NST September 2020: the turtles do the Hokey Cokey

f0xh0les

Grateful for getting through day 1 of The Return Of The Schools. 

For my kids recognising there is no social distancing possible, and that  they just have to take care of what they can control themselves.   Although they are  already sick to death of 'mental health awareness'  lessons scheduled in for the first 2 periods every day  this week.   They wanted to do Maths. 

For love, for hugs, and for my big brave boys being absolutely terrified of tiny little spiders.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Evening, first day back at work, not too many emails but hsvent got through them all yet. A spendy day as had DD2's laptop serviced but hopefully will see her through her final year of uni. 
Gratitudes-  good day at work with nice boss & colleagues; getting washing dry on the line; nice text chat with friend.
Deni x 

mothernerd

Bits of me are moving today but still very slow. Written down all the parts of the challenge. Going to start with 3 things on my daily to do list, a weekly task and a job for the month. So I've done a wash load and dried it on the line, phoned the nurse attached to mum's neurology unit and explained where we are up to on bloods and wanted to get my d-i-l's birthday card posted (didn't get done as I can't find any of the notebooks with their address in - I know the address but apart from M9 I can't remember the postcode but still have a week to get the card there).

My task for the week is 'garden audit' and the task for the month is to start putting in raised beds (will also involve a lot of digging). I have washed and dried (well I left them turned upside down to dry in the sun) 60 small plant pots and yogurt pots and put another 11 (parts of plastic bottles, some yogurt pots) into the recycling bin. Which only leaves about 4 more sack loads. I have also measured the back of the bungalow and the height and measured the length of the the fence so I can start making raised bed plans. I want them along both sides of the garden and along the bottom (all backed by fencing) but it might be easiest to start where the polytunnel is now. I'm only going to do 2 m and 3 m lengths at a time (possibly with large plant pots or water butts in between). The garden audit is basically counting and measuring everything (how many of each type of 'pot' I have - lots of variations in the way plastic bottles have been cut), which extra bits of link-a-bord I need to complete the old pieces I have. Need to go through my seeds, start some things off now and can buy seeds for next year at sale prices.

Finances - I really want to pay off the money the WTC people have decided I have to pay back asap. DS3 paid me his contribution to household finances up until May and I'm hoping that will be enough with what I have in the bank (bank system is currently unable to recognise my log in details so will have to go to a cash machine to get my balance). If I can get that out of the way I will set up a savings account and start off savings tins (going to pay what I have here - penny challenge and toucan money - into my bank account, still have some at home for emergencies/ repairs becoming urgent). If I can get my debt free status back that will be a real boost.

That day (Dr Who special day) is fairly simple. DS1 doesn't do birthdays or Isaac Newton's birthday although he makes an exception for his beloved - he did accept a donation to charity last year (male victims of domestic violence). DS2 and I have a pact - he buys something he wants for himself (from me) and I buy something I want (from him). That way he pays for his own extravagant tastes and I can buy myself candles/ soap or whatever at cs prices. DS3 has to have his arm twisted to decide on anything he wants - I want to buy him clothes that aren't faded and stained, he usually wants an anime type cuddly toy.

Darling d-i-l and DS3's Beloved are covered. I bought a bit too much last year so kept some back, had fancy candles for them both and something DS1 gave d-i-l last year gave me an idea (Alice in wonderland colouring book bought in the sale). So I really should try not to buy anything else for those two. I have been making decorated lavender bags including some in their favourite colours. New daughter outlaw I don't yet have enough information and don't know if I will be allowed to buy her gifts yet (only allowed to buy for Beloved since she came to live under my roof). I bought her something many years ago (when she and DS3 were spending the festive season at her parent's house). It was only a token present (I made them both stockings with silly little things the year before when I was hosting). Her parents hadn't bought anything for DS3, panicked and bought something very expensive (as throwing money at it is their solution to any problem) so I was banned from buying Beloved gifts. For a more detailed explanation see the Spock DNA episode of Big Bang Theory.

Food wise - the lamb for New Year's dinner has already been cooked, sliced and frozen and I have bought a few things in my regular shopping - some of them came up as suggestions when I bought/ was looking for other things so I have a box of 'crackers for cheese and a box of chocolate biscuits and there are pickles in the cupboard. Actually buying food for DS3 is probably a good idea. Mum wants chocolate with nuts in, regular favourite brand toiletries (not gift boxes - I'm currently working my way through all the weird bits from those), stamps and writing paper with lines.

Have half a shed full of things to move on to the cs, will continue using old chairs and table, filing cabinets and pieces of bathroom cladding in the polytunnel/ replacement until they break up into pieces small enough to feed into the black bin bit by bit).

Today I am grateful for a sunny but not too hot day, getting a few things done, making moves towards being organised.

facethemusic

Very quick check in before bed, I will write a proper plan for the month tomorrow. Big exciting news- I think I've bought a house- offer accepted but all the paperwork still to be finalised. Assuming that goes ahead I will be decluttering a lot of money and I must declutter a huge amount of stuff as I pack. I've lived in this house for a very long time and there is way more stuff in it than we need, so I aim to be ruthless and it only moves if it is needed/loved/I can't wrestle it out of DDs hands. DD is only 8 but has even more "hoarder tendencies" than i do, so her room may be the biggest challenge! 
Gratitudes- things all falling into place, a plan (of sorts), my filing system working so I could find all the "really important" bits of paper! 

facethemusic

I forgot- today was NSD 1/15. 

misstara

Today wasn't a NSD as we needed bread, milk and coffee, £3.34 spent.  Grateful for a good day at work, nice walk after work, coffee and my sister sending some cute photos of my niece.

Fmess

Morning all,
Spendy day but less than expected. Went out for lunch at a garden centre and my friend paid and I resisted buying any plants. Top up shop at Aldi and got my nails done.
So excited to have finally got my Ryanair money back but had to do it through chargeback from my card company, but it’s here now.
Lots of exercise - 3 dog walks, an hour or two around the garden centre and an exercise class.
Today is prepping for work tomorrow! After 6 months at home it will be weird!

ditty1234

I am grateful for having seen all of my extended family this past weekend, mostly people I haven't seen in 2 years or more. What a boost to the sense of belonging. Am back to work so will need to catch up on reading later.  

apple_muncher

Congratulations on buying a house facethemusic!!!! Good luck on the decluttering!

Shrewbie

Thanks for the welcome @apple_muncher !! Here’s my Hokey Cokey September plan 

Health:

I’m not going to lie, the last few months of summer have been like a long holiday spending cash I don’t have on the premise of “treating” my body which now rather than feeling pampered feels like it has jumped out of a plane.

I really need a detox. This is my main plan for September.  No booze, some exercise and meditation.

I’m a Freelance teacher and work hasn’t been confirmed yet for September so I am loathe to join up for the gym at the mo. Also the possibility of another lockdown is there.  With this in mind I am first going to have a go exercising at home and jogging until I hear from work. 

I NEED to get some semblance of a routine. go to bed earlier and wake up earlier. 

HAHAHA @apple_muncher the self flagellation made me LOL. I will try not to do this. With my eating I have started doing meal plans again, take aways and eating out are banned for September as we really went overboard for the last 3 months with that. 

-"look after yourself. Me-time is a requirement, not an optional extra…" I will try my hardest to do this. I aim reading to take the place of screen/tv time. 

Wealth:

Budget - I have some savings currently (for the first time in my 34 years) but god knows what will happen to that if i don’t find decent work. I’m sure I’ll be able to do it but at the moment it’s a waiting game and living off savings/ a few private classes. 

I have a few private classes which could keep me afloat (just) if bread and butter work doesn’t come immediately 

I am planning to make gifts for that day in Dec… we’ll see how that goes 

NSD  - I am going to aim for 15 

Life well-lived:

I’ve lived in Madrid for 3 years now and I still have very few friends who aren’t my students or my boyfriend's friends. Need to try to rectify this situation. I feel very very sad that I haven’t seen my parents or friends this year but need to start making Madrid feel more like home. 

I’ll try to get involved in more activities in September. It will be scary but necessary...  

Persist with people who are important to me - I am very bad at keeping in touch with those back home. This needs to change. September feels like a new year in some ways, so this can be my new year resolution

Life admin - I definitely have a few bits of Brexit bureaucracy to deal with here which could be straightforward but will most likely be a pain in the butt. 

Stuff - I am going to do a wardrobe audit and declutter some summer clothes that I didn’t wear at all this year.

Grateful - definitely an exercise I should do every day. I will try!!

Set your budget - this will be difficult but I’m going to try 

€570 - rent and bills 

€120 - fun

€12 - travel (classes should be via zoom) 

€15 - phone 

€100 - food 

 RAOK - I love this!!! I will try my best 

-Post every day with your gratitudes and general chattiness. - aiming for this to keep me on the straight and narrow 

So yesterday was not an NSD as we needed a few bits from the supermarket, but total spends under €5.  No exercise yesterday but I am trying to pull my socks up today. Today we are going to a free museum and will take some very MSE sandwiches for a little park picnic !!