NST September 2021

mothernerd

I know it's coming - I was saying how I want to grab cheapo seeds and half price sun cream in the very small window between things being reduced and being impossible to get because of all those things. It used to be worse, I remember when some of those shops did not have any sanitary provision available from November to January because they wanted all the space for cheap tat dressed up in bows and holly. I had already asked mum if she wanted any boxes of pretty brown sweets as I thought they were on offer and she settled for 2 ( down from about 10). But the offer wasn't available so left them out for now.

I think I had far too much sun this morning, not felt good all afternoon, but washing dried and some of the rockery prep is done. Food came - there were two of them in the van. Wondering if that is to shorten the time taken for each delivery, meaning more drops per van. Bottles and tins have gone in the shed, Ideally I need to repack and freeze all the meat and cheese (some done) but I'll settle for another shuffle and getting it all in the fridge. Moved a couple of items into mum's freezer to make more space in mine. 

Feeling a bit weepy (might be the sun) and slightly ashamed about how much has been spent on food but being already ill now and heading into the Sept - Mar season of catching every bug going and at times being floored by fairly minor illnesses and I don't feel as though I have enough basic items to hibernate through the worst of it ( normal soup level is 4 or 5 times what we have now. Going to pack a lot of food away (using it as a store within the house) and then continue getting as many veg and veg based meals inside me for now.

Someone on another thread said that 'our glorious leader' said last night that there would be 'No October lock down" so I think we need to prepare for that. - in fact you should all check your freezers to make sure he's not hiding in there (and your beds because he's been married long enough that the mistress vacancy is overdue - I'd rather walk round strange towns in my nightie than face that nightmare).

Mum said it's going to rain tomorrow (via the weathermen - she's not got special weather gifts). I would welcome some rain - it'll save me time watering the garden (left it tonight in case it does rain) but so far there's no sign of the storm we'd need to break the heatwave. Rain would mean a break from the outside stuff (think I'm pushing myself too much) and I could tackle my room and sort a few things out.

Things to be grateful for/ Good news - lovely pictures of DS1, wonderful d-i-l and grandpuppy on holiday. They've taken him to Southport. More pictures of them at a wedding at the weekend and photos from their own wedding 3 years ago (their 3rd anniversary was on the 6th and d-i-l's birthday is today), I'm too poor to get stuck with the 10% rise in N.I. contributions (as someone who can do basic maths has pointed out as many papers are saying it's a 1.5% increase). Yard still looks good, I've had a shower, had a lovely salad lunch and a quick and easy tea, have a new book to start (could do with something lightweight for a contrast. Thought I heard the rumble of thunder but think it's either an aeroplane or a game at the sports ground. I will talk myself into a better mood by tomorrow, I promise. 

CEW

NSD # 7 today. This not going out unless absolutely necessary is doing wonders for my NSDs. I did think about placing an online shop but the only thing I really needed wanted was Ice creams and lollies so decided I would wait until the weekend when my Mum is staying. Very MSE I thought.

Had a really productive day at work today and finally finished a task that’s taken the best part of a day and a half to complete, but it’s done now and I feel a great sense of achievement.

Gardener came this evening to do the regular fortnightly maintenance. I don’t enjoy gardening and suffer with fatigue due to MS so I made the decision a few years ago to employ someone to maintain it for me. In my mind it’s worth the small outlay to save my energy for things I enjoy doing and have a tidy garden to relax in. As this is a regular budgeted spend with the money put aside for I don’t think I lose a NSD. During our chat I asked if he could recommend a reliable handyman and he said he would be happy to do all of the little jobs I listed but not until October when the gardening work slows down. Result, I already know him and trust him so one less worry.

Today I am grateful for lunch in the garden, cuddles with my dogs, friendly chat with gardener and finding a handyman to do some odd jobs that need doing.

ditty1234

Sorry haven't read all - just dropping by for a quick confession; as I am the one who have never ever paid my children to help or chores, I just broke down and paid ds2 £20 to clean the house, and it is very clean, he included the lawn and folding laundry as well. Good boy. Best money ever spent. 
Grateful for a lovely clean house.

Thrifty_Taylor

Thank you all, the incident was witnessed by the teacher. I wasn't the first victim that day either! 
A good day today, absolutely scorching hot too! The bad news is that one of the teacher's has tested positive, the first case in our school. I did chat with her outside last week, so hoping I've not caught it. Have to keep clear if possible, to protect hubby. Colleague loved the Sweet Peas I picked for her 😃
Had my haircut after work, visited mum briefly, then sat sewing all evening. 
For those that shop in L1dl, there's a coupon for £5 off £25 in the Daily Mail paper over the next 4 days. Obviously the paper will be cheaper Thurs & Fri.
Grateful for haircuts, sunshine, no nap nor painkillers needed today, turtle support

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

ditty - sounds like a bargain with all your DS2 has done in the house and garden  

I've achieved NSD #4 today.  Been at work all day so no time to spend money !  Was nice to see boss and have a catch up and also met a colleague in person who i've only met virtually up to now.  Went for a walk when i got home to get some steps in and enjoy the cooler evening.  

Gratitudes - friendly faces in the office; helpful colleague at PT job offering to help with a task; getting washing dry.

Deni x

mothernerd

Thursday 9th September 2021

Walking meditation is walking not in order to arrive, but just to walk...
When we walk like that we only print Peace and Serenity on the earth.
Thich Nhat Hanh
(this is what I need, this is what's missing - I need to make a start, even if I can only get as far as the bridge under the by-pass, even if I have to heave myself up every step onto the canal bank. Better wear thick gloves as the nettles are taller than the handrail)

No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion
Nelson Mandela

Asking myself "Am I doing this for me, or am I performing for others" really puts things into perspective
lynae


Less is more. Unless it's kindness, sleep or toilet paper
Minions 

Calling14

Well couldn't sleep at all last night blame the heat and my legs were all painful and knotty. Think crouching down fence painting caused that. So tired today, migraine, made cup of tea in work milk sour, went to garage for milk and forgot my mask. Anyway mask and milk got, brew made and nibbling on chocolate limes.

Afternoon off  today, cant see I will be doing much so tired. Need shopping, collecting a jigsaw off fb marketplace for weekends entertainment with gkids.

Grateful for

Only being in work half a day today.

Fence looking amazing, best fence paint ever, great coverage, only used 1 coat and so cheap. Was worried it would wash off in that rain last night but still looks amazing today.

Having my windows cleaned today - first time in 12 years - I usually hang out of windows and do as much as I can, one less job to do.

mothernerd

CEW cleaner and gardener/ handyman sound wonderful and I will class it as medical as well as a regular expense (choosing to pay for these services and use you limited energy for things you enjoy is respecting you physical and mental health).

ditty can you send your son to my house. I will pay him 20 pounds a day for as long as it takes. DS3 and Beloved will feed him pizza or takeaway of his choice (including Greggs/ poundbakery etc for breakfast). They might feel less threatened by him (not judgemental or authoritative. However much I try to be gentle, it can still feel threatening/ exhausting for them (DS3 tells me when I've exhausted him, Beloved is the only person in the world who is frightened of me).

Thrifty you don't live in Yorkshire, do you? Sounds like Beloved's adopted brother (don't answer that). Many hugs and very glad the situation was witnessed and is being addressed.

apple and f0xh0les you're on the naughty step (and you can scrub it with a donkey stone whilst you're there). I spent ages on P, the Bay of e and Excry  looking at cross stitch bleep bleep bleep stocking patterns (favourite so far is the baby Yoda making a stormtrooper snowman, but also drawn to the brightness of the Satsuma Street hot air balloon - colourful, non-gender specific and not particularly tied to any religion). So now I'll keep getting things in my feed and spend more hours trawling and pondering and feeling guilty.

The ethos behind the 'keeping the elves alive' meme, as I see it, is to encourage quiet, steady preparations, living within "the spirit of the season' as the Native Americans say, letting things fall into place and feeling the joy (nature/ religious/ ignoring the whole thing and doing it your way) and anticipation with gratitude, serenity and lots of care for those who are already struggling and for whom the festive season might just be the straw that breaks the camels back. Planning and preparing save time, energy and money, which is why they were included in this month's challenge (not festive specific, just an awareness 

This avoids the over the top 'everything', excessive gifting, forced jollity, being expected to eat and drink stuff that many of us find disgusting, over-indulging to the detriment of our health, our pockets, our sanity and our wellbeing, planet destroying house decorations (materials and power use), being called a scrooge if we don't give in to every opportunistic demand for donations from individuals (just because you're dressed as a one eyed bear or a rugby player in a nightie doesn't give you the right to aggressively demand donations) or schools (sorry teachers but a few years ago, on this thread, one of the parents listed nearly a thousand pounds of money she'd 'had to' find - I know things like school trips are optional. I know teachers don't get the money and schools, like most public services, have been underfunded for years), ridiculed for not wanting to 'join in with the fun' because we don't want to wear a santa hat (doesn't count, Father C is the real deal as far as I'm concerned), ugly jumper (nasty synthetic materials - can feel my skin conditions blossoming just thinking about it), drink to excess (as a non-drinker most of my life, as it's expensive and I don't like most of it, I've been called prissy, uptight, a party pooper, told that I should let my inhibitions go and have fun - and yes I can taste it when people sneak vodka or gin into my lemonade).
 
I know that apple and f0xh0les and indeed all the turtles are kind, wonderful, compassionate people  and I sincerely hope I haven't offended you and offer apologies if I have. Something in my life is out of balance, it's the third time in 2 days that I've 'exploded' (I'm not angry or ranting, this is mostly well-thought out, trying to sort out exactly what I wanted to say). I'm angry at my inability to influence things or make changes in the wider world and I have that dreadful feeling in the pit of my stomach, as things get worse and worse with us as the frogs in the saucepan. I've even noticed that in most of my posts I'm using different words (I know lots of words so it's not a problem to recycle some and retire others) and my tone feels slightly 'off' (a light-hearted comment sounding not quite right when I write it down).

The stockings is a whole other issue (or several issues entangled but mainly to do with grandchildren and my current embroidering ability and the rate it is decreasing at) but I won't bore you with that.

Grateful for all turtles and their contributions and particularly apple and f0xh0les.

f0xh0les

been a while since we were on the naughty step together @apple_muncher. I'll bring the cushions and the coffee. You bring the kettlebell.  

Cannot imagine anyone eating a mice pie in this weather!  The promised rain overnight was a downright lie, the rain today has not yet appeared either!   The laundry all dried on the line - I have another mammoth folding session tonight.  I have a ridiculous amount of towels, I decided, but then we never run down to below 3, so maybe I really have enough towels.

Scored 3 free courgettes, and some green beans from a fellow volunteer.  Then got given 3 cucumbers by another old man volunteer,   word has got out I am good with a glut!

lcc86

We had all the rain here last night! Thunder and lightning too, it was great to watch out of the window. Had a little more rain today as well. Went for a 30 minute walk today but think that may have been too much for my back, it's been pretty bad all day. I NEED TO REST but I find it so hard! Honestly I should slap myself, I either take it easy now or my body will force me to take it easy at some point. 

Nothing else to report I'm afraid! Looking forward to my shopping delivery later, how sad am I lol.