NST Awesome August

f0xh0les

Oops, still on NSD1 -  thought I'd give 2good2g0  mystery bags another chance, as I am going for lunch with work-friend tomorrow in town, and 2 bags popped up from a very nice vegan cafe nearby for a 3.30 pick up.  It seemed rude not to.
On the plus side - it cost less than I made on p/a today and I might not need to cook tomorrow night, or the day after ....... 
On the minus side, it might all be brown rice and healthy sawdust, and I lost my NSD. 
But until I pick up Schroedinger's Lunch Bags, it is both salad and cake. It's a mystery!
 Chaos menu planning a la F0xh0les!
Rock and roll!

DrCarrie

Spend free day #3, saved lots of money on my commute as I worked a late. 

Grateful for my sc@mp and dud3 dress, it's so cool and its a chuck it on and off we go, staying out the way at work. 

apple_muncher

I'm not the one with a nutribullet, grandmanerd. I just use a stick blender.

lcc, congrats on resigning from job #2!

Today I am grateful for step dd2 + family arriving in the UK safely, for our 2 visiting local cats both popping over to say hello and snaffle some food, for the washing drying indoors, for surviving the drive to and from the monstrosity that is Bluewater and the haven of hedonism that is Bild a Bear, for the positive impact on my stress levels that hoovering, sweeping, dusting and general tidying up is having.

Thrifty_Taylor

Congratulations on resigning @lcc86, & @Toni'sfriend for getting your landline sorted out finally! Well done to all those who've tackled frogs this week & hugs to those not well or struggling.

Yesterday I took DH for his blood test, then we had a look in some CSs. I got quite a few packets of quilling papers in the red X, so should keep me going for a while. Spent the afternoon sewing, before heading into town, dropping off a FB sale & meeting up with friends. An added bonus, I only had to pay for my pudding (& round of drinks), as my friend's BF paid for my main course for pet sitting last weekend 😊 a nice surprise! Lots of laughs had, & thankfully the rain wasn't too heavy until we were back at my friend's house, where I stayed the night.

Grateful for DH only needing once a week blood tests, lots of laughter, my meal being paid for

Tues

Helped friend carry a bed frame up her very narrow, steep stairs, then after some head scratching we reassembled it. Got a few bits & pieces down the town that I needed for sewing jobs, then headed to mum's. Heard a funny noise as I drove & discovered on arrival that I had a puncture. Her neighbour's son pumped the tyre up enough to get me to a garage, & they fitted me in quite quickly. Gave them a tip to say thank you, mechanic said he'd get some biscuits with it. Came home, another sale collected & another sold in less than 5 minutes 😃 washed the dishes after tea, then did more ironing. Should have all the one sized boys clothes sorted now, ready for advertising. Had a soak in the bath & used 2.5 sample sachets for pampering, that I'd brought in from the garage.

Grateful for helpful neighbours, DH nearly finishing sorting out the shed, all the foods I've craved today after last night's cocktails! 🍹

PS congratulations on your win @f0xholes

thriftylass

Good morning, started my morning walks again after a 3 day break due to travelling. Lovely and a bit chilly. I know it's only August but I'm looking fwd to the cosy seasons (not the heating bills however). Sobriety has finally given me the time and mental bandwidth to get the house sorted. Soooo looking fwd to it being more the way I want it to be, being comfortable in it and not seeing things that need done every time I look around but focus on crafting etc again in autumn and winter. DH might go away this weekend so should get loads done and 🤞 finally move his office out of the guest bedroom.

Edit: Although I went a walk this morning and cycled to work I also went to the gym at work, but mostly for the warm shower. Dinner will be honey and soy sticky chicken I think. Afterwards I will hopefully finish painting the conservatory and then after a good clean tomorrow I will start getting it ready for DH, some final fixes needed like fitting the new lamp, putting the rug in, rearranging the freezer and other storage.

grandmanerd

Wednesday 9th August 2023

The first place we lose the battle is in our own thinking. If you think it's permanent, it's permanent. If you think you've reached your limits, then you have. If you think you'll never get well, then you won't. You have to change your thinking. You need to see everything that's holding you back, every obstacle, every limitation as only temporary. (random internet thing)

Chronic illness means that you aren't going to 'recover', it's with you for life. You must accept it and adjust to the new you. If you only have limited energy, can you afford to waste it on denying, ignoring or 'fighting' your condition or do you accept your condition and use that energy to make your life as good as possible, doing what you can to make life comfortable, pain free (in most cases there will be pain but less pain/ pain free times is something to aim for) and enjoyable. Making the changes to help your body (diet, exercise, thoughts, resting when needed) cope and  living your best life with what you have.

There are many times in life when we don't know when to laugh or cry - I usually decide to laugh, find the humour in every situation (frequently very black, bitingly sarcastic humour).  This doesn't mean forcing yourself into the role of the saintly, patiently suffering, never complaining martyr (you're not Beth in Little Women). You're allowed to cry, rail at the unfairness of it all and hide under the bedclothes when it all becomes too much but when your all cried out (tears are therapeutic too) you think about where you are and where you want to be/ what is possible. 

A few positive quotes (taken from the powerofpositivity.com)

The abuse didn't make you strong. You overcame it because you are already strong. Lets not give abusers credit for making us strong (Vassilia Binensztok)

By forsaking joy in pursuit of growth, you forget that growth should make you feel alive, and that when you reach your goals you should feel energised, even exhilarated not exhausted and burnt out (positivekristen)

Life humbles you as you age. You realise how much time you spent on nonsense

How do I lay in bed for the rest of my life but also become a billionaire?

Not what you were expecting. Life isn't all  sunshine and kittens, folks (gmn)

Toxic Positivity v Acceptance,  Support and Validation (Real Empathy)
(the Mind's Journal)
You'll get over it/ It will get better eventually but I know things are hard right now
Other people have it worse/ Just because someone else has it worse, doesn't make your pain any less 
Just stay positive/ It's normal to be upset right now
Don't worry, be happy/ Your emotions can't just be switched on and off. Take the time you need to work through them
Positive vibes only/ All energy is natural. Learn to accept both good and bad vibes
Stop being negative/ It's okay if you  are feeling negative now. It doesn't have to define you
Think happy thoughts/ It's all right if you aren't positive and happy right now. Feel your emotions and let them pass naturally. My best wishes are always with you
Never quit. Never give up. Ever/ Giving up is alright. In fact it's sometimes necessary that we give up. Focus on what you want to achieve
Failure is never an option/ Success tastes sweeter, only after failure. It helps us learn and grow

A few there that run contrary to what we sometimes say but balance is everything (gmn)

Choose people who
- Choose you
- Ask how you are
- See you
- Let you be you
- Feel good to your nervous system
- You can breathe easily around
- You don't need to perform for
- Are good for your mental health
- Want to see you win
- Don't try to control you
(Sasha Tozzi)


What is the one thing that stands between you and your dreams?
Capitalism
"Yourself", the answer is obviously yourself
I'm pretty sure it's capitalism
(Little niddles)

Toni'sfriend

How true all that is, Grandmanerd.

Confession time. I bought some really, really nice toiletries for myself today. I don't need them but I felt I deserved a wee treat to make me feel better about myself. They are going on holiday with me where I am resolved to pamper myself and have a nice relaxing time caring for myself, walking, reading, having nice things to eat and everybody else can take care of themselves for once,  I can afford it so it's not such a bad thing really, is it?

Today has been quite relaxing, Just done the minimum. Kitty cat is upstairs asleep on my bed despite his owner having returned, He has truly become the communal neighbourhood cat.

Hope you are all well and have had a good day. xxx

lcc86

@Toni'sfriend we all need a treat from time to time, money well spent in my book!

Had an informal chat about more overtime in my main job now that I've officially resigned from part-time job. Should be doable around my existing commitments and free time so I'm going to go ahead with it.

Up early for spin class this morning, I always have to drag myself there for a 7.15 start  but once it's done I feel better for going. My back is still playing up so didn't give it my all today. Had a day of working from home so caught up on all my work admin and a couple of small jobs in the house. Pilates class later which is very much needed and then I think an early night is in order!

lcc86

Ps if anyone needs inspiration to tackle any frogs, these are two of my literal frogs, about the size of your pinky nail and not a brain cell between them! I think they're my spirit animal as all they want to do is eat and float around in the water aimlessly.

grandmanerd

Toni'sfriend said:

How true all that is, Grandmanerd.

Confession time. I bought some really, really nice toiletries for myself today. I don't need them but I felt I deserved a wee treat to make me feel better about myself. They are going on holiday with me where I am resolved to pamper myself and have a nice relaxing time caring for myself, walking, reading, having nice things to eat and everybody else can take care of themselves for once,  I can afford it so it's not such a bad thing really, is it?

Today has been quite relaxing, Just done the minimum. Kitty cat is upstairs asleep on my bed despite his owner having returned, He has truly become the communal neighbourhood cat.

Hope you are all well and have had a good day. xxx

Yeah there's a few of my mum's favourites in there. I think the toiletries are part of your holiday - it's much cheaper than going to a spa. But then I've spent quite a bit of money today and I may not have finished. I had a diabetic foot check up at lunchtime so was up and dressed early. I had plans so lots of stuff came downstairs with me. I was a bit later than I'd planned leaving the house. I dropped 2 books back to the library.

I had a bag to drop off at the cs and wanted to visit a florist to order flowers for my nieces and ex-s.i.l, but I stopped to check when the next bus was due. I had 17 minutes to wait, I could probably have done the cs drop off but decided to be cautious and wait. 17 minutes passed, the 5 minute late mark passed and as it came up to the 10 minute late mark I started to input the phone number to tell them I was on my way but might be late. Then I noticed that the approaching bus, one I'd been trying to read the number on, was the one I wanted (although why he was on the white centre line of the road I have no idea).

Peaceful journey to the infirmary. It was only as I got off the bus that I checked again and found my appointment was 20 past one not 20 past 12 - I'd got there an hour early and could have easily completed all the errands before catching the bus. I went into the little cafe and had a plain baked potato and bought some water (I nearly finished the bottle I'd taken with my lunch). Then I took the scenic route, visited the disabled toilet, bought 2 more packs of the generic hay fever pills and went to my doctor's to pick up the forms for repeat blood tests. Read my book in the community waiting room until I was called in. Very quick appointment, my responses to stimuli were great but she was concerned that there was still some swelling around the ankle I've been nursing better. I've accepted a referral to bio- mechanical unit who will assess every aspect of my walking and may give me innersoles or other things to help me. The podiatrist was worried that my hip replacement had left me with one leg longer than the other, thus putting extra stress on the left leg.

Came out, toddled to the bus stop, a woman who was already waiting said it should arrive in 5 minutes. Got off in the town centre, took the cs stuff, had a walk round (I want a long sleeved black t-shirt for the funeral which will be on Monday). I should have one but it's not in the drawer - I know the grey marl one gave up the ghost (cs bargain bought 10 years ago) and I've tried multiple outlets online and no-one has a black ls T in my size. So I've looked round a couple  of cs (I have a future purchases list in my head so I'm checking out handbags (current black one was bought for ex-m.i.l's funeral so will be 17 in October). I may even be really extravagant and have 2 handbags in different colours. I also want a big cardigan either cable knit or fluffy. 

However I did purchase 2 storage jars for the princely sum of £1.29 each. I've been 'window shopping' online and they (white ceramic with a bamboo lid) are about £10 for a medium size one and £12 - 30 for a large one (not biscuit jar large). Continued up the pedestrian area and bought flowers for my niece (florist phoned presumably a taxi firm to do the delivery and asked if the price was acceptable to me so I didn't enquire about flowers going to Blackley - will order online.

As I was at the top end of the pedestrian area (revisited the shop I went in last week but didn't buy anything - they have several of the keter garden storage units in). I've been in the children's hospice shop (opened a couple of months ago and I've looked in the window but not made it inside until today) and a European shop opened in one of the old bank premises. I was near to Icyland so picked up salad stuff and some whoopsied deli items plus drinks. Called in to B00ts on the way back to buy meal deals (caffeine free drinks included) but instead I bought 2 x triple sandwiches reduced to £1 each.

Got back home and fortunately opened the door without difficulty despite DS3's key being in the other side. Lay on the couch, ate my sandwich, drank a new drink (water consumed earlier) and when I was ready to move (a bit) I put the deli/ salad items in the fridge, moved the record player, speakers and old monitor across the room (DS2 messaged to say he'd pick them up after work today) and finally got myself upstairs to see if DS2 had replied to my request for an ETA. He had and arrived shortly afterwards. He doesn't want the large cardboard box (baby had one and loved it but it's had to move out of the playroom to make space for the pickler triangle (draped with a blanket to make a tent). So the large box can be cut up and put in the paper bin. He's also approved the doll's house (rrp is £15 upwards)

I'm going to take myself upstairs shortly (I aborted the planned visit to Morries - Icyland and other shops have filled the most urgent gaps. Oh I went back to the shop with the collection box for the children of Afghanistan and put 23 coins in. I've spent a lot but mostly small amounts so I still have lots of coins in my penny tin (everything today except the flowers has been bought with penny tin money - flowers would have been too but some of the coins had spilled and there were other purchases on top). If I have any energy left and can move tomorrow, I'll try to gather more things for the free skips.

Grateful for bargain prices, interesting new shops (nothing needed atm but possible future purchases), lovely podiatrist, the  walker, covering my needs + 2 charity donations