NST July 2024: A July jaunt around Madrid

Esmeralda2662

Hi Shrewbie, please can i join in for July? Thank you! 

Shrewbie

The first stop on our tour has to be the Plaza Mayor, a meeting place that was situated outside the old walls of Madrid  (which are not there anymore but you can see ruins of the Arab walls from the 8th century nearby) in history it was used for all sorts of things, including executions. Nowadays you can be similarly crucified by sitting down at one of the touristy terraces on the square for an overpriced beer (has to be done) or the bocadillo de calamares con alioli is apparently lovely (I'm veggie!) Feel free to chime in @apple_muncher (I'll have to think of some facts that you won't know  ) 

thriftylass

Checking in with NSD 1. Walked the 45 min to work today, and picked some raspberries before leaving too. DH took the cat to the vet this morning for his boosters. I won't count that as it was set aside at the start of the month as a bill, so should have another NSD today.

Not sure what to make for tea tonight. I just don't like cooking when it's warm, just want to snack. Maybe some quesadillas with random bits from the fridge and salad. 

f0xh0les

I am sure you could make a lovely veggie version with onion rings @Shrewbie , and nobody looking at the picture would ever know.  to all the Octopii and Squidii. 

Shrewbie

f0xh0les said:

I am sure you could make a lovely veggie version with onion rings @Shrewbie , and nobody looking at the picture would ever know.  to all the Octopii and Squidii. 

That's actually a great idea!!

lcc86

Evening turtles. Haven't properly set out my stall yet but aiming for 18 NSD's and to clear £500 from my overall debt this month. I can do this! This month is my final month of overtime as I get ready to leave my current job so have put myself forward for loads of extra shifts for a final cash boost.

Yesterday I was on the road all morning, I did stop and buy a salad for lunch as I was going on to my volunteering for the afternoon so couldn't come home for my usual lunch. Was a busy day, got home at about 7.30 in the end. Today I cycled to work but another spend day as bought coffee and a cake. I really need to knock my coffee buying on the head. I think I might start bringing my cafetiere into the office and try heating my milk in the microwave. It's just a waste of money otherwise. 

Shrewbie

Setting out my stall:

M - is for MONEY - My holiday budget is £150 per week for the Lakes. Who knows if that will be enough but I have already ordered a food shop to be delivered so we can cook at the cottage and all trains are paid for, so it should be! 

A - is for ADVENTURE - What does adventure look like to you. Think back to your childhood, what signalled to you that summer had arrived? 

Summer was going to camber sands beach in Rye and playing in the sand dunes

Lying in the garden reading endless books

Pressing flowers 

Rollerblading (me too weenancy!!)

I'll be doing the first three haha

D - is for DEBT AND SAVINGS  

I am going to make a spreadsheet! 

R - is for RAKS (RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS)

I will do something this week! I will also do a RAK for myself because, you know, put your own mask on first and all that! 

I - Is for IDEAL DAY. What does your ideal ideal day look like (no limits) from waking up to going to bed. Take one aspect and do it this summer! 

I did this exercise not long ago for TAW. One of my things was buying a real life newspaper and sitting in a cafe with a coffee to read it cover to cover. So I will be doing that!

D- Is for DANCING. Put on your headphones and dance/chair/chaise-longue dance to your favourite tune every day for a week. 

I heard this from Simon Amstell (the comedian) when he was being interviewed by Krishnan Guru-Murthy the other day about the benefits of therapy, lol.

I am on NSD 1. 

Today was another hectic day at work as we are giving workshops. As this is not part of my bread and butter anymore it makes me super nervous and stressed. Going to a meditation session tomorrow so that should help! 

No exercise done.

Shrewbie

ldee2111 said:

The only debt we have now is the mortgage. @shrewbie At the start of our mortgage-free journey, I had printed out one of those templates of a house with bricks which I’d colour every time we hit an amount (I think it was £500). Nowadays I just obsessively check my remaining mortgage amount and overpayment savings on the banking app. Just seeing those figures is motivating enough. 

Yes ldee it was you!! I will nick your idea :-)

DrCarrie

@lcc86 - great ambition! All the best with it!

So I am on a spend day! Number 1

I got a cleaner. I work long hours and i don't get the floors washed...etc etc. Felt my cortisol levels reduce!

This is a privilege. I am grateful. Also, I am just not good at housework. I can cook, but can't clean well. 

I am Grateful for 
- being able to pay the cleaner well above the living wage. 
- yoga this morning 
- making a pack up for the 6.30am train tomorrow and my lunch, for a day's work in York.

apple_muncher

Only calamares give the truly authentic chewy texture though...!

Today I am grateful for more progress on our fab kitchen, for easy travel with pip and he had a good sesh at the Maudsley, for dh driving us hither and thither, for t'interweb and video calls - had a morning call from dsd2 and gd in Oz which was a great way to get excited about the adventure, for finally getting bags so we can maybe possibly perhaps think about packing before we go...