NST April 2024: April appreciation

Esmeralda2662

Went to the Recycling Shop and got a lovely nearly new floral top and new holdall for my seaside break on Tuesday. (Suitcase still not packed but will be done after work tomorrow evening, eek!).

More importantly i got a proper tea caddy spoon as i keep catching the normal spoon on the teapot and the tea flies everywhere.

Had some B**ts loyalty card vouchers including one for a free derma moisturising cream. I actually remembered to ask and get one. I was really pleased at it was full size and worth £22.95. I've started using it and my skin feels softer already. I might try to continue with this once the freebie runs out.

Mum and I went to our first carboot of the season. It was lovely in the sunshine but so busy! Got some nice bits and pieces including stocking fillers for charity and a couple of gifts for family. Plus I did 9K+ steps which makes a change!

Met up with my friend who has been very hurt by a couple of extremely sharp retorts from her DIL. My friend would do anything for anyone and has a heart of gold. All I could do was listen and be supportive but I know she feels devastated by this. We tried to have a nice afternoon together but it was obviously playing on her mind.

Two mallard ducks landed on our house roof this afternoon. Think they are looking to nest in the flowerbeds like last year but next doors cat was watching them and put them off.

Wishing everyone a good week, whatever life sends our way. X

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for pip + a friend revising chemistry, for how open the house feels downstairs now we've removed the stair curtains, for massive amounts of blossom on the apple tree, for Pip talking to me, for dh cooking tea.

Starlight_at_Sea

Half way through the month! Time just flies, unless you are watching the bank accounts waiting for payday. I hope return to school goes smoothly @Thrifty_Taylor and that you continue to enjoy sussing out new neighbourhoods @Shrewbie. 

I am pleased to have got through what was quite frankly a very busy weekend! Two birthdays down, much fun had, cakes baked by moi and enjoyed, and presents (a 🐴 lesson for cousins DD and a walking tour of Bridgerton filming locations for 🇺🇦) went down well, as did the small gifts for opening which were all won on raffles but did suit recipients well. 

One more birthday to go, my dad! A3da have came up trumps as I was cake-maked-out, they print a photo on a large cake... have found a suitably young picture of my dad and delivered resulting cake to a group of his friends who he is meeting tomorrow morning for coffee. The cake was too big to use just for family gathering later in the day but am sure there will be leftovers. 

We have clubbed together to book a steam train trip for dad. I came home to him tonight and found him watching one of the ride along on the footplate documentaries so I think we have chosen well. It includes a bacon bap for breakfast so I expect it will go down well. 

I am a bit done in with decision making and in that regard glad the weekend is done. I did get a couple of annoying / tedious jobs done in margins, a trip to charity shop to donate old pans, to tip to recycle small electrics, and all the present choosing! 

Am pleased to have survived a busy weekend and to have budgeted for all the big costs. Giving experiences has also spread the cash commitment out a bit, as the 🐴 will fall into next month. 

Greatful for time by the seaside, safe return of DC and her family from a very windy holiday, for getting used to my oven and all cakes being well recieved, a reasonable 4irbnb guest, some great olio collections, and my stamina still steadily increasing. 😍

lcc86

Morning turtles. Yesterday was a spend day, I got carrots and apples in the supermarket, and bought OH the coffee I promised him in return for taking me to see my pony    weather was lovely and it was good to spend some time outside in the sunshine.

Came home and got some lunches and dinners cooked for the coming week. Cleaned the dishwasher and the kitchen after I was finished. I was also able to amend my energy dd as my account has updated following the payment I made the other day.

This morning have made it to the gym again before work. I also have a dentist appointment mid-morning, just a routine check up today so hopefully no nasty surprises. Nothing MSE to report.

ditty1234

Hi today I feel very lucky as in looking for some therapy after my meltdown in February I have now had 2 sessions with a lovely and insightful therapist. Thank you world. 

ditty1234

Shrewbie said:

Good morning turtles, I am on day 14/30 of no booze. Feel good for it. I am also within budget, if I spend nothing today except for a 10 euro donation for a meditiation workshop i'm doing.

Yesterday was a good day. I went to meet a girl who I'm doing a house/pet sit for next week then spent the rest of the day in the park with a couple of friends.I also checked out a neighbourhood that seems to have affordable flats to buy (relatively). Friends told me about an agent that seems to be able to get people 90%/100% mortgages so I'll look into that. I am grateful for a beautiful sunny day, for seeing bunnies and a woodpecker in the park, for seeing new parts of the city.

I am starting the Artist's Way (book/course by Julia Cameron) with my sister next week, so that will be interesting.

Enjoy your sunday turtles. Hugs to those who are struggling xx

Hi @Shrewbie only just read this properly, I am excited you're doing taw - I have been doing it on and off for a while, did the whole thing a couple of years ago and it has definitely helped me boost my creative and life mojo :-)

Toni'sfriend

Might be on NSD No 9. Getting a bit confused because I keep finding things that I need in bulk.

Feeling much better and talking to the asthma man tomorrow. Hope he can sort something out. But I keep telling myself this really could be so much worse.

We've booked a little break in June, Not too far and easily accessed by public transport. Lovely hotel, upgraded room so fingers crossed. xxx

laura_lau

I can't believe it's the middle of April already. I am catching up with NSD days, had two more over the weekend but today it is not one. I am going to the office twice this week, so a bit more spend there, but i left just a bit more than i need for transport and lunch in my every day account, so hopefully there will be no surprises. 

This past weekend I slowed down a bit and just rested. Went for some walks with the dog, then sat and watched some movies while crocheting or knitting, depending on mood. I am now properly looking forward to the 10 days i took off at the beginning of May, as it will make it such a lighter month, and hopefully will be able to enter the Summer feeling recharged.

I have done 2 loads of laundry today, and they are drying near the window in a sunny sport (hoping the sun lasts). Some of the Winter stuff will just be put away until the Autumn: I do like it when I start the process of the change of season in the wardrobe, as it's also always a good opportunity to get rid of some stuff that I don't use. However it is properly cold again today, so I might have to hold on another week or so before the next loads.

Today I am grateful that I was home safely when the weather turned properly ugly this morning, for having planned the rest of my month so that (hopefully) I will not have to use the credit cards again, and for having had a slower weekend.

Shrewbie

ditty1234 said:

Shrewbie said:

Good morning turtles, I am on day 14/30 of no booze. Feel good for it. I am also within budget, if I spend nothing today except for a 10 euro donation for a meditiation workshop i'm doing.

Yesterday was a good day. I went to meet a girl who I'm doing a house/pet sit for next week then spent the rest of the day in the park with a couple of friends.I also checked out a neighbourhood that seems to have affordable flats to buy (relatively). Friends told me about an agent that seems to be able to get people 90%/100% mortgages so I'll look into that. I am grateful for a beautiful sunny day, for seeing bunnies and a woodpecker in the park, for seeing new parts of the city.

I am starting the Artist's Way (book/course by Julia Cameron) with my sister next week, so that will be interesting.

Enjoy your sunday turtles. Hugs to those who are struggling xx

Hi @Shrewbie only just read this properly, I am excited you're doing taw - I have been doing it on and off for a while, did the whole thing a couple of years ago and it has definitely helped me boost my creative and life mojo :-)

Wow @ditty that's amazing to hear, and such a great way to put it too!! I feel I'm heading in the right direction (towards the mojo) when I hear stories like this 

DawnW

Hello all

I am on NSD #7 I think. Saturday was one, but today was not. I was in town so went to the bathroom shop to accept the quote for de-leaking and beautifying the ensuite that currently can't be used. It is handily (or not) next door to W*itrose, so I dashed in there afterwards as it started to pour with rain. Bought a couple of things off my weekly shopping list, plus some a few yellow sticker bargains. We use L*dl for the main shop, but generally get the bits they don't stock in W*itrose, and take the opportunity to look for YS items that we will use. Today I got streaky bacon, minced beef and finger rolls. The rolls were only 19p for a large pack, so I bought 2 and put them in the freezer. They still felt nice and soft

Did the hoovering this morning, and went to restock my sales unit this afternoon.

Had dinner early as I was starving. It was a mystery parcel from the freezer, which I sorted out yesterday. Turned out to be chicken thighs in a tomato and pepper sauce. We had it with chips and peas, as that is what I fancied, and it was very nice, even though I don't remember making it   

Grateful that the yucky bathroom is going to get sorted out, and that I will have the money to pay for it. Probably won't be done for a few months as they have a waiting list, but that is ok, we have another. Also that the freezer surprise dinner turned out to be something sensible instead of stewed fruit or something for the dog