NST NIFTY NOVEMBER

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for extra sleep helping dc cope with their day, for enjoying going down the etsee rabbit hole for a few hours, for the flowers that think it's september and are blooming, for bumping into a neighbour, for a good book.

DrCarrie

Evening, 

Had a bit of a blip with Pr3t for breakfast the past couple of days  It could be worse I guess, and the new chocolate truffles (dairy free) are delish. My mood a little better. 

Grateful for: some daylight, the view to the east when crossing London bridge at night, and getting through all my emails at work (I think), hot water bottle. 

thriftylass

@BadBookkeeper I noticed similar effects when I don't drink. I usually don't have a sweet tooth but when I try to cut down on alcohol I do. I usually drink fruit cider, so I wonder if it's not necessarily the alcohol alone I'm craving but also the sugar rush. Often I find sparkling water with a sweet mixed fruit cordial/squash/diluting juice (whatever you call it, is it regional ? ) is a great substitute, Sparkly and sweet. 

Got some of yesterday's items of the 30 day house cleaning challenge (gonna shorten it to 30DHCC) done, but haven't caught up. Only managed the baking cupboard and the spice/condiments one. But got rid of loads. Found a two pot pressure cooker with canning inset that I'll try and sell (GumTr33 I guess?), I don't can (would if I had a cellar) and prefer the slow cooker. My mum's pressure cooker always scared me as a kid but my mum insisted on giving me this one over a decade ago. But I started to learn to let go of those kind of things and not keep them for sentimental reasons etc.

Found cocoa power that went off in 2015. It was find till last year, smelled ok and some things keep way longer anyway. But thought it was time. Also got rid of loads of sprinkles etc although they're mostly sugar they smelled stale. 

Anyone has got any tips on how best to clean a stainless steel pot? Not proper burnt on stuff luckily. Thank you

grandmanerd

Thursday 24th November 2022
The Meaning of Yule, Why we celebrate the Winter Solstice (taken from the Eclectic Witch)
Modern witches can only discern the meaning of Yule by looking at our history. Because early Christians were fascinated by old pagan traditions, many of these pre-Christian traditions live on in modern times.

Yule is a holiday that taps into the ancient cycle of life and death and the battle between light and dark. It reminds us that there is hope in knowing that the sun will return even in the darkness.

Also known as the Winter Solstice, Yule is a holiday that celebrates the shortest day and the sun's waxing. The Winter Solstice is the most intense and challenging night of the year if you're a farmer or live off the land. Early humans had to prepare extensively to survive this time by building up a stock of food and catching animals for furs to keep them warm.

This is a time for settling in and in that way,Yule encourages inner reflection, and a more profound spirituality than other parts of the year. In many parts of pagan Europe the winter was bitterly cold, barren and long. There was little hope of finding fresh food which made people very aware of their mortality. For that reason death is at the forefront of our minds. 

For pagans and some witches, the winter solstice (December 21st this year and next) marks the beginning of 12 days of Yule. At this time we respect the underworld, ward off spirits and honour the rebirth of the sun god.

Ancient Romans celebrated Saturnalia (dedicated to the god Saturn) and Juvenelia (celebrating children) around the winter solstice. Emperor Aurelian established December 25th as the birthday of Sol Invictus (the invincible sun) and the Incas and Egyotians both had sun celebrations (the Egyptians used palm fronds as they did not have evergreens). China and Japan both had holidays that emphasised  bringing in positive energy  and having a healthy and lucky new year.

(I've acknowledged the source and left this largely as it was - I find the language a little clunky)

We don't get wiser as we get older - we just run out of stupid things to do

Don't let old age get you down - you might not be able to get up again.

ditty1234

I am not having a good day, I barely slept this morning woke up well before 5 because I have 121 with interim head of department. I woke up dreaming that she was firing me on the spot because I am a boring teacher. 121 was then cancelled and rescheduled for tomorrow - I am not best pleased. At least it is early in the day and I think on a more rational level that it will be fine. But the whole department is a bit of a train station in terms of leadership and staff at the moment. 
Anyways still grateful for lovely students and colleagues. 

lcc86

@ditty1234 I feel you, I woke up at 3.30 this morning! Struggled to get back to sleep but eventually got there.

Started the day with yoga then sat in my PJs under my duvet with a hot water bottle working, didn't get dressed until nearly midday.

Got the bedsheets washed and managed a quick blitz of the kitchen worktops and the bathroom in between work.

Took bunny to the vet, and typically the medicine I ordered arrived anyway. But anyway, took the hit to the wallet and bunny has forgiven me for taking her out in the rain! She's far too used to being pampered indoors!

I booked at a pilates class as the physiotherapist said it would be good for me. Its only a gym class rather than a specialist but it's a start!

BadBookkeeper

How frustrating @ditty1234.  I sympathise.  I have a new Business Manager coming to sit with me tomorrow to see how I currently do things and to see if a fresh pair of eyes can save me time!!!  Dreading it so doubt I’ll sleep much tonight. 

My best friend has messed me about with a Christmas shopping evening and I rearranged childcare/haircut.  Her arrangements have changed so want to go back to original plan but instead of agreeing I’ve asked if we can stick to new plan but feel terrible about it even though I know I shouldn’t! 

DH is off tomorrow and offered to go grocery shopping so we don’t have to go tonight.  Love him forever!! 

All bills have gone out and I get paid on Wednesday.  I have £2.09 left but no plans over the weekend. 

Bit of chocolate today (yes I was in the office).

Roads were a bit flooded this afternoon but took it easy.  Wouldn’t have liked to have driven in the dark. 

Need to plan grocery shop for when we go to centre parcs & for Christmas week. 

Feel a bit washed out tonight.  Will watch the footy but not much else. 

Today was an NSD so now 11/15

Grateful for ds doing some homework without me nagging, not having to go shopping, paying my bills.

grandmanerd

I think I've got quite a bit done but it isn't obvious yet and I'm very tired. Did a mega shopping list today then it was split into 2 deliveries (staggered them as a lot was heavy bottles and couldn't cope with them all at once). I may have overdone the non-alcoholic wine for the festive season (thinking about taking some on Saturday and DS1 and darling d-i-l can take them to their house for me). Multiple bags of rubbish and recycling taken downstairs and then more collected downstairs. Last bits of last time's shopping moved from behind the door. candles moved from shelves onto the couch - I need to move them from that couch to the one facing and finally kneel up facing the back of the couch and arrange them on the window bottom. That gave me access to the books and I have lots gathered to donate. 2 put on one side - one's a definite read and then donate, the other is one in a long series but couldn't get into it when I tried. Will give it another go and then will know whether it's worth borrowing some of the others from the library.

Both the food deliveries came (only the first lot put away), went out in the dark to bring the bins back, then came back upstairs about 6 pm when DS3 appeared (got him into the routine of if he wants the couch, ha has to carry all my heavy bags upstairs). Wraps for tea with odds and sods from the fridge. DS1 has decided we're going to the Hard Rock Cafe (he's never been). I thought his dad and I might have been to the one in Blackpool before he was born - it was the first time I'd seen MTV and remembered the video for Talking Heads 'Once in a Lifetime'. Then I checked and it came out in 1981 but didn't do well but then when MTV launched in August of that year they gave the video a lot of airtime and it took off. Brian Eno produced it and sang the chorus and Toni Basil did the choreography.

Not heard from my niece and getting a bit worried. Had an email from the solicitor - another list of questions.

Grateful for getting things done, good memories, things to look forward to.

f0xh0les

I did everything on my list today.  The kids are not at school tomorrow (inset day) so they have a 3 day weekend starting at 3.30 when they walked through the door.  They had forgotten, so I reminded them, and they are all happy little soldiers now.  Sadly I am working Sat/Sun so we can't go away. Boo!

Still have not shopped for the C-word.  Heck, I still don't have my work rota past December 3rd.  How on earth do people plan their lives if it is like this? Very glad I am a short term temp.  I do not think my future lies in the retail sector.

DrCarrie

I think I am on NSD #14 

The flat is a tip. I have work to do, by Monday and I am on leave until Wednesday. 

But...a drumroll or 2...tomorrow I will be all but £25 debt free - just letting the direct debit doing its thing. My boss, the big boss, agreed a double-time Clinical overtime rate - I am going to start doing Saturdays after Christmas, just to give the next steps of the plan a bit of a boost. 

 

Grateful for:  lots of roses in the rose garden still going strong - with a heavenly sent, watching a robin for a little while this morning, my hot water bottle.