heard of Romanian rescue dogs until you mentioned it but I will be honest I really disagree with it, there are so many UK dogs needing a new home plus the diseases they will be bringing in that we don't vaccinate against because we've never had them.  It scares me.

f0xh0les

Morning all!

I used to life model in an artists' studio in Boggart Hole Clough, mothernerd,  it is such a fab name, and those woods look like you could get lost in them for days.  You are keeping Lancashire alive for me - I am realy not sure I am settled here in Le'Shire. I lied, I am totally sure I am not settled here - I need to make more effort to be 'me' and not just 'muuuuuuum'.

Going to go out to a art installation tonight, as soon as it gets dark. It is an interactive light display thing - lightsabre seesaws  and  hanging baubles that sing to you - you know the kind of thing.  I  have been trying to get the kids to go since Friday, but tonight is the last night so they can either come with me or miss out. Parking in town is free on Sundays, so the whole thing will be free accompanied by a thermal mug of hot tea, and a bit of a wander around too.

I thought I would shop local yesterday, so wandered up to the 'posh arty bit' of town across the main road from us. Health food shop lady was just plain rude,  and the little girl in the deli tried to short change me a pound.  I mean really? Customer service apparently does not exist in the desirable part of town - either that or they can't count over there.

Made scones, ate scones, we no longer have scones. Took kids to the park. Hot water bottled my poor aching back, my poor aching back is much better, as long as I do not sit down. Hence all the laundry being folded and returned to owners already.

Cannot wait until I am back drying the laundry on the line, and the heating is turned off (April).  The winter bills are double what we pay May-October.  Just had notification that water rates have gone up, council tax has gone up (only 4% this year, last year it was 10%),  Oh well, at least I have coffee and a full fruit bowl to graze on.

Happy Sunday folks!

mothernerd

Sorry - Joke now

At my funeral, throw the bouquet into the crowd to see who's next

Laptop cut out and when I got it back, I was so relieved that the post was still there that I posted it so as not to lose it. Wrote the first few words of this and it cut out again, so unplugged it to let it cool down.

PurpleFairy26

#9 checking in. NSD today, so will take me to 4/15. 

Big roast for lunch with family. Lots of leftovers. 2 puddings made all from what I had at home. 

Tea will be some of what was in a discount magic bag I got from a food waste app yesterday. Very good value. 

Gratefuls:
helping reduce food waste by getting barginous food
finishing a sock
clean and tidy house 

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Afternoon everyone
Catching up on weekend news and MSE-ness.
Decided to use up stuff in the fridge yesterday so made lentil and red pepper soup; also bought ingredients and made Beef Borg which is DD1's fave.  Got 5 portions for about £12 and all in the freezer.  Had lovely relaxed day with DDs and their boyfriends.  Weather has been great all weekend so have got about 5 loads of washing dry on the line.  Went to zero waste shop yesterday and filled up on washing up liquid.  Also bought fruit & veg from greengrocers. DD1 made a roast dinner for us all today.  
Doing some of my self employment and remembered I need to submit an invoice for previous work done
When I was very stressed at work last year I used to go for a walk and try to concentrate on bird song and other sounds rather than running through all the horrible stuff going on at work.  I don't know if that counts as mindfulness but I did find it a good distraction.  
DD2 has scuppered NSD as I gave her £10 for food shopping to buy on her way back to uni!
Gratitudes:
Lovely weekend with both DDs at home
Sunny weather and washing dried outside
Fridge and freezer stocked up
Deni x

facethemusic

Saturday and Sunday both NSDs, so now at 5/15. Shouldn't need to spend anything for the next couple of days either. Have had a lovely productive but relaxing weekend. Charity shop box is closer to being full, bag for a friends daughter is fuller, DDs wardrobe is slightly emptier! 
Gratitudes- friends, ponies, laughter and a DD who most of the time is helpful and caring. 

abundant1972

Good evening...

Busy couple of days as was with the parents... both spend days so still stuck on 3 haha!!! Must try harder!!!

Today I am grateful for:

1) Being treated to a take away and lunch out today
2) A lovely few days with Mum and Dad, and lots of laughs
3) The fine weather that lasted until I got home. That said I am liking hearing the rain on my window too 

I liked your joke Mothernerd!!! My sense of humour is somewhat dark  I shall be sure to put that in my will when I write up instructions for my funeral service haha!!!  I

Good night all x