NST JULY KISS

grandmanerd

On Wednesday I didn't go upstairs until 8.30 pm. I did more sorting categories of rubbish. I understand people with MH problems wanting to keep possessions and using them to build a wall of protection from the world but I can't understand their need to surround themselves with rubbish. I do it a little bit but I also collect and bin repeatedly (sometimes I have to leave it by the back door, when I can't manage the walk down to the bins. Anyway I got stuck with a bag of jars when I couldn't undo the lids so I asked them to do it (they screwed the lid back on too tight). I wanted the gherkin liquid poured down the bathroom sink and the jars put in the bag. Apparently they tried yesterday and only managed one (will have to explain running the jar under a hot tap to make the metal lid expand).

I've mostly emptied the second set of drawers that I want bringing down and told DS3 that the remainder should fit in the black suitcase (he brought the blue one down on Wednesday whillst I brought a heavy bag. Yesterday I didn't hurt when I woke up but I was very tired. I think I dozed off half a dozen times between 4 am and noon. I did quite a lot of bits but not sure it shows (I have half a dozen new boxes and bags down here now). At around 5 pm my legs got very heavy

I tried to concentrate on sorting out down here - I'm starting a new bag each time I fill the old one. Some washing went on the line, the rest I put outside on a chair (have hung some of it this morning). The sink is full of very hot water with some sticky dishes soaking, more bin bags have gone out, DS3 set up my drawers with a cube unit on top, so I'm going to put away clothes and books. The washing machine is filling rapidly. I tried to book the bulky waste collection but all slots are taken for the next 5 weeks.

Thee big problem is that the animals should be going upstairs today and the new cage (still in it's boxes) is down here - my other set of drawers may come down today. DS3 says he's been awake all night. I need to sweep up in the kitchen (leftovers when other categories were collected) and one or two bins would benefit from a layer of pizza boxes with cobbles or bricks on top to squash the rubbish.

Grateful for what we have got done, for all the useful bits I rediscovered (I knew some of them were there, I just couldn't get upstairs), having a plan (DS3 not included), books and games to keep me sane.

grandmanerd

Well Mrs Builder has been and gone and in addition to her cleaning up the kitchen and shower room, I've unpacked 2 boxes of books (boxes ripped up) and between us we have emptied a suitcase and 3 bags for life as well as collecting t-shirts and jumpers that were hung up or in various places.

Both lots of washing are out on the line and I've lost count of the number of recycling bags that have gone to various bins. We are going to see if the junk man will take the old cage and 2 metal filing cabinets and I'm thinking about getting the waste wizards to come if it's going to be 5 weeks + to get a regular bulk waste collection. I think I have a 10 item list and it would be good to get it all gone - the cushions that used to be in a set of drawers (the ones that went in December) have been left on the floor next to the mouldy wall so won't be usable any more. I'll try to get DS3 to start bringing things down and put things outside if they won't be affected by rain (computer tower and little fridge will be okay and other metal items)

So I'm tired and aching but quite happy. I have plans to continue over the weekend and into next week but will take time to rest and have fun.

beanielou

Great progress @grandmanerd. Be proud. Has the cage gone upstairs yet?

grandmanerd

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82080235#Comment_82080235

No but he has brought my second set of drawers down and the fridge and insectucor to be disposed of. He has filled the black suitcse with the contents of the drawers but says there are still things of mine upstairs so I will go up there tomorrow or Sunday. I have 4 part filled bags for the cs (different shops) and found the final missing library book.

DawnW

Fingers crossed that the cage and its occupants find their way upstairs over the weekend @grandmanerd !

DawnW

Ugh, the dishwasher died today. It has been playing up for a while and is old, so probably best to replace. I have a savings pot for replacing appliances, so have ordered a new one to be delivered on Tuesday. Went through quidco to get a little bit of cashback.

Made some hummus, which I will pile onto flatbreads with roasted veg on top. Quiche to finish first though.

Home grown lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber and beetroot for today's salad. Last of the lettuce for a while though.

Used lemon skins (after squeezing the juice and grating the zest for the hummus) to scrub the sink. Worked a treat, and the remains could still go in the compost bucket afterwards 😊

Sowed some more spring onions in tubs, and transplanted lettuce seedlings which I eventually got to grow (they don't like the heat) into troughs. I have spaces in the raised bed, but it is fearfully dry.

Feeling a bit tired and meh today, but at least I got some useful things done!

grandmanerd

Progress - I brought the washing in (it was trying to rain so I waited to put the next lot out). Paper bag went the blue bin. 3, cushions, 2 pillows and a bag of toy stuffing (from an old pillow) went into green rubble sacks. I folded the tops over and pegged them in place. They should now be okay to be left outside until we have them collected. I also used a blue rubble sack to collect plastic bottles and broken pant pots from around the yard. Small quantities of food rubbish went to the bins, I still need to evict a couple of things from the fridge. I've gathered more books and they are stacked by author on top of the second chest of drawers, waiting for their companions.

At 8.30 pm I went upstairs. I took 3 bags for life (the ones I'd already filled and emptied). I sat on DS3's swivel office chair and he mostly sat on a stool and swept things around the floor. He wanted congratulating on 'all his hard work', I did something with my eyebrows and gave a slightly snotty reply (I'm trying not to snap because there are lots of things I cannot do and I need to keep him moving forward even at snail's pace rather than him storming off.

We filled the 3 bags for life (one is mostly things to go). We filled a rubbish bag, a soft plastics bag, started a new bottles bag, threw out a bag that was leaking on the floor. Used the window to eject a tennis racquet bug zapper, random bits of metal (things that had broken but might be 'useful'), a mincer or grater (Beloved has a new one, possibly 2 newer ones) and another filled bag of cardboard which I tied loosly inside a bin bag to keep it dry and together.

DS3 tried to use the bottle of mould spray on the wall (he wants it sorted before the animals go up there). The handle was broken. We tried breaking off the top to pour it down the wall - only partially successful. I suggested stabbing the body of the bottle to release the contents - no dice. I asked had he any bleach in the bathroom, then added toilet cleaner would work. He brought it back. I told him to take the top off and then pour it across the wall at the highest point of the mould. He did another line across the widest part (about 2' 6" from the ground). He rubbed a rag across the top bit but then I told him to leave it overnight. The empty bottle went out.

The floor is now clear. The only things left are DS3's desk. my other 8 cube kallax (staying where it is) and a piloe of boxes (2 full and very heavy, 2 lightly loaded with sound proofing tiles - second more expensive ones now up). My box (teal 'velvet' footstool) is at the bottom of the pile - he just moved the pile towards the corner. I do need the box out at some point but think I will wait until the cage is done before adding further instructions (like telling him which boxes he should have used to pack his books).

It rained overnight but it is only slightly damp - not the expected downpour. So hopefully the washing will go out today (it will either dry or make it rain, which will save on watering). I'm waiting for my knees to recover. I've showered and applied antiseptic cream (delicate bits) and ibuprofen gel (knees and a bit across the small of my back) I did a lot of extra 'massaging' with warm water to help all my aching muscles. I'm going to slather on some lotion to the rest of my body. I have grab and go stuff in the fridge to eat. I'm staying on the bed until my knees feel okay. I may doze again (reading my long overdue library book before I take it back).

I need to do a paperwork sort (and purge) but we found a cardboard concertina file under all the rubbish. The telphone banking code and the pinsentry machine arrived yesterday but I was too tired to do anything last night and I should probably weed out the 'keeping but not immediatley needed' papers first and unpack and put away all the 'easy decisions'. I filled another cs bag as we went along and there are a few things tucked in the other bags.

Grateful for progress, time to rest (I want to keep going but stop when I hurt to avoid long-term damage), good boos and other entertainment - i've always wanted proper weekends that are different to weekdays so I started yesterday. It's okay to do things like having my shower but I'm letting myself doze off again, as needed (aching bits will heal quicker)

f0xh0les

I have pulled on my big-girl pants and attacked the coalshed at the back of the house yesterday afternoon About 1/3rd of the (dumped-in-there) contents have now gone. I have a pile of metal outside to go via the (invisible) scrap metal man. Definitely progress.

6 shirts ironed this morning for 5 days work next week (the shed clearance was ironing avoidance).

1 more bag of SCHOOL UNIFORM to the c/s I am finally free of that nonsense. DS1 picked up his NHS uniform yesterday ( too small).

2 laundry loads done and on the line, then one wet load of laundry found in the dryer???? Smelled awful, so that's back in the washer and the dryer is airing out. Idiots! 100 days of heatwave and some twonk is trying to dry their clothes in the dryer overnight?? 🙄 Environmental Terrorists! It would have dried faster outside.

Off to work this afternoon for a very few hours, it will probably take me longer to drive there and back than the actual work that needs doing - they do pay my mileage so who am I to complain?

DH should return from his camping trip about the same time as I get back. Will be nice to see him again, even if I will barely see him next week.

DawnW

We had rain this morning but only a tiny bit. The rest of the day has been quite pleasant temperature wise. However, we are predicted another heat wave during the coming week and no more rain in sight 🙄

I picked a strawberry, a tomato, 3 small green peppers, lots of French beans, and a colander full of fallen apples, which I made into apple juice with my steam juicer. I got one and a half bottles, so plenty of breakfast juice for me for the week. OH will probably say it isn't sweet enough, but he doesn't really drink fruit juice anyway. I also gave the basil a haircut so will make pesto tomorrow.

OH and I have decided to look at having solar panels. The industry seemed to be full of pushy sales people and cowboys in earlier days, and we were cautious. Now though, well respected local electrical firms are fitting them, so we have made initial enquiries with one firm who have done some work for us before, and have excellent local reviews for this type of work, as well as more basic electrical stuff. We might not recoup the outlay in our lifetimes, but it might make our house more attractive on the sales market if it came to that, and will lower our carbon footprint - and electricity bills don't seem to be going down, after all. The equipment is a lot cheaper than it used to be too. Anyway, we will see what we can find out.

Main meal was flatbreads with hummus and roasted veg piled on top. Very yummy, I will do that again. Might roast some more veg tomorrow for a couscous salad.

Time to do the watering again.

apple_muncher

Today has been a very simple day, as I've had a very dodgy tummy since yesterday morning. I have been able to drink water, plus a few sips of electrolytes. I have been entertained by a book and utube videos that I missed most of, due to napping!!!

Today I am grateful for a strong breeze, for being able to wash all the towels that I might have contaminated, for clean water, for my comfy bed, for dh rising to the occasion despite not being anywhere near 100% himself.