NST January 2024: This is Sparta!

Starlight_at_Sea

Just been looking back at the challenge and taking stock of progress so far! 

In summary: 
rule of 1 - gradual incremental improvements to exercise as I have regained strength, and to getting things done in general. Have tried to do something to make life easier for future me each night. 
improve your space - 
decluttering at mums including some emotional tasks - is going quite well, if we ignore dads stuff which is beyond my remit 😂
 building work at dads - small projects, commenced today, one won't be finished for a few days as they need another part, the other one is done. 
at the flat - am happy with progress made on odds and ends jobs, furniture relocated from the house/dad's, shower caddy's up in nearly all bathrooms, lamp now works, list made of the many outstanding tasks, I know which will cost £, time, decision-making energy
at the house - I try to do a deep declutter of one of the areas each time I am back, and it is helping! 
boundaries - have held to these at work (blooming hard), am building on time away to myself away from dad
pondering - am very gradually exploring career ideas, I need to make some progress on financial planning to assist with decision making
NSDs, am close, will meet target
Space - am trying to hold space in the day to exercise and get outside..more work needed on this
acknowledge - progress on mortgage amounts/projections, credit card debt, uni costs for DD, looming back dated council tax. Head very much out of sand. Still to do -- updated budget to reflect all the new details I have! 
24 in 24 - still pondering this! I did get ears pierced this month, that was a big thing, and tried a new recipe, and invested time in relationships with a couple of friends and cousins. 
activity - returned to regular gym sessions, could do more on walking and sea swimming, but you know, it's been brrr and I've been poorly! 

apologies for reducing challenge to a few notes Apple, but I wanted to take stock while there was time to catch up! 

Toni'sfriend

Wee Nancy - I use exactly the same sources as you do and come across exactly the same problems. Having said that it's easier now that a lot is online rather than having to go to Edinburgh and the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. But I do love a library! I have got back to the late 1700s but in doing so I have learned so much about my family. especially my Mother's. Lots of fascinating stories about individuals. I even discovered that my neighbour and I share a great, great, grandfather and grandmother. And I have a great uncle who is buried in a Commonwealth grave in our local cemetery. I used to walk past it every day on my way to school when I was in my early teens and had no idea that we were related. I love the stories - especially the scandalous ones. Well, they are not really scandalous now but they were then. 

So today has been quiet, NSD No 16 I think. Himself has been looking after me. Made lunch and dinner again, bless him. I'm taking it easy for the next couple of days till I see the lie of the land,

Have a good evening xxx

apple_muncher

Starlight - no apologies needed!!! You've done a lot this month and it's so good to look back and see progress. Well done you!

Today I am grateful for enjoying my gym session, for finding balm kleenexx tissues in the £ shop, for spotting my first crocus (in the grass, of all places!), for sorting out some admin, for the latest Enola Holmes books.

Thrifty_Taylor

Well done @grandmanerd & @Starlight_at_Sea on all your achievements! 🎉

Got up & did yoga. Enjoyed looking at the pretty blue sky on my way to work. Had a message from my regular hairdresser, who's been on maternity leave, to say she's returning to work in March 😃 Met the customer who's commissioned the Moses basket items. She was very pleased with it, gave me a dozen eggs from her chickens & an additional tip in the payment envelope. Noticed a Starling singing it's heart out, on top of a lamppost during daily mile this afternoon. Not sure if it's mischievous children today or my lack of patience, but I've been quite short! Planning an early night.

Unpicked a zip when I got home & practiced Norwegian. After tea, I replaced 2 coat zips & picked DS3 up from his friend's.

Going to bed early & finish my book, after drinking my hit chocolate.

Grateful for calm weather & blue skies, blasting my music on the way to/from work & singing along, happy customers, hearing from my hairdresser

ldee2111

NSD 14 yesterday. Should be NSD 15 today which i believe would make it the first time I’ve reached 15 NSDs! But I know this month’s challenge is 16… typical! 🤣

Have a good day, turtles xx

Flying_By

@Thrifty_Taylor Wow, you sure cram a lot into your day, Thrifty! Well done you 

Toni'sfriend

It's been a pretty good day all and all. Saw the surgeon. I will need an operation to remove part of my lung but they are fairly confident that this will cure the cancer. I have physio exercises to help get me fit and they are positively encouraging us to go away for a few days and do a bit of gentle walking.

It would have been a NSD but we're phoning a carry out. Think we deserve.  it though

f0xh0les

Today I shopped from the shed. I found plaster sealer, radiator spray paint, the d*mned elusive wallpaper pasting table, pasting brush, sugar soap, and a couple more paint brushes.... and two strimmers (we have a paved yard, no grass .... no, I don't know either).  I have enough wood left over from builders to make a couple of long planters for the front yard - I have my eye on  (red sticker) £5 rose bushes at The Big Orange Warehouse. 

Did a lot of prepping for tomorrow, stripped more bannister, bought a new washing line (woo hoo! ) with wire core, and 2 rolls of wallpaper for the alcove in  DS4s room. 

Made a HUGE pot of chilli, and 6 pasties for the chilli-refusers tonight,  and the lunchbox-takers tomorrow, because tomorrow is payday and I did not want to go to the supermarket tonight.

f0xh0les

Yep, you deserve a take-away @Toni'sfriend

beanielou

Glad you have a takeaway with your name on it @Toni'sfriend. Did they give you any idea of how long you would have to wait for the surgery?  xx