NST April 2020: Fools we are not!

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for more daylight, for starting to get to grips - albeit v tenuously - with an online teaching platform, for clean clothes, for our family wottsapp group, for the robin who visits our garden regularly, for headspace.

TheCheerleader

No spend day 2/20
Toni’s friend I really envy you your lovely community, you can’t put a price on good neighbours.
Fitness: I walked the dog along the river this morning, unusually he didn’t jump in at his favourite spot, it’s all up hill on the way home and luckily the rain held off until we got in.
Frugal: repaired Dh pj bottoms that had a hole in the knee, I tried to copy a fancy blanket stitch vid on Pinterest sewing holes that looked easier than it was, it all went a bit wrong but at least I didn’t sew the leg closed.
Gratitudes: lovely texts from Ds1 and Dd, grateful that they’re both able to work from their homes, a cheeky yellow t1t that kicks my bedroom balcony doors (oddly it’s been doing it for a few weeks now) solar panel money coming in just when it’s needed. Our wonderful NHS, going to join in clapping at 8pm it was very moving last week.

f0xh0les

NSD 2,  tried and failed to buy pasta.  3 shops were total pasta free zones.   So glad the shortages are over and everything is back to normal.  Will try again on Monday.

Not feeling it today.

TheCheerleader

Aww Foxholes sorry to hear you’re down, I think it’s beginning to sink in now after the initial shock. If it’s any help Jamie Oliver made pasta on his new prog just using flour and water, my sister got my 7 year old niece to make it and she also ate it all and she’s a fussy madam x

f0xh0les

I just like pasta.  I even went looking for 00 pasta flour. None of that either.

I too will not join a supermarket queue of more than 40 people.  I did a U turn and left. 

7pm on Monday is going to be my new normal shopping time.

On the other hand, I made scones.  That means I have scones, which goes a little way to compensate for not having pasta.

lcc86

Evening all, NSD number 1 here, aiming to be super strict and go for 22 this month. Had my toilet paper delivery today, in hindsight signing up for that subscription has worked out given the current situation in the supermarkets.

Went for a walk first thing this morning and ended with a run and also did a dumbbell workout when I got home.

Today I am grateful for the beautiful birdsong this morning; ignoring the news; our little neighbourhood clapping for the NHS; OH making a yummy roast (he literally NEVER cooks); and for it being Friday tomorrow!

TheCheerleader

I thought things would have settled down by now, bizarrely dried green lentils haven’t been available at Pontypridd Tosco for weeks! 

Tissue, pasta, paracetamol, eggs all gone, but lentils!!? The world’s gone mad I tells ya!

BadBookkeeper

Hi everyone,

Foxholes, I’m glad today’s over too!  It’s so hard to imagine life the next few months and then we’ll be expected to get back to normal and before we know it, it will be Christmas again!!

NSD 1/15
Empty cupboards- made fajitas tonight.  Peppers and lettuce past there best but it was ok.
Budgets - need to be extra careful DH has got to take a 20% pay cut, he was my back up plan!!  We’ve applied for the mortgage holiday so we will be ok.
No spending
No decluttering
Bag full put out in the morning for Charity.
DH has a video chat with 2 school friends and an online group chat with cubs which looked great fun!  Joined in with NHS appreciation.
Gratitudes -
Food delivery
Internet
NHS
Cub leaders
Tea

mothernerd

I'm also not feeling it today f0xh0les. Don't feel there have been as many 'wins' this week. Two weeks ago it felt like a win every time I got something on my somewhat eclectic shopping list, particularly as I tried to go in as few shops as possible (W had the garden stuff I needed, the tin of wood stain at a bargain price. the things so that DS3 could repair the sink pipe and the chocolate with hazelnuts in for mum). Last week it was setting up deliveries, settling in, sorting through my stuff and organising it into as little space as possible.

Just can't seem to get going this week - I have done things but everywhere is messy, just at that in between stage. Been out to post a 50th birthday card for someone and continued to the SM. Only a few people about (waited until 7 pm) and we were all careful to keep well away from each other. The object was to go to the cash machine and check mine and mum's balances (can't get access online atm). I had said I was not going near if there were lots of people there. It was very quiet - I think a total of 5 customers going into and out of the SM whilst I was there and no-one using the cash machines. Started my transactions and suddenly a man popped up, using the other cash machine (!!!!!! - I try not to swear but really). I've done everything I can to keep us safe, leaving parcels in the yard or shed for several days before dealing with them, keeping the padlock on the gate so that no-one can come into the yard, I was even wearing disposable gloves as obviously a lot of people will have touched the buttons. When I reeled back and shoved myself as far to one side as I could, he just looked at me and smiled. I stopped to have a little cry on one of the car parks on the way back (and joined in the clapping). I may eat my large bar of chocolate - if I'm going to die I want my chocolate.

Today I am grateful for good reading material (several on the go, large print for evenings and I keep mislaying them), lovely chilli (one portion left), windows with rainbow pictures in, making progress (even if it's not visible just yet) and apples (fresh fruit day, tomorrow will be tinned).

Siebrie

Frugal food: we have enough in, and I'm enjoying the using-up bit of bits and pieces. We have restricted dds to two glasses of juice or yoghurt drink per day, both to limit sugar intake and make our stock last longer. They have unlimited access to our tap
Likewise, we are all limited to 1 piece of candy and 1 biscuit per day. DDs get a piece of fruit and a raw carrot per day as snacks.
Frugal fun and sports: DDs have received videos from their dance teachers for the dance show end of May, and they are practising a lot at home. We have dusted of the wii and have lots of 10-minute competitions. We have moved the exercise bike from the most inner recesses in the house to the terrace, and we now regularly do a coulpe of minutes of cycling, on the premise of 'better some movement than no movement'.
Frugal education: I have been wanting to learn husband's language for some time (together for 13 years), but couldn't find a course I could understand. Most courses are French-based, but I have now stumbled across an American one. I'm loving all this extra publicity for free courses.
Frugal charity: I have donated money to our church that I would normally have put in the collection. Now that it's by bank transfer, I can actually class it as a donation in my taxes I have a chat with my next-door neighbour every other day. He's 93, and does not really want to continue living since his wife died 6 years ago, and his feet are so painful that he cannot leave the house anymore. Otherwise, he is in robust health, and his three sons (in their sixties) come by every day for help with chickens, gardening, hot lunch and cleaning.
NSDs: I think we will make 25 . Yesterday the mortgage and home contents insurance were paid by dd, today I paid my car insurance for the year. I will get a small refund for last year, as I drove 243 kms less than I expected to drive, to the tune of €3,02