NST March 2023 LIONS and LAMBS

beanielou

apple_muncher said:

Today I am grateful for being mortgage free (DH paid it off yesterday and just muttered that he'd done it, almost as an afterthought 🤣), for actually getting an awful lot done at work despite having a solid full day of teaching, for a slight possibility re working in September, for dc making it into school only one lesson late, for my niece telling us that Whitley bay train station is closed tomorrow which means dh has had time to plan his route.

Woohoo.
That's great.

grandmanerd

Saturday 11th March 2023

The man who moves mountains begins by carrying away small stones (Confucius)

The strongest people are the ones who are still kind after the world tore them apart

Indecision
My internal monologue 
Becomes an internal dialogue
Then an internal barroom brawl
My mind declares a duel
I lose
Mental conflict ensues
Then comes a cold war of indecision
I reach a fragile peace of mind
Stuck with my contradictions
(Grant Snider)

Dave Ramsey Tips (lost - hope it comes back in a day or two, Nonsense did)
1    

How to deal with Nonsense
As the Nonsense approaches
Spray it with water
Then grab a duck
Place the duck on your back
The Nonsense will slide straight off
Voila


May the Cucumber of Joy blow his bubbles of peace upon you on this fine day (Harold's Planet)

grandmanerd

Gathered rubbish (already some gathered in most rooms). Took 7 books back to the library (aka long distance trek). Brought the two bins back that were collected on Wednesday (big adventure - first time I've gone down the yard all week and first time out of the house since Sunday). Four bags and sacks taken to the bins, many more to do but I was having to sit down for 5 - 10 minutes after each trip and really couldn't face struggling upstairs to fetch more sacks (stuffed all the paper together and threw it down. 

It was still chilly when I went to the library but it was very pleasant sitting on a garden chair in the backs in warm sunshine. Made cheese and tomato rolls (wholemeal rolls from last order, tiny tomatoes from previous order (had mouth ulcers so took a break from tomatoes), butter from Beloved's fridge and mature grated cheddar bbf January (not opened so perfectly fine - think it was bought for festive period, hard cheese is a rare treat).

Also had caramelised onion thin crispbread (bread keeps going off so picked some crackers to try) with very low fat (3%) spread cheese with herbs - wonderful. Spread was also bought for festive period (bbf 11/02/23). I had checked it previously to make sure it hadn't been opened. Small steps (it's not exactly cooking but it was making a meal for myself. Also eaten a pack of Chantenay carrots, a head of celery, grapes, apples and just finished off the raw broccoli. Some leftovers and fridge findings for today (more cheese and tomato wholemeal buns?)

Two loads of nearly dry washing brought upstairs (will be hung up to complete drying). Much wrangling with tired and emotional laptop.

Grateful for rest, a mental holiday (see previous post - I've been to some weird and wonderful places), fluffy books (picked lots of large print with undemanding content), piles of stuff for the cs growing (the library was far enough, couldn't go further), a few plans,  mostly of the 'let's just wipe that patch of floor and move that piece of furniture into that space' rather than 'let's get this kitchen done' variety. A couple of good series, a thought provoking film, a lovely documentary,  my bed, the couch when I get it to myself, DS3 working hard (one game ready to go 'live', then he decided it needed more content).

Starlight_at_Sea

Morning turtles! I hope all are well, will recap on thread this morning to heat your tales of daring-do's and cunning savings. Congratulations Apple! Mortgage Freedom. Well jel! 

Am just snuggled up with a hot water bottle having done my olio pick up this morning, several people are coming to pick up in an hour or so but I don't want to put bags out early because of rain, and seagulls! A new person requesting this week, it's great to see use of it spreading locally.

I have some flyers to post through doors that Olio sent me. A tip to other FWH - when requesting flyers be specific t's the food waste ones you want... they also sent me a really huge wodge of flyers for the non food items, pre-printed saying that people could drop their unwanted property to me to list, store and pass on to others. Other people's stuff arriving here is the last thing I need right now ... I don't have the mental capacity or space for that, so they won't be getting used! On plus side, the food waste flyers are really pretty and I am happily giving those out! 

Finally got all necessary paperwork to solicitors yesterday re house purchase, just got to ring to pay the advance payment for searches on Monday. Bit of a tight, actually very,very tight month this month, mainly cos I was a little ahead of myself in moving money into the higher rate savings, didn't get paid for new job as joined only a few days before payday, and also splurged on Eurovision tickets for our ukranian guests. There is meant to be some sort of ballot to get cheaper tickets for them, but haven't seen any details of this yet, and a bit unhelpful choreography in not happening until after the main tickets are sold out. So it's possible I might be able to resell the ones I bought, but am not holding my breath! It will be a nice 21st birthday pressie for them anyway. 

The result of this is that I do need to go through budgets and income timetabling carefully, to make sure I am ok for the huge stamp duty bill that's (hopefully) coming out way in a few months time. It was always going to be a tight squeeze for a few months due to lots of other one off expenses just now, and the redirection of some of the savings for SD to a slightly higher deposit that helped get us a better rate. Its today's task to really get on top of all of this! A bit eeekkk.

Shrewbie

Hi turtles, Congrats @apple!! love the nonsense quote @grandmanerd

I stick on NSD 4. Writing and meditation done and a short gym session yesterday. I had an early finish at work so took I my laptop to a library to write. It's a beautiful library that used to be an old church. Bf turned up after an hour or so, declared it was "too quiet" (don't think he did much studying at uni!) and then we went to the market next door for a drink. It was nice to be out and about before it got too busy. Then home, TV and an early night.

Grateful for sunshine, for feeling motivated to write, for a reasonable night's sleep.

facethemusic

Congratulations @apple_muncher, that is very exciting news! 
Still on NSD 7, had a hour free in a town so have picked up some bits that have been on a list to get when I was in a place to get them. So a few pounds spent but they were planned. Also managed to get photos taken for DDs passport renewal so that will be a few more pounds later tonight. 
Feel like a weather reporter now but we had more snow overnight, just 2-3cm so not added much to the piles we have. The sun is out so its actually quite pleasant outside. 
Grateful for sunshine, music and DD wanting to cook dinner tonight. 

f0xh0les

and now over to @facethemusic with the weather forecast ....

beanielou

Adding to the weather forecast(!!) it is very very cold here & I am hoping we don't get more snow!!

lcc86

No snow here but lots of rain instead!

Buyer came to collect the bike last night, didn't really spend much time checking it over, but he took it away so that's that.

Bit of a lazy morning, although was awake pretty early but just chilled reading for a bit. Went to boxing class at the gym, decided when I came home to buy a membership starting from April. Signed up and ready to go! I have spent slightly more this month than I would've done if I had bought a membership so I think I'll make use of it, and if I don't I can cancel with a month's notice. Also needed a new mascara so ordered that online as its cheaper than the shops (and easier!).

Cleaned the bathroom and mopped the floors, hoovered and put the online shopping list together ready for delivery on Tuesday. OH was naughty and wanted takeaway tonight but he paid so I'm not complaining! 

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for DH travelling safely, for the rugby, for the daffs starting to bud, for dc's dance session being three hours today so I was able to come home, for hm tiffin, for today's sunshine.