NST: November 2020 - Madness!!!

mothernerd

f0xh0les said:

Oh mothernerd! Stress ye not!  Have you heard of this one? https://www.royalmail.com/collection   they will collect from your door - I think it is 75p more expensive than standing in a queue for an hour,  and you can send up to 5 items at a time.  You print out your APL  and your postie comes and takes it away for you.

Thanks f0xh0les, but the printer is at home, it needs some new inks (been asking for months for those 2 to look at it - needs taking off the shelf and getting all the wires in and out is a work of art - to look in the tanks at the side to see which to buy. I have the two samplers here but presents are in gift bag or bags on the cube shelves back home.

I did ask DS3 to go and look, see what is in the bags (I overbought last year and decided I needed to rein things in and put some away for this year). There should be a y@nkee candle in a jar (DS2 bought it for me, I've never used it and I know Beloved likes them but is quite happy with the fake ones from Home Bargains). 

There should be a large candle and possibly two smaller ones which were bought in the Isle of Wight (at the candle making/ glass blowing place, two triangular tins bought for 50p each at Betwys Coed (sorry if I've got that wrong) that I thought were suitably festive and would be good for putting the candles in (and Beloved is a great tea drinker and I went everywhere trying to get reasonably priced tea caddies for her last year). I brought my tardis tin down to use in the kitchen and the next day she had teabags in that as well. 

There is a sheep bag (a herdy one) which was for me but I haven't used it so I put it aside just in case (gave d-i-l a purple one last year) and there is definitely an Alice in Wonderland colouring book somewhere. DS1 bought dear d-i-l an Alice tea set last year and it was very well received. I saw the colouring book about a month later but thought £4 (sale price*?*!) was too dear and when I went back it had gone. Found it again a while later. Thought I might send it to d-i-l whilst she is in isolation in the upstairs part of her house.
there might be a gin gift set - got a bit carried away in the tourist information shop in Keswick and then decided I couldn't give them all to d-i-l at once without implying she was an alcoholic.

So far DS3 has found 2 or 3 candles and the triangle tins (which puzzled him because they were empty) and is insisting that he sent the big red candle when I asked for candles (subsequently found 4 of mine still in the drawer where I said they would be in on the one occasion since March when I have been inside my bedroom). I thought people might need cheering up and that Beloved could have her candle now if she wanted it (her mother will probably buy her the y@nkee candle advent calendar anyway).  

I have asked him to look for :-
*  my large spirit level (4' long and bright yellow) - apparently he found it but it had slipped behind the front door so didn't get brought here with the four boxes of tools and assorted other stuff I asked someone with a car to bring for me. 
*  socks (told him to look under the bed and find the sort of bag pillows and bedding come in and pick 6 pairs - my heels have hard skin from wearing the wellies without socks, think I have mud inside the wellies now ). He sent a pink stripey pair and a red pair which are 'socks of last resort' when all the good ones have gone to be washed or disappeared into their room.
*  warm clothing and layers - one sweatshirt which was put away for best and turned out to have been mislabelled so is 3 sizes too small for me. He did send my owl poncho (for rain and folds up into a small package)
*  scarf and gloves. I have at least two pairs or turquoise cheapo gloves and maybe some black ones too. Scarf is a mix of turquoise and purple, bought last year from a charity shop and is utterly joyful. I got the panda hat because I had seen it and could tell him precisely where it was but he can't find any of the others (probably using the same technique he had as a child - stare vaguely into space and wait for the desired/ misplaced item to dance in front of him).

So I was trying to check my preparations but it's so frustrating. Our local post office shut (facility moved to a 'convenience store' which is actually an off licence open until all hours of the night and is actually a bit scary to go into).  Very close to getting all Bah Humbug and saying let's do Christmas next July. 

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Evening
Managed NSD 2/15 yesterday.  Had a long day at work but enjoyed it.  Today i had a long lunch to nip to the CS where i bought a lovely lamp for my bedroom for £5 (was tempted by one in an antique shop for £25 a few weeks ago but resisted); a smart winter coat from peroona for £8 and a pretty glass C'mas decoration of a big and little bird which i will give to DD1 when she moves into her very own first home in a few weeks (boohoo).   The CS had some lovely furniture so hopefully we can go there next month to help furnish DD1's new home.  
f0xh0les - i didn't wake up in the small hours but have been watching the US election news most of the day (& now watching  Newsnight); & i read real books!  I did have an electronic reading device but didn't like it, give me paper any day
Gratitudes - 
good bargains in the CS; lovely chat with DD1 this evening; video chat with DD2
Nite everyone
Deni x

Toni'sfriend

Yesterday was NSD No 2

Out shortly for the delayed hair appointment.

DrCarrie

Still no NSD in sight! - maybe tomorrow, if I can get out to te shop today. Didn't get paid until very late so not done all my dividing up and putting in pots. 

My DD is due to start a new job on Monday - she is in the vulnerable group and she will be working in a school - so she will be at risk - new guidlines says she she should shield again, and she doesn't want to, Goodness, but she is inbetween jobs so may not be able to get furloughed. So some money I was anticipating going on debt, may go to her. 

Had a last hurrah last night with my darling GF. We are in a bubble, and going to reduce the amount we see each other - weekends only from now until lockdown is lifted. 

Toni'sfriend

Well. I've had the hair cut and coloured. Isn't it amazing how something as trivial as that can really lift your spirits and perk you up so you can move on and get things into perspective. I must admit I've been a bit down, doom and gloom for the past couple of days. Had a lovely chat with the hairdresser and, you know what, I'm really, really lucky. No worries about money, nice neighbours, lovely family (even if I can't see them), etc, etc , etc.

I had run out of tomatoes and cucumber so forced myself to go to the nearest, quite small supermarket. Got some YS items whilst I was there but, honestly, never again. People just randomly wandering about paying no attention so social distancing, No wonder we're looking at Tier 4.

Just saw some of the local children that didn't come at Halloween. One has just gone home with a school bag full of sweets. Goodness knows what his mother will say.

Still, I'm feeing much better and more positive, I know that we can't do much about the situation apart from stick to the rules so better just get on with it.

Kerry_Woman

NSD no. 3 today.
Grateful for:
Seeing a robin whilst on my morning walk.
Online job help course today.  Getting help with my CV today.
Free online talk about Guy Fawkes and the plot that he was involved.
Doing a few household chores.
Read some of a book.

Narola1976

A rather rubbish day at work today so glad it’s Friday tomorrow. Also pleased that I managed to gain another NSD - 3 so far. Pleased to report that diet doing ok so far. Day 5 and I haven’t caved yet lol

f0xh0les

 DS3 (12) just made supper for us all. (Mock) chicken stew and dumplings. Very tasty and just what was needed on such a cold night. They are learning! While he chopped and peeled, I got on with the washing up. There was so much I needed the spare drainer from under the sink.  I am a !!!!!!!  Honestly, one extra morning not in the house and it all falls to rack and ruin!

Footfall is picking up at the f/b,  the donations are coming in thick and fast. People are lovely. Lots of new faces. Lots to do. Making a difference.

Gratitudes:  central heating, candles, hot cross buns, and crumpets.  Squishy bananas for after school smoothies, hot water bottles, Postmen and postwomen and postpeople and postpersons, and postpigeons. 

eta - the missing word was s-l-u-t.  Just in case you were wondering.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for clearer roads to and from work, for a really good day with my classes, for a chatty dd, for  a lovely sky, for a birdie on the windowsill of a room where I was working.

lcc86

Evening all, happy first day of lockdown for those turtles in England! Hope everyone is staying safe and warm. I'm up to 4 NSD's, will do some planned spends at the weekend but nothing major.

I was checking my bank accounts today thinking WHERE on earth is all my money and starting to worry about the upcoming month when I realised I'd transferred money into my food account twice so it was all hiding in there. Transferred it back and all is well again!

My volunteering is still on during lockdown as it falls under education so up early tomorrow to drive there. Going to have a nice bath and get ready for an early night.