Struggling along as best I can

nannygladys

So I have a sore back, definitely muscular though, probably twisted it whilst at allotment yesterday, it'll be ok in a couple of days. I'm ok standing and walking but it aches when sitting!!
Took charge of dds pup this morning and when they left I took him a quick walk, but it wasn't quick!  Bumped into someone I hadn't seen in years walking their dog so carried on walking and catching up, then someone else joined us and a few minutes later another lady did as well, so in total there were 6 dogs of various breeds and ages and they all got on lovely. Bit of puppy socialising going on.
Then back home for lunch of leek and potato soup with toast. This afternoon I'm on here and then I will be reading for a little while before another dog walk and then dinner I think. Oh and then strictly and something else but I can't remember what!!
So that's my day, no money spent and plenty of exercise for me.
Nannyg

nannygladys

So what have I been doing today? Well pup didn't wake until 8am so really pleased with that and he went to sleep in his crate fine, hope tonight is the same. Taken him for two walks and on the first I let him off the lead on the fields getting him to come back for a treat!!! He went off like a bat out of .... but came back when called which was good.
Tonight's walk was more sedate as it was dusk and he seems more hesitant when it's getting dark. He is only a baby really.

Just relaxed on the floor really as back is still hurting, it's OK when on floor, standing and walking, sitting down is the problem! But it's a lot lot better.

Obviously not spent anything today and the money left over this time round will buy me a jar of coffee in preparation for next pay period. I'm thinking of doing some sort fiscal fast until Xmas, but not sure how it's going to work yet. I have got a few ideas but not sure if they will work for me, so a bit more thinking will have to be done.
Nannyg

nannygladys

Only been on dog walks today, not very exciting but it's getting me out moving about. I'm quite enjoying it but having a puppy around is hard work, I can't go to the loo on my own, go to another room without a little follower and he keeps making off with things lol!!! 

No spending done but I'm going up to dds tomorrow to sit dgs and taking dog with me, he has a little harness to fasten him in the car and I will take his dog bed up with me but not his crate it's too big. He is their dog but now they are back from their jaunt down south they are having some building work done inside, so he will be with me a little longer.

Get paid on Wednesday so I'll be doing my budgets and deciding how this fiscal fast is going to work, still not sure but it will probably be something on the lines of spending every other week on groceries and nothing else unless some sort of emergency crops up, I still have to fine tune it though, and if I can't get it done tomorrow I'll do it on Wednesday. 

Well nipping out on a very quick walk with pup, before I have my tea - veggie risotto
Nannyg.

WinterWarrior

Aww, I remember those puppy years. It’s still quite rare to get to the bathroom alone 😁. She’s convinced I may nip out of the window without her….I don’t have form for this! 

The fast sound extreme! 

nannygladys

WinterWarrior - he's a lovely little dog, 17 weeks old a black cocker spaniel, he's being really good but will need training, he will sit, lie down, turn around and lie down for dd, but will only sit for me, having said that I can't remember how she got him to do the other bits, I will have to ask her tomorrow, I must admit it's nice having a dog in the house again. The frugal fast basically is shopping once a fortnight so got to be on the ball there, giving myself half the amount I use for treat money and not buying anything else unless it's an emergency, oh and putting the normal amount of fuel in, which since its shot up in price won't be as many litres as normal!! So it's not that much different really, it may a bit yet though 

Got everything ready for my early start tomorrow going to dds, just got to go to bed! Can't believe it's Tuesday tomorrow, I hope it stops raining as much so I can take pup and dgs a walk, I'm taking him in the car in his harness tomorrow so that'll be an experience for him.

Okay, going up to bed, pup settled in his cage I think, so I can head off upstairs.
Nannyg

WinterWarrior

You’ve probably seen from my diary that I buy our treats in bulk from amzn. I look around to see what is on offer and then buy a couple of boxes (MrWW’s choice and mine). They work out a tiny bit cheaper, mean chocolate doesn’t go on the food shop and often we have some left over the next month, so as we go along we end up with more choices. Seasonal items can be cheaper (eg the box of Malteser reindeer this time). Depending on your treat budget that may work for you? 

I trained my girl with words and hand signals as they are supposed to remember that better. Try saying down and putting your hand flat, palm towards the floor to see if he’ll lie down? Mine won’t stay though, she’ll do it, take the treat and then get up again 😬

nannygladys

WinterWarrior - I don't think I could trust myself with all that chocolate, honestly I would just keep munching until I was sick and then repeat the next day, I have no will power with chocolate at all! Sweeties I'm OK with but chocolate never!! 
I'm going to try pup with hand signals and words as that is what dd uses (i asked her today and she showed me) and I can carry it on now I know. Not sure how long he will be here but they are having some building work done so I can keep him a bit longer - yay

Pup didn't sleep very well last night but finally went to sleep about 2am!! If it was down to me he would be upstairs with me, but he's crated at night so I'm carrying that on for them. I hope he goes to sleep better tonight, I don't want to upset my neighbours that are attached to me.

It's been a wet day so I didn't take dgs out for a walk, so I didn't have my free coffee, poor mite has a cold and very snotty nose!! So he slept quite a bit and when awake wanted lots of cuddles.

I'm having to rethink this fiscal fast as I think I was going to be too strict with myself and life shouldn't be like that, so I'll have another think about it, it's no good if it makes me unhappy about what I can't spend and when. So back to the drawing board for another think about what I want to achieve.

Anyway going to sign off
Lunch - cheese sandwich, fruit and cereal bar.
Tea - pasta with carrots and peas with cheese sauce (quick and easy) followed by fruit, yogurt and granola.
Keep well and safe
Nannyg

WinterWarrior

The fast did seem strict, it would only work for me with a cupboard of treats in.
my dog didn’t like a crate, so we abandoned it without a single night. She has her bed in my bedroom and can jump up if she wants. She does cry if she wants to jump up though so I can turn the lamp on, as she’s frightened she’ll jump on a cat in the dark 😁 most evenings she starts on the bed and then gets down into hers or the floor. They are pack animals, so it feels mean to separate then from the pack overnight, although I completely understand you can’t give your pup mixed messages x 

nannygladys

WinterWarrior - the dogs I have owned have slept where they have wanted, but you're right about pack animals I'd never thought about that! Explains a lot!! 

He has been very well behaved today, especially as I let him off the lead this morning, he came back each time I called but I think the reward of a little treat was the winning thing. I was surprised how badly behaved some dogs are, or perhaps it's lack of control from owners .... when dd gets him back dog training in earnest will start but he seems to be a quick and willing learner and wanting to please his carers! 

Feel a bit 'off it' with this fiscal fast thing so I have decided to ditch it and carry on as usual and be extra careful about all spending, I'm feeling a lot happier with that, I'm too old to go without for the sake of a couple of pounds. But a little more frugality will be commenced, so I will work on getting my energy bills down further without going cold and hungry, food supplies getting stretched even more and being happy with what I have, oh and I'll put it all on here so I have a record.

About to run out of charge on kindle, so instead of plugging it in I will charge it up tomorrow when solar panels kick in!!! 
Frugality has started once again.
Goodnight everyone
Nannyg

nannygladys

It seems to have been a long day today. I was up and out early dog walking and had the fields to myself, pup ran around like a loon and promptly went to sleep when we got back. A load of washing was done and hung out, kitchen floor cleaned and fridge soup made for dinner tonight. Eldest dgd came to visit and we went off to the community pantry to spend a few pounds and came back with food and toiletries, very pleased with what I bought it really helps me out. Dgd then took pup a quick walk whilst I got dry washing in and fluffed about for a bit. It's been a lovely day here, dry sunny and a little cold but my washing all dried outside so that was good.
Calling it a day/night as I'm feeling really tired and want to finish my library book so I can call in there tomorrow and get some different ones and then a lazy, doing nothing sort of weekend is going to happen. Back is still sore so I won't aggravate it by going to the allotment this weekend so hopefully by Monday it will be fine and I can start feeling OK again.
Nite nite hope you all had a good day.
Nannyg