NST June 2025: balance

Thrifty_Taylor

Sounds like a good night, KK.
Yes, we've asked the local minister to do the eulogy. He came over on Friday, to start the initial process. Have decided not to mention suicide, but instead celebrate DS's life. Me & DH decided tonight on the hymn, & have already chosen one if the songs DS liked, for the other song. Now to think of the songs he liked, to play as folk arrive/leave, & photos for his slideshow. Seeing the funeral director tomorrow.

NSD#9
It was piddling down first thing. DS3 packed all his equipment, then picking mum up on route, we dropped him off at the furthest away Churchill Barrier to camp for the week, with one of his friends. They certainly won't starve anyway! 🤣 The sun came out as they were setting up camp & it got quite hot. Me & mum had a car picnic on the way back to town.

After dropping mum off, I went to a work bestie's & we walked nearly 5 miles. Of course the rain started again, quite heavy at times! Warmed up with a hot chocolate & spoke about funeral prep. Dropped 2 bags off at another friend's on the way home, for her bric-a-brac sale for the RNLI next weekend.

Did the ironing after tea & sang along to songs from 1985 that I'd recorded on the TV last night.

Grateful for seeing DS3's excitement for his camping trip, DH liking the cards the boys made him & his presents, helpful chats with friends

grandmanerd

Thursday - moved 5 boxes. Friday - slept nearly all day. Saturday - very slow day but some bits done. The food I ordered on Friday because I couldn't get to the Community shop could only be delivered Sat 12 - 2. Meantime I ate whatever bits I could find - I'd finished off the bread, wraps and crackers, no rm, not much of anything left. Noon came and went and the food wasn't even out for delivery so I ordered fish and chips. Food came after the fish and chips had been delivered and eaten. Defrosted frozen beef chunks and carrots from the freezer as I felt I needed 'stew/ broth' type food rather than spicy stuff.

Yesterday was another slow day but things were done - every time I went to the bathroom I took out 2 items from the WM and pegged them out. Sat on a chair and did some weeding. Rubbish went out. Tackled the washing up one bowlful at a time, then next time rinsed the soaked items and washed them in a fresh bowlful of hot water. Completed all the things in the kitchen then hunted for the items still in the front room - left the last lot soaking when I went to bed. Curried noodles with onions and pork (DS3's leftovers) I've found a good solution to a minor but debilitating medical problem - read through lots of ideas online, rejected ones that used 'althlete's foot' treatments as they're a no no with my diabetes and thought one or two others sounded too harsh for my delicate skin but used a substitute which I've used before and 3 days in, it's working well. Continued with various other preventative/ helpful practices as well. New phone was charged yet again.

I need more organisation (doing more with less as 'less' seems to be my default condition atm). Had a message from Mrs Builder last night, asking if everything was put back in my kitchen. Said no (but getting there) and she offered to come and help on Wednesday. I said 'yes please'. I'm wondering if she would be my cleaner. She's been doing office work for another builder for the past 18 months- 2 years whilst organising Mr Builder's daily work schedule and helping him on her days off. The office work may have temporarily dried up as she was around for most of the week at the end of my kitchen renovation. She did lots of cleaning bits in between. Even her taking bags of rubbish and recycling off me and taking them out to the bins helped an awful lot. Since they've not been here I've noticed that some days it's a struggle to get as far as the bins.

Grateful for food in all it's variety, support and rest for my aching ankle, knees and other bits, managing to 'switch off' whilst being aware of the things that still need to be done.

beanielou

@grandmanerd. Great idea to ask Mrs Builder to help you with the cleaning. 

Thrifty_Taylor

There's definitely no harm in asking @grandmanerd, & if you don't ask, you don't get. 🤞 She says yes!

Went to the funeral parlour this morning, so it's all booked for Friday next week. Still have to hunt out photos for the slide show, choose flowers & think about the eulogy. Did put something into the paper for the obituary. Messaged family south, 3 cousins are coming up (2 have never been before), as well as my brother & his family. Looked round a few CS's only spent 50p on a book, then had a walk around town.

DS1's former boss came over, to say that all the staff want to bake themselves for the wake (he worked in a hotel), & there's no charge for the wake either! They are planning to set up a JustGiving page, as said some neighbours have asked to donate towards things, plus they're going to out up a plaque for him in the hotel. Both me & DH cried at all this! Overwhelmed by their care & thoughtfulness.

Did some knitting after tea, & transferred more photos into a folder on my phone. This time tomorrow, he'll be just about back on our island again 💙

Grateful for everyones help & support, that we're finally making plans, my boy will be home tomorrow

in_need_of_direction

His colleagues must have thought a lot of him. He may not have been here for long but he clearly enhanced lives.

beanielou

@Thrifty_Taylor. That’s lovely of his colleagues. 

So glad your boy will be home tomorrow. 

Reminds me of’Bring Him Home’ from Les Mis. Xx

DawnW

((Hugs)) @Thrifty_Taylor

Shopping today. Managed to get a veg box from L*dl

Other than that, I have fed the garden pots (I have lots) and watered the veg in the raised bed, cut down a patch of oregano that has gone mad (it will come back) and listed a couple more things on FB Marketplace. You do get lots of messers on there, but it doesn't cost anything, and no posting.

I will make a frittata for dinner as I have loads of eggs, and freeze the leeks from the veg box, which OH helpfully prepped while I was in the garden. 

Chrystal

Sneaking in the back door with tail between legs.... no excuse except total inertia.

Balance definitely missing from my life at the moment, and a realisation that although things are difficult they are much easier than some people have to cope with.

I'm trying to give myself a kick up the backside (but the hips won't let me!)

Hope that everyone is as well as they can be and sending (((hugs))) to those who need/would like them. XXX

weenancyinAmerica

The breathing exercises help. Trying to keep an even keel around here but not the easiest thing to do. Summer Reading program has given me an excuse to just relax and read every day. We have one for adults here as well as children and teens.

Thrifty_Taylor

beanielou said:

@Thrifty_Taylor. That’s lovely of his colleagues. 

So glad your boy will be home tomorrow. 

Reminds me of’Bring Him Home’ from Les Mis. Xx

That song always makes me cry! I've done some of that today already. Breakfast time & when looking through baby photos this evening. Had visitors in between, so no chance then! Went for a long walk with a fruend this morning, was good to catch up, then a different friend visited this afternoon. 

My boys all did the library's summer reading scheme each year too. Another happy memory. Still got all their certificates for completing it.

A spend day as bought gluten free biscuits for our afternoon visitor. She was pleased we'd thought of her.

The boat carrying DS1 will dock @11pm, not long to go now. Will be there in spirit (can't see to drive when it's dark or I'm really tired, with my cataracts). Not that there'll be much to see, except the van with him in it.

Grateful for people's kind messages, going for a walk & lovely comments about my garden, plus happy memories