NST July 2023: Jurassic July

grandmanerd

Not a great day yesterday, I had a sudden mood slump and not sure why. Went downstairs  for lunch but came back up as soon as DS3 arrived (moments after I'd finished eating). Really want to do stuff, even if it's just not letting things slide further - I haven't brought any of teh clean washing upstairs yet (it's over the handle at the bottom of the stairs) let alone brought things in from tyhe line.

However I did remember to move the bathroom wipes and sat the wrong way round on the bath board to thoroughly clean the windowsill and other bits I could reach.

Doing better today, cleaned the underside of the bath board first thing (awake at 5.30 am), have gathered all the paperwork in my room to be filed/ put back in it's proper place. DS3 needs his birth certificate to authenticate one of his online accounts. Of course I can find mine, my mum's, dad's, brother's, grandma's, granddad's and great-grandma's but not his. He's now ordered a copy online but a confused lady phoned to say he didn't exist - he'd looked at the online archive under Leigh but she couldn't find him. I suspect they may have tried Wigan registration district which we come under but his certificate is Leigh Registration District as he was a planned home birth and was born in our bathroom. When his dad went to register the birth, the Registrar told him to come back later after she'd looked up how to do it - she did lots of deaths but had never done a birth.

I want to get downstairs soon as I really need to do some cooking. I have a yogurt, some fruit and a few carrot and celery sticks to go with my dip left out of my food stash. Lots of veggies in the fridge. Just located a new jar of Vix as I have a pain by my shoulder blade which I think is infection in my lung.

Grateful for DS3  taking the initiative (he also picked up the last of the paperwork as I ran out of energy and couldn't reach it), for having things to do from the bed if I'm stuck (can't make any sudden moves in case stuff falls off again), bags of washing up, clothes, recycling etc all sorted, my new plastic pockets - some of the many used ones are a disgrace, ice cream and ice lollies and pickles (all for my sore throat - still not succumbed to pain killers.

beanielou

Keep plodding Grandmanerd 

Bingo sounds fun Thrifty Taylor 

Thrifty_Taylor

Hope you feel better soon @grandmanerd. Good you felt able to do some bits today.

Had a great day today! Woke DS1 up for work, then I went back to bed. A dry day today, so after breakfast, I reminded DH about our plan for this week (to sort the attic of the garage), so his job was to insert vents in the two gable ends. Whilst he was doing that, I sorted through the load of plant pots in front of the house, that have been there's few years. Emptied all the soil from dead plants into the herb bed, it's nearly full now, then weeded round the area. Had a quick lunch, then planted the 5 flowering currant bushes. Weeded under a tree, then heaved the 5 large hunks of wood I'd rescued from the dump at the end of May, into position under the tree. Planning to add more shade loving plants dotted around & in between it all.

Went for my massage. Read my book before tea, washed the dishes, the watched a film with DS1 & did more of my rug. NSD#7

Grateful for the garden taking shape, my massage, keeping DS's mind distracted

Toni'sfriend

Yesterday was NSD No 13

I spent ages trying to speak to someone in my GP practice to try to chase up a prescription for some medication that the hospital says I need. I got a letter telling me they had contacted my GP almost three weeks ago but hadn't heard anything from the practice. The only options when phoning were for test results or appointments. Nothing else. Eventually I pressed the appointment option and got through to a very grumpy, very unhelpful receptionist who made feel like a nuisance for wasting her time. Eventually she said "Oh, yes. We've got a letter but we haven't taken any action on it yet. I'll get the doctor to phone you tomorrow afternoon," and hung up. I don't really know why I need to speak to the doctor when all the hospital have asked her to do is write a prescription. Maybe, I'm missing something or maybe I just have a bit more common sense.

Anyway, that's me confined to barracks until I get the phone call so I'd better make good use of the time and get some housework done.

Have a good day. xxx

beanielou

That is truly shocking Toni’s friend. 

Starlight. I hope you are ok? 

grandmanerd

I've been out, spent money, I'm totally exhausted but very happy.

The day started badly as DS3 had not put the bin out. It was full and I have 2 bags waiting to go in when it comes back so could not stand the thought of the chaos that would ensue with another 3 weeks to the next collection. Put my head round the screen into their bedroom and they were both fast asleep (DS3 has just told me he was half awake and only worked out later why I swore). So very slowly and painfully pulled on the ankle support, a top and joggers, got myself downstairs, dragged on the wellies, down the yard and to the end of the backs with the bin. Came back, I'd had enough for the day.

Got up later, trudged to the bins with various bags (3 bags and 4 large bottles thrown out of the bedroom window and DS3 took 2 heavy bags downstairs for me). Ate lunch and sat on the couch for a while.

They went out to yet another hospital appointment ( a bit of progress) and I decided to bite the bullet, take my library books back and pay for the one I can't find (have searched most of the house in the last couple of months including under the bed and drawers). Went to the counter, gave details of the book, they took my card. Came back - as I'm one of their 'regulars', they've deleted the missing book from my card, not charged me but if I happen to find it, just drop it in.

It's DS2's graduation ceremony (masters) tomorrow and I'm not sure what to wear. This morning I attempted to alter a dress (it's fitted so doesn't allow for my bosom and I can't do the zip myself) - I've decided I'll add the skirt onto a plain vest t-shirt (the dress was slightly shorter than I'd have preferred - long but not floor length) so I've done the first part of that but it wouldn't have been okay tomorrow.

So'll be wearing the full length t-shirt dress that I wore for baby's baptism. I headed towards town, nipped in the £ cs (not expecting much) but as I was leaving I saw a display of necklaces (checked a few cs before the baptism as I wanted something to lift the plain t-shirt dress and cardi). Found a set of turquoise beads and a 'statement' chunky necklace with beads in turquoise, fuschia and neutrals. Headed for the counter and spotted a basket of bracelets - matching turquoise beaded bracelet and a bangle edged in tiny turquoise beads and banded in fuschia and black/ dark purple. Not something I'd normally pick but just right as a detail on the plain deep blue dress and I'll wear my turquoise jacket (hippy-ish with bands of embroidered black and white on the sleeves and edges) so a completely different look to plain black jacket. £ each for the necklaces, 50p each for the bracelet and bangle. £3 very well spent. The only necklace I've seen was £8 and only available in yellow or orange (I had the turquoise version for DS1's wedding) and I've looked at it multiple times this year and still not sure.

Replacing the book would have cost anything up to £30 and the accessories made my outfit so no need to buy another dress (saw several useful additions to my wardrobe in one of my favourite shops 2 weeks ago but having left it 3 days and decided to purchase, they'd moved all the stock around and I wasn't in the mood to hunt).

Went in the £ emporium to look for windmills (wanted to get some for baby last time but couldn't hobble as far as the shops) - no joy (some inside circles that you blow bubbles through?) but I did pick up a child's garden tool set for £2.50. Tried another shop on my way home and have some but they're only mini ones - the size of a drinking straw.

Got home, got inside, collapsed on the couch. They returned. I asked DS3 to carry the heavy bags upstairs, he said later so I brought my laptop and reading book and the dress and 2 t-shirts from the clean pile over my shoulder. I'd only got up 3 steps and DS3 brought the heavy bag and
took the little bag and the clothes off me. I think he realised that however much he was 'aching' he was still in far better shape than I was.

Grateful for finding cheap accessories, tiny windmills, seeing beautiful butterfly whilst having a 5 minute sit down (on each trip to the bins). Both my sets of ladders have been stolen but it's okay because I can't really use them any more and they're cumbersome to store and move.

Thrifty_Taylor

Hugs @Toni'sfriend. It's awful to hear how you were spoken to on the phone! Hoping you get treated with more respect from now on.

Yesterday was actually NSD#8
Took DS3 & his friend to a nearby town. Went for a walk to a CS, got some great bargains, including a 50% wool blanket in beautiful biscuit & turquoise colours. Spent the afternoon sewing, did the dishes after tea & dropped both lots of sewing off. Watched TV with DH & did some of my rug.

Grateful for getting some good stuff in CS, reading my book, managing to keep up with #75soft targets

Toni'sfriend

NSD No 14

The doctor did phone me at tea time last night. It makes sense now why she wanted to speak to me but the receptionist could have been a bit more helpful. Doctor explained to me in great detail the side effects of one of the tablets which sound truly horrendous. As far as I can understand this is not a treatment for a condition I have at present but more a preventative measure for something that I might get in the future. She suggested I do some research (not Dr Google!), discuss it with my family and make a decision. Reading between the lines I don't think she thinks it's a good idea.  To be honest I feel like I have no control over my life at the moment. I'm just doing what everyone else decides and I'm just sitting here vegetating, not going anywhere, not doing anything. It's getting me down. Not like me at all. Sorry for the moan.

So, I've decided I'm getting out of the house today, Even if it is only a walk round to Aldi to do a bit of shopping with Himself. 

Hope you all have a good day. xx

Thrifty_Taylor

Oh @Toni'sfriend, my thoughts are with you. I hope the walk helped you sort things out in your head & give you a boost.

Bumped into the fiance of my friend today & she is flying down to Aberdeen tomorrow for biopsies. She definitely has cancer in one breast, probably the start of it in her other one 😭 if you have access to podcasts, I listened to a very inspiring one, search for Conversations of Inspiration, then Rebuilding your body, mind & life after cancer with Rosamund Dean. Lots of good information in it & I've ordered her book Reconstruction for my friend today.

Spent the morning sorting through boxes from the garage attic, transferred material into storage crates, cleaned lots of items, ready for selling & put curtains aside ready for washing. Have 2 lots of things sold already.

Walked to the village early afternoon, to take DS3 for a doctor's appointment. Gave the bathroom a good scrub & sang along to some music. Got a bag full of sewing done before & after tea, then washed the dishes. My turn in the bath now.

Wishing folk a better, more positive day, tomorrow x

Grateful for decluttering, making some sales, DS1 having a better day, walking with DS3 & DH to the village

pollyanna_26

Has there been any suggestion of joining a friendship group Toni's Friend?.There's one run by Macmillan and another by our local health trust.

Rather like knit and natter but  somewhere to chat to others on a similar journry who understand the need for answers  and often become real friemds as time goes by.

Most areas should have something.

The ladies who meet up in our GPs waitimg room are the ones who do all the baking and sandwich making for the Annual fundraiser for our local hospice.

Many of them are former patients in recovery. Our GP is wonderful and provides all the yellow daffodils himself.He is head of the trust  but was bringing in the daffs long ago not long out of med school/

Chilly here again tonight. It was sunny earlier but the weather seems to have taken a dive again. Doesn't feel like July.

pollyx