NST December 2025 A Different December

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Take care,beanie. Presents can go ina bag and be a lucky dip!

Today I am grateful for being seen by the eye people and having what I need from them, for a seat on the bus both ways, for a microwaveable paella for tea, for my bed.

Grandmanerd, hope you get your bed constructed soon.

grandmanerd

Just to make you all feel better. No cards done. No presents wrapped. Decorations - I put the polar bear (50p cs find some years ago) on the windowsill but haven't looked for the 3 baby polar bears and the bear is sitting on the fallen down net curtain.

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Grandmanerd's Adventures in Bewildered World. Day 1
It was a bit more of a marathon slog but life is what you make it, so it's adventuring - not so exciting (terrifying) as a zip wire but a whole lot more exhausting.

Yesterday morning I  made a start on clearing the bed (3 seater sofa, 17 and a half years old, split leather, dents in upholstery etc) because it needed to go outside for the Council to collect it. The whole thing was an adventure because I didn't know i we would actually be able to do it (back up plan was to put out the 2 seater couch).

I was interrupted by DS3 in a panic. He had paid me half of January's rent in advance which left him short on funds but yesterday an unexpected payment had gone out of his account which sent him into overdraft. He needed me to send his money back to his account asap. I told him we needed the card reader. Could I not phone them - yes but they would still want me to log in online which would require the card reader. I motioned to 3 (roughly shoe box size) boxes and told him those were the most likely places to find it. 

He picked one up, picked a couple of things out and peered into the depths of the box hoping the reader would leap out into his  open hands. He repeated this procedure with the other 2 boxes then concluded that I would have to do the sorting and proceeded to move random pieces of furniture about 'to make a path for the sofa'. This both distracted and irritated me because I had a plan for what to move where (starting with small items like chairs going into the kitchen out of the way and subsequently loaded with bags of stuff and large items).

I didn't want to say much in case he went off in a huff - I was surprised by how little fuss he made when told we would be putting the items out for collection. His father used to rely on brute force to move things, dragging wardrobes across rooms and down stairs with no heed for what got damaged in the process. At least DS3 thought about moving theings out of the way, even if he didn't do it how I wanted it done. He eventually admitted that he was clearing a path to the wrong sofa. Then he left me to it as he didn't think he was helping with the sorting.

My sorting consisted of putting rubbish and recycling in various bags and putting the 'keep' things in a box (keep but not urgent) and putting eg small bits of old notebooks which need information writing up into my address book and notebook into my handbag. Eventually I was at the stage where the footstool could be moved and I asked DS3 to come down again. He moved the footstool, the quilt, a large towel, all the couch cushions and other large items off the bed and floor. There were a number of largish items at one end of the bed (library book, jumper, pillow) which I directed him to put in a bag for life and he also moved some chairs and a trolley into the corner which would stay relatively undisturbed.

Then he moved onto the small couch (he emitted a sigh of bliss as he sat because with the footstool on one half and both couch cushions on the other half, it was actually a decent height for him) and I moved in on my walker to begin clearing the base of the sofa (mainly rubbish but random pens, cutlery, tissues and toilet rolls etc). When I couldn't reach any further we swapped places and he had a go - including delving through the rip for things that had fallen through. Some more progress but not a lot. I told him to take the bin bag to the back door and suggested places where other things could be stacked (on top of or between other bags and boxes).

I'd told him the couch would go through the doorway if we took the feet off. He turned the couch on it's back, worried about the lower feet, then found he could turn those with his foot. Next he tried cutting open the couch at the bottom (shears and a knife both used) and the flipped the couch back into position so everything fell out onto the floor. Then back on it's back (the height of the couch is less than the width of the couch and that's the way it will go through the door). 

It then took about an hour of wrangling to get it across the room and lined up straight with the door with various smaller items of furniture being moved one way or another to accomodate it (the poor bureau moved 4 times in all and it's still marooned in the middle of the room). He had removed most of my clothes (on over the door hooks) but the 3 items he'd left were enough to stop the couch. It took both of us, jiggling ends of a broom to push the loaded hook up and off the door (my jacket needs a wash but that's a challenge for another day).

The sofa hit the door trasher. DS3 had to go out the back way and round to the front to access it. He tried to cut the side to make a hand hold - no dice. I offered him awalking stick we'd used earlier to get it off the floor enough to get his hand under. He humped it over the door step and part way down the street. Number ten had her car parked half onto the pavement so he went and asked her to move it. She went in and then her husband came out and said he couldn't leave the couch next to their house. There was a brief altercation and DS3 told him to try not to be a 'd1c*' (he'd explained that the Council would be collecting it in the morning - and it isn't damaging their house in any way). DS3 took the cushions and put them in the shelter of the sofa, then went to bed.

It was left to me to find a tarpaulin (I had to use the one that used to cover the magic motorbike), cover it as best I could, weigh it down with 2 cobbles, take the 2 remaining drawers to the chest that DS3 had managed to bring down despite thinking he was totally worn out and write a note for the Council workers and for the neighbours asking them not to obstruct the back so the other items can be accessed.

In between each stage I sat on my new bed/ couch, ate (it was nearly 4 pm by the time the couch was out), sort my bed (only a pillow, a quilt and something to make sure I don't stick to the leather - it should only be for a couple of days) and then later bring a fold up table to put my CPAP machine in place. I had to ask DS3 to come down again to put a multi bar on the plug so I could have the laptop charger and CPAP on the bar as the other plug has the wifi router and there'll be an uproar if I unplug that.

DS1 messaged me to check on my health. I think he's worried that I'll be lonely/ miserable on my own. I'd love to go and visit him and darling d-i-l for Christmas but I'm probably going to sleep for a day after he's stuffed me  with good food and if I'm the same or worse, I'll get better more quickly (and not infect anyone else) if I stay home quietly (and I won't be miserable). He has offered to bring me food and my presents which is more than enough (no need to buy more food). I'll continue with my soup/ toast/ beans and rice pudding with a rm when I feel up to it and have lovely food when my appetite returns (and throat is less sore). A truly peaceful Christmas.

I'd given DS3 both my phones to put on charge whilst we were working. I turned them back on and there was a phone call straight away. My brother - surprise, surprise the house sale will not go through on Friday (tomorrow). It will now be January 9th. 

I slept well and let myself go back to sleep repeatedly. I'm extremely grateful for sleep, warmth and comfort, the magic of eyedrops and the wonderful cream I bought (I bought the container, the cream was a recent surprise) I put on all my sore bits after my shower.

Today I'm not rushing, I ache a bit and my stomach is slightly 'off'. I've found an assortment of clean warm clothing (need to find the fluffy socks again). My main job is to tidy, starting with all the couch hoard. I think 90% of it is rubbish (many many tissues) and there are rewards - shiny coins, quite a few £ ones. 

For now I'm content and that will do.

grandmanerd

Missed a bit - DS3 had his main income payment go through so he shouldn't be charged for his overdraft as it was fixed before the end of the day. Still haven't found the reader (did have 3 at one point but I think one is very dead)

grandmanerd

Word of the day Exhausterwhelmulated the feeling of being exhausted, overwhelmed and overstimulated, all at the same time.

DawnW

Sounds exhausting @grandmanerd

Work today and the cold and damp made my cough worse. Not sure if I will go in tomorrow or not. Probably will if I don't feel too bad, as so many people are off sick.

Finished off yesterday's frittata and salad for dinner, with a small jacket potato (I couldn't finish all of it). Ate early as I was hungry after work.

I didn't collect my prescription, as we had people in the shop late (grrr) and I just wanted to get home. I must do it tomorrow. I also haven't wrapped any more presents 

NSD # 8, so that is something at least 

Definitely going for an early night tonight!

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for a quiet day (unlike Hergé's adventures of grandmanerd), for rewatching 2 1/2 of the 3 episodes of Diamond Geezer, for a neighbour popping round, for the warmth of the fairy lights, for my bed to snuggle into.

grandmanerd

Christmas Carols translated into Mission Statements

O Come All Ye Faithful
Mobilising High Commitment Stakeholders Towards Unified Festive Objectives

Silent Night
Delivering Best-In-Class Nocturnal Solutions With Zero Auditory Distractions 

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Empowering Personalised Micro-Cheer Moments In a Fast-Paced Festive Environment

We Wish You a Merry Christmas
To Extend Seasonally-Aligned Stakeholder Wellbeing Deliverables Across All Organisational Units

grandmanerd

Laptop battery is low and not charging properly - I may disappear for a while

grandmanerd

New charger ordered. This one is charging but only slowly and the laptop said it did not recognise it.

Mrs Builder has been. The shower room and kitchen are clean. She put together the sofa bed. This means there's quite a lot of damo washing around but it's not drying outside so will shuffle it around later. I have hung up most of the clothes on over door hangers. Mr Builder came and put the garden gate back on.

I've had a shower and washed my hair and put clean clothes. I ran the WM on a full cycle with white vinegar yesterday and am now gradually filling it. I think the quilt can wait until after Christmas, it's not very dirty, just has a couple of marks (they might wipe clean).

I have more things to buy but they can wait. I need to pay for DS1's donation. Cards will get done and put in a post box and arrive whenever - I'll tell people I waited until I'd stopped coughing and spluttering as I didn't want to pass anything on. There are things to do but for now I'm resting.

Grateful for Mr and Mrs Builder, for comfort, for chocolate, for having enough

dustydigger

Mixed bag yesterday. Finally got the sitting room decorations up.but very minimalist instead of my very lavish covering every bare inch of the room with sparkle or tinsel. other years
Then it was time for the tree. it has a 3 part stand and I coiuldnt get the 3rd leg right and in the end  it snapped off.In other years I would have improvised searched out a flower pot or paint tin covered with wrapping paper but this year I was not up to it. The new tree was dark green and supposedly pre decorated but the lights were so tiny and just offwhite almost hidden in the foliage  that I felt the need to decorate it with my silver and gold ornaments from my old white tree. Wasnt happy with it so  unearthed my dear old yellowing tree from the back of the cupboard under the stairs,the equivalent of the elephants graveyard in my house.. Unfortunately the third section was warped I could only use two, sections so I have this little dwarf tree barely 3 ft tall. lol.But it is completely jam packed fully covered with silver and gold ornaments and gold and silver tinsel so no one can see how yellowed it is.Think the whole tree was on sale years ago for £6 at @sd@,had years of pleasure from it.lol. Last years was £42 and useless
But that was the end of xmas cheer. Mr D was in an obstructive mood. Couldnt coax him out of bed,and when he did get up he came downstairs completely naked. Took ages to get him to go back up to dress. He put one shoe on then tried to put his pyjama bottoms on over the shoe and of course it jammed It took me forever ,gasping for breath to get it off and he was really unresponsive,making it  very hard work. Then he kept going to the front door repeatedly and while I was in the kitchen peeling spuds as ever,I heard the door. and looked into sitting room only to see him walking up the street. By time I got out of the house he was across the road heading for the bus stop to Sunderland I think. Pyjamas s almost up to his knees,two odd shoes on,on wrong feet. Took a lot of coaxing to get him back in the house. I locked the doors and he was furious glaring at me,sullen and angry all day.,refused his evening meds and was in bed by 6 pm. Not a good day. His chemo nurse phones on 31st I will have to tell her of his increasing belligerance and anger at any instruction I give. I have to repeat them several times but this makes him furious,how dare this woman try to tell ME what to do.
Was trying to set up a stocks and shares ISA,but I have changed my mind. We live off pension credit. It looks as if the time that my poor lad will need to go in a care home is nearing faster than we thought..Council will want to scrutinise all our finances,so it makes practical sense to ensure our finances are simple. One current account,one savings account. I have a credit union account that I have never used,nearly £700. I classed that as my emergency fund and thankfully have never needed to raid it. Now I will close it down,and Mr D needs a whole new wardrobe,all his clothes are far too big,I will let the fashion guy be a clothes horse he loves that.Darent save much,without triggering the council tinkering with our housing benefit and council tax.if we have some dough ....sigh....... Life is never easy is it?
Now he is sitting happily watching music videos but in an hours time I will be coaxing him to eat something and then have his meds,not an easy task. On a morning takes them like a lamb,but in the evening? oh boy........