NST January 2024: This is Sparta!

Toni'sfriend

There are lots of types and lots of different treatments, Dawn. So hang on in there. It's the waiting and tests that are so difficult. Fingers crossed for you. And for you, Ditty. You're right, F0xh0les. Plan and stop overthinking. No matter how difficult it seams.

I did have plans for batch cooking today but there isn't actually room in the freezer. So kind of meal plan for next week and then a bit of planning/cooking for next weekend in case I have to go into hospital and for afterwards. Pre warned is pre armed. Had a nice day though. Watched the Ipress File (Joe Cole one) with Himself and chatted and planned. Feeling much calmer and I'm meeting the lovely cousin on Tuesday for lunch at our favourite restaurant. My little friend from two doors up came in to see me briefly last night. Gave me a big hug and said she missed me. Now, how could that not make you feel good?

Things are not so bad really. You just have to get them into perspective, don't you? xxxx

ladybird1106

We took our rowing machine to the repair cafe today unfortunately they were unable to fix it. DH is very😡as he uses it alot, it's only 13months old. I have refused to replace it. Lots of walking done today, managed my quoter for the day. No money spent other than a donation at the repair cafe. So does that count as a spend or a nsd?
Love 🐞

Starlight_at_Sea

Very true @Toni'sfriend - I am so greatful for the perspective this group of turtles offers, and that we all seem to be holding steady in the storms that we are facing, metrological and otherwise!

Yesterday was a NSD and quite a insightful one. I attended a driver awareness course as a result of going too fast last year. It was absolutely brilliant, very focussed on the way our brains work and why we don't see hazards sometimes and how to compensate - mainly by giving you more time and space to react. I was expecting more lecturing or horror stories but this was very human. I've been consciously putting what I learnt into practice today and aim to keep that up. They said only 5% of all drivers do any further training after passing their test. I would willingly pay to do this again in a few years time as a refresher if there was a way to access it without getting a speeding notice! I paid £130 before Xmas for this, so for today it was money saving in that it avoided getting points on my licence, and they actually said tell your insurance company you have done a half day driver awareness course, many offer a discount. We'll see! Also I expect my driving is more economical if I am thinking about it in this way. 

Today was also a NSD - did dad's shopping but as he paid I don't think that counts! Got a lot of reduced beef mince and had a joint cooking session with my cousin - we made about 20 portions of cottage pie and 8 of lasagne, to freeze for our respective carnivores to enjoy at a later date! Used up the last of the almost turning potatoes, and all other ingredients from stores. I really enjoy batch cooking with my cousin - it's a productive way to spend time together and the people we are cooking for have very similar tastes, and we have very similar tastes but different to everyone else in our houses, so it works well! We have been doing this regularly for about 20 years 🥰

Today was also olio collection - all rehomed successfully, a few pastries dad enjoys put to one side, and several households very pleased with their haul. I'm doing another one tomorrow as well but think it's likely that there weren't be many takers - people don't tend to come out to collect during the pouring rain. So I gave away all of the olio bread etc I had stashed in the freezer today, to make some space for what might be left over tomorrow! 

I had help cleaning the apartment on Friday as I had been expecting friends down to stay in it for the weekend, but the storm has stopped that. Made the most of the tidyness this afternoon and took photos for listings on various rent a room sites in the nearish future. This did involve moving piles of not yet sorted out / finished stuff around to avoid being in the pictures, and only one bedroom is ready so far, but it was a good way of sorting out what still needed doing. 

Did a bit of sadmin this evening... I'm going to try to book a couple of days off over the next month specifically to progress things as it feels like I am a bit behind, I was very proactive soon after my mum died but some of the info only came through from banks as we approached Christmas, and then I was ill for ages, so I just need to get back into the swing of things and make some more lists! 

Stay safe tonight all! 

grandmanerd

I've had a lovely day playing with my grand-daughter and reading her books. She was a bit shy at first but when I took out the books I'd taken (I'm aiming to give her one book per month and I'd chosen a set of 8 Spot the dog stories and 8 by Shirley Hughes) she was quite eager to sit on my lap and let me read. Lunch was a mix of Indian dishes (just SM ones but I didn't want them to go to a lot of trouble). They had bought a carrot cake and DS2 stuck a sparkler in it whilst they sang Happy Birthday.

Later I asked DS2 to bring my handbag and took out the small bag of tokens I bought before Christmas (I'd taken them to DS1's in case we were playing games but as the baby was unwell we didn't get that far. The little wooden disks all have pictures on them associated with nursery rhymes so she picked them out and we all sang to her. i'd requested a few from the seller but let her pick the rest - there were one or two that we weren't sure of the words. They also sang one that I don't know (might be one they've learnt at one of their groups. It was about little rabbits all asleep (the baby and DS2 did the actions, baby's mum stroked her and sang) - then the bunnies wake up and hop, hop, hop (DS2 did very good jumps, the baby does the action but her feet don't leave the floor yet - but she loves seeing her daddy jump).

Grateful for a lovely day with family, lovely food and presents - they bought me more of the teal dinnerware - dipping bowls and side plates this time. I think I might let DS3 and Beloved take all the oddments with them and all the white pasta bowls (some are quite old now and starting to look worn). I had asked for white bowls at Christmas but they saw these and thought they were my colour (they are but the point of white is that you can always find odd bits (eg gravy boat) to match and it's easy to replace things when half the originals are broken.I'm also thinking that lots of white and wood helps with the clean simple look I'm aiming for (so white bedding, towels, bath mats (though will wear out the older turquoise bath mats).

beanielou

Glad that you had a lovely day @grandmanerd

apple_muncher

I know that bunny song, grandmanerd, but only learned it when pip was tiny.

Today I am grateful for a lie in, for the Avengers on telly (Steed and Mrs Peel), for the feel-good impact of cleaning and tidying, for a surprise visit from the neighbour's cat- he must've been hungry!

Starlight_at_Sea

That sounds like a lovely day @grandmanerd, you give very thoughtful presents! The tokens sound lovely, I think I might look for similar for a friend who is expecting soon. I probably wouldn't buy for her child for future birthdays, it's not that kind of relationship, and in those circumstances I like to choose something for a bit further on than the new baby stage! My other go-to for new parents is a well insulated travel cup ☕

Have been going through DD and in-app subscriptions to things, and cancelled several 6 monthly / annual subscriptions that might otherwise have caught me out. More to do on making sure all the DD are from the right account etc, but progress made. Took seconds, how embarrassing is that! 

Flying_By

Toni'sfriend
What an inspiring and beautiful post  xx

Thrifty_Taylor

Sending hugs to everyone needing them & also to the people they're caring for/helping. You've got this & if you stumble, we'll help you along.

Glad you've had a lovely day @grandmanerd. I love Shirley Hughes illustrations, I remember identifying her on Blue Peter many years ago, & amazing my mum! The bunny song is quite popular nowadays, but not as well known when my DSs were little.

Went to town this morning, dropped sewing off at various places, then went shopping with mum. The carparks in both supermarkets were chocablic after folk being made to stay home with all the snow. When it came to paying in L1DL, the queue was up the alcohol aisle, all along the back of the shop & down the first aisle as far as the cheese!! I've NEVER seen it like that before! The time passed quite quickly, though mum's legs were aching afterwards.

Put the shopping away & had some dinner, then me & DH went to see a friend, who had invited us & another family over, to help him finish his sproutmas cake. Had a lovely time & a good catch up. Made a fire when we got home, whilst DH made pizzas.

Sorted my card making stuff into a new storage box after tea, pulled all last night's knitting undone & restarted it again.

Got an amber warning for 85mph wind tomorrow night. Hoping it's not too strong during the day, as I have to drop DS1's car at the garage & walk 5 miles home again! 🤞

Grateful for taking my time over the initial first 2 rows of my knitting, so hoping it's right this time!, a nice salad with my pizza, DS1 finding a supermarket in Hong Kong & stocking up for the day

FrugalAspirations

A quick entry as it’s late. Feeling good for having set up my bullet journal for the next week, although I need to fill it in properly tomorrow (Sunday).

NDS today and y’day, which I think takes me to seven. I also finally got rid of a box of baby clothes, which I’ve been meaning to send to a pregnant friend for a couple of weeks but hadn’t arranged collection.

Grateful for:

Husband and kiddos

Fully functioning shower

Computer games