NST September 2023: Turtle Tightwaddery with a sprinkle of Alchemy

pollyanna_26

+i thought I was the only person awake Beanie it's very chilly here. Times like his I really miss a cat.x

DawnW

Raining hard here first thing, but it has cleared now, and the sun is shining. Been supermarket shopping, and got a really good Lidl's £1.50 box. Definitely not a NSD though!

DD2 is sad, as she had to have her lovely old black lab pts yesterday   She has a school governors' meeting this morning, so hopefully that will take her mind off it a bit.

DD1 is visiting today, as it will be OH's birthday on Saturday and she has made him a cake. We don't get to see her very often, so that will be nice   Hopefully DD2 will feel up to coming over to see her sister after her meeting.

weenancyinAmerica

@DawnW - Sorry to hear about your DD2's dog  - please give her extra hugs from all of us. It's been three years for me and my golden retriever - and I still think about her often. But it was time and she is better off now. DD2 will understand this too. Hopefully, we will meet our pets on the other side of the Rainbow Bridge sometime.

lcc86

Lost NSD's the last two days as bought birthday cards both days - if I'd been more organised I would've got them both yesterday but I forgot!

Yesterday I went to the gym first thing, worked from home in the morning and then went into work in the afternoon. Had a very long day and then trains were delayed home but got there in the end. Managed a quick hoover at home and a load of washing.

Today I drove in as had to do a visit out of the area, had to top up fuel on the way but can claim that back. Another long day at work, did most of the tasks I needed to do which is the main thing!

f0xh0les

NSD 16, I made a gingerbread slab for DS2s birthday tomorrow (all hail Queen Nigella). All from stores, so no spends and I have birthday candles already🕯️🕯️🕯️🕯️
 Peeled, cored, chopped and froze about 25 apples this afternoon - only one shopping basket  🧺 of apples left to prep. Will bake some stuffed apples after my blood donation tomorrow. Might do a crumble as well while I am at it. Food for literally a few pennies.  Those 19p pots of custard powder will come in handy. 
Fridge bottom soup will also be made, sad celery, carrots and a massive leek will be used up. Might just do cheese toasties for supper tomorrow to have with the soup.  They all like them and it is all in the house already, and it is quick. 

grandmanerd

Health is improving but still very tired. Parcels were due today but DS3 was downstairs so I got ready slowly. He came to bed just as I was getting stuff together (6 bags to go down - 2 sacks of paper, one large and one small rubbish). The knock on the door came as I reached the top of the stairs, so did my best hobble and met the postman - 3 parcels for me. Then realised the two bags I'd abandoned at the top of the stairs were the ones I needed most - my laptop and the charger it needed were in one and leftovers to throw in the microwave in the other (plus recycling, washing up and peel for the green bin). Went back for them, then lay gasping on the couch until I was strong enough to get to the microwave. 

Two parcels expected (but threads that arrived meant I could get on with the bear's head when I needed to rest this afternoon) the other was one of my 'new to me' handbags from Oxfam's second hand September. It's black, it has a little dog and it's gorgeous. I'm very fond of the little dog but even the sale prices are usually out of my league.

After eating I spent the day taking out rubbish and recycling, bringing dry washing in, putting wet washing out and weeding and other garden work. My knees started to protest so I returned to the couch. Cooked bacon with mushrooms and tomatoes (fresh ones as I bought them ys and they needed using (only had to throw 2 out). Read, watched a couple of episodes of a series until it decided I hadn't enough bandwith. Was hoping to go back outside but various body parts joined the chorus of complaints. When DS3 joined me on the couch in the evening, even him adjusting his position caused squeaks of outrage from my back and buttocks so after my evening meal I came back upstairs. I've been sewing and listening to music but now it's time to turn off the laptop and read myself to sleep.

Grateful for the things I managed to do (I surprised myself), easy food, good entertainment (I even managed to laugh at how much I was hurting and made DS3 laugh too).

Thrifty_Taylor

Sending hugs to your DD @DawnW. 
Happy new handbag day @grandmanerd.

NSD7/8?
I was up early too @beanielou & @pollyanna_26. I was at work 10mins before everyone else. It was my first protest, but my nerves soon eased with all the cars honking their horns in support of us. Felt bad when the refuse lorry stopped & asked if we wanted them to empty the bins, one of the other staff said not to, he replied that it's not just school staff we're striking for, it's them as well, so they were going to leave the bins, & wished us luck. The janitor was NOT happy!!! 

Then we all went to town to meet staff from the other schools, we were given free bacon rolls, cake & hot/cold drinks. The rep said that out of all the rallies she'd done, this was the biggest turnout in 42 years! The local paper took photos of us all outside the cathedral.

Dropped sewing off, collected some more, then came home. Had a nap, which cleared my headache.

Read my book whilst eating dinner, then did a couple if small cleaning jobs, followed by some sewing.

After tea I washed up & sorted through a bag of lace, bobbins of thread & other bits & bobs that I'd found in the garage. Some of the bobbins are very old, not sure where to look if they're of any value, any ideas?

Had a nice bath.

Grateful for it staying dry, support from the public, time to potter & sort through things from my bedroom

Esmeralda2662

Hi Turtles, sorry ive been AWOL. I've been reading most of your posts but not posting as things have been a bit strained here.

Sadly my uncle died suddenly a few weeks after his first chemo session. The funeral has taken place and the service and wake were so nice. Many people there to celebrate his life and give him a good send off.

My partners car has developed a serious engine fault from not running it enough and hundreds of pounds later it's no nearer being fixed. He's tearing his hair out and so am I.

My friend and I did an art workshop on Saturday using pastels. She treated me to the class for my birthday and I treated her to afternoon tea with the group for Christmas. Great fun and something new for the brain to try.

Work are cutting every one down to a 4 day week and reducing overtime. I only work 3 days a week anyway so luckily I'm exempt at the moment. Think we have the work but can't get the parts on time. Going to reduce my spending just in case I lose my job.

2 NSD so far this month but will try for extra.

Friend said she was going to zumba class tonight so I booked and paid on line then 10 minutes later she texted to say she wasn't going. I'd just paid my £5 so went although I didn't want to. Felt very virtuous afterwards for going, lol!

Did some rather scruffy darning on 2 pairs of my socks and threw 2 tatty pairs away. They are too good to throw way so hopefully they'll last a bit longer yet.

Grateful for: lovely funeral, going to zumba on my own, enjoying my art class and still having my part time job at the moment.

f0xh0les

Thrifty_Taylor said:

the refuse lorry stopped & asked if we wanted them to empty the bins, one of the other staff said not to, he replied that it's not just school staff we're striking for, it's them as well, so they were going to leave the bins, & wished us luck. The janitor was NOT happy!!!

You were on an official picket line,  probably at the entrance to the school? It is simple, you don't cross a picket line, if he was 'a Union man' he would have felt awful. Nothing to feel bad about.  Solidarity Comrade Thrifty!

abundant1972

Good Morning ⛅

Just realised I haven't checked in for 4 days - I fell asleep on the naughty chaise-long (like sleeping beauty ofc) and only just woke up (no prince in sight however). Am all caught up on now! Yesterday was my first ok day in a while - and hopefully I am emerging from my brain fog. Got myself to the gym and did some exercise which felt... well like very hard work haha - but I felt good after for doing it. 

Read an article on how artificial sweeteners (the ones we know aren't great for us) may be linked to depression, so am on day 3 of no fizzy drinks - and am just drinking more water, along with tea/coffee. When I saw my Dad at weekend he had cut an article out on how we should avoid coffee in the morning. Well that is never going to happen haha. It was more to do with diabetes and how it can cause blood sugar spikes apparently. 

This month hasn't been my best financially - and was down to my last £5.00 (I have money squirreled away for future expenses and an emergency fund etc). Pay day today - hoorah - so will do a bit of budget planning later on today. 

Last few days/Today I am grateful for:

1) The first coffee of the morning (it's in bold type to show I am rebelling Apple 😉 haha)
2) My gym and the familiar faces I see
3) My little car and the freedom it gives me
 
Currently on NSD number 10 as of yesterday

Have a nice day everyone xx