NST January 2024: This is Sparta!

DawnW

Lovely afternoon with family today. Visited DD2, who lives fairly locally, and DD1 and family, who live a distance away, visited too. DD1 had made her sister a birthday cake, so we had tea and cake, then a very windy walk to the village pub. DH came down in the car, as his sciatica is playing up again, and he drove the little ones (and grandma here) back afterwards, as it was pouring with rain by then and the littlies had tired legs after walking more than a mile in such windy conditions. I was a bit worried that the smallest would be blown over it was that strong. Quite scary, as several small trees along the lane had blown down. I can't remember the storm's name. It has quietened down quite a bit now.

We passed lots of flooded fields where the river has overflowed its banks.

We took along the children's old toy farm, which OH had renovated for the youngest grandchild. He loved it, and spent ages playing with it

NSD 1 for me, as son in law 1 insisted on buying the drinks . Not that my diet coke would have broken the bank, but still. We were tempted to stop and get a takeaway on the way home (as I didn't feel like cooking), but there was nowhere to park nearby, so swerved that. I had some filled pasta in the fridge, so cooked that, defrosted some tomato sauce and topped it off with grated cheese. Easy and tasty. What was I thinking of?

Grateful for a lovely afternoon with family, temptation to spend unnecessarily averted, and little GS loving his farm

weenancyinAmerica

@foxholes - what kind of lease are your neighbors on? What does it say about notification time? If they still have time on their lease the owner might have to help them move or allow them to stay until it ends unless he pays them to leave. I would recommend they check with the Citizens Advice Bureau. Here, unless they are on a monthly lease, what he is doing would be illegal.

ladybird1106

Had to food shop yesterday as we had run out of bread, milk and a few other items. Managed to get my sister 6 gluten free pies at 69p each so dropped those off. Couple of ys items. Reduced Veggie sausages for breakfast, which I cooked off in the oven as it was on for jackets last night. A minute in the microwave 😋
Grateful for
1. The lady who fell over just winded herself and had not cut her head open. 
2. Ys items (69p pies) 
3. The youngest enjoying the panto (no panic attacks) 

Love 🐞

grandmanerd

My priorities  for this month are food, clothes and paperwork. So one nearly dry bedspread out of the WM (DS3 put it in, set it off and even did the extra 9 minute spin which I then repeated). New load in. Made myself lunch - 2 Angus burgers, wedges and roast parsnips (using the bulky stuff to make more space). Lots went out to the bins but more hasn't yet gone (bottom end of the yard is slippy where I didn't  manage to clear some soil so decided to err on the side of caution).  

I put in the brisket and sat on the couch chopping leeks, potatoes, carrots and celery which all went into the oven dish along with stock. had just started chopping again when DS3 came down so I came back upstairs. I had the oven on slightly too high so the beef and veg caught slightly but very edible (ate 2 pasta bowls full). 

The paperwork is sorting through where I am up to with everything, entering important information into the diary and notebooks (list of remaining wrap and ribbons will go in the cs Christmas planner which cost 50p a couple of years ago), Also thinking about what I want / need to  happen this year (including moving on two teenagers who are well past their sell by date). In a new twist DS3 thinks if they move into my grandma's house, he will be staying there (he finds moving traumatic - he was born in the bathroom here and doesn't want to be anywhere else. When he was a child he told me that he'd have this house when he grew up and I could just find somewhere else to live. Some easy stuff too like completing craft projects , reading books, eating veg and using up the store cupboard.

I don't need extra wrap and ribbons but I had promised myself to buy the towels this month and an extra mattress protector (the storm broke the washing line - one of 4 - and the mattress protector, a dark brown fluffy throw and 2 rags are currently on the floor or draped over planting. There are also a couple of items that were draped over things to dry and I need to check if they  are salvageable (not urgent, both very old basics).

January is one of the best times to buy household linens and I allowed myself the sheets and pillowcases but held on for the sale prices for towels - organic cotton ones I'd  already decided on but now with a discount. I did see some lovely bedspreads whilst I was sorting through bedding but that's a want not a need so I'll  postpone that purchase (maybe  - 40% off is very tempting, makes something I 'want' more of a reasonable purchase?). I'm finding it easy to ignore most of the sale stuff coming up in my emails - I  think I'm all shopped out. More food is coming later (will need to do all today's meals from stores) - more fresh stuff and some big reductions on stuff I only buy on special occasions (and more of the things that were oos on previous orders).

My birthday is still to come. Normally I'd set aside some of the leftover Christmas food for my birthday, but since I didn't really buy Christmas food I'm doing it now - the online equivalent of rummaging through the ys bargains. The Easter joint usually goes in the freezer at this point - at half the normal price. Anyway one step at a time and concentrating on moving things on (preferably out of the house). Did some fun stuff too, watched the Sister Boniface special and read.

Grateful for warm bedding, getting things done, having options and plans (half plans and musings and what if)

2 NSDs so far. 

Thrifty_Taylor

Good luck with your hospital appointment today @Toni'sfriend.

Yesterday was NSD#2
Did a new yoga routine, boy am I very unflexible!! Hoping this eases over time. Had promised DS1 a walk in a place he'd not been since tiny, at the other end of the island. Super windy, but he wanted to go anyway. When we got there, the spray from the waves were coming over the top of the cliffs, so wasn't safe. Went to a nearby beach, we all got a sand facial 🤣, only stayed 5 mins, the waves were coming right up to the sand dunes every so often, so nowhere to walk!

Decluttered 8 items, cleaned the bathroom & put awayy sproutmas presents. My brother phoned, feel bad because I snap at him a bit when he's spouting off, being an expert on everything. Unfortunately he's lived too long near our dad...

DS3 came home after being with his GF since NYE. He'd had a great time & won a trophy, along with GF's uncle at playing darts, so he was chuffed.

Watched TV & did another width of my rug. The end is in site 😃 also did some Norwegian practice & some Makaton.

Grateful to see DS3 again, seeing massive waves from inside my car, a slightly clearer space

Crazycatlady2

Is it Monday yet? In desperate need of some alone time and peace and quiet tbh

Going for a steroid injection in my elbow tomorrow and having women problems and upset stomach this week so feeling rough 

Hope everyone doing ok

laura_lau

Happy New Year everyone!
I am re-emerging today for first day of work of the year, after 2 days of food, watching TV and catching up with OH and Stepson. So glad to be home! My travelling was delayed quite a bit, but I'm here and that's what counts!

This year I want to focus on budgeting to repay my credit cards as soon as possible, and live the best life I can afford at this time. And continue practicing gratitude here and every day.

My Stepson is leaving today, so it's a bit of a chaotic day with packing, arranging travelling, sandwiches and stuff, so I'll check back in tomorrow when I have more time.

Today is NSD #3 for me.

Toni'sfriend

NSD No 3 (if I'm allowed an exemption for the taxi fare to and from the hospital. No other way to get there, I'm afraid)

Unfortunately the result of the lung biopsy wasn't as good as I hoped.  I will need an operation so it's looking like another medical saga this year. Oh well, we'll deal with it all as we go along. I know I'll get lots of support from my Turtle friends.

I have to confess that I haven't much of anything today apart from watch a couple of good films on TV this afternoon. Himself even made my lunch and is making dinner. Feeling rather spoiled.

Finished my first book of 2024. Lily by Rose Tremain, Not my usual kind of book but it was excellent and I shall be looking for more by the same author.

I'll get back to the tidying, decluttering, etc tomorrow.  xxx

laura_lau

@Toni'sfriend I'm sorry to hear about the biopsy. Big hugs. You definitely deserve to be spoiled today, I'm sending "spoiled by everyone" wishes your way!

DawnW

Sorry to hear your biopsy results were not as favourable as hoped @Toni'sfriend

Hope you feel better soon @Crazycatlady2

Shopping day today so still on NSD1.

Did a trial run to the big city to find the best route to the park and ride ready for when we have to take my brother to hospital on Monday (assuming his op isn't cancelled due to the strikes). I have ordered a taxi to get us there in time for the really early appointment specified (too early for public transport, and it is at least an hour's drive. I can drive, but only locally these days, and I am not driving there, far too busy for me. Also there is no parking. Even the taxis have to stop in the middle of the road ). So that will be a big spend, but needs must. He is too frail to go alone - and to be honest, has never had much in the way of motivation to do things for himself, so won't start now - and not immobile enough to qualify for NHS hospital transport. We will try the park and ride to get back. Or possibly the train again, which was ok last time, but that depends on cancellations due to rain, wind, flooding, more strikes etc. If need be, another taxi. Anyway, fingers crossed his op doesn't get cancelled, as he really needs a proper diagnosis so that any treatment can be decided upon. We know he has lung cancer, quite advanced, but apparently there are a number of different types, all indicating different treatments. And currently they don't know which. This saga has been going on since the summer  

Back to work tomorrow, which I am not really looking forward to, due to other preoccupations. But anyway, onwards and upwards.

Grateful that I am reasonably strong and healthy to deal with it all (not easy dealing with wheelchairs and bags on public transport, kudos to disabled people who manage it all the time), and that OH gave the dog a bath while I went shopping (he is very fluffy now, but doesn't like it, as he likes to project a tough persona (all 4 kg of him )