Simplifying Life

carolbee

mary43 wrote: »

Have to have quick 'moan' before tea's ready..............few years back, about seven I think, I painted a bit of plywood and stencilled it like tile pattern for the back wall where the oven stands. Well, OH says it looks bit worse for wear now (which it does I suppose) so I pop on to DIY forum to ask about cheap kitchen tiles (as ever, having to live on a low budget). Chap there put a link up for 'stick and go' tiles. Looked at it, read all the blurb, liked the colours and the price.............£50 would have done behind the cooker and along the worktop to a splashback at the sink. Simple I thought (going for the simplifying everything) then looked at the FAQ on the site one of which was 'could these be used near a hob or cooker'.............answer.........'no'.
So, now I''m peeved. OH has been cleaning (much needed) the kitchen out and is now set on doing something with tiles or something behind the over. Stainless steel out the question due to price...........don't feel like doing whole new piece of board with stencils -took me ages last time............so looks like we're going to have to trawl DIY shops looking for wretched tiles.........can't see any to choose on Focus Do it all site and thats our nearest one and OH is a right pain to shop with...............:mad: even worse if we can't find what he/we want. If I put it off it'll just never ever get done so I have to grab him while he's in the right frame of mind.
So thats my little moan.............sorry bout that.............just had to have a winge at someone.........................lol Feel much better for it:rotfl:
though it does look like there'll be two more grumpy shoppers around............lol

do you have Freecycle near you, someone may have some odd tiles, enough for your needs?

ceridwen

lilac_lady wrote: »

Maybe instead of having a NSD (no spend day) per week we should have one SD (spend day) instead. Less stuff, less spending - simpler life.

....and theres an obvious day that comes to mind. It did/does make sound practical sense actually to keep one day a week for "other (more important) things" - having a sabbath day on Sunday was a good idea it would be nice to resurrect. Not in the "do absolutely nowt" sense and not, necessarily (depends on the person) in the "religious" sense. Just the one guaranteed day each week when people werent focused on "getting and spending" - but taking their leisure (which may or may not involve churchgoing - but I do think people should at least have the chance to do so if that is what they want to do). Others may just like to spend time "in nature" (ie walk in countryside or potter in garden).

(apologies - didnt read your post quite clearly - I interpreted it as a guaranteed No Spend Day each week - ie a day devoted to "higher matters" than the getting and spending).

Hardup_Hester

I haven't worked in retail for 40 years, but I worked for a local housing association for 3 months, went off people big time then, I got sworn at, spat at & during the really hot weather I couldn't have a fan in case someone threw it at me!!!

ceridwen

It is the colleagues that one has to work with day in/day out that can really irritate. I do wonder at times about a few of them and wish I didnt have to work with them. I just try and regard it all as a "learning experience" - and I have certainly "had the chance to learn a lot about human nature" thats for sure.

The people one momentarily encounters - well, thats part of where one develops a sense of humour from - quite often a bit of humour defuses an awkward situation (and I'll get there yet in remembering that ALL the time - instead of just SOME of the time - work in progress time again lol).

To me personally - there are several things I think important in dealing with what life throws at you (awkward people or whatever):

- Hope (as in the Pandora's Box folktale)
- Vision (as in a vision of how things could be - for oneself personally or more generally). I like the phrase "Without vision the people perish".
- That sense of humour (I've lost count of how many awkward situations have been defused with that) - some one just plain cant - as some people just dont have a sense of humour - but it is always worth a try if one can remember to do so!
- Silence (as in just not saying or doing ANYTHING if someone comes out with something a bit "questionable"......!)

halia

well I've sold £25 of stuff on ebay (still to post) and freecycled 3 box fulls of stuff + a chair. Have another 3 boxes for freecycle sorted out.

Also filled 5 binbags of rubbish!

Bought a shredder (i know its spending money) but I want to put paperwork in the recycling bin but not happy about putitng it in unless its shredded.

Havn't managed a no spend day this week. usually I have one day at home when I can not spend but this week every day was at university and the only way to get a cup of tea is to pay - after the bike ride in the rain I needed a hot drink! however i'm looking out for a cheap thermos in the sales instead.

Biggest question for me right now is whether to carry on with my teacher trainings, Ds has health problems which mean alot of juggling as at least twice a month eh cna't go to childcare. Also its very tiring - I never hae time for other stuff, I'm feeling guilty right now for not doing anything but i started at 7.30am with washing up and finished at 6.30pm with DS in bed, in between I attended a full day of lectures, did finance in my lunch hour, biked 6 miles in the rain, did some local shopping, put two loads of washing on, ironed clothes etc etc!

Really not sure if this is worth it!

mary43

Carolbee..................talked to OH over dinner and mentioned freecycle but he's seems dead set on trawling round the DIY stores even though he hates it.......so, one day next week we'll be off on a mission for 'random tiles'........don;t want all one colour, would prefer a mix 'n match effect.

He did well with shopping this week...............£58 for four of us including the three cats !! Just need to catch him during the week as he can't resist nipping into the supermarket .........always comes out with something and usually a bargain so can't complain but I need to know the total amount he's spending.

halia..........how much longer have you got before you finish teacher training ? If it's not that long then stick with it. It'll be worth it in the end.
Sounds like you put a lot of hours into one day...........can you not spread it out a bit so you don''t work so hard ? The washing is a pain I know and needs to be done but would it really matter if it waited for another day ? or the ironing at least - to be honest, don't know when I last ironed anything .........I just try and hang it as flat an uncreased as possible, fold it up carefully before putting away or hang it on a coathanger.
Dont make work for yourself and don;t feel bad about not doing anything. We all need a bit of time to do nothing in particular...........

quote from fridge magnet I've got stuck on my filing cabinet:

How beautiful it is to do nothing and then rest afterwards............:T

Ellidee

mary43 that is a quote after my own heart. However I really do need to find some motivation to get off my arras soon and at least try and achieve something. Spending waaaay to much time browsing MSE

mary43

Ditto..................but I'm learning so much it has to be worth it. Made myself earn internet time today by actually 'doing' something...................lol
Now its sitting on backside time with the tele and OH before he thinks I've disappeared into the computer searching 'tiles 4 us' (is there such a site.....lol):j

[Deleted User]

I know its already been said alot... but I really do like this thread! Its made me think alot. I've got a book from the library 'Downshift to the good life' by Lynn Huggins-Cooper - It is really good. I havent read alot all of it - I'm trying to "pace myself" and make sure I read it properly!

I used to waste so much time and money just drifting round the shops, 'just looking' but always ending up buying something, and I've taken a step back and thought why am I doing this etc.

So as I've said in previous posts, I'm not going to buy anymore clothes unless I NEED them and then I'm going to try and get them from charity shops/ebay. I've been decluttering.... got rid of 4 bags of clothes/shoes to a charity shop and got some bits bagged up to list on ebay (when I get round to it). It has made a difference - we've got MONEY in our bank account:j I think DH thinks I've gone abit loopy!

I am going to live a more simple life... stop worrying what other people think of me - it really doesnt matter.

Aril

Hi everyone!
Decluttering still going on with a vengence. Have discovered unused wool which will go to a local day centre and have another freecycler popping by tomorrow. The small person has turfed out yet another box of stuff which we've either recycled or has been added to the jumble stash in the garage. I've also raided my secret box of leaflets....vouchers for a price reduction from 2006. Not very handy! OH seems to be coming on board aswell as he's just spontaneously gone through the CDs and switched over a newsletter we receive from paper to email. My next task will be to wash the old child seat covers from the car seat and offer it on freecycle and shred the backlog of paperwork. Right now I've written it I shall commit to doing it over the weekend!
One of the joys of sorting out I've discovered is that you also find lots of lost treasures or useful stuff that you've forgotten you had. The small person is Beano mad and has outgrown 2 Dennis the Menace pj tops. I'd put them aside with a view to making them into a cushion and now I've found a black wool jumper that I've shrunk that will be perfect for the backing [can also use up some of my red velvet ribbon that I've wombled]. :j A whole new craft project to keep me out of trouble!
I find often in my daily life I get myself uptight over small inconsequential stuff that I won't remember and simply won't matter in a few weeks time. I like the following quote for regaining my perspective [that simple approach again!]
Keep me away from the wisdom which does not make me cry,
the philosophy which does not laugh
and the greatness which does not bow before children.
Kahlil Gibran.
Keep up the great posts!
Aril