NST October 2023 A New Start

grandmanerd

polly the tarpaulin is only for whilst I'm cleaning the mattress. It's spray on stuff but last time I followed the instructions for ingrained stains - leaving it over night with a damp sheet over it, I put the tarpaulin on top so that I could sleep comfortably and when I took it all off the stuff had worked its magic. When the bed's clean, I'll remake it properly but the 2 layers of merino will keep  me warm and cosy - it makes a clear space on the floor too (they were on top of the wardrobe but  I demolished that a while ago). I also thought that if I get that done I can use the tarpaulin to sort all the other stuff whilst it's working its magic (less bending).

Small bags of rubbish have been taken out and one bag of cans and bottles. I put all my threads in number order (I bought 2 boxes from Oxfam in their second hand September promotion - they were all labelled and had the numbers on the box lids but all jumbled up). I need to check if I already have the threads I need for my project before I resort to buying any and they're much easier to find if they are numerically filed. I have to have things like this - my spice jars have to be in alphabetical order and my books (alphabetically by author for the fiction but when we had lots of non-fiction I used Dewey decimal).  I allowed minor modifications for H & S - all the big heavy books were in the middle shelves.

I've planted two fruit bushes, 2 foxgloves and some comfrey and snapdragons - they were all in pots so it was more tip it in and rearrange, rather than digging. more work done in my room - I pulled everything out from between the mattress and headboard. The dripping bottle had got in there too. Mostly tissues and a few other bits so mainly straight into the bin. I set up  my new bedside light and screwed in the bulb.

There was a box that was starting to look shabby. I was going to put tabs on the corners where it's wearing but something has made a mess in one corner (shaving soap bar I think) so it's  discoloured and soggy. I've broken it up and replaced it with a smaller shoe box. However I've managed to decant all my pills into the new box (some boxes only had one foil  of pills in which I've doubled up (and filled yet another paper bag with all the empty packets)
 
My grand-daughter can't come in the house yet but the fairy lights wouldn't be a problem as they're above her head and out of reach - the lowest shelf is about 3' 6" off the ground. It's only a temporary fix until the kitchen can be done - the ceilings are around 8'9" - 9' and replacing the bulbs is absolutely out of the question. I'm looking at pendant lights for next time, close to the walls so I don't bang my head (I used to hit mum's stupid kitchen light fitting every time I took things out of the WM).

DS3 has had a re[ply from the vinyl auctioneers and he's  asked DS2 to deliver them. Next auction is on January 24th so they need them there as soon as possible as there's lots of photographing and organising to do. Will  try to nudge DS3 into making contact with the classical  music auctioneers (i think they're based in the North East.

So lots of smallish jobs done but they all help improve things (pots were on the path and outside in the backs). I'm going to put some towels and clothes on the radiators (they're not switched on but stuff will dry quicker inside than out and if the WM is empty, I can bring in some of the outside stuff for extra spinning).

Grateful for the work I've done (6 points on the square foot index but the plant pots might be an extra 5), my bed, books to read (made it outside today but not ready to go as far as the library), lists.

ldee2111

Managed a similar morning routine today: washing on, dishwasher emptied, pot of porridge ready to go, cup of tea and back up to bed for some phone faffing. 

Had another day of working my way through my to-do list at work. All manageable things that didn’t require too much thinking. But the thinking stuff will come. 

I felt a bit overwhelmed by this week and next week’s calendar for our family. Nothing majorly unpleasant but just lots going on between Halloween events, sports clubs, sports games, social plans, medical appointments for me and DS, life admin etc. I’ve written it all down on paper because it helps me work through it outside of my head. One day at a time. And breathe.

Grateful today for my first NSD in the last 3 weeks(!), for getting covid and flu vaccines, and for painkillers (those jabs were sore!)

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for dc's prescription being ready, for finding bargains at the newsagents, for big sis + niece visiting, for baked potato for tea, for the first mouthful of water+ the first swig of coffee + the first mouthful of food in the mornings - there's nowt quite like it (but not all at once...)!

Thrifty_Taylor

Up earlier to take DH for his jabs. Whilst he was there, I took DS3 a quick walk & showed him the house where we'd lived before he & DS2 were born. Then went to activate his new bank account. He went off to meet friends, whilst me & DH looked round we CSs. The friends never appeared, so DS rejoined us, he saw lots of clothes in the CS, including s 3 piece wool suit with a tie for £5! He's not tried it on yet, but think it'll probably need altering. Good job he knows someone who can do that.... 😉 Nipped in L1DL, then went to a hotel for lunch, as received a voucher for our anniversary. Obviously cost more with having an e tra person, but it was a nice change.
Had a 30 winks when I got home, then did some sewing. 21 taggy's now completed & fixed 2 zips in handbags too. DS3 wanted to do some jobs to earn money to take his GF out tomorrow, so explained how to clean the bathroom & do the ironing, he even hoovered & dusted the stairs! All life skills & saves me doing it 😂
DS1 has now moved on to his next town, where he's based for 3 nights, before heading to his final destination. Looking forward to him coming home again next Tuesday, he can't wait to come home either!
Grateful for bumping into a friend in town (though she told me she needs to have an op), a nice time in town, DS's delight in CS bargains & that it stayed dry until we drove home

pollyanna_26

I have no knowledge  of the classical music auctioneers GMN. The dj at the sports and social club used to buy his vinyl from the company your son is using and only up  to date music suitable for weddings and other functions.Is anyone having problems with posts going awol? I noticed ti happened to you recenty and tonight a post to you has disappeared.

It was asking you about the backs you often mention. I'd been catching up and read about Beloveds broken bed being put in the backs when you were clearing the bungalow you often mentioned cutting through the backs.

I phoned Malcolm BIL. He was a housing officer for Manchester city council when living near the Last Drop Village in Bromley Cross.

He dealt with sales and lettings and has no idea what the backs were. Hs role was to  deal with the paperwork etc He does recall issuing a special key to buyers or new tenants to secure the back of their property..

I don't recall posts going missing so oten until this new format.

It feels very cold outside When I put the milk bottle carrier with the empty bottle outside it feltl like winter.

pollyx

pollyanna_26

Toni's friend that sounds like good news from your hoapital appointment. I was going to edit my post but couldn't find that very useful cog that used to speed up editing.

I have stared and stared then noticed the little dots I had no idea they were to edit untl I tried.I'm really not keen on this new format if it ain't broke don't fix it is my motto.

ThriftyTaylor I do enjoy your posts you always sound so posiitive however tough things are.Your Taggies reminded me o the Twiddle Muffs we were making for patients in local nursing homes at the start of the pandemic. In a town with a lot of retired and elderly folk they proved to be very popular.

pollyx

f0xh0les

apple_muncher said:
 for finding bargains at the newsagents

Well you can't leave it like that!  

ldee2111

f0xh0les said:

apple_muncher said:
 for finding bargains at the newsagents

Well you can't leave it like that!  

Haha! I thought the same @f0xh0les! 

grandmanerd

Sorry polly the 'backs' are the backs of the houses, the 'alley' or 'ginnel' (I knew someone from Yorkshire who called it the ten foots - she wouldn't go down one in the dark). Usually a passageway between two rows of houses but ours is a long L shape from the side of the end house and behind the houses with a small wall (about 3' at my end but starts level with the ground) and then a metal fence separating us from the car park. A communal area (legal responsibility shared between the houses and traditionally there would be lines of washing out there but everyone keeps it in the yard nowadays).

It's quite common for people to put things out there by their bins (once upon a time they'd have been thrown on the dustcart but we don't want to gum up the works by doing that. The empty house next to me is the end of the row and it's now  blocked off. There was a garage there that housed one of the school meals vans when the kitchen was over the road, but the man at the furniture shop had it pulled down (that's how DS2 broke his elbow - falling out of a tree, hitting the 6' wall running behind the shops and landing on the heap of demolished bricks) and a strong but ugly metal fence blocking it off.

In a bid to prevent theft, the Council has 'gated' most of them at the ends but it means extra walking for me. If I'm going out late at night to post a letter I'd prefer to nip down the backs and emerge on the street with the post box as all the homeward bound  revellers would be on the main street (I did put my keys between my fingers) and I know many short cuts from childhood which I'd use to avoid trouble (drunks mainly) or when I'm doing something 'embarrassing' like coming back from the diy shop with 20kg of sand and cement or a tree in my rucksack. Less traffic, less people to  weave through and you can run along the road if pushing the heavily loaded dolly. 

Turtles, if I disappear for a few days it's because the laptop is on it's last legs. I finally managed to post yesterday but before that the cursor kept freezing and/ or disappearing after two minutes (I had 6 attempts at one bit of online paperwork). I've been looking at the offers but am not quite ready to jump yet - refurbished online means greater availability than in the second hand market locally. Pads and tablets but especially phones seem to have replaced laptops C E X has only had 2 or 3 laptops to choose between the last couple  of times. The current one was supposed to be new (coudn't get out to the shops) but it's lasted less well than the second hand ones.

grandmanerd

Wednesday 25th October 2023

Road Safety and Dark Nights
There will be more road traffic accidents next week than any other week in the year. The clocks go back and drivers fail to adjust. Cyclists an pedestrians bear the brunt of this failure. November 3rd is the 33rd anniversary of DS3's (and my) accident and he will be reminded to stay indoors and especially not to go near any police cars.  It's  dark, it's cold, it's wet, possible flooding, black ice and snow - take 5 minutes to think about what precautions you should take (an extra coat or blanket in your car, check the treads on your tyres, bits of old carpet to give traction if you get stuck in snow or mud). we may have a temperate climate without the extremes of other countries but we do get a bit of everything from time to time.

There were lists of 100 things you need in your car but I think if you have got to that stage you need to accept that you are living in your car and buy an RV (big camper van).