NST June 2023 Flotsam and Jetsam

Starlight_at_Sea

I found the clutter clarity references really helpful @grandmanerd. I watched a couple of the videos last night. My house is not miraculously minimalist now, but I am just gearing up for 30 minutes blitz of contents of my bedroom at mums before lunch. Because it's a staging through post it seems a constant struggle to create any sense of calm. 

Made it to (against all odds) and survived circuits class this am. Have been to pharmacy, GP and oncology triage phone call team to get advice over something for mum - they are not admitting her now, but upping pain relief and for me to keep an eye over weekend. Fuelled up my car just in case (they paid, so nsd preserved!).

Second load of washing on, third standing by. Dad's following doctor's post op orders but is bored, I don't blame him, but it does make the house feel small to be falling over each other all the time. Am keen for no complications from his op though - that would be all I need! 

Olio pick up done, grateful for my cousin who has found people to take it all off my hands if nobody claims it. A few collectors already. Dad very excited as a few Victoria sponges up for grabs today, enough for him to have one. Am not really up for making mountains of bread and butter pudding this weekend but can probably cope with turning one baguette into frozen garlic bread slices. Somewhat rudely, no croissants at all today. Enabled me to stick to my breakfast smoothie (still using up last year's frozen blackberries) which will probably do me more good.  

Lingering headache and faceache today. Going to try to take it as easy as I can. Hard to believe only a week ago I was in the hotel spa in Cornwall! Think I'll dig the mini shower gel bottle out and use that today, it might evoke the chilled out vibes! 

Good luck with the fairs Apple! 

Pollie

Grandmanerd, would  a walking stick be long enough to pull the branches down using the hook?

Toni'sfriend

Today was our gala day. Pretty rubbish actually. I'd love to help but they are such a clique. Don't know how you break into that because I know there are so many people who cou;d make it so much better
.
Anyway, we went to the parish church where the lovely cousin was organising a coffee morning. I haven't seen her for six months, due to my illness, and she was in floods of tears when I arrived as a surprise. It was so good to see her and we came back with a huge box of cakes that she'd baked. A really lovely man showed us around the church and told us the history  It  was the church I went to as a child.   Even though I'm not a believer in the traditional way I am resolved to do what I can to preserve this lovely historical building and support the good work that they do.

It's been a lovely day and I am so grateful for that. xxxx

grandmanerd

Pollie said:

Grandmanerd, would  a walking stick be long enough to pull the branches down using the hook?

I have used a traditional walking stick to help one of mum's neighbours trim an overgrown evergreen with a dead centre. I think the brush is longer and I have brought my crowbar down as well. I taped my pruning saw onto a long metal stick (I think  it was mum's old clothes prop so I have lots of options. I'm just being cautious because of being a bit tottery.

The trees are actually taller than the house

f0xh0les

Today I spent 4 hours scraping flaking paint off a brick wall.  Managed about 20 feet before the sun got high enough to hit me. So came in. Might do some more later. Might not.Moved all the planters first, then cleaned up all the flaked paint after.  I bought a pot of paint to redo it in Herr Al. Dee yesterday it was £15 cheaper than Q&B, and then it had 30% off because it had paint on the outside, but the seal appears intact. Nearly £20 saving so far.  Found an unused brush in the shed too!!  Bit worried about the threatened  possible thunderstorms, but next week is due to be dry, so perfect for painting.  This weekend will be all the dull, boring prep where it looks worse, just before it looks better. Then I can attach the trellis before the planters go back.

Really enjoying being a single parent!  DH comes back tomorrow night, so will have to have it all cleared up a bit more  before then.

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for my neighbour's gazebo for shade at the fair, for chatting with some lovely people, for realising that I'm not ready to return to work next week so will extend my sick note, for buying a few bits and selling a few bits, for lots of water to drink.

It was a good day with a focus that kept me distracted - yay!

beanielou

I won a steak pie in a competition so my mum came for tea.
It was lovely even though not what we have chosen on such a hot day.
LOvely local strawberries. Yum.

grandmanerd

Tiring, spendy but very satisfying day. Dealt with some branches and chopped up the ones i did last night and early afternoon. At a quarter to 3 I set out to take my library books back and I had a list in case I felt able to do more. The library still closes at 2 pm so the books will have to wait until Monday (it must just be the gallery that's open until 4 pm)

I stood outside the library weighing my options and decided it was only slightly further to attempt to get to W's rather than go back home having achieved nothing. Stopped to rest a couple of times but made it. They didn't have children's garden tools or the big packets of bicarbonate of soda but settled for bicarb spray and ticked several items off my list. Washing up liquid display was mainly premium brand and when I found the W's own they've gone for weird scents (peach and rhubarb, sweet pea and something else).  I prefer plain pine or lemon but ended up  with the ecover one instead (I used to get it refilled in Bolton fair trade shop many moons ago). No eye drops but did get some wipes for my glasses and 'ink type'  pens (friend in the I-O-Man has cataracts and has difficulty reading and she was so pleased that I'd used printed letters rather than handwriting and used every other line so it was very clear for her.

Tea towels weren't on my list but they had some pretty ones (all the packs were the same price so I chose the design I liked). Mine were getting on and I used them at mum's and demoted the ones she had to paint rags - to be honest they were barely fit for that. Had a sit down on W's inside bench before carrying on. I was really thirsty and hot (hadn't taken drinks because they don't like you taking drinks in the library), so headed homewards, calling at the wading bird shop. They had berry ice cream, a family pack of fab lollies and a few other bits I liked. W's hadn't had the soft grip can opener I wanted (I think they were doing their annual stock check because lots of things were available in limited quantities with quite a few gaps in the shelves) so I splashed out on some of the packs of little pots of fruit (mum's electric opener will be fine for the tins of tuna I'm going to use up but the budget tins of fruit tend to have deeper rims and it doesn't work on them). I'm low on fresh fruit (stopped buying berries because they were going off too quickly) and bought another pack of red grapes because I've nearly run out.

Came out of the wading bird shop and sat on a bench and drank nearly a full litre of cranberry flavoured sparkling water. When I got back to the town hall I sat down again and had an ice lolly. A very slow journey home - was starting to limp even with my foot strapped up and the welly boots giving support. Shared the couch with DS3 and brought bags of shopping in slowly (freezer stuff first). Looked at their fridge-freezer and there was still heavy ice on it. I investigated and found that they've had the freezer door open for 2 days to defrost it but they'd actually turned off the full sized freezer next to it. Had a quick look through and have put some small quantities of veg away to use in recipes, made my meal from some other packs and I've put sausages, chicken breasts and stewing steak in my fridge - I'll cook them all tomorrow and then some can go back in the freezer in portioned quantities.

After a couple of hours I managed to go outside and tackle another couple of branches, then came in. Brought the last two bags in when the thunder rumbled (they were just outside the back door). I've been playing puzzle games ever since until I had enough energy to get upstairs. I've had a shower, washed my hair and picked up fresh sheets for the bed.

Grateful for
utube - it helped me find a song yesterday that I only had one line I could remember
simple puzzle games
getting most of what I wanted, with a few compromises

grandmanerd

Sunday 11th June 2023

Take control of the things you can control, recognise what isn't within your control
What I Can Control (by Mellow Doodles)
How much news I read and watch
How much time I spend on social media
Where I direct my energy (especially if it's limited)
How I speak to and treat other people
How I choose to self-soothe
The decisions I make
How I handle my own feelings
How I look after myself
What I Can't Control
How other people behave
How other people feel
Other people's thoughts and ideas
Other people's decisions

Things that don't define you
Your mistakes
Your problems
Your illness/ disability
Your thoughts
Things that actually define you
Your experiences
your perspective
Your personality
Your creativity
Your hobbies
Your goals 
Your hobbies and passions
Your attitude
Your habits
(@what.is.mental.illness)

For the week ahead
May you practice patience, forgiveness or failing that silence
May you ignore nonsense and provocation
May your coffee, your resolve and your wifi be strong and
May you face your challenges with humour, grace and chocolate when necessary
And always may you notice the small moments of beauty
(Nanea Hoffman)

I hate it when healthy me does the grocery shopping because now chubby me needs a snack

Shrewbie

Morning lovely turtles

I had a great day in Cordoba yesterday, although it was very long as we got the train at 6:30am and got back at midnight. We were shattered! Saw the mosque/cathedral and ate and drank very well. Could have seen it all in a few hours really. Had a great time listening to Flamenco guitar and had my first booze of June so far. Enjoyed the first beer but not the second and felt dizzy in the heat. We ate pisto manchego and honey roasted aubergines, a cheese board, salmorejo and tortilla and a typical pastry dessert with a weird jam in it that neither of us liked (just looked it up and it’s “threaded squash jam”?? anyway something didn’t agree with me as I was up all night with belly ache! Just totted up the spends and didn’t do too badly at all, all in all the train and the spends cost us €90 each. 

Grateful for exploring new places, for getting loads of steps in, for moody skies in the morning giving way to bright sunshine. 

Have a wonderful day turtles