My 5 Year Plan to a better life!

MuffinTops

Thank you HN for reading and commenting.  Do you find that re-entry feels more of an issue now than it ever did before?  Or have we just accepted that's how we are and the world didn't crumble from us not going out so much? MTx

Hazelnutty

I guess the pandemic has shown the wider world and extroverts in particular that maybe there isn't anything wrong with us introverts? As you say, the world kept spinning and actually the way we coped has shown us better ways of doing certain things, and helped us tell the difference between what mattered and what we thought did but actually didn't, if that makes sense. Have you read Susan Cain's Quiet? That resonated with me a lot. But at the same time, re-entry is also more difficult in that even quiet  things I would like to do normally feel more stressful and overwhelming e.g. a full cinema. 

MuffinTops

I have a friend staying this weekend, and workmen coming to quote and do some work and I'm behind on housework so I spent my lunch break hoovering downstairs, weeding the garden (half done) and sorting all the washing up.  I hadn't realised how far behind I was until I couldn't decide what to get done based on the long list of things I'm behind on!  Oops!

I tried the gluten free bran flakes this morning with oat milk and also added some raisins and really enjoyed it, so that's a win!  Hopefully gluten is my dietary issue, but we'll see.

No money spent today (yay!) although tomorrow I may need to get a few bits of shopping.  Just eggs and fruit.  I also need to pop into the post office as I have a card to send to the US, but hopefully won't need to spend too much. This weekend is making me nervous as I have a friend staying and she wants to visit lots of different places which could get expensive. I don't mind seeing a couple of places, but if we're shopping too much I'll suggest a wander to the beach for a little while to break things up.

I seriously need to jazz my life up a bit!  

MuffinTops

Today has felt more productive.  There's nothing like writing out your activities to realise how boring you can be!

So, I'm often waking up around 5:30am and then just lay there planning the day in my head.  This morning I got up and took a walk to the beach.  It was so peaceful although it was quite windy out so there were a lot of waves and the sound of water whooshing on the pebbles which was therapeutic.  I sort of walked in a triangle so that I didn't have to go back on myself.  I'm looking forward to when the mornings start a bit later so that I'll get to see the sunrise from the beach soon.  I got home around the time I'd normally get up for work and had my shower etc so all timed perfectly.

I've eaten better again today, with the gluten free bran flakes and raisins.  Lunch has been Mediterranean type veg with some potatoes.  I also had a soya peach yoghurt around 11am as a snack.  Just dinner to worry about now.

The bathroom man is meant to be here around 4pm so I'm looking forward to getting a quote for that.  The plasterer has sent me his quote which was what I thought it would be and the plumber is arriving early tomorrow to do a few bits of work.  

I've also vacuumed upstairs, given the bathroom a quick once over ready to properly clean tomorrow and finished 3 loads of washing.  2 were bed clothes and one was just standard clothing.  I need to wash towels as well which I'll put on when the bathroom guy leaves.  I'll put the freshly cleaned bed clothes on my bed shortly too.

Still nothing exciting, but I feel good at being so productive today.  

MuffinTops

Hello HN,

I've not read that book, or even heard of it.  I'll have to look it up though as it sounds really interesting.

I definitely feel the same that things I enjoyed before still require a bit of brain navigation.  I never used to be like this but it's how I am now, and I'm fine with it most of the time.

Have you needed to do very much you've found uncomfortable since coming out of the main lockdowns?

MuffinTops

I've finally managed to catch up on everything.  I got up early again and started my day with a walk to the seafront.  I also befriended a little puppy who was excited to see another person out.  I got home and had a shower before the plumber arrived and told me that he can't do the work I need.  This is because the water pressure in the house is rubbish.  He's looking into a pressurised system for me now.  He did take the radiator off the wall in the living room for the plasterer to do his thing, so I just need a date for when the plastering can be done now.

After the plumber left, I had a little extra time so I went out for breakfast with a friend.  It's still nice enough to sit and eat outside, which I love doing now.  I used to hate it, but I guess the seaside vibe and the sunshine has made me see the error of those earlier ways.  Then I got home and tackled the mountain of housework that needed doing.  This included:

Washing the kitchen, living room and hallway floors
Washing the outside of the house (step, lamps, door, beams and outdoor postbox)
Cleaned the oven
Cleaned the hob
Bathroom clean of sink, bath and wall tiles.
Washed all kitchen counters and cupboard doors
Wiped over the skirting boards and door frames downstairs
Cleaned the window frames indoors and the window ledges
2 loads of washing

I was aching when I finished but it was worth it and nothing was particularly bad that it needed a large amount of elbow grease.

My friend arrived earlier than expected but that was good as it gave me a good reason to stop.  We then went out to get dinner and found a restaurant overlooking the sea, followed by ice creams and then walked off some of it with the wander home. The petrol station was still full and had a queue of cars waiting to get in, even later last night.

Today has just been a loitering day so far.  We did pop out earlier as we both needed to pick up a few gifts for others and got some lunch too.  It's not been as expensive as I feared so that's a bonus.

Now we're just chilling out - my friend has gone for a nap and I'm just catching up on a few things.  I'm feeling really tired but know if I have a nap I'll wake up groggy and feeling worse than I do now.  Maybe I need a caffeine infusion!

It's beautiful weather here today, so that's always a bonus. 

MTx

another_casualty

Glad you love your new home MT  , and beginning to settle . 😼

It sounds great , love the seagulls . 

It sounds that you're doing very well with the tradespeople . That helps . 

All sounding good ..

MuffinTops

Thanks AC.  It's so much nicer living here than it ever was in my last place.

I hope all is well with you.

MuffinTops

It was such a busy weekend that it's been nice to have a quieter day today.  Saturday night I went to a wedding with my friend.  She was meant to go with her boyfriend but they broke up a month or so ago and the wedding was just 7 miles away from me, so her friend who was getting married told her to bring another friend as she'd only know one other person there otherwise.  The irony is, the one other person she knew was a close coworker so I was the one who didn't know anyone and had no one to talk to as they got into lots of work chats!  But I'd sort of expected that, and I'm trying to push my comfort zone further out.  She must have been enjoying herself as she didn't notice the time and we left over 2 hours later than we'd originally thought we would (not planned or agreed, just figured we'd be ready to leave much earlier than we left)

We also went out to find new places while she was here and found a few places that I'll definitely visit again, so that was a massive success.  She left yesterday afternoon, and I managed to get the house clean and tidy again as well as going shopping.  Today I've been working, but have enjoyed spending time alone again.  I don't think having someone here for the full weekend is comfortable for me, but feel I need to work on that.

While I was out getting shopping yesterday my car bleeped with the oil service light, so I now need to get it booked into the garage to get it looked at.  The key mechanism on the bonnet isn't good, so that may also need replacing so I'll have to get that fixed now too. I'm nervous about how much it'll cost, but should have that in my car fund if it's not an eye watering amount.

I get paid on Thursday and don't need to buy anything until then. October has a few events scheduled already so if the fuel situation gets resolved soon then all should be well.  

Hopefully everyone had a great weekend and haven't been particularly affected by the fuel shortage.  It's a bit crazy here, but I'm hoping it will calm down within the week.

MTxx

peb

The oil light probably only means that the oil level has dipped, easy to deal with yourself.  However please don't drive any distance with the light on, you are in danger of damage to the engine