NST May 2026 Hitting Rock Bottom

grandmanerd

Yesterday I returned 6 books to the library (getting moving, getting things out). Okay I brought 10 books back but 4 were freebies, 3 of which will be passed on to my grand-daughters. The fourth will go to the cs once I've read it. The books I chose are mostly ones I've read before (comfort reading as a the remaining ones fromthe original batch are 'difficult'.

I did look through some seed catalogues and put veg plants in my baskets but left them there and will concentrate on using what I have. This means clearing two raised beds, planting broad beans (with pretty flowers) along the back wall and setting up larger pots in the remaining space (most of it was covered last year but still room for 3 or 4 large pots) for peas, dwarf beans and other small space veg. Broken plastic plant pots can now go in the brown bin (except black ones) so I'll work on those too.

Today I'm following the Orc Wisdom and trying to complete/ finish things off. I often run out of energy and leave things incomplete. I did some bits in the shower room this morning both before and after my shower (mostly things I could reach whilst sitting). I'll search the next couple of small areas for my phone. I want to sort 2 trolleys (the alternate bedside table needs resetting). This is turning into a plan for the week. I still need to do some tasks in stages - washing up one bowl at a time, I needed to have my shower before the bathmat could be added to the washing load and one item needs soaking before it can go in the wash.

Thanks for the suggestion about keeping my phone and other bits close to me at all times. I've attempted this in a number of ways:

1 I'm trying to set up my (small briefcase size) handbag up as a 'mini office/ useful stuff'. My purse, a pen and a notebook were taken out when I went to the pharmacy/ community as I took them with me

2 Most of my clothes have pockets (major failing in women's clothes), I have also used a cross body bag at times

3 The bedside table (small folding table) and/or the bedside trolley are supposed to fill this function. Pills, drink bottles and a cup, pens, scissors ruler, CPAP machine - I don't like having CPAP machine and drinks near to one another but the machine needs to be near enough to turn on and off especially when I need to get up in the night. Other useful things are medicinal creams and drops, comb, emery boards, cutlery, easy snacks and fruit. In the past I've put current reading material on the bottom tier and multiple bottles of water.

Snags in the system

With my phone, it's mainly when I need it at night, when shopping. I get on the bed when it becomes clear that I need to rest more than small sit down. Ideally I use the laptop until 9 pm and then read with my CPAP mask in place (I put the mask on in the day if I feel myself drifting) until I fall asleep. The book is put down, or it falls onto my chest when I fall asleep (I've fallen asleep with the laptop open at least twice this week). Although I'm in bed I can do tasks like checking emails (the boys have complained about being unable to get in touch when I haven't answered messages). If I remember shopping that needs to be done (I have a list building atm and want to try to get back to SM deliveries rather than online convenience shops) I do it then. I already have my purse in case I need to reference my cc number and sometimes the purchase is rerouted to my bank who then want to send a code to my phone so I scramble for my phone on the table beside me (which is why I thought it had gone down the back of the bed).

The main problem is that the categories of thing I need to have close to me have expanded - more pills, more supplements, creams and drops, different glasses (I did use a cutlery box to hold some things but Mrs Builder has started using it for cutlery since I sent it or cleaning) and juggling the needs of different items - small things can fall off or disappear between larger items.

Solution; A full reset of the trolley (3 enclosed shelves) and use the table as back up possibly with a long narrow tray on the bed. I think I have hooks to go on the sides of the trolley as well as a couple of 'mugs' for pens and things.

First I'll do something for me so I'll put cream on my hands and in other important places. I forgot to take antiseptic cream back to the bathroom with me yesterday but looked in the cupboard and have started on the suncream (only factor 15 for now)

in_need_of_direction

DH uses something like this https://www.dunelm.com/product/the-edited-life-felt-bedside-pocket-organiser-1000275907?defaultSkuId=31000318&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Storage_Office-PMax_%5BGOO-PLA-STORAGE-OFFICE%5D&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20667236877&gbraid=0AAAAADGqyX2Rfai-XXhnnwP-_QQt-I2v8&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqvu0zaidlAMV-n5BAh07qCaREAQYAiABEgKXYPD_BwE to keep his much needed glasses accessible. Would that kind of thing work for immediate needs and to free up trolley space?

Thrifty_Taylor

NSD#2

I've had a lovely day. Hung the washing out after breakfast, whilst DH picked some bluebells to take to the cemetery. En route we dropped off a card to late DS1's work bestie & a heart I'd made for her from his old t-shirts with his initial & a shell from his favourite beach stitched on the front. Walked the long way back from the cemetery, so over 5 miles.

Finished a book whilst eating my dinner, then had a nap. Cut all the grass (our house is in a quarter of an acre plot), transplanted 2 plants then weeded a border. Did some sewing after tea.

We'd watched 2 of late DS's utoob videos last night from a previous trip to Aberdeen, so me & DH can retrace his steps & find all the tags he's left. Pleased we'd done this, as we wouldn't know where half of them were, or that they existed! It's like a treasure hunt 😀 comforting to know we're visiting the same places.

Grateful for lots of time outside, watching wildlife from the cemetery on top of the hill, doing things that make me happy

grandmanerd

Monday 4th May 2026

A few ideas to make your day better (from Ordinary and Happy - I've missed some out)

Inspiration: Something from my childhood that always makes me smile is…..

Inspirational message "Acknowledge the times you showed strength and resilience"

Decluttering idea Organise the shoes you have ready for the season

Deep Conversation "What a life well lived is"

Activities for the day:

May Bucket List Have a 'Star Wars' movie marathon

Self-Care Idea - Read and reflect upon a motivational quote

Fun Ideas - Take a photo of something that inspires you

Romantic Gesture - Send them a Monday inspiration text or meme

Doodling idea - Emerald

Watercolouring idea - Starship

Journaling Ideas:

Self Care - Wins from April and why you're proud of them

Gratitude - One thing that surprised you (in a positive way) this year

One Word - Loving

grandmanerd

ORCOSCOPE

April 29, 2026

Today got "handle one mess" energy

Not all da mess. Not whole pile

Just one ugly lil mess standing there makin face at you.

Pick dat one. Bonk dat one.

If brain try to drag every worry into same room, shut door on most of dem.

You not fightin whole army today.

You fightin one goblin with a clipboard.

Take it's pencil. Ruin it's plan. Move on

ORC WIZZDOM

"One small smash still make big mess scared"

Esmeralda2662

Hi @grandmanerd, please can I join you for May's challenge? Thank you!

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for doing a new gym session with a friend, for a lovely phone call with step dd1, for getting some more admin done, for curry for tea, for 3 very confused daffodils blooming in the garden.

grandmanerd

One of the things I do wrong is feeling so guilty about all the things that need doing that I won't allow myself to do the things I really want to. So from now on, every sunny day (or non-rainy day) is a garden day. I will spend some time in the yard, cleaning up, planting, weeding and just sitting in the mild sunshine watching the bees. So yesterday I managed to get all the washing out on the line, made a couple of trips to the bins and late on I squeezed in some weeding, filled some bottles from the water butt and did some sitting outside.

The rest of the day was filled with a clean up operation. On Sunday I noticed a patch of water near the fridge. I put toilet paper on it so I didn't slip and there was more water than I expected and it was also near the outside corner of the shower room. Luckily it was from the freezer which had been stuffed full (partly my fault) and the drawers had not been pushed back in all the way (DS3?). The nightmare option would have been some problem with their sink or toilet leaking down (I had visions of my lovely cladding having to be ripped off).

Yesterday morning I set to work. I turned off the fridge/ freezer but kept the door closed to give me more timeto decide what needed using first. I told DS3 and Beloved not to order any food (he's just got paid so after scraping and mooching for the past two weeks they're in takeaway heaven). I also asked about potential sink/ toilet problems (they ignore problems until they become disasters). So pizza and chips for breakfast (it was brunch really) followed by a selection of ice cream. Repeated with the addition of chicken strips for my lunch. DS3 had 2 curries to eat.

I have a bag of frozen onions together with frozen garlic and a 1/4 bag of stir fry veg (using their leftovers - that garlic has been there for months) defrosting in a bowl. In the afternoon I defrosted 3 bags of frozen berries (will eat those with yoghurt and some oats over the next couple of days). I put down the towel I'd been using to catch any more spills.

Last night DS3 chided me for not eating all my chips (I'd tipped the rest of the bag out and it was a bit too much) and I said there was another bag of chips to use and he asked can we repeat the chips and pizza today. I originally bought the pizzas for him (trying to entice him away from takeaways). It's a stuffed crust so I will finish the chicken strips rather than having a slice of pizza.

About 4 pm I ran out of steam (did go back later) so lay down and had a little nap (missed most of an episode of upstart crow) then waited or a delivery. It's one I put together a week orr so ago, mainly pantry fillers but a few things I'd run out of (used the last two apples). I felt a bit overwhelmed but it's nearly all cans or bottles so it can stay by the front door for now. It just feels like there's mess everywhere. I'm making things worse because I was thinking of switching the fridge/ freezer and the tall freezer which is currently under the stairs.

Plan of action Leave the switch around until the end of the month Bank Holiday weekend. Use up the contents meanwhile. Clean out the fridge/ freezer today with Mrs Builder. Assess the remaining veg (and the contents of the salad drawer) and work out what I can make. There may be veg I have to throw away but it's a minimal cost compared to having to rip cladding off the walls. I need to accept I can only do so much and it's not worth driving myself potty over a bag of frozen peas.

Grateful because things could have been so much worse, loved my little nap, resting periods with books, simple puzzle games and a film with Keanu Reeves as an inept angel.

grandmanerd

I looked through many garden offers but did not buy a polytunnel, raised beds with trellis, numerous plants (I will buy some of my favourite tomatoes as plug plants with a few cucumbers, aubergines and peppers). I deleted numerous emails and then deleted the binned contents and unsubscribed from quite a lot. I looked through my seed tin and it's mostly beans and peas (including sweet peas) and french marigolds. I have a bag of tiny potatoes which are sprouting so I'm going to shove them in the bed by the back wall and see what happens (they'll disrupt the weed roots if nothing else).

Rowan9

grandmanerd can I please join for this month? It would be good to join your merry band of turtles again