NST July 2020: The Turtles go Jousting

apple_muncher

Hope today goes well for you, mothernerd.

Toni'sfriend

I lost a day. Checked my bank account, as usual, and couldn't understand why there was so much money in it. Last day of the month and second pension paid in. I thought it was the 30th.

So food delivery arrived. Bag of chips was huge - so much bigger than I thought it would be and we hardly ever eat chips. Oh well. Enough fresh meat and chicken now to last for about three weeks. 

Thanks for the challenge, Apple.

mothernerd

Well I'm back at mum's and think I've survived - will wait until the painkillers kick in. I did the walk there (with my trolley) in half an hour. It took me an hour to get ready (including pills and eating), set off wearing mask, gloves, factor 30, arch supports and support bandages, was nearly hyperventilating before I left the house and broke 3 milk bottles (trying to close the gate and pull the dustbin with the milk bottles on top towards me). Pleasant walk on the whole, a few people not wearing masks and not social distancing but most trying. Top Bridge pub has been knocked down (been boarded up for years).

Could only get a little way into my yard. There's a forest of Rosebay willow herb in the middle, buddleia and brambles cascading. Sat on a chair and had a drink (took 3 cans but no food) then set off for Will Co (leaving the library books behind the front door). Spent a small fortune but ticked lots of boxes and some things they won't deliver. Included a proper yard brush, a brush with rubber bristles (for pet hair but hoping to use it for scrubbing the base of the shower without getting down on my hands and knees) and a lightweight mop, secateurs, a pruning saw and gauntlet gloves for the garden, some cleaning and toiletries (all reduced or on sale), a pair of flannels and some pegs (a lot of mum's have broken and the peg bag is half empty).

People were queuing to get in the library as I was walking back so after another brief pause, I went there. Very painless, queue dissipated and didn't go further than the foyer - they asked what I wanted and had a shelf to one side for returned books. Thought I had better buy some lunch so went back into town centre, using a busier route. At one point I counted ten people on the pavement in front of me but that pavement is 15 - 16 foot wide so no crowding. Fairly quiet, more Sunday afternoon than Friday morning. When I turned the corner onto the main shopping street about half the shops were still closed and those that were open had lines on the pavement and rules on how many could be in the shop. Went in B**ts as someone on the prepping thread had said they had a good selection of masks, gloves and hand gel and all the assistants had masks and gloves on. Did well on the sandwich section 5 items for less than the price of a meal deal and added some items for my first aid list.

Went a couple of blocks further on to get cash for mum, at a bank were people aren't squeezing past you on the pavement. Got the cash but that branch is to close soon and not sure what else it could be used for. Coming back towards town I went in a cs. They've done a quick change to their layout and put arrows on the floor. Picked up 20 books and 4 good quality jigsaws for less than a pound each. I've had problems getting mum's nut chocolate so went in the sweetie shop. There were notices up saying not to touch jars or sweets and several parents were totally ignoring this - the kids were good but the parents were acting like teenagers in Claire's. I stood against the wall facing the counter and asked for what I wanted - choc brazil nuts and bassetts spanish - the half flat/ half round one. Going to hide these and dole them out to mum a few at a time.

Was running low on energy so went to the farm shop bought some cheeses, a ham shank (for mum to make pea soup), potato cakes (she asked if I knew how to make them and I haven't got round to attempting them) and a plate potato and meat pie (another mum request).  Then back down a quiet street to another cs. 20 more books (5 for a pound) and a Thai silk blouse for 2 pounds. Back home for lunch and then started on the yard. The rosebay willow herb gave in easily but filled more than half the green bin. Did the brambles blocking the doorway, the drains and attempting to subvert the pipes and dead headed parts of the buddleia, drank lots of tap water (beautiful tap water at my house) and tried to stay shaded but got very hot. More to do but may get chance to go back for more garden stuff, possibly Sunday, can fill the last few inches of the binand may have time to decant some pizza boxes and empty cardboard boxes into the relevant bins. I did pick up and squash 20 empty toilet roll middles, only about 40 still in the bathroom. I have collected a number of items from my room (including the box of sheets I asked DS3 to get ready weeks ago - I got the old single sheets and he's been using my new ones) and emptied the ginger/ treacle/ golden syrup cupboard and my tall jar of crushed chillies.

Decided I wanted to be back at mum's and wasn't sure if I could push the trolley even if I waited until the weather cooled, so walked round to the taxi office to book a taxi and then went back to re-arrange my bags. Taxi did not turn up at the appointed time (girl was being harangued by her small daughter) so I asked DS3 to get me a chair. Was quite happy once I was seated, everything hurt less and the taxi turned up on the dot (just one hour after the time I had requested). Driver was anxious about all my bags but I tipped generously (don't want the hassle of remembering where the change has come from and quarantining it somewhere) and he was very helpful about bringing my bags to the door. Stripped all my clothes off and put them in the machine and sat myself in the shower. I am semi-recumbent on the bed (where's the chaise longue when you need it) and don't have plans to do anything much. Feet are still stiff but less red and swollen.

Today I am grateful for some bargain buys, for ticking boxes off various lists, for not pushing myself to do any more and for being safely back at mum's. If anyone wants a laugh I can describe the state of my house.

Kerry_Woman

Thank you apple for running this month's challenge.

Achieved 26 nsd's this month.  Everything was just about in budget for each category.  Only had one unexpected expense and that was for the wasp nest.  Thankfully for now it seems to ok for now regarding the wasps, only one yesterday in the kitchen and no more still then. Have booked 2 free courses, one starting in September(4 weeks - 1 day a week) and the other starting in October(12 weeks - 3 hours each week).  Enquired about some voluntary work, got a taster session for one of them next week to see if it is for me and the other one some training on Thursday.  
Grateful for:
Going for a walk about 9am this morning.
Started to read another book I already have in.
Sorting out what I need to do tomorrow.

f0xh0les

mothernerd said:   If anyone wants a laugh I can describe the state of my house.

I have actually been thinking about that. @mothernerd  - wow what a great haul of books! 

I might pull on my big girl pants on Monday and have a look to see if any of our c/s are open. People are horrible here in shops.

I spent the day cleaning and tidying and stripping (beds, sadly) and then masses of laundry was dried on the line.  It is now thunder and lightning outside which will hopefully clear the mugginess away. Or just make it monsoon sweltering. 

Was sad to hear you are in partial lockdown too now.    But today's good news is that dh has had a promotion, and non essential shops are allowed to open here from Monday, although we are supposed to restrict non essential travel. 

Oh well, I still have 20 books left to read (19 and a quarter really) and a freezer full of food.

Thank you for July Apple, and see you all on the other side for CCL's crazy August.

apple_muncher

Mothernerd - that is one massive-overachieving-day. Well done you! I know you now ache (a lot), but you just got so much done, that I don't think you'd have managed to do it all at other times. I'm not sure whether to ask about the state of your house... I bet it's pretty unimaginably awful...

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a lovely pm on the beach (we're 'overseas' on the IOW), for dh and dd doing some awesome tree climbing, for the simplicity of being away, for the sea view from the window (we don't even have to lean too far out to see it, either!), for wifi, for all you lovely turtles + lurkers who make the NST challenges so special.

mothernerd

Thanks for running August apple.

misstara

Thanks for running the challenge apple.  I have been awful at posting this month but hope to do better in August.