NST July 2020: The Turtles go Jousting

apple_muncher

The fair maiden has dropped the handkerchief and we're off!!!

Pinch, punch first of the month . No returns!

lcc86

Getting in early with my first post. Big bills all gone out, payments made to debts and savings too. Shopping delivery came last night. Not sure if I'm allowed to count today as a NSD, I'm going to the chiropractor this evening. I do get to claim 50% of the cost back through my health cash plan though which helps!

Found out we are expecting 500 redundancies across my local authority, I work in a statutory service so my job is safer than most but it will still be a stressful few months and all the more reason to tighten belts.

f0xh0les

Morning all! 

Apple - pick up that handkerchief before infection control comes and slaps on the (wo)manacles and hoses you down with disinfectant. Even fair maidens with pointy sticks get squirted with sanitizer during a pandemic  

All my bills have gone out, just working out how much of a mortgage o/p I need  to make things nice and 'tidy', nobody else is up.

Over here in 'Lockdown Corner' I have food in the fridge/freezer/pantry and a house to be cleaned.  I am going to claim July as the month I sort out the back room storage situation and the Shelf Rack of Doom which is currently stood in the bath (yeah, I know, I know) in the downstairs bathroom.  By July 31st it will visibly be a bathroom again.  I vow to thee, my Turtles.

apple_muncher

Forgot to mention that you do NOT lose an NSD for medical needs, fuel, ys food (if that is all you buy), emergencies... So lcc, that's not a spend - claim the nsd.

crazy_cat_lady

Not the greatest of starts to the month waking up with a massive fuzzy head and not being able to pull myself round. I'm onto mug number 4 of lockdown - I've gone about 10 years without smashing a cup but can't seem to help one survive the pandemic... I've had 4 cups of tea and have ordered Ooober Eats Subway as we always have a takeaway on payday (with a 25% discount voucher today). 
Bills have gone out - finances look ok - not great now I have a bathroom loan but at least I am budgeting and not just wildly spending and hoping for the best. I've just sat through a very painful 90 minute Z00m meeting about next year's CPD and I feel even worse than I did when I got up. 
I see the Oober man outside so I'm off for lunch. Hopefully a steak and cheese salad will help me feel better.

Calling14

CCL it's glasses with me, smashed at least 2 wine glasses and a half pint glass during lockdown.  Most of the time only drank orange juice so it's not though drinking.

Happier it's July today, not sure why. Going to have a treat of fish and chips for tea if I complete 10k steps by then. Very unusual for me to get a takeway but couldn't find anything in my freezer this morning I wanted to eat. Need to sort out the freezer, no idea what is in besides lots of sausage rolls.

Making a to do list meal planning to feature on it! Also need to pull up boards covering pit in my garage as they are uneven very wobbly to walk over, bit nervous what I may find, big spiders eek, there is some sand in it I think I just threw old rug over it when I moved in 11 years ago. Wish us luck.

New habit  will try drinking more water and more exercise.

Grateful for

Having a lovely home

Now got an EF which is looking healthy

Relaxed job (although I am worrying not busy enough at the moment)

f0xh0les

So far I have made a lovely broccoli and cauliflower cheese bake for lunch, a rhubarb crumble for pud, and I have 2 trays of aquafaba meringues drying out in the oven.  1 roll of cookie dough in the fridge ready for kids snack biscuits tomorrow,  made a jar of pesto for tonight's supper, and 4  raspberry chocolate puff pastry confections for the kids afternoon snack. 

The kitchen is cleaned and I will have a NSD today.  Going to do a food inventory and make a meal plan and hope then I will get a plan.  Even if it only involves me reading another book from my rapidly diminishing bedside pile of books to read.  I tried on my lycra running stuff this morning, at least it still fits.  Now I just need to get out of the house in it.

to all Jousting Turtles, lurkers or joiners equally

Toni'sfriend

Hello Turtles

July budget done and it's looking OK but we did spend far too much on food last month. Today was supposed be the the start of a very frugal month but it's gone a bit wrong on day 1 (see below). Only one birthday this month. Himself on 7th and all his presents are bought and wrapped. 

Today was our first venture out of lock down (after three months going no further than the community back garden) and I was very nervous. Himself admitted to me later that he was a bit wary as well. So we walked to a pharmacy and back (just over two miles) to get my prescription filled avoiding the main street. I must admit it was a very weird and slightly scary feeling but the pharmacist was lovely and gave us the medication without having to wait too long. Himself went in and I stayed outside. The few people we met were mostly trying to maintain a safe distance. On the way back we passed a very nice local butcher whose premises are in a little row of  shops. The need of scotch pies and lorne sausage got the better of me. The shop was empty so said items were purchased although not strictly required but I am so looking forward to pie and beans for tea tonight.  It's given me a bit more confidence so our plan is to go back on Saturday and buy something for Sunday lunch (Boy is coming). And on the plus side it is supporting a long established local firm.  I wonder how many people are like us and after not leaving home for so long are getting really nervous about doing so. I certainly won't be going near any supermarkets or shopping centres in the foreseeable future.

So this is my first new good habit. Out for a little (hopefully building up to a long) walk most, if not every, day. A bit of a plan to go a different way tomorrow (still avoiding the busy parts and shops) and possibly it will be a little bit further.  Lots of acquired bad habits to be addressed and get the weight and slovenliness under control.

F0xh0les - Hope your extended lock down doesn't last too long and they get to the bottom of the cause. I suspect there will be a few more local restrictions before this is over.

apple_muncher

Dd had an eye test about 10 days ago and when we went into town, it was really unnerving to just see lots of people around. It was a Sat afternoon and we would usually go in the morning - but the only appts were pm ones. Dd was decidedly nervous about seeing all those other bodies there!

apple_muncher

“How do I fix my life?”

10 things that scientific research shows can help improve your life.

1) Get out in nature:

You probably seriously underestimate how important this is. (Actually, there’s research that says you do.) Being in nature reduces stress, makes you more creative, improves your memory and may even make you a better person.

2) Exercise:

We all know how important this is, but few people do it consistently. Other than health benefits too numerous to mention, exercise makes you smarter, happier, improves sleep, increases libido and makes you feel better about your body. A Harvard study that has tracked a group of men for more than 70 years identified it as one of the secrets to a good life.

 3) Spend time with friends and family:

Harvard happiness expert Daniel Gilbert identified this as one of the biggest sources of happiness in our lives. Relationships are worth more than you think (approximately an extra $131,232 a year.) Not feeling socially connected can make you stupider and kill you. Loneliness can lead to heart attack, stroke and diabetes. The longest lived people on the planet all place a strong emphasis on social engagement and good relationships are more important to a long life than even exercise. Friends are key to improving your life. Share good news and enthusiatically respond when others share good news with you to improve your relationships. Want to instantly be happier? Do something kind for them.

 4) Express gratitude:

It will make you happier.

It will improve your relationships.

It can make you a better person.

It can make life better for everyone around you.

5) Meditate:

Meditation can increase happiness, meaning in life, social support and attention span while reducing anger, anxiety, depression and fatigue. Along similar lines, prayer can make you feel better — even if you’re not religious.

 6) Get enough sleep:

You can’t cheat yourself on sleep and not have it affect you. Being tired actually makes it harder to be happy. Lack of sleep = more likely to get sick. “Sleeping on it” does improve decision making. Lack of sleep can make you more likely to behave unethically. There is such a thing as beauty sleep.

Naps are great too. Naps increase alertness and performance on the job, enhance learning ability and purge negative emotions while enhancing positive ones. Here’s how to improve your naps.

 7) Challenge yourself:

Learning another language can keep your mind sharp. Music lessons increase intelligence. Challenging your beliefs strengthens your mind. Increasing willpower just takes a little effort each day and it’s more responsible for your success than IQ. Not getting an education or taking advantage of opportunities are two of the things people look back on their lives and regret the most.

 8) Laugh:

People who use humor to cope with stress have better immune systems, reduced risk of heart attack and stroke, experience less pain during dental work and live longer. Laughter should be like a daily vitamin. Just reminiscing about funny moments can improve your relationship. Humor has many benefits.

 9) Touch someone:

Touching can reduce stress, improve team performance, and help you be persuasive. Hugs make you happier. Sex may help prevent heart attacks and cancer, improve your immune system and extend your life.

 10) Be optimistic:

Optimism can make you healthier, happier and extend your life. The Army teaches it in order to increase mental toughness in soldiers. Being overconfident improves performance.

Do what you can turtles!