NST September 2020: the turtles do the Hokey Cokey

mothernerd

Not much happening here. Symptoms of illness have receded but left me oh so tired and any effort takes a lot out of me. I have continued plodding and finally managed to clear the bed (a lot is on the gateleg table but a lot of it's already sorted into categories and it's at the right height to deal with - no more trying to scoop things off the floor). Food delivery Thursday and yesterday I cooked brisket with lots of veg (today's lunch) and a turkey. The breast will be sliced, portioned and frozen for that day/ Sunday lunches. Legs and scraps will be stewed with many many veg and handfuls of soup mix and eaten today and for several days to come. Didn't have the brisket yesterday (had a bit of the veg for supper) because we ate the 'bacon' that went on top of the turkey - opened a pack of cooking bacon and it was just two 1/2" slabs of smoked bacon. Again with multiple veg and leftover scraps.

When I've needed to rest I've been sorting into categories (toiletries/first aid, pens, paper stock/ embroidery books, cleaning stuff, paperwork, unused notebooks, in use notebooks) and adding odd bits as I came across them. Lots of things I can do sitting down, one bit at a time. Several things I want to do (some things to buy) but will stick within strict limits for today (lots of aches and pains plus the odd yelp inducing pain from all sorts of unexpected areas (scooping things off the floor and carrying heavy stuff like bedding). One lot of washing a day has been line dried. Priorities for today are dealing with the meat, watering all my chilli and pepper plants, making the bed properly (if possible - settled for having a sheet under me and a cover over me last night) and paperwork elimination.

I am grateful for the bed, the covers, lovely books and the good lamp by my bed (having to stop sewing between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. and mum has been lighting candles in the evenings so not even the totally inadequate central light on).

f0xh0les

Today will be a NSD, I stayed in bed until lunchtime after getting up at 2am as I can't sleep lying down with this stupid cough, went back to bed when they all got up for breakfast.  I love 'middle of the night' radio.  Feel much better actually, but not going out, and I am going to put the heat on for an hour or so as it is blowing a gale outside and there is a draught from somewhere.   I thought I had fixed that.  Obviously not.

So I am in charge of supper tonight, I have done paperwork, have inventorized the food stores, had a lazy afternoon with many mugs of hot Vimt0, and I am just recuperating so I am fit for Monday. 

It is DS2s birthday tomorrow, and he has unhelpfully requested millionaire's shortbread.   I am making a tray of shortbread, and covering it in L0tus Bisc0ff spread and topping with melted chocolate.  I know it is a cheat, but it is caramel flavoured and I am ill so he can either eat it or leave it, but I will have 'made' it. It will come with candles. Do you think that is acceptable? Opinions wanted and requested.

Yesterday it was one month til the clocks go back (I am that excited it is in the diary!) and it is only 20 days til half term if you break on the 16th  (congratulations all you teacher types! the parents are in awe of you).

Fear not, there are landmarks on the horizon to aim toward, and 4 days left of this month and I might just come in on budget - I finally got some cashback, and another p/a payment so I have £47.85, otherwise the tone of this update would have been very different and I would have less than a tenner.

DawnW

I'm not familiar with Lotus Biscoff spread Foxholes, but if there is a shortbread base covered with something sweet and topped with chocolate I can't imagine any child leaving it tbh     Hope you feel better soon,

apple_muncher

Yes, yes, yes! to your millionaires shortbread. With candles. Perfect.

Today I'm grateful for sleeping through the night, for getting myself some brand new m+s work trousers that fit really well for just £9 and for dd choosing some school shoes, for a clear (albeit jolly windy and chilly) day, for dh being around, for the central heating working so quietly and easily after having our new boiler back in the summer.

f0xh0les

Sexy quiet new boiler-envy!

lcc86

Evening all, hope everyone is cosy and warm this evening. We had our new sofa delivered today and it's sooooooooo comfy! I can see myself sleeping on it instead of in bed 

Went to a Turkish spa with a friend today. We booked pre-covid and had to go or lose our money. I wasn't massively comfortable with it but my friend was really keen. I did enjoy it but feel paranoid now although I did have my track and trace app on the entire time! Drove into London and paid for parking as I didn't want to take public transport, and it worked out cheaper than taking the train so was actually slightly MSE. Should be my last spend day of the month hopefully. Volunteering tomorrow and then back at work on Monday.

apple_muncher

f0xh0les said:5

Sexy quiet new boiler-envy!

I keep thinking that it's not working because it is so quiet and I'm used to the whoosh and gurgle of the old system!

mothernerd

Lovely turkey stew made (6 portions). Lunch was brisket, veg cooked with the brisket, cabbage/leek mixture (both needed using up and there was some left after lots went in the stew, mashed potato, home grown broccoli and gravy made with the meat juices from cooking. Spent the afternoon watching Doctor Who and slicing turkey breast, then more stew meat (plus a box of bones which has been made into stock and a box for skin and bits for brother's dog - he has his own bag in the freezer and we add leftover bits to it). Another chunk of embroidery done. Front room door re-attached (still couldn't squeeze the wood filler out so chopped the end off the tube and shoved it into the holes with a cotton bud) and have also tightened the screws on two small tables which had gone wobbly.

Back in bed now. Silent witness looked interesting but not sure how much I'll be able to move tomorrow so needed a change of position.

Grateful for getting things done (door was a pig and had to hunt for extra screws as some of the old ones were bent - but it hangs correctly, shuts perfectly and won't fall off and clonk one of us on the head), for the bed (gently stretching my spine and have found a comfortable position) for good food. 

facethemusic

Saturday
Foxholes- millionaires birthday cake sounds fab!!
Today was NSD 14/15.
Pony been exercised, dog is happy, steps have been done. 
Lots more decluttering- sorted a drawer full of random cables and most are going out- I have no idea what they fit/charge and am unaware of any in use gadgets which are missing any cables so they can go and if I find what they are missing from that is just too bad/a problem for another day. 2 bags of papers/magazines into recycling and a coffee table taken to bits so no chance I can refill the drawers with junk. With the amount of stuff that has left the house you would think it should be empty- but it still appears to be as full as ever! I have another list for tomorrow so maybe I'll have found a space by tomorrow night. 
Gratitudes- a day of "chores" with DD being a good day as she helped and was in good spirits all day, a short meeting with my sister outdoors, knowing this is the last month in this house with terrible heating- I can't wait for functioning radiators in all the rooms! 

Toni'sfriend

Well, we got to our holiday destination. It was a very weird feeling driving down but it’s lovely to just be somewhere different. We went for a meal in the local pub last night. First time we’ve been anywhere like that in over six months. That was a really strange experience but I‘m sure we’ll get used to it. Don’t expect any more NSDs this month. Just waiting for the Tesco order to arrive.