December 2022: The Turtles do the Cha Cha Cha

craftingmad

Sorry a day late posting but here is my update for 5th Dec:-

Sadly not a no spend day for me yesterday as had to madly try and find two games which were on my sons Christmas list which were ordered but just cancelled by the company. Gutted as had to end up paying over £20 more  

Other than that not much to report - I did declutter another 14 items from under the stairs though so moving closer to that target  
  

grandmanerd

abundant if it's B00ts you can have things delivered to your local store. If it's clin eek or clar ins - you're on your own (used to be Debnums).

Sorry not to check in yesterday, I think I did too much - totally tired and aching in multiple places. My builder did not turn up, which was fine as I still had lots to do, but meant I spent the whole day shifting and stacking bricks (after wearing the gauntlet to pull up nettles and roots and bramble shoots then using my hoe to scrape the ledges for the bricks and any heap any good soil (to be dealt with later but if it's got nettles growing in it, it's good soil.  Filled buckets with soil and exposed more of the ivy roots (I'm now 1' below the surface). 

There's so much I still have to do, want to do, need to do (and it's all urgent) but I had a reasonable break late afternoon and then went back out again until it went dark (more brick piling as if I could get outside again not tripping over bricks would be important). The most important task I needed to do was phone my knight in shining armour (plumber's surname is Lancelot) but luckily he phoned me and he's coming to mum's at around 10.30 am and I need to go and put the bins out anyway. It might mean I miss the food bank window (triple star it for next Monday), would like to go to Morries to pick up healthy salads but that might be a task too much - might have to get the bus there (or even a taxi) do the bins, get the precious certificate and bag stuff to bring home in the taxi. I could even persuade the taxi driver to run me up to the EA to let them see the certificate and they can phone meithering man to tell him his mother's safe.

At some point I really need to check what I'm supposed to be doing for this challenge. I have read it several times and I'm doing some of it by default as it's what I was already planning to do this month. I'm not dropping out as I really need the turtle lifeline. I have had some NSDs but only because I come back in the house totally exhausted, grab a drink, drop into a chair and ask DS3 to order me some food. 

Lots of things to address. However the bungalow will sell this month (next Monday??). I will have some money, more options, can sever my links with the dreaded UC and constant worry that I'll fall foul of one of their dratted rules. I won't have any more work done this year (just the wall rebuilt and Mr Builder coming back to attach the gate post to the new wall) and my diy efforts may be restricted to thorough cleaning - may have to rig something up for drying clothes. If nothing's likely to happen with the boys' dad's estate until February/  March (DS2 needs to finish his Masters and will then sort the admin within a month - cannot sell anything until the DWP have finished their investigation) then I can work on moving the records to less conspicuous places - another box will fit under DS3's desk and 2 more boxes on top of it.

Lovely to hear about all your decorations going up, but mine are on hold. I haven't even lit the candles I've set up. I'll settle for getting presents wrapped, spending time at DS1's and picking up ys bits on my way home. If I have a comfy bed (with the mattress and all my covers cleaned) and somewhere to sit in the front room (looking more like a front room and less like a second hand record store) and a pile of books to read, I'll be quite happy. 

Grateful that all my boys are happy and settled in their relationships, for getting to see DS2 and his little family last Saturday, for the beautiful framed photo of my grand-daughter that was in my present bag (the others are still wrapped), for time to do more preparation before my workman comes, for Mr Lancelot finding another slot to do the gas safety check, for getting there (however haphazardly and clumsily and slightly painfully - despite the gauntlet I have nettle stings on several digits, a couple of run ins with bricks and the usual mysterious bruises).

Shrewbie

Morning turtles!

Exactly thriftylass! we can do it!! We have already managed to cut down which I do think is half the battle. I am also one to have my arm twisted rather easily but I have to remind myself that it doesn’t have to be a struggle. 

Still no NSDs here. Yesterday I overate at lunch time, I brought food from home but then decided to pop out to get bread and a naughty packet of crisps also snuck into the basket... these were supposed to last me the whole day as had an exercise class after work so wouldn’t be eating dinner until late, but i scoffed the lot in under an hour and then sat at my desk very uncomfortably for the rest of the afternoon!! I also had a tw1x from the vending machine… very unlike me.

Dragged myself to my aerial class, weather was terrible and I really didn’t want to go, but actually it was fun in the end although my hands and back are sore today. Was in bed with a hot water bottle at 11pm. Read a few pages of my new book. Had a lie in today as it’s a bank hol, did some meditation this morning and will try to write morning pages. Bf is currently at the gym and I’ve made a batch of granola and waiting for him to come home so we can have a semi-healthy brekkie with lots of fruit.

Today will also not be an NSD as need to go to the shopping centre to get a hat and some thick black socks for my trip to Munich! Will walk there and back and try to do some exercise. Will note this week’s spends.

Grateful for a lie in, for feeling christmassy, for having many things to look forward to!!

beanielou

I was proud of myself yesterday. 

I was looking out some Christmas 🎄 bits & bobs. At the front of the cupboard that they were in was my ironing board. It was big & very heavy. I really do not know why I was keeping it as it is so heavy I can barely move it. So now it is gone. So pleased. 

It will be used by someone instead of just sitting in a cupboard. 

Dfw38

Well done @beanielou, space freed up is always a win 👍.
Yesterday had to do some food shopping but kept to the list so was pleased with that. Friend asked me to go to h0bbycr@ft with her for company and I wasn't tempted to buy anything, which is unheard of for me.  No spend challenge is doing well, hoping my willpower can keep up the momentum of sticking to my rules. Grateful for willpower, a better night's sleep and hot chocolate. 

grandmanerd

I'm back home and back on the bed. I will do more work soon but hoping everything will stop hurting (or just hurt less). I had a taxi to mum's, couldn't find my walking stick and didn't want to take the walker (one stick was upstairs but didn't have the energy to go back). Gas man has been and done the boiler service - everything is working to service level but ideally the boiler could use a new filler pipe and a new pressure gauge. So I've paid him £50 for the service, £50 to buy the parts (he thinks it will cost less than that) and given him a key and he'll  fit it in asap and let me know what I owe him - labour and the full gas safety certificate.

I've brought Henry home and two very heavy bags (the good walking stick was at mum's - one bag was so heavy I had to put the stick through the bag handles to carry it as far as the gate). The shed is finally empty. I sat in front of the shed door for ages, I'd taken out all the big stuff and the stuff near the door but just couldn't get the stuff on the far side of the shed - all of 4' away. Moved everything to the gate. Old dolly is holding a kitchen bin with all the pieces of the polytunnel in, held in place by 2 x 10kg bags of mortar mix. There are 3 small  garden edging panels, some brushes and mops. I picked out which pieces I most wanted to bring home - my sieve, Henry's tools and any drinks cans and packs of salt (I have enough for a six month snow fall). 

My brother is supposed to be picking me up tomorrow and bringing me home so I'm hoping he will collect all the remaining items. I've put the mini greenhouse cover and all the bags in the green bin. If he puts his back seats flat and we cover them with the cover, I hope everything will fit in. The front room, kitchen and both bedrooms are empty. The toilet roll, toilet brush, shower squeegee and one hand soap are in the little hallway so I won't forget them but they're still there if I need to use them.

I was hoping to sit down for five minutes when I got home, then go to buy a sandwich and go to art therapy but as we drove up to my doorstep, I saw a white van on the corner. Asked the taxi driver to put things by the door (didn't think anyone would steal them). DS3 came in answer to my knock (I had my key but DS3 had left his in the lock) and asked if the builder was there. Yes, so went out to the back. He'd made a good job of tidying from where I'd left off last night. He's stacked all the new bricks in the gateway, old bricks and mortar rubble are all by the car park wall and swept away from where he will be working. 

He  will  put the bin out for me once he arrives to do the work tomorrow, he will get all the ivy roots out for me and he thinks I should keep the raised bed (he will bucket up all the soil for me) - I've told him he can come again. When I finally made it inside, I sat and had a drink and DS3 ordered food - I was going to go and buy food but really not up to doing much yet. Currently doing a stretch which is helping my back and feel more human since eating (needed eye drops as well). Just going to do nothing except rest and read my book for the next hour and then see if I feel up to doing anything.

Grateful for reliable workmen and taxi drivers who go above and beyond - some are so eager to help (most of the ones we use actually) and others won't stir themselves, getting things done, knowing when I've reached my limit and have to rest (spending nearly half an hour looking at stuff that's only 4' away and wanting to cry was a big clue).

apple_muncher

Shrewbie, I read your post as you were going to walk to Munich!

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for unexpected time at work to do some marking, for counting down to the end of term, for having a plan about how to get all my reports done by end of play tomorrow, for dc happy to go out to youth tonight, for my warm socks.

lcc86

Evening turtles, it's definitely feeling wintry out there! The building I was working from today was utterly freezing, I only took my coat off at lunchtime! The sitting in the cold has done my back no favours... I had a telephone GP appointment and was given a prescription which I managed to get during a quick break.

I also paid for parking at the O2 as a friend and I are going to a comedy gig there on Thursday. The parking costs more than the ticket! Absolutely outrageous. But I wanted to drive rather than get the train as I don't know when it finishes (doesn't start till 8) and my last train is at 11 so I didn't want to risk it. Plus I heard it may snow and we all know that UK trains can't run in the snow!

Popped to Next on my way home to get vouchers for my sister and partner, I was tempted by a few bits in there but kept my eyes on the prize and avoided temptation!

My work do with my old employer may be cancelled because of the strikes. I wouldn't have been able to get in all of next week in all likelihood if I still worked there. I have sympathy for others who find themselves in that situation next week.

Dfw38

Eldest dd sent home from school, coughed so much she threw up 🤢. Spent the day at home apart from school run, no-ones cold here seems to be improving so probably going to have another weekend indoors resting to try and shift it before Xmas. If we can't then we won't be visiting family. Day 6 of no spen challenge completed, have 1 page in my notebook to brain dump things that I want to buy but will not until 359 days time 😬. So far I have a new duvet coat (mine doesn't feel warm anymore for some reason and wooden decorations, wool and pom poms for kids to decorate next Xmas.
Grateful for willpower holding up, ibuprofen, hot water bottles. Hope you are all well x