NST September 2022 Picture yourself on a boat on a canal

grandmanerd

Wednesday 14th September 2022
The Challenge
I've revisited the challenge goals. My intention was to do a little expansion on each part of the challenge throughout the month. So far I've done Simplify, Essentials, Planning and Preparation and Think about every purchase (Needs v Wants). I think starting tomorrow I'll do a list of foods each day that are helpful (for weight loss, gut health, pain. depression or anxiety). It's something I've done before (and therefore some of them are stored in list central) but it's always been well received. So that's the 15th to 22nd under the Eat to Nourish heading.

We've been doing bits of mindfulness as we go along and I think I'l do bits on refuse, reduce, reuse, repair, repurpose and recycle from the 23rd to the end of the month although you may get random bits thrown in i.e. I'm now planning to use the top and middle boards from the wardrobes across two of the sets of drawers in here. The drawers will move slightly and it should form a large L shaped flat space for sorting (my tall stool - as near to an old-fashioned step'n'fetch as I could find - is still in here, not enough room for a chair). I will put heavy things in the middle of the boards so they will be balanced. I took down the things that were on top of the wardrobe yesterday. It was easier than anticipated (only took two sessions). The bedding is in the bath on a tarpaulin except for the mattress cover (double layer of 100% merino wool) which I slept in last night giving me the most wonderful night's sleep. I just put it across the mattress (cushioned the hip that's currently giving trouble) and pulled the rest over me - literally snug as a bug in a rug.

Planning and Preparation 
One last word before we go on child road safety. This is something I'd normally include in an October challenge, in September I like to focus on enjoying the changes in the season, but this is important.
At the end of October the clocks go back (lighter mornings, dark sooner in the evenings). The following week (Sunday 30th of October - 7th of November this year) is the worst week of the year for road traffic accidents. The worst casualties are pedestrians. Drivers don't make allowances for the changes (the same with heavy rain, snow or icy roads) so be seen and be safe. 

Wellness Wednesday
Ecotherapy ideas to Boost Your Mood
Walking A gentle walk as often as you can manage will do wonders for your mood
Nature Sounds are relaxing. The woods is a great place to go, away from any noise pollution
Look Up Take the time to look at the sky once in a while. Take a blanket outside and lie down (or on a chair well wrapped up)
Get Planting You don't have to be an expert. Planting a few seeds and growing just a few plants and flowers can have a huge impact on your mood. It connects you to nature and and gives you a sense of achievement as they grow and flourish.

My ideas on the above
Salad leaves (sew every 2-3 weeks) and herbs can be grown indoors (or brought in from outside). Bowls of hyacinths, daffodils and narcissus can be forced (hide them in a cupboard or under the stairs - somewhere cool and dark so they think it's winter, wrap a tall paper cone around them if you don't have anywhere suitable) indoors to flower for festive gifts or decorate your own home. Pea shoots can be grown by soaking marrowfat peas on a layer of damp compost (very MSE, feel very smug about how little they cost compared to SM prices). For serious gardeners there are seeds that can be sown now - I'm hoping to set off some pots of sweet peas. Next spring I'll do the same number of pots planted with beans and next summer my baby grand-daughter will have her own bean/ sweet pea wigwam to sit in.

Today
We will be travelling to Worsley. Just as we cross under the M60 and A575 interchange the water suddenly changes brown due to the iron ore in the soil. We make a left turn, passing through a small basin and we'll stop there and you can explore. G00gle/ Wiki Worsley Village Green/ Bridgewater Canal to see how beautiful it is. Many years ago I went inside one of those houses, it was for sale and there was an open day viewing. We knew we could never afford to buy one (the last stretch of road from Boothstown to Worsley is known colloquially as 'millionaires row' although the plots are so big that several have been redeveloped to make 2 or more houses) we took the opportunity to look around

f0xh0les

And the D-Lloyd Worsley has an outdoor pool !

grandmanerd

Feeling much better today. The room is still a mess but it is doable (in stages). Still waiting for my niece to get back to me, so no point in progressing the house paperwork (keeping it pristine in a safe location). I've freed the drawers from the wardrobe (two are less than a foot square, two roughly 2' x 1') so will use them for sorting and keeping various categories together. Some things can be gathered and set to one side (a lot of my 'hobby' stuff - puzzle book, sewing/ embroidery, gardening and holiday brochures and places to visit - is already in a bag for life). I have a few bags for life (rubbish and recycling went out yesterday and I have a new bin bag and paper sack to fill + temporary containers used to sort in a small space) and some specially bought carriers (to be filled for the cs but can be used for sorting meanwhile).

I may get some help from DS3 (playing on his need to get my stuff out of the bath so he can get in it) and there's now clear space on the landing to use as a 'holding station' for sorted bags. Any frustration can be taken  out on the remaining bits of wardrobe and my food order came so the fridge has lots of easy healthy options. It looks like it's going to rain so may load the WM but not set it off yet and don't want to go and do my bit with the EA (EA photographed my passport and other papers at the valuation so will check if they need anything else from me - my address (and my brother's) was on the probate forms and on mum's Council Tax rebate form with me as executor (as per mum's will).

Options for drying clothes on wet days
Use any open space you can for your airer - in the lounge as you go to bed.  In the bath once everyone's used the bathroom in the morning (very useful for hand-washed items that need to drip). An old-style tip is that if your path is dry, your washing will dry outside (there is still lots of sun even when the clouds obscure it). When the boys were small (especially if one or more of them were ill) I hung sheets over all the bedroom doors.  Things can go over the backs of chairs (not wooden ones - not good for either the clothes or the chairs, plastic garden ones are excellent) or draped over several chairs if it's large (re-proofing your winter coat).

Mum used to have things on hangers along the rail above the patio doors, things might dry hanging from window handles if the window is slightly open (sheltered from any rain but benefiting from any breeze). I have dried baby clothes and nappies using a tall step ladder with broom handles and odd pieces of wood across the steps/ back of the ladder (a large A shape). The lady next door uses the airer outside to dry clothes (can't reach the line any more). I took most of my lines down as it hurts to stretch up repeatedly (and the posts they were attached to got nibbled away). I have had a temporary short one up and I have 2 new posts to go in (hopefully at the same time as the wall is repaired and the new gate and panel goes up). I bought them earlier in the year because I thought it was a nice easy weekend job I could do but no it's beyond me.

Upstairs/ downstairs
The problem with going up and down stairs is the stairs. I do have a place to sit. I make DS3 move his feet and sit at the end of the large sofa if I want to eat or am waiting for a delivery. If he's asleep I get the whole sofa. I do have a spot on my sofa but I'd be surrounded by my ex's records (and his mother's furniture) and the records is a job I'm ignoring in favour of sorting my space (DS3 is close to cracking as he's struggling to make progress on his latest game and he said he'd thought about doing the records but didn't understand my system) and getting my kitchen usable again. I'm currently in the small bedroom and I do have too much stuff in here but don't want to leave anything important in the communal areas. I had put some things in the small cube shelves but have since moved them upstairs - mostly to go elsewhere (embroidery stuff) or be whittled down further.

 I've cleared some worktops and have an idea on how to improve the lighting for now (will change totally in the new kitchen plan), sink is clean and pots are semi controlled (I have started a bag with pots to be washed and recycling that needs rinsing but dealt with the ones downstairs). I'm going to start packing up my pots and pans as I clean them in preparation for the new kitchen (doing it a bit at a time). When they move I'll already have anything essential packed away and they can take things which are clearly theirs (multiple gadgets) and anything else they choose (DS1 and DS2  were both given basic equipment when they went to uni and took a lot when they 'set up home' - some of it came back from time to time and a few swaps were made but a lot left).

I need to balance plodding on with the paperwork (I think the solicitor wants the deeds to the bungalow so that's another box out of the house - glad I separated mine, mum's and grandma's house paperwork a couple of weeks ago), keeping on top of the 'domestic stuff' (yes I do plan to have a cleaner, even if it's only once a fortnight to wipe and mop the kitchen and bathroom) - rubbish and recycling, washing my clothes and bedding (getting it back upstairs is the hardest bit atm), having food, clean pots and plates and work surfaces and doing self-care - mindfulness, moisturising, showering, washing my hair, mask hygiene and most importantly doing fun stuff.

I need to rest frequently so when my legs or my back or my breathing says I've done enough physical stuff I go back onto the bed but as well as relaxing/ stretching or whatever my body needs I can do a lot of useful stuff there. 
 

BadBookkeeper

Simplify - There are so many things I’m trying to improve on I feel abit overwhelmed with the daily grind.  I am organised but it just feels all work & no play at the moment.  

Essentials - NSD 8/15.  Nothing bought today. 

Planning & Preparation - Wrote a food plan & shopping list for tomorrow’s supermarket shop.

Think about spends - Nothing I spent on today.

Eat to nourish - Healthy day today. 

Mindfulness - Realising too much needs to happen first thing in the morning so going to get up 15 minutes earlier to see if it helps! 

Be kind - Phone call from school to pick ds up as has a sore throat.  I’ve tested him for covid and he’s negative.  Will do another in the morning but only have a few tests left.  Looked after him as well as working from home.  Worked an hour later to make up for not being fully present today.

Exercise - Walked to & from school instead of taking the car.  Haven’t done that in ages!

Report daily- done ✅ 

lcc86

Started new job today but feel really rough, completely blocked up and have a headache too. Testing negative for covid but definitely would've stayed home if it wasn't my first day! Felt pretty okay when I woke up, so did a workout, but have felt steadily worse as the day went on. It was nice to catch up with my old colleagues who are now current colleagues again. A pretty chilled day overall. Was nice to get home more quickly than in my old job. 

Got a load of washing on and then I think it's time for an early night, hopefully feel better tomorrow. 

greent

We've had a sunny day here - blue skies and 23 degrees. Washing dried on the line quickly. I started ironing some of it this evening but am too tired to do too much.

Wfh today after 2 days in the office wore me.out. Will going tomorrow and then wfh again on Fri around my hospital appt.

Thankful for a sunny day, wfh, managing to get some things returned to next, a tax refund after I finally got around to claiming for wfh for the previous 2 years.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for trying out a new gym class and having a fab time, for scoring 2 wonderful liddle f+v boxes, for dc seeing the sch counsellor for the first time and liking her, for sewing up some knitting, for nibbling away at a couple of frogs.

Thrifty_Taylor

NSD#9
Work went ok again, kept myself to myself when not with a pupil, so it's helped my mindset a little, not listening to folk moaning about situations or other people. Pupil had made chocolate brownies whilst out this morning, & had brought one back for me. 😋
Man came to pick up his trousers after work, he was very pleased with them & left a glowing review on my FB page. Did another rush job tonight, then started on another job. Got the go ahead for my room booking for my sewing classes, so will be starting next week.
My head is in a better place than it was last night, phew!

Grateful for happy customers, better headspace, chocolate brownies

DrCarrie

NSD#6 yesterday. 

Just very busy at work right now. 

Grateful for: some wonderful colleagues, a delish chicken dinner, the bin men coming. 

Shrewbie

Morning turtles 

NSD 7 yest. Bf scraped together change in the evening to sneak down to the corner shop for choc… but I am not claiming to have had any part in that!

All other food from stores. MPS and Meditation done. Did a small cardio session at lunch. 

hazeldreams - It’s fantastic you are noticing an improvement.  My mood has hugely improved since I’ve cut down on booze (it's a bit scary how much!) and I’m finding it much easier that I thought I would (I’ve not said I’ll cut it out completely but just see how I go, but haven’t had more than 2 drinks each week for a while now just bc I haven’t fancied it) however a friend coming this weekend and a wedding in oct will be the real tests for me. 

Grateful for bf cooking a delicious dinner yest, for an easy work day, for realising that I’d thought something in Spanish (before English) for the first time ever.