Ninja Saving Turtles Challenge August 2025

grandmanerd

Mrs Builder came yesterday so kitchen and bathroom restored to order (and she didn't rummage through the part sorted boxes) and then afterwards we moved furniture in the front room. Things aren't quite where they should end up but the couch I'm sleeping on is along the inside house wall, the chinchillas have a whole new outlook as they've moved further along the wall and the cage has been turned around. I said I needed to clean the cage out as I think it is affecting my chest (not my job but hey ho) so Mrs Builder says we can do that next week.

Henry hoover was introduced to his new tool set and he likes it so all the dented, bent tubes and duct taped hose can go. We filled 2 sacks of rubbish and lots of recycling, the washing went on the line (+ the previous lot which I brought in first thing as it was starting to spickle with rain). Several things have been set aside for the cs and there are books to go back to the library and books to take with me tomorrow as I'm going to see my grand-daughters (just going to their house as my mobility isn't great).

My new chair is in the corner (going to be a book nook). The 2 seater sofa is slightly awkwardly placed but it isn't in front of the radiator and I have a clear run from the front door through to the kitchen (only my walker and several bags of chinchilla food are there). More stuff has gone off the couches (some bags were put there to make it easier to move round).

I was very tired by the time we finished so not much more done (brought most of the washing in last night). I'm very wheezy this morning so have spent a long time adding various creams, drops and medicine to various parts of my body to alleviate various symptoms and drinking cold drinks. I want to empty the water butt into buckets/ bottles today so I can get at the 19 l tub of mealworms currently standing in as a stand.

Grateful  for small local bakery (everything made on site) as I was too tired to even think about cooking (I have plans), easy escapist fiction, message from DS2.

Is apple doing September?

grandmanerd

Saturday 30th August 2025
7 Little notes for sensitive souls
You don't have to earn love by having no needs
Boundaries should connect not control
Love isn't the absence of conflict
It's okay to need reassurance
Distance is not rejection
You shouldn't need to justify your past
You deserve understanding without over explaining
(@selfcarerecipe)

apple_muncher

September is live - apologies for this month's silence from me

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6626475/nst-september-2025-keep-it-simple/p1?new=1

grandmanerd

Thanks to everyone who's taken part this month - Gold Stars for you all

grandmanerd

A day out with my grand-daughters today. I'd suggested just going to their house but DS2 messaged me back to say that football started at 4.30 pm so if he was bringing me back, it would be at 3.30 pm so was there something else I wanted to do. I said 'I wanted to see the big cat'. Bit of scrolling 'The Cat that Slept for a thousand Years' is at Manchester Museum and they could just leave me there when they needed to go.

How would I get home - by bus, it's on Oxford Rd (direct bus all the way home). Then he asked if I could get there by myself too and meet them there at 11 am. The exhibition was free but you had to book to see the cat so it didn't get too busy. I knew busing it both ways would make me tired but it was possible so I agreed. So out this morning to catch the 9.35 am bus. That got me there in roughly an hour so sat on a bench and drank one of the canned drinks I'd taken. 

Went across to the Museum to go to the loo and then came back outside to wait. They were on DS2 time so late. It started to rain so I moved back into the doorway.  They'd made a picnic (I'd told them there was a picnic area) so we ate first.

Then it was time to go and visit the cat and it was rather lovely -we all agreed that it's the biggest cat we've ever seen. Lots of young children but parents and grandparents as well, all interacting with the cat which is beautiful and very soothing. When I sat down afterwards I felt deeply peaceful. They've built other activities around it.

We asked what else the 3yo wanted to go and see. Spent most time with stuffed (taxidermied) animals and then with lots of frogs (not stuffed, all born and bred at the Museum to help the species survive). Lots of Harlequin frogs and some poisonous ones. A few lizards. We all got rather hot which unsettled the baby and made the 3 yo a bit cross so we went back to the picnic area for a drink and a cake and read cat books and the 3 yo played with building bricks and a giant 'four in a row' game.

After being sunny for most of the afternoon it rained as we were leaving. They all walked me to the bus stop, Ds2 held the little umbrella from the pushchair over me (baby went in the papoose under mum's coat and 3 yo went in the pushchair with the rain shields up). I read my book for most of the way home to distract me and changed position frequently as longer bus rides are getting difficult (and I'm stiff and creaky when I get up). 

I've had a lovely day, I feel very relaxed and I'm expecting to sleep well.