NST SEPTEMBER 2026

grandmanerd

SEPTEMBER What Lies Ahead?

The heatwave (stage 6) is set to return in September (I've read that it may extend to Halloween). On the other hand, we have a severe EL NINO event ths year (the worst in living memory) bringing storms and wet weather in October and November. So be prepared.

Spare a thought for the poor Galapagos penguins. Research from 1964 - 2004 tracked 9 el Nino events, 2 severe and 7 weak. El Nino disrupts the normal flows of the ocean leaving the penguins without their nutrients and the fish they live on. The 2 severe el Nino events (1982 - 1983 and 1997 - 1998 resulted in population crashes of 77% and 65% respectively). Repeated weak events limit population recovery, in 2004 the Galapagos penguin population was estimated at < 50% of the pre 1982-3 event. This applies to other small or declining seabird populations but the penguin studies go back 6000 years (guano in rock sediments).

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst and help those less fortunate than you when and where you can

Set all BUDGETS before the start of the month (extra days allowed due to the lateness of this challenge). Food, Travel, Social/ Personal spends/ Other. Try for 15 Spend Free Days unless this is not helpful in your circumstances. Small cash outgoings can be set aside at the beginning of the month. Travel spending (fuel/ oyster card) does not lose you a SFD if it comes from your preset budget. Medical expenses are exempt as illness/ accidents and appointments are not predictable and we do not want anyone delaying treatment to keep their SFD.

EXERCISE If you have an exercise routine, continue it, whether it's a daily walk (or counting steps) or a full on running, cycling and exercise with weights plan. If you are struggling, think what you can do and make a start (leg raises lying on the bed, squats holding onto the sink after brushing your teeth, toe taps whilst waiting for a bus or at a crossing - toe taps on the bus works as well). All movement counts. It's also important to take care of your MENTAL HEALTH - your body and brain work in tandem and stress shows in many ways.

PREPARE Birthdays and other events during the month (is half-term in October now or is there still a September break?). In the middle of the month it will be 100 days to 'that day in December' (Martin's reminder will be published, always worth a read). Apple told you last month to buy any items you saw that were on your present list. It's not too late to arrange no buy/ low buy/ just for the children/ no cards pacts with family. friends and any groups you belong to. Use the sales (shelf clearance to accomodate tinsel and tat) to stock up on half-price sun cream, hayfever tablets, bite cream and maybe a swimsuit (my hayfever can kick in from February and they sometimes haven't got the pills out then, I can get bitten at any time of the year, swimsuits for those of us larger ladies who need built- in support can disappear from the stores, scraps of fabric that cover the essentials but might not survive contact with water are available anytime)

TIME BUDGET (A random rule for Kat) Evaluate your work, domestic and voluntary commitments. If there's never enough time in your day, see what can be cut down or left out altogether. If a friend constantly drags you down, think about what you're getting from the relationship - if someone's going through a hard time, you may want to continue your support. However if they're a long way past a crisis but want to continually rehash old events without ever progressing or taking hints about different paths, it may be time to release yourself. (Time management and pacing will be covered throughout the month as I'm probably going to be doing it as part of my therapy).

EVALUATE your plans for the year, there's still a quarter of the year left. Look at your habits, what's working and what's fallen by the wayside. What curve balls did life throw you, can you get back on track or were your plans unrealistic (did you set yourself up for failure). What can you do, can things be rescued/ postponed/ abandoned.

MEALS should be cooked from scratch at home, if possible. I'm strugglng with this (particularly cooking) atm so I may write a list of easy meals (sandwiches in the freezer, open a tin etc) and then try to tag on simple one pot recipes that can make several meals. Food prices continue to increase and our hot summer means that brassicas (cabbage/ cauli/ broccoli) and other veg may not be available. Try eating seasonally, foraging (blackberrying) or eating more meatless meals (f0xh0les gets a gold star)

BIG ISSUE If you have a problem that's been around for a while, a big discussion that needs to happen, something you need to do but just can't seem to start, NOW is the month to tackle it. It's probably an elephant so just take the first bite (or work out what that first step looks like) and do it. (Mine's the paperwork - I keep trying to tease out bits and file them appropriately because I'm terrified of that enormous pile which takes on a life of it's own and hides under furniture)

EVENTUALITIES Since we can expect more heatwave and or lots of storms and rain, we need different options and to take advantage of whatever we get. SUNSHINE - it may be worth experimenting with veg seeds if the good weather continues (cheapo ones in the end of year sales, if they only cost 10p a packet you can't really lose by scratching a line in the soil and scattering the seeds). So good to pull your own carrots or new spuds for your December meal (chop up sprouting potatoes if you can't find seed potatoes). Even if you have a green thumb, pea shoots will grow from dried marrowfat peas scattered on a half inch (1.5 cm) of soil in a tray or mushroom box. Brassica plants are still available (40 week growing season but you can eat 'gourmet' mini veg. Make time for a picnic, a back yard barbequeue or an autumn ramble

If bad weather is expected later, it may be wise to start winterproofing your house early (or slap an extra layer of stain on the garden shed). Book your boiler service, paint the hall or spare room whilst it's still warm enough to have the doors open to let the paint dry, make a mending pile to tackle when it's time to get cosy indoors (apple will be needling those snowmen, robins and axolotls).

REDUCE stress, reduce unnecessary possessions (more on this later), teach your children to weed out old toys, either to make some money or to give to others. Work out what you need from that day in December and plan howw you make it happen (don't be a martyr).

Who is ready for September's Turtle Challenge

grandmanerd

Reserved for Contenders

1 grandmanerd

2 weenancyinamerica

3 beanielou

4

beanielou

Thanks @grandmanerd. Can I please be no 3.

weenancyinAmerica

I do want to join in while I can. Still hot here for a month or more. 33C expected today. Not getting as much done as I should (and neither are the roommates!). Will keep trying.

Esmeralda2662

Please can I join in, @grandmanerd? Thank you!