NST March 2023 LIONS and LAMBS

Starlight_at_Sea

Sounds like excellent progress mothernerd, I do admire your tenacity. Toni's friend - so lovely to hear from you, and I hope you are able to keep on top of the pain so that you can rest. 

NSD#3 (as long as I reclaim expenses from the last two days). No £ spent today, I did have a massage but it was paid for and scheduled for before Christmas, and then rearranged, over and over again as either the amazing masseur or myself or my parents were unwell. It was a bit hit and miss whether I would get there due to waiting for various medical professionals to drop in at home to see parents, but the universe did align to get me there, and it was really needed as the rest of the day was a bit emotionally draining. 

My cousin came over for lunch today, was great to have a visitor from my real world help to break up a day that was otherwise a bit intense on the caring front. We ate soup we made together around Xmas from a mountain of mushrooms from olio delivery, bread from freezer for toast, and had entertainment that was either free, or very very expensive, depending how you look at it - we went and viewed (from the outside) the flat that's nearly-mine. And talked a bit about furniture we can use to equip it in the short term - across the extended family we probably have plenty! Have been passed down a sofabed & a dresser so far today, and reminded that the same cousin still has a lovely wooden single bed that was bought by my mum for my daughter stored in her loft, which will do very nicely for the smallest bedroom/study. 

I will need to keep saving uber-intensively over the next 2 paychecks in readiness for the solicitors and stamp duty payments, but have now secured the deposit, so all efforts can now turn to that. Have opened separate savers with FD and with Skipton BS as per the MSE email, to help take advantage of having a positive balance with higher interest rates. Am (very briefly) earning interest not paying it!  

Grateful for, a really helpful nurse on the phone at our outpatient ward, the district nurse and GP team who have all been brilliant and done home visits, Mr ace-masseur who has made all knotty bits untangle, and been so supportive about my will-I won't I get there dilemmas, family, and a chance to build for the future! x

Thrifty_Taylor

Sending love & best wishes for your recovery @Toni'sfriend. We are all trolley dollies to bring you whatever you require on the chaise, so just lie back & concentrate on getting better!

NSD#1
Don't feel as tired today, despite waking up a few times due to sleeping in a mask. Work went well, thankfully. Tried to sort out my NHS exemption certificate, ready for when I'll need new glasses ordering at the end of the month. After being in 2 different queues for @1hour, I was told I don't qualify for it any more. Good job I've got some money in my sinking fund then! DH went for a lie down after tea, so I unpicked 3 coat zips & watched TV. DS1 joined me when he got home from work 😊

Grateful for it being the weekend, not feeling ill today, chats with my DS's

grandmanerd

Saturday 3rd March 2023

Toni'sfriend do what your body needs to recover and we're all her with very gentle hugs whenever you need them. You asked if the challenge was written specifically for you, it wasn't but you were in my mind. I sometimes have an idea for a challenge, like the canal journey but sometimes I think about what I need (inspiration, organisation, whatever I'm struggling with) and often it chimes with what other turtles are going through (illness, weight loss or gain, changes as we age or dramatic changes forced on us by RL). After a turbulent 15 months, I'm still not sure where I go from here, I have things I would like to happen, I'm calmer and less ill, but I'm still waiting for other things to pan out and feeling my way through and most of us are living in uncertain times. So small steps, listening to my body and trying to concentrate on things I can do something about and adjust and adapt to things that cannot be changed (at least for now).

Uncertainty (it's a cartoon but too much effort to try transposing it)
I don't know what lies ahead
I can barely see my next step
It might be a rich forest
It might be a vast emptiness
Do I look upward?
Turn inward?
Shut off completely?
Signs aren't clear
So let's keep  going
Join lights together
And face uncertainty together
(Grant Snider on the Curious Brain)

You will never know how far you can go by staying where you are (OurMindfulLife.com)

Manatee did not worry about getting ready for the beach
Instead she hollered at the beach 'U ready for me?'
The sea lowered his sunglasses and said 'You betcha baby'

Toni'sfriend

Thank you all. You are so very, very kind. I took the first dose of the GPs meds at 8.30 this morning and promptly fell into a deep asleep for another three hours. I guess my body needs it. Still sore but it will probably take a bit of time to kick in properly.

Staff Nurse Himself is running after me like a mother hen, cooking and making a valiant attempt at tackling the housework (least of my concerns at the moment). The lovely cousin had been down on Monday with a bag of goodies including my favourite herbal tea and one of her gorgeous home baked coconut cakes. The little girls next door have been with flowers, chocolates and a scented candle. I am really very lucky to have so many people looking out for me.

So another quiet day watching TV.

Hope all you lovely people have a good weekend. xxx

ldee2111

Staying on NSD 2. Grocery delivery this morning and I bought OH and I a cafe coffee yesterday. 

OH took DS to football training this morning so for that hour I sorted out gifts for both DS and OH’s birthday’s next month. Used a National Book Token gifted to us to buy an extra storybook and colouring book for DS.

OH went to watch his football team play this afternoon - an away game which DS doesn’t usually go to. 

DS and I did a little decluttering of the toy box. No interest taken in most of its contents until it’s under threat of going to the cs. 🤦🏼‍♀️ We managed to fill a small bag with things for cs. I’ll drop it off during the week. 

Grateful for Dad taking DS to see a musical last night, for watching a good thriller with OH, for OH making pizza dough this morning for tonight’s dinner, for decluttering some things, for video chat with Mum, and for seeing my second bee of the year. 

lcc86

Evening turtles 

Up early today, took myself to pilates class first thing, then had to dash into town to get my hair cut (which I realised I had forgotten to budget for!). Then quick stop at the supermarket to get some bits to make lunches as I forgot to order them with the shopping, topped the car up with petrol then back to the gym for boxing class. Got some good feedback from the instructor about improvements I'm making so left very happy!

Shopped around for contents insurance but couldn't find comparable cover any cheaper so will have to pay the additional cost. Also found an Internet deal with the same provider for 14p less a month so went for that!

Have done some jobs around the house including batch cooking all of next week's lunches and two loads of washing. Now time to relax for the rest of the evening. 

f0xh0les

NSD 2 today, gifted some items on a local page, gained a bit of floorspace now they are gone. Baked 3 cakes. Made lunch, Cleaned the kitchen.  Does not sound like much, but the house looks much better for it. So a win for me today!

facethemusic

NSD 3 today. 
So far I've worked, ridden, done some housework, put up some pictures and spent some time with my big sister and DD. So busy and productive day. I might sort through a drawer full of "stuff" tonight while watching TV but nothing wise will happen. 
Lots to do tomorrow (again) but DD and I have a plan  so hopefully will get through most of it. 
The plan does NOT involve spending money and DOES include moving some bits into the loft and getting some other bits out of the house. 

DawnW

Bought some bread and new colouring books for my 2 smallest GCs today, so still on NSD2. Thanks for the permission to disregard OTC meds @apple_muncher but for me, if I have spent on anything except direct debit bills, I don't count an NSD. Tomorrow won't be one either, as I will need a pint of milk and a couple of other bits, which I should have remembered for my trip to the corner shop today, but didn't.

Busy day today, as DD2 came round with aforementioned GCs, who didn't feel like colouring today GD was very proud to show me the trophy her cubs team had won for a county wide scouts scrapheap challenge. It was her turn to have it at home this week. She has a certificate too, which she can keep - the team are sharing the trophy for this year, then it will have to go back for next year's competition 

They disappeared off for swimming lessons for a while, which gave me the chance to get a few things done. GD came back with a certificate for swimming progress as well. When they got back, I fed everyone lunch from stores and fridge leftovers. Found a few leaves of sorrel, wild rocket and land cress in the garden for a bit of greenery in our salad. Sadly the frost has killed most of my winter veg this year, but these 'wild' things are made of sterner stuff!

Got a load of washing partially dried outside on the line. It is very cold, but quite windy, which helped. Now finishing off on the airer in front of the stove.

Grateful today for talented grandchildren, finding some edible greenery in the garden and almost dry washing

firsview

Afternoon Turtles. Hugs to Thrifty and Tonisfriend. Been busy busy busy this week. Monday was the dreaded six-zero birthday and I came down to 60 banners everywhere and lots of lovely presents. Nothing bad seems to have happened and I don’t feel any older, so I can confirm being 60 is not a problem.
Put DD on my car insurance and took her for a test drive as she has never driven an automatic and hasn’t driven since she passed her test 2 years ago. The car came back in one piece so I may let her out on her own next time. 

Have had 3 outings this week, out for lunch to Dungeness on Monday ( weird place if any of you have ever been) Dover Castle on Wednesday just to do the wartime tunnels (OH has free membership with his job) and for a long walk and an ice cream today.
Today I am grateful for still being able to walk a few miles with no Ill effects, seeing some brilliant huge kites on the beach and DD not crashing my car!