NST January 2022: Janus

DrCarrie

Hi gang, 

NSD number 9 today. really quite pleased to have git back to this discipline after a bit of a wobble!

Grateful for 
- nice yoga and meditation practice this morning 
- fairly good day at work 
- walk to the Rockery this evening 

Looking forward to being able to walk in the day light tomorrow. 

mothernerd

After all my worries (spent ages thinking how to answer the 'what work can I do' section and settled for 1) Counsellor (no professional qualifications) and 2) Advice worker (knowledge out of date). The women checked my paperwork - today was mainly about proving my identity. She told me what happens next (assessment interview) which will be done by phone, told me I should apply for PIP. She told me the Carer's Allowance will continue for a while and that I obviously have health issues and am bereaved, they will not expect me to start looking for work any time soon and probably will have phone interviews rather than being expected to go to the jobcentre. She said I was eligible for an advance (repayable over 12 months) and £320 will be paid into my bank account on Thursday. that's such a relief because I can stop worrying about not having enough to pay standing orders for a while or letting things slide because I'm doing other things.

Called in little Arseda for a few things - bread, fruit loaf, sandwich filling and yoghurt for breakfast (thought having beans four times last week meant I needed to introduce a little variety,

Took 3 bags of bedding and 3 boxes of pots (kitchen was looking a bit crowded and I rounded up all the matching poppy mugs, tea, coffee, sugar containers, the remaining poppy plates plus the white ones and added the plain red teapot) to the cs. Used nearly a whole kitchen roll and 3 tea towels wrapping them. Met mum's cousin on the way back so was standing far longer than my leg wanted to. 

Called for a taxi back to the bungalow. Messaged my niece to say I was back. She arrived shortly before the vicar. Little dog stayed in the car - I said he could come in but vicar said he'll expect it every time. Sorted lots out, hymns from my brother's funeral - so existing layout can be used (vicar will do that and return by Thursday) with minor alterations (mum's version won't have the lyrics to Shine on Crazy Diamond) so only the outer cover to do (mainly photos so delegating that to DS2).

Vicar said he had done 1000s of funerals and as far as he was concerned the important people were me and my brothers so he put down our names and those of our children (including dead brother's 'adopted' ones - his gf of 28 years ago already had grandchildren when he met her but they always called him granddad - their actual grandad walked out when his children were tiny). When we were clearing his house after he died, my brother had saved all the crayon pictures the children had sent him.   

The recently retired vicar will be doing the eulogy (cannot officially take services but can assist if invited and I want to include her - she's lovely) so that's another thing off my list - have some jottings and told niece to ask my brother if he has any memories he wants to include. Will be seeing DS2 and his gf on Friday for takeaway, they would have taken me out for a meal but at this stage we all need to avoid testing positive so will stay in the bungalow.

Have made my niece jewellery monitor. I can't really wear anything (occasional beads but not rings) very little is valuable, some pretty but wouldn't go with stuff I wear - and cba most of the time. AS I don't want it, my nieces (mum's grand-daughters) are next in line so told her she can go through it at her leisure and pass on anything she doesn't want to her sister and/or the cs.

She's also going to have another lamp and will take the 2 and 3 door and drawer sideboards (will bring bf round with a tape measure to check things will fit). I opened the drawer and showed her I already had the tape measure. Already in bed and going to spend the rest of the day (and tomorrow until it's time for CBT) rounding up stray bits of paper and putting them in my book (don't think I've logged taxi fares and stationery purchases since Saturday.

Niece also asked about basic kitchen stuff. BF is now lodging in the pub he works in and she would like basic kitchen stuff there so she can cook them a meal when they are together.

Grateful for lovely vicar, retired vicar and the woman at jobcentre plus (apparently I said DHSS the other day and my niece took a while to catch on - the health bit got dropped a while ago). 

abundant1972

Good evening 🌕

Had a good day today - feel tired though and a little depleted - with not much in the tank for with pursuing goals. After 2 weeks of solid achievement am sat here in my PJs thinking I should go out and get an extra 2k steps in before bed <sigh> On the plus - I resisted buying in a work lunch so I could claim another NSD.

Mothernerd - sounds like another few productive if emotional days sorting stuff. I hope you manage to get all your benefits etc sorted. I always feel it's quite a daunting system to plunge into. 

Today I am grateful for: 
1) My car not being frozen solid this morning
2) A pleasant day at work
3) Being able to draw a firm divide between work and home

Today = NSD number 14

Night all x

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for dc doing all day at school, for catching up on my marking, for the recent Father Brown episodes, for being in a position to help my neighbour, for having a fáb online parents evening for dc.

Esmeralda2662

That's 2 of my 3 working days done this week, just got tomorrow to get through.

Helped mum take her huge articial Christmas tree (bargain off village marketplace site Christmas 2019) down tonight and packed it in its box to go back up in the loft. Why is it that anything you unpack is always twice as big when you try and pack it away again?!

Mum's new armchair arrived from N*xt while I was at work. Can't believe it's 10 weeks since we went in to order it. Delivery man refused to fit the legs or take away the packaging. Not sure if this was because of covid rules but will ring and check before complaining. Luckily my son called in to pick up his car to get it repaired so he built the chair Good lad! This also means that old car will be gone off drive, hurray!

NSD#5! Really pleased.

Found a talking Mr.T*mble soft toy and bag in the village for £5 for my nephew so will collect that tomorrow night. Hope he likes him!

That's great news Dr.Carrie about your pay rise and forthcoming trip to York. What a lovely boss you have!

Mothernerd keep up the good work, you are amazing in what you are achieving. Love the potted stories in your posts and if writing helps you then all good.

Sending hugs to anyone that needs them. You can do it, whatever it is! x

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Morning turtles

Feels a long week already.  Had a very early start on Monday, had stayed over with DD2 so drove nearly 200 miles home, motorway was busy so took the scenic route, took nearly 5 hours to get home! WfH, did exercise class via Fb, had healthy tea and was asleep at 10.  Yesterday had virtual team meeting, colleague got the giggles at a phrase our boss said, which he then kept repeating, her reaction and attempt to control herself made me laugh!  Had catch up with boss and he gave me a big and time consuming task with a tight deadline so i shall be busy for the next fortnight, happy to get my head down and plod through it though.  Had a meeting for PT job in the eve then called at friend's for cuppa tea.  Had a lovely catch up, she has just retired so i was envious of her plans but hopefully my time will come .  Better log into work and start making progress...

Gratitudes - DD2 safely delivered to uni with a freezer full of HM soup; chilled boss; giggly colleague who brightened up a dull team meeting; good friends who invite me in for a cuppa tea at 10pm

love Deni

mothernerd

Just had a bit of a wobble and couldn't find Goth Bunny to have a cuddle. Found the dressing gown (the one mum gave me to use - white, fluffy with different coloured spots) and that's nearly as good - it's cuddling me rather than me cuddling it. My leg's hurting a lot and I couldn't find the ibuprofen - took a lot home but still some here. Did find them (still waiting for them to kick in), ate one of the yoghurts I bought yesterday (will have toast and a sandwich later - today's no fuss meals sorted with the addition of more of the box of grapes and more dips with the remaining 1/3rd of the celery).

I have CBT from 10.30 until lunch, several important forms I need to progress and lots of people I've still not told about mum (some will have been told by other people) and some I've told but still not passed on details of the funeral. Other than that I will have an 'eliminate' day - going to round up anything that's definitely going to the food bank and then add anything I've still got too many of (tomatoes and kidney beans) except the things the food bank has too much of (soup, baked beans and pasta). As much as possible can go tomorrow, even if I have to use every carrier bag in the house (bags for life too if needed). 

 Anything binable or recyclable out. I have half a bag of cans for when the bin has been emptied today and a pile of foil dishes - mum kept washing them and putting them in the cupboard 'for when' which mostly just fall out when you open the door and need picking up again, slowly and painfully. Will look over garden stuff when I have time, some things will have to go (give away/ bin/ tip). Think I have about 3 days of work now but I have it jotted down so I have a plan and will pick and choose (phoning the PIP people should only take a few minutes - plus any 'on hold' time and then I don't need to do anything more with that for a while).

Will go have a shower and get dressed (clean clothes day I think) and try to catch the binmen. Later turtles.

Calling14

Sorry didn't post  yesterday.

Having more doubts about new job so registered with a local temp agency keeping my options open.

Treated my house to some new bits to brighten it up for Spring, HB lovely and cheap. Fake pampass grass everywhere !

Lidlee food shop on way home.

Today had a chat with one boss today, put the idea in his head of rather than hand what bit of work come in to Accountants for next few months before they close down, I pop in 2 hrs a week over weekend. Work out cheaper for them and benefit me. Will see if other boss likes the idea.

Day off tomorrow using my holidays up, not sure what to do but I will be out and about, not cleaning the house.

Grateful for

Friend sorting out prickly climber by my front door. Bless him 86 yr old and just wants to keep busy, his hands are cut to bits.

Weather dry now, hopefully get my washing out again when I get home

Friends planning a meet up next week,

lcc86

Evening turtles

No NSD today as bought a sim only deal now that my contract is up (£8 a month rather than £30). Can't celebrate too much as I did buy a new phone upfront before Christmas but it's still cheaper and I'm paying it off monthly so it's fine.

Things at work are falling into place a bit more now I've been there for a few days. Have a day off tomorrow as going to a horsey thing, all paid in advance but I have to drive down to Weymouth tonight as didn't fancy a 3 hour drive at the crack of dawn tomorrow, especially with my back being so bad, it's easier to do half the journey tonight. Got a cheap hotel with breakfast included. Will bring snacks for lunch but will pick up a sandwich somewhere. Not sure about dinner, depends how long it takes to get home!

32b3in2013

Evening

another NSD here, so that’s 10/16+.   My sister bought in Greggs, which was nice and I ate from the freezer for dinner. Sorted out the freezer yesterday and made a plan for how to use all the food up. Stage one of that was eating a TGI’s waffle with salted caramel sauce from Iceland for dessert.  Pizza and cherry and chocolate cheesecake is in the plan for tomorrow.

Tomorrow will probably be a NSD day too as I have lots on a work and we are currently pivoting to a new project with a really short deadline. 

No rings closed on my watch today yet, and it’s dark out so they are unlikely to be closed now.  Tomorrow I will make an effort to go outside at lunchtime despite being busy. 

Going to start reducing prices on my Vinted listings tonight as I only ever list anything for a month before I take the items to the charity shop so only 11 days to go.  

……………….

Edited for accountability - I have been looking for a specific coat for many months and I have just found it for a very good price,  so I have ordered it.  It’s not a brand which is common in the UK, so I have to wait for it to be shipped from America,  but I am really pleased that my search is over.  I am paying for it with money which I got for Christmas which I have been carrying around since the.  

That takes me back to 9/16+ NSDs.

32b3