NST NIFTY NOVEMBER

Thrifty_Taylor

NSD#10

A very wet day, lots of water in the roads. Did yoga & sit ups before breakfast. Work went ok, it's like I've never been away 🤣 lots of people feeling ill, glad I'm wearing a mask again (to hopefully stop me taking any bugs home to DH).

Lay on the settee with a blanket for an hour when I got home. Put some things I've advertised for sale in the shed, saves tripping over them until sold, then did one sewing job & prepped one for tomorrow night.

Had a nice soak in the bath, really enjoying my book 😃

Thanks BBK, sounds like you've had a busy day today.
@hazeldreams hope your sister is ok & starts having a better time soon.

Grateful for not catching nits from my pupil (hopefully manage to avoid them!!), cosy socks & blankets, the sewing job being easier than I thought it would be, good books

hazeldreams

Thanks @Thrifty_Taylor. Stay safe from all those germs, there's so much about!

Achievements for yesterday;

- AFD 12/21
- Chocolate free day no.9 - 5 in a row!
- cuddles with DD1
- OH Kindly cooked lunch and dinner for sister and her kids (I wrote the shopping list and planned the dinners for her)
- Worked such a long day, but got a lot done. Missed my body balance class at the gym though, which I wasn't very happy about.
 - checked energy account now the heating is on, still in credit despite the extra spends, thank goodness.
- started to write my list of cleaning jobs - not going to be able to do it every day but definitely want to tackle stuff at the weekends @thriftylass, can big jobs like cleaning the oven, microwave etc count? Think I'll start with the kitchen as its open plan into our lounge/diner so that's where everyone will be at xmas anyway.
- YWA 15 mins this morning. Laying my mat out last night before I went to bed was just the right amount of a nudge for me to crack on and get on with it this morning.

It's been lashing down here since 5.30am when I got up. Really, really heavy. Sounds like we're in for a wet one. Fingers crossed that nowhere floods.

BadBookkeeper

Busy day yesterday so didn’t get chance to post.  We had ds carpet fitted & then had to put everything (except things he’s agreed to go) back in.  It looks so much better he’s made up with less clutter too. 

Had an NSD so that’s 9/15.  Hard not to spend daily at the moment.  Should be one today.  Will try!

Healthy food day and used left over chicken.  No alcohol.

Wrapped up warm to watch ds at footy.  It’s for an hour and just near the end I started to feel the cold.  Need another layer on from now on.

Another charity bag started and unopened games sent to DH work as they’re collecting toys etc for a charity to give to children at Christmas. 

We’ve asked mil to contribute to ds main birthday gift instead of sending stuff he’ll barely  use.  I don’t think it’s gone down well as she prefers quantity over quality. Of course it’s up to her so will leave it as her decision 

Grateful for house looking almost back to normal, wfh, a bit of a declutter/reorganisation. 

Have a good day all.  Will pop back later for an update on today. 

thriftylass

x_raphael_xx said:

thriftylass said:

  Random socks all I over the house are the worst. They just don't get it. Need to find a way to teach them

Bf soon stopped leaving his dirty washing on the floor when I started piling it up on his pillow

I don't usually bring it up to bf (I've given up nagging at him as it never works for long), now I just leave passive agressive 'memos' for him, such as if he doesnt change the loo roll and leaves the empty tube on the holder...I'll put it in his shoe to find.

That's a brilliant idea. Passive aggressive. And yes, loo roll as another one, lol

thriftylass

hazeldreams said:

...
- started to write my list of cleaning jobs - not going to be able to do it every day but definitely want to tackle stuff at the weekends @thriftylass, can big jobs like cleaning the oven, microwave etc count? Think I'll start with the kitchen as its open plan into our lounge/diner so that's where everyone will be at xmas anyway.

Any jobs count, everyone's list will look different. Cleaning the oven and microwave as well as fidges etc is on my list too, just further down the line.

I didn't get any of mine done yesterday, was in a right funk again and just went to bed at the same time as the kids. The cats came up for a change too (we usually leave them downstairs) and cuddled in which was lovely. In the end there was 4 in a bed, me, DS (who is 11 and still has this fear of the dark and now starts seeing things, not sure what to do, any advice?) and two cats (on top of the covers of course).

Hopefully get some items from yesterdays list done tonight. Also I changed my debt priority and not everyone might agree. I owe family money and as times are hard I think they should get their money back first. In my head it makes morally sense as the CC debt is my responsibility even if that means accumulating more interest, however I feel worse about letting family wait. It also weighs more on my mind all the time. 

firsview

Raphael loving the passive aggressive retaliation, may try that with OH who insists on leaving a weeks worth of dirty socks under the bed as he is too lazy to put them in the washing basket which he has to walk past to get into bed.
My ex husband wasn’t a very nice man so I used to take my revenge in subtle ways, my favourites were buying things with onion in as he hated onion and buying extra mature cheese as he was allergic to anything stronger than mild then innocently pretending I hadn’t noticed.

grandmanerd

Wednesday 23rd November 2022
Confession: I've just had a takeaway bacon and sausage roll and a hot chocolate because it was exactly what I needed and I had no other way of getting it (feel a bit more human now). I bought a sandwich for later but after that I'm hoping I can manage with tinned soup and fruit and whatever fresh bits I can snack on.

I'm now coughing (had a woman from Oxfam talking to me last night and she recognised the 'still here 4 weeks later bug'), feel very weak and muzzy headed. I'm downstairs but not had a wash - the man is coming for the money to pay for bricks and cement today so I'm layered up and on the couch with 2 blankets.

I have just sent an email about the outpatient appointment I was offered (with the people who replaced my right hip). I couldn't find the letter but realised my NHS number was on my CPAP/ COVID and flu jab letters and the booking line phone number was on the blood test form (all of which I'd found). So went to the toilet and came back down without the letters. Hauled myself upstairs once more and immediately found the outpatient letter. Brought that down and my phone wasn't in my bag (had checked that it wasn't on the bedside drawers).

Going upstairs the first time was hard, the second time was really tough, a third time - maybe possible but no way. However letter had an email link so have used that. I've decide to prioritise clothes above food (will  cope with tins as detailed above). I found my warm grey joggers (were dry as they'd been hung up to dry but they were above my head - desperately trying to find other places to dry stuff) and can multi layer t-shirts, thin jumpers and summer dresses for a couple of days. I brought in all the washing in the back yard but everything needs rewashing, rinsing and spinning, wringing etc (maybe even use the TD). Not sure how I'll do some of it - currently thinking I might be able to put the towels around the oven door handle, put my feet on the door to keep it shut and then turn the towel with my hands (doesn't have to be perfect, just not so heavy that it just sits in the bottom of the machine going nowhere.

There are some orders I need to put in, so I may add a few easy extras (now I know how well long stem broccoli and blueberry yoghurt go together). My niece still hasn't got back to me so only firm commitments are Friday evening film (the one Toni'sfriend saw - I've also seen the documentaries on Yesterday but have been looking forward to it) and a meal with DS1 and darling d-i-l on Saturday. Hair cut and threading would be nice but will see how I go. I'd rather be unkempt and see them than be neat and tidy but too exhausted to get myself to Mc (Christmas Market is rapidly losing it's appeal - maybe I could mange a ride around town on the free bus to look at the lights and displays and find a quiet corner to have a hot chocolate and a toasted teacake
then maybe sit in St Anne's square and listen to the music students busking for charity).

Inspiration
I checked for suitable quotes but american don't understand being poorly so mainly got things about people who treat you 'so poorly' (surely that should be 'so badly' Ed) and some funny cartoon diversions. Did see a lovely video of a very weary looking panther and deer trotting alongside each other. Caption was "Predator and Prey making their way home after a hard day of acting for National Geographic". 

So if there's anything you need help on, ask and I'll do my best to help.
Examples

1  Making extra storage space. Saw a hint on using cooling racks ( the ones you put cakes and biscuits on when they're straight out of the oven) to make extra layers in your fridge, which is something I used to do. very good if you have thin layers like pies or cheesecakes and don't want delicate decorations squashed. I also made individual jellies or trifles and dips in paper cups (could use pretty glasses) as they then fit in the door shelves in the fridge. Sheds, garages and even unheated vestibules (the 4 bed house had two doors, the outer bit was unheated and had a terracotta tile floor) are great for making fresh veg last longer and keeping bulky drinks - beer, wine, mixers and juice cool. Dairy and cooked meat can go outside too but may need protection from domestic and wild animals - I recommend a heavy duty plastic box topped with a baking tray and a heavy cobble of two on top (even when they're cooperating cats can't move cobbles - this was after they managed to break into the defrosting turkey).

2  Handmade is good but assess your time. Saw a lovely cone tree on P- terest but the star decorations were origami ones (very beautiful but quite complicated) and there were hundreds of them. I think I'd have been tempted to stick on a container of icing sugar stars or get out a piping bag. Cut out or pre-cut felt stars stuck on with glass headed pins or just regular paper stars would also work. And I say this as someone who once made paper chains out of tiny strips cut from the coloured cellophane of QS wrappers. 

3  Christmas Markets. The big commercial ones are fun to visit, good for inspiration, maybe the odd special  purchase but for bargains school and church ones are best. I noticed that my needlecase and pincushion are in poor condition. The pincushion is nothing special - it came in an accessory pack with my sewing machine, so it's roughly 20 years old. I do have a beautiful  pincushion which I must add to my list of things to  look out for. He's made of cork, has a sweet little face and when you put your pins in, he transforms into a hedgehog. He's older than my children and may have been bought by my ex (he's had to get the occasional gem in amongst all the junk - I loved the little black and gold enamelled farthing as well).

My local church switched a few years ago from having a Christmas Fair to having a Christmas Tree Exhibition. Various organisations (some sponsored by local businesses) decorate a tree and these go against the walls of the church., one every few pews. People pay a couple of pounds to go round the exhibition and it's very interesting (the local school might do a 'kindness' tree with hopeful messages). Ringing the central pews they have craft stalls, ranging from very professional to purely for the love of it. Last time I went I picked up a few hm bits - usually from the bargain box, selling off old stock. So I might look for a pretty needle case there. If you like to gift hm but your efforts would be rejected by a toddler, or you want to add a couple of bits to 'prettify' a hamper - these are the places to go. 

End Quote
It's raining, It's pouring
My pain levels are soaring
I'm taking a med, Cuddling up in my bed
And praying I'll be better by morning


Laughter is the best medicine and a great survival tool. 

grandmanerd

I've been slumped on the couch for most of the day. At least I'm back to watching the Handmaid's Tale (thought I might have to stop at one point).  I remember Margaret Atwood saying she'd stopped writing the novel several times as she thought it was too far -fetched but following last year's attacks on women's reproductive rights, it's starting to get all too real.

I have processed 3 loads of washing (a lot of it rinsed, wrung out and refreshed) and now have quite a few clothes and a couple of bath sheets drying around the house. Contacted DS1 to ask they have a time/ venue for our meal on Saturday - they'll decide and let me know tonight. Man came for the money for the bricks etc, answered all my questions and he's going to pick up a couple of bags of post mix (to fix the washing line posts in place) for me. He will be around to supervise the arrival of the building materials - I don't need to make a space for them.

Very glad to come back upstairs when he'd gone. I'd already packed most of my stuff for DS3 to bring upstairs for me. very grateful that he'd put the bins out last night. I went down to the bottom of the yard to check and had to stand still holding onto the walker until I stopped swaying. Grateful for helpful workmen (never ever going to have workmen who patronise me), having clothes to wear (what I've got on will do for tomorrow (planning a couple of quiet days so that I'm reasonably fit for Saturday) and being free to rest now.

BadBookkeeper

Here’s todays update….

Sorted birthday and Christmas pressies for ds and wrapped the birthday ones.  Set up his new phone so there’s no faff on Christmas morning. 

Ridiculous how we’re keeping the heating low but spending a small (saved for) fortune on Christmas and all that goes with it! 

My daily to do lists written night before is working well for me so I’ll continue until end of year to help me feel organised.  Life slows down in January so will be able to be on top of things without so many lists! 

Healthyish today, no alcohol but I am craving something sweet.  Nothing in the house except advent calendars and I’m not that desperate! 

NSD 10/15

Grateful for DS telling me how many positive comments he got from his footy coach (he dwells on the negatives).  A generous footy card swapper, getting jobs done. 

lcc86

@x_raphael_xx I love your ideas, I'll have to steal those!

@thriftylass go with what feels right to you, you don't have to justify your decision to anyone.

Long day for me today working in a different court than yesterday. I was meant to attend some training this evening but only got out of court at 6.30 so had no chance, which is frustrating. Hopefully it can be rescheduled. Because I thought I'd be out late I planned to buy food at the station, I bought a big lunch with me so stuck with the original plan regardless as I was still quite late out of work, and just bought a sandwich for dinner as I was starving when I left and didn't fancy cooking when I got in. I am EXTREMELY grateful to be working from home tomorrow! I just want to vegetate lol.

Shopping delivery has just been, took advantage of the 25% off 6 bottles of wine offer and stocked up on some stuff for Christmas. Not massive drinkers in our house but we seem to put it away pretty easily over the festive period!

Not much else to report, the next day delivery medication I ordered didn't come today and Royal Mail are on strike now so booked bunny in to the vet instead. Will have to do things the expensive way unfortunately but such is life. Frustrating as I know what the problem is and how to treat it as she's had it before but now have to pay £45 just to see the vet plus medicine costs.

Have had sight of my payslip, little bit extra from my overtime, just need to wait for part-time job payslip now too as a little bonus - although will probably go straight to that vet bill!