NST January 2026: Shake and Vac

DawnW

I have completely lost track of NSDs as usual. 

I went through the fridge this morning and made some ageing broccoli and leftover Christmas cheese into broccoli and stilton soup for lunch. There is enough for tomorrow as well 

Also skinned and chopped a pack of tomatoes which had come, I think, in a L*dl veg box. They weren't the sort I usually buy and were very bland. Anyway, they are now chopped up and frozen with some elderly spring onions and I will use them as a substitute for tinned tomatoes when I next make a chilli or Bolognese. They will be fine with a good squeeze of tomato puree to jazz them up a bit.

Made a cake that the smallest GCs like, and went to look after DGS this afternoon, while OH, DD and DGD walked our dog and their puppy. Little GS was tired and didn't want to go for a walk. We played games instead 

Also took them some pesto, which I had got out of the freezer for the children's lunches - they were originally coming to us - but it ended up the other way round. It is the children's favourite so they can have it for tea instead 

cybertortoise

NSD 1/14 today. We went for haircuts, budgeted as it’s an alternate month cost. Our appointments are usually after work/school and we stop for a burger for tea. I managed to bag a mid afternoon appointment so we had lunch before leaving and got back and cooked dinner. Potion pasta as my DD calls it, it’s actually garlic and Parmesan. I chucked some kale in from the veg box and it was delicious. 

I’m grateful for the heating thermostat being fixed, unpacking a few more boxes from the house move (13th Dec 😳) and my cat for cheering me up when I need it.

grandmanerd

Thursday was a lot done but not much achieved, Friday not much done but good progress as it was built on the back of Thursday's work. Yesterday more bits done (just clearing things away in readiness for the big task) until I was tired and falling asleep, Lovely nap but a dreadful night's sleep. Need to work on that this week. Found some things in the freezer to keep me going and avoid a takeaway, DS3 made himself pasta and curry, now I've got the hob working again. He also discovered that 'we' had raspberry ripple ice cream. He brought the box through into the front room (he did give me a generous portion and put some back in the freezer).

Plan for today is to move things from one side of the room to the other (3 food deliveries plus tissues and toilet rolls had to be moved on to make a clear space). Hopefully I will stack them more efficiently and make space for a furniture move round which will make more space. Unfortunately atm I don't want to move at all, Mrs Builder comes tomorrow,

Grateful for freezer supplies, making progress, lots of naps (not at the right times)

apple_muncher

f0xh0les, how do you keep your emergency banana from getting all squishy?

Today I am grateful for getting some important admin done with Pip yesterday, for fresh air, for borrowing the last 3 books in a series I'm reading on Libby, for a bargain bundle of Pip-sized clothes on vntd for him to choose from and my sister can look at the others, for baked potatoes.

Thrifty_Taylor

Think I'm on NSD#8

Finally saw a physio on Friday for my neck & shoulders. Feels good to be moving forwards with that at long last. Went to mum's after work, got more salt for the driveway, then used birthday gift vouchers to treat us to a Chinese takeaway. Watched TV together & knitted, then Saturday we went shopping. Used another gift voucher in a fancy food shop, so another one used up.

DH had taken the decorations down whilst I'd been away, so one less thing for me to do. We watched a film together after tea & I finished knitting the first half of a poncho.

Today the ice is melting but we have stormy wind & rain. I lit a fire, then did a hand stitched sewing job whilst listening to the radio. Unpicked a zip after dinner & replaced it, then did a big pile of ironing. Changed the bedding & watched an episode of the series with DH & DS3 when he came home.

Grateful for the ice melting, exercises from the physio, a great time with mum

f0xh0les

apple_muncher said:

f0xh0les, how do you keep your emergency banana from getting all squishy?

It is firm when it goes into my handbag 👜 and stays there for a max of 2 days. If it went into a backpack it would need one of those hard condom/coffin affairs but I would be worried about forgetting about it and opening up a festering, sepulturating ooze of disappointment when I needed a boost.   If I plan to eat it I usually do!

Thrifty_Taylor

NSD#9

Second day of yoga done this morning, plus Norwegian & made stir fried veg in black bean sauce & rice got today & tomorrow's dinners, all before work!

It must be a day for folk with broken zips! Had 3 enquiries today & one yesterday, so going to be a busy lady! 

Watched another episode with DH & DS3, looked through a box of old photos with DS2 (he was very interested!), then shortened 2 items of clothing.

Grateful for laughter with colleagues, being able to go to work the slightly shorter way & that it was only half the width of the driveway flooded (& the front garden), so I could still get to the car without getting my feet wet!

DawnW

Shopping day today - all unpacked and put away 

Had more HM tomato soup for lunch, my favourite    Chopped an onion, softened in a pan in a little oil, added a veggie stock cube and a spoonful of dried herbs, then added one of the big bottles of passata from L*dl plus half of the bottle again of water, rinsing out the remaining product. Then cook gently till the onion is fully cooked, blend with hand blender if you don't want bits of onion, add salt and pepper to taste and a little sugar if liked. Stir in a little cream if you want cream of tomato (I did!)  Yummy and only takes a few minutes. Enough for at least 4 generous portions. The passata was about £1, the other ingredients very little and it doesn't use much fuel to cook. A bargain compared to tinned soups, which I don't like anyway, vegetarian, and you know exactly what is in it.

I have listed a few more things on FB marketplace as I have sold several items over the last few days and made £80 

OH wants me to make mincemeat and apple turnovers this afternoon. Not sure I am in the mood but he has at least chopped up the elderly apples from the fruit bowl to put with the mincemeat. Better get on with it I suppose. A warm job at least, as it is a horrible wet day here. Dinner will be leftover frittata from yesterday with salad. OH will probably want chips as well, but I will only have salad.

Grateful for tomato soup and marketplace sales.

dizzyblnd

Hi lovelies. Where do the days seem to go? Today it has rained… all day! My worst kind of day. Miserable. Sunday, Monday and Tuesday have been nsds so I am now on nsd#8. Hoping the next few days will also be nsds. I need to do a money check in on the 15th or 16th as that’s halfway through the month. I have completely confused myself with money this month as it feels like the longest month ever. So quick check in needed. What have I got/ what not/ what do I need to sort etc. 

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for raising a child to adulthood - Pip is 18!!!!, for sleeping better, for my neighbours, for working with fabulous friendly people, for my comfy bed.