NST June 2026: Onwards and Upwards

apple_muncher

Yes, get rid of the jeans DawnW!!!

grandmanerd - hope you stop for a bit now and recover from all our work.

I've recently moved various plants / bushes and laid a paving slab at the front of the house, to make it easier for Pip's friend to get in to and out of the house with his wheelchair and ramp. He came for a visit yesterday and was very happy 😎

I got myself a yukky bug/virus thingy at the weekend so have had to cry off most of my invigilating this week and rest up. I even had a nap on Monday - that never happens! It has shown me that I really do need to commit to less work next year. Pip is also very fragile at the mo, and I think that does link in to me not being around as much.

Pip's having a tea party next week, which is great because it prompts/forces me to clear my gubbins and clean and hoover and mop and sweep and move some furniture around.

I am grateful for working with people who will stand in for me when needed, for being able to have time to rest and look after myself, for finding a colourful duvet cover in the charity shop for £2 and getting 2 books for me for when I'm travelling next week plus 3 big hardback cookery books for my friend for just £1 more!, for iced coffee.

beanielou

@apple_muncher. Love the gubbins word. Reminds me of my dad.

grandmanerd

Yesterday was a slow day, mostly resting but a few things got done. I cleared a patch of slabs and cobbles which I'd started the day before. After a rainy start the sun got fierce and I kept brushing of the top layer as it dried. It's been through the sieve and all the dead greeneery and rubbish picked out by hand. I brought the quilt and mattress cover inside (had to turn the cover to dry the other side).

I feel a bit of today, a headache that won't shift and relying on ice cream, honey and pickles to soothe my throat (separately not together). I found the notebook that had the blood test log in details and started that. Got to the end of selecting an appointment when it offered me an alternative - next week. So I went back through using the new date (must have been a cancellation) and when I got through to the end, someone had just taken it. Back to the beginning again and more new dates, earlier than the previous ones but not net week. First date only had one at 8.15 am which I decided against because it clashes with morning commutes and a lot of the taxis are booked out to take special needs kids and adults to school/ training. Picked an 11 am one the day after and this time it went through.

Flushed with success (just mildly pleased really - still not feeling it) I tried to log in to online banking. Gathered my card, my pinsentry reader and my phone (because they always want to sent a code for safety) Started the log in and the pinsentry reader didn't work. It looks like something has spilled on it (it was missing for a while and only recently resurfaced). I found the bank number and dialled. It wanted me to give it digits from the phone banking log in. I think I used it once about 7 years ago. It was always easiest to drop in to the branch and if I had to phone there was a dedicated line in the branch. When my branch closed the set up a service in the library or a few days a week but that's gone too now.

So I found the contact number and did battle with a bot - 3 times through the security questions, dob, mother's maiden name (no it didn't get that). I gave up and then hunted down the number or Bolton Branch which I've visited on the couple of occasions when I needed to speak to someone (all the problems with my account being hacked were dealt with late at night with real people and then to get my card unblocked I went to the nice lady in the library. Wrote down the Boltobn number, made sure it was different to the bot service and decided to go to the loo before I settled in to another possibly prolonged call. I heard a clunk, looked back and yes my phone is behind the sofa bed again. DS3 has just been down but I forgot to ask him so it will have to wait until tomorrow or I may just travel to Bolton Branch net week.

I've learned over the years that when things start going wrong, stop - don't keep digging (i you are already tired and frustrated you will get more and more muddled and/ or angry.

So I've done mainly nice things and some gentle tasks along the way. I've found a few gadgets to make life easier - a thing to help push pills out of foil strips (I break the foil with my fingernail but this may be why my nails are splitting vertically) and a sponge on a stick to help clean hard to reach bits. I'm still thinking about cutlery (2 basic options, easy grip handles and then a strap to go round your hand to help hold onto it) and writing aids (that looked a bit complicated so I might try using the ones to help children starting to write first).

I've moved some of my food from the large freezer into mine and done a mini food audit. At the same time I drew up a list for the next big food shop. I have been checking condiments for the last week. I still had 2 bottles o cider vinegar when I finished the one I was using but today used the last skerrick f peri peri sauce and there are no more on the shelf. It was a day that only chocolate could help so I did a mini shop. I've staarted checking through the special offers for anything I use or don't buy because they are too dear at normal price (currently 2 - 3 times what they were pre Trump) but I do like/ or they are super healthy and half price puts them within range.

So I have ice cream cones and fab lollies - no washing up as a bonus. I couldn't get much off my 'big shop' list but I'm happy with the things from the big freezer or now.

Grateful for easy entertainment, ice cream and honey for my throat and learning a helpfful new stretch

grandmanerd

I've made progress over the last few days. Washing was line dried. some weeding was done. I'm constantly surpised by how quickly my energy vanishes. On Sunday I was sure that I could go out again after resting, to complete a job started about 3 weeks ago. I'd emptied out all the pots I grew tomatoes and peppers in (indoors) last year. They are sealed (no drainage) so weeds had sprouted since they went outside. I put down a piece of weed proof fabric so that the slabs I'd cleaned didn't go green again. I weeded all but 2 of the pots and turned them out on to the weedproof fabric and then covered them with the cloth. I had the sieve over the grid so that excess water could be drained.

Sunday's late evening task (when the sun was over the house) was to move the soil into an unused wide trough as there would be enough goodness let in the soil to support strawberries and salad plants (lettuce, spring onions, radish). I want to grow more this year but I'm sticking to fairly undemanding/ self-sufficient stuff. So I rested and then got up to complete the task. No, my body was having none of it.

I did clean the CPAP mask and hose. I asked DS3 about the phone down the back of the sofa bed and he said he'd try to get it with my grabber. It worked and he also found my original avourite phone (still no money on it but that's problem for another day. I've charged them both. I also requested that he put the doll's house on the concrete block at the front o the car park. I bought it from a cs for my grand-daughters but their parents picked one up on a local selling site for a fiver. He did what I asked but with much grumbling and muttering about fly tipping. He even wrote the 'free' sign.

Earlier I'd moved the 2 tables, 2 garden arches and 2 large bags of compost to the kitchen/ bottom of the stairs to clear the way or getting my walker out. Took any remaining shopping + odd items back to the kitchen and did the mini food audit. I've identified some useful gadgets but not ordered them yet and organised some new lists and sorted/ eliminated some old ones.

Yesterday was my first outing to the group at the library and it was very pleasant. I didn't talk much but we did a quiz and we all helped an old lady who blatantly cheated. I only got 7 out of 20, 6 in the 'world' category but only 1 in the 'celebrity' questions - a fluke because they were all guesses based on whether the statements were preposterous enough to be true (or why say it at all). I had a list of jobs to do aterwards (at the mall) but came home instead - a relief as I barely moved of the bed,dozed, then slept through the night.

On Sunday DS2 messaged me and I'm going to visit their new home on July 5th. Need to get eldest grand-daughter's birthday presents organised, plus garden stuff, more books, rubber things to help with beginner writing (going to try those myself). I also raised the questtion of his Nanna's coffee table (DS1 and DS2 told me not to bring things from my mother's when she died and then when their father died their uncle identified 4 items which had belonged to Nanna and they ended up here. I've never seen the point of coffee tables. Anyway he's keen to take that to his new house so one more thing to go.

I really want to get upstairs here to sort through the books and other things that are still up there. I want my 2 good sets of drawers down here and would like the chinchillas upstairs.

Today I'm suffering. I have used multiple items to help my eyes, nose and throat but am wary of any exertion which would drive pollen grains deeper into my throat, eyes and lungs. I'm hot just sitting here (no clothes) and I may try for a little nap so I can do something when the heat and sun is less direct.

Grateful for finding my phone, conversation with DS2 and getting things out of the house.

DawnW

Really hot again here, after last night's thunderstorm and heavy rain.

We are mostly staying in the house. As it is an old house with small windows, it is quite cool inside, especially with electric fans on and the curtains closed. It is a bit dark though, like a cave.

I didn't need to water outside this morning due to last night's rain, but will check some of the pots later to see if they have dried out. I expect the water butts will have water in them again, which is good.

Tidied, did some ironing and put some things away, then we went out and did the weekly shop.

Later went for lunch with DD1 and her husband, which was nice. They live an hour and a half away, so we don't see them that often. We went to a lovely old pub in a neighbouring town that wasn't too hot. I had a salad, so I am still being good, though it is really too hot to want heavy meals. Changed out of my tidy clothes as soon as I got back, and put the long skirt and old tee shirt that I was wearing first thing back on. I won't need to cook a meal tonight as we have eaten. We will probably just have some cheese and biscuits for supper.

Work tomorrow, which won't be fun as the shop gets incredibly hot (or incredibly cold in the winter) 🙄

beanielou

Very very warm here today!

grandmanerd

Some days you just get through. I lay on the bed yesterday. Put my dress on and took it off 2 hours later (it was stuck to me in places). Tried to go outside and the heat nearly knocked me over. In the afternoon I added a wet flannel to my arsenal and topped it up regularly. I had my CPAP mask on to help my breathing. Couldn't take the bins - shouted DS3 this morning and he put them out (just in time). Tomorrow is supposed to be fierce, so will see how I do. I have blood tests early and then I'll play it by ear

Grateful for rest, cold water flannels and the fan (it belongs to the chinchillas)

DawnW

It was stifling here too @grandmanerd and today is apparently going to be worse. Working both days, but I made the decision to close the shop an hour early yesterday, and will do the same today if possible.

It is supposed to be the hottest day today(36 degrees is forecast), and from tomorrow becoming gradually cooler. Looking forward to being at home and hopefully able to get some jobs done in relative comfort.

Sallyp2

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82047081#Comment_82047081

whats your shop?

DawnW

Still stupidly hot, forecast is for a high of 30 degrees (which is better I suppose than the 35 we had yesterday) and no possibility of rain. I held off watering this morning but will inspect everything later for any signs of wilting etc.

Spent a hot couple of hours in the kitchen. Cooked chicken in the air fryer to avoid the oven, then realised I had lots of fridge gravel that was in urgent need of using, so put it on anyway (though only for 15 minutes) to make naan bread pizzas. That used up some mushrooms, half a chorizo, some roasted peppers, various ends of cheese and some leftover tomato sauce. There is plenty of cooked food in the fridge now for a few days, and nothing to waste. I almost threw away a tub of cream just past its date, but made a quiche instead. I shall need to check the food in the larder too. It is away from the kitchen and fairly cool but with this silly weather it doesn't pay to take it for granted, as I usually do, that shelf stable stuff will be ok in there.

I froze mangetout peas and broad beans harvested from the garden, thinking I might as well get the blanching done while the kitchen was hot anyway. I have loganberries to freeze too, but they will have to wait till the peas and beans have finished open freezing and gone into bags. The freezers are fairly stuffed and there isn't room for a third tray at the moment.

I think that is the limit of my plans for today, apart from maybe giving the dog a bath, as he is feeling the heat this weather. He doesn't like being bathed, but he will enjoy being cool and damp afterwards 😄