NST July 2020: The Turtles go Jousting

Calling14

Hiya Turtles.

Got tempted today by cart in local precinct closing down sale. Got to feel for these small traders. Just about cover overheads and Covid happens and no help from the government. The direction you queue and walk doesn't pass her stall so she's going online. Bought 3 lovely scarfs for £5. Xmas pressies maybe.

Grateful for

Off work till Monday. 1 hour left in work

Hopefully get out and about next few days

DD over the moon with her birthday pressie

Toni'sfriend

NSD No 18

Had a lovely surprise. Himself bought me some toiletries and perfume and they arrived today. I have no sense of smell but the girls tell me they smell amazing. Just what I need for August's challenge. Although I do have loads of things already it will spur me on.  He must have got the Boy to order them for him because he hasn't a clue about online shopping. He said I needed a wee bit of cheering up. He's a wee star. Actually he's a big star. Really thoughtful.

So, we're using up things from the freezer. Gaps appearing. Lots of random types of things and leftovers which were put away for later and never used but we are determined this time. Might make for some very strange meals though. Tonight we're having, bacon, sausage, potato scones and eggs. More of a breakfast really and not terribly healthy but it will help and it is very tasty. 

Almost at the end of another month. Time is just flying by.

PurpleFairy26

@Toni'sfriend nothing wrong with breakfast for dinner. Brinner is always a winner in our house. 

crazy_cat_lady

Very busy day yesterday, clearing, demolishing, carrying, building flatpack etc. I'm physically shattered and was not feeling like doing anything much this morning. I'm procrastinating over unpacking my bedroom boxes because I love the minimalist look of my bedroom but I am also very lazy and hate tidying and putting things away. Hung my curtains up and found my hairbrush but everything else is still hidden away in my wardrobes. I'm just enjoying my new bed and lamp, and all of the extra space at the moment, lol.
Wanted a day off, and whilst I've had an easier day, I've still built one item of flatpack and worked with my stepdad on cutting plastic cladding to go into my outhouse. I want an early night and a really good rest if I'm honest.

lcc86

Busier day at work today, lots of annoying bureaucracy to deal with but also did a couple of home visits and saw some clients. Did the application for the zero hours job. I did enjoy it when I last worked there a few years back and the extra money would be helpful. Will also keep me out of trouble!

Out at work for a full day tomorrow for the first time in ages, have only done a full day a couple of times since lockdown, feels strange knowing I'll be out all day. Have prepped clothes and food so all ready to go.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for getting to the gym, for sainz having plenty of gf/df stock, for dd having a fantastic playdate, for being nearly packed to go overseas tomorrow (ha ha - it's to the Isle of Wight, so technically 'over the sea' as we have to get the hovercraft...), for dh being able to mend the dripping pipe.

greent

Been MIA - not enough hours in the day! Loads of life-admin stuff to do today, so have been cracking on - break for on here whilst eating lunch (multi tasking ) 

Thankful for: sunny days, water in the butt from Monday's rain, plums on the trees, DD making lemon drizzle cake

Toni'sfriend

NSD No 19

Love my new word "brinner", PupleFairy. And it was delicious. Followed by chocolate ice cream and strawberries that had been soaked in brandy. Bang goes the diet!!!

Changed bedding, did washing, pottered about. Finalised food order from Iceland. Starting to run out of things like fresh chicken, etc but although these have been ordered we are still committed to using up what we have. Lots of bread and cheese in freezer plus sausages etc which are being incorporated into next week's meal plan and the plan for weeks to come. Hoping to use it all up before we go on holiday in October.

Saw the Boy briefly last night when he came to collect his washing/ironing. He must be running out of trousers. Apparently he's been asked to take charge of a new and seemingly important project at work by the MD. It's a huge multi national company so he must be doing something right. Don't know where he gets his brains from. Certainly not me.

It's supposed to be really hot at the weekend but no sign of it today. Just rain, rain and more rain. Can't believe that it will be August after tomorrow.

ditty1234

NST July 2020: The Turtles go Jousting

Here is my end of month report for July: It's been a funny one I have one more work thing to complete today and tomorrow, and then it's a new day and a new year - I have started a new 'trail' to reboot my creative accountability for the next 5 years!  It might sound daft, but I am hoping it will work, and that I will be able to keep up the work - as I have started to sort my weight and my finances as well - so in time it will be a new me, but bite by bite and not because I don't like the old one - but I do think it's time for a bit of tweaking before the little birds fly off to their own lives and and I can start behaving like a silly teenager again!

What lies ahead for July?
So with working from home since March, at first the idea of summer holls did not mean much, but eventually it is now peaking through. I am off my screen more, I have done a lot of outdoorsy things, and I am now pretending my old car s a truck, a thing for moving things and for facilitating fun. We have even had days out including some outdoor meals.
I did not do this at first, but I have now introduced a new habit of free writing for about 30 min every morning before I get on any screens, get out of bed or feed the dog, also I have kept my running up and am doing almost as much as I was with the running club.
Well didn't get that many NSD days as have been a bit lax on the food budget. SOmetimes the only fun lately.
Have a budget and mostly stuck to it. 
Have some days struggled with gratitudes as there has been dark days, but mostly I feel it has been a grounding and gathering kind of a summer.
I have decluttered most of my house but will have a spate this next week to declutter my room and the garage which are now the clutter hotspot. Did declutter a bike to NHS key workers last weekend though.
I feel giving has been hard this past while as charity shops have been closed. But have tried to give to my kids and to prepare stuff to go to charity shops.
See you in August.

mothernerd

Tomorrow is adventure day. I am going into town. The library opened again this week but they are only doing 10 am until 2 pm, M-F. Presumably they will be using the rest of the time to deep clean, put the books in quarantine for 24 hours. I am a bit worried, will wear a mask and gloves and aim to get out of here as soon after 7 am as possible, hoping there will be as few people around as possible. Not getting any more library books but would like to do a cs trawl if any are open and it feels safe to do so - some are fairly spacious and have times when they are nearly empty. If possible I want to gather more books and jigsaws to put away for winter and the second wave of COVID. Still have lots of sewing to do. 

I would like to do this once a week if it is okay. I have no idea what to expect or how people will be behaving. I'm hoping that most people are still keeping their children at home, not the usual holiday time situation of women with 3 - 7 children (some grannies, some the 'mum who doesn't have a job' who gets landed with everyone else's). I have been that woman. I once had to get a form in before a deadline and had to go 7 miles on the bus and put it through the secretary's letterbox in person. It was school holidays so I had to take at least two of mine with me and then all the ones who were playing with them wanted to come too, so I said it was okay as long as they went to ask their mothers and told them where they were going. The same year I rounded up a stray dog and took him to the police station using a dressing gown belt as a lead, again with enough children to make the pied piper jealous (the policewoman knew the dog - apparently he was one of their regulars). Much to the children's dismay, as several had plans to badger their parents into giving him a home.

So it will be interesting. Hope I don't freak out if people come near me. I have to go over the bridge on the main road and it's quite narrow - 2 people could walk side by side but 3 would be pushing it and I don't think we'll have the option of stepping into the road. Let's hope everyone opts for the other side of the bridge.

Today I am grateful for more choice of food (particularly enjoying yoghurt - I'd run out and then the 2 orders I tried to do last week didn't go through so have run out of a few things), grateful for working my way through an enormous pile of plastic bags (emptied the cupboard to put Henry hoover in - DS2 has returned him after over 5 years - and there were bags of bags and loose bags everywhere, hoping to drop  a bagful off at a cs tomorrow), for making progress on paperwork and having a shed full of long life food - will sort it out when I have the energy.