NST SEPTEMBER 2026

grandmanerd

Sorry to be late to the party - the laptop died on me. Dragged myself off to CEX on BH Monday as I had seen a chromebook in there for £100. It was still there. Not sure what's wrong with it as there was a similar one priced at £750. Got it back home and it seemed so simple. Put in the wifi password. Put in my email. Password - oh heck what's the password. Found the password book. Tried various combinations of the password (s) listed - no joy.

Asked DS3 to order me a new charger, in the hope that I could get the old laptop to work for long enough to extract the saved passwords and it's just arrived. I did think about making a new email to use on the new laptop but would have been complicated, getting the info out to everyone who needs it. I was slightly anxious about sorting it out before my therapy group starts but when I accepted that I couldn't do more than I already had, I had quite a relaxing time. Better sleep too.

Quick catch up. Went to DS2's on Sunday. He was coming for me between 11 am and 11-30 am so I rushed around getting stuff together and made myself breathless. He arrived at 10 to 1 pm. Baby would not go down for her nap. When we got to their house everyone was upstairs, baby had only just dropped off (they have had a virus and she had sore spots in nasty places.

Was a wonderful day. For the first time ever, the baby picked up a book and came to me at once with her arms outstretched for me to pick her up and read to her. We had a beautiful lunch - I had taken picnic bits and they added theirs (I had leftover to bring back). I was given a tour of the garden - I only managed the house last time and sat out the garden bit. I love the garden, it played a big part in their decision to buy. There are lots of fruit trees (we had plum crumble when we came back in.

I had taken some bits to help with their storage issues (far too many toys especially stuffed animals). Squirrel tie backs for the curtains in the children's bedroom (baby is still squashed in with mum at the moment), some animal posters I originally bought for here (back when I thought DS3 and Beloved would have moved before baby number one was born) and a macrame holder that will fit on the back of a door with several levels for holding stuffed animals or other small toys.

Grateful for sons, their partners and grand-daughters (plus grand-puppy and grand-chinchillas), good books and easy food (think they have passed their virus onto me and I needed soft, easy food)

apple_muncher

Today I am grateful for having my stitches out, for skip diving for some broken slabs for a project, for my raspberries, for how good a shower and hair wash make me feel.

beanielou

Sounds like a lovely day @grandmanerd. Precious memories.

grandmanerd

Thursday 3rd September 2026

ORCOSCOPE (September 2nd)

Today got 'stop makin tiny problem wear big crown' energy. Orc know how it go. One little thing go wrong and suddenly, brain yell 'DA WHOLE KINGDOM FALLIN'. No it ain't

Sometimes cup spill. Sometimes plans wobble. Sometimes day trip over it's own boots and pretend it meant to do that. Do not give tiny problem a throne. Point at it. Laugh once. Fix what you can. Step over what you can't. You still bigger than da mess.

ORC WIZZDUM Tiny problem only become king when orc hand it a crown.

REMINDERS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

People looked at beans and decided to make a beverage from them. Have a little faith in us.

A bad morning does not mean the day is ruined,it has simply developed a plot

The world contains plenty of astonishing things that no-one had to invent.

There is really no compelling reason to hurry through a sandwich.

Sometimes the most productive thing in the room is the window.

And remember…..squirrels remain remarkably confident despit having misplaced nearly everything they own

(twig and toad folk) This week's reminders were assembled with lots of confidence and very little supporting evidence.

September RESET (part 1)

HOME

Decorate for early autumn

Wash blankets and throws

Declutter one room

Rotate seasonal clothing

Organise the coat closet

Deep clean the kitchen

Restock pantry staples

DIGITAL

Organise your desktop

Clear your downloads folder

Delete duplicate photos

Back up important files

WORK/SCHOOL

Organise your workspace

Set three goals for the season

Sort paperwork

Restock supplies

Review your calendar for the coming months

(As always these are suggestions only and do not for part of the challenge)

f0xh0les

There must be something in the air today.......

I have cleaned the bedrooms and made the 3 young men hoover the top 2 floors and the stairs. Bathrooms have been cleaned, laundry laundered and line dried.

18 clean, folded towels are on the shelves in the bathroom. Went to have a bath last night and there were 0 towels, well, there was 1 hand towel. Not impressed. Stole them all back from bedrooms and laundry baskets.

I am off to live in a field first thing tomorrow morning, serving booze in a big top 🎪 at a festival. Then back on Monday morning and working in a theatre from Monday pm til Friday. So the cleaning had to be done today, or it wouldn't get done. I have 1 day off between now and the19th, and on 19th I am releasing DS3 into Wales as a Uni Student. Exciting times. Busy, busy, busy

grandmanerd

My Plans for September (probably not improtant enough for bold)

BUDGETS not set in stone (laptop failure didn't help). I did get out cash for Mrs Builder before the beginning of the month. I do want a haircut and may pay for some extra grooming (help with things I find difficult). My therpy sessions start mid-month and the bulk waste collection is on September 23rd (no fee but there will be things left behind so may need Waste Wizards too - the couch and refridgerator are on the bulk waste collection because they would incur a fee of £25 each). Toilet rolls were ordered last weekend and were delivered on Tuesday. Ds2 has taken 2 packs and Mrs Builder dragged the other 2 under the tairs for me (I need to get in there and sort it properly)

EXERCISE I'm working on increasing my flexibility and will use my chair exercise booklets once my leg starts to co-operate. Mental Health is top priority. Will continue attending Coffee and Chat, there are some issues tthat I could take to Tech Mate, will try to it in ad hoc extras (exhibition above the library will be ending soon). I would like a creative activity but will start by spending some time each day colouring at home.

PREPARE I need to book blood tests and then another meeting with the Practice Nurse. Some meds need ordering (did audit yesterday). I may buy lemon trees for darling d-o-l (their new garden has apples, pears, plums and cherries, a mulberry bush and a few others).

TIME BUDGET This is really important for me. I have written lots of lists (more later) so I'm not carrying it around in my head. My morning list currently has 22 items on it. My chances of doing all 22 in under 3 hours are low. So I'll keep the list to hand and work from it. Some are automatic, some were well established (I'm re-instating local honey as I have a full jar under the stairs and I'll keep it as an all year round habit as it will help with coughs and sore throats). Some things don't have to be done first thing (honey can be when my throat hurts), some could be done in rest breaks, some don't need to be done often (bite cream only when they are irritating). I have developed a few alternative methods ( a wash or using wipes if I'm too weak or dizzy to go in the shower and I will have the shower later in the day if I plan on getting mucky). Anything urgent that gets missed will be given top priority the next day (hose and mask cleaning today). Yesterday evening and this morning I retrieved some passwords, all now in the small hbk book - worked until I started to go cross-eyed.

EVALUATE PLANS My main goal is to get my life back in balance and feel stable and in control. I am moving towards this. Since April when I started to work on it I am much calmer and focused, I have rediscovered m love of reading, my hands are steadier (my writing is legible). There's still a lot to do and I need to do more work but there are little rays of hope and I've not resrted to hiding under the bedclothes.

MEALS I have been eating from the cupboards, fridge and freezer and most of it is quite healthy. Today I have slipped up and done a 'big shop'. I had had a yogurt with oats, 2 apples and a healthy ready meal (not from my kitchen but no preservatives or additives). I was hungry enough for a second rm but the one in the fridge was off (way past BBF date). I was very hungry so I did an order which has refilled some of the gaps, some items to avoid being tempted by takeaway options (chicken bakes and a pizza), lots of healthy fish, naan bread to go with hm curry. I was juggling too many 'to do's', needed to prioritise other things than food so this is a stop gap to give me space to cook for myself. I did a food audit (mainly the fridge) on Monday and have yet another list with easy food options and things to make rom the things I have. OH - one luxury item, Bohemian Raspberry ice cream was 33% off so there's one in the freezer for the festive period. So 2/ 15 SFDs.

BIG ISSUE The paperwork. It's always there, like a big fat toad in the corner. Ok It's an elephant, so from tomorrow Fridays are for frogs (will try a preliminary sort this evening). It's big, it's nasty. at some point it will involve liasing with my brother and niece but I need to get it out of the way (not going into next year with things unresolved) and my hands are working reasonably well at the moment (that's a natural stopping point, no point carrying on when the writng is illegible)

EVENTUALITIES Yesterday I brought in 4 pillowcases, a teatowel and some rags. This morning I brought in 2 dresses. a sheet and more rags. The quilt has been outside for several weeks but ideally I'd like to spray any spots and marks before it comes in. The WM is ahlf full but the other job I want to get done today is getting the mattress cover off and possibly the sheet and remake the bed (all the pillowcases are clean). I have changed my toothbrush (should be checked at the beginning of the month but yesterday I managed to ricochet it off 4 different surfaces before it plunged into the toilet, so the new one is in play). I want to keep on top of the washing and other household cleaning as Mrs Builder is on holiday for 3 weeks in October.

WINTERPROOFING Not necessarily winterproofing but I have a number of jobs that will take most of a day including sorting out the under sink cupboard, 'making' cushion covers for the awkwardly shaped cushions (I'm just going to wrap them in fabric and use safety pins to hold them)

REDUCE STRESS AND POSSESSIONS One bulk waste (Council) collection. Many many bags to the charity shops (5 on the go but can't walk further than the bins today). Lots to go, lots to sort, some needs cataloguing (so I don't need to go through 6 cupboards and drawers to find a festive present. Ther is a house repair that needs tackling but at this point I'm going to leave it until next year and work on making my space warm and cosy.

I will get there.

DawnW

Sounds like good plans there @grandmanerd . I can't seem to think ahead at the moment. This week was always going to be full-on. I looked after the youngest GCs all day Tuesday, then had to go to the dentist at 5.30 pm 😏 The kids were bored - partly end of holidays, but also because I went to their house (as their Mum thought they would be more content with all of their toys, craft stuff etc). I think in future I will bring them here, as there are more options for things to do, including going into town and getting a soft drink or whatever, the park, baking, garden stuff etc. Where they live is very rural (I think lovely, but kids get bored), whereas we are on the edge of a small town, with a park, town centre etc. I also know where everything is for baking etc. Anyway, we will see.

Yesterday was work and it was a nightmare - just about everything that could go wrong, did. My colleague didn't turn up, someone had lost a key to one of the cabinets, the phone and broadband were down, and the shop was busy, which is great normally, but a dealer was in for ages, spent loads on dozens of little bits which all had to be itemised and the sales noted against the respective dealers etc. All the while I was serving others in between…. Then it all had to be packed… a colleague did turn up eventually. Today we had an electrician booked to change the use board thingy and check the electrics. All ok, but I asked him to quote for changing the spot lights in the main bathroom, as one doesn't work and the parts are obsolete, and replacing the smoke alarms which are ancient. But those are for another day (and another bill).

Tomorrow it will be work again. Really hoping that next week is less stressy. I need to ring DD1 and book a Drs appointment, neither of which I have had chance to do (DD1 isn't the easiest to get hold of and certain times of the day are more likely than others).

Anyway, I made a batch of Chinese style plum sauce with the last few plums, and that is in the freezer now. I have also done a pile of ironing, that needs to be put away, also picked tomatoes, beans, a cucumber, some small red peppers and a few raspberries from the garden, and watered what needed it. Dinner was cold chicken, a few chips and salad. Now I need to do the latest unloading / reloading the dishwasher and washing up the things that can't go in there.

grandmanerd

My 'big shop' got cancelled, they've apologised. I will think about what I really need and open tins if I get stuck.

grandmanerd

Friday 4th September 2026

SEPTEMBER RESET (PART 2)

GARDEN & OUTDOORS

Harvest late summer vegetables

Plant autumn flowers

Prune summer plants

Sweep leaves and outdoor spaces (leave some for wildlife and allow leaves to send their goodness back into the grass/ soil)

Clean garden tools before storing

Refresh flower beds (green manure on vegetable beds)

Check outdoor lighting as evenings get darker

FINANCES

Check your monthly budget

Plan autumn expenses

Review subscriptions

Update your savings Tracker

PERSONAL

Read one cosy book

Bake something seasonal

Refresh your wardrobe

Visit a local market

Journal your goals for autumn

AUTUMN PREP

Bring out cosy blankets

Check boots and rain gear

Prepare your favourite warm drinks

Make a reading list

Plan an autumn day trip

Organise candles and decor

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

Clean make-up brushes

Clean reuseable water bottles

Refresh your morning routine

Plan nourishing meals

Spend time outside before colder weather sets in

(sorry I can't find a name to credit) As usual, add anything useful to your own lists, forget the rest.

grandmanerd

SEPTEMBER RESET : How to Get Your Spark Back and Feel Like Yourself Again

(by anna) (abridged)

Use this as a checklist, not a mandate. Pick what actually applies to your life right now. Tap each habit as you build it in and watch your reset take place. Build slowly, let this feel like support, not another to do list. SEPTEMBER is about permission to put away one season and move forward, keeping the best of summer whilst building something that really works for the coming months

1 Swap your summer sleep schedule for a real one - that you can keep to on weekdays

2 Rebuild a morning that isn't just grab a coffee and panic - 5 quiet minutes, water before coffee, priorities for the day

3 Move your body without turning it into a punishment - walks, stretching, a class that interests you : Consistency over intensity

4 Eat like someone who wants energy, not someone punishing herself - regular meals, enough protein, no skippimg breakfast

5 Declutter the physical space you actually live in - bedside table, the desk, the bag you never unpacked

6 Get honest about what's really stressing you out - naming it specifically usually makes it shrink

7 Pick one thing you've been putting off since summer - the course, the move, the habit, the conversation. Start it now.

8 Protect your energy from people who drain it

9 Build rewards into your reset, not just rules - a candle, a book, a coffee date with yourself. Give your brain something to look forward to

10 Get outside while the weather still lets you

11 Create a wind down routine that signals the day is over - phone away from the bed, something a bit indulgent, a few minutes quiet.

12 Plan the season instead of reacting to it - decide what actually matters instead of letting it happen to you.

(Opulent Femme)

I really like this, it encompasses what I want/ need to do about my mental health, just looking after myself properly. Remember suggestions not a mandate. There's some overlap with the challenge. I have another checklist that's similar to the other one. I might try to pick out extra bits without repeating stuff.

Humour (without the pumpkins and puns)

Autumn leaves show us how beautiful it is to let things go

A penny saved is a penny earned, unless you drop it in a pile of leaves