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Simplifying Life

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  • mary43
    mary43 Posts: 5,845 Forumite
    Programme I watched last night about food in the 1600's said they didn't eat much veg as it was thought to be bad for you so it was meat of all sorts ad huge platefuls several times a day............water not fit to drink so it was ale..............but in the countryside the poorer people didn't eat the vast quantities...........still no veg though. Strange how times change,
    Mary

    I'm creative -you can't expect me to be neat too !
    (Good Enough Member No.48)
  • ceridwen
    ceridwen Posts: 11,547 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    :rotfl: I would have fitted right in there then as a child:D According to my mother that was all I wanted to eat...meat, meat and more meat...and no vegetables at all if I could help it! Of course the way she cooked the veg. could just have had something to do with it:p :eek: .

    How times change:D Now its no meat at all - and one heck of a lot of vegetables these days for me;)
  • mary43
    mary43 Posts: 5,845 Forumite
    Oh dear..........why is it that just as I start to get on top of things something stops me in my tracks................just had a phone call from an ex foster lad to tell me his grandad died last night. Poor soul is so upset.........at least he does have some family support but he's always been a fairly strong sort of lad and its upsetting to think of him not being his old self. I know he'll get it all together again and life will go on for him but its so frustrating not being able to give him a hug and reassure him.
    All I could do was tell his his grandad had given us the sunshine we've got today.

    So, todays gone out of the window a bit...............washing on the line but nothing else done.

    Must get organised...............I need to sort out bedding and stuff -make sure we've got enough and whether it'll need a rinse through before my son comes in a fortnight................I know I've got two weeks but at my snails pace it'll take me that long...............lol
    Mary

    I'm creative -you can't expect me to be neat too !
    (Good Enough Member No.48)
  • mary43
    mary43 Posts: 5,845 Forumite
    Better day today...............struggled all morning trying to make a 'thinking of you' card for ex foster lad who's grandad died.........still not happy with it so think I'll tackle it again tomorrow.
    Another ex foster lad who lives in town called up this afternoon and -wonder of wonders - must have been something he said because OH has now decided to have a clear out !!! We've a Street Sale week on Saturday when we can have a stall outside the house - up our street and down the next one (excellent way of meeting neighbours!) and he's really keen on getting rid of some stuff..............ex foster lad is quite excited about it and wants to help -as he's recovering from a mental illness it'll be a positive thing for him to do.
    So, hopefully, tomorrow, if hes feeling ok he'll be up to help sort through some stuff -he's also doing a bit of garden work for me -well, laying down some slabs for OH's veg pots to stand on, it'll make them look a bit tidier I think and we've been given some quite pretty tiles to use.

    Our lad who lives with us is still keen on his job- but last night was starting to make plans about renting a house just opposite from us with a 'friend' he says he's known a while but not someone I know at all. Bit of a concern as he's not old enough to have the lease in his name which poses a bit of a security worry and he really hasn't a clue with budgeting. If he sticks this job out (longer that his previous work record of two weeks) I'd prefer he had a practise run on budgeting while he was still with us.

    Still we'll see. We've been through all the costs of running a house and tried not to be too negative -just realistic so hopefully it''ll sink in.
    Mary

    I'm creative -you can't expect me to be neat too !
    (Good Enough Member No.48)
  • mary43
    mary43 Posts: 5,845 Forumite
    No sign of ex foster lad so I would think he's having a bit of a bad day. Got the slabs down and OH re-arranged his little veg container corner and we've more space than we had before...........so, hopefully, we'll be able to grow a bit more veg -maybe a tub of carrots and some spinach and spring onions.
    Have to check whether we're still ok to plant them.
    Tomorrow I'll put down the pretty tiles around the little herb area (basically its six medium sized tubs with herbs in surrounded by a wall of bricks to give the impression of a 'raised bed'. With some nice little tiles round it and a few more pots of herbs it'll look a treat.

    So, productive day..............OH still hasn't sorted through his mountain of clothes but I've let him off that for working hard in the garden.
    He's also collecting a pile of old metal hoping we can get a few pounds from the scrapyard and I've a set of old potato scales that serve no purpose any more. They were ok for a time and I could stand plants on them but they weigh a ton as we might as well see if we can get something for them and get them out of the way.......create a bit more space.

    Our lad here has said no more about moving out so hopefully the message got through to him that he's not really ready to take on such responsibility.

    And I sorted through all the stuff I've hoarded upstairs in the spare room for christmas pressies ! Put it all in the wardrobe up there so now I can actually see the bed !!!
    Really surprised myself today............even cleaned the bathroom !!
    Mary

    I'm creative -you can't expect me to be neat too !
    (Good Enough Member No.48)
  • ceridwen
    ceridwen Posts: 11,547 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Well mary...you are still obviously "getting there". I can see you have taken a quantum leap since this thread started.

    For myself...still in limbo to some extent...what a "frustrating" place to be in many ways. To those who are wondering how things are going with my father...well...there are some more "symptoms" come up on the one hand with my father's health and I am screaming and kicking on the other hand. As in the "screaming and kicking" is at those I feel are stopping my father from "leaving". I'm not that selfish - at least I hope not! I think what is happening is that he is determined to ensure that my mother and I are sorted out with things that are going on - the sort of "hassle" stuff when firms/Government departments/et al are spending all sorts of time getting their act together and finishing dealing with things that I personally would have sorted out in 5 minutes flat. But these darn firms and Government departments move at the (snails) pace they do - kick, scream and "belt them round the head" as one might to darn well move at a more suitable pace and finish long-running "sagas" one is having with them.

    I feel a lot like I am going to go in personally and deal very forcibly with the ongoing "saga" stuff that I am having in my life - and I know my mother has some to deal with as well. My father is FAR FAR too conscious of "duty" and concerned with the welfare of myself and my mother to "go anywhere" until he feels we are both sorted out if he can help it. I know I am totally wasting my breath if I tell him to forget about us and we will deal with these hassles on our own. He wants them sorted and sorted they will be as far as he is concerned.

    Now I wonder how on earth I got to be such a stubborn determined person?;) I dont have to look very far do I as for the reason?:D

    So - just keep your (virtual) fingers crossed that these darn firms/Government departments will stop being so problematic soon and we can forget about them (oh dear...do seem to have taken a bit of advice here...and a drop of the "wet stuff" as Mary calls it;) :D ).
  • mary43
    mary43 Posts: 5,845 Forumite
    ceridwen - your Father does sound like a stubborn old soul........hopefully between you and your Mum you can get things sorted out. The rest, then, is down to your Dad.
    As for my Mum, well, despite all the doctors have told us in the past she is still hanging on...........there's obviously a stubborn streak in her too........some days she's aware of whats going on around her, some days she's awake but in her own world or asleep, oblivious to all. It's a real drain on the emotions but I'm trying to deal with it in a fairly practical way as opposed to getting all emotional about it and letting mum pull me down. Sounds awful I know but the only way I can do this is to put her at the back of my mind as much as possible and just bring her to the front when I do my weekly letter to her. Then, she's sort of 'shelved' till the next week. Hope that doesn't sound cold and heartless, believe me it's not, it''s just a way of dealing with what really is a terrible position to be in.
    But let's not dwell on the depressing side of things...........she's comfortable and well looked after.........I couldnt do as much or as well as the care staff so it's best that I get on with my life.
    And yes, I have come on a lot since this thread started.............I feel that in myself.........two weeks without a counsellor and I'm still on top of things. Early days I know but I'm determined to try and keep it that way. Contact with my brother has lessened and is kept to what needs to be said..........I tried -in fact I made a huge effort - to create some kind of pleasant relationship between us but its not meant to be and I have to concentrate on those people who like me for who I am and nothing else.
    I have a friend I've started seeing every week who I'd sadly neglected in the past. She's a good friend to me and we've always been there for each other no matter what so now I have a weekly outing, we share a few problems, have a few laughs and enjoy the day - sieze the moment as they say.
    I'd be putting my tiles round my herb garden today if it weren't for waking up with a splitting headache............so there on this weeks list of 'stuff to do' along with a mountain of others.............see the bank, collect freecycle stuff (hopefully a working scanner), compose letter to baby grandson for his first birthday (did one when he was born and at Christmas and his Mums keeping them for him ). I'll tell him whats gone on since he was born...........the floods of last July, earthquake this year, my bad back......just general sort of stuff that I wish my parents or grandparents had done to give me a bit of 'history'

    I'm well organised with christmas and birthday pressies...........don't think I need to get anything else (bank will breathe sigh of relief.........lol).......just need to make a card for baby grandson on behalf of my Mum and I'll be sorted for their visit on the 11th June.........apart from massive house cleaning beforehand !

    Oh...........even keeping up to date with my Gardening book, month by month, complete with photos of plants etc. Heavens.........can't believe myself.....................lol
    Mary

    I'm creative -you can't expect me to be neat too !
    (Good Enough Member No.48)
  • Rowan9
    Rowan9 Posts: 2,227 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Hello folks in here
    Haven't been *in* for a while but am thinking of you all with your plans for simplifying.
    A year or 2 ago I used to look at an American site called Backwoods or something - linked to a magazine. You can get on to the forum without registering. Some sections are for die-hard off-gridders. Really interesting stuff. They re-jigged the site a while back and seem to have lost a lot of the frugal food bit - that was very good.
    Been enjoying a week off from college. Still keeping to as simple a life as I can. Making soup tonight and typing away here in the kitchen. We did have a holiday in Ireland which involved a fantastic day at the races and have had a few meals out lately. I think it is maybe more my way of thinking that has become more simple (!!) or just less multi-thinking. Meals at home have also been a lot easier with a lot of repetition and it is working well.
    Take care all
    w
  • System
    System Posts: 178,346 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Ive just had a few days on holiday with my family and as i had just finished packing before we went, i had a quick scoot around the house and wardrobes to see what i wasnt going to take and why. You see, a lot of things we just hold on to just in case but a lot of the things i was digging out the wardrobes etc hadnt been used for months. The fact they were hidden in the far depths of the wardrobes and taking a great deal of clothes out to pack, actually gave me room/visual space to take stock of what i had lurking that never saw the time of day. Umpteen moisturisers in the bathroom cabinet that i had bought, liked for a time and then gone off them were lurking too. Deciding that i probably wouldnt use them again as they had either given me spots or open pores, they went in the bin too. I suddenly realized, just how wasteful i really am.

    I go through the same sort of ritual each time i go away and its very theraputic to come back to a junk free home..... now if only i could learn to stop spending in the first place.:rolleyes:
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • mary43
    mary43 Posts: 5,845 Forumite
    wmf - good to see you again -sounds like your holiday was a lot of fun....and did you win anything at the races or just enjoy the spectacle of it all ?

    Judi - you're so right with the wardrobe clearing out. I found jumpers I'd been looking for all winter that were buried under so many others. At least now I can see what I've got to wear..........still think I could do without some of them but we'll see towards the end of the year whats been worn and whats not. Toiletries in the bathroom have been thinned out as well........a lot werent used either because they didn't suit or something.....so no point in them taking up space in the cupboard. Just need our larder cupboard to be sifted through now...........its not used for food but all the cooking utensils, some we never use and there's never enough room for the ones we do.
    I want to get it done (plus a lot of other stuff) before my son visits with baby grandson next week.............not that he'd be bothered as he knows what I'm like but I want to do it and his visit is a good excuse.
    OH couldn't believe the sweatshirts he found yesterday when he was going through his mountain of clothes..............stuff thats well worn out, stuff he'd been looking for and couldn't find.........his face was a picture............lol
    He's done no more today but best not to put too much pressure on otherwise it'll have the opposite effect..............lol
    Mary

    I'm creative -you can't expect me to be neat too !
    (Good Enough Member No.48)
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