NST August 2022: Lights, Camera, Action!

grandmanerd

Was late getting to the bungalow yesterday (new friend was sent into a complicated diversion and ended up hopelessly lost). After a great start, going to get bedding plants was a bit of a washout. Took my walking stick to little Arseda (very hard work) only to find they have now locked the broken/ other SM trolleys together except for two which were immobilised anyway. I hadn't even got a coin to open any trolleys. 

Hobbled across the car park to get cash out of their machine so it wasn't entirely a wasted effort and then looked for one of the older assistants to see if she could help me. Asked if she could unlock a broken trolley for me, she unlocked a good one - I said I wanted to buy some of the 3 for £12 potting compost (it wasn't on yesterday's agenda but I do want some) but needed to borrow the trolley to get them home. She couldn't unlock the 'broken' ones and said they locked at the edge of the car park anyway (the broken ones don't, which is why I use them). 

Made my way slowly back home (very slowly, I had to rest against various posts and then follow the car park wall round so I could rest one hand on it and stop to lean on it a couple of times). Did my mindfulness 'breathing' and 'seeing and listening' exercises sitting on the churchyard wall (so glad I persuaded them against replacing the railings that were taken away during the war). So worn out I sat with a drink, reading my book until my new friend arrived.

Outlined my plan for the day. I wanted to get on with painting the driveway (very much did not want to but I started so I'll finish) which meant moving a great heap of stones first. Explained that we needed to go through the remaining items in the bungalow and pack things that were going back with us, bin anything not needed and she also did more cleaning including doors and windows and their frames (little star). 

I moved the stones - just swept them away from the area to be painted (and then swept it again about 12 more times as the remaining bits of soil dried out). I'd gathered up 3 part filled bin bags, put the contents of 2 of them in one bag and put that in the black bin, ready to go outside. Green bin was already full so that went outside (collection day is Wednesday but didn't think I'd be fit enough to go back today so will go on Wednesday to bring them back in and do a bit more work). We both added items to the rubbish bag during the afternoon and I rooted out various bits from the back of the shed to add to the waste wizards pile.

I used another two tins of paint, working in the hot sun. Emptied cans were left out in the open to let any VOCs evaporate and then added to the bin contents (as advocated by my environmental law tutor as the safest way to do it - nearest site that deals with paint is 28 miles away). Decided wall in front room does not need touching up (I found the bits where DS2 used filler but I had to hunt for them and knew where they were).

Waste wizards phoned to let us know they'd be with us about 3 pm. My new friend had to go about 3.30 pm to avoid the worst of the traffic so she put the already packed items into her car. I couldn't face doing the final tin of paint (there is a one litre can for back up as I'd cry if I ran out having originally wondered what on earth I was going to do with all that paint) so I washed my hands at the outside tap and changed into my proper clothes (did last bit in the kitchen when wizards were working outside). I had worn leggings and a good tunic then changed into an old tunic (no holes yet but worn thin patches and I've had 3 years wear out of it and it only cost £5 in the first place). Tunic and leggings were a bit hot but wanted to cover my legs if I got paint on them and didn't want to mess up the newly cleaned shower.


Wizards did their wonderful stuff as usual (and admired my painting). They even swept and picked up any tiny bits and got the remaining bits of broken glass out from under the step when they swept the path. paid them and got in the car, think we raced them to the main road. Stuff we brought back is in the yard (DS3 pulled a face at the thought of more stuff coming in the house - last week he was angling for a rent reduction due to my 'ruining his living environment' - hah, no chance unless he wants to pay the increase in energy costs).

Went outside again later on, did a bit more chopping of felled greenery, brought in the washing from the line and the empty bags (will need them for collecting bedding plants - a few at a time). I should get on now - 2 hours to my mindfulness session and need to make progress on at least some of the many things I should be doing (paperwork, mindfulness practice, bins to fill, sweeping the yard and filtering soil, hacking away at the domestic chaos, cataloguing records so they can be dispatched, writing to tell people about my grand-daughter etc, etc, etc in a Yul Bryner voice). It may sound like I've done a lot some days but I'm merely scratching the surface of the mountain of tasks (but until I can be cloned or reverse the ageing and infirmity process, I'll have to be content with scratching away).

So much to be grateful for, helpful friends, time to sit and look at the clouds (breaks are no longer just a physical necessity, they're genuinely restful breaks, time to pause, look around and enjoy my surroundings), coping, making progress, having clean, dry clothes and good simple food in the fridge, good books, a new serial to watch (2nd series of The Great), turtles (I might even get round to looking at what I should be doing for this challenge instead of following the clues in other people's posts). I'm still standing (or at least lying down). I'm a survivor. 

Toni'sfriend

Got all the washing done dried and ironed and all the little jobs plus some. Think I'm getting the hang of this!

Another beautiful day today. Sunny and warm but not too hot yet. I think I'll clean the porch, sort the plans and tidy the communal area. That will get me out if the fresh air. I haven't been doing enough of that lately. Walking has almost come to a standstill at the moment.

Enough of this lazing about. Things to do. Have a good day.

f0xh0les

Happy Tuesday!  I got my expenses paid for last month's work, yay!  Also, have a provisional completion date for s/g's bungalow, and building control are doing the last certificate sign off today. 

So with any luck I will not have to deal with sh0nky s0licitors anymore, very, very soon. Something to look forward to anyway.

Motivated to move more today, and have been out with the skipping rope already.

Deni_debt-free_dreamer

apple_muncher said:

Hugs for you and dd1, deni.

Today I am grateful for butterflies, for dc doing ok after their very hectic week, for a friend helping me with the wording for an email I need to send, for a good night's sleep, for somehow having a run of 7 NSDs 😇.

thanks apple xx

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for dh looking after dc and me (we are both poorly with covid), for my bed to lie on all day, for chilled water, for the breeze, for balm tissues (here's me thinking you didn't get all snotty with covid...).

apple_muncher

abbi, I hope I haven't scared you off, regarding you using the C.....mas word. Grandmanerd has drilled in to us that using that word before Nov results in an elf being shot!

weenancyinAmerica

Sproutmas works well to describe the date instead.

f0xh0les

Usually by me    F0xh0les Elf Slayer !!

Raah!

Thrifty_Taylor

Get well soon @apple_muncher & jr!

NSD#5
A whirlwind of a day. Had a little lie in, checked in the garage for a tin of undercoat/primer which we had. Phew! Meant we could walk locally & not have to drive to town to buy some & have a walk there instead. Did 2 coats of primer on all the woodwork, finished my book during drying time. Speed sewed a bear together, then after tea I did a coat of gloss paint. Typically it's been a better day outside, when I was stuck inside painting! Never mind, had a soak in the bath & read a magazine (bought from CS a couple of weeks ago), so can pass it on to mum to read next.

Tomorrow will be a spendy day as meeting friends for lunch & cocktails 😃

Grateful for fresh raspberries for pudding which DH picked in the garden, refreshed paintwork, the pleasurable task of choosing what to read next

DrCarrie

Morning Turtles, I hope you are all ok, and for those that aren't things are moving in the right direction. 

I have racked up another couple of NSD's #5 now. All is going ok really. Took lunch to work, didn't buy a coffee 

Grateful for:
- a little walk around Belgravia as a break from the office 
- Sunshine 
- Colleague at work - just being there.