NST August 2026: The Good Life

apple_muncher

Everyone needs to have a have a Mrs Builder in their life!

We had an Ed Psych visit us yesterday , which was draining and quite deflating. But necessary. Today I feel slightly better after seeing an email she's sent requesting OT and physio assessments for Pip.

Today I am grateful for the positive email, for having a great gym session, for getting a few bits to the tip, for time with Pip just chilling and chatting, for dh mending the net curtain pole (again) in our bedroom.

DawnW

Sounds as though good progress is being made @grandmanerd 😊

Work yesterday and I was nearly late due to being held up in a pharmacy. I had gone to my usual little pharmacy to pick up my prescription, which was fine. Then I decided to go into B00ts to get a few supplies - I don't go in there often, but was walking past, and they stock things that the smaller pharmacy doesn't keep. I picked up foot cream and a specific toothpaste advised by my dentist, then asked at the counter for some more cream for infected insect bites - I have had a horrible swollen itchy one at the back of my knee for days (gardening hazard and I am a bit allergic), but it is definitely better than it was. The assistant insisted I see the pharmacist, who immediately said I needed antibiotics. I really just wanted some more cream. I had to wait ages while she processed the prescription and dispensed them. They are huge blue pills which I really could have done without. I don't like taking antibiotics, but she was talking about older people, danger of cellulitis, sepsis etc and if it wasn't better in 5 days to go to the doctor for stronger ones 🙄 I am sure that won't be necessary! Got to work just in time to open the shop.

Day at home today, and I have garden stuff to do, a pie to make, and a tradesman to see about render repairs to the front of the house. Really struggling to find someone to do this, and I don't hold out much hope for this one as he didn't turn up on Tuesday when he had first arranged to come 😏

f0xh0les

Morning all.

I am a victim of my own success. Hoist by my own petard. I decided to unsubscribe from any junk emails that come in, just gave myself a limit of 10 a day, and today I got up and had only 4 emails. Now I feel unloved and unimportant 🤣 isn't it silly?

I have decided to try and have an August of Festivals so I have applied to work at quite a few events - I know I am coming at it all rather late, but there are still vacancies out there all over the place, free entry to the event, free parking, free camping, all for a 6/ 8 hour shift. Now I have 7 employers. HMRC are going to have apoplexy.

Today's excitement will not be provided by cleaning the ground floor of my house and hoovering from the top down.

Gratitudes:

Clean bedding on yesterday.

4 loads of laundry (mostly towels) washed and dried on the line.

DS1 enjoying his job and making plans for the future

beanielou

My passport is here. Going to France next month. My mum has booked the flights. I’ve finally managed to add the special assistance to the booking.

Rowan9

so delighted for you @beanielou

beanielou

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82094292#Comment_82094292

Thanks. Looking forward to it. Not been for 11 years. Had a nightmare coming back last time with the special assistance.

apple_muncher

Have a fabulous time, beanie!

Today I am grateful for Pip having a solidly wonderful day at work, for going for a little run, for good music, for fresh bedding, for books.

grandmanerd

Go beanie, hope it's everything you could want.

I'm walking slowly today and couldn't find my ankle support. Luckily the parcel containing the new ones arrived at 12.30 pm. Up to then I was moving things slowly collecting recycling in separate bags and sorting through books and finding homes for some small items.

At 2 pm I took a bag of clothes, a bag of books and bits and a bag of candle holders to the YMCA cs. I asked if they needed bubble wrap but they have enough (one of the other cs will welcome it). I've eaten leftovers and things from the fridge.

I talked to one of the men working on the civic square, told him the tale of the cone (next door's dog brought it home, the old man went into a home during the pandemic and the dog was rehomed, the house has changed hands twice since then and the cone is still in the backs). He said they'll happily take it. Outside the YMCA a young girl was sitting on the pavement (waiting for friends). She moved her legs to give me room to pass and I thanked her and then complimented her on her hair which put a broad smile on her face.

As I was coming back across the car park the toxic neighbours were parking their cars. Mr TN paused to look at the chinchilla cage, Mrs TN disappeared through their back gate. I paused for a beat (I'd rather not have a confrontation but I'm ready if they start - I've got the line about 'the only thing we know attracts rats is Mr TN's car', they ate all his upholstery). Anyway they both went in and I could sit on the block by the car park entrance, before limping the last four houses home. The filing cabinets and the trolley have gone as well as some parts of the cage - I'm wondering if the scrap man didn't have room of couldn't lift it into his truck.

I.ve shuffled a few more things and know which things I'll take to which shops tomorrow, if I'm fit to walk. I'm going to switch off and do my puzzle for a bit. I finished one book and can't find number 16 in the series, although I know I have it. I might have to download a copy to read online as I've just ordered the 2 latest ones.

Grateful for getting things out of the house and things being collected, good books, puzzles and pleasant workmen.

DawnW

Enjoy your trip @beanielou 😊

Work today and tomorrow, so I shall have to get on and do a few jobs here before I go. I don't start till 9.30 thank heavens, so I get a bit of time to get things done beforehand. I did a pile of ironing last evening while OH went to see his poorly friend, and I seem to have forgotten one t shirt - how annoying! I was tempted to just put it away, but I see it has peg marks on the shoulder so can't be done 😏

Still no rain here, and another hot spell is forecast for next week. The evenings are starting to draw in, and it is cooler at night, at the moment anyway. What a strange summer. All the fields are brown with no grass for the animals to eat. Goodness knows how the farmers will manage. Every day there are reports of fires in fields, hedgerows and wild areas. Vegetation is so dry that the slightest thing sets them off.

It is a strange year for gardening too. Lots of things haven't done well, though the tomatoes seem to be enjoying it. I also have lots of cucumbers and courgettes. The watering is a bind, even though we have no hose pipe ban here. I still use a watering can some of the time, but to be honest, my hose has an attachment that only allows the water to flow when I push a lever, keeping waste to a minimum and allowing more targeted watering than a can does. OH and I summer pruned the quince tree yesterday. It looks much tidier, and we filled up the garden bin which is being collected today. OH will prune it properly in the winter. He is much better at pruning fruit trees than I am. I also cut back the lavender which had finished flowering. It flowered for a much shorter time than usual this year.

Better get on I suppose. I will start by getting the iron out and doing that t shirt 🙄

grandmanerd

Slept for the first half of the day. Woke early, took my pills and had a banana, fell asleep until 8 am, went to the toilet, forced myself into the shower and washed my hair, back to the bed and slept until after 1 pm. Can barely walk. Think I overate yesterday but also a bit dizzy and occasional chilly spells, so I might have been out in the sun for too long. Put on my ankle strap and tried to put on my wellies but went tired again after bringing in 3 things from the line so gave up on taking the cone or the things to the hospice cs.

Ate sparingly all day, had a rainbow salad and chilli hummus and feeling okay now. One load of washing done but not out yet. Added to the recycling bags and moved some paper to a safer spot.

Grateful for rest, getting my hair washed and things to keep me entertained.