NST March 2020 Merriment

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Evening everyone
What a day DD2 and i popped out quickly in search of some fresh fruit and salad and Sainz had quite a bit of stuff.  I managed to get paracetamol too which was a relief as i only had 2 tablets left for 3 adults.  It felt like panic buying had died down but i hope tonight's announcement isn't going to make it start up again.  
We're the same here Dolly - both DDs have boyfriends who they won't be able to see for 3 weeks, if not longer.  It is worrying for young people's mental health, as well as all of ours.  
Gratitudes:
DD2 accepting she can't see her boyfriend for a while
Being able to get fresh fruit
Smiley supermarket staff
Keep going everyone
Deni x

mothernerd

Day 24

A secret to happiness  is letting every situation be what it is instead of what you think it should be.

Mental Wellness

Day19 - Check in with how you are feeling today and then act accordingly

Day 20 -Start repairing a relationship that's been distanced by your lack of energy

Day 21 - Journal, but make it fun - glitter pens, fancy lettering, embrace cuteness (try it with your children if the very thought of it makes you puke)

Day 22 - Ask for help or have a real heart to heart about what your current needs are

Day 23 - Have a 'date night' with yourself. If you don't have the 'spoons' to go out, have a movie night all alone (need to adapt that one)

Day 24 - Read something that will help your mental health. A favourite book, an informative blog post or something fun.

mothernerd

Still getting low battery warnings even though it's plugged in. Will persevere with gettiing new to me laptop up and running - it wouldn't believe it was me when I tried the other day.

We are all in uncharted waters. Any CHANGE is scary. This is lots of CHANGE, a whole turn of the kaleidoscope. Stay calm. Keep breathing.

Toni'sfriend - as others have said. You NEED to be home, it isn't frivolous or foolish (unlike those who have flooded into holiday areas or loaded their families into tiny caravans/ packed the camping gear)

Early on in this challenge I said that sometimes you have to make tough choices. I have had months when I have not joined the challenge because I knew I would be increasing my debt that month (when I was still paying bills on two houses and desparately trying to get one into condition for selling). Sometimes essential spending trumps paying off debt. A sick child in hospital pushes everything else into the background. Make wise choices turtles but do not feel guilty about the choises forced on you'

Some of us will relish being confined to the house hiding behind a wall of books or pottering in the garden getting mucky. We must beware of retreating too far into isolation - some social interaction/social engagement is necessary for everyone (being alone is just how we get our energy). For others being away from the crowd is torture, being indoors anathema (you buzz with energy from contact with others or clear your head through running or exercise).

We all have different circumstances. We all face different challenges. Some of us will have drastic drops or absence of income, many of us will have concerns about loved ones, lack of 'essential' supplies (for some this is life saving medication, for others it's the morning coffee, for one little boy in the SM it was 'there's NO chocolate', try not to judge), We will face challenges to our mental health. Some of us battle daily to keep happy and balanced, others may never have realised that they have 'issues' and we must all be vigilant with the children (even if they are 40 or 60 yo). Was going to say more but battery is flashing again so will post before it goes

Welcome to the March Merriment. This is not about forced jollity but about choosing to be happy. Paying off debt or saving (to buy a house, improve, study, make life a little more comfortable) can be a long hard slog. Many of us have committments or events in our lives that were not of our choosing. Life is what happens to you when you are busy making plans. Some things cannot be changed but you always have a choice in how you deal with them. I live with long term fairly severe depression but I am happy every day.

The Turtles (Ninja Saving Turtles) are all about getting out of debt or saving (an emergency fund or long term plan) but we like to have fun whilst doing it. We want to be healthy and happy and we know that the best things in life are free (or relatively cheap or cobbled together from anything we have lying around). The rules are tough but we are always ready to offer help, support or advice. No Turtle Gets Left behind.

PurpleFairy26

Morning all. I too hope yesterday's announcement doesn't increase buying again as DH will need to pop out for a few bits this week at some point. Lots of NSD here. 

Need to drop some excess items (that we were kindly gifted) off to 2 friends. Will bag up and leave on their doorsteps. 

 

Take the opportunity to dive in to your drawers and cupboards to find things to 'use up' examples could be:
bars of soap ( soap doesn't have to be antibacterial to be effective at the moment)
tubes of moisturiser
hand cream - good to put on after lots of handwashing
tins of random fruit/soup/cooked beans 

after all if you're not going to use them in lockdown, when are you? 

I've put a tube of hand cream next to each sink and 1 next to my bed to put on last thing. 

Gratefuls:
my lovely smalls still wanting lots of cuddles
my former self putting all DD1 clothes together in sizes to make 'shopping' for DD2 clothes straightforward as getting a box down from the loft 😊😇
lovely weather allowing a good walk and time in the garden 

apple_muncher

Shall I prep a thread for April? I know we've still a week to go here, but wanted to suggest it for if anyone wants to do it instead?

misstara

Thank you apple - that would be great.

Have had a few days off work so have mostly been pottering about in the flat and getting food in - was over the moon to find fresh chicken, flour and chopped tomatoes on Saturday!  I've been making sure I get out a long walk each day.  

Back to work tomorrow - no option of wfm so slightly dreading what I'm going to find but hopefully all will be fine.

Grateful for being close to a big park where I can exercise, my family and friends being ok and getting to spend some quality time with OH.

mothernerd

Great suggestions purple fairy. Beloved had borrowed my E45 an I wasn't going to waste time trying to find it so i brought the two bottles of suncream and one aftersun cream to use as moisturiser (will soon need it anywayas I come out in white blotches if exposed to even a moderate amount of sun - I just put unused bottles away at the start of winter, usually manage to pick up some ys'd at the end of summer). Most of my stuff was in one place due to earlier attempts at decluttering (spare soap in a basket under the bathroom sink - buy it when on offer to add to the food bank box when I am short of other things, other toiletries in clear pockets hung on bathroom door) but it's still taken me a week to transport most of my stuff to the bungalow (left lots for DS3 and Beloved) and fretting a bit about the trolley load of stuff that wouldn't fit in my last taxi trip - tentative offer to bring it from DS2 but not sure how he's interpreting 'don't need it right now' (I've told DS3 and Beloved to put any fridge stuff back in the fridge, will need to give more instructions today).

apple - yes brilliant. Nearly asked about it. Promise we won't blame whatever happens next month on you - I'm parking any responsibility for any failings this month on the government (and its feeble Cummings led response of 'protect the economy and if all those inconvenient pensioners, long term sick and disabled people die, so what). Sorry for touching on politics again but I'm sick of being labelled as a drain on society for having worked long hours in tough jobs that most people wouldn't do to look after my children and get them through to degree level, wrecking my own health in the process and having to wait for the pension I've more than paid for. Sorry, sorry, back in the box now.

dolly84

DH has gone to work as normal today, his job is considered essential, he is in and out of hospitals and universities (some have essential equipment which can't be turned off), my concern with that is that this winter he had 4 colds, 2 were pretty bad, we have known each other for over 30 years and he has probably only had that many colds in total before this winter.

I too hope people don't strip the shelves of food again, I still haven't seen a bag of pasta, I'm ok with shopping once a week but that only works if you can get what you need.

I will be having a sit down with the kids today for a chat, it is mainly DD, she moans about what she is given to eat pretty much every mealtime and then wastes it, she is very difficult as many of you probably know from my previous posts, she has got up this morning and complained about having porridge two days running.  I can't be battling with her everyday over every little thing.

Had our alarm repaired yesterday, am thankful that I got that done, one bit of it got fried when DH drilled through the central heating pipe.

I ordered a small polytunnel on Sunday, I wonder if I will actually receive it.  Yesterday I got out my mini greenhouse and built it back up, then I planted up some old mushroom trays with seeds.  At the weekend we will be digging our veg patches and getting the other things in there, onions, potatoes and carotts first.  Called at Asda at teatime yesterday and got 3 large bags of compost on a 3 for 2, these are for potting and for digging into the ground, I have a compost heap but it will be a while before I have my own.

I'm still not clear on the new rules, exercise once a day, what if I cycle for the whole day and never speak to another soul, is that allowed?  The dog goes out 3/4 times a day as a rule, what do people do about that?  How do you get past people on the pavement and still leave a 6ft gap?

crazy_cat_lady

Hey everyone 
Only day 1 of being at home for me as I've been working - not due in again until Friday though (if that happens - apparently numbers are getting fewer every day). Managed to stick to the routine though of getting up, doing a bit of an exercise (walked a couple of miles with ds), did a half day of wfh and have made a very small start on tackling the mould in the bathroom. That is stage 1 of operation 'make the bathroom a pleasant place to be again' which I am planning to take over a week doing well (I hope - never been that good at DIY but I have a go).
Did a load of washing, helped kids get a bit of work done and I think that's enough for today. This evening is about contacting people and making sure that we're all as ok as can be. And keeping an eye on dd who is already a bit anxious.
Thanks for volunteering to run April apple

Toni'sfriend

We’re home now. Got really stressed after last night’s developments so my wonderful boy drove down today and brought us home. My neighbour had bought milk and veg and left it in for us with a bunch of flowers. It may not be the swankiest place in the world but I love where I live. Such kind, kind people. So now we have three months of social isolation. I can do this. Hope you are all safe and well. Xxx