NST April 2022: April opportunities

DrCarrie

Evening Turtles, 

NSD 4/16 today, very busy day at work, finished at 9.30pm. 

Gratitudes
- Wine, but not too much
- delicious dinner
- meditation session this evening 

Shrewbie

hi turtles!

Sorry for not checking in. I need to properly catch up on your posts but it seems like you have been a busy bunch and I hope you are all having a relaxed and fun Easter so far. 

Last weekend was fairly productive, I got out all the summer clothes and packed away all the winter ones. Went through various outfit combos and discarded a lot of things that were tatty. Took all my online buys that didn't fit back to the shop and I now have a clean slate to buy a few higher quality items. Washed all the summer clothes so they are fresh and everything neatly put away. Just need to take the clothes mountain to the charity bin before I change my mind!!

Another thing on my list was skincare, I have had terrible skin for around 2 years and have not done a sausage about it. I finally have a docs appt today to try to look into it further *admit only after being nagged to make one... I invested in some new products which were not expensive, but more than I’m used to spending on myself. But I really need to start looking after my skin. 

Booked flights to UK for August. Very excited to see friends and fam and thinking about hiring a car and travelling around to various places. Need to conquer fear of driving and make a plan of how to fit it all in. One of my fears is taking a wrong turn even though sat navs exist, so I’m thinking about watching utube videos of all the motorway junctions beforehand hahaha. Am I crazy?

I’ve also made a couple of new recipes and sowed some seeds, a packet of wild flower seeds that came in a candle I got for that december day. the packet of wild flower seeds flew off the balcony in a sudden gust of wind so I was down on my hands and knees looking for it between parked cars, found it in the end. 

So I have been doing a lot of things for myself as bf is away, I’m getting up early and doing morning pages before work. Today I am WFH and it is simply bliss, having a slow morning to myself! I have already done so much and I’ve been up for an hour and a half, and another hour to go before work starts. 

I had an nsd on a weekend day which is unheard of for me... So I think that means I'm on 3.

Grateful that someone I used to live with in Colombia and got on well with is moving to Madrid, for having my summer wardrobe clean and tidy, for feeling a bit braver to move forward with plans (April is certainly about opportunities) and for being able to work from home. 

abundant1972

Happy April 🥚🐇🌷

Just dropping in to say howdie one and all! I hope you are all well. Apologies for dropping off the face of the Earth the last few weeks. My mental health took a backward step - but I am slowly back on the way up again. So April will be a month of recovery and maintenance. I'm on track financially still - and am going to focus on rebuilding my good habits again. 

I'll pop in and have a read and cheerlead, and hopefully rejoin you all properly for May's challenge!!! Keep up the good work everyone!

Big hugs, Abundant 🌈xxx 

mothernerd

Okay, update for the past few days. 

Saturday woke up happy. Went shopping - was going to buy fresh veg from a cs (helps the homeless and they sell the foodstuffs they get given too much of) but they only had potatoes left - will keep checking to see what days are best. Had some lovely small bookshelves but they were not what I'd gone for. Called in another cs and bought a few baby items, spent £9.50. Went home, put in baked potatoes, a large pan of mash and some pasta sauce. Watched a  few decluttering videos. Did some work in the garden.

Sunday. Ate, defrosted a load of frozen veg (was going to have mixed veg with lunch and it was a solid frozen block, even after I'd banged it on the table for a few times). Snipped off 3 buckets of side branches from the pyracantha (the rest will need sawing and I can only do that a little at a time) and a lot of ivy (dropped on outside of the wall). Cleared a large space in the front room including the cover and framework poles for the new polytunnel. Wouldn't put them outside earlier as I wanted more space so they could go out of the way (need it not to be an obstacle course).

Lots of other garden bits done. Put the raised bed boards and the poles for the mini greenhouse under the garden table which left me with an empty bin - put the sifted soil in there which gave me 3 x 40 l tubs for working with. Headed to little Arseda before closing for ys f&v and a French stick. Can't count it as an NSD because I also bought breakfast yoghurts (struggling with breakfast ideas, am going to make rice salad with chilli and turmeric powder) and drinks. Aim is to cut out carbonated drinks altogether but as a compromise I've decided it's better to have some of the caffeine free ones in the house rather than use the offy later and get ones with caffeine. Short break and then went to see if the large trolley I had seen was still there. It was, so brought it back and started on the furniture shop's ivy (overgrown and people with small children are being forced into the road). Filled the trolley, took it round to the back and sat chopping for a while.

Yesterday I didn't want to move. I was warm, clean and comfy and did not want to start creaking round. I contacted UC and now know what money I'm getting when (next payment is next week). Ds3 brought another stupid letter up from tv licensing. Counted all my pennies to make me feel better - in my taxi money bag, £2 toucan, the penny tin, what was in the bottom of shopping bags (mostly using my card but if I pay with cash I drop the change in the bag to sort later), on the tray by my bed and the ones I found down the side of the couch when I was moving furniture into place. Went in the bathroom and made a start on getting all the green mould out of them.

Thought of 3 tiny jobs I could do - took 1 book back to the library (one of the first I read from last time's, found it buried under the pile of stuff in the front room), put money (notes) in the bank and go to the bus station to get information on today's travel plans (meal in Mc - DS2 has had a +ve test so he's not coming). Picked up a map to check best place to change buses and picked up a brochure for another coach firm so have more options for breaks later in the year. 

Persuaded myself to try walking to mum's as I was already near to the foot of the bridge. Got there, checked the post (mostly junk, a couple of ones I need to have mum's address taken off their mailing list). Some of my cabbages seem to have bolted, so pulled them up, stripped off the useable leaves and then found they were the last of the sprouts (ones from last year that I only had space for when most of the other stuff had been harvested), so pulled off the ones that had not been got at. Harvested several small cabbages but left some newer brassicas to grow. 

Collected a doormat and a bathmat (sprayed round the shower cubicle) and the phones. Put out the bin. Moved the wardrobes and bed in 'my' room and collected what was behind it - half a bag of porridge oats, 3 small packs of tissues, a ruler, one pack of ibuprofen and a support bandage plus some litter. Checked the washer and I did have some washing in there. Packed a broken spade (works as a long handled shovel) and a child's spade (I have digging to do). Swapped walkers as I already had an apple tree on the seat of the other one and packed my 5 bags onto the handles.

Walked home slowly, bought food on the way home - was worried that I'd left it too long and collapse (need to think about food and the timing of it). Ate, in bed before 6pm, watched a lovely film (I now have a far more intimate acquaintance with Brian Cox's body than I had before (that's the actor, the other Brian Cox would be a different matter), read, slept (sleeping pattern is much better).

Now on 5 NSDs and going for a meal tonight. Will need an any bus ticket so will use that to go and bring the bin back in and possibly go to Morries for ys veg and plant based meals.

Grateful for my sons (they all have good points), their partners (all lovely), sunshine and cool but clear days, new recipes, ys food, my bed, having a bit of money, possibilities (holidays, new diy projects - considering buying the panel and gate rather than reusing junk - not sure if it's worth the effort of painting and making it work for a temporary solution. Could even block it off for now (had 3 old house doors battened together for the first couple of years after I moved in, maybe longer). Still being able to walk (very slowly and not every day), a bit more clearing up done, downsizing and decluttering videos (A slon comes clean, clutter fairy and clutter clarity). That's 12 (more if you count 3 sons, 3 partners, 3 declutterers)

beanielou

With you on the walking @mothernerd.

Kerry_Woman

Am on 8 NSD today.
On Saturday I went to the cinema and enjoyed the film.  Also went to my favourite shop, as I added a free treat offer to my loyalty card and got a fruit and nut bar of chocolate - saving it for Easter.
Grateful for:
Support from some people in work.
Getting the new stamps delivered from the stamp swap.
A chilled out evening. 

Esmeralda2662

Achieved NSD#3 so need to try harder.

Transferred birthday/Christmas money to my DS to buy a second-hand car. He's been looking for ages and seen some horrors but finally found one. Thought I'd have to drive him round city ringroad to fetch it but luckily his girlfriend's dad took him. He came over tonight to show us the new car and it looks fantastic, fingers crossed. He also put the Christmas decorations away in the loft for us. We all joked about it soon being time to get them down again!

Forgot to say I managed to get a second-hand mobile charger for 50p at the carboot on Sunday. Really pleased as I thought the problem was with my phone but this has solved it.

Blood test in the morning. Don't like having them and very squeamish so not a good start to the day. Mind you, the nurse is an excellent shot so hopefully it will be a doddle.

Work is chaos again as short staffed through bereavement, illness or holiday. Hints about working over Easter but that will definitely not be happening for me, especially as they had to work last Easter and things don't seem to have improved. We dont have enough people, equipment or consumables, e.g.1 Pair of scissors between 5 people. I've given in and taken a cheap pair to work to make sure I've got some. Was going to throw them away as they are poor quality but still better than NO scissors!

Looking forward to the Easter weekend although nothing much planned. Might do a little Easter egg hunt in the garden for my toddler nephew. Not travelling far but hoping to do some walking and have a pub lunch.

Must go as Apple strudel is ready! X

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for the sea, for spending time with stepdd's family, for my cousin, for free online books, for finding a painting and buying it, and then meeting the artist!

firsview

Evening Turtles. NSD for me today, way too busy on a Tuesday as usual! Used up some leftovers for tea, no one complained as the usual dissenter is in Canada! 

Had a very difficult conversation with my 88 yo Dad about giving up driving, frankly his driving terrifies me and he has completely lost his confidence now he has a new car with lots of gadgets his old one didn’t have. I have planted the seed and now he needs time to think about it.
Today I am grateful for a gorgeous day, my Dad taking things well without getting cross with me and laughing at my older cat squashing himself into a tiny box which promptly fell over and tipped him out!

BadBookkeeper

Evening turtles.

Another declutter item ticked off the challenge I’m following for April.  No progress with diet I want to lose weight but….. I have no excuses! 

I’m avoiding unnecessary spends so far this month but I’m starting to find it difficult.

I am keeping track still of what I am spending.  I had budgeted £20 for an Easter holiday treat so the 3 of us went to the cinema using cat codes.  DS used his own money for popcorn & we also bought drinks & sweets from t£sco.

Received our dreaded energy bill today & they want to increase monthly payments from £180 to £356!  I called them & they’ve agreed to reduce to £300.  I may have just moved the problem instead of resolving it but we’re packing away the hot tub after Easter as that costs so much to run.  Such a shame.  But that should mean we’re ok with paying £300!   

Also received a quote for some work we need doing £365 over what we guesstimated.  I’m not surprised though we are totally out of touch .

Haven’t made a charitable donation yet but will drop off some Easter eggs or cakes in the food bank as well as essentials before the weekend.

Finding it hard to identify things I do well however there was a mistake made in work by a colleague & 3 or 4 chances since to pick it up have been missed by anyone else.  It took me the day but I’ve sorted it and got the result we needed and as well as finding a few ways to stop this happening again.  That’s something I seem to do well, resolving, improving and sorting everyone else’s !!!!!! out, in 2011 I was on a management course and learnt so much, I still use the training principles in my work life today. 

Still spending too much time on my phone mindlessly scrolling so trying instead to play brain training games although wordle isn’t completed yet today.

The life I’d like to live seems to be changing as I’m becoming more realistic.  I’m pondering this a lot at the moment thanks to this challenge.  Especially what it will take to achieve and will it still suit my life at that time.  Is there something close to it we can achieve in the meantime to make it reality.

NSD still 7/16 due to cinema

Grateful for:
Cinema trip
resolution to a work issue
good service received from energy provider