NST: February 2023 Freedom

f0xh0les

NSD 9.  nearly in double figures already.   Finished my job today, half term starts 3pm tomorrow, hopefully will be more organised from now on.

Thrifty_Taylor

Thanks @Dfw38, @Toni'sfriend & @beanielou, it's great to have him home again. The tests in Aberdeen were more detailed & all looked ok. His specialist is up on our island next week, so he's going to see her then too.

@beanielou I take magnesium to help with cramps, didn't know it helped with anxiety. I sometimes take Bach Rescue Remedy for anxiety/stress/nerves, etc, it certainly helps me anyway. You can get it in pastille firm or use a dropper to put some on your tongue. 

NSD#10
Didn't do yoga this morning, was feeling really tired, did my Norwegian though. A good day at work, me & pupil finished book 3 in a series we're reading together. This afternoon I was asked to accompany a group to an art gallery, which was lovely.

Unpicked a zip when I got home, then replaced it after tea & did another sewing job. Can drop them both off in town tomorrow then.

Grateful for happy mail (thanks @beanielou), my new business cards, a nice day at work

thriftylass

@beanielou I knew a teacher who took magnesium for stress/anxiety. Apparently it can increase production of melatonin and serotonin which boost mood and sleep. It reduces cytokines and cortisol, reducing stress and inflammation. Btw I'm not a doctor just a biologist. 

Today I'm grateful for a productive day, informative parents eve call from DS' teacher and DD getting a wee wake up call from the dentist. 

DS' teacher is worried about his fidgeting (I never sat still, and at least he's not a skin picker like me and DD) and his sensitivity to noise and lack of engagement in PE. Fair enough the gym hall is echo-y and he hates physical activity in a group/in front of peers, but I think they read too much into it and give him the option to get out of it nowadays. I guess today they are just more observant and considering underlying issues etc. We'll definitely keep an open mind.

facethemusic

Still on 7 NSDs, bought diesel and a very small amount of food- mostly because I ended up in a shop to fill in some time! 
I really shouldn't need to spend anything tomorrow! 
Nothing out of the house today but a small pile of paperwork has now been filed so a slightly tidier shelf in the kitchen. 
Need to go wash up some dishes, then it's bedtime 🌙 😴 

grandmanerd

After  basically 'do nothing' Wednesday,  yesterday was satisfyingly productive. Pills were to be delivered between 10 am and 5 pm (usually before lunch) and as DS3 was on his way to bed (at 9.30 am), I needed to get myself downstairs. Lots of things went out to various bins (after the pills came, they just sat inside or outside the back door until then). Laundry and other things moved on a stage with added extras eg my suitcase went upstairs but odd items of clothing and the pills were gathered and put inside it, the new box of toilet rolls went upstairs as the last 2 packs from the previous delivery went in the storage bin inside the bathroom, each trip to the bins meant extra bits rounded up and taken.

Meals were from stores (including microwave rice). After lunch I went to catch a bus to mum's, missed it by nine minutes so went to buy a drink and snack (intended purchase but went past the 'corner shop' in my rush to get to the bus station but 20+ minutes was enough time to get to the bus station newsagents and back). Lots more water consumed. Got to mum's, used old washing line to bind the remaining pieces of polytunnel together. Someone went in the shed so I knocked on the door and asked if they wanted the garden chairs removing (EA had said 'garden furniture' - I'd left all the things which were visible at the viewing).

Galvanised mopping bucket and the frame from the old swing had been disposed of - already mentally given them away and despite many hours of thought, had not found a way of moving the frame so no problem, decision made. The son asked how I was getting the polytunnel frame bits home and when I said walking with my walker, he offered to drop them off for me. He asked how long it would take me to get home (1/2 an hour dependent on when the bus was due) and said he'd set off in 3/4 of an hour. Made for the bus stop and then checked the time - half past and the bus leaves Morries between 26 and 30 minutes past the hour. A minute or two later the bus turned the corner into the street and it was an easy journey home. 

DS3 was still asleep so I made a nest on the couch, sat reading, watching a film and eating (I could have returned 2 more library books but I would have had to rush out again) expecting DS3 to come and banish me at any time. Did a few more bits (cs pile is growing nicely) but was getting cold (remembered to put my legging on before my shoes but neglected to pick up my cardigan) despite the duvet I'd pulled out from behind the exercise bicycle, so  when my laptop needed recharging I came back upstairs with cheese and oatcakes (grapes and gherkins were already up  here). I also booked my blood test appointment online.

Watched Alex Brooker and Josh Widdicombe plus the Richardsons spending the night locked in Legoland. Brief argument about whether it's strange for 'grown men' to play with lego - well as a 65 y o woman, no it's perfectly normal - I play with lego and DS1 really wanted a death star a few years ago but neither of us could afford it at the time. The dynamics were interesting and amusing (although I thought Josh should have been penalised for deliberately tipping half a box of green lego into the yellow lego box in front of Jon).

Hugs, Congratulations, Commiserations as appropriate (sorry not sure where my head is at, but sleeping, eating and drinking lots of water are all falling into place gradually - this is my normal awake for a couple of hours in the middle of the night thing). Grateful for getting things done, a sparkling clean bathroom sink and toilet, reaching the stage where this week seems vaguely 'doable' rather than wanting to run away screaming or hide under the duvet, the antics of birds, that the small newsagents is still open, for having all the bits of my polytunnel.

Shrewbie

Morning turtles

very happy that I made it to the end of the work week with my pride more or less intact. This work week has been challenging to say the least, but I think I feel stronger for it.

Finally went to doctors yesterday about my potential UTI. Their strategy was to give me antibiotics first (without testing me) and then test me after 10 days. This is the inverse of what they do in the UK (in my experience anyway) and I hate doctors prescribing antibiotics willy nilly, but I was in pain yest so I decided to take them. Let’s see what happens. So it was a small spend for the prescription (less than €3) but I’m still claiming the NSD as it’s medical - thems the rules right? If so thats NSD 10 now. Super happy with that. 

Grateful for managing to maintain my discipline, for it being Friday and for not being in pain today. 

BadBookkeeper

Update for yesterday 

F - Freedom - Nothing here. 

E - Exercise - 5000 steps

B - Budget- DH put fuel in my car and my night out was cancelled so I need to decide what to do with that money saved. Reverted back to aldee for bill of our shopping hate trudging around 2 supermarkets but finding just t£sco too expensive.

R - Rules - nothing here

U - Unburden - checked stash before shopping for toiletries and crossed 2 items off my list.

A - Advanced planning.  Will look at this this weekend.

R - Refuel - Sleeping well, drinking lots of water and sticking to diet plan.

Y - You - self care - Didn’t fill my free time with chores.

2 - 2 trips out - 1 has been cancelled so will try and arrange another. 

0 - 100 days - working towards this. 

2 - Read 2 books - nothing here

3 - Gratitudes x 3 - negative covid test (2 people in work are positive), full kitchen cupboards, warmer weather. 

Still 7/15 NSDs 

Will post todays update later.

pollyanna_26

I need to catch up. It's lovely to read a good outcome for Thrifty Taylor and Toni's friend it must be such a relief all round and good to know the doctor will be coming to check on your husband,it must be so difficult living on an island and relying on planes.

A friend in Scotland had a real fright when her husband had a heart attack and all the snow gates were closed. She was on wild moorland so the police were opening the gates so an ambulance could get to him but it ended up using a landrover as the snow was so deep, Luckily they were heading for the Edinburgh Hospital not somewhere off the mainland. Pre pandemic so the staff were lined up waiting very different to now.

Beanie a while ago I saw a picture of Stephen visiiting a Fife foodbank , I have wondered since if that was the one you worked in though yours sounded mmore community than the big names and to be honest I support the community ones here.Some of the staff in the bigger ones have a pretty nasty attitude which  is why we opened The Soup Kitchen in an empty shop thanks to the council . It isn;t a  soup kitchen it's hot meals, company and things to pass the time and the foodbank is round the back so they get their supplies.

It's open ChristmasDay and Newyear with another good meal. Only rules are No alcohol, drugs, fighting or abusing volunteers or other clents. Some are on the streets and refuse accomadation. A few years ago we had very heavy snow rare for us by the sea.

It triggered the everyone off the streets protacol. There is very little room in the two  very smal hostels and the nearest hostels are over 20 miles away in Liverpool they don;t have money to get a train and the hostels are already full.

Our  lovely  firemen opened up their doors and took them all in and fed them.

GMN When you say ds3 and beloved only go out to appointments are they Dr, Hospital Dentist? It's very difficult to register with a new GP, Dentist- youngest is still with second BUPA one because the NHS has no spare capacity.

I would be tempted to go  to the viewing just one fare rather than 3 but I'd want to see it for myself and suss out the area and about drs , dentists etc. also neighbours. I know beloveds parents aren;t your cup of tea but a few hours with the father will soon be over.

As a non techie- now stuuck on bold, that happens a lot how can I do the Os in foxgloves name? I came across a thread I'd never seen before I just stick to the OS forum and post here.

Resourcefulness, As an avid crafter including knitting  I love the wrap she knitted

I saw a pattern online for two different shawls. One stocking stitch the other Irish Moss stitch. They aren;t the throw around your shoulder shawls. Hard to describe really. Both in chunky wool , I have a big stash of Sirdar Chunky when every one else was listening to Marie Kondo I was saying One day I'll need this stuff .   Wool .Fabric. Cotton or Linen fine Aida and every DMC flower thread stored in their cases. I've collected proper made in Lancashire flanelette bedding over the years . Lots of fabric from the outlets in Bicester DD1  and I went there when we discovered Cath Kidston, Laura Ashley, The White Company were selling their brand to China along with many others DD1 wasn't pleased Jo Malone was too.

We knew the quality wouldn;t be the same so stocked up for next to nothing  we had  to go to Liverpool to see if we could get the blue and white Cath Kidston boats fabric but Waldmans had whole bales of it for a few pounds.

I few years ago the Laura Ashley home store  in the village had closing down signs in the windows so in we went and they were practcally giving the stuff away.  Among the haul was a full bale of grey and white linen fabric for a fiver.

Haberdashery and Wool shops were begining to close down before the pandemic  the machine, Fabrics and wool one we went to kept going but with lockdowns the couple retired.

The husband used to sell new machines but also lovely old treadles. He serviced my machines and a friends reguarly so he's very missed.

I was just very glad I haven;t been fighting my way around shops in the last few years. Just food ,already  had plenty of light bulbs , paint etc.

The shawls pattern is King Cole Chunky . I buy their patterns from a seller of all things knitting  I ordered patterns and wool from over the years on the big river site.

They often have my favourite Sirdar. I've never tried King Cole yarn quitehappy  with Sirdar we had a tour of their factiory a few years ago andi t was like being in a sweet shop.

So a shawl with deep pockets and a slightly different one is KIng Cole Pattern 5815. £3.95 and free postage,  I   ordered it late evening and the postman posted it through the letter box next morning. I think both versions will be handy when winter arrives.

pollyx

grandmanerd

Polly, f0xh0les 'o's are  noughts.

I thought that about  the viewing, if I'd known they weren't that bothered I'd have arranged it that way. Not sure if I have the energy now and her mother's got involved now - I'm worried about her taking Beloved on shopping expeditions to kit it out like a doll's house whilst I'm trying to drill into them that they need to cover rent, utilities and put savings aside to get a mortgage (evidence of regular savings) and to replace the items I'm giving them as they stop working (freezer is oldest, I think, then the TD - but not in continuous use, the plastic on both has yellowed).

Some doctor's appointments but mainly specialists. Beloved is from Keighley and wants to use her old doctor (very supportive with her mental health. She's frustrated with lack of progress on some issues - she doesn't want children and they keep stopping appointments she's made and the investigation of her hereditary condition is going slowly - she's  already been sent to one appointment where they did not have the facilities to test for that genetic marker and she suspects that next month's will be the same. She's convinced that all the facilities are better on the wrong side of the Pennines (Yorkshire) and it's not just the decline in services due to the NHS being starved of adequate funding for years.

pollyanna_26

I've just lost a long reply but this will be much shorter. Did you contact the auction house about the vinyl? Ihave asked a number of times because as it's his legacy from his father that would help reduce what they will owe you

I don't know how beloved ended up living under your roof but she's obviously longing to be back in Gods wonderful country. I would be very wary of critisising her mother. They are going to owe you a lot of money but it would be a mistake to talk about kitting the house out like a dolls house. You made the decision to take on the cost for now but can't judge what mother and daughter do.

At such a low starting price the house may be snapped up straightaway. My former fireman friend buys his intended buy to lets and buy to sell before anyone else has viewed.

I'm not sure if they claim benefits but with you saying his games sell well I'm assuming that's their income at the moment.

You've probably already suggested rent and utilities go on direct debit so you will be getting rent towards their debt.

However it will have to be early to view that house as the property people wil be there at the crack of dawn. I saw one on the website which had been reduced and they're the ones that sell easily. I do think you should go to the viewing yourself before making your mind up however low the price it's still a lot of money and bids can rise rapidly especially from landlords.

Thanks for telling me they are noughts!.

pollyx