NST January 2024: This is Sparta!

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for getting to an early gym session and being the only one there, for pip being honest and open about how he's doing, for the barber giving Pip a good haircut, for making a start on tidying up -trying to apply the rule of 1, for bumping into some neighbours and having a little chat.

Thrifty_Taylor

Transferred money for my niece's birthday next week, but had planned it, so counting as NSD#3.

Did my yoga. Went for a stormy walk with DH, then did the ironing.

Visited a friend this afternoon, haven't seen her since she started her chemo, so good to catch up. 

Did some Norwegian practice, then more of my rug after tea.

Heading to bed with my book shortly, was woken in the night 3 times by folk talking & moving around. Feeling tired, but so close to finishing my book!

Sending hugs to all the poorlies & those looking after them. It will get easier x

Grateful for seeing my friend, getting back into the dry after our blustery walk, a warm fire

Starlight_at_Sea

Grateful today that friends escaped a scary floodwater experience with 'only' bumps, bruises, shock, lots of paperwork to do, and that our household has been inconvenienced but nothing more by storm damage and disruption. Stay safe turtles! 

Very grateful that garage have called to say my car has been repaired a day early, and my wallet appreciates that it's taken so many weeks now to get to this point (unplanned recovery, mechanic shortages, flooded garages, Christmas, etc etc) that the costly repairs now come out of a different month's budget! 

Also grateful that only one ear is now aching. The other feels amazing in its lack of pain and I no longer need to try to sleep sandwiching my head between 2 hot water bottles. This cold has been with me for a good few weeks now, it's saved me a small fortune via not-going-out over the hols, and not-really-fancying-much of the Xmas treats, but it can safely move on now, please! 

weenancyinAmerica

Sorry to hear about your biopsy @Toni'sfriend. I was lucky - mine has turned out the way the doctor thought and is non-cancerous. It is just a lifelong thing I will have to live with as there is no cure yet (a women's issue so no studies being done) but there is medication I can use. Rather not, because it is a hassle but then. Was a quick appointment. Arrived about fifteen minutes early and they took me right in. Was out before my appointment time. Even got to the gas station early. Should have enough gas for the rest of the month as doing little driving these days.

Got everything on my to-do list done today and a couple of things from my yesterday's list I had missed, so a productive day. Even picked up the milk I forgot yesterday and got the snack food for the library donation. Placed a couple of orders yesterday, so waiting for flash drives, ink for the printer, and a bunch of medical items. 

Have been working on the 24 in 2024 list. Getting my minutes in and decluttering items. So off to a good start. Waiting now for roommate to come home as we are being picked up to work at the FamilySearch Center tonight. Will be changing our hours and going in on a couple of Saturdays a month now that I shouldn't be driving after dark. My roommate has been told she shouldn't drive a t all due to a couple of what looks like seizures, so one of our other roommates took her to the doctor this afternoon. 

Hope everyone is staying dry and warm. It is getting colder her also and our heating just came on - and I have it set to come on at 60F (or about 15C). This is a lot colder than normal here.

laura_lau

@f0xh0les ahah true! I never even noticed the pennies, I'm so caught up in the total amount, now they will be bothering me too! I was hoping to do some overpayments around April, when I get my work bonus, but I still don't know if I will get it at all and how much (it usually is quite small), but no matter how much it will be, I'll round those pennies!

I am trying to do a bit of planning today, both for work projects and personal things, and this is where I've got so far (for which I am very grateful today):

1. planned the next phase of a project I am managing at work, and putting together detailed milestones now, so it will be be mostly ironed out before my manager returns from holidays next week. Feeling much less overwhelmed by it. 
2. Created a few tasks for myself in our tasks management system, for a few things I need to do in the next couple of weeks, so I don't forget. Reducing my overwhelm a bit further.
3. Planning things I want to do, places I want to go, travels / holidays I want to make this year, to make the best of my holiday allowance and to be able to budget for them as much as possible, and scale down plans if it turns out I can not afford them. I am finalising this now in my lunch break. (I have never done this before, so I have big hopes for it)
4. Book my volunteer days in my calendar and book weekends when I should be keeping free to meet with friends, as too often I end up not having time to spend a half day with a friend because I didn't put time aside for it.
5. Plan some decluttering

Really pleased as these are ticking off a few letters from this month's challenge: Acknowledge, Improve, Space, Ponder, Reflect.

Today is day 4 of my 16 planned NSD's - had to fight against my will as I wanted to buy some ramen noodles for lunch as I really felt like it, but we have perfectly delicious soup already in the house, so that's it!

Flying_By

So relieved to see the back of 2023, it wasn't the greatest year for the family what with illnesses, accidents and arguments!  However, I'm feeling more inspired at the beginning of 2024 and hoping for a year of 'getting stuff done.'

I have really let things slide in the house - when I was younger, with four kids at home and a husband who was working abroad a lot - well, my house was immaculate - now I have 2 large areas, the loft and a 'garden room' which are full of DD3's belongings ....... and she moved in with her partner 3 years ago. I'm hoping to box up all her stuff and deliver it to her new address, with luck by the end of this month, or end of February at the latest.  She has been warned 

Also needing attention: I must start attacking the credit card balance with more vigour, set aside cash to cover our elderly house cat's veterinary care, she's not insured and at 14 years old it wouldn't be worth starting a policy for her 

Two gratitudes:  Our GP realising that DD2 was having an acute adrenal crisis and arranging for us to go to Urgent Medical Referrals at our local hospitaI where the staff were also brilliant.
Far less important but nice, a £50 win on the PB's yesterday (re-invested of course!)

Belated Happy New Year to all you lovely turtles and thanks to @apple_muncher for a super January challenge 

Toni'sfriend

Thank you all so much. Even though it wasn't the best news I came away from the appointment feeling quite positive. I am sending my very best wishes to your brother, Dawn, and to you as well. In situations like this the needs of the carer are so often ignored so, please, take care of yourself and accept any help you are offered even though there doesn't seem to be much of it about at the moment.

Today was NSD No 4. Decluttered a lot from the spare room and found some temporary homes for the Christmas presents. Washing all done and drying upstairs. Food from freezer for lunch and dinner. Still no alcohol and almost but not quite avoiding the snacking but I'm getting there.

Must get on with compiling tomorrow's to do list. xxxx

DawnW

Still NSD 1 as I seem to be doing the shopping in dribs and drabs this week for some reason! I haven't spent much on it though! Also had to pay the window cleaner.

Decluttered 2 plastic coat hangers and a part tube of handcream that I have had for years, and appeared to have gone off - it had gone very runny and smelled odd, so in the bin it went!

Worked till 4, then OH and I made chilli for dinner. There is enough for two more meals for both of us, and it is yummy, so all good. Had some this evening with half baked potatoes and HM coleslaw

The weather is awful, and all the surrounding fields, and some of the roads, are flooded. Grateful that we live on top of a hill!

ladybird1106

Went out for cake but didn't pay as friend was treating us to say thank you for help before Christmas. Nsd#3.
Christmas tree was bundled into 2 duvet covers and put outside. Managed to limit the pine needle explosion.
Grateful for. 
1. Having well mannered adult children
2. Duvet covers
3. Friends
Love🐞

f0xh0les

Spendy day again today.  More DIY bits, nothing exciting I'm afraid.  One day I will surprise you all with a tale of impromptu emerald buying and a clothes shopping spree... The only problem is that I honestly prefer the dentist to clothes shopping, and after being burgled 4 times, full price 'diamonds and stuff' hold no real appeal. Anyway, back to my toga wearing exploits, I went volunteering and managed to get a couple of long term clients to actually chat to the debt / benefits advisor.  It is no small achievement. It might be the turning point for them. Fingers, toes, and knees crossed for them. 
Builder did not appear. Electricians did, so I am making progress, most of the lights work, and all the new plug sockets work too. 
Just slapped another coat of white emulsion on two walls and a ceiling.  Hopefully the builder will emerge tomorrow, and the plumber is coming as well.   The end is nearly in sight for this round of spendy works, but my hands are a mess, and there is a lot of decorating to be done.  Oh well, it keeps me out of jail! 
Is it alright if I tell the builders that DH is a s-e-x -w-o-r-k-e-r the next time they ask what he does for a living?  I have distracted them the last 3 times they asked.   They are not brave enough to ask me what I do for money.  😂🤣
Oh, forgot to say I scored a huge free fresh 🍍 and two 🥝🥝 and two pomegranates.  Happy Days!