NST March 2026: The Turtles are revolting!!!

grandmanerd

Mrs Builder came. When she asked me how I was I mentioned running out of anti-depressants. She asked which they were and said that she had some to spare. Mr Builder was phoned and instructed to put them in the car and they've been dropped off. So pills taken (still shaking a lot). I'm not going to let on, I'll keep them in reserve because mix ups between the pharmacy and the doctor's have happened before - I had enough to ration them before but still felt under par. I will discuss reducing my dosage with the nurse next Friday - maybe cutting out the smaller one every third day. I do try to start the pill ordering process a fortnight before I run out but quite often I can't get through in the 2 hour window.

We both spent time in the garden. Mrs Builder has cleared bits of soil, weeds and rubbish from the edges of the path (once it's fully dry. I'll put down more bicarb). I've cut up lots of ice packs (it's been so cold I've just been throwing them outside) and we've nearly filled a bag of garden detritus (which will be kept to one side until there's more room in the bin. Mrs Builder did manage to squash down the rubbish in the bin - I put a 40 l full plant pot on the top to kick start it. WE're hoping DS3 can fill up any empty space in the neighbours bins when they go out on Tuesday.

I'm very grateful for the NHS (a recent report into the COVID crisis says that the problems were caused by years of austerity and underfunding - crisis and collapse were only averted due to the dedication of NHS staff). Without straying too far into politics (I'm firmly of the view that politics affects every aspect of our lives and we should all be interested) it's interesting that alternative media in the USA is noticing that if detention centres can be funded and built then housing the homeless was always possible and the cost of medicare for the poorest (which was severely cut) is a drop in the ocean compared to the amount being wasted on an illegal war.

On a more positive note a recent bookface post from a Norwegian said that they are happy to pay more taxes to support the 'undeserving' - healthy citizens contribute more and cost less than sick people as do people who are not hungry, people with homes have greater stability and make better decisions than homeless ones and in the end there are no 'undeserving' people, they are all people.

Grateful for dark chocolate (only on digestives but better than nothing), bananas and books (cutting back on screen time).

DawnW

Very much agree with your points @grandmanerd - hope your pill issues get sorted out asap.

Market first thing, then a pretty lazy day, as it was a 5 am start. Still, I managed to get some items for my sales unit, so it was worth it. I have cleaned up what needed it, and put most of it out of the way. I seem to have bought lots of vintage green glass items, which look very pretty on my dresser atm. Not the best seller as a rule, but one piece is uranium glass, and flouresces (sp?) beautifully, so that at least will sell well.

I have been out into the garden and picked some purple sprouting broccoli for dinner, to go with some pork chops from the depths of the freezer. Also used up some lurking mincemeat to make a tart for desserts for the week.

I notice I have aubergine seedlings germinating indoors 😊

It is colder today, and nasty cold weather is forecast to be returning over the next week (boo!) However, I suppose I should really be grateful for the few sunny days that we have had recently.

grandmanerd

Had a lovely day yesterday but very tired and hungry today. I was picked up by DS1 just before 10 am and taken back to his house. Mum's cousin didn't come because she had a cold but darling d-i-l's mum was visiting and I hadn't seen her for a couple of years. We all took bets on how late DS2 and family would be. They arrived eventually straight from a party so the girls were a bit tired and shy. The nearly 4 yo went to have a nap in the dog's teepee. She walked across the room with her eyes closed but I did get a hug when she walked into me.

Both girls were given small round red covered cheeses and the dog had leftovers. The 4 yo came out when given cheese sandwiches. I started doing my Mary Poppins act - party hat for the 1 yo birthday girl, tiara for the 4 yo (she should have had it last year as it was bought to go with the fairy wings and wand I bought her), then a six pack of animal masks.

We all moved through to the kitchen to eat - a wondrous and plentiful feast as usual. HM chicken dippers and potato wedges, mango chicken and garlic mushrooms with lots of salad, carrot and cucumber sticks, cheeses and dips. We all ate what we wanted. At one point my hand started shaking and my knife did a double flip and ended up on the floor (need to note that because it's a sinificant deterioration).

We moved back into the front room. 4 yo tried on the animal masks. Presents from darling d-i-l and her mum were opened. Then I opened another bag and started pulling out books. Mog books they didn't have - 4 yo was there straight away. She took them to her mother and then chose DS1 to read them to her. Baby was crying (she's a fan of cardboard eating so I pulled out a 'Scottish heritage' book (Ye cannae shove your granny off a bus) and passed it over. Presents I'd bought were a wooden bin lorry with recycling bins, a duplo elephant's picnic set and some toddler wooden rainbow shape jigsaws. The 4 yo loves jigsaws but they are too advanced for the baby.

Everything was packed in one bag and then I was given a bag of Mother's Day gifts and a card. I'd also found one of darling d-o-l's presents - an elephant bracelet with a postcard with a QR code so you can track an elephant in the sanctuary.

DS2 and family left to go to another birthday party (I think it's their NT group - they used to have a group party as the births were in a cluster) and I was brought home shortly after (I was ready to go to sleep) with a doggy bag (a piece of mango chicken and lots of garlic mushrooms).

I ate, had a nap, ate again and eventually read myself to sleep (I'd woken up early and only had a few hours sleep and stayed awake because of the early pick up).

So I had an extra sleep this morning and I may be on my third meal. I waited until my pills came before having a shower. I think today will be a reset day - I went through lots of stuff to get to the chair in the corner via the 2 boxes of toys and one box of books + bits (party hats and masks). So gathering up rubbish and recycling, pots and cutlery, repack the pill box with the new ones on the bottom, pack things in the now empty boxes (may list the toys so I can remember what I have without physically dragging the boxes out - and may check what's upstairs as well). I've finished my bowl full of 6 veg to go with the dip so may cut up the next batch and I have a couple of admin things started last week - I will see how I go.

Grateful for my lovely family, the mood enhancing foods and being happy (I'm hungry again). Feeling joyful.

weenancyinAmerica

Today has been a tiring day. Went to feed the outdoor cat (lives next door but has breakfast here) and then down the ramp outside to put water in the pool (can't use it yet, too cold, not heated). I have to hold onto the wall to get to the knob I have to turn, but when I started to come back in the house, neither leg would move at all. Both legs had gone to sleep on me. I had to crawl up the ramp and into the kitchen. I then used the cabinets to pull myself up. This has never happened before. I managed to get my roommate Di up to go out and turn off the water and to finish feeding the three indoor cats. I sat reading for about an hour until the medical transport came to pick me up to go see the surgeon. I am ready to have the surgery done on my lower back. They will call in a couple of weeks to schedule it. The next time I am going out the front door with my walker and around using the walker to go put water in the pool. It will take longer but won't involve me trying to hold onto the wall and move. I can rest on the walker as needed. After the Uber driver brought me home, I read until time to go see my regular doctor for the results of my blood tests. Everything perfect except the sugar level. Then it took an hour to get my ride home. Usually they are there within ten minutes but the drivers kept going to the wrong end of the building. I finally made it home - and finished the book while waiting. Roommates J and Di ordered food from a fastfood place for them and me, but seem to exclude our other roommate each time, so I shared my meal with him. I had more than enough. Doing homework and coming on here, then it will probably be time to read a couple of chapters in another book before bed. Trying to avoid watching the news. Or I should say hearing the news as my back is usually to the TV set while I sit at the computer. My roommate Di was going back and forth between a hockey game and a baseball game all evening. Then she watches some cooking shows (but doesn't cook) before the news. I will go to bed before then. Have another doctor's appointment early tomorrow.

Grateful I can medical transport as I can't drive right now and gas is way too expensive anyway, thankful I can get the surgery so soon.

DawnW

Hope you get your surgery soon @weenancyinAmerica and that you recover swiftly ❤️

Very windy here today and the house seems quite cold and draughty. Winter seems to be back again, but April is round the corner, and its time is limited.

I have work stuff to put away today - 3 boxes of it. I also want to tidy the larder and pick some rhubarb and make a crumble. Probably need to do some housework as well, as I am working tomorrow. I have chilli already made for dinner, and quiche for tomorrow, so easy meals with only some accompaniments to prep.

Better get off the sofa and make a start. The dog won't be happy, as he is lying half across my lap here on the sofa.

beanielou

Take care of yourself @weenancyinAmerica 🤗

grandmanerd

Yes weenancy look after yourself.

I had a spend evening yesterday. I did a food order to be delivered this evening (otherwise I would have to wait until Tuesday for free delivery. I ordered jigsaws and sent them straight to my baby grand-daughter (2, 3 and 4 piece ones) and then ordered a random bunch of stuff - ankle support (so this one can go in the wash), antiseptic and moisturising creams, bulk chick peas, all of which came today, and bags of compost which will arrive tomorrow and Saturday. The food order wasn't specacular - some fruit and veg, bulk pasta and a few treats as this may well be my Easter order. The other orders have given me 2 codes for £10 off grocery orders (yesterday's had 15 % off) so will use those for any other bits I need (bread and milk) and more tinned goods stock up.

I've taken several bags out to various recycling bins (must check if there are any alterations to bin collections to cover the bank holidays), eaten from stores, found freezer space for some double up food items. I want to try to get some of the charity donations out of the house and take the books I've read back to the library.

Grateful for food in the cupboard, fridge and freezer (makes me feel safer), books and thinking about going forward and making the switch from survival mode to living mode.

grandmanerd

A difficult tiring but ultimately positive day. My appointment with the practice nurse was at 3 pm so this morning I tried to articulate some of the things that are bothering me (leading to depression).

I couldn't get a taxi (phoned at 1 pm and there were none available until 3 pm) so at 2.15 I set off for the bus stop after moving last night's food delivery and today's compost deliveries out of the way. I was moving things on the chair so I could sit down then turned and the bus was coming. Helpful driver stopped and offered help to get on, then waited until I was seated before moving.

Walked into the health centre and went to the toilet, then went up in the lift to the surgery. Checked in, walked across to the room so I could sit in front of the notification screen which buzzed my name before I even sat down.

Practice Nurse was overjoyed. My last reading was 61, my target was 58. I achieved 55 so whatever I'm doing is working and do more of the same. My kidney and liver function is excellent (these can be compromised by the pills I take to stay alive). My weight was about the same as last November - the nurse was very impressed when I managed to convert kilos to pounds by hand in less time than it took her to look it up on the laptop.

I said I'd asked for a double appointment (it was) and I launched into the saga of my current mental health. I'd listed 3 - 4 large issues and then a barrage of small issues ( eg stress caused my medicine not turning up when ordered). I'd like to redo the mindfulness course (contact details and the guided exercises have been erased due to changes in my phone/ my email address becoming redundant etc). She jotted down things as I said them.

She thinks the mindfulness stuff comes under the Healthy Routes initiative (they can look help me explore any exercise options too) so she will send a referral. She will contact the Link worker who can help with some of the paperwork and put me in touch with sources of practical support. She's also made me a doctor's appointment for next Wednesday as the doctor may want to do a further bloods panel (I've got the paperwork and a sample pot in case she wants to check my urine) and can check out any physical symptoms (my hand tremors may indicate a need to change my medication).

Bought sandwiches at the stall and sat at the bus stop in the sunshine. The bus stop nearest my house is still closed (most of the pavement on this side is also roped off) so once more I got off at the bus station. At least there are benches to sit on. I walked through and went as far as the Werks. I've bought some felt tips (not many as I have a big set of DS3's in the drawer) 2 colouring books and 2 jigsaws (only 500 pieces and will good colour contrast).

I had my ankle strapped up but it was throbbing badly. I couldn't see that either getting on the bus for one stop or working my way across the bus station and across the bypass to the taxi office would save me any time or effort so hobbled slowly home taking many rest breaks. Went out at 2.15 and got home at 5.22. Was not able to get as far as Tessimo's to sort my phone out. Food is mainly in the kitchen but not yet put away.

Grateful for wonderful test results (I have to remember what an achievement it is and celebrate), a Practice Nurse who could understand my problems (usual any 2 of them are enough to bring someone down let alone the absolute barrage I've been faced with) and source practical help, trying something new (I can manage colouring)

beanielou

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81940332#Comment_81940332

Such good news for you with your results. Hopefully the practice nurse can help further. 🤗

DawnW

Not sure what time it is, moving the clocks forward / back always messes me up for days!So no Sunday market for us today. DD2 came round for dinner with the 2 GCs and they were all tired too, so not just me.

OH collected lots of firewood this morning from a neighbour who was demolishing an old shed, good for lighting the fire before the logs go on. It will keep him busy for a few days cutting it up and storing it away.

I was waiting in all day for a FB marketplace messer, who was coming at 11, 3.30, 4.30 and eventually turned up at 5pm. Needless to say after all that he didn't want the item as he hadn't read the description and thought it would be bigger 😂 I think I will remove the item from the site as I can't be doing with that again!

Did a small shop this morning as I needed a few bits for the meal I had planned for today. I made a pot roast pheasant dish and everyone liked it, even the fussy kid 😊 Also made a big trifle for pudding. There is enough of both left for OH and I tomorrow.

Weekly shop tomorrow - I normally go on Tuesdays but I will be working this week. Not too much needed, and I have a list.