NST September 2022 Picture yourself on a boat on a canal

Thrifty_Taylor

Thank you @beanielou & @greent, good to know another RM panellist!

Mistakenly put yesterday as a NSD, had forgotten I'd booked the boat for mine & mum's trip next month! But haven't spent today, so still on #6 

Another hot day, but a nice breeze. Went for a walk on my own, 5.5 miles. Saw lots of Skylarks & my favourite Scabious flowers, picked some spent flowerheads in the hope I can get seeds off them 🤞

Took DS3 to the next village & back to see his friend. Spent the rest of the day cutting out fleece fabric & ribbons, & stitching some together to make baby/toddler taggy blankets for upcoming craft fayres. Haven't cost me anything, as using up things from my stash.

Washed the dishes after tea, then happy to finally soak my aching back in the bath.

Grateful for scenic walks, being able to make things, DH's tasty cooking

grandmanerd

I have progressed today. Lots of paper gathered. My clothes are all in 2.5 drawers (think there are some clean ones waiting to be brought back upstairs), all the hangers are in a box, the wardrobe is empty (not yet dismantled because I was waiting for them to wake up before I set to with the hammer and then it was teatime. Will carry on tomorrow.

Thankful for DS3 taking over and insisting on bringing the heavy stuff upstairs for me - he said I could manage my paperback book and the remains of a small bottle of pop - he brought my laptop and the heavy bag, for listening to my body (but need to get my knees moving so they don't seize up altogether), easy food, forgetting to take my boots downstairs so i couldn't go outside and deal with 2 large bin bags (one of which needed the contents sorting into 2 bins) and finding other jobs out there.  

DrCarrie

Morning Turtles, 

I have had a lovely weekend one of two halves. Day trip to Nottingham, for my daughter's bithday was really wonderful just a nice mooch and lunch, with coffee and cake just before I got the train. I was really tired yesterday so did the laundry, cooked and watched the telly. This means no planning or grocery shopping was done and I am on the back foot somewhat today, going into a busy week. 

Grateful for, sunshine, the full moon on Saturday night, having supplied in the fridge and freezer. 

Very busy week at work ahead. 

hazeldreams

Thanks apple_muncher, if that's allowed, I'll count it then! I was kinda thinking no unplanned spends were NSDs, but you're right. It was an emergency!

Yesterday's update;

Gratitude - DD2 starting a part time job and enjoying it! Visiting the flowers at Windsor Castle with DD2 and mum and spending absolutely nothing (thanks to Olio and flasks of coffee and tea). It was lovely to get time together - 3 generations paying their respects. Oh and managing day 4 alcohol free!

NSDs/ Pausing before purchasing now on 6/10 NSDs (thanks again apple_muncher!)

Yoga/Meditation meditation . My neck is better again today so I did YWA for neck, shoulders and upper back. I think its helped it loads too - it feels looser still. I actually meditated before I got out of bed today. I hit snooze on my alarm so many times. Didn't get up until 6.10am (normally I'm up at 5.30am). I think its because the mornings aren't as light any more....!! When I finally turned off the alarm, the birds were in full song and so I focussed on them and just let myself be. It was lovely.

Eating and drinking just focussing on drinking 2L of water a day - I managed the full 2L yesterday. I'm going to try for the same again today!

Monday again....here goes....

Toni'sfriend

Best wishes to your cousin, Thrifty.

Yesterday was a lovely day. Tesco delivery cane on time with nothing missing and one very minor change and a really nice and helpful driver.

Himself and I went for a walk and saw lots of butterflies. I don't know why but we don't see many at home. Friends who live in the next village surprised us by turning up at the pub and we had a good old catch up. Had a scrumptious meal in there as well.

This morning I was awaked by flights of ducks flying over the village. It's quite a sight and they don't half make a lot of noise.

So I'm just about to go to the local butcher and stock up with meat to last us for the next week at least.

Have a good day.

BadBookkeeper

Update for yesterday:

Simplify - Another top into charity bag.  Tiles in kitchen bleached so grout looks better.  

Essentials - NSD still 6/15.  Unplanned spends on gr£ggs and raffle tickets. 

Planning & Preparation - Went to look for new bedroom furniture, saw a coffee table we liked (been looking for ages).  Nearly bought it but decided to do it online.  Came home and measured and decided it’s too high for us.  

However we have chosen a colour scheme for our bedroom so that can be started (funds from joint renovation pot so not part of my debt or budget).  Need to change my ideas for furniture as just can’t find what we want.  

Think about spends - Glad we thought about the coffee table.  Raffle tickets were a bit of a necessary as put on the spot and greggs was cheaper than a subway each! 

Eat to nourish - Other than greggs pastie, would have been a healthy day!  Had a jacket potato for tea, really enjoyed it.  

Mindfulness - DH is trying do the house up all at once!  I’m steering it to a room at a time.  Our bedroom is the one in desperate need so doing that first.  

Be kind - DS friend is bring a bit off with him.  Trying to stay out with it and told ds maybe they’re spending a bit too much time together and to just take it a day at a time.  Also to ask him what’s up.  They’re only 10 so not sure what else to advise.  

Exercise - Steps achieved! 

Report daily- done ✅ will update on today later 

grandmanerd

Monday 12th September 2022

Mindfulness Monday
Mindful brain tip
Several times a day check in with yourself and bring your awareness into the present moment. Notice what you're thinking and doing, rather than just remaining on autopilot. (Winddancetreasures)

We use breathing in mindfulness because it's portable. it's part of us and always with us. There's no special technique, just taking slow deep breaths to calm yourself. So if you find yourself beginning to panic in a crowd, or your busy brain is flitting though all you 'have to do' and you're actually getting nowhere pause, slow your breathing (our fight/ flight/ freeze reaction makes us take rapid shallow breaths) - it sometimes helps to place a hand on your chest or belly (so you feel the movement of your breathing) until you feel calm. Notice where you are, your surroundings or the task immediately to hand and when you feel ready (refreshed/ in control) proceed.

Today
It's not actually raining but it's wet and grey so it's appropriate for travelling the next section on our way out of town as we pass through the few remaining mills which once housed so much misery (I've been getting a lot of historic photos in my feed, often depicting child workers - in mills, doing farm work, and 6 yos shucking oysters). Next time you hear someone ranting about 'the unions' remember the they're the reason our work hours are limited, we have weekends and safer working conditions. 'The union' is only a collection of individual workers banding together to limit the owners' power.

As we approach the next bridge (the road straight ahead goes towards Manchester, the road that goes over the canal goes to Cheshire, Culcheth and Warrington) we pass what was yet another horrible place to work many local women were employed here putting together the wiring for cars and planes, including me (this was the place that had a suicide bench). Everyone got out as soon as they could, many coped by disappearing once the wages were handed out on Thursday and only returned when the money ran out - they actually introduced a bonus scheme for those who managed to be in work a full five days. It was dirty, insanitary, mentally crippling, mindless repetitive work. Since the 1990's the building has been used as a bathroom supplies store but I don't know why they knocked down the majority of the mills and then gave this ugly maroon and cream painted brick monstrosity, protected status. It's over 40 years since I worked there and I'd still pay for the privilege of depressing the plunger to dynamite it.

As we pass under the bridge there's another small basin with moorings and then after the houses of Warrington Road, we have fields on our right and houses on the left gradually moving away from the canal as they follow the path or Manchester Road. The next bridge connects the farmland with Mc Rd passing between school playing fields and coming out facing the cemetery. At Marsland Green there are 2 white painted houses on the canal bank, where my ex lived when he first came to Leigh. 'You could fish in the canal without getting out of bed.' Marsland Green is actually a tiny patch of grass but nearby is the Boundary pub and the boundary marker as we officially leave Leigh. 

Disastrous celebrations
It still feels very early to be doing all this (a lot of it will be familiar to regular turtles), usually in September or even October I'd be talking about getting your house fit for winter, road safety, stocking up for the flu season. I think the energy price rises are foremost in our minds (many are already stretched beyond their means so face impossible choices). Autumn half term is from 24th October 
so it makes sense to plan crafting activities for then (which may mean gathering materials now, especially if you need to collect toilet rolls.

So unless anyone wants specific advice  I'll just give a general declaration and leave the rest for nearer the time.
Rule number One - Things will go wrong
It's not going to be like the adverts, a large harmonious family gathering, everyone loves their presents, the house is perfection. Just forget that. Things will go wrong - it doesn't matter. People will argue - in my experience children might have a paddy (tantrum) but adult siblings will rapidly revert to childhood roles (the baby, the sensible one, the clumsy one, the plain one, mum's/ dad's favourite) and old tensions can easily resurface. Difficult to impossible relatives (the ones no-one wants to invite but some poor sucker feels obliged to give in) will behave badly, someone will get drunk, one or more children will be sick and miserable, not want to eat and just sit shivering on the lap of any accommodating adult. It doesn't matter. Basically, as long as the turkey is defrosted and cooked properly so you don't give anyone food poisoning, you're doing fine.

My own festive disasters include (but not limited to) a brand new record player setting on fire, the cats cooperating to break into the defrosting turkey and eat a large hole in one of the legs, a sick child, another having a melt down because I stopped helping him assemble his dinosaur to prepare food and the bath overfilling and water cascading into the kitchen, having to turn everything off in the middle of preparing dinner to collect my father from A & E and DS2 riding his trike up and down the landing at gone midnight because he knew he hadn't been good. My record for time in bed between finishing the stockings and the boys waking up is 10 minutes. I've cooked whilst pregnant and had to go and be sick at frequent intervals. We lived to tell the tale (and a very entertaining one it is).

Rule number two - You don't have to celebrate at all
Radical or what? For some it's a religious occasion (albeit mostly stolen from pre-existing pagan and other winter traditions), for others it's a consumer fest (expressing your love with money or just showing off - the number of children's electric cars for sale which have only been used once or twice, that was a present for the parent who bought it, not something the child wanted or needed). If you have food to put on the table, a roof over your head, some presents (I think if there are children, there needs to be presents), are not alone (unless you choose to be) and some free time, you have reasons to be thankful. Think about what you need and what you want/ would like. How do you want to celebrate (or would you like to hide in a cabin in the woods with a pile of books and a selection of food from your favourite takeaway)? 

If money is tight you really need to find out what your children want. What makes it special to them? We had to have this conversation when the boys were quite small (I think they were 3, 5 and 7 yo) after my husband (mid divorce) contracted an illness that meant he couldn't work. We were all dependent on our self-employed business income, no money was coming in and no idea how long it would last. Tactfully so as not to spoil the magic we asked some questions (I knew I could make some of the things they wanted) and it turned out that having chocolate money in their stocking was really important - such a tiny simple thing that could have easily been overlooked but so important. Young children are quite happy with second hand, charity shop, handed down within the family and home made presents (and the big box toys - see cars above - depreciate the fastest).

I think as turtles we want to strike a balance. Most of all I hate the whole imported from the USA (sorry weenancy I think it's because we don't have basements - no room to stock different decorations for the whole house) way over the top list of must have's. My environment tutor called it the 'Griswold effect' and it's an environmental disaster. I find the pressure to 'conform' intolerable and the list of 'must haves' is a nonsense. Celebrate your own way but please use cs for Bad jumper day, one off outfits for tinies and look for anything else you can mention. Make your wishlist and see how cheaply you can get it. I like candles and lavender soap but I look in the cs first (I've had handmade soap bars for 10p). 

Rule number three
Someone will have a death or serious illness during the festive period or the anniversary of a loved one's passing (or a divorce, the end of a relationship, serious money problems or a personal disaster). If this is you, treat yourself kindly. If it's someone you know, treat them kindly, don't exclude them or ignore them but treat them kindly, lovingly, supportively. If you are celebrating but need at any point to take time out for yourself and your grief, do so.

End quotes and jokes
The night I shaved the turkey and other tales of thanksgiving Disaster
We stopped by his cousin's barbeque on our first date and found out we were third cousins
Thanksgiving, bringing out the best in family dysfunction since 1863
The more adorable the family picture on the card, the more dysfunctional the stuff going on behind their closed doors.
Note to all the premature decorators 'Calm down, Mary hasn't even told Joseph she' pregnant yet'
We bought a tree which had a spider's nest in it. Hundreds of spiders crawled out and we've had an artificial tree ever since.

grandmanerd

My phone's pinging away and so far all good news. I've been awarded PIP - happy  dance - please do it for me because I can't. I'm downstairs because my phone also told me my prescription would be delivered. When I came downstairs to get my breakfast (rice pudding as I've run out of yoghurts) I did several trips to the bins, one mixed bin bag sorted, a pile of neatly stacked pizza boxes (if they're off the floor and squashed flat I'm happy), bottles I threw out of the bedroom window collected, I've been craving toast so I brought the little loaf, the toaster and a tiny tub of beloved's butter upstairs (I only use a pack of spread in 6 to 12 months and the last one went off). Will do the fridges later (their's has a swede which has shrunk to the size of an egg). Sort out what is and isn't edible and go through the freezer to see what I can make. 

My leg and knees are working better today but will take things one step at a time - I have 4 library books to go back so that's an easy stepping stone. Grateful for lots of things, PIP gives me a bit of certainty about future income, that full  moon was absolutely awesome - it was shedding golden light on the clouds beneath it and silver above.

short_bird

On Humprey Bogart's Birthday, 2016, 2 things happened:
the chicken due to be marinated for Christmas dinner had gone off and
the water was off due to issues with the Hammersmith Pumping Station.
Then boyfriend was all OMG everything's ruined: I went to the Londis 5 minutes away and got bottled water and replacement chicken.
There's always a solution if the shops are open.

weenancyinAmerica

grandmanerd - No basement or attic here either. I actually have decorations packed away, but for several years before and after the pandemic, my sister has really overdone the inside of her house. We usually go up in November to help her so she can finish before holding an open house. She belongs to tree ornament clubs and was written up in the local magazine complete with 4 pages of pictures one year. By the time we go and help her get everything set up, we are too tired to do anything here. Just have a tiny little tree (about 15" high). Our neighborhood doesn't go overboard either. But some of them really do a lot and have the traffic problems as a result. Since we always go to her house for Sproutmas (except for the pandemic years), it doesn't seem necessary to decorate here too. She puts together a book showing the decorations each year also. Last year she only had 23 trees up (have had up to 28) and it isn't a large house.