NST June 2026: Onwards and Upwards

weenancyinAmerica

@Rowan9 - Having a birthday week sounds great. Hope you have a good one.

grandmanerd

Another good day. I tried to book my blood tests, worked my way through the online form and they hadn't got the phone number I'm using (the one that is still lost somewhere in the house). They wanted to send me a link. Went through the stages for changing the phone number (had to repeat the phone number ffor the phone I can't find) then they said they will send me an e-mail in 24 hours just to check that it is me.

Good chat with the taxi lady on the way to the appointment. Appointment was productive, I went through bits of ancient history to illustrate my life running at crisis level. I know doctors (particularly in the US) can over prescribe anti-depressants but I get annoyed when people talk about 'low mood' (I was talking about the pharmacist who was trying to tell me to reduce the dosage).

Antway there are a couple of 'social' activities I'm going to try - one run by the Link workers in the library and another at the Miner's Institute which is puzzles and games, quizzes and dominoes type of thing. I'm going to try 'talking therapy' again (last time was 2018) and have another referral to adult social services to see if they can help with practical matters and getting less stuff in my house.

Walked to the top of the road, stopped to rest under 2 leafy trees. Checked out the shops on the other side of the road (cheaper property so fairly frequent turnover of businesses). Ignored the 'artisanal sandwiches, coffee and cake and the one with wine and gin. There's a little middle of the road island so I could 'hop across' to the other side. I was hoping the local legend pie shop was still there - I love their carrot cake (I worked nearby for a while and I would buy lunch and sit in the tree filled 'park'). Worked my way along - 3 barbers withing 10 shops distance. The shop was open but the assistant was doing 'clean up' No carrot cake or sandwiches so settled for a pasty and a gingerbread man (I had had an early lunch before setting out).

Walked a bit further and crossed at the crossing. Back along the other side to the bus stop. I'd seen 3 buses on my travels so had a bit of a wait. Ate the scrumptious pasty. Bus came, I travelled into the bus station. I was near the mall (opposite end to Monday). I sat on one of the bus station benches - won't do that again, it took me 5 attempts to get up. Went into the mall and into the first shop. I bought a dress there before Christmas and have been tryint to get back ever since (have looked online but I can't tell what the fabric is or where the sewing lines are). Bought 3 dresses and 6 handkerchieves. Worked my way up the mall but didn't go in any more shops.

I cut through the market (mostly all packed away) bought 2 packs of pot herbs (cabbage, carrot, celery and leeks already chopped up - I just drizzle a little salad dressing on it) and two punnets of delicious strawberries). Out o the other side of the market and into B00ts where I picked up 2 reduced price sandwiches. People helped me - another stall holder helped me squeeze the strawberries into my small shopping bag and the lady in the queue at B00ts helped me dig out my toilet roll from the bottom of the bag (runny nose from hayfever).

I made my way slowly home, opened the door, yelled for DS3, asked him to put my bags on the bed and bring the walker in. I went to the loo then climbed on the bed. My shoes came off, I stretched out my legs, pillows supported my back and shoulders. I ate from my bags (sandwich, gingerbread man, strawberries). It was utter bliss. I only moved rom the bed to visit the bathroom. I had water and juice, everything within easy reach.

In the morning I'd doubled over the sheet and duvet cover on the line so I could put more washing out. When the day turned from grey and wet to sunny (quite breezy, I may have to buy tablecloth weights to put on my dress to avoid showing bits of me I don't want exposed) everything dried. I did manage to bring in the sheet, duvet cover, flannel and bathmat but couldn't do a second trip.

Grateful for the link worker, a good chat (bit of a vent), helpful people, finding dresses that it my brief.

Sallyp2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82033572#Comment_82033572

apparently The Queen used to put tablecloth weights in her dresses & coats to protect her modesty. She was keen for Kate M to do the same in earlier days

apple_muncher

Ive had a busy garden day, digging up and replanting 3 lavender bushes, laying a big thick and heavy paving slab to make it easier for a wheelchair user who visits quite often to get into the house, digging up another half slab and a quarter slab that I found as I was digging holes to replant the lavenders. Dh and I emptied the paddling pool which was green and had wildlife wriggling in it, and dh gave it a thorough clean.

Today I am grateful for people at my gym, for lots of neighbours going past as I was digging and planting, for my new-to-me f1tb1t with its lovely clear display, for dh cooking a yummy tea.

grandmanerd

Yesterday I started by taking 2 bags of cans and bottles to the bins. On my way back up the yard I collected the last sheet and dress from the line. In the afternoon I weeded 4 bags for life of brambles, nettles, wild geranium, some comfrey (will grow back) and put them in the green bin. In the evening I went out again, swept together a pile of loose weeds and seeds from outside the back gate. Then I cleared 2 incinerator bins of weeds, put climbing bean seeds on the top and then added more soil and water to cover them (using a further 2 small buckets of soil and 2 containers of soil. I'd thrown the weeds behind me and need to go back to scoop those up.

I got through a lot of ice cream whilst resting. I have order 2 dark grey 6' long heavy duty plastic tables (frequently used for catering), 2 x 4' wide garden arches and some bundles of 6' bamboo canes. These will come today, tomorrow and Wednesday (not in the order I have listed them) so I need to crack on with sorting and clearing space. In my basket I have 6 long wall baskets - I need to order them by the 18th to get the current discount but affixing them to the walls is a job or another week.

I have washed my hair today and charged my phone but atm the hay fever is winning so I'm aiming for cautious progress (or possibly just getting through the day). Working outside will be dependent on when the deliveries are scheduled and I may do a quick inventory and make up a shopping list of things I would like to eat (I have stuff that will keep me alive but I need a little joy). I have a job list for the week and a prioritised list of 3.

Grateful for getting so much done, for buying the handkerchiefs (nose is going sore) and drama, comedy and books to relax with.

beanielou

You have been a busy bee @grandmanerd.

Lovely day here today. Sitting in the conservatory with the door open. Bliss.

grandmanerd

Lots done, lots more to do. More shuffling things round under the stairs, 3 bags of weeding, lots of small bags to recycling and rubbish bins (rubbish bin is 'full' but I've squeezed 3 more small bags in). Used a brush and hoe to clear some slabs and cobbles. Compost moved thrrough to kitchen, coir compost outside and about 7 or 8 (of the 12) blocks put in small pots and added water from the water butt - to save space I stacked them inside a half full incinerator bin (the bay tree is supposed to go in but I need someone to help me with that). I did as much as possible sitting on my old walker which lives outside. I felt okay working but getting up got progressively more dificult.

Delivery wins and losses - the parcel that was due today has been moved back to Thursday but tomorrow's parcels (the tables) came today.

Tired but happy, grateful for coir compost, broom and hoe and factor 50, wearing my new dress (not to be worn outside the yard)

grandmanerd

The 'not to be worn outside the yard' dress was worn outside the yard and nobody took the slightest notice. In case you are wonderig, it has spaghetti straps so thw whole of my arms and shoulders plus neck and cleavage (just the tops) are exposed. I went to get the bin back, it was taking children to school time and I sat on the concrete block at the front of the car park and no-one even glanced at me. No one ainted, no horses were frightened. My mother had lots of rules about hiding parts of my body and a lot of it seems to have stuck. My middle brother and I were very thin as children and she was always worried that someone would report her for child cruelty or not feeding us (we ate like horses). Later the advent of mini skirts gave her an excuse not to replace my dresses for about 3 years until one Saturday afternoon we went up Leigh and attracted a lot of attention rom passing cars. Of course that was my fault too.

Mrs Builder came and the kitchen and shower room are spotless (I haven't been using the kitchen much actually). I put my quilt out on the line to air (it's going to be rolled up at the end of my bed until it gets cold again) and Mrs Builder hung out the washing I'd done that morning. My bed was stripped and remade with the other mattress cover and clean sheets, the area beside my bed was cleared and she took the pet cage litter I'd decanted out as well as cans and paper recycling.

I put on sunscreen and ventured out in late afternoon to weed but din't get far. I did 2 really difficult buckets which had to be tipped out and miles of roots untangled so I spent time out there but didn't advance much. I'm going slowly this morning (may have a nap soon) as I'm very creaky - not much pain but nothing is moving much. I am doing little tasks - had pills, teethbrushing, shower, dried off, put on my dress and suncream but had honey, put the phone to charge etc on the way and have listed multiple things.

I heard DS3 come downstairs and go out whilst I was in the shower room so I set up a bottle or him to open on my walker and pushed it so that he had to stop once he was in the door. I set my laptop up on top of the bureau or him to sort (the screen was in the 2"on the right o the screen) and then asked him to do another 'bring me' task and asked if they had anything broken to go on the bulk waste collection list. He couldn't think of anything but I heard him talking to Beloved when he got upstairs so I think the message got passed on (they have a habit o dumping things in the back bedroom when they are broken and then they become invisible). When he comes down to collect food I need him to open the top window (I'm not climbing on the couch to do it) and I'd like him to put the net curtain back up.

My sub-plot is to raise the issue of the chinchillas going upstairs and one or two of my chests of drawers as well as my remaining books coming down. This won't go down well as it requires efffort from him but the chinchillas have rusted holes in their cage and the new one could be set up, upstairs and the animals could be transferred easily and the old cage could go for collection. They need to set a regular day or cleaning out the cage. I have offered to buy the new cage.

Grateul for Mrs Builder, ice cream and honey for my throat, eyedrops and sneezing to clear some of the pollen grains and comedy and games to spend my rest time. I had a phone call about the group in the library and DS2 contacted me as someone from Adult social services had been trying to contact me (they have a fancy new name but I can't remember it)

DawnW

Sounds as though you are making good progress @grandmanerd 😊

Not a great deal accomplished here. I fed the tomatoes, fig tree, strawberries, beans and some flowers this morning, but I will need to water everything else later on this evening, as it is very hot again.

I made and froze some pesto with the basil I cut yesterday. I made up the quantity with some past their best lettuce leaves (freshly cut but a bit tough). It doesn't taste any different. I use mainly basil but make up the quantity if necessary with any edible leaves. Rocket is good, but the lettuce worked fine too.

Tidied the fridge.

Had to go to work for a short while this afternoon to cover for a colleague who had a medical appointment. The shop was very quiet.

Posted an ebay sale while I was out, and collected some new jeans from Sainsb*rys. I have lost some weight and my others have got very loose and baggy. DD2 said it looked as though I had a wasting disease, so thought I had better get some smaller ones 😆Their straight leg jeans are the best IMHO and only cost £16. I will keep the old ones for a while in case I get fatter again!

Made a pasta dish with bacon, tomatoes and camembert with lots of chopped parsley for dinner - we ate early as we didn't fancy anything at lunchtime.

beanielou

@DawnW. Get rid of the jeans.