NST November 2025: NOWvember

grandmanerd

Mostly domestic stuff today. Washing on the line, 2nd lot done. Nearly all the washing up done - one pan left soaking (and there are a few things in the front room. Many trips to the bin and another bag ready to go out tomorrow. I have cleaned the base of the shower and the room including digging out the waste trap and swishing it in a bucket. All back together and had a lovely shower - was so disgusting this morning that I just washed witha hot flannel. It did take 5 lots of mopping with sit downs in between but I'm using up lots of ends of cleaning stuff.

Gratitudes getting things done (may hurt tomorrow), my toilet smells like Christmas (Mrs Builder chose winter berry toilet cleaner, watched more Midsommer Murders. Found 2 more websites with several things on my present list. Some donations lined up.

dizzyblnd

Hi all. What a beautiful sunny day here in the south east. I could be so much happier if the weather was like this everyday. It’s a little crisp but bright blue skies. It makes me feel better and want to go outside. I have washing attempting to dry on the line which makes me happy as it means no energy costs to dry them. Happy days. 

Thursday and Friday were nsds so I’m up to nsd#5. Been so busy this week and next week is looking just as crazy so hopefully lots more nsds to come. 

Did my food shop yesterday as I had a voucher for £12 off and £80 spend so had planned my shop to maximise the voucher. Then got petrol using a double points voucher. Trying hard to keep my food shopping around £100 a week this month. It’s taking a lot of juggling- I don’t know how anyone with a family gets it below £100 a week. 

f0xh0les

It is grey and rainy in LeCity.  Just had a look at the weather forecast for Le'Shire for the next 14 days, rain, rain and drizzle when it isnt raining. Boo! Still, it will  be double figures at night mostly for the first week, and then plummets to 2 degrees on the morning of the week I have to get up early and drive 30 miles each way to work.  

I will  pull on my Big Girl pants and just think of the money. DH is on strike for 2 weeks this month. 

Read the riot act to my 4 menfolk this morning. Henry is waiting on their landing, I have stolen back my mugs and glasses, and told them to do their laundry, clean their rooms,  and hoover before lunchtime. 

Cleaned my bedroom, did my laundry, cleaned the bathroom, did the washing up, printed out last month's energy bill to show them over lunch. 

Lunch yesterday was 2 portions of the chinese rice casserole, one portion of curry and rice, and a frozen pizza.  Aka leftovers. They could just pick a plate. 

 Supper was cheese or cheese and ham toasties.  DS1 boycotted the whole thing and bought himself a takeaway - his choice. Some people think they are too good for leftovers, apparently (who knew?)

Lunch today is aubergine fatteh because I had 4 ys aubergines in the fridge, yoghurt is always here, and I got free parsley and pittas from the No-Waste-Food-Project place on Friday.  

The problem with feeding 6 people every day, is that some people don't (or pretend not to) like things. One gets uppity if you have rice 'too often', one would happily eat pasta every meal forever, one will not eat a chickpea that looks like a chickpea - but would eat falafel and hummus until they overdosed, but will also not eat hummus if it has been in the fridge (yeah, first world problems but everyone has to have a quirk I suppose).  

I have noticed that the idea of 'leftover food' is not appealing to 2 of them, even if they loved it when it was 'fresh'. I think this may be a social media food snobbery idiocy thing.  I am ignoring their nonsense. 

I cook one meal for everyone, and if there are leftovers, they do lunch for me and DH, or anyone that gets there first. There is always bread in the house, and cheese, peanut butter, jam, and crackers.  

It is not my job to buy snacks for them.  I am getting better at remembering this.  They have their own money/allowances, they can buy their own. 

grandmanerd

washing was done, tried to put it out but it was raining. A shame because the first lot was almost dry. Meh it needed a good rinse anyway (I hadn't realised it had stopped midway through the cycle when full of water). Swept the floor, more went out to various bins. Ticked off more of the shopping for December - tree ornaments for the girls, brio building set (2nd hand) for the eldest (missed the duplo that was on my watchlist, there is an excellent set but it's collection only and it's a long way away). Elephant throw (Leprosy mission) and a bracelet that lets you track an elephant (all proceeds to Save the Elephants) for darling d-o-l. Gin (WWT) and Turkish delight (Leprosy Mission) for darling d-i-l. Beer/ Ale for DS2 (some via a subscription which I will need to cancel, the rest from WWT). I also have a discount for the lego mini fig store.

If anyone has children who are into lego or duplo or collect the mini figures, Barnardos are having an online auction on the bay of E on Thursday - you can look at what they have (some playmobile/ Sylvanian families as well)

I tried to cook. Chopped a cauli but my hob seems to be 'locked' and I couldn't switch it off. Layered tenderstem broccoli and mushrooms and poured a carton of takeaway curry over them and heated it in the microwave (yummy). Some tidying done and looked through a box of toys to see what needs to come out and be wrapped.

I was awake in the night. I ended up on the edge of the couch and couldn't get in position to stand up. I went backwards in the end, did a multi point turn to get back to where I should be, by which time I was too awake to get back to sleep. I started to write a list of things in the fridge from memory. Checked this morning and only a few items missed - beetroot and radish. That's for using up and making meals. I started a list of things I'd like to est at Christmas and today I started to jot down what I've spent on everyone so far (luckily, I'd only bought one thing at that point). Need to even up amounts spent somehow, DS1 will ask for donation to a charity of his choice.

Had a phone call from mum's cousin this afternoon. Her husband has been very ill for the past 18 months - 2 years. Two weeks ago he fell in the bathroom, the ambulance took 5 hours to come and she couldn't get him up by herself. He's been very needy since having a stroke at the beginning of the year but she thinks he's given up now. I told her I'd been thinking of her but I'm a walking germ factory. I feel so sorry for her. Her mother died at Christmas when she was only 16. She left school, started full time work and kept house for her father and younger brother. Her hsband's mother (abandoned him to the care of 2 aunts when he was little) and her estranged father both died at Christmas. Her brother died in Ireland about 6 years ago. 

Grateful for a fairly healthy family (all in their ibuprofen years and with a hotch- potch of genetic ailments but stumbling along), contact with DS2 (he's very close to mum's cousin) and seeing little patches of clear floor)

BadBookkeeper

NSD - 5/12 went to a firework display organised by the village football club paid the suggested donation for the 3 of us.  Also ordered some bits online 2 planned 1 not. 

Outside - yes went to watch the fireworks 

Winter Planning - Good chat with ds about his birthday/Christmas presents.  He’s of an age where he understands how much things are.  Sensible list and I’ve decided what we are buying and what other family members can buy if they wish and ask for suggestions. 

Veg/Fruit - just a satsuma! 

Enjoy / Grateful for - Family tradition of seeing the fireworks 

Make Time / Lists - Feel organised 

Bring your own / use up  - Nothing here today

Exercise - None today

Remember others - Donate / Act of kindness - More items for charity bag