NST February Forgiveness
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Okey dokey. It's the first of the month and I am busyyyyy with work. As in, 12 hour shift, then clocking on again for some overtime now. I think this goes very much against the Rest and Relaxation guidelines, but if it's pretty much all done tonight then I have the weekend to myself (well, as much as you can with two young kids...).
Budgeting and paying debt is also a job for the weekend, although I set aside money for bills that are regular but not monthly as well as adding to my birthday, travel and Xmas pots with a DD at the end of January.
Had a pretty nourishing lunch – can thoroughly recommend Lidl's Deluxe tomato, lentil and paprika soup, which I had with three small bread rolls (they were very small!)
I really need to drink more water. All I need to do is refill one of my water bottles, and yet... At least I start off the morning with a dispersible vitamin, I suppose!
Gratitude:
1) A huge piece of work I was involved with, which included a live event, has really paid off in the new division my team was moved into and my presentation came across really well in the video that's been created from the event.
2) The thermal leggings that I'm wearing (also care of Lidl) which are super comfy and also warm.
3) A stroke of luck that should hopefully result in the return of a lost backpack tomorrow.My debt free journey starts on 09/01/2024:
CC1 - £0,000.00 (cleared, 29 February 2024)
CC2 - £1,993.91
CC3 - £4,089.70
CC4 - £4,783.14
Current outstanding total: £10,866.75
NST January 2024, February 202411 -
Today I am grateful for having a car which makes all the running around on some days much much easier, for Ron at the gym telling me that my workouts were paying off (he's 74 and knows everybody!), for pip's first night show going really well, for a few more crocuses/croci appearing along with the snowdrops.
NST March lion #8; NSD ; MFW9/3/23 Whoop Whoop!!!11 -
Well done Pip!
You've all had a great first day 😃
I have celebrated National Dark Chocolate day & had 3 squares this evening 😋
Forced myself to do yoga this morning. Had a great day at work, got lots done with the pupils & the day flew by!
Dashed off for a haircut afterwards, told hairdresser that I'll be returning to my other one, now she's coming back off maternity leave. Then had a massage booked. So doubly pampered tonight!
Got quite a few steps in at work, but dark on our country roads, so will leave the walking til the weekend. There is an app which I use called Relive. It can log the distance you walk/cycle/run etc, if you want to take photos en route, you can create a video of where you've been & the photos pop up in the places you took them. It also suggests nearby routes too.
Unpicked & replaced a coat zip. Chose the courses I'd like to do on the inset day. Had a nice soak in the bath.
Grateful for children's excitement when watching the birds eating the snacks wed put out for them, very funny videos & pampering timeUse it up, wear it out
Make do or do without!
If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours 😃
⭐⭐⭐⭐9 -
Been to see GP due to concerns regarding a small lump in an intimate area, Dr confirmed it's not serious. Need to keep a eye on it incase it develops into something else. At least I now know what that feels and looks like and its just me😳. Oh the joy of been a middle aged woman🙄. More drugs prescribed.
It's made me seriously consider what I would like out of life and it's not what is happening now, more or less. DH and I need to sit down and talk about our future.
Dropped the youngest at my mum's as they are staying there as it's our wedding anniversary (22years)tomorrow. Our plans are having to change due to us both not feeling too good. DH off work again.
1st nsd.
Grateful for
1. Wonderful GP putting me at ease and talking through options.
2. Availability of drugs
3. A supportive DH
Love 🐞
12 -
Yesterday was NSD1, but today won't be as I need a couple of things in Lidl.Had a worrying phone call re my brother who has apparently had a lot of abdominal pain. For some reason he just put up with it and didn't phone the hospital for help (they keep impressing on him to contact them if he has any issues / questions - he even has a named contact nurse). I wish he would be a bit more proactive and let them help him. So one of my first jobs will be to try to get hold of him and make sure he is ok. Then I need to go to work.I am trying to distract myself by making some changes at home. I want to get rid of some large furniture so must progress this. OH wants to sell it, but I have tried, and no takers. I am happy to donate it to the local hospice shop who will collect it, but if OH wants the hassle of taking it to the local auction house that would be ok too. Just want rid!Thankyou for the challenge @grandmanerd. I haven't had time to think about it much yet, but will do so over the weekend.9
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Friday 2nd February 2024
Just 5 minutes - lots off ideas for doing a little bit extra
1 If it's a one minute job, do it as soon as you notice it (you're allowed to put it on the to do list and cross it off if it makes you feel better). Sometimes I do a 'reverse to do' list and jot things down as I do them because sometimes you get to the end of the day, nothing on your to do list has been done and you can't remember what you did do.
2 The Clutter Fairy's 5 minute maintenance tasks. If you are doing a serious declutter (a lot of us need to, especially as we age), you also need to do things to stem the flow of clutter coming in, otherwise it's just an endless conveyor belt of stuff to be processed. Clutter Fairy's five minute maintenance tasks include putting away the clothes you've worn that day (to wardobe/ laundry), setting out clothes for the next day, taking out the trash, dealing with the day's post (file all the junk mail in recycling straight away), washing up (or adding things to the DW), clearing out your car (sweet wrappers, parking stubs, water bottle etc), doing one stage of laundry (she dealt with a young couple who both hated laundry, so they just bought new clothes all the time - they worked shifts so she suggested that one of them put the washing in the machine and set it off and the other take it out when done)
3 mothernerd Rant Making your bed is NOT a five minute job. It's on so many lists and it's just not true (for old crocks like me). I did look at a website yesterday which suggested having a lovely bedspread to throw over the bed and contents which sounds reasonable but I've not been able to casually toss a sheet or cover over the bed for years. I toss and then spend another few minutes pulling, smoothing, tweaking until it reaches the 'it'll do' stage. Properly remaking the bed (mattress protector, sheets - easiest for me is to put them on half the bed and the unfold across the further side, pillows with protectors and pillowcases, second sheet, warm layer and cover) is the work of several hours with frequent rest breaks. This is compounded by my being in the small bedroom, access to one side is permanently blocked off and I can't have drawers at both sides of the bed so the half of the bed I'm not sleeping on functions as a bedside table (CPAP machine, pills for one week, 2 pairs of glasses, phone so I can check the time when I wake up - and answer it as the people who call me most frequently go to bed much later than I do, bedside lamp - should be 2 but one is awol, large bottle of water, large bottle/ cans of alternative drinks, food for snacks in the night to combat blood sugar dips and first thing in the morning so I don't have to go downstairs, proper hankies/ toilet roll, small bag with medicinal creams, wipes for CPAP machine and laptop, books, pens and notepads/ diary, puzzle book and handicrafts - more in use pre-Christmas). This might make a good comedy routine.
4 Leaving each room better than when you came in. This might mean tidying the sofa cushions before bed. Short version - do 3 things, put away a hairbrush, pick up something that belongs in a different room, tuck things in an open drawer and shut it properly. It might not sound like much but cumulatively it makes a big difference.
5 When you are ill (travelling between the bathroom and your bed is all you can manage) try to do something every time you go to and from the bathroom. It might be picking up bits of rubbish that missed the bin, again shutting a drawer that's been left open, rearranging the pillows before you get back in bed, picking up the book that fell on the floor when you went to sleep. Tiny, tiny tasks that help you feel that some things are still within your control
6 Things to do in the bathroom (apart from the obvious and sex). When I'm too ill to clean I wipe the bathroom sink every time I brush my teeth (up to 5 times a day because of medicine side effect). I've also worked out all the bits of the bathroom I can reach sitting down - wiping all the bars on the towel rail can be tedious but if you're sitting there anyway. I can even do little bits of the floor (about one square foot) moving a rag about with my foot. Exercise I can do the 'standing on one leg exercise the physio taught me (only once and holding onto the towel rail with both hands for balance). I can do modified squats (clinging onto the towel rail for dear life. This week I've added biceps curls (no weights) and am experimenting with heel digs and side taps. Grooming I wash my hair whilst in the sitting down shower (have to pick a good day) Other grooming extras get added in as and when (scrubbing my fingernails when I've been in the garden, others according to ability and when I notice).
7 The life changing magic of throwing things down the stairs. When you have a chronic condition you have to conserve your limited energy (spoons) This also works for people with temporary incapacity like sprained ankles or wrists, recovering from an operation/ treatment with limits on carrying
/ lifting/ certain movements (after my hysterectomy I was allowed to peg out washing one t-shirt at a time). many things can be thrown or kicked downstairs - rubbish and recycling (handles tied enough to stop stuff falling out but loose enough to add more downstairs (a packed bin bag is more likely to split open), beddiing and clothes for washing. Since I first started wearing glasses at the age of eight and shortly afterwards fell the full length of the stairs and ended up wrapped round the stair rail, I've chosen to throw scissors and shears downstairs rather than carry them (or tuck them safely in a bag). Crockery is safer and more secure in a wastepaper bin tucked firmly in the crook of your arm and I also used a 19 l day trip rucksack to transport stuff, leaving both arms free. I've also dropped things out of my bedroom window (it's the emergency escape route) to cut out the downstairs, across the kitchen trip. Recycling was waiting neatly for me when I reached the back door..
8 Things to do on the bed or couch. When recovering from flu I used to mend all my sons' clothes. Around Easter time I would check any trousers that were ripped and either patch them or convert them into shorts to be worn until autumn. I often chop veg sitting on the couch or in a chair (good during pregnancy too if we have any young turtles). When on enforced bed rest I did lots of crafting but also got my sons to put one drawer at a time onto the bed for me to sort through. When I was told to rest towards the end of my third pregnancy (DS3 tried to come 5 weeks early) I did a 500 piece jigsaw of a whale's tail (sea, sky and whale all in grey scale.
I think that's enough for now but feel free to add your own tips
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The main thing I did yesterday was to check up on the link for the weight loss group referral from the hospital (it had been sent to spam). i listened to all the guidelines and I think I'm going to love it. It addresses all the things that bother me about other weight loss programmes - I know what I should be doing, rough calorific values, healthy food but however much I try, nothing is happening. This uses NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) to retrain your brain (because it's your subconscious brain that's undermining you all the time). Lots of positivity, holistic stuff (very much in line with the turtle way of doing things. I spent an hour listening to how tos and signing up to the fb group and then only had to listen to my daily 'pod' before bedtime. It doesn't even matter if you let it wash over you because it's your subconscious that needs to listen. It's fine if you go to sleep because subconscious brain will still be listening. It's highly scientific (not to mention soporific) and I relaxed into it after the opening notes.
I'm wildly excited about this - no calorie counting, throw away the scales (just focus on how you feel, how confident you are and how your clothes feel). How secure you feel in your own skin. I played my daily pod (repeat every night until told to move on) and the stress busting pod (use as many times in the day as you need to) and felt really warm, comfortable and relaxed. I'm also supposed to list 3 daily wins so I'll ad that on at the end and put it in my notebook later.
I wanted to go and do the house inspection (with or without them) but it was starting to get dark (not sure if the electric is on as it's been empty for a month or two - need to pick up all the utilities stuff). So that's on today's agenda. I'd already spent money so added a couple of other things. Today will also be a spend day so have jotted a few errands down - my shampoo bar was down to a sliver which broke in two this morning, I want to book a haircut and get spare keys cut and may do a couple of online orders later.
I also wrote out a personal version of the challenge. Lots of things I need to get back on board with and I've tried to find baby steps to kickstart things
February Forgiveness I still curl up with embarrassment over stealing someone's chicken leg when I was 19 (I was tricked into it) so definitely need to let go of things. Doing much better on not spending any thoughts on people who had a huge negative impact for many years - they aren't worth my time, energy or brain space
Health Clean my mask every day (oops need to go and get it out of the rinse water). I got a bit slack on this whilst I was ill (some days I dozed off repeatedly so there was no time to wash and slowly dry the mask). I must be vigilant otherwise I risk re-infecting myself with the dreaded lurgy all the time.
Savings i will round up the loose coins in the bottom of my bag and add them to the penny challenge.
Money Last year I started 2 monthly direct debits. i signed up to help the air ambulance last week (may cancel soon) but can't really afford to do 2 extra DDs this year (as well as continuing the 2 older ones) so I've been looking for other ways to contribute. I've committed to handing donations to Shelter 3 times this year. The shop's in Bolton so that also contributes to getting out and about more. I will probably join in the Oxfam second-hand September this year (loving my new to me handbags and the winter woolies I got from there and local cs. Our Oxfam shop closed it's doors last year so I want ways to contribute - I have bought second hand books from the online store as well.
Everything is an asset once again I will be attacking what's left off mum's store cupboard. I did have a cap'o'soup last month that tasted very wrong but not sure if it was because i was ill or because it's been mouldering away in the back of a cupboard whilst newer packs have been consumed. The nuts still taste okay (checked before Christmas - no elves will be harmed because Father Christmas is taking a well deserved break) but some of the packaged rice is decidedly dodgy - mum had microwave rice which I never use and don't much care for, some may be ditched and some may be dyed for sensory play. May do a wholesale replacement of lentils and pulses that have been open for a while (unopened packs in stores)
I will also assess my clothing. There are a number of things I bought last year that I haven't worn, some things were replacements for items that can now go and there are some older items that I no longer wear. I also need to release clothes I've saved because 'it's beautiful material and I could do things with that. i have several craft projects on the go and I must trust that the universe will ensure that one of the cs has a spare velvet curtain when I need cushion backs (the fronts haven't been embroidered yet). Do I love it or need it - if not it can leave the house and find someone who will love and cherish it. (Adjusting from living in dire poverty takes time)
Budgets This is a work in progress. This month I will write down everything I spend and check what goes out against my new income (plus a little bit of anticipating reductions in energy use when I get them to leave)
Making rest a priority My body enforces this - my legs refuse to go, my breath becomes ragged, I go dizzy
Cooking from scratch and meal planning A number off problems here (not wanting to eat, not having time or energy, only being able to cook one thing at a time or I get flustered, not realising I'm hungry until I'm ravenous and making poor choices as a result) i will commit to doing some meal prep each day (will toast cashews so I can use them in veggie Chinese recipes and use up odds and ends of various bottles), chop veg (ultimate aim to prep it as soon as it comes into the house). Plan what I'm going to eat that day, try to bring lunch forward (rather than 3 pm) to help with blood sugar levels.
5 Minute tasks 5 - 10 minutes exercise, one bowl of washing up (or putting away pots) until caught up, one stage of washing/ admin tasks
Spend free days Yesterday and today were not. However I did not spend in several sales (mainly because the laptop kept cutting out and the sites were being pigs. Toilet rolls have been rolled onto February and there are a few things that need paying for. Will list purchase needs and add them into a spend day.
Observe all the little changes external - nature, sitting outside and internal -changes in my thinking processes with the slimpods.
3 Gratitudes and 3 tiny wins
Exercises under previous post
Nourish body, mind and spirit Feeling good about myself
Gratitudes - New weight loss programme, putting together a list of tiny steps, cleaning the merino wool pillowcase
Tiny wins - Feeling very positive and confident about myself and my ability to lose weight, very relaxed after the podcasts, finding books to read (just finished re-reading a series (1 - 11, hopefully a new one later this year)
11 -
Yesterday was no spend day number 1.I’m enjoying the 5 min chunks of time for tidying and clearing. It all helps. Kindness to self is important and it’s good to have reminders of thisToday I’m grateful for
3 little snowdrops in the grass when out in the park with my dog. Such a surprise to see them there
lovely work colleagues who have been amazingly supportive as I’ve returned to work following a chest infection
chicken bone broth yum yum11 -
The plan was to go into town today to book seats on the bus for next week and have lunch, However, the weather was awful. I can cope with rain but not these strong, blustery winds. Where are they all coming from? I don't remember it ever being this bad.
So I've been pottering about doing lots of little five minute jobs and generally tidying thing up.
I don't know how I've managed this but the hotel I've booked for our little getaway is not the one I thought it was. We know the town very well and I have no idea how I muddled them up. However, it is a beautiful hotel and they have upgraded our room. Only downside is that it's at the top of a steep hill. Bit of a problem in one way but in another the surgeons do want me to get some exercise so perhaps it will be beneficial. Just have to stop and start. And it is set in acres of it's own grounds with red squirrels, roe deer and lovely walks so a definite positive.
Booked hairdressing appointment for next Friday. I don't quite know if I need the colour done but the girl who does it is lovely. She understands my medical difficulties, is very honest about what should be done and when and doesn't mind when I have to cancel at the very last minute because of hospital appointments.
Hoping the weather will be better tomorrow and we can do what we were intending to do today. xxxxHave adventures. laugh a lot and always be kind.9 -
I hope you've been able to catch up with your brother before work @DawnW and that all is OK with him, he must be such a worry for you. My DH moans about how ill he's feeling but even when I offer to make a GP appointment he refuses.
I'm also looking around my house to see what can leave and what can be re-arranged, my problem is I have two items of furniture which belonged to grandparents and which I don't really have any need or space for. Maybe I should photograph them and let them go, but nevertheless it's difficult.
Remember to take care of yourself first xx10
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