NST January 2022: Janus

Suffolksue

Just thinking,has DS1 claimed Attendance Allowance ,it’s not means tested 

mothernerd

A quiet day yesterday. Brought sheets in from the line, put more out and a few odd bits and pieces and have started a new pile in the washer, ate funeral leftovers (too many individual pork pies, think I've had my salt intake for the month, if not the year - did only eat the tops and the filling, binned the sides and bottom and I did have mixed salad - pasta salad, couscous etc and a half a platter of carrot sticks, peppers, red onion slices, cucumber and halved baby tomatoes.

I seem to have inherited ghosts of girlfriends past - wrote a 25 page letter to dead brother's gf no 3 (there were more but only counting the ones who were around for long enough to get to know) university years a couple of weeks ago. She sent me flowers and a card the day before the funeral (she lives in France). Yesterday gf no 5 phoned saying she didn't want to lose touch (her grandchildren were born during the relationship with my brother and they called him grandad and my mother grandma (I guess all the great bits are too much when you're small). The relationship officially ended when my father died but mum kept in touch, still exchanged gifts on birthdays (they both had the same birthday). So I've got phone numbers and an open invitation to visit her.

Had a text reminded about today's UC (assessment) appointment, all my tasks seem to have been completed but some are blue underlined, most are black (must ask about that). Sat in the front room for a bit but then had another nap.

Woke early today but stayed resting and reading for a bit (didn't work because the main character had a dentist's appointment - cancel mum's dentist and came back from a weekend away to find a card from the meter readers - home meter readings, ask DS3 and something about a Council Tax bill - must sort out mum's and apply for housing benefit on mine. Watched the rest of the final episode of The Responder (that made me laugh yesterday). The main character is returning a schizophrenic - shouldn't define her by her illness - to her place of safety and whilst they're waiting she starts asking him about his mental health. A  Anxiety and depression. Q  What are you on? A  Sertraline. Q  What dosage?  A 100mg (at which point I spluttered with laughter and called him a lightweight - I'm on 150 mg and could have it increased but the side effects would get worse).  She did say 'You might want to think about upping that'.

I did have good MH score for my final week of group CBT but I think that's because I've been programmed since childhood for crisis and catastrophe so when there actually is a crisis (or several major + minor incidents coinciding) I actually thrive (this is what I was born for, this is how I expect things to be).

This morning I was reaching for a bag to put the paper in (already had rubbish and can bags). It flipped over and the dips flopped out (they needed using up and I brought them through to have with the carrot sticks but then found I was enjoying the raw veg on it's own). Of course it was the worst possible place - all over the tangled wires of my laptop, CPAP machine and bedside spotlight and a huge lump on the bedcover underneath (the double layer of merino wool one0. So was sitting there with a roll of kitchen paper trying to scoop up lumps and wipe wires without spreading the mess any further and I started to giggle. The sheer absurdity of the situation (loads of serious paperwork, routine paperwork, personal letters and photos and all the stuff at home and I'm sat dealing with sticky white stuff (good job I'd eaten the pink dip) and wires and a wool quilt thing (that's so big I can barely move it).

So my sense of humour (deepest darkest black - but not from Peru) is still there bubbling up and it will buoy me up over the coming weeks amidst all the other stuff.

DS3 did well on poo patrol. UU turned up, then sat waiting for a tanker. Would not listen to DS3's repeated attempts to tell them that the real problem was displaced joints on the pipeline in the backs (their responsibility). Minor issues in our yard but the real problem is stuff from other people's houses coming onto our property. He has written everything down, will have to complain (need to find log in details as hasn't been done on this laptop). oh my life is such fun.

Anyway taking one day at a time, working out which tasks are most urgent/ are within that day's capabilities, combine tasks where possible - so deliver note to mum's dentist, check out the charity shops at that end (top of main shopping street), call in at gf no 4's shop for thanking her for coming to the funeral and maybe buy a few food 'treats' on the way back.

Grateful for sleep (taken in random chunks but giving in whenever my body says sleep), time by myself (will be glad of help but just need to potter slowly for a few days) and eyedrops (add booking eye test to list of things to do but it can wait).

apple_muncher

February is live:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6330360/nst-february-2022-a-month-of-fives/p1?new=1

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a bumper f+v box from Liddle, for my gym session, for catching up on some emails, for a chat with big sis, for seeing a neighbour.

32b3in2013

Good evening

another NSD for me today, which takes me to 14/16.  Tomorrow is a spend day, so I should make the 16 as I don’t need to spend on Sunday or Monday.

Today I have been grateful for no meetings,  which meant I got lots of stuff done.

happy weekend everyone.

32b3

Esmeralda2662

Thanks for setting up February Fives, Apple! Looking forward to it already.

Can't believe I've been writing to my German penfriend for 47 years today. We started as teenagers and have had a lovely friendship over the years, visiting each other and sharing life's ups and downs. We were paired up in 1975 by a society called something like the International Penfriend Service (does anyone else remember it?) in Iceland or Scandinavia. I'd like them to know they made a perfect match!

Went a lovely riverside walk with OH into a nearby town. Not as sunny as yesterday but at least dry. While OH was on the market buying crab claws for his lunch I browsed in the hospice charity shop and found a Matt Haig book I'd been looking for.

Someone on here mentioned cat detective and WI fiction. Could anyone tell me the author, please? I'd be really interested to try something new.

Strange question but has anyone else noticed a shortage of mansize tissues? Not sure why unless there is a paper shortage or they're making more toilet paper instead!

Gratitudes: A nice riverside walk with OH, finding the book I was looking for, and most importantly all of us still testing negative.

Let the weekend begin! 😉 X

mothernerd

The author is Kim M Watts. One series is called the Beaufort Scales (cozy) Mysteries and starts with Baking Bad. It's set in a fictional Yorkshire town (near Skipton) and the rather fearsome ladies of the WI have met some dragons (only about the size of large dogs) and they solve murders.
Kim's other series is the Gobbelino London and that is the cat P.I.

Another quiet day, keep thinking I should go too my house but can't quite make the effort. have frozen all the pasties so they won't go off, the cakes may dry out a bit but they will be good soaked in custard. Have watched two films, eaten all the remaining salad items, put the wool quilt over the line and sat with some rags and a bowl of water, sponging off the dip patches. 2 pm phone appointment didn't happen, sent a note at 2.36 pm (wanted to make sure I didn't get blamed) and got an apologetic phone call - they had misread my notes and thought I was going into the jobcentre. The original interviewer was going into her next interview but one of her colleagues took over. I am excused all 'looking for work' tasks, I will have phone interviews and must submit regular fit notes (next is due 22nd March). Made a little girl very happy by passing on all the stickers and other things I bought for mum for cardmaking - her mum messaged to say she was already in the package before I'd got the 2 doors to the bungalow.

Sorted photos into piles (cleared the four panels we put together) and the front room is looking much tidier. may go to my house tomorrow but don't want to be going round town on Saturday if everyone has abandoned their masks. Will see how I feel. May continue with gentle pottering, bag up more stuff for the charity shops and assemble the stuff for church on Sunday. Could also gather electrical items to go to the hospice shop and find their instructions.

Grateful for a good interview, happy little girl (mum and dad were happy too), leftovers (had a tin of chunky beef and veg soup for a change). 

Thrifty_Taylor

Thanks @Deni_debt-free_dreamer x
@apple_muncher thank you for doing February's thread 😃
Wow @mothernerd you're doing wonderfully well! An inspiration to us all.
Hugs to all, especially if you're feeling ill.

Another good day today. Was asked to join part of a meeting, which was a first, & something I hope will happen again. How am I to know what I'm supposed to be doing/aiming for, if I'm not included otherwise?! Dropped sewing off & there was another 3 lots for me to collect 🤯 cor, I'm going to be busy!! Then picked mum up & we went round the supermarkets. Got a couple of ys bargains. After tea & putting the shopping away, I put a film on that I'd recorded & tackled we knitting. Will need to print & enlarge the pattern as it's too small to see it properly on my phone screen!

Grateful for being included in the meeting, salt & vinegar shaped crackers from £land, it's the weekend 😍

abundant1972

Good Evening 🌘

Speedy check-in before my computer turns into a pumpkin. Nice day at work - even managed to take some time-owing and leave early!!! Got my steps in but failed to go to the gym yesterday and today. Always tomorrow and Sunday. Dipped my toe into the murky waters of dating tonight online... Yikes. Am I ready for this?!?

Thanks Apple for February's Challenge! Will go check it out first thing tomorrow x

Today I am grateful for: 
1) An early finish
2) A whole week off now
3) My ex for making me laugh again haha

Today = NSD number 22

Night all x

Esmeralda2662

Thank you for the book details, Mothernerd, I really appreciate your help. I'll add them to my list and keep an eye out for them. Sending my best wishes to you and your family 😉