NST September 2020: the turtles do the Hokey Cokey

mothernerd

I'm moving but still slower than a snail wading through treacle. Made up 4 party bags for when mummy of twins comes to visit , picked the tomatoes from one of my plants as they have now ripened (large plant pot can go back outside), few more things into a drawer, a lot of things picked up from the floor (not away as I need to clear more space to be able to get to drawers/ cube boxes without risking knocking more stuff down. Obviously not alright because I managed to spill water on a table when I was watering the flowers - it was a water jug so a complicated opening and I was using one arm to hold back the lilies. I also broke a plate - had got it up to the cupboard and was about to slide it into place in the stack when it decided to go the other way. I couldn't make a grab for it without disturbing the stacked plates. Feeling jangled so watched a film and sewed for most of the afternoon then back for more reading, resting and tidying.

Decided against going into town today so my plan for the next 3 days is to continue chipping away at the mess, eat cautiously (mainly veg, raw where possible), do more exercise (may just be seeing how far bits of me will move currently) and plan. Did the seed audit yesterday (recently bought several 'kits' with 15 - 30 seeds in each box). I'm sure there are things I haven't got but will stick to buying favourite bee friendly flowers in the clearance sale and note down any veg varieties I particularly want or use lots of (loving my tiny tasty toms and kept the labels saying what varieties they are so will hunt for seeds of those). Winter pansy seeds are springing up and need to decide if I'm buying hyacinth bulbs for festive presents/ decoration.

Found quite nice cards (dragons but they had the welsh greeting only, traidcraft used to do bi-lingual) but that charity didn't have diaries (don't want to do several tiny orders with different charities). Looked briefly at craft supplies and then decided I should use what I had. I have some turquoise card with tiny polka dots (will do for snow) and some sheets of thick card in primary colours and green so will make up some very simple designs (might be shaped if I can find suitable cutters in mum's stash) and do long-ish letters to go in them (for those living a way off). 

I want to make this room more 'mine' as I spend so much time here (and am attempting not to leave any of 'my stuff' lying around the rest of the house). I want to put up fairy lights - asked DS3 to get me the 'twinkle lights' from my room months ago. It's a longish job, I want loops along the curtain rail.

Just been to take several bags of recycling. Thought I could hear the window cleaner so unlocked and moved things out of his way - including the black bin which mum has brought back near the door despite my telling her not to and explaining why - visitors coming sometime, window cleaner coming (mum's version of tidy is to put the small table and a washing up bowl with a plant in, against the wall - meaning the gate cannot open more than a few inches and the window cleaner is more than a few inches). Window cleaner is close but is at the houses that are back to back with our little estate so it might be an hour before he gets here, depending on how many customers he has.

Received some good news in the post, mum's October appointment has been put back a week and will be a telephone one, they want as few people as possible going into the hospital. Feel relieved as it was worrying me and mum didn't take kindly to me suggesting she should do 'mask practice' (she'd have to wear one in the taxi and in the hospital). However it also means that she is still seen as very vulnerable. Tentatively suggested that being taken out for breakfast at the end of the month (delayed birthday treat) was not a good idea. She agreed - think she was worried and if the specialist is the one saying it's not safe it gets me off the hook - getting fed up of being the 'bad guy' again - too many people taking minimal precautions.

Don't know if it counts as social (won't be doing it in front of anyone) but I'm awaiting the arrival of my bowel cancer test kit - a whole world of fun and laughter. 

Today I am grateful for pleasant weather (might gather a few more items and set the washer going), being able to see more of my floor, for finding a dress (at the bottom of a box of things I picked up a couple of weeks ago - it must have been on the radiator and I could only make a grab for it), for delivery drivers and postmen.

Calling14

Hiya turtles

Health 

Had a lovely afternoon off yesterday, tiny shop for some nice stuff for my house and lovely walk under some bridges. Booked 3 days off next week, might stay local and just travel around North Wales. Saves on accomodation. Lookiing forward to few days off.

By the way no chance of me doing 800 calories a day I struggle with 1500. No gym rejoined yet.

Wealth

Need to sort my energy tariffs out today runs out end of month.

Car booked in for mini service this afternoon so no NSD yet this month.

Life well lived.

Cancelled night out tonight with a friend, we wer just going out for a drink but it was stressing me out trying to find somewhere to go so much and I have had headaches all week so a boozy night not needed. Probably walk and pop in to check on elderly friends (RAOK).

Grateful for

Grandkids back to school pics so cute.

Understanding friend who was nice when cancelled tonights night out.

Hopefully nice weather on its way.

ditty1234

Alright here it comes, a song and a dance goes a long way, in particular if I don't have to do the singing. That doesen't mean I'm not doing the song in my head.

I loved the little Ninja story, and I left the conclusion in here for myself to read!

"So the brave little turtles set out, swimming against the tide of consumerism and became the NINJA SAVING TURTLES."

 This is my last year of having school kids and it makes me a bit sad and a bit excited. In a week or so our home bubble will burst when the older one goes back off to uni - kind of dreading spending he year in his uni house with some awkward room mates and I have a feeling he might be back at some point. The school boy is completing A levels, so were just hoping there will be no more lock down. 

September.  A new school year, a fresh start. Autumn is definitely here, halfway through the month we hit the ‘100 days until that day’, and we have the equinox.

 I want to support the ethos of really paying attention and to making status on a running basis. I don't think I USED TO TAKE THE TIME TO DO THAT, BUT now I do and I see how much of a difference it makes. 

Health:

I'm on a bit of a journey, diet would be an exaggeration, but I am changing/have changed my life to be more active, eat less, loose weight, feel strong, feel smarter, read more, write more, be more creative, make more decisions, basically be more. 

So I am trying to do movement time every day it is supposed to be an hour, but it is flexible. Wednesday was a fail, yesterday was a 4M run, today was a 45 min swim and hopefully a walk. 

I now get a discount so will aim to do 2 swims a week and about 3 runs, and then walking on top of that. Also I have wrangled my work so at the moment I will only be commuting out of town 2 days a week! That is a success. And a bit closer to my aim of biking/walking to work every day. For me and for the planet. Weird how that works for most things. 

Since lockdown we have been meatfree every other day and I think I will stick with that and maybe next year go flexitarian. As in only occasional meat. 

My me time is about half an hour on my diary project - 3 pages a day - I am telling you it does add up, have almost filled a notebook already in 6 weeks. Ans the basic project is a 12 week project. 

Wealth:

This is alway my weak point and as a single parent of young people, there is a lot of saying no and wishing I could say yes, so while I have a budget and pretty much keep to it, there is also some overspending happening and I think there always will be. 

-NSDs. 

I could do with more planning of food and shopping in general.

Also for that C day, as if I was as planned as I would aim to be done with pressies late november to send them off to the other country, by mid nov ...will this happen. 

When ever I try to allocate myself 2 days a week to spend money, there's always milk or somebodys lnch I haden't considered. 

Life well-lived:

I need to schedule some outings, as things open and to just meet up with people and try to find new professional networks as feel most sources has been a bit drained. 

-life admin – 

My big life admin is to press the button on citizenship application. Have postponed for money worries - but now I think it just needs to go. 

Stuff:

I have a lot to give, to sell and to recycle. 

Budget and pay off - DMP is on hold until November when I will start to pay again and then I will work out DFD date. 

Aim for 15 NSD's

RAOK will firstly be on boys, colleagues and students, and in traffic - we all need a kinder and nicer world. 

Gratitudes for today:

• My mom waking up from elaborate heart surgery, hopefully ready to start to heal.
• My boy making dinner
• getting extra work on local college with higher level students. 

abundant1972

Morning gang!

Yesterday = NSD number 2

No spends planned today... off to parents later on, and just gym and a walk today. Did my shopping for this week and got plenty in. Off next week too which will be a chance for me to catch up with myself and wipe the slate clean in terms of outstanding jobs. 

Have a great one folks x

Toni'sfriend

Still on NSD No 3

Iceyland delivery arrived today. I've started a box of "essentials" to take with us. I normally have everything  but since we're not going by public transport this time it means I can take some things we already have. Much easier and cheaper.

Himself has de-cluttered some more recordings. We've had an afternoon of war documentaries today which I didn't watch. The usage percentage doesn't seem to be going down very quickly.  Tidied the freezers and they do seem to be going down quite nicely in that the bits and bobs that have been there for ever are being used.  Think I'm making it a bit more difficult because I'm trying to loose weight. Another pound this week. Not a lot but going in the right direction.

Walk tomorrow. Got to go to the butcher.

Kerry_Woman

NSD no. 3 today.
Gave the item I had into the cs.  Another thing I got rid of was an empty and clean plastic container that had cream in it.  The shop I returned it to recycle their own containers etc. It sells creams, bath bombs.  For the rest of the month, I am going to concentrate on using up things that I already have in and to think before buying things.  I have already resisted buying 2 things already. 
Grateful for:
Going for a walk this morning.
Picking up my glasses.
Having a nice relaxing bath.

apple_muncher

Facethemusic - I'd suggest getting stuck in to getting rid of what you really don't want to take with you. Yes, you may go through things twice, but the 2nd time is just to pack for moving, and is therefore quite mindless and doesn't involve decision making.

mothernerd - a bowel cancer test kit thingy? Hope this is just a precaution...
Ditty - hope your mum recovers quickly.

f0xh0les

mothernerd - really don't think your test counts as a social activity.  

Today was NSD 0 again. Dropped kids to school and went to a few charity shops that were having £1 sales.  Spent £6

Went to Mr T's Emporium of Food, spent £9, all ys except some cooking oil.

Made £10  on p/a, cleaned out all the top floor bedrooms again, all the boys drawers  and hoovered and changed their bedding.  Cleaned the bathroom.    Went and picked them all up from schools, came home and made a  Chicken (well, pretend chicken)  and sweetcorn pie and baby potatoes, and made myself a diet shake instead.

I am getting down into the 11's this weekend.  Even if it takes cup soups and shakes.  It is all stuff that is being used up and out of my house.  I  can make my own soups that are low cal and delicious,  but there is nothing wrong with having a packet of cup soup in my bag for the days I am at the f/b or I simply cannot be faffed with it all.

Tonight I will clean one more bathroom, and do some laundry, and maybe do the washing up. How my Friday night's have changed in the last 30 yrs!  No dancing and drinking and meeting up with friends.   Oh well, that time will come again.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Evening everyone and happy Friday
I've had a good day at work (from home). 
Got lots of washing dry on the line. 
Friend came and took a small bag of toys/books for a family of 4 children who she knows through her work for the council who 'have nothing'.  Wished i had more time to root through my garage as i will have lots of old toys.  I know i also have lots of craft items so i will gather them up and see if her colleagues can make use of them.
The same friend also advertised an old worktop of mine on free website and it got picked up plus i gave him another small piece of the same worktop and he was very happy (so was i!)
No spends so NSD #1 
Health - going for a walk with DD2 after tea.
Me time - going to watch final episode of french crime drama before going to sleep.
Deni x

mothernerd

Yes apple. They sent my first test as soon as I turned 60 and now it's due again. Just monitoring, Boob squash is next year, I think.