NST May 2020: May the force be with you. (Star Wars 1977)

apple_muncher

Hope you can find a decent car lcc

Today I am grateful for a tough workout, for dd's antibiotics kicking in, for drying clothes outside, for my counselling session, for the birds in the back garden, for more seeds producing sproutlings, for dd and dh giggling away together.

ditty1234

Hi today I am grateful for actually having planned and shopped for recipes all week. And this evening ds cooked a lovely vegan green curry for us, while I went for a joyful 10 run along the river. To be honest it really doesn't get much better than that, so that cheered me up after a bit of low and unfocussed day. Were still trying to do vegetarian dinner every other day for the health of the planet, us and my wallet. I really wish it was easier to get free range meat, why do people think it's only the eggs that needs to be free range. L1dl and aldy both have outdoor bread sausages which is nice.

misstara

Yesterday I was grateful for getting lots of things sorted at work, yummy pear crumble for pudding, coffee, sunshine and a lovely walk with OH after work.

apple_muncher

“A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.” -Maya Angelou

Even if it is at 5am!!!

have a little hum to yourselves today, turtles.

f0xh0les

That is so not fair your birds wait until after 5am!! Who do I write and complain to?  The Birds Union of Great Britain?

Today is that dreaded day, it comes but once a year, the day those Child Tax muppets throw money at me, I have 3 x the amount expected as an early payment with another 2x the amount I should have being paid in tomorrow.  I have been and fought the gatekeeper of the Government G4teway (none shall pass!) and checked to see what was going on, but can do nothing until I have a renewal pack, and dh's P40 that can only be accessed (like his payslips) from the physical work building or on a work's machine.  Does he have a works machine whilst working from home? erm, Nope!

So he is now fighting the dragons and ogres of HR, who are also mostly working from home, so we shall  all have to wait for Episode Part Deux of the fun and thrilling installment of 'Renewing your tax credits! whilst on lockdown!!'

However, I did see they are still advertising the Help to Save account - basically it is 50p interest on every £1 saved.  So if you are on benefits, or have just been shunted onto U/C (or know anyone who has been)  then have a look and see if you can get one. It beats all other accounts into a cocked hat at the moment. 

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Today i am grateful i do not have to deal with "those Child Tax muppets" - sorry f0xh0les   My last experience of Child Tax credits was repaying a load of money even though i had faithfully reported every single last penny of my salaries at the correct time and having then put in a dispute as i truly did not know what i had done wrong.  No joy - i had to repay over £1k
I still enjoy the Govt G4teway as i have some self employment.  To be fair to HMRC, whenever i've phoned them about my self assessment they have been extremely helpful
Thanks apple for the Maya Angelou quote - what an inspiring woman she was 
Deni x

Toni'sfriend

Another day very much like all the others. I have to confess that I'm confused about how different countries are coming out of this lock down. I had practically written off our holiday in Britain in October because of travel advice and now other places are saying that their citizens may be able to go on holiday this summer. It's all a bit unsettling. 

One of my neighbours isn't very well. She's consulted her doctor and been told it's a flare up of COPD. She can hardly speak and looks really quite ill. She's been given oral steroids and inhalers. I'm really quite worried about her especially as her husband works offshore and she's on her own but it's a good wee community here and everyone knows she's unwell and we're checking on her. 

On a brighter note the sister of our best friend who had the virus is coming out of intensive care and might be able to get home soon if a care package can be arranged for her. 

And my neighbour says she would be delighted if I used her porch for plants so hopefully my compost will arrive soon

Today I'm grateful for

More beautiful weather
Getting the washing dry outside
Watching the children play
Low calorie bitter lemon
And my peas starting to sprout

lcc86

I love hearing the birds whatever time of day it is, thanks for that quote apple! I used to live slap bang in the middle of a town centre so the only noises we had first thing in the morning were bin lorries, general traffic, railways, the market people setting up, construction workers and the odd leftover drunk. When we moved here I used to get woken up by the birds and found it annoying but love it now lol.

Nothing to report really, just worked today, did some cleaning, had a shopping delivery (but no ice cream which was going to be my birthday treat! I'm sure I'll survive...). Onwards and hopefully upwards. 

apple_muncher

I did think of you, f0xh0les, when I typed 5am!

Today I am grateful for a leisurely day, for a walk to and from the woods with dd (only 1 mile, but enough to make my ankle ache - I think it is wearing footwear that is the problem), for dd's facemask arriving from 3tsy - it covers her whole face!, for dh going to sainz for dd's food, for more sproutlings, for having my notebook with a few hundred different workouts in it for me to enjoy perusing and choosing from.

f0xh0les

Today was NSD5, further progress was made in the clearing of space - another puddle has formed.   I now have a list of sewing tasks to be done, and things to be made. It will free up more space and improve my environment.   If the govt says they will give us 3 weeks notice of lockdown ending and the kids going back to school, then I have at least 3 weeks to get these jobs done. I will have to use this time wisely. 

Gratitudes: 

made another £5 on p/a surveys,

got another NSD under my belt,

found some clothes for mending that I thought I had sent off as rags in error, but they were just hiding from me,

Finding a whole bathroom floor that had been hidden by tat and boxes.

Sausages for tea. Richmond's meat-free really are a lovely lovely thing.