NST: January 2021 – the Turtles do the Jitterbug

mothernerd

Spent over 2 hours this morning clearing a cupboard, sorting all mum's pills out and doing a stock check on bandages, antiseptic creams and wipes, plasters, tape and then all the ordinary stuff (baby wipes, tissues, cotton wool pleats) needed to keep us going. Filled a paper bag (mainly pill boxes) and a bin bag (all boxes repurposed but all 'fillings' were binned). This is an extra bin bag, went round the house finding stuff to throw out.

Found mum some black and white films to watch and spent 3 hours making my bed. Mattress cleared and swabbed, then the mattress topper (not bad because I did it when I put it outside on the line to freshen up) then slowly eased into place. One pillow and one cushion pad into each pillowcase. Took all the bedding I hate out of one of the bed storage drawers and covered the bed with many layers (including 2 valances and one duvet cover - I don't care). It's made most of a drawer space to put some of the many random items mum insists on keeping. I did persuade her to part with 2 cardboard boxes that her hearing aids came in - when we had to send them in for tubing they wanted them in an envelope so no idea when the boxes were going to be reused.

Two of the sheets smelled 'peculiar'. Think it's a washing powder or conditioner I am unfamiliar with and I suspect these items have not been used in the five years mum has been in the bungalow. Didn't make my skin prickle but think it was responsible for the killer headache I developed. Sprayed them with freesia spray and put another 2 sheets between them and me and hope the smell mutes before I get to using them. Had to stop twice as the room was spinning. The second time was really bad (very fast and lasted several minutes) so I stopped to have a shower and then put myself between the sheets and read quietly. Mum was onto her third film so I have worked hard. Had a snack tea (was still afraid of being sick), then found mum another film and more reading and puzzles.

Food delivery tomorrow so going to take the rest of the day gently. Another old diary binned. I was going to use it for stock checking and keeping track of my seeds/ growing stages but it was a bit damp so pulled out a few pages (this month's challenge and some seed lists) and the rest went into the paper bag.

Today I am grateful for not having to be anywhere (the snow was falling thick and fast), for getting a lot done even though I wasn't really up to it (mum wanted me to stop half way through the pill sorting - I had to get down on the floor to extract knitting needles which were wedged behind the shelf) and not too demanding puzzles to while away a couple of hours.  

apple_muncher

We have one week left, turtles

Have another look back at the first post, and any personal goals or challenges you set yourselves. How are you getting on with them? We turtles do not fail, by the way, so no getting dispondent if you haven't 'achieved' them. I rarely fulfil all my goals, but I do make progress and that is good!

For this last week, look at what makes you jittery and what makes you want to do the jitterbug. And do more jitterbugging!!!!

Shrewbie

Hello turtles!! Thanks for the suggestions r.e. phone.... I did go past the fruit store yesterday but didn’t go in as there was a long queue. Going to think on it some more. 

Having a look back at my goals for Jan…

Thriftyness - Cooking at home more = I have definitely made progress on this one. More batch cooking and making homemade things like pizzas at the weekend. We haven’t had takeaway since the 6th Jan which is good for us! bf has been cooking loads which is really nice as he is starting to enjoy it and is surprisingly good at it.

Time with those you love = This was my most important goal. Speak to family/friends more -  this month has definitely been better than usual, more little calls here and there and pretty much daily texts on the group chat. 

Exercise - I have been averaging 3-4 days a week at the gym. I’m happy with that. Also I wanted to try a new exercise class per week, so far have tried one.. it's a start. 

Re-visit budgets - I did badly with NSDs but spends have been within budget. Haven’t bought anything special apart from a plant for the flat €10 and some gym clothes but had a  voucher for that. 

Be yourself - I wanted to read more and I have managed to finish two books in Jan (one I had already begun last year) haven't really cut down on TV watching during the week so will try to start doing that.

No drinking = this wasn’t a goal per se, it was more that I wanted to press the reset button in order to be able to control myself and add more moderation!! I have managed 2 weeks and 3 days without drinking and I feel pretty good. 

Unburden yourself - I started journalling again here and there. 

Generosity - I have been feeling more grateful in general. Perhaps recording these things is starting to have an effect! 

facethemusic

Sunday- NSD 15/15 🎉. Might manage 18 in the month? Who knows! 
Goals for the month- budgets OK, still "enough" money in the bank and should get an expenses payment from work this week, so planning to put it straight into a savings account and forget about it- if I could do that every month there would be the best part of £2000 saved by the end of the year. That could then be the "car replacement fund"- worth thinking about. 
Exercise this month been a bit rubbish- averaging about 16000 steps a day which is OK, but not really done much apart from dog walks- only managed to ride once because of the weather. Next month I must try to start adding in some HIIT sessions if I cant play with the pony. 
Just a month of plodding and getting on with it really! 
Grateful today for the sun peeking out (making it a brighter place, if not a warmer one), catching up with some friends on a dog walk (didn't plan to meet them- so a nice surprise), DD was surprisingly helpful with some housework tasks this morning- much more fun than doing it myself. 

Buffythedebtslayer

Afternoon all, 
I am so tired but it has been so nice to read this thread this month, I know I haven't said much! sorry but you are all lovely. 
House Bunny is doing ok, he is better but I think lonely. I have kept up with my walking and my French. I had to use my emergency fund to pay the credit card. It was mainly vet bills, car insurance and I did but a new piece of furniture. I am sick everything being such a state. 
Mothernerd, I am sending you so much love. Your life sounds like mine for too much! 
I am going for a nap. But thank you all for being here XXXX 

Lauralozzle

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were all NSD. I'm now at 14/15 which I am pleased about, I usually struggle with NSD but I've found this okay, to be honest.

The plastering has finished now, so I'm back at a normal-ish routine now. Healthy eating should be easier as I'll be less grumpy! Lots of painting to do, but we'll focus on that during the weekends (one day during weekend) but at least the rooms will start taking a little more shape now. 

Im hoping to keep on top of everything this week, with a major focus on eating well!

greent

Woke up to a light dusting of snow this morning, which has now all gone. Temperature is decidedly chilly, though! 

No spends, as no need for anything from shops Also no exercise....

Have made choc chip muffins this afternoon for people to consume with hot chocolate. Dinner for some will be steak pie and mash (pie from the farmers market before Xmas) but not me (steak and my digestive system do not go well together....!) - I will have a rootle in the freezer for something which is hanging around. I know there is a small portion of rice in there, so I may just have that egg fried with some veg stirfried in some sweet chilli sauce - nothing too complicated and uses a few bits up

Grateful for: no need to go anywhere further than our garage today , central heating, fluffy socks, slippers, the robovac doing his stuff, getting some life admin sorted

f0xh0les

Snowy Shire today! it was frosty when I got up, very pretty, and so I folded all the clean dry laundry like a good little Turtle, hoovered, and mopped the kitchen floor, unblocked the outside  drain (leaves and ice mostly) had breakfast and coffee and then the rest of them started to get up.  Then it started snowing.... and snowing..... and snowing. DS3 has made a snowman (snow dwarf?) and had a snowball fight with 2 other of his brothers.   Soup lunch was (not) beef and broccoli noodle  bowl.   It was lovely, mostly ys and under 30p a head.   The snow continued.

Spent the last 8 hours making DS4 do Wednesday/Thursday/Friday schoolwork he had not done - crime does not pay! Then they went out to play in the falling snow, with the pre-felled snow.

So the kitchen is clean, simple supper tonight of Phish (baked), chips (oven) and mushy peas (packet ones - rehydrated and boiled like in the olden days).  Simply cannot be faffed!

DH has fallen asleep in his armchair for the second day in a row at 4.30.  He is not feeling very well but cannot put his finger on what is wrong - tired, and a bit of a tight chest, he thought he was getting a cold, but it has not developed into anything.  So I will sneak out in a second and wake him when the food is ready.   It has just got dark and the temperature has dropped, I can feel it.

The house looks good, I put some fairy lights into the grate of the fireplace and it is really cheery.  A house up the road is being sold, and one of the photos had a Victorian fireplace filled with big pine cones and fairy lights and I thought what a good idea.  The warm light even makes you feel warmer.  It makes me smile. I am keeping it.

NSD 18 (!) but a planned spend day tomorrow- I am only spending 2 days a week at most.  So another fun and thrilling Sunday night of Dave Attenborough, and the 2 smallest shouting at Jeremy Clarkson if they know an answer on Millionaire and he doesn't.   with a mug of  hot chocolate (mine might* also contain amaretto) and it all begins again tomorrow.     and hugs to all the Turtles who need it.

* By 'might', I mean 'will definitely' -   I am modal verbally challenged.  Can you guess what the grammar homework was?

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for some snow and for the neighborhood kids working together to build a 3' snowman, for a good walk and talk with a friend, for an easy tea ahead, for a warm dry house, for the aside re schools not going back until after Easter at least giving an idea of what to plan for...

Kerry_Woman

Am on 18 NSD today.
Apple - My sleep varies each night.
Still trying to get used going to work and unfortunately I am still getting very tired as I am on my feet most of the time.  At least it work, but am going to see if there are any desk work going.  Still waiting to hear if I have any shifts for February.  Have been careful with my spending so.this month as best as I can.  Have been doing as much self care.  Have not done any exercise this month.  This weekend have done as much as I can around the flat and rested as well.  Caught up with some programmes that I have recorded.