NST April 2024: April appreciation

Starlight_at_Sea

Morning Turtles! Yesterday was quite eventful.

Dad & I headed out to a garden centre to spend a voucher I had and solve a hedge-gap problem at the flat, and also to recover from the upheaval of the morning's engineer visit. Met my cousin and aunt leaving as we arrived and they warned us off the cafe which was packed and unusually for there they had found their scones inedible. 

We went instead to a kiosk that has opened at a national trust clifftop area about half way home. Dad had lots of stories of the area and hadn't been up there for years, we had a much cheaper cuppa and lovely cheese scones. Was a nice time. 

Got home and on with the chores.... washing machine leaked. Took me hours to empty the utility cupboard sufficient to get it out, take the lino up, plywood floor underneath was sopping wet and clearly had been for  bit. Dehumidifier on, left it to air as best as I could. Storm Kathleen helped dry off some of the many towels that were sodden during the cleaning process, and I can wash these up at the flat on cheaper electric today.

Just checked this morning, it is drying up but will take a couple of days I think! Dad flustered and worried by the upheaval, I was exhausted from the faff and feeling a bit overwhelmed by the stuff. I sorted out another bag of broken things for the bin, and categorised all the things so he can look through them box by box over next few days. We probably don't need about 25 shoe polishing brushes, for example, as he only has one pair of shoes that need polishing these days. 

I didn't miss going to the gym yesterday or the open air circuits class in the high winds on the beach this morning, as my body feels like it did plenty of lifting and shifting yesterday!  I didn't get many of the things weighing on my mind done yesterday and am not sure how realistic it is to get any done today. Just keep plodding along I guess. 

DawnW

((Hugs)) @Starlight_at_Sea you seem to have a lot on. Take care x

Got some jobs done today, also helped DD clean up her kitchen before she goes away on holiday. She has friends staying there for the week to look after some of her animals.

Not spent anything, so NSD # 4 I think!

I have to be up early tomorrow to drop my brother off at the hospital for his chemotherapy, so I won't be late to bed tonight. There is also an appointment on Wednesday, at a really inconvenient time, but it is what it is.

Grateful for feeling a bit more motivated than I did yesterday!

lcc86

Not much to report today, did a load of washing and hoovered. Went to the gym again as well. My ankle is still super swollen so am limited in what I can do but I feel like the more I move the better.

My sister came over this afternoon to drop something off so I had to entertain my nieces for a bit, always good fun. Now just winding down (not that I ever really wound up in the first place!).

Toni'sfriend

Yesterday was NSD No 6 but today I've ordered some personal items in bulk to be delivered by Amazon. No the most cost effective way most convenient at the moment.

The Boy has confirmed that he will drive us to our holiday destination and our friends have confirmed when they will be joining us. All fitting in well. Just need the surgeon to confirm it's ok for me to go. Fingers crossed. please. xxx

leftatthetrafficlights

Gratitudes for today:
Dh digging my new wildlife pond, lots of seeds sown a couple of weeks ago sprouting, long hot showers, lemon verbena and hibiscus tea 😁

Starlight_at_Sea

Thanks all. I was thinking about your comments about himself and cleaning @Toni'sfriend. We had something very similar where dad was adamant he was coping just fine with it all, and mum (who had always done it all) noticed all the things that weren't done to her standard, and I was caught absolutely burnt out and trying to keep it going. Mum didn't think she needed personal care support, dad didn't think they needed support in the home. In the end we compromised and got some private personal support in, someone who could do a bit of housekeeping but also medically aware and able to do personal care. She was a absolute angel and although the home care was what we started with, having everyone familiar with her was such a bonus when more personal care was needed time from time. I wonder if that might be more palatable for himself and helpful to you. Particularly if you can get AA - this is exactly the sort of thing that it helps funds ... but for now a holiday sounds fantastic..I hope all plans align x

f0xh0les

Fingers and toes crossed for you 🤞🤞 @Toni'sfriend
4lb loss this week, so today I am no longer obese, merely overweight, or, more likely, underheight.  Will keep on keeping on. It is only week one of the 'shake plan' and motivation is high.  I bought a shed load of powder past its best before for 1/8 of the normal price last year.  Might as well use it up. It won't go off, it isn't even food!  Lunch was a  broccoli stir-fry and rice and gyoza, and stewed fruit with a tablespoon of cream.  It was lovely..
Today's biggest win was making butter bean hummus and the kids eating it all, oddly  leaving the chickpea hummus.  They did not know it wasn't chickpea.  Bizarre, but now I have an alternative way to get them to eat more beans. Shhh! 
Went to the tip this morning and recycled a lot of things DH would have just lobbed in the bin. 
Today is the last day of the holidays.  Normal service resumes tomorrow. Boo! 

Starlight_at_Sea

Am pleased with some progress today. Did olio collection, a couple of regulars and one new person who seemed very greatful his family could access this. Times are tough and food is soooo expensive.

 Made the most of peak save Sunday at the flat - 2 loads of washing, hot water for a bath, and a lot more power washing... Even though you always see bits you missed, I think I can now declare the power washing done!  I did some of the communal areas including the bin store, building credit with a few of the neighbours - one of whom is popping round tomorrow to fix a wonky downpipe for me. Am so grateful for the help with things I can't do myself, and more than happy to do the things I can for others. It's a nice group of owners and tennants. 

Sorted out TV licence in readiness for others using the flat. Got bedroom ready and stocked up for paying guest midweek.  Talked to DD about her plans to come home. I think it's @foxgloves who talks about being organised about diaries being money saving - it's very true. 

Am now at aunt's care home - came to encourage her to have something to eat,  now a bit stranded as they needed to change some dressings and it takes a while. So out in the corridor giving some privacy and doing jobs on phone. Made some plans with 🇺🇦D for her birthday next weekend. I've been feeling guilty I don't have much time and energy to go around but she is doing fine, I think.  I've found a 🇺🇦 restaurant within reasonable driving distance that we can try either on Tuesday or on the weekend. 

Back to dad's to see how washing machine gate is going! Think I will try washing the detergent drawer and filter out either tonight or early tomorrow, depends which I can do without stressing dad out. Some much needed Flexi time making this quite a short week for me. 

Shrewbie

Hope all the turtles have had a good weekend. It's been a mixed bag here, feeling the benefits of not drinking el boozio, but also working through some emotional stuff. I also happened to see a very bad musical (bad in a bad way, not in a good way -  think school play gets a massive budget for staging)  terrible cheesy acting, but some of the dancing was impressive. I also went to a farmers' market and did a three-hour meditation workshop. A lot for me, but I'm trying to keep myself busy and distracted.....

Today I'm grateful for my first attempt at artichokes "a la plancha" turning out okay, for managing to force myself to speak to people during the workshop, for the sun and a warm breeze.

No NSD today but I've totted up my totals for the week and although I overspent on food it's balanced out with the "fun" spends.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday x

Thrifty_Taylor

Another NSD today, maybe #5?

Very windy here. Walked 4.5 miles, then sat sewing the rest of the day & evening. Felt in a bit of a funk. Messaged a few friends to arrange meet ups in the week, see if that'll cheer me up a bit!

Had a nice long bath with my book. Might head to bed early & read some more - only @170 pages left out if 1069!

Sending hugs to those that need them. 🤞 @Toni'sfriend for your holiday plans.

Grateful for the wind being behind us on the second half of our walk, good TV progs, the memory bears looking cute