NST December A - Z

lcc86

Evening turtles. No NSD today, posted a Xmas card to a relative in Italy. Am now travelling to visit my parents for a few days so am paying for train tickets.

Weird day overall. Woke at 5am and couldn't sleep, kept ruminating. Couldn't get into the swing of things with work. I just kept panicking about other stuff at home I had to get done before travelling. All done now so I needn't have panicked.

Happy birthday @Thrifty_Taylor

mothernerd

l was awake at 4 am so started tidying. DS3 paid the cleaners yesterday (they only needed paying 2 days before they come) so I was trying to pay him my half (he said he feels insecure when his bank balance goes below £1000). Took my purse out to check the number on the card (old card had expired and wasn't sure of the new number) then the bank computer decided it didn't recognise my log in details. Left it until I could find the pinsentry reader but then couldn't find my purse (it's not lost, just hiding). I had enough cash for fares to and from my house but felt better finding it (and sorting various categories of recycling and adding to the piles of sorted stuff I did the other day. Plus one load of washing.

Having paid DS3 I phoned for a taxi and loaded some tins, my toolbox and the box of screws/ nuts and bolts onto the walker (just for transporting it to the taxi without any bending). When I got to my house I sat labelling things for my reverse advent calendar and writing  a little note for the food bank volunteers. Loaded it onto the trolley and set off, having frequent rest breaks (bench hopping again). I went via the GPO as mum had left a stamped card to post and took my cousin's card as I vaguely remembered there being a small outside the office where you could buy books of stamps. Posted card but no stamp machine.

Continued on to food bank and they loved the things I brought (some weren't things they normally ask for but I got them as SM substitutions so if someone else can make use of them). They took my picture for putting up on the website (I hate having my picture taken but I was wearing my mask and then didn't ask for my name). The man asked if I liked flowers, I said yes and he asked what colour so I have a bunch of orange roses (obviously donated by a SM and already reduced but I will enjoy them whilst they last). Called in at the hospice shop on my way back to look at beds (they have a bedding box and some bookshelves I liked).

DS3 and Beloved were still asleep when I got back (DS3 hadn't gone to bed at 4 am - he'd thought of an algorithm to use in his latest game and spent several hours working on it before he hit a wall) so I couldn't access the bags of donations for the charity shop (want to get stuff out) so after eating I moved dry washing, put more washing on the airer, radiator and the line (mostly stuff that would dry quickly), put the next load in. Cut lots of side shoots of the pyracantha and chopped back a lot of ivy (with some brambles in) alternating between standing and sitting, chopping, pulling and grabbing handfuls and piling it all up on a garden chair (going to bring some back here but not today).

Continued with gathering the last of the rubbish from the kitchen floor, started dismantling the old broken bed (it may have the bits we need to sort out Beloved's sliding slats) and sorted another load for the dishwasher - had left some pots soaking in strong detergent solution in two buckets, gave it a bit of a scrub, then loaded it into the dishwasher. More things left to soak in the buckets with a top up of hot water. Found 4 stamps in my bag whilst hunting for lip balm so called at the GPO when I went shopping, mainly for rubble sacks (bought to bag up greenery but have been used for card and paper). Very tired by this stage (done nearly 12 hours) so sat inside to eat and use their toilet. Got £10 out of the cash machine - my bank balance is depleted but the savings were intended for house repairs and improvements.

Phoned for a taxi when I got in - 30 - 40 minute wait so had another go at the broken bed (asked DS3 to remove the stuck drawer) and have nearly dismantled it altogether now. Not sure about tomorrow, I could do with a rest day but also want to press on. Thinking of bagging all DS3's clothes and labelling them, maybe piling them up on the bed. i have done some measuring but need to get closer to some parts of the room. I need to shove some pieces of furniture around and I need some space to do that.

Grateful for lovely volunteers, beautiful roses and making progress (can stand up in parts of the garden without going flying on half decomposed slimy leaves.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Evening all
Went to work this morning then finished at lunch for hair cut - love having my hair cut but do miss catching up on the celeb gossip now they don't have magazines; nor do they have tea & coffee; forgot to take a book to read so stared out the window for 20 minutes at the rain and traffic outside - was quite relaxing in a weird way! 
Collected a parcel from the delivery office and posted a sprouts present to my nephew plus put the festive card & birthday card for my sis all in the same parcel so i feel i've been very MSE-ish as i've saved 2 lots of postage by parcelling it all up together 
Sorted a present for DD1 and bought butter and milk in Sainz.  
Got out the sprouts day jumpers and bedding and towels and cushion covers to get the house looking a bit festive.  I also have a number of elf hats that i shall wear to amuse myself 

Thrifty - happy birthday for tomorrow !  Hope the dripping water problem is fixed easily & cheaply.  
Ditty - hope you can get the bike to work; you are doing great at all the parenting roles you have to do (same here, i'm a single mum) . I might be doing a 6 hour uni pickup in a week, may the weather be kind to us and the roads be free of traffic

Gratitudes - DD2 having a lovely time with boyfr; DD1 staying for tea; day off work tomorrow

love Deni

ldee2111

Deni_debt-free_dreamer said:

f0xh0les said:

So glad you are getting help mothernerd.  You deserve a clean and tidy house.

Second that x

Third that.

I had a quiet day at work and travelled by train into the office to collect a new keyboard and mouse. The previous set had gremlins in them and would randomly delete paragraphs or add letters to things I’d often spent ages writing - very frustrating. Anyway, all sorted now. 

I tested out the new equipment by organising some online folders which held hundreds of my own photos. Digital clutter is in some ways worse than physical. It just keeps growing and spreading. I’m tackling a bit each day: deleting, sorting, filing, unsubscribing.

Grateful for new (working) keyboard and mouse from employer, for photos of precious memories, and for OH making dinner. 

ldee2111

apple_muncher said:

f0xh0les said:

So glad you are getting help mothernerd.  You deserve a clean and tidy house.

Thirded!!!

Oh no - I just thirded too. Four-ded. x

Thrifty_Taylor

Thank you for all the birthday greetings, I've had a fabulous day!

Started out with a message from the very first pupil I had 1:1, then at lunchtime all the pupils from the senior end of the school sang to me. On my way to work, the sun was rising & a blackbird (my favourite bird) flew across the road in front of me, perched on a wall & bobbed its tail as it soaked up the sun's rays 😍
I've had lots of lovely messages from people & nice cards & presents too, plus homemade cards from hubby & all 3 DS's. DS1 also made me a cake & a keyring from turquoise paracord.
Had steak for tea, then watched a film.

As for the water leak, there's been nothing since. I did clear the gutters a few weeks back, but hubby has noticed moss gathered down the side of one of the velux windows, so will remove that & keep fingers crossed!

Grateful for blackbirds, thoughtful children, friends & family (that includes you lot x)

ditty1234

Hi just dropping by to say that an other £7 dropped on batteries got my exercise bike up and running. I have set the code on my key safe - it is a smooth mechanical mechanism. 
Happy Friday everybody. Grateful for a half day of work today. As can catch up on dyi, house and freelance work. 
Edit:
My trashy little battery pack screw driver has done it again. Keysafe installed with the help of £5 worth of specialist drill and screw bit. 'We can do it'!
(And youtube not to forget).

f0xh0les

My car is in the garage having its check up and MOT.. I am on the sofa fretting.  I will be this way until I get it back.  Kind of like leaving a dog at the vets... but with windscreen wipers.  DH has given me his car keys 'just in case' I do not get it back before the school run.

Just put third load of laundry on, the wet stuff has been pegged out and hoisted high, it is sunny but cold here, so maybe it will come in dry....either way it will not be as wet as it was, which will mean less time in the dryer - gas and electric bill for last month came to £182  (imagine a blue haired scream!!)- but it is only £50 May-October so I suppose it all balances out.

DH wfh is costing me money!

My one and only Xmas related social outing has just been cancelled.  Boo!   Oh well! 

Only 5 and a half school runs left until the holidays.  Look on the bright side, reduced petrol costs, reduced laundry loads, more time for cleaning and tidying (ppssshhhht!!!)

mothernerd

Friday 10th December 2021 (Good morning turtles, I had a lovely, much need sleep and a shower)

Pinterest doesn't do Christmas stress (just more ideas for how to decorate more bits of your house than a Griswold would) and Christmas in July parties and how to plan them (why, live in the spirit of the season - enjoy the now). I had to search 'I hate Christmas' to find this little gem.

11 Things I hate about Christmas (we all do)
Credit taken from a site 'your tango' (hope it's good now I've given it a big build up).
Studies show that external influences - friends, family, jobs, commutes, living arrangements - can often cause the most turmoil for an otherwise happy couple. Like so -

1   Spending time with the in-laws 
Pressure mounts about saying, doing and wearing the right thing. The silent judgement from family is often deafening on both sides of this relationship, causing arguments that otherwise wouldn't exist

2   Family drama in all of it's crazy forms
Family you don't usually see (or don't get along with) bring with them a host of social dynamics that many don't want to deal with. Even before and after, anticipating and then processing, seeing them can cause you stress

3   Friends who don't get on
You love them individually but they don't know each other well (or don't like/ understand each other) and mixed personalities, unknown dynamics and jealousy can make things so awkward you never get to relax

4   Blended families
Christmas after divorce includes step-kids, new girl and boy friends, ex's invited by friends (they didn't tell you) require a whole set of new communication skills and can cause tension

5   Office Parties
How do you act? How many drinks is socially acceptable? These are just warm ups to putting a big smile on your face and ignoring the elephant in the room 'office politics'.

6   Family members discussing your romantic life
Whether it's family members, friends or nosy neighbours doing the scrutinising, if you aren't in a committed relationship and do or don't bring someone with you - expect intrusive questioning

7   Holiday shopping
Frazzled nerves, impatience and not being able to get things on your list can lead to arguments over parking, people blocking the aisles (mask wearing).
Keep in mind, this is in order to portray yourself as a warm, generous, kind and incredibly thoughtful person in the eyes of those you love (anyone see a disconnect here)

8   Gift-giving competitiveness
(Hopefully something MSEers have got past or are working on)
What to get? Is it enough? What if they get me something and I haven't got them anything? And will it be on social media - how many presents people got, beautiful gift wrapping or cack handed (sorry left handers)

9   Being single
If you're not in a relationship, feelings of social pressure, inadequacy, loneliness or bitterness can creep up, distancing the single from the otherwise festive festivities. (mothernerd aside - or the pitying assumptions that these are the things you are/ should be feeling)

10   Fights and disappointments caused by unspoken expectations
If you don't tell your partner what you want and expect during this time (not just gifts but time spent with family, family traditions, time management, attending events, to-do lists, finances) you will create a mountain of tension where none existed, just because you didn't speak up honestly

11   Imposing our own version of "love" on each other
From an early age we are taught to treat others as we would like to be treated, but if one person craves time spent together creating special memories and the other values effort (a thoughtful gift, homemade or bought, which reflects that their wants, needs and interests were reflected all year) 
then if each gifts what they want, then neither will feel loved or cared for. 

Lots of food for thought (some edited, altered or amended by me). Certainly several I can relate to and if none of them apply to you, maybe you should give thanks and gratitude.

Daily humour (I'm honestly picking the best, but I like this one)
A man in Scotland phoned his son in London the day before Christmas Eve and says "I hate to ruin your day but your mother and I are divorcing. 45 years of misery is enough"
Son: Dad what are you talking about?
Father: We can't stand the sight of each other any longer. We're sick of this and I'm sick of talking about this, so call your sister in Leeds and tell her.

Son calls his sister, who explodes on the phone : "Like heck they're getting divorced! I'll sort this"
She calls Scotland immediately and yells at her father "You are not getting divorced! Don't do a thing until I get there. I'm calling my brother and we'll both be there tomorrow. Until then, DON'T DO A THING"

The old man hangs up the phone and says to his wife :"Sorted. They're both coming for Christmas and they're paying their own way"  
 

Calling14

Thanks for the joke Mothernerd.

Decided to put up new xmas lights up outside after work yesterday and they didn't work. Took them back today and the new batteries bought with them were the cause. I ended up using my old mains lights. Now I have all these coloured ones to put somewhere. Will probably spot my house from space now.

My gig been cancelled next week, so cancelled my hotel yesterday will help towards car costs I suppose. Lose out on train tickets but they weren't too expensive with my railcard. Gutted I was looking forward to catching up with my friend. Thought about just going shopping but after 6hr walk around shops the other day and it's cold. Stay local and get all food and pressies bought in my 2 days off work. Hopefully re scheduled when I can make it.

Spent today bought myself slippers with arch support (yes I am getting old and dont want fallen arches!) and a scarf. Advantages of being single - buy your own pressies.

Grateful for

Finding cracker kit for £2 in hardware store - will need gifts pop in, chocolates.

Getting up early and tidying up my house, at least its clean/ tidy for 5 mins before gkids tonight.

Not being rich, as judging by miserable bosses doesn't make you happy.