NST A May Meditation

Shrewbie

Happy bank hol weekend to all the turtles. I spent all day outside in the park yesterday for a friend's birthday picnic. I have completely blown my budget this week due to the bank hols. I was doing so well before then. Will have to recoup in the next few weeks. Only 1 NSD so far. xx

lcc86

Started the day washing a rug that I've been using to catch any accidents by my incontinent bunny, needed to get it done early so that it can dry before going back down later.

Went horse riding, the weather was gorgeous and it was a lovely ride. OH and I went to the farm shop to get something nice for a lunch so spent there but it wasn't too bad. I also ordered something I needed for my aquarium but that was less than £10. Have hoovered and cleaned the carpet (again!), and have emailed a retailer to ask for an order to be cancelled and refunded as it's still on back order (and they never told me it was even on back order when I ordered it). If no response I will do a chargeback through my credit card.

Sent £5 to my emergency fund account as well, hoping to get it to £2,100 before the end of the month. 

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for Pip sleeping through the night, for getting a good 10 hours myself, for doing lots and lots of cutting out whilst listening to the Thursday murder club (always new or forgotten bits to re/discover), for fresh bedding, for mango milkshakes.

Thrifty_Taylor

Sorry i didn't post yesterday, but I was exhausted after walking 26,632 steps!!

NSD#2 as had paid for the boat yesterday when I booked it. £9.50 for both of us return!
Got up at my usual weekly time, practiced Norwegian then packed us some lunch. Caught the boat at 9.30 & had a lovely crossing to the neighbouring island. The sun was shining, so all looked good for our ascent. At the foot of the hill we got down to t-shirt sleeves, slapped on more suncream & set off. Unfortunately, a quarter of the way up, the clouds started to appear, & by the time we reached the summit, we could only see 10m in front of us 😓 On a clear day you can see the whole group of islands & even up to Fair Isle, but we couldn't even find the trig point! Sheltered in a dip & are lunch, then set off back down again.

At the bottom we decided to walk through the valley & nearly reached the stunning beach, but turned back to head back towards the pier. Ate more of our picnic, so didn't need to go to the cafe, but instead looked for sea glass on the beach there.

NSD#3

Was quite achy when I woke up. After breakfast & Norwegian, I made some soup. Started a jigsaw whilst it was simmering.

Weeded a raised veg bed & listened to the radio, then after tea I shortened 3 pairs of trousers.

Grateful for a nice time with DH, that we took our time going up the 'hill', that it stayed dry, time in the garden today, that I've still got another day yet off work 😃

grandmanerd

Monday 6th May 2024

The female body was never meant to be smooth, firm and flawless.
It was designed to create life,  to host life, to feed life.  Yes there are many other amazing aspects to us all but underpinning our fight to retain our 'figure' is a whole network of genetics, science and a whole evolutionary process which wants to create, store and produce fat for protection and hormonal health. If you are losing the battle for slimness, do not think for one moment that this is your fault.  You are trying to blow away the wind. 
Feed yourself well mentally, physically and spiritually and then enjoy your life with the vessel you inhabit. It's a one shot only thing. Peace, laughter and acceptance are the best medicines around
(Donna Ashworth)

We cannot shame ourselves into change, we can only love ourselves into evolution

This doesn't mean that you can't change but you won't succeed by hating your body. It has done you good service and you need to accept it fully and love and respect it (mothernerd)

YOU DO NOT Need to solve your whole life in a day.  You do not need to fix everything tonight.  You do not need to, nor will you be able to. So instead of feeling that the mountain in  front of you is so huge you could  never scale  it and give up  entirely, just focus on taking one step.  All you need to do today is take one step in the right direction, and then tomorrow take another. Your life is not transformed in one sweeping motion, it is changed bit by bit, ordinary moment by ordinary moment,  when you decide to stop  waiting for  perfection and start doing what you can right here and fight now to move yourself forward
(Brianna Wiest)

beanielou

Love Donna Ashworth. She lives fairly near me! 

lcc86

Evening turtles, what a miserable bank holiday it has been, rain all day! That said, I actually quite like walking in the rain and watching it from the window so it wasn't all doom and gloom for me.

Cleaned both my aquariums first thing, they actually didn't really "need" it but I have a busy week ahead work-wise so decided to bring the next clean forward to today. I took my time and cleaned the glass properly and trimmed the plants so it all looks much tidier. Think I've just been doing quick cleans recently and not paying as much attention as I otherwise should. 

After breakfast I walked to the gym and back, then discovered a problem with the heating - none of the radiators are heating up, but we have hot water (thank goodness!). Will be contacting a plumber tomorrow, at least it has happened now rather than in winter. 

Cooked some lunches for the week ahead for myself and OH, and put all the washing away that I did yesterday. 

Only spend today was a planned purchase of £25 of premium bonds.

Found a job I may consider applying for, pay is good but travel costs may eat into most of the difference between what I get now and what the job offers. Need to do some thinking on that one.

grandmanerd

A day of ups and downs. The gardeners phoned to ask if they could come to see my gardens. They came here first and quoted £180 per day to do the initial sorting out and getting things where I  want them (that's for two of them). Probably a couple of days work - they will come and do as much as they can on the first day, then see if another day is required. Then we all went to grandma's house and they're quite enthusiastic about the challenge (after the initial shock - it has taken off a bit). He pushed his way into the jungle and there's a pond in the middle of the central bed. They've just phoned me back and they can tackle grandma's house on the 23rd and 24th (+ 25th if needed).

Unfortunately as I was going downstairs to  wait for them, I missed the bottom step, so  plunged down from the third step  and kept moving downwards and sideways until I hit the floor. I then had to stay where i was, whimpering, until DS3 came to rescue me. I'd fallen against the table top that was leaning against the wall and if I'd moved it might have fallen on top of me. Right hip will probably be bruised tomorrow and there are other bits which got slammed or twisted.

This afternoon I bit the bullet and phoned my brother. I have the go  ahead for the jobs I've organised but wasn't happy with the rest of the conversation. He's seeing a consultant next week and then has to discuss if he needs further treatment. He's very tired and has been told that might last for a year. My niece still  thinks the two valuations I got are rather low (hers has just sold but it was extended to 4 bedrooms before she bought it and has had other work done to it). I have told him  I'd like to buy his half and then live there but he's not said yes or no. I said my top price was half what the house was valued at  but that might reduce if more problems are uncovered (if the !!!!!! willow has undermined the foundations or attacked the drains). Basically they want me to do all the work to make it presentable so he can charge me more to buy him out (with a second round of valuations). I still think there's a whole level of other jobs (rewiring/ new front and back doors/ replacing the windows) needed to increase the value. The basic jobs won't make it 'outstanding'. 

Grateful for helpful gardeners, that I only fell as far as I did (probably due to fall, I've been worried about it for a while), for DS3 coming to help and Beloved calling down to check that I was okay. Second day of plodding through stuff in my room (many many bags have gone to the bins)

beanielou

Blimey @grandmanerd, I am so glad that you are ok. Take care xx

apple_muncher

That must have been rather a shock, grandmanerd, so pleased take it very easy for the next few days. The chaise longue is all yours!

Today I am grateful for some white flowers blooming in the garden, for getting to the gym, for Pip being a bit brighter, for sewing up a couple of owls, for getting our visa applications done- it's not a friendly process!