NST August 2022: Lights, Camera, Action!

Esmeralda2662

Wishus - Sorry to hear about the problem with your bathroom and wishing you some sound advice from the engineer. 

Sorry I've not posted, it's been a busy month. I've felt overwhelmed by everything being asked of me. House is a mess with clutter everywhere and I realise now this is a sign of mental chaos.

Also an expensive month: 4 birthdays, a Dorset wedding, OH's daughter over from NZ for 3 weeks and a visit to Highclere Castle with my mum (her birthday gift to me). Sadly I declined the wedding invite as I just couldn't afford it.

I've also had an invite to a joint 60th and 70th birthday party in Germany at start of Oct. Not keen on flying and meeting 60+ people in one room. Bad enough if I catch covid but if I give it to them i'm not going to be popular. Think 1966! 

4 NSD's so far. Could be more but I'm pleased to have achieved this many!

Food budget over a lot last month so trying to rein it in during Aug.

Got some nice bits from carboot today. A new backpack and 6 tops for my niece's toddler. As i came home a lovely chap had lots of free items on his lawn. Got some games for the shoebox appeal and some crystal glasses for me. I'd have loved a bookcase but would never have got it in my Fiat 500!

Tomorrow I'm going with OH and SD for pub Sunday roast. Haven't seen her for over 3 years so making the most of our time before she heads back to NZ.

Need to get the soupmaker going tomorrow to make work lunches. Might also make some bread from mix I already have.

Gratitudes: OH's house is now tidy and ready for his daughter to stay, bargains at carboot and on lawn, that my DS's car passed it's MOT.  X

Thrifty_Taylor

Keeping everything crossed for you @wishus, it might not be as bad as you think 🤞🤞🤞

I've not spent anything today, but DH decided at 6pm that he couldn't do without orange juice & crisps, so he went to the shop!
Was woken in just after midnight, to DS1 phoning for me to collect him from town. Home again @1am, but then my eyes pinged open @7.30 & I couldn't get back to sleep. Hung the washing out, then went for a walk after breakfast, posted the 2 coins sold yesterday (have sold another 2 this evening!). Had messaged someone advertising 2 deckchairs on a local selling page, for her friend. When I phoned about them, the man had noticed a little bit of woodworm, so said I could either have them for free or he would dump them. Got some preservative in the garage, so DS1 accompanied me to collect them. Painted one long side & part of the front gable end of the garage whilst listening to my solar radio, washed up after tea & cut out 2 more bears.

Grateful for DS's company on our journey, fr

Thrifty_Taylor

Didn't finish my post there!

Grateful for free deckchairs, a dry day & a better looking garage at the end of it!

Btw I phoned eboy, they refunded the buyer for the item he hadn't received, as it had gone to a collection point & been mislaid there, so not my fault & I didn't have to make the refund 😃 phew!!

apple_muncher

Hugs wishus and Esmeralda. Hang in there guys and do take some time for yourselves.

Toni'sfriend

Fingers crossed that the work isn't as bad as you think. Wishus.

Yesterday was really productive. I got loads done. But I have noticed that I'm continually moving bigger jobs on to the next day and then the day after that, etc. I think I need to break them down into smaller tasks and I'll get them done.

Unexpected spends this week. My friend sent me a message to ask if I'd like to meet her for lunch on Tuesday. I don't see her very often and even less recently so I said yes. She has a significant birthday coming up at the end of the month so aa quick order of a gift from Amazon was called for. Usually we only do cards but I kind of felt it would be a nice surprise for her.

Things to do today so better get on.

grandmanerd

I was worried that I'm struggling so much with the paperwork (just getting to grips with it and getting it under control not even actually dealing with it). However yesterday evening I picked up a letter from one of the people I've been trying to contact so I can now do that and leave the hunt for the original letter (following on from my phone call but not doing what had been agreed). I can get it in the post box later (think the GPO does a pre-midnight pick up, but even early morning is better than the regular post boxes). 

My new puzzle book came out on Thursday so yesterday I decided I would go to get that and then attempt to get as  far as Icyland by walking through the mall - benches nearer to Icyland rather than going via the pedestrianised bit. Back up plan was to try B00ts for 50p sandwiches and the wading bird shop for cooked meat and other bits. Managed it but it was tough. Only bought a basket full of shopping - more than intended, but got all the things on my list including ys bread buns (I have wraps but some things just need a bun). Going to make up some wraps and freeze them (once I've used some of the things in the freezer).

Not sure if I've reported this but I have cut another couple of side branches from next doors 'weed' trees and on Friday I got the rest of the ivy growing on the side wall adjoining my garden and also scraped down a good chunk of the stuff growing up the house wall. I have a huge mountain of ivy plus some chopped brambles and nettles (separate pile) but it's all in next door's yard. Green bin collection is on Wednesday and I intend to fill all my neighbours' bins (mine is nearly full now). Reclaiming the backs is proceeding slowly but successfully - neighbour with a young daughter asked if I had any soil with worms in and I directed him to the 2 buckets of reclaimed soil from the backs which have worms which are nearly as thick as my fingers. I have 1.5 bags of stones, pieces of brick and chunks of plaster and mortar; one bag with room for a bit more litter and another on standby; a small bag for pieces of glass (will use a rubble sack and sweep the large patch up for binning); the weeds pulled out last weekend are drying on the polytunnel cover (mainly grass with clods of earth attached but ready to go in the bin now) and a very large kitchen bin half full of the reclaimed soil from the garden (needed the buckets for re-use).

Before anyone else says it, I'm aware that it's a displacement activity as it's easier to deal with than the mess inside the house. However I have done lots of five minute cleans in the bathroom, I half fill a bin bag in my room, put a loose knot in it for throwing down, pick up anything I can see in the kitchen before it goes outside for topping up with litter from the backs. Also having forced myself to stay in my room with the paperwork for the greater part of 2 days, an hour outside taking out my frustration on the weeds is very therapeutic. 

I've been a very bad turtle. Many of you are going through tough times and I haven't been supportive enough (or at all). I know I'm partly retreating inside myself but I am thinking of you. If I don't respond immediately it slides out of my mind again under the slurry of things that need doing that I can't do, or only do in 5 minute chunks, or need to get organised and phone someone else to get them to do something. I will get better and I hope you get some resolution or relief to the things you are dealing with right now. i also received a text message telling me that my PIP assessment interview will be on Thursday 1st September. It's a phone interview which I'm taking as a hopeful sign.

Grateful for my puzzle book, the appointment, good interaction with the neighbours, slow slow progress, getting the food items I wanted, fat worms, my little robin friend.

f0xh0les

Today is a lazy day, tomorrow I am working for a week!  Exciting times. It is the 4th time I have been asked to work for them, so they must like me,  (or they think I am cheap or easy (guilty on one count-shh!)).  

Lost another lb!  Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

Going for an eye test this afternoon and to do the shopping that I was going to do the other day, but honestly could not be faffed to go.  We had enough food in the house, obviously, as nobody starved!   I am in double NSDs, 10 I think, might be more.

Turtles, please keep your flippers crossed for the bungalow selling tomorrow - I am so much more relaxed since all the docs were confirmed as received by the shonky solicitors on Friday. I really don't want to be doing this particular job any longer.  Although it does prove I know how to dress a house to sell. 

Loving catching up on people's diaries.  It is weird to think that it is only 11 days until  we are back in the  '----ber' months. 

This year seems to be  going crazily quick.  Mind you, I have crammed a lot in so far.  Just not what I had expected to be doing in the first long summer holiday that I had my own money,  that I earned, and could afford to take the kids somewhere.   Then had to spend my time going back and forth to Ireland. I know Ireland is somewhere. Nevermind, half term hols in October might be more accommodating.

10 days left of August and then we are in Autumn.

DrCarrie

Afternoon Turtles, sending all good things to all, and more to those who need some more. 

I had a big 'do-over' of my budget yesterday. Some of it was wrong and needed to add the London Clinic Allowance I will be getting, for commuting into London more often. 

Been cooking today and shopping (with a list - that I stick to).  NSD yesterday though #10

Grateful for 
- Rose tea
- making bread - haven't made any for ages
- rest

beanielou

@f0xh0les. POsitive positive vibes your way 

Thrifty~~do you make memory bears or another type of bear? 

beanielou

@grandmanerd.
Positive positive vibes for the PIP interview.
I have just started my DLA to PIP 'journey'. Sigh.