December 2022: The Turtles do the Cha Cha Cha

grandmanerd

The wall is down. I was outside for 5 hours (moving bricks that were already down, getting a few more out and then lots of sorting soil and tree roots from the raised bed behind the wall - they need to come out before we can do the bottom 2 layers of bricks. Went inside and asked DS3 to do his thing with the sledgehammer. He finally got my repair down in chunks (but the 3 layers of bricks and a capping stone layer are still intact - on the floor but still in lumps), then held onto the gatepost and kicked the lower levels out. 

I was totally wiped out (there are piles of clippings and chunks of ivy but was too tired to pick them up) so had a shower to warm up and ease out the kinks. Climbed in bed and checked the time of the bereavement service (wasn't 7 pm but 3 pm) so half an hour under the covers and then got ready for that. It was lovely (the vicar's dog was in attendance - he lay quietly in the choir stalls during the service and followed the vicar round the rest of the time). 

Will be asleep shortly. Gratitudes getting through the week, getting the wall down and DS3 buying me food.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a lie in, for dc waking naturally, for finding what we needed to find in town, for wrapping up some presents, for easy food.

apple_muncher

Winter is not a season, it's a celebration.

- Anamika Mishra

abundant1972

Good evening 🌔

Well done on the wall demolition grandmanerd! 

Managed to get out again for another walk. Did a quick stock take of everything I have in food-wise and jotted a few meals down that I can do. I resisted the urge to go food shopping, telling myself I must try and run down the things I have. 

I realised today just how hard consumers try to get you to spend at this time of year. Every other post on instagrump is an advert trying to sell you something that is a must have and will change my life!!! My email inbox is flooded daily with offers on everything. I managed to battle the urge to buy anything - and reminded myself these things won't change my life. Getting out of debt will change my life though. 

Wins ⭐ Resisted buying food when I have stuff in ⭐ Resisted buying a new diary/budget book/mindfulness journal - I have blank notebooks to use up, and somebody already bought me a 2023 diary, even if it isn't the one I might have bought ⭐ Resisted buying a new necklace ⭐ 

Today I am grateful for:
1) My newfound willpower. Long may it last!!!
2) A calmer mind
3) Hot chocolate and marshmallows

Today = NSD number 4

Achievements for December: 

01st - 07th December: ⭐ Mindfulness 🧘🏻‍♂️ = 2/7 ⭐ Nature Walk 🌳 = 2/4 ⭐ Gym 🏋🏻‍♂️ = 1/3 ⭐

Have a lovely evening folks 😘

BadBookkeeper

Evening turtles,

Where has the day gone.  Grateful for DH taking DS to footy this morning so I got the ironing done.  Went for our food shop and bought my special Christmas cards.  Paid more than I could have but wanted to get them so I could tick off my list.  Very un-mse of me.

Went to see a light switch on at a big house by us.  Lovely event and donation made.  DS got given a lovely lantern.

Will pack for CParcs tomorrow morning I have a list to tick off and should whizz through it.

Not an NSD today but the next few days should be as DH is paying for food and activities whilst we’re away, unless I’m tempted by things in the gift shop I should only be purchasing boxes of biscuits to bring home for parents and work colleagues at the end of the week. 

f0xh0les

Today was NSD #1. Did the meter readings. Baked RollJus pain au chocolat for everyone for breakfast, and toddled off to work with the expectation of buying myself something to celebrate payday, and something hot from the Bakers beginning with G for lunch. Did neither, all money still in the bank, and the kids bus fares were withdrawn on Saturday.  I have a tiny float of shrapnel in my purse, currently £13.50, to be used for on street parking, or bus fares, to work this week.  The freezer is full of beige, and the fridge is full of vegetation.   Might need the odd loaf of ys bread, but apart from that, nothing, because there are 9.5 school days left this year.  Whoop whoop!!

Thrifty_Taylor

NSD#2

A beautiful day dawned, but quite cool. Had an extra hour in bed, did YWA, then after breakfast I walked 5 miles. Have been feeling quite restless doing up to 2.5miles with DH the past few weeks, been itching to go further! Enjoyed watching wildlife en route. Pumped up my car tyres, topped up the screenwash & checked the oil - only been on my to do list for 6 months+ 😂
Started a new book whilst eating dinner, then decided to tackle my new sewing machine again. Managed to solve the thread snapping problem, it was so simple, I could've kicked myself! Cos I'm in a dark corner of the room, I have a lamp behind my machine, so never noticed the strip of light blue tape across the front for transit. All I needed to do was remove it! Practiced embroidered letters, will need to figure out how to make the letters bigger, but so pleased it's all working. Sewed a chicken quickly before tea, so we could use the table. My brother phoned, he means we'll & has a heart of gold, but is an expert on everything (in his opinion), so telling me things about DH's after symptoms from his transplant, & if I lived closer, he could set me up in a warehouse to sew! No thanks!!
Put the tree up after tea, all 3 DSs joined in. Washed the dishes. My turn for the bath now, then have to get up earlier tomorrow, as have a meeting at 8.30 before the pupil's arrive.

Grateful for a lovely long walk, sorting out my sewing machine & festive decorations

Shrewbie

Good morning turtles. I had a very lazy day yesterday, didn’t even leave the sofa! However I did get up and write before bf was up.

meditation done this morning. I have an exercise class after work and all food will be from stores. 

Will probably put the Xmas decs up tomorrow as it is a public holiday. Getting nervous about all the events coming up and not wanting to drink too much. Need to remember that I can get through it without alcohol! (Or with minimal alcohol!!) 

thriftylass

@Shrewbie we can do this! I'm struggling with that too and DH doesn't help. He constantly trying to make me join him and I'm a push-over. Recently, I definitely managed to drink less at least.

NSD today. Went to bed early and slept to the last minute so didn't really have time to plan this week. Will do that over lunch

DawnW

Hi all

Spend day today, so still on NSD 3. I needed some bits for my business (which I wouldn't count as a spend on here, as I obvs account for business spends elsewhere), but got some bread, dog food and a diary and calendar for the New Year, which are essential planning tools for me. I didn't buy fancy ones though!

Did a load of washing and pegged it out, as I always do if it isn't raining. It dried a bit, and is now on the airer.

Sold a pair of curtains which have been lurking in a trunk since last year.  £20 in my purse, something out of the house, and the lady was very pleased with them, so all good.

Spent a short time in the garden this afternoon, swept up leaves from the paths and put them in the compost bin, had a good look round, and planted a few daffodil bulbs.

Thai chicken curry for dinner, with rice and steamed broccoli - the curry was one of the meals I made at the weekend. And blackberry and apple crumble and custard for pudding, yum! Just as well I did 2 dog walks today.

Planning to go food shopping tomorrow morning. Won't need much, mainly staples such as flour etc.