NST April 2023: April adventurising

lcc86

Afternoon turtles

Yesterday was a NSD. Spent most of the day with my parents, did some pilates and went for a short walk between rain showers. Drove home and tidied up all my bits before getting an early night. Slept really well and woke before my alarm but not too early.

Put a load of washing on first thing, got it hung out indoors before I went to work - didn't want to risk it outside as it was drizzly this morning. Plans for the rest of the day are to clean the kitchen and a couple of carpet spills, but that's about it.

DawnW

Afternoon all

NSD 8 for me today

And for once, it isn't raining

Some useful things done today - freezer inventory (there is an awful lot in there!!), then I sorted out the fridge, made a minestrone soup with sad veg, cooked some beetroot before they shrivelled up, cooked and mashed a swede, chopped and froze some celery and kale. Made a pear and berry crumble using freezer fruit and crumble mix. Also made a loaf in the BM. This avoided a spend day, as I had almost run out.

DD and her two littlies appeared, back from their holiday, gave them lunch and some tomato plants to take home. She had brought us some eggs, a pork joint from the farm shop (they had several reduced to half price) a cutting from one of her houseplants, and some sprouting seeds which are apparently popular in the country she had visited, so I look forward to trying those out.

OH took the rotovator that has been parked in the back of the car round to her house after lunch (other DD had sent it back with us for her sister when we visited there earlier in the week). No idea why. I suspect DD1 wants her brother in law to fix it. Anyway, it isn't in our car any more, so that is all that matters!

I have done a load of washing, which is currently outside on the line, and am contemplating whether to go outside and pot up the aubergine seedlings.

Grateful today for DD2's safe arrival back in the UK, no longer having a rotovator in the back of the car, and a sunny day!

Thrifty_Taylor

Woke at a decent time, hung the washing out before breakfast & wrote a shopping list. Picked mum up & we looked round a couple of charity shops & a big 50/50 sale, but we hardly bought anything. Went in a second hand furniture shop & I found a comfortable desk chair without a price, but snapped it up when told it was £10! Nipped in the haberdashery shop to buy a zip & was handed 6 bags of alterations to do for customers 🤯 told the staff to say there's be a 2-3 week turnaround for things as I've not done last week's stuff yet!! Went to the supermarkets & didn't spend a lot there either.
Repaired a leather jacket for a neighbour when I got home. Their daughter is heading back to uni tomorrow (oy got the jacket Thurs, so a quick turnaround needed!). Took DS3 & his friend to the cinema, his friend had dressed up as Lu1g1 & had sellotaped a paper moustache to his face. I did laugh inside, but thought good on him for having the guts to wear it! He still had it on after the film too. I spent time at mum's making more of my rug.
Put clothes on the airer & watched G0ggleb0x. Think I'll be having an early night, I'm shattered.

Grateful for a beautiful sunny day, time to rug hook, teenagers making me laugh, the sun drying 2 lots of washing

Starlight_at_Sea

Looking forward to catching up properly on the thread later. Well done to all on the adventuring and the MSing I hope you don't have too long to wait for results @Tonisfriend2. 

We have had a fairly rough week with multiple medical events, some of which have been quite scary. Just recuperating after an emergency admission for one of my parents to a specialist centre a couple of hours away. After a few days they are now home and relatively sprightly (the steroids have them a bit wired tbh) and I am shattered! It bought its own costs in terms of accomodation, petrol and food, but impact on my budget was offset by the timing which meant we had to cancel, postpone or not participate in three birthdays - a 7, 21 and 87 year old!  

Timings meant that everyone had shop bought birthday cakes which looked lovely but tasted less so. Thus reinforced to me that the annual stress of baking and decorating for a few people close to me is definitely worth it,! But also, the sky didn't fall in  

Our 🇺🇦D turned 21 but could not be in touch with family or friends at home because of power problems over there. I wasn't able to be around but some of my friends and other lodger really stepped up and helped get her to a couple of activities I had planned for us to do together, and in both cases the costs were less as my place didn't need to be paid for for the horse riding (very kind of the stables, as they were not obliged to refund) and the meal out came in under budget as I wasn't there! 

I did manage to get over to see her for a couple of hours on the day after her birthday, she was tired, I was tired, so instead of going out we curled up in cosy chairs with blankets and birthday cake and the peaky blinders on iPlayer, so all round a cheap and recuperative afternoon. 

I had asked her family to send photos from her childhood and I made a bit of a display for her of these along with more recent photos from her months with us. It was very touching and prompted lots of discussion. Her mum did manage to video call on the day after and see it and I think it meant a lot to her that they had been able to share some memories like that. With that and the way my mum-friends stepped in to take her to the activities, I really felt like we were Mum's United  

I feel like I have spent the last 5 days almost constantly on the phone navigating medical systems in four different hospitals, the rearranging of social and work things etc.  I have lots to catch up on re house purchase and life and MS admin. Will be a gentle day of trying to move forward what I can, in between caring responsibilities, and laundry, of which we have an awful lot! 

Shrewbie

Hi turtles 

Yesterday bf and I went for cheap brekkie at our favourite place, went for a short walk and then cleaned the kitchen from top to bottom, including cleaning out the cupboards and doing an inventory. Was satisfying but i was shattered and hungry afterwards. Did a meal plan and  wrote a pared down shopping list. 

We walked down to the market near my friend’s house and had a drink there and then picked up some yellow roses (planted) from a florist for my friend. Her and her husband have just bought a flat in the area I have my eye on, it’s completely reformed and looks lovely. Really bright, with a terrace, trees on one side and not overlooked. It was affordable between two people but they still took out a loan to pay for the fees and have 90% mortgage, on a EUR 230K flat. Spent the day on her terrace eating bbq food and then did karaoke in the evening, bf was a hilarious showman as always and made a great duo with my friend’s little girl.

This morning I have totted up expenses and I am on budget as long as no more spends today after the food shop (which there won’t be)

Grateful for spending time with friends, for not needing to spend money to have a good time, for a relaxing day ahead.

ditty1234

Hi all I am looking for some advice: while recieving my diet and energy use I am aware that I am baking a lot of kWh and time into thin air so am ready to convert and get an air fryer. Mainly for 2 people. How big should it be and how much might it cost? Any examples please😊 after a quick look at prices I might try the FB marketplace bingo and get apre used one, on the other hand I don't want to get a did item. Thanks all.

Btw is it possible to overdose on 'the uncanny'? (BBC)

lcc86

@ditty1234 I got the ninja double drawer one. Was expensive but I barely ever need to use the oven now so totally worth it for me as my oven takes a good 30 minutes just to warm up!

Woke up early today, lounged about for a bit and then went into town. Bought a couple of bits for OH lunches for the week and also needed to fill up with petrol. 

Went horse riding (more like plodding today for some reason) and then went for a swim. First swim since last autumn so am pleased to finally get back in the pool, even though I had to take it easy with my tennis elbow. 

Couple of other purchases made today - some new frying pans with detachable handles so they can fit in a dishwasher, and a game for my phone. Totally unnecessary but I do like the odd game. 

apple_muncher

Starlight - I hope that 'things' settle down for you soon and you get a chance to relax.

Today I am grateful for an easy lunch and dh making tea, for still having a week off ahead of me, for finishing a good book, for several good finds in the ch shops yesterday, for making progress with my workouts.

beanielou

I have the smallest ninja but I am my own.
Have not used oven since.

grandmanerd

Very little done yesterday and today. I did get downstairs yesterday but was in a lot of pain. DS3 came downjust as I settled down to eat and I came back upstairs, put ibuprofen gel on my knees and my shoulder and lay on the bed for several hours. The weight of my shoes was too heavy but I kept them on because I couldn't cope with putting them back on if I got well enough to go back down. Spent some time outside and a couple of hours downstairs. Second application of gel on my shoulder to help me sleep.

Today I felt looser and was hoping to get things done but again, when I went downstairs the weight of my trainers was too much and I couldn't get comfortable although I tried various combinations of cushions to get my ankles up. Gave up and came back to my bed and have done lots of reading. The worktop above the DW is still clear but there are so many other things I want to be getting on with. I will have to draw up a list of things I can do on the bed if I'm still struggling tomorrow.

Grateful for uninterrupted reading time, learning to manage my pain (my back was hurting but thought it was mostly tension and 'eased into it' and gently pulsed my spine), having clean hair, clean shower curtain looking great.