NST Amazing August

f0xh0les

I am blessed with two holes in the roof, both smaller than a lego brick with 8 nobbles. You can see daylight!  So I have a clear plastic storage box under each of them, and 90% of the time they are dry.   As soon as the kids are all back at school I am getting quotes again and getting it done.  This year has been too crazy to be worrying about a roof.

crazy_cat_lady

I have spent so much money on the house this year that I literally cannot afford for anything else to go wrong.

lcc86

Evening all, haven't checked in this weekend yet. No NSD yesterday, bought some screws and a couple of really small storage boxes. All necessary purchases. OH took me out for dinner, first time I've been out anywhere indoors since restrictions eased!

Today has been a NSD. This morning I was up very early, went riding and then to my volunteering. Crashed out on the sofa at about 3pm for an hour or so. Got dragged by a greedy horse which hurt my back (which is already bad but it'll be fine!). Said horse also trod on my foot 

Time for a bath in a minute then an easy dinner of pizza as can't be bothered to cook! Am on the on call court rota tomorrow so could end up working, a nice early night is in order. 

Kerry_Woman

NSD 25/20
Grateful for:
Walk this morning.
Health shop's own brand of peppermint oil tablets.
Afternoon nap.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for free yoga classes, for swallowing a couple of frogs, for le Tour going ahead, for getting loads of laundry washed, for dd playing out.

f0xh0les

Ooh we had Le Tour on as well here,  good job as there was nothing else on. 

Gratitudes : for making baked apples and an apple crumble before my mojo left me, and for getting the washing done and on the line before I became totally immobile.  I have fed people. That is all.  Volunteering tomorrow.  Hopefully money will come in, otherwise the budget is £3 until Tuesday.

mothernerd

Yesterday was very busy. It was mum's birthday (85) and I had decided that anyone who turned up with a card or a present would be given food to either eat whilst here or to take away with them. Mum knew nothing of my plans so the food that arrived this week was all stashed in my room. It's been a very full on week physically - the storms took the cover off the polytunnel again and I had to carry heavy pots of peppers and chillies (a couple of tomato plants and small clusters of green tomatoes from the other plants also on the window sills to ripen) and I've been up and down the garden between downpours collecting small pots and all the things I've used as improvised plant pots and the washing line was filled with plastic sacks that had had soil in, the large sheet of plastic I'd used when I was painting bins and large boxes and a collection of small red plastic bags that I intended to use as 'party bags'.

Two deliveries this week. The first one was my usual big shop with party additions. Cheated like mad buying Mr K cakes - individually wrapped so they could be set out for people to choose the one they wanted without touching other pieces of cake, small packs of biscuits (already had jammie dodgers so that I could tip them out of the window when children visited). Second shop was next day delivery after I found out DS2's gf is lactose intolerant and made up the order with items that were out of stock on the first order - ended up with plastic cups instead of my first choice of paper ones (this was not a zero waste party it was a take as many precautions as possible to keep everyone safe - feel a bit guilty about buying disposable stuff but it was the safest option.  

Due to the frequent downpours I was planning to move the polytunnel next to the house to give us some shelter but on Friday I saw that one bit was narrower and I would have to dismantle and reassemble it to get it where I wanted. Last outside job on Friday was to scrub the garden table, small table and solid chair (the others are folding ones with mesh seats and backs). My last indoor job was to jot down some easy marinade recipes and make up several that I had all the ingredients for and marinade the meat. Thankfully I awoke to glorious sunshine. 

I worked from the front of the house to the inside - small table on the front for DS2 and his gf (from another borough and still not allowed in other people's gardens), dog bowl and water in case anyone brought the daft dogs, cut scotch marigolds and nasturtiums to decorate, pegged the gate open, visitors chairs and bird bath to hold the cake platter (out of sight from the street as the gate is usually locked), garden table and old dining table covered by a sheet for a tablecloth. large planter to either side so daft dogs and/or small children could not squeeze through. 

In all we had ten visitors, 4 in pairs and two singles but never more than 3 at any time. Mum also had 3 or 4 lengthy telephone conversations with well wishers. I had asked people to ring the doorbell (outside the gate) and I asked them to wait on the path whilst I put their food on the table (I used individual paper plates and foil platters for couple to put food on) which they could eat then or take home with them. I then went in the door so they could sit down and took out at the back and then to sit at the far side of the tables. I held out a broom handle for people to hook gift bags on and then lifted them back to our side of the tables.

It was slightly chaotic and I hadn't done as much beforehand as I had planned (mum decided not to have a nap on Friday) but it worked well. I was nearly constantly busy but never overwhelmed. I decided that people who came early would only just have had breakfast so delayed cooking the meat and boiling potatoes for salad until later. Most people stayed for about an hour, the morning was a stream of people/ phone calls. I put out bottles of still and fizzy water (no waste because I've just bought some watering spikes and all the bottles will be used to make the garden semi- self-watering) and everyone seemed happy with what they were offered (I hadn't issued any invites so they weren't expecting anything).

Mum managed to open her cards and presents (previously received) on the third attempt - visitors and phone calls stalled the first two attempts. We had a lull about lunch time so came in and I prepared a tray of food for us. Mum mentioned two people who would call about 2 pm, if they came at all, so prepared two more plates ready for them and finally managed a proper sit down (even saw 15 minutes of Dr Who). Only one of those came and slightly before 2 pm but I left mum with her and had another short rest (put the meat in) before going back out to be sociable. My whole day was fuelled by caffeine and ibuprofen and aided by arch supports and ankle bandages.

Another short break (it had become slightly chilly and mum had put a summer coat on top of her other clothes) and then DS2 and his gf arrived. They had brought their camping chairs so I didn't need to wipe the visitor's chairs. I told them to bring their table up to the gate, put the platter and box of food on the large planters before they came up the path and went in to warm the cooked marinaded meat in the microwave. It's the first time we've had a chance for a proper talk. At first she would stay by the car and we all smiled and waved, we've had a few short chats keeping a good distance between us and they came in to deliver some furniture items when DS2 moved in with her but we were all masked up. As they were outside the gate, it was safe for us to move to the other side of the table but we kept our own chairs. So we did questions and answers, swapped family anecdotes and even passed round the book of photos of cakes (wedding and themed birthday) mum has done in the past.

They left about 5 pm (we put up umbrellas for the last half hour) and then mum told me to lock up as she didn't think anyone else would come. I did a basic tidy (had brought the small table and dog bowl in) and made up the tray with our food (similar to lunch with additional items). I was just sitting down to eat when my niece phoned to say she would arrive in 15 minutes. So back to the kitchen for me to prepare a vegetarian feast and cut up the specially bought carrot cake (for niece and myself) and put two pieces in a box for her to take home. Mum was able to ask her about my baby brother - also extremely vulnerable and totally isolating with niece doing all his shopping and moving in with him when he was ill. She was going to meet a friend and her bf off their respective buses. The friend phoned to say he had arrived and she directed him to come here (used to walking to her house along the canal so she only needed to tell him where the steps were to get off the canal bank at mum's street. I offered her more party food (her birthday is 31st) which she declined but accepted crisps on behalf of the two lads. I offered him cake and gave him biscuits as well then they departed.

So at 8 pm I finally got to eat my evening meal then went back to the kitchen (mum was washing up despite me saying i would do it) to root out vases and deal with the 3 large bouquets of flowers mum received. Filled bags of paper, green stuff and plastic/cans to put in the bins today. 

Had problems with sleeping. I didn't want to take more painkillers and it took a while for the pain to recede enough for me to attempt sleep. Woke at 2 am and had some cough medicine and at 5'30 decided it would be more restful to sit up and read quietly. I have cooked the remaining pack of chicken in all the leftover scraps of marinade and we had it with chips and frozen veg medley. We've watched undemanding television and mum has nodded off lots of times. I've done some sewing and put the rubbish out and the the tablecloth in the washer (will be washed tomorrow with some clothes and bedding).

Lots of sorting and tidying will be required this week but I'm going to see how I feel in the morning and if another mostly resting day is needed, that's what I'll do. Three grand-daughters are coming next week once their children are at school. I told them it would be under the same conditions ie outdoors, so they will come on a sunny day.

I am grateful for caffeine, ibuprofen, arch and ankle supports, my little furry boots, my bed, good books and for mum having a lovely birthday.

Fmess

Wow mothernerd what epic birthday preparations for your mum. Well done on maintaining such good social
distancing and feeding everyone.

Yesterday was a good day, went to the new gym for a swim, walked the one dog that was energetic (one other has 3 legs and was tired from visitors the previous day and one is nearly 14 so needs occasional walks when he’s up for it) and gardened.

Today should be spend free as we’re off to my parents for dinner and I want to get some school work done.  Need to make an apple crumble and eat up more leftover BBQ food.

apple_muncher

Fmess - good to hear about your hounds, I was wondering where they were!

Belated birthday greetings to your mum, mothernerd. Sounds like an awesome day - I'd need several days torecover from all that soviability!

Toni'sfriend

Think I've ended the month on 20 NSDs but the food budget definitely needs to be increased.

Today has not started well. Received a parcel from Amazon late last night which had been resealed by the carrier. Opened it this morning to find half the contents were missing. Eventually got through to Amazon who said to wait till the scheduled delivery date of tomorrow and then get back to them. It must be obvious that the items have either fallen out or been taken out but no. I have to wait.

Then I did the banking and tried to pay the credit card bill as normal. Card declined it said. Contact your bank. Duly did as there was more than enough funds. Bank couldn't see any reason for being declined, said try again and if it doesn't work phone Barclaycard. Did that. Didn't work again so tried to phone Barclaycard. Upwards of an hour to wait before being able to speak to anyone. Sent them a message instead. I hate banks and technology.

Doing the washing now and have just had to move someone's from my line as it's been hanging there for three days. No idea who it belongs to. If I stick to my diet today it will be a miracle.

Thanks for August, CCL.