NST July 2023: Jurassic July

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for freebies: toddler slide, seesaw and ride on Thomas plus 2 toddler garden chairs, and loads of stuffing and some fabric and felt pieces plus a posh sewing machine thingy, for dc finishing their school year, for 2 loads of washing drying outside this afternoon, for extra work that fits into my day, for cold water.

ThriftyT - I thought you were stalking the asparagus...!

Thrifty_Taylor

🤣 @apple_muncher, I may need to if the blasted rabbits try to eat it! 😂

Woke up to get DS1 up for yet another breakfast shift. Did yoga. Washed the dishes after breakfast, then walked to the village with DH.

Was going to alter a dress, but no contact details nor instructions in the bag, so no idea who it's for! Messaged a lady who's been sending customers my way, she was none the wiser either, but did know who had the dress I replaced the zip in the other day 😊

Cut the grass this afternoon & picked a few ripe blackcurrants. DH cooked tea, then I washed up.

A friend offered to treat me to the cinema tonight. Went to pick her up & one of her dogs bit be on the back of both my knees! Not sure if I should get a tetanus shot or not. Will ask in B0ots tomorrow. Film was ok, but conscious of my wounds feeling nippy.

Happy birthday Mr @Toni'sfriend, well done on your frog @grandmanerd. Feel excited for you @f0xh0les & envious as we need an extension too!

Grateful for a sunny day, my garden looking neater, being treated by a friend & for figuring out who one of the phantom customers were

Esmeralda2662

Fantastic news about your OH @Thrifty_Taylor! Sorry to hear about your run in with the bitey dog. Not nice at all.

Shrewbie

Here is my July plan.

I felt a little unfocused in June with lots of holidays and events but it was good to let my hair down a bit.. I am now feeling like I'm ready to fully focus again on saving and building up good habits.  I have 2 weeks off in the UK from next week and I want it to be a healthy mix of seeing friends and family, continuing with some good habits and improving on others. 

Ambitions for this month. 

Do something at the first opportunity today that will show benefits tomorrow.

Get up as soon as the alarm goes off, write, meditate, then have a 2-3 min cold shower. 


Do something today that will show benefits over the next few days. 

Eat the daily ugly work frog, do the pomodoro technique at work/ when writing (to remind myself to have breaks more than anything) 


Do something this week that will show benefits over the next month. 

4 hours of Spanish study. 1-2 alcoholic drinks max per week (I have cut down a lot this year and want to keep it going over summer)


Do something by mid-month, that will show benefits over the next 6 months. 

Focus on NSDs so I can hopefully save as much as possible throughout the rest of the year. Make a proper gym plan - aiming to build muscle. Plan social activities for when I'm back in Madrid in August -trying to make new friends. 

Do something by month-end that will show benefits over the next year. 

Set a savings goal for the rest of the year (my original one constantly needs rejigging, not being used to saving I  haven’t quite managed to set myself realistic goals so far) one of my best friends who lives in NZ is getting married in May 2025 and I’m planning to go and turn it into a long trip including possibly Indonesia and maybe Japan, depending on how long I can get off for work. So if I’m going to be in a position to do this as well as get a house deposit together, I need a proper, realistic plan. 


Set the foundation for doing something this year that will show benefits over the lifespan of your longest debt / savings goal. 

No more holidays this year (apart from UK now and Dec, so focus on saving as much as possible.

thanks again @Starlight_at_Sea for the challenge. Maybe i'll be able to fit in a visit to the jurassic coast this summer :-) i have very good memories of fossil hunting there as a kid 

Toni'sfriend

Yesterday was NSD No 7

It was also Himselfs' birthday. A big one! Unfortunately I had to cancel the surprise trip I had planned to celebrate it. Maybe next year instead. He was pleased with all his presents and we had a nice relaxing day and a lot of phone calls from friends some of whom we haven't seen for years.

At his request I made a fish pie for tea. Not exactly a huge celebratory meal but it was what he wanted.

I've got some things I really have to do today so I'd better get on.

Have a lovely day. xxxx

beanielou

Blimey @Thrifty_Taylor I would so not be happy with the dod that bit twice.
I think I would want the jab.

thriftylass

Late check in. Productive day, cooked 7 work lunches with free veg from the community fridge, bought more gloss for the conservatory and a new wall light, much needed new shoes for DD, 2 loads of washing, 3 loads of dishes washed and made HM steak pie for the first time in ages. Harvested loads of raspberries and probably one of the last punnets of strawberries. Knackered now in a good way and off to bed. 

Thrifty_Taylor

Loving your targets @Shrewbie. We're all cheering you on 😊
Thanks @beanielou & @Esmeralda2662. It is sore today & very bruised. Didn't go for a tetanus, as looked up NHS stuff on Goggle & think I'll be ok.
Went to town this morning, dropped sewing off & bought some antiseptic wipes +which I used once I got home). Nipped to a friend's, she gave us a white rose called Silver Wedding for our anniversary & a lovely card. She later sent a message to say how happy she feels when she's with me, which made me smile. We've been friends a long time, her husband was our best man, & vice versa. It was their 22nd anniversary yesterday. Went shopping with mum.
Put all the shopping away, then DS3 helped me harvest & prep all the rhubarb for the freezer. We sat in the sun, so was nice. I had s nap before tea, then washed up afterwards, before emptying one of the compost bins & spreading it on the rhubarb patch

Watched a film & hooked more rug.

Grateful for my friend's message, rhubarb harvest, time with mum

Toni'sfriend

I had a fairly productive day yesterday. We went to the church coffee morning and had a chat with the lovely cousin over a cuppa and some of her delicious home baking.  (She baked a fruit and walnut loaf for Himself to take home),I gave her some gifts for her Grandchildren that I've had since before the New year, went to the chemist to get some moisturiser which was recommended by the radiographer, picked up my trousers from the alteration shop and did the shop at Aldi (not that we really needed much). Since I'd spent some money anyway I stocked up on some items that I buy in bulk online.

Chicken casserole for dinner. Freezer still looking very full. Job for this week. Tidy it up a bit.

I didn't sleep well. Very hot and muggy and even heavy rain didn't seem to cool things down any. It's hot again already.

Things that I really have to do today so better get on.

Have a lovely relaxing Sunday. xxx

thriftylass

Hi, 

hope everyone is having a good day 🙏.

Got a few things done, shed is tidied, made houmous and salad for the next, parboiled potatoes for freezing (got 7kg in Asd@ for £3.50), etc.

The good thing about sobriety is that I get so much more done but also am more aware of all the other things that need done which is overwhelming. Before that view was "nicely" blurred. "Just start" is my motto now and no matter how little I do it's more than before 😏