NST July 2024: A July jaunt around Madrid

mothernerd

I'm living in interesting times. Not sure if they're adventures, misadventures or what. Someone took money from my bank account so spent some time in the early hours one morning last week, talking to someone at the bank. They stopped my card and I waited for  new one so no internet shopping, deliveries or much else. A couple of forays out to nearish shops to buy small amounts of food.

The newer laptop stopped working (spent a couple of days 'repairing' itself then gave up. The older one split completely in two and not working at all. The phone I bought in May keeps switching itself to silent and people can't hear me when they phone - not sure if I've missed phone calls too. Beloved installed an update, DS3 had a play with it and I keep hitting speaker and have had some success. I managed to lose my library privileges so couldn't use their machines. No games, no films, no series, no 'motivational' podcasts.

I was so fed up of my brother and his daughter that I gave in in the middle of a long incoherent 'calculation' by her and said to sell grandma's house. Didn't sleep and felt tearful and worn out all day so sent a text saying 'Not selling' and did some calculations myself. I went to the library and got my privileges back. I've spoken to a financial advisor and she agreed with my reasoning and helped with the Capital Gains Tax calculation. I've ended up with a figure that's more than I really want to pay (to buy my brother out) but it's a good bit less than what they said was 'fair' . I also rounded up all the little bits from the accounts and have started to write them out and update them. I'm not going to finalise them as I hope these will be the final accounts and I have one or two bits to do yet.

The financial advisor is also willing to talk to DS3 about a self-employed mortgage and the figures she gave me were better than he was expecting. I've done washing (including stuff with stains on), cleared out behind the head of the bed (it's moving away from the wall and more things were falling down but it was also easy to drag them out), played with bins, nearly got my room all sorted. Lots of garden stuff including moving 30 l pots about.

The list of food and other shopping was growing and on Sunday I went to do something about it (gave up on Friday and Saturday). I decided I'd try to get to Iceland but prepare to settle for HB or the wading bird shop. By the time I got to the top of the street I changed my mind, went straight to the the taxi office and asked them to take me to Tessimo's. Even then I was limping by the time I'd done a quick circuit (ignoring most of the aisles).

On Monday morning I dragged myself out of bed and hobbled to the GPO to post the claim form to the bank (our postbox only has a teatime collection now0. Came back very slowly, had a shower and went back to bed for most of the day (knee and ankle are still painful). I have an appointment tomorrow afternoon and hope I can use the little bus to travel to Morries but if necessary it will be taxis again. My new laptop arrived today so I'm playing with that.

Grateful for having cash in the house, for DS3 ordering the new laptop and some food, for getting things done, for being able to rest my leg.

f0xh0les

NSD 10  and I am actually earning some money again.   Having a great time with the events staff. They are fabulous people. Home at the weekend and back to reality. Happy birthday Shrewbie!!

Thrifty_Taylor

Happy birthday @Shrewbie 🎂🎉

A busy day, did some yoga, then after breakfast I gave the bathroom a good fettling. Took some of my craft fair stock to a grocery shop under new ownership & looking for craft items to stock too. Lots of pottering in the kitchen this afternoon. Early bath & tea, ready to pick my American relatives up from the airport, only to be told their flight was first delayed, then cancelled! Went for a walk with DH round the block instead, as the sun had finally appeared.

Grateful for a tidy house, a nice walk & helpful friends

weenancyinAmerica

Sounds like you had a wonderful birthday @Shrewbie. Something I would love also.

@Mothernerd, sounds like you and I are having similar problems with legs. Got a call today from my doctor that my sugar level is way off. Going to have to really work on losing weight, but it terribly hard getting around with a bad leg and a walker. 

thriftylass

Good morning,

gosh, @mothernerd you really had an "interesting" time. Hope your leg feels better today.

@Shrewbie happy belated birthday.

Today should be NSD number 9, yay. Will make a Geleeobsttorte (sponge base, vanilla pudding layer and then fruit covered in jelly, but the German version ingredient as here custard and jelly here are not quite right). Hope my flan dish gets delivered today. 

lcc86

@weenancyinAmerica have you got access to an exercise bike? My mum has had lots of knee problems and can't walk far but she's okay to pedal for quite a while.

I made use of a couple of prime deals yesterday, sometimes I'd had my eye on for ages had £10 off and I also needed a couple of other bits so just bought the lot in one go to save on postage. £56 spent. Had a long day at work yesterday and more frustration with HR departments of my new, current and previous employers all getting various dates wrong which is really messing with my recruitment process. Testing my patience but I will get there.

Today I managed to get to the gym first thing before logging on to work. Have done a load of washing as the weather is good. Cleaners have been so the house is finally in a better state.

mothernerd

Not well so cancelled my appointment and am staying right were I am for now Found a series I started before the equipment failures and also have my cloud reader up. DS3 ordered me some food and I feel a little more stable. Will sit and relax and ponder my niece's latest idiotic demands.

Grateful for DS3, Beloved and books.

beanielou

mothernerd said:

Not well so cancelled my appointment and am staying right were I am for now Found a series I started before the equipment failures and also have my cloud reader up. DS3 ordered me some food and I feel a little more stable. Will sit and relax and ponder my niece's latest idiotic demands.

Grateful for DS3, Beloved and books.

Take care of yourself my friend. Books 📚 are food for the soul 

thriftylass

lcc86 said:

@weenancyinAmerica have you got access to an exercise bike? My mum has had lots of knee problems and can't walk far but she's okay to pedal for quite a while.

I can second the bike if done properly i.e. keep the legs parallel and don't bent them in or outward. I had a calcified shoulder and the only way I could move or what helped was swimming as you move without the weight. Sorry, not medical advice or anything just my two pennies worth

thriftylass

My flan dish arrived yesterday so DS and I baked a Geleetorte and muffins this morning. Perfect day for baking as it's grey, dark and cold outside. Will have a rest day today, the meh weather doesn't help, and will just watch a movie with DS and read. 

My balance transfer card arrived today and I set up the DD to pay it off by Christmas and reduced the limit from the ridiculous amount they gave me to just what I owe.

Today is NSD 10 as I spent on a top up shop yesterday.