NST October 2023 A New Start

Thrifty_Taylor

What a couple of days it's been! Well done to all of you busy bees, who gave carried on even when you're not feeling well. Hope DC feels better soon too, @apple_muncher.

Yesterday was NSD#7
An early start to take DS1 to the airport. Typically his flight was delayed. I'd arranged to go for a walk with a work bestie, so dud 5.4 miles - the furthest I've walked for a while! Nipped in to the other work bestie for half an hour, then went to mum's. Had leftover beef stew, then I nodded off for 20 mins. Photographed & listed some dolls she'd made clothes for, in a local selling page, & cleared some space so it's easier for her to get round her flat.

DS's next plane delayed too, so good job his third plans wasn't until today!

DS3 met up with 4 friends, all dressed super smart in suits, & went for a meal in a restaurant. Felt very proud when I saw a photo of them.

Extremely tired, so nodded off very quickly 

Tuesday, had an extra hour in bed. Took DH to see his specialist up from Aberdeen, read my book in the car whilst waiting. Once home I spent the rest of the day sewing things for craft fayres.

Quite emotional though, as DS1 had only slept 3 hours since yesterday. He'd managed to catch a train to his destination, but as he was do exhausted, he was quite panicky & homesick. Lots of messages back & forth. He's wild camping too, which is worrying fir us both! He's not learned any Italian & the castle he was planning to sleep near, is all locked up. I haven't heard anything fir a couple of hours, so hoping he's managing to sleep. Told him that things will be better once he's slept, & even if he had to find accommodation for a night, he wouldn't fail the challenge he's set himself. It's so hard when you're countries apart. Think he's finally acknowledging that he's depressed too 

DS3 came back after his sleepover with the boys, bringing a different friend home for tea. I had a bath with my book. Did a little bit of my rug, will head to bed in a minute.

Grateful for DS3 having fun & looking so smart, DS1 arriving safely & feeling a little calmer eventually, getting lots of sewing done, that the cat seems to be improving after his visit to the vet

abundant1972

Good Evening 🌒

Congats f0xh0les on saving £3500 on your roof! You win this month's frugal award 🏆 haha

Totally lazy day. Done !!!!!! all except game. I need to seriously limit the time I spend on escapist activities. Maybe I need a digital detox for a few days... Consequently, not much to report as have done nowt! 

Today I am grateful for:

1) A day of total rest
2) My dishwasher which has enabled my kitchen to stay tidy when I have no drive to wash pots
3) A check-in from an old work colleague

Today = NSD number 7

Catch you in the morning folks x 

grandmanerd

Wednesday 18th October 2023

Things To Do When Bad Things Happen
(Based on an article written by Amy at Living Locurto. com in 1016 but very much adapted by me)

1   Prepare to be Unprepared
You can try to plan but things change day by day so keep plans fluid and 'go  with the flow'.

2   Save money
Or conserve it as much as possible (anticipated job loss,  necessary house repairs -  eg when the ceiling falls in), extra travel, less time  (if you are splitting your time between two households).  One of the times my dad was in hospital, it  was a 2  bus journey -  on the way back I'd  get off one stop before the bus station, go in Morries, get the bus back  and go  straight into work (I also took  holiday time from one job so did half my hours to give me a bit of wiggle room). 

3   Visit when you can 
This depends on circumstances  (Amy's mother had cancer - 3  different types spread over 25 years  and lived 5  hours away,  she took the children to visit on spare weekends, then moved in with her mother for her final  weeks,  which turned into months). Modern living (moving to fit job requirements, having children later means some have responsibility for elderly parents and young children) makes it hard to keep in touch with our extended families. Even hospital visiting or attending appointments can eat up the hours.

4    Make time 
For your family and for things you need to support your own mental  health (prayer, meditation, quiet time alone). For Amy it was taking her children on a short break to  Diss -Knee-land (my idea of hell but travel and adventures helped her mental health. 

5    Accept help gracefully  and gratefully
True friends don't  care  about the state of your house (some will even muck in and help with the mess).  If you've always been independent , it can be hard but I'm learning to  respond to strangers who ask if I need help (it's  slightly worrying that I look so  bad that  it happens frequently). Ask for help if you need it  (still working on that one)

6    Say NO even if you wish you could say YES
Sometimes it's  easy (back to obligations again) sometimes it's  something you really want to do but you need to understand that your time and energy are limited 

7    Try to laugh
Finding the humour in any situation is one of my best survival  tools. Laughing is always the best therapy



Love Poem
Duvet
You are so Groovet
I'd like to stay under you
All  of Tuesdet
Brian Bilston

abundant1972

Good Afternoon 🍂

Thanks for your post today grandmanerd. The one that stands out for me is saying NO even when I want to say YES. I have fallen into a habit of helping mates out when they are in need even though I have my own credit card debts. Today I have decided to start saying NO. It isn't my job to fix their financial lives, or bail them out of every crisis. I would love to wave a wand and it all be ok but I can't. By saying NO, hopefully that will enable them to look for their own solutions. 

Following on from yesterday - decided not to allow myself on my PC until the afternoon. As a result I got up, showered, and went for a nice walk in the park in the sun. It has since clouded over so really glad I went. 

I am trying to mentally create space for me. Every time I started thinking about work - when I catch myself - I the picture an office door with a plaque on saying work. It stays behind there until I choose to give those thoughts time and energy. Similarly with family commitments - I pictured a different door. I had a sense of a whole World - my life - that was waiting for me to live and explore outside of those two rooms. As a result I felt a little free-er on my walk. 

Got back and tidied up, made my bed and done my mindfulness. So that is all an achievement. I am going to have a power nap as feeling tired just from that. 

Looked over finances - changed some of my budget categories around, and listed all the birthdays so I could make a better budget allowance. I am looking to goals for 2025 which gives me more time to get my financial house in great shape.  

Today I am grateful for:

1) My walk in the park and friendly faces
2) My budgeting app
3) A hot cup of coffee whilst watching the day go by

Today = NSD number 8 (I'm on a roll this month!!!)

Have a nice evening folks x 

f0xh0les

I am on my way home from North Manchestershire.
Grateful for the work, more grateful for the pay, and that I work with a jolly nice set of people I would socialise with outside of work.  
Mildly annoyed with people who tell lies, but they don't know that I have found out that they are not to be trusted. At least I am forewarned. 
Randomly bumped into a friend on the street. Made me very happy. 

lcc86

Yesterday was a spend day as bought an unnecessary coffee. Was on my way to the post office to collect currency for my holiday and the coffee shop called to me what can I say! Cycled halfway to and from work yesterday, struggled with energy and the cold, definitely wasn't prepared for it! Lesson learned, think the unseasonably warm weather lulled me into a false sense of security. Fell asleep on the sofa early last night so must've been tired.

Today up early for pilates, lots of meetings at work that were pretty heavy going. Washed some towels and hoovered, then the cleaner came and gave everywhere a good blitz. 

Went to the gym after work for a quick workout and that's a wrap for the day!

beanielou

Met friends for lunch today & set the world to rights.
Helped another friend out.

pollyanna_26

That was a good idea getting out and about much. .better than moping indoors.Weather forecast is dreadful for Scotland so probablybetter you stay put when you can.

Notsure where you live Iused to wonder ifit was near the kingdom like Sir Ian and Elaine. The forecast for Borders  looks bad. back when there were 3 storms in a row a forum friend and I she in Borders ad me in England emailed back and forth while thingswere crashing and banging outdoors, Storm Arwen 1st onei killed my gas boiler. My friend lost the slates off her roof. Hopefully things will be calmer this time.

Take care Beanie x

beanielou

Near the glorious kingdom pollyanna x
Was born in the kingdom in Scotlands newest city & the ancient capital.
Thanks pollyanna x
Hope you are well x

Thrifty_Taylor

NSD#8

DS3 has survived his first night & feeling more positive this morning 🥰



Did the ironing before tea & got DS3 to sort through his t-shirts, all small ones are being passed on to my fruend. Unpicked a zip after tea, then did more of my rug & watched a film. Tried txting DS1 but no signal. Hope he's had a good day.

Grateful for hearing from DS this morning, getting my bulbs planted, finishing a good book