NST February Forgiveness

Starlight_at_Sea

As always, so inspired by your posts everyone, both to slow down and focus on what's really important, and to get things done! Sending strength to all those facing tough times of whatever sort and best of holiday vibes to all on half-term! 

I've been travelling for work this week..It was fairly full on all week and a lot of train chaos. I definitely need to do my expenses promptly this week @f0xh0les as there is a hotel night on there after getting stranded late at night midweek. 

I did spend a few nights at my house partly as a result of the train chaos. It was nice to check in with my lodger and 🇺🇦 girl and hear about what's going on in their lives, both in early days of relationships (so a lot of 🌹in the house on Weds!) and enjoying their jobs. I didn't really have many 'meals' there just random ingredients but they fed me, which was a bit of role reversal! Sorted some things out in the kitchen (ancient ingredients!) and decluttered a few shelves in the lounge. So hard letting books go, it's a good job I don't live near @weenancyinAmerica !  Dad came over yesterday and we blitzed the garden together at the house so it's more ready for spring, and took stock of some pots that can come to the flat in DC's big car sometime. On downside, discovered shed is really quite rotten in places now. Am pondering that. I also sorted out a bit more of DDs bedroom as friends of lodger are using it this week. All in all felt like a lot of progress sorting out things at that place.

First arb&b guests have now departed - we didnt actually meet due to my train sagas but they communicated well and left the place tidy, and gave a 5* review. Next guest arrives tonight - I think I just need to make the bed, did everything else last night. I got the guidebook updated online and recorded a couple of videos showing confirmed guests around that I can re-use. Slowly getting there. 

No idea why I can't sleep tonight.... woke about 2 hours ago, tried to sleep, got up and put washing on, tried to sleep, made hot drinks, caught up with this thread, now going to try to sleep again I think! night all x

f0xh0les

Today is dedicated to cleaning up splatted frogs.  I have about 6 jobs which are 95% done, so technically the frog  has been splatted, but not totally gone from any list  - so.....  Today  Matthew, I am removing the bodies.   

DH is at work doing an open day until after 2pm so all the bodies will be buried before then, and I will be in  the kitchen wearing a pinny, baking a cake when he gets home and looking innocent (pah!! as if!)

Yesterday I went looking at carpets , this involved going to F00ds of the Frozen Farm, the £shop, and ending up in Sainsbobs where I realised I was involved in task avoidance activities...  I went and touched 3 carpets,  my heart was not in it, I came home, I am going to go to a Land of Carpet with  DS1 later  on today.

Highlight of the day?  Leedl Greek Week - they have chocolate hazelnut bougatsa, Sunday breakfast of kings!

grandmanerd

Saturday 17th February 2024
Random Acts of Kindness Day (voluntary but might make you smile too)
How many suggestions do you want? 40/ 89/ 100. As it's half-term for many I looked at ones that you could do with children but a lot were 'sappy' and involved spending money or making cookies, sweets and cakes, so I've found a few that I like. One suggestion if you find the idea of leaving things in public places a bit 'creepy' - make some little notes saying that it's a random act of kindness.

Give someone encouragement
Make someone laugh
Give someone chocolate
Thank a teacher
Give a hug
Write someone a poem (or thank you letter)
Talk with an elderly person
Support Cancer Awareness
Read a book to a sibling or a child
Share your toys (I quite like the idea of leaving a colouring book and pencils at the doctor's surgery)
Learn about a hero in history (Who's history gmn?)
Offer a compliment
Say thank you
Recycle
Tell someone you love them
Send someone a postcard
Take blankets to an animal shelter

Tell a frazzled parent that they're doing a great job

Kindness Quotes (OurMindfulLife.com)
Kindness can do you good by lowering cholesterol and inflammation

No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted (Aesop)

For Beautiful eyes, look for the kindness in others. For beautiful  lips, speak only words of kindness
(Audrey Hepburn)

Be the reason someone smiles. Be the reason someone feels loved and believes in the goodness of people (Roy T Bennett)

Treat everyone with politeness and kindness. Not because they are nice, but because you are (Roy T Bennett)

Stopping now, need to eat

Flying_By

I've been flying under the radar for the past week, following a two-night stay from our 8 year old DGS2 last weekend. He really is an absolute joy and has a wonderful sense of humour which has kept DH and I entertained!  DGS2 and DH enjoyed a couple of lovely walks with our Collies and DGS2 and I had huge fun and laughter chucking a pair of rolled-up socks at each other!  I can recommend it as a brilliant stress-buster ....

Step-mum is still in hospital.  She's had two falls in the past week and had to have brain scans which fortunately show no bleeds on the brain but confirm that she has Alzheimers. She is now clear of MRSA and her chest infection and when I saw her mid week we had a good chat and some giggles and she was quite 'with-it' but the nurses told me it tends to be one good day followed by a bad day.  It doesn't help that she won't use the buzzer to call for assistance if she needs to get to the toilet and will just make a break for it on her own!

Really grateful to DS3's GP who has been so supportive in helping to get her diagnosed with hypothyroidism, far more so than the Endocrinology Department at the hospital. Hoping we can access the right medication very soon.
Also, much love and gratitude for my washing machine who has been working tirelessly over the past few days and dealt with the contents of an over-flowing linen basket without complaint!

Hugely thankful for my little car which gives me my independence when I need it.

I've been reading through the diaries I've missed and send love and best wishes to all who need them. Particularly @grandmanerd who is heroic, and for her inspirational leadership this February xx

Thrifty_Taylor

Prepped some soup, did some cleaning, then set off for a walk with DH. Stopped at the cash machine in the village & found a bag of fudge with RAOK on it 😃 we'd taken apples with us, but I started hiccuping with ginger & started to feel sick, so the medicinal fudge was opened & a few pieces consumed 😋 clocked up 6.8 miles.

Norwegian practice, fire emptied & lit, then embroidered my friend's name on an apron which I've made for her birthday. Watched a film with DH & DS1 & did some knitting.

NSD

Grateful for it staying dry on our walk, surprise fudge, time to craft

DawnW

Afternoon all

After torrential rain yesterday evening and most of the night, it is quite pleasant today, and I have put washing out on the line. No doubt I will need to put it on the airer overnight to finish off, but it should mostly dry.

Also made a huge shepherds pie to do two or more meals for the two of us, and 2 individual ones to take to my brother tomorrow. Sorted out the fridge and used up some veg and sprouty potatoes in the shepherds pies. I froze some ham that hadn't been opened and is still well in date, and made apple and mincemeat puffs to use up a sheet of puff pastry with a short date. The apples were from the fruit bowl, and the mincemeat the scrapings from a jar. Lots of bits used up, and nothing thrown away, so all good.

I have made a shopping list, no doubt to be added to before Tuesday when I intend to go, and also a list for the garden centre. I have started tidying the garden ready for the upcoming season. I cut back the water plants in one of my mini ponds yesterday, and that is looking much better today, with new growth showing through. Also cut back some dead vegetation, and emptied out a large pot containing a dead / dying lavender and some weeds. I am sure I can do better than that  

I have also tidied my reading pile and watered the houseplants.

Hospital tomorrow with my brother again, so not much else likely to be done, so I am grateful for getting some useful jobs done today. Also grateful for OH, who hoovered through downstairs yesterday without being asked, while I was at a pantomime with DD and the GCs 

ldee2111

Grateful today for managing to untangle the whirligig, for a dry sunny day, for getting the washing on the line the first time this year, for time at the cycle park with DS, for OH making dinner, for getting 2 sales in VintD, and for a fun new bedtime story from the library for DS. Long live the library! 

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for my foot getting better, for pip having a good afternoon with a friend, for the hyacinths starting to show their colour, for my morning coffee, for an easy tea.

Thrifty_Taylor

NSD#8

You've all had a busy day by the sounds of it. Hope you're having a relaxing evening after tackling those to do lists! Hope all goes ok for your brother tomorrow @DawnW.

Updated my expenditure sheets after going shopping yesterday, then went for a walk with DH.

Sat sewing all afternoon & finished off after tea. Phoned my auntie, who is finally out if hospital again, was nice to speak to her.

Ironed the apron I've made for my friend's birthday, then wrapped it & her bakery items.

Was in the bath with a facemask on, when the phone rang. It was a call from my auntie in America, who I've not seen or spoken to for over 30 years! We do email though. She & her husband are finally making the trip to our Scottish island this summer 😍 she's said for years that she'd like to visit before my boys are teenagers, well the youngest is now 15, but better late than never!

Grateful for phonecalls with my aunties, another dry walk, soaking in the bath

Starlight_at_Sea

How lovely Thrifty! I saw my aunty today, collaborated with my cousin to do a family roast, tbh my main contribution bar things from the freezer (using up the Xmas stash) was in constructing complex Lego with my niece and doing the washing up during and after the meal. Took and shared plenty of olio carbohydrates with DC and her neighbours.

My second paying guest leaves tomorrow, I saw him very briefly tonight, he seemed very nice and said he'd enjoyed staying at our place, so fingers crossed for another good review. Popped into b&q speculatively when passing today to see about a garden hose so I can pressure wash the walkways at the flat....£60! Am going to see if dad's got a spare buried in his garage first I think

Friend came yesterday for lunch and the afternoon together. Made a lovely salad - and had enough for tea tonight and one meal tomorrow too. 

Gosh, it's Monday soon! Best get snuggled up ready for the week ahead. Sweet dreams everyone and good luck with all hospital visits etc x