NST October 2021: Fit for Purpose

ditty1234

Right so we have all made it to half term, hi other education people, and I am so ready for it. Have no real plans as world is busy and I don't want to go spending. Did my weekend shop for £15 and added a bit of diesel, prices at the mo makes me cry. So will try to only use car for visiting boy this week. 
Grateful for having boy home on visit tomorrow, but a bit concerned that there has not been any kind of home assessment in advance. But it might also remind him why it is good he is staying in a safe environment a bit longer. And getting his therapy. 
I can't say how much this thread helps keeping me going at the moment, all most all of my routines have fallen by the wayside at this point, and I hope to reestablish some of them this week. 
Does anybody have a SAD lamp? Does it work? I have looked at different models and they vary greatly. 
Enjoy the weekend, time on the chaise lounge, not too long, but def long enough to get bored, and then back on the project pile. 

f0xh0les

@ditty1234 the occupational therapists are all back in the office, so if you want a home assessment, make a noise and get one. The sooner the better. It is what they are there for.  I volunteer with one so I know she is doing home visits and assessments, but sometimes you have to kick the ball to set it rolling.  You shouldn't have to, but it is the squeaking hinge that gets the oil.

Well this half term holiday has been a complete waste. Isolating since the start of the week, and now getting texts from The Govt saying we have to stay in the house until November unless me and DS3 test negative (small hope of that) tomorrow. 

Going to have a long hot bath and make burgers and chips tonight.  Looking forward to Have I got News  tonight as well.  Might just make a coffee and walnut cake and we can all sit in separate isolation rooms and eat cake.

The one positive if we test positive tomorrow, is that we can finally be in the same room together.  I love my DS3 but 13 year old boy conversation is getting a little bit tiresome when they do not listen to the answers, and ask the same question half an hour later.  Not had so much as a cup of tea with DH since Monday night.  I might need adult conversation soon.

ldee2111

@ditty1234 - fuel is sooo expensive! We’re at 144 per litre here. It’s going up daily. 😧

Staying on NSD 9.

Both DS and I took a trip to the hairdresser this afternoon and I also bought a couple of ingredients for dinner. 

I finished listening to an audiobook last night. And I’ve started a new one today - I sometimes like to listen to them while tidying up, cleaning, preparing food. OH recommended one about a group of older people in a retirement home who solve murders. It’s called The Thursday Murder Club, and it’s really made me laugh out aloud quite a bit and I’ve only listened to an hour.

I also need to finish reading my current physical book before starting on a series that OH bought for me last Xmas. At the start of the year, I committed to not buying any more books for myself until I had read the new ones I have on the shelf. Still sticking with this and probably next year too.

Grateful for getting my haircut, for it being pay day, and for snacking on tasty banana bread which I made last night.

apple_muncher

I love the Thursday Murder Club!

apple_muncher

And f0xh0les, no, that is not about your household after 10 days of isolation...!

f0xh0les

I am being very well behaved, and 70% are grateful for room service.  No murderous thoughts except those aimed at the washing up.  I do so hate cleaning.  With everyone trapped in their bedrooms the house is staying tidy, but the washing up is relentless.

I have also remembered I have that book in the side pocket of my car door - not started it yet, it was a 'sitting on the car park waiting for kids to stop playing basketball/badminton/classes' book.  I will not be trapped outside the house without a book.

Think I am on NSD14, might be more ...  bit worried the trees are going to be naked by the time I get to go out of the house again. I have not jumped in a single leaf pile so far this autumn. 

Someone strap their wellies on and go stomp though some leaves for me, will you?

I have a bundt in the oven as a surprise for them for elevensies tomorrow.

mothernerd

Spent some time getting ready for the waste collection man. Had decided to get rid of the two small filing cabinets (have been growing potatoes in them, remaining large drawer had more potatoes and the still in one piece small drawers were used to hold multiple small plant pots. Put all the small stuff in the trolley and in an old toy box on the dolly. Moved a few pots out of the way, pulled the old table base out (all the things I was keeping - water butt, blue painted slats, water bottles with drip feeders attached - were placed within the square of the polytunnel frame).

All of this was done in bits because it kept raining. When it rained I came in to rest, when it stopped I went back out. Finally reached the file cabinets but couldn't budge them. We still haven't found where DS2 put my crowbar so I took a bolster chisel (it was my grandad's, it must be a hundred years old) and hammer to it (sitting on a stool) and the end and side came away fairly easily. Waste man arrived and he did some of the soil shovelling (I had picked the biggest spade so I could only shove the soil backwards whilst he was taking the pieces I'd already detached). When it was reasonably clear he picked up the remaining pieces, let the soil fall off and folded it to separate the two. i carried on pushing soil backwards and to the side whilst he loaded everything else (will harvest the potatoes tomorrow) and then he pulled the remaining pieces out - I'd made them visible, I even managed to get the edge of the spade under and lift it a few inches but I let him finish off.

We stood by his truck and he asked was there anything else. I asked about the table base and he went to collect it and smashed it into pieces. Altogether I've got rid of about 120 - 150 kg of cement, stone, mortar and bits of bricks (plus some clinker), an old table (5 pieces), two small filing cabinets and 4 drawers, a stool, a bent rake 4 prongs all in different directions, assorted bits of wood, metal (seat and various bits of the garden swing, kept the A frame) and plastic (broken legs from a set of shelves, kept all the shelves) and about 7 small (less than 3' ) pieces of bathroom cladding (2 longest lengths saved for shelving - me, or according to mum for boxing in some pipes - if 4 different tradespeople have shown no interest in her 'idea' it ain't going to happen. Mr Builder very tactfully tried to tell her it was much more complicated than she thought it was.

Inside again I phoned to make mum's Covid booster appointment, then made blood test appointments for us both. Was offered one next week but asked for any after 2.30 pm on Monday 1st so I will see the doctor and have my flu jab, mum will see the nurse and have hers and then we both go for blood tests. I will be falling over by this time because it's a fasting blood test (must check the rules and see if I can eat in the morning if I wake at 5 am). Then I gathered up the paperwork for mum's parcel and tried to explain to them all the things they had done wrong. After the quizzes I walked to the post box (7 am collection tomorrow).

Grateful for bacon butties with ketchup, a chocolate biscuit bar, getting rid of old bulky rubbish, bringing my dress in from the end of the yard and putting it over the radiator in mum's room.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Hi all

Another vote in favour of the Thursday Murder Club.
Agree that petrol is scarily expensive although i bought some from Sain$ at 131 which was cheaper than Arseda.  DD1 and i are going to visit DD2 tomorrow so that's 450 miles in a day.  Hope to time the journey home with Liza Tarbuck for company.  
Spent the day alternating looking at laptop with looking out the window, hoping to get my mojo back next week. 
Posted parcel to my sis for her birthday and returned a dress to the chubby cheeks shop.  Also paid C/tax while at the PO as I haven't done a DD for it.  Onto my 4th bill as keep getting it amended as DD2 at uni so can now get a discount. 
Made roasted pepper and tomato soup to take to DD2, might keep a portion for myself as it smells lovely!

Hugs to those who need or want one.  Good luck ditty with your visit

Gratitudes - phone call from a friend; chilled eve with easy pizza tea; cats to cuddle

Love Deni

ditty1234

Spent the day alternating looking at laptop with looking out the window, hoping to get my mojo back next week. 
Posted parcel to my sis for her birthday and returned a dress to the chubby cheeks shop.  Also paid C/tax while at the PO as I haven't done a DD for it.  Onto my 4th bill as keep getting it amended as DD2 at uni so can now get a discount. 
Made roasted pepper and tomato soup to take to DD2, might keep a portion for myself as it smells lovely!

Thanks.
And mojos can be hard to come by this time a year. 
In a sense I feel we have gone straight from September to November,with no crisp colourful days, of red cheeks and chestnuts, just grey crunchy sickly and damaged leaves. It's the light, the dying of the light (D Thomas), and in my language there is a poet who has written about the months and November is just November, November, November - whis is an often quoted truth. 

ditty1234

We stood by his truck and he asked was there anything else. I asked about the table base and he went to collect it and smashed it into pieces. Altogether I've got rid of about 120 - 150 kg of cement, stone, mortar and bits of bricks (plus some clinker), an old table (5 pieces), two smHope it will give you a bit of peace or space. all filing cabinets and 4 drawers, a stool, a bent rake 4 prongs all in different directions, assorted bits of wood, metal (seat and various bits of the garden swing, kept the A frame) and plastic (broken legs from a set of shelves, kept all the shelves) and about 7 small (less than 3' ) pieces of bathroom cladding (2 longest lengths saved for shelving - me, or according to mum for boxing in some pipes - if 4 different tradespeople have shown no interest in her 'idea' it ain't going to happen. Mr Builder very tactfully tried to tell her it was much more complicated than she thought it was.

And I thought I would be a hero if I get rid of a mini camera tripod and a very old digital camera (phones now have better cameras).
I love people who just get in there, and just gets rid of all of it (or most of it). Hope it will give you a bit of pace and space.