NST September 2020: the turtles do the Hokey Cokey

facethemusic

Monday- NSD 16. 
Not much to report, long day at work so by the time I pick up DD and get us fed, it's just about her bedtime. 
Gratitudes- making it through a crazy day at work, having time to walk my dog in the sunshine at lunchtime, pizza for dinner. 

ditty1234

Hi not managing NSD days, yesterday had to top up on peanutbutter - a basic necessity can't believe we actually ran out!

f0xh0les

Catch up from yesterday,  2 x volunteering, 2x school run, one roofer visit (no quote has materialised yet), lots of lovely ys bargains, and a massive huge beautiful moon last night hanging in the sky and watching to make sure I got home safely. 

**check your headlights Turtles, there are a massive amount of people around here driving with only one  front light **

Toni'sfriend

We had a lovely day yesterday. A little bit of walking and a visit to the pub. The village was absolutely mobbed with people and dogs. Got a pack of meat, etc from the very good local butcher at a very reasonable price. All divided up and in the freezer. Enough for at least two weeks.

More restrictions here in the North East. Although I thought some of them were in place already but apparently they were just guidance and are now law. No wonder everybody is confused.

mothernerd

Yesterday's main task was putting mesh (for plants to grow up - had to buy a big roll earlier in the year when Wilko had none) onto fence panels. Had a piece of the original green in use (large roll is black - not as pretty) so took it off and used it on the outside of the fence near the front gate (mum has plans - one's prefaced with "you can do this, that or the other"). Shouldn't grumble - she was very impressed with my putting the door back on and has been telling her phone callers about it.

Also phoned the doctor's again, following a letter from mum's neurology consultant. I explained about her blood tests, how vulnerable she was to COVID, and that I had first asked about it in July, requested it in August, phoned in September to learn that it had been entered on the system but not actioned and pointed out that it's October in a few days and mum's appointment (switched back to a phone appointment as they don't want her going into the hospital) is now only 2 weeks away. I have been promised that the e-mail will be sent to the district nurses who will get it today and they should then contact us (made sure they have the right phone number too). I know the NHS is under pressure and people have been moved from their regular jobs to providing front line services (family member is back on a ward for the first time in over 20 years) so I don't want to keep ringing up or be a nuisance but thought that one district nurse coming out to take both our blood tests, check on mum's leg ulcer and give us both our flu jabs was a safer and better use of resources than multiple visits to the infirmary in taxis. If either of us gets it, providing we don't die, we would be taking up a hospital bed for between 1 and 3 months. I've now settled for getting mum's bloods done - hope I don't go into a diabetic coma.

So first of 3 or 4 difficult phone calls/ communications done, longest length of fencing done, another chunk of sewing done (want to get the difficult stuff done whilst there is still some good daylight). Tried to spend money on easy build raised beds and failed. Company has a variety of payment methods and I've decided on paying direct into their bank account from mine and then reclaiming the money from mum (it might have to be my festive present until mum is sure about it) but in the morning my bank's online system was down and when I tried later they wanted me to use pinsentry - the one they gave me needs a new battery (discovered that soon after I came here - well I discovered it wasn't working). I have another one (issued by my previous bank) which I have used successfully before, but I could only find the non-working one yesterday evening. As if it weren't difficult enough jumping through all the layers of bank security, a form which needed billing and delivery addresses and had to have mum's e-mail address (she can't use it, but I have things for her sent there) as mine didn't compute with the delivery address.

We had fish and chips delivered for lunch. As part of mum's birthday present someone wanted to take her out for a meal. We vetoed it when mum's October appointment was changed back to a phone one (suggested venue is one we have used on the way back from hospital visits) but suggested that f & c (from a really good local chippy) would be very welcome. Visitor had been going to stay for a chat but the children (her son and her sister's daughters had D &V at weekend and the cold/ sore throat/ coughs are enough for our bodies to be fighting atm).

I have asked her for a favour (I will ask for things for mum but don't like to impose myself). She will transport a car load of stuff for me one day next week (I will go home and bag it up) to save me having to bring it all by the trolley load. I had taken my tools back home before lockdown (about 3 bags worth including paint brushes) and only had time to gather one bag's worth when I packed to come here - so I have my drill and bits, a couple of screwdrivers, recently bought a second hammer and a few screws.

I also need my winter boots, whatever warm clothing I have left. the roll of lining/blackout material (once beloved has cut some lengths to line/ insulate their bedroom curtains) etc. I don't know if or when further restrictions will come into force which mean I can't go back in my house so I need to get the things I need as quickly as possible. Today would be a fine day for it - foggy and dull but not actually raining - but my poor back, knees, shoulders etc won't co-operate. 

I am grateful for fish and chips, lovely toast (using up whatever needs using up most urgently) and asking for and accepting help (I've had to be self-reliant for so long that I find it really difficult to ask and to accept).

  

ditty1234

Grateful for supply work as have now money for tooth and 18'th birthday gift and party. But am very tired.
And ... OMG just bought something on very - twice they tried to make me do a credit check! Not on my list of things to do ... but twice! Worse than Ry4n!

greent

Grr - just lost a post whilst trying to deal with kids. Ah well - here's a shorter version!

Health
6.5lb off this month - just over 2 stone lost this year now - whoop. Lots of exercise in Sept but it looks like I may have peroneal (?) tendonitis  in one foot so need to keep off my feet and have also found some recommended exercises for it on u-toob. 
DD is super stressed with her dissertation (due date now 19th Oct) - I think I'll be nearly as glad as she is when it's all done!

Wealth 
Looking forward to (DH's) payday tomorrow - much needed! Have paid for our new fence and gates this month and we think we have almost chosen a new gas fire (hopefully to be fitted in Nov) (ours has been condemned! )- we thought we were going to choose a wood burner  but we like the romantic idea of one, rather than the reality - the guy in the showroom (they sell both) was really good and not at all pushy. DH got a grade rise and pay rise a couple of weeks ago effective from Oct - whoop! 
Have made a very small start on Xmas. But have also bought DH and my nephew's bday presents  for Oct (just  a cake to organise for DH)

Life well lived
More things gone to charity. Have a couple of good quality sleeping bags to donate to homeless shelter when I next go that way. Lots of outgrown/ no longer needed uniform has left the house to go to DS2's school and DS3's old school. Have some more things for CS in the garage - including all my now-too-big jeans
Lots of walks have been taken, with time out  during them watching squirrels, swans, ducks and moorhens .

Gratitudes
We have money we can use to do things like replace the fence and fire without going into debt; for sunny Autumn days (line dried washing!). for tomatoes still ripening in the garden; for DS2 finally getting back to school after his year were self isolating; for some unexpected hours at work this month and therefore some extra money (Any pay received by me in Oct and Nov salary run will go towards Xmas and Dec/ Jan birthdays spends)

apple_muncher

September has been a month of getting used to a totally different schedule. As a result, I do feel like I have shopped a lot and spent a lot. Will need to have a little look at the details...but I do just need to think about doing it differently for October.

And big sis sent me an email 2 days ago, saying that mum needed quite a lot of clothing items, so I've been trying to get them - hard to judge them as she is a roly-poly thing and I've not seen her for over 9 months. She is also hobbit size in height so everything needs shortening ((even the short-leg trousers). Last night I went around Tosco near dd's ballet class and today I did peecocks. M+S and george online both had nothing suitable. I need to physically see the items to have a clue if they are long or short enough and if they'll fit over her arms and not have a big neckline. I am all clothes-shopped out but still need to find some jamas. Mum needs to have matching jamas that look like jamas (ie not a l/s t-shirt and jogging bottoms) otherwise she'll wear them as daytime clithes. She already tends to wear her jamas under normal clothes anyway...

So Sat is a primarni jama search day, and bon marche if it is still open... And before than, I need to get sewing names in, shortening trousers and get it all posted off to her.

Ooph.

Today I am grateful for getting stuff to the tip / recyc centre, for 2 beefy guys at the gym talking to another guy whose arm finished partway down from his elbow and showing him straps he could buy so that he could get into weightlifting and telling him to come and get involved with them, for sunshine as I walked to meet dd, for a good book, for the guttering men having a cancellation and slotting us in for later this week.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Hi everyone, good to read everyone's news. I've lost track of NSDs but achieved about 8. I've paid over £200 to debt & have eaten from supplies a lot, need to defrost the freezer but then my stepmum tells me to stock it up! I have sourdough bread in there which is essential;) 
I've had house viewers but no offers which is a shame but nevermind. Its very stressful keeping the house clean & tidy as I'm naturally messy! Decluttering continues - I have sold another item on Ebay of E & DD1's bestie took some of my stuff to the charity shop & tip yesterday. Work is very busy but I'm still WfH & still happy in my job.
Gratitudes- happy DDs; DD1s bestie has got a job after 3 months bring unemployed; lovely walk with friend to a local place I've never been before with amazing views, new drama on TV
Love Deni x

facethemusic

Tuesday- still NSD 16- milk required today. 
Work all day so not much done- will get back to decluttering from tomorrow. 
Gratitudes- music practice from DD sounding rather tuneful, a friend helping me solve a problem- will cost a small amount of money but less than it could have done, being healthy- have heard some very bad news about a local person today and it reinforces that being OK and having my family around really is the most important thing to be grateful for.