NST OCTOBER 2025 Optimism, Opportunities and Overcoming Obstacles

beanielou

Sorry to hear about your cat @weenancyinAmerica. 

grandmanerd

Hugs weenancy. Nice to hear from you thriftylass.

I ended up on the floor at 2 am - didn't fall but I was between the couch and the floor and it was easier to go down to the floor. I'm not really hurt just a few strains where I tried to get up. I waited until I heard DS3 and he caame down. It took him 3 attempts to get me up - pulling under my arms isn't very efficient because my centre of gravity is so much lower down. Just a bit shaken and wary. Lots of 'things which have been left undone' to sort out. I've tied up the binbag - it could have held more but it's also losing things faster than I'm putting them in.

Annual Road Safety Warning
This is a bit early but I reread DS3's front page story yesterday and it's on my mind so here goes. The clocks go back at the end of next week and the following week is always the worst for road traffic accidents. Drivers fail to adjust for the dark and any potential hazards like black ice. If you're a driver please take care.

However pedestrians and cyclists come off worse in encounters with cars so keep yourselves and your kids safe. Warm clothing, reflective strips on clothing, reflective lights on bikes, a torch if necessary, look both ways and repeat, allow extra time for whatever drivers do and at all costs avoid police cars (unlike ambulances and fire engines, they think the laws do not apply to them). 

General 'preparing for winter' precautions 
Cars have an extra coat and blanket in the car, torch, road hazard sign, a shovel, strips of old carpet to give your tyres some traction in the snow. Think through possibly being stranded in the cold and dark - do you need some energy bars (long life provisions), water and or hot drinks. Some years ago Martin reccomended keeping a cheap emergency phone in the glovebox.
House and garden Low cost diy draught proofing (stick on strips round windows, for many years I would use oddments of paint, putty, varnish and stain on doors and windows until I could afford to replace them). Clear up the garden, sweep/ scrape any paths free of leaves and obstacles, check lighting, fix the annoying drip over the door, make sure you can see the keyhole of the door, sand doors down if they swell and stick (old wooden doors) and check that gates open smoothly.
Personal as above under road safety. I hope that no-one is as poor as we were (there will be some), so mum doesn't need to wade through huge puddles carrying one child at a time or send their poor child (me) out to play in the snow with bread bags (the greaseproof paper ones) tied ovver their shoes. Put the bag of gloves, scarves etc. near the front door (have extras for when they lose them). If children are old enough talk through various scenarios with them especially allowing extra time for idiot drivers.
Please add your own tips, as I'm sure to have missed things.
Halloween and Bonfire night have their own hazards (make sure pets are safe). I saw a 'rant' (justified) the other day about children on the autism scale carrying blue buckets (so people know why if they don't say 'trick or treat' and 'thank you' or make eye contact). The poster basically said 'give them the candy' - not wearing a costume - give them the candy, too old - give them the candy. They are not performing for your entertainment in order to be given a twopenny candy bar and shouldn't be expected to declare their medical history to participate. Don't discriminate.

beanielou

Feel less wobbly soon @grandmanerd. 

DawnW

Finally managed NSD # 6 today!

((Hugs)) to those who need them - there seem to be a few today: @dizzyblnd @weenancyinAmerica @grandmanerd

Work all day today, so limited spending opportunities.

OH did the hoovering 

Put a load of washing outside before work, and it has mostly dried. I must put it on the airer in a minute.

Dinner tonight was easy - bacon, brie and cranberry sandwich on ciabatta. Tomorrow will be the rest of the chilli from yesterday, but it was nice to have something different in between 

OH lit the fire, and I am looking forward to sitting by it all evening - I got quite chilly at work this afternoon.

Rowan9

Hugs wee nancy it’s so hard. Hard, too, to see your other cats searching. 

Hope you feel ok grandmothernerd. 

Colder here but was lovely late afternoon. Lots of autumn sun. 

Easy tea again of chicken stew and loads of veg. Seems to be the weather for stews. It’s what I want to make. 

Shopped after work and stuck to my list of 5 items. It’s all rubbing off on me turtles! 

I’ve also made a list of meals from what we already have and it’s 15+ with just some veg to add. 

Just paid the electricity bill and we had car insurance this month too. 

Two birthdays next month and a new grandbaby due before then so my money is going to be out to good use rather than frittered. 

Off to have a shower and get into jimjams. 

Keep cosy folks 

dizzyblnd

Evening lovelies, 

I’m feeling slightly perkier today. Nsd#8. I didn’t have time to spend today, work keeps me so busy. Glad it’s Friday tomorrow. Hope others are feeling better too. 

weenancyinAmerica

Hard to plan days at all around here. Two roommates decided to take cans in for recycling. Filled up the trunk and back of the car. Made over $50 (which we divide 4 ways). Then roommate Di had to go renew her pass to Disneyland. I had to take her and wait across the street at McDs. Took her over an hour and half (after telling me it would be really quick). I had planned to go to the library to get ready for tomorrow's book sale. Best laid plans of mice and women... 

Little cat is still racing around the house trying to find other kitty. The other is staying close by me - rubbing up against my leg and butting me with his head. Wish we could explain things to the two remaining cats. Roommate J, whose cat it was (even though I paid the bills) has been really down today. He has been posting pictures on his website. He mentioned getting another kitty - but he needs to be able to pay the cat's bills first!

We have a two-day book sale this weekend. Children's and teen books are free - hope we have a lot of takers, we have way too many books in most categories - except cookbooks. We just can't get enough of them for the sales or in our little book store in the library. Don't think people are really cooking more - maybe they are buying several cookbooks and looking to see if there are recipes to try. Or they may be like me - I buy cookbooks just to read. I especially like the older ones (1950s and earlier). 

Because of waiting around for other people at appointments this week, I have been reading the mysteries I already have at home. Have a bag to go to the library for the book sale. Most of them I have I read earlier but I couldn't let go. I figure reading them a second time should be my limit for most of them. I have a number that I reread for the humor in them when I am feeling down - these I am keeping. 

We had our first winter storm a couple of days ago. We almost never get storms this early. It is now moving east. If it gets to you, stay dry and warm if you can. 

Rowan9

Morning all. Today I’m grateful for this week of lovely autumnal sunshine, glorious walks with our dog, red wine in nice pubs. Also grateful for my job, my desk, the carpark, the free gym of climbing two flights of stairs a few times a day, hot water urn for drinks, cold water dispenser, fridge for our lunches, work paying into my pension, my pay and of course lovely colleagues. Can you tell it’s Friday and I’m gearing myself up to go in? It’s all good though. 

Have a good day you lovely turtle gang. You’re so inspirational
. @Thrifty_Taylor you usually post by now I think. Hope you’re ok?