Prosperous soul, mortgage neutrality & creativity Year 2

savingholmes

Thanks Jwil and WD.

Well I finished at a more normal time yesterday. I took the lamp back for a refund. I then bought solar lights and a gift for a family birthday - I should have had a £5 voucher but they sent the wrong date on it so it didn't work. The people in the shop took pity on me and gave me £6 off but also said to complain and see if that gets me more. I tried but their systems are that bad I don't think it went through.

I was stressed off the scale yesterday. I took a 90 minute break in the middle of the day while I waited for answers on things but it didn't help. My watch put me at 98 out of 100 at one point - and if anything I felt worse. I decided to use a free ticket and go watch B*rb** - it wasn't as bad as expected - and it was good to get out for once. I have to be careful about watching scary stuff - so although the MI film looked like it would have been better - I wasn't sure I;d sleep after. The cinema I went had a reclining chairs which made it more comfortable. I deliberately slept in today and feel a little better. It's scared me how stressed I've felt this week - and I think it's linked to both pressure of work and last week's incident so I need an active management plan. My counsellor suggested calming tablets to help - but I don't want to get hooked so trying to push through but it could be an option if things don't settle.

I do use music and listening to books to help - but on the latter have to be careful and make sure they aren't too scary or vivid or images / thoughts replay in my mind and it adds to the pressure and noise.

I plan to have a shower today and go to a city and visit an art gallery. I've texted a friend to go with me but haven't heard back. If I don't hear from her I'll still go as I need to change my surroundings. I've been a bit 'stuck in' recently - partly due to the weather - partly trying to be available for viewings. I'd had none booked by teatime last night so I wiped my availability for today and decided to take the day off.

How I've felt this week does reinforce that it would be nice for work to take up a smaller chunk of my week and that if I do end up moving I need to ensure it takes up a smaller chunk of my wage. I briefly looked at kitchens and bathrooms in a couple of shops last week. While they looked pretty I concluded I preferred my money in my account and that everything functions so why change. I'll revisit if I take my house off the market as some changes weren't as dear as I expected. I need to measure my existing gas fire - as it looks like that would be less than £300 to replace so if I don't move I may do that as it has been annoying this year not having a working fire (the ignitors gone - and to be fair the dog licked the metal at the bottom and it went rusty).

skint_spice

If the only issue is the igniter could the part not be replaced? Or use a match?

KajiKita

For the metal at the bottom of your existing fire, hammerite might cover / stop it getting worse?

Re the anxiety, huge sympathies, I have struggling recently too. Have you tried the 4:7:8 breath technique or other similar ‘vagus nerve hacking’ approaches?

KK 

savingholmes

skint_spice said:

If the only issue is the igniter could the part not be replaced? Or use a match?

It's a sealed glass unit so match is not an option - however I have checked ignitor costs - and they are more like £16. I might get one to time for when my boiler service is due anyway - and that way I'm not paying a fee for him to come as well. Will ponder that one - as a couple of the viewers asked about it and seemed disappointed it wasn't working.

KajiKita said:

For the metal at the bottom of your existing fire, hammerite might cover / stop it getting worse?

Re the anxiety, huge sympathies, I have struggling recently too. Have you tried the 4:7:8 breath technique or other similar ‘vagus nerve hacking’ approaches?

KK 

That's a good suggestion on the fire thanks.

On the stress and anxiety - I'm hoping if I take the full weekend off it will help - I worked part of the last two. I've flipped from not managing to quite fulfil working my hours to working extra. I have huge pendulum swings in my job - this one just seems to have lasted longer than anticipated - at a time when key people at work that offer me support are on leaves so have no-one meaningful to escalate to.

I am still working up to making myself have a shower and leaving the house... I have checked the parking where I'm going - I've been there before - and if I pre-book I can get 20% off linked to the gallery I'm going to visit so may do that. The gallery itself is open until close to 6pm.

DancingInTheRain

I've been using Kalms and the free trial of the headspace app the last couple of weeks and they're definitely helping me to feel less anxious, hope you manage to get out this afternoon x

beanielou

My fire hasent worked for years. 

Luckily I am not selling. 

skint_spice

My fire works but I have only used it when I thought the heating was gubbed (it wasn’t but sometimes the thermostat stops talking to the boiler, just requires a reboot).

doingitanyway

Sorry things have been stressful of late. I hope you find a way to relax. The gallery sounds like a great idea. I know galleries 'take me out of myself' for a bit and that helps.

WelshmansDaughter

I'm the same when it comes to negative stuff. Sis has been watching a bbc doc at dinner and I've had to leave because it creeps me out. 
What will calm your stress will be unique to you so I won't be of any use really. Especially since my plan is currently to eat all the things. 
Perhaps the energy rush from deciding to sell has now come down? 
My gas fire didn't work when I bought the flat but the previous owner was very clear about it. 
I'm going for bio ethanol now.

savingholmes

Thanks Dancing, Beanie, WD, DIA, Skint

Glad the Kalms are helping Dancing. I was talking about the prescription kind... I have some in stock somewhere to use as a last resort (on top of Anti-Ds).

WD - I think you are right on the energy rush - that makes a lot of sense.

It was close to 4pm by the time I got there but I went to the T8te in L'pool yesterday. I'll post some piccies later. I enjoyed it - it wasn't particularly crowded and there were lifts and places to sit which helped. I parked somewhere I'd parked before - so I knew where I was going. I tried a new restaurant beginning with Ziz and had a three course meal - but enjoyed the starter and the desert but sent back the first main as horrible and ate a replacement instead which was adequate. I doubt I'd eat there again. It did me good to get out though and my closed over head felt like it had some space in it again.

I've been listening to a kiddie's story which has been quite enjoyable. That seemed to spark some writing overnight so I've just written a 700 word start to a story. I also dreamed of going swimming - so I've booked to go to the outdoor pool next. I'm trying to look after myself. Work is calling me as I heard more emails pinging in after I logged off Friday as well as yesterday but I have resisted looking so far.

Hope you are all having a good weekend. Thanks for posting.