NST May MISCHIEF AND MAYHEM

mothernerd

Hugs wishus and to anyone else who needs one or wants one. Free hugs today.

I'm going so slowly but am still moving forward. Last week's 'ambition' was to do my bedroom (this was from a 12 week 'sort your whole house in 12 weeks thing' - glad I only picked it to use as a guideline. Did I clear my room - No. Did I clear my bed/ move my bed/ make my bed - No. However I went through all my books again, filled one empty box with an assortment (3 categories and I've listed the contents in the back of my diary so don't need to physically look unless there's something I particularly need - one category won't be needed before the festive season, picture books (10 for £10 offer, some second hand that I was particularly looking for and some that I bought in the last library sale about 4 years ago) at various stages and the other bit, if and when Beloved or I get round to using a gadget I've had for a while.

Contents of 3 drawers are now mostly in one and I've just emptied another and know what's going in there (more list making). Towels were repacked into the second drawer (lots had been washed, it was just a matter of gathering them together and rolling/ folding as appropriate). Some books and clothes (including 2 BNWT items) went to the cs, filling cans, paper and rubbish bags is a permanent feature (yesterday I filled a black bag with rubbish from the front room after DS3 had allegedly done so) but I can nearly see my couch (partly buried for months, been totally buried since I moved there coats to give the men and van more doorway access - their coats but DS3 thinks it's my responsibility to put them all back. They seem to have gone into semi-permanent hibernation, seen very little of them in the last few days, which gives me more access for sorting (and getting the windows and curtains open).

My priorities for the month are my health, my immediate environment and paperwork.
Health
Struggling to stop spending atm. Making a list of things to buy - larger size trainers (my cheap fill ins are suffering), emery boards (podiatrist/ nurse recommendation), more socks (organic cotton/ bamboo or the diabetic soft top ones), replace the cheap arch supports - 3 years and some are in terrible condition. I have lots of cream use ups for my skin (scraped out another tube today, have replaced with half full after sun cream). I am being vigilant with mask hygiene and dividing my morning routine (this is just getting dressed as far as shoes, actual chores are in the distance - me chasing them with a bin bag), started hay fever tablets. Need to think about food (plan and prepare) but busy brain was not co-operating. At some point today I will look at the vegetables I have and cook something (+ snacks and salads).
Immediate Environment
Making good progress on sorting 'bedside' things - duplicates went back in the drawers and will look at relocating some of the leftover supplies (bulky things like cotton wool and tissues - mum used a lot, I use them infrequently and they take up a lot of space), forgot to ask DS3 to bring up the trolley. Kitchen is still a mess - pot washing is nearly there and more floor space but the surfaces I cleared are filled again. By the end of this week (by frog Friday) I will clear, move and make my bed (trolley in new position, CPAP machine off the bed, floor lamp in place to aid reading and sewing. Couch will be cleared (desk lamp set up to make another place for reading, sewing, doing paperwork) and kitchen will be better. TODAY I will fill a designated drawer + one other (and list contents), chip away at other tasks.
Paperwork
So much and it's everywhere (and not little things) Probate (still waiting), mum's insurance (one could be done but it's part of dad's estate and a bit complicated), little leftovers I didn't get round to, not to mention my own paperwork. Need a space to work. Take a first look at the PIP paperwork, start to contact people and finish off 3 small items.

Is there a grandma's anonymous organisation, I may have a problem. Picture books were from various sources - a couple for the birth (Peepo board book, The Elephant and the bad Baby), some for 1st Isaac Newton's birthday (also want to rebuy Raymond Briggs'  'The Snowman' and the 2 'Father C' ones, the Clement Moore one - hopefully the same one my boys had) and the rest for when she's a bit older. I also have my eyes on the scientists collection pack of 3 books by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vargas 'Little People, Big Dreams' series featuring Ada Lovelace, Amelia Earhart and Marie Curie.

I like the whole series but they're rather expensive. There's a 'Leaders' board book - Gandhi and ML King) and I may need the book for older readers  with 50 potted biographies, as there are a few I hadn't heard of. This child will have a rich cultural heritage and I want to reflect that. I could also use that last book as a template for a baby blanket and add quotes - and I'm also wary of being a hothouse grandma and the dear child feeling she's not meeting 'my expectations' (not true, I just want to have fun)

I have also bought 'some' toys. I have compared options (price, quality, play and development potential), have no problem with helping make doll's houses, garages and other things out of cardboard when she's old enough and will be looking out for duplo and other high end items when the charity shops do their pre-festive thing. I am considering space - the YMCA had a 'clam shell' paddling pool and sand pit for £5 last week but I left it where it was. I have bought things at clearance prices and with a discount, mostly extremely good value but I have bought one thing that was very expensive (for me - more than I'd spend on a dress or a coat, less than the dress I bought for DS1's wedding). Help, advice, make me feel better.

Going to run away now - I have drawers and veg and papers that need my attention.

mothernerd

Oh we're in the MSE blog

firsview

Evening Turtles. Been decluttering a la Mothernerd and took my charity shop bag out and put it in the car so when I drove past on the way home from work I was able to pop in and drop it off.
Tried to file my Self Assessment return but as I don’t have a passport I have to wait for a PIN to be sent. I worked for them for donkeys years so you would think they should know who I am!
Love the weight loss quote, when I embarked on my diet I made a list of why I wanted to lose weight and I have achieved all of my goals. I also feel a lot more confident and my joints are definitely thanking me!
Today I am grateful for DS2 getting through his first day at real proper work, being able to go for a walk without a coat and rediscovering my spiralizer in a dark corner of the utility room!

mothernerd

I've been doing well for most of the day. Did the drawer before going downstairs. Been out to each of the bins at least 3 times - first with bags that were already started and then more filled by wandering around gathering stuff up. Couch is nearly clear - largest item was a bolt of blackout/ insulation curtain lining. Cut 5 strips off then divided each strip into 4 good size cleaning rags (bought it originally to line all the curtains in the house but some good cs purchases made extra linings unnecessary). Then carried the rest of the bolt across to DS3's desk and then decided I could lift it high enough to get one end onto the top of the cube shelves and then just shoved it further on. It's nearly the same colour as the walls so not at all noticeable.

Cleared the floor around my couch - granny kit (potty and a small step stool) fit in a spare box and are away on the cube shelves. Picked up all the emptied chinchilla food bags, cut down the bags of bedding materials and squeezed 5 more packs into the drawers with everything else - the sixth went into the food container (size of a picnic cool box).

Dried washing came in, more went out. Collected all the dirty pots (started yesterday, lots of cutlery into a glass jar), took the clean plates out of the DW and loaded all the stuff I had collected. Baking dishes still had some stuck on bits so laid them all flat in the top. Clean pots put away (including some from the front room that hadn't made it any further). Not done food but have been eating ys bits and easy options.

Came back upstairs, cleared the floor, started to move the bed but got stuck - with the bed diagonally across the room. I have moved some things and have a bit more wiggle room but no energy left. My first option wasn't going to work - space all round the bed but far to narrow to work in and blocking access to some drawers. Moving the bed was my second option but when that came to a halt I realised that I would still have one side of the bed against the wall and would be further from the bathroom. thought of 2 further options but one (easiest) may mean crawling across the bed to get in it - reverse that for getting out in the middle of the night. Last option might give me more room but involves moving multiple pieces of furniture. 

May have to settle for having a 'messy' bed (not as messy as it currently is). Or make up 3/4 of the width of the bed and have a strip along one edge of the bed (some pieces of leftover bathroom cladding that would work) to hold the CPAP machine, drinks and a cup, pills, toiletries and stationery items that are in constant use. Found a few bits that had fallen down the side of the bed and used a walking stick to root out things that had slid underneath. Just need to work out how to make a comfy bit for me to sleep in tonight.

Grateful for getting a lot done, for the bed getting wedged (needed to stop) for space appearing (just too much stuff in my room).

apple_muncher

Well spotted mothernerd! It's obviously mentioned by someone who knows us...!

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a peaceful day at work, for sorting out some exam admin, for dc thoroughly enjoying the evening's youth group, for another workout in the garden, for a good book.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

Evening

Achieved another NSD.  Had a walk at lunchtime and again after work, achieved 11k steps.  My back is feeling much better, hope car journey to work tomorrow doesn't make it worse   Did some PT work this eve.

Every week is vegetarian week chez Deni I had sprout curry for tea .  

Gratitudes - DD2's friend going with her to hospital for blood tests, good chats with colleagues, getting lots of work done today

Love Deni x

beanielou

Sorry to post this here but what a crapola day.
Three falls today.
So scunnered I could greet.
Well I am.

Thrifty_Taylor

Happy holidays @Toni'sfriend.
A class I worked in before Christmas did the cyano pictures @ditty1234, looked great fun,! Maybe one day I'll get to try it too.
Sending hugs @beanielou, take care of yourself.
Get well soon @wishus & OH.

DS1 has gone on his trip, I hope he's got everything cos he insisted on packing things himself! Pouring with rain all day, so hope they've been canoeing, then it won't matter so much!

Had an absolutely carp day at work, was so glad when the bell rang at 3.30! Had a laugh in the office before I left, it was certainly needed! Stopped to buy diesel on the way home & got a few reduced items in the shop too (greatly reduced, not just by a few pennies for a change!)

DH went for a lie down after tea, so I did some crochet & watched some programmes I'd recorded. Went into the bedroom to hunt for material, then cut out letters & interfacing, ironed them together, then pinned & stitched them onto a blanket. I'd made the blanket years ago, but never sold it. A friend asked the other day if I had anything suitable for a 1 year old, so it fits the bill perfectly 😃

Grateful for time to crochet, getting the blanket finished in one night (have lots of other sewing jobs to do for other nights), a reduced price raspberry ripple bun complete with a mini flake in the top 😋

apple_muncher

Hugs, beanie. I hope today is better.