NST Awesome August

Toni'sfriend

I hope Mr T Tis home soon, Thrifty Taylor

Good luck with the mortgage broker, Dr Carrie.

grandmanerd

Monday 21st August 2023

I've spent a couple of hours trawling sites (lots of interesting stuff but?) so I'm afraid it's random musings time

Okay a 'minor mishap' with my repeat prescription which did not arrive on Friday (10 days + waiting). Counted my pills and had enough of 2 of them for Saturday and Sunday (so will phone and ask if I can collect today if I don't get the notification that it's being delivered). My most recent pill ran out last weekend. It's still on monthly ordering not bi-monthly like the rest and I've been dithering over whether to sort it now or wait until I see the practice nurse for my diabetic review. However on Saturday I started to feel really ill.  I've got through the weekend by being extremely careful about what I eat and drink (for many hours it was water and veg) but I've thought long and hard about what I need and how to what's necessary with the minimum effort. I have several chronic conditions so there will be no 'recovery' but I want things (life) to be as good as it can be.

Good points and bad points
Good   I've done some jobs every day but not sure if they're the things that most need doing. Over the weekend I       
        chopped lots of veg - first of all to eat raw (carrots, celery, broccoli, peppers, beetroot, pak choi, leeks, mushrooms               (no can't do tabs so this may look weird) and then to put in cooked meals
        Put lots of rubbish in small bags and binned them (technically the bin is full but there are gaps, so lift out a big bag and            stuff with small bags). Buckets of weeding, bags of paper recycling, cans and bottles have also gone out. This included          clearing the living room floor and starting a large bin bag of litter/ broken bits from the backs and yard.
        Washing went in the machine, washing went out on the line and all the dried items came in
        Several bowlfuls of washing up were done and the dried pots were moved first (not away in the cupboards yet)
         I ate from stores and it was mostly healthy

Not so good/ Work in progress
         I don't seem to be making much headway
         There are a few 'important' things that I haven't done, mainly because I'm frightened of losing things in all the 'mess'.
         I'm especially disappointed not to have completed cleaning the bathroom floor
         I'm still not getting very far with meal planning and prep (kitchen is still virtually unusable particularly with the garden               trellis in there). Currently eating 3 cheese triangles with a box of celery, carrot and red pepper sticks and an easy                   peeler. Lunch options, soup, tuna butties, low fat no sugar RM.

Staycation
May have to be postponed until next month - I wanted the house 'semi-sorted' (enough to be relaxed in) before I took my staycation. I am going to have the 23rd as a 'me day (credit to a contributor to the 23 in 2023 thread). 

I wanted my bedroom to be 'like a hotel bedroom'. Minimum target I need the bed clear so I can give the mattress a thorough clean before making up the bed with clean sheets. This minimum is quite an ask because I don't really have anywhere to put things (last proper switch round took 2 days + with DS3 helping move larger items). I have some empty boxes and they could go behind the bathroom door, whilst I clean. Ideally I'd like a rascog on either side of the bed but might be able to get one back in here (one set of drawers needs to go but nowhere at all to put it for now) and bring the desk lamp back up here for reading (using a floor lamp atm but it's a bit too far away so that I don't trip over the cable in the night). I will buy myself some fresh flowers (set up my candles, have a space for my book pile and trawl the cs to find some 'pampering bits' for a spa day at home). 

Bathroom - will do a bit each day and as much as I can using 'wipes'. Used on a nasty bit of the floor and it's okay (needs more work) so should be fine for the rest of the floor. Will make a list of bits for another time (door frames need a lot of attention and then repainting) but for now as clean as possible just using wipes (with my foot for doing the floor).

Kitchen - where do I begin. I've been working on the kitchen floor since the front room was completed. I need access to the cooker (trellis is in front of the cooker as I needed to get to the microwave and under the stairs shelved food stores), the sink, some worktop even if it's only the table. First target - Clear the floor. Some things don't have homes (or need whittling down to fit in their allocated places - some came from mum's and I did start a tool kit for DS3/ Beloved but I've also used some of the under stairs space for classical LPs. Semi -sorted tools/ screws and assorted bits are partly away (as near to where they should be as possible) and some are on the kitchen floor (because having the table clear was a priority). Will continue to process washing and pots (and rubbish) and try to shuffle stuff in the cupboards. Second target clean the floor.

Food - use what I have. Possibly supplement with a few bits from m'n's of Morries salad bar at the weekend when I'm in Mc for a meal. Will use some of my stash of alcohol free wine and eat outside. Have a leisurely, laid back cooking day as part of my staycation (will need to do 'use-ups' sooner but could do omelette if I have access to one burner and could move the trellis to do a bung it all in the oven session). 

Travel - would like to include a couple of days out as part of my staycation but I'm going to collect my pills this afternoon, I have an optician's appointment on Friday (only round the corner) and am going to Mc for a meal on Saturday (have a list including satsuma mist and some things in the sale that are not available in my size online, so may not have the energy to do more this week. I checked and my bus pass can be used anywhere in the country so will start venturing further when I can. Will write a list and visit museums, art galleries and 'countryside' that are near to bus stops.

Paperwork - If I can tidy 'big brown box' style, I will commit to sorting through as things come back into the room - even if it's 'now', 'later' and 'sometime'.

Appointments/ medical - 2 set up, 2 more to organise, 2 just done (diabetic foot and diabetic eye were all clear). Not had sleep clinic review in nearly a year (should be 6 monthly). Just keep on top of them (the 2 pending should have been this month but lack of pills will have skewed the results - the last thing I need is professionals in a panic and loading me with more medication), keep filing, whittling.

Garden - I want my garden laid out the way I want it and to have places to sit and relax. Need the gate and trellis fixing in place, trellis needs painting. Some of these things are beyond me now (or take far too long) so I will be asking for contact details for the neighbour's gardener - she wants him to 'take everything away', I want to know if he can work with me and do the heavy stuff - moving large containers, painting and assembling the trellis framework (if he can do the painting, Mr Builder can help with the cutting and drilling, he hates woodwork but if he only has to use the big saw and big drill he'll be fine). Meanwhile I'll do what I can. Some of the berry bushes and herbs can go in with the apple trees, if I can't find the proper screws for the polytunnel frame I'll use twine (they are going to be used as 3 arches along the side garden wall and then I want to train the apple branches horizontally). Continue clearing the flagged area and set off some seeds. If I can get the old polytunnel frame up and my new garden chairs outside (currently on top of the heap of things on my couch) I'll be a happy bunny.

Healthy Eating - an absolute priority. I've reached the stage where I can tell nearly straight away when I've eaten something I shouldn't, just need to work on recipes incorporating 'new' ingredients (when I've taken out all the things I shouldn't eat for one reason or another). 

Treats - a pile of holiday reading, earmark some films I want to watch, music playlists, move (anything I can do, even if it's only one not multiple times). Other holiday pastimes my include crafting and writing long overdue letters.

I'll also be going back to Clutter Clarity's 5 'D's' - seeing specifically what I can drop or delegate.   

Grateful for getting through the weekend, helpful pharmacists, having a plan.

abundant1972

Good afternoon 🌞

I emerged today from my stress-bubble enough to sit down and focus. Am all caught up on posts 😊 and well - I still have 10 days left of August. Lost track of my NSDs a bit - but am somewhere around 5-6. 

Without going into too much detail - work just got more and more pants - with more and more totally unrealistic pressures - and my head started to get very very busy... Intrusive thoughts, waking thinking about work, chest tightness... the works. So - as much as I don't want to be off - I've taken myself away from the cause. Seen GP - on some new medications. Onwards and upwards. 

I'm really trying to stay focussed on the things I can change - my home situation (making my bed, having a shower, feeding myself properly) but it's hard when my mind has other ideas. I'm back on the old mindfulness - as feel I need it more than ever. I made yoga yesterday which helped... and got a support group tonight I've booked into. 

Today I am grateful for:

1) My sister who has been really supportive even though she has a lot going on herself
2) My yoga teacher (she is amazing!) who always reminds me to be grateful for my body and for honouring it
3) The unconditional support I receive from the men's group* I attend

* If anyone has any men in their life that struggle to open up to you, or who might benefit from a support group - Mentell is a charity that has started setting up groups (in person and remote). Am not sure how many there are or which parts of the UK they run, but I have nothing but praise for the guys who run them.  

And that's me. I now have a bit of headspace to get back on the rails and get myself in gear for the transition ahead. Time to build back in some healthy habits to carry forwards into the next chapter. Big hugs everyone!!! x

beanielou

Upside today~~Had another injection in my shoulder.
Downside~~I went to GP with toothpaste on my nose & in my hair!!

THrifty~~I hope your DH is ok & gets home soon.

@grandmanerd.  Could someone help you to get the trellis outside?

DrCarrie

Spend day...just not organised at the moment, not in my straight and narrow, emotions all pinging around!

Grateful for a Mortgage in principle! (whoop), crispy skinned chicken thighs, 'Return to Narnia' Herbal tea (and not buying wine. 

grandmanerd

Hugs abundant

The good thing about having a list that looks impossible, is that anything you can do seems like an achievement. Clothes hung up or put away in drawers, lots of sorted but homeless things moved into drawers rather than on top of the few available surfaces. In the bathroom I did the sink, taps, under the bowl, the cupboard underneath; top and back of the toilet and down to the floor plus a good chunk of actual floor including rubbing at the corners and edges of the door strip and wiggly bits around the base of the door frame. 2 wires hung up - to be identified and claimed or they'll go in the bin.

More photos filed, bags of rubbish, paper and cans out to the bins, lunch was tuna with cider vinegar on 2 halves of a wholemeal bun with leeks, celery and red pepper on top.  Pills were collected and all my missing morning pills were taken at 6 pm. Some things moved out onto the landing shelves (quick tidy up to give maximum space). 5 empty boxes (16" cubes) waiting to be filled.

Grateful for pills (hate them but they keep me alive), my clothes (coming together nicely now - oxfam online purchases received today), the veg I chopped at weekend (generous boxful consumed as part of my breakfast, 3 handfuls added to the tuna - enough left for tomorrow), finding bits that can leave the house.

lcc86

Hugs to everyone who needs them at the moment. @DrCarrie good luck with the housey stuff.

Didn't post yesterday but got up early and went horse riding, my weekly therapy session! Did some washing and a few other small jobs around the house, went for a little walk with OH as well and then chilled for the rest of the day.

Today was my non-working day, I took myself off for a long walk on a local route that I haven't done before. Was a gorgeous walk, lots of dogs, horses and some chickens. Some beautiful houses and even an old mill in what felt like the middle of nowhere that had been converted into houses/flats. Really would love to live somewhere like that, surrounded by water and fields.... I popped into the local farm shop to get some lunch too.

Had to take one of the rabbits to the vet unexpectedly, took the money for that out of the emergency fund. Hopefully no repeat visits needed.

apple_muncher

Wishing all those returning to school a smooth transition back to the routine (grind?!)

Glad to hear about pills being there for people.

Beanie, hope the injection works. Oopsie about the toothpaste!

DrCarrie, ooh, home buying is so exciting. Well done you on not buying wine.

Abundant, hugs and more hugs. You're always so open and honest on here. Go you!

ThriftyT, oh dear to dh being back in hospital. Hugs.

Today I am grateful for having had all the Ozzie rellies visit over the last 10 days, for time today with big sis and niece and dc, for making an sumptuous rasp + blackberry +apple crumble, for doing a workout in the garden, for 85% chocolate (always!).

Thrifty_Taylor

Thanks for the hugs & support. Well done on your mortgage in principal @DrCarrie, & exciting times ahead with your new home! Hugs to all needing them, especially @beanielou & your sore shoulder. Not sure which day is your birthday, but sending a virtual card. I had planned to make one for you, but with everything up in the air here, I've not managed to. 🎴🎂
NSD here today.
Work was ok, had some training first thing, which was a bit close to home & I felt a bit emotional near the end. Managed to hold it together & not many people noticed me wiping my eyes. Thank goodness for my work besties to support me. Even though they weren't sitting near me, they knew I'd be affected & sought me out afterwards.
Lots of new timetable sorting. The teachers that I'll be mostly working with this year, are great, so will ease any tricky times.
DS3 had made brownies this morning to share with his friends, & had left me a big one on the table when I got home 😃 DH has a small inflammation in one lung, so being out on antibiotics. Thinks he might get home tomorrow.
Had a 20 min nap when I got home, made tea, washed up, then thought about sewing, but didn't. Played an online game instead on my phone.

Grateful for caring friends/colleagues, DH getting a diagnosis & my DSs helping out

beanielou

@Thrify_Taylor. 

Hope DH is home recovering soon.