NST SEPTEMBER 2026

grandmanerd

Saturday 5th September 2026

BER* MONTHS TO DO LIST

(*Ber months - September, October, November, December)

1 PULL YOUR POWER BACK FROM ANYONE AND ANYTHING NOT ALIGNED WITH WHO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN THE YEAR ENDS

2 LEARN TO SEE EVERYTHING AS PROGRESS AND APPRECIATE ALL THE WAYS YOU'VE GROWN SINCE THIS TIME LAST YEAR

3 REFLECT ON HOW YOU'D LIKE TO FEEL IN A YEAR AND CONSIDER HOW YOU CAN CULTIVATE THOSE FEELING NOW

4 ACCEPT WHAT IS AND RELEASE EXPECTATIONS OF HOW THE YEAR "SHOULD" HAVE GONE - AND HOW IT "SHOULD" END

(Positively Present)

I know block capitals is 'shouting' but I've copied their format and it's only a short one

apple_muncher

My sleep schedule will have to become more regular as Pip will be in college every day of the week. Not always first thing (3/5) but I think he'll want to still be woken at a similar time on the other 2 days. And I'll have to rethink when I go to the gym - this is something that is non-negotiable in my life, both physically and mentally.

I've been tracking my protein intake for about 10 days now, aiming for 100g. And I'm managing it 90% of the time, which I'm well chuffed about. And drinking lots of what I call 'fridge water', ie from a 2 litre bottle of tap water chilled in the fridge. I really got into iced coffee during the long hot weather, and am continuing with that, even though it's considerably chillier now. In reality, I'm drinking diluted coffee!

Today has involved hefting a myriad of skip-dived partial paving slabs, digging out the grass and soil, and laying them. I've not dug out space for all of them, but have done the jigsaw so I know where I'm putting them. They're not flush, as they're all sorts of shapes, but I plan to sow/plant creeping red thyme in the gaps to lesson the higgledy piggledy nature of what I'm doing!! My body, especially my hands, know how much I've done!

Pip cut back my undercut this afternoon, so I'll have a draughty head until I get used to it!

Today I am grateful for getting the slabs laid and chatting with passing neighbours, for one neighbour telling me where I might find more slabs 🤣, for another neighbour getting his hedge trimmer and giving the overgrown jasmine a good cut back, for Pip cutting my hair, for visiting felines, for getting 2 loads of laundry dried outside, for fresh bed linen, for having an abundance.

weenancyinAmerica

It's raining! Not a light cold rain, but a hard tropical rain. Supposed to be 27C today in spite of the rain. Trying to get us ready for the rains this winter. This is our first real rain since March.

This month is a tough one - missing roommate hasn't paid rent all year, so I can't pay all of the bills. Looking toward clearing out his stuff and moving someone else in.

Getting ready for surgery in October and being away from home for two and a half weeks - afraid of what the mess will be like when I get home. Roommates are hopeless.

Computer died so am using a very small laptop. Missing several programs, and since it is a school computer, can't add them.

And getting ready to give up car and stop driving. Well, I have already stopped driving as my glasses did something weird in the heat and now have snowflakes covering the inside of the lenses. And it will be next year before the company can get me new ones. Our health company changed providers for eye care and have left us in the lurch. The car is a 2003 Lancer and has done really well but I can't afford the repairs.

I am still fighting with the health insurance company and with Social Security. Not a good month so far. Take deep breaths and meditate.

beanielou

That all sounds very tough @weenancyinamerica.

grandmanerd

Hang on in there weenancy.

I have taken 2 bags of donations to the cs today. Then I crossed the road to the replenishery and donated more pencils to their appeal and bought a small pack of 5 ordinary razor blades. I tried to buy them a week ago but the company insisted on payment by credit card and I haven't had one for the past 10 years. I bought my razor from the replenishery so I thought they should have them. I paid from my penny jar.

Next I went back on the other side of the road and went into f0xh0les favourite wading bird shop, which was formerly the pound emporium and originally Woolworths. I needed butter as I had used what I had on baked potatoes last week. I spent over £12, added to my buprofen pile and my antiseptic cream stash and a few nice bits. I'm now doing really badly with SFDs as I've bought things for the past 4 days but I still haven't spent as much as the large order which got cancelled. The shop assistant was very helpful, she came round to put all my shopping into my bag and then helped me count out the money from my penny jar (there were quite a few pound coins). She also said how glad she was for the change.

I made my way back slowly, didn't get cash from the machine as the crossing was out of action so I'd had to cross from the far side and was too weary to cross back over. I rested for about 4 hours before going to get the washing in and had to wait and go back for one item (I was already carrying 2 dresses, the bathmat and my quilt).

I took ibuprofen the other day and when the pain eased and separated into individual pain centres, I decided the problem is my knees, my ankles and thigh are just compensating for my knee (left side is worse because I have had a severe sprained ankle twice on that side). I have been working on my ankles and have good movement in them. This week I will start working on my legs, especially the knees (may use resistance bands to raise them).

I have also reached my limit with leftovers when I was heaping a third lot of veg into the remains of a sauce (it wasn't very nice). I have leftovers all the way from last Sunday and have used most of them (had to discard 2 small tomatoes from a pack) but I'm going to gather what's left and compost them (they are composting themselves). I'll start with a fresh sauce and make a veg curry and maybe butterbean casserole. I'll work wth whatever is left (there are some rm in their freezer) and then portion stuff out.

I am doing quite well with my 'extra' jobs. I had a lazy morning yesterday but spent time rubbing cream into my face, neck, arms and legs and washed my hair. I didn't do the main paperwork but I have sorted through a small packet, most of which was 'domestic' - pension updates, receipts, guarantees and instructions and supplier information. I got all the big items out on the line to dry yesterday and spent time spraying any marks on the quilt. It was dry when I woke up this morning but it showered before I was dressed. It's been fine most of the day so now it's safely gathered in. I'm really pleased about getting the charity donations out, the door area was cluttered and demotivating. I also had 2 nearly dry items I'd brought in and hung over the radiator and my walker.

Grateful for being able to help 2 charitable causes, getting the razor blades and butter (I have a toast loaf which I'm going to use for 'comfort'/ instead of chocolate) and loving the latest 2 books in a favourite series.

grandmanerd

Monday 7th September 2026

How To Stop Caring What People Think - Advice from a Goat

They already think you're weird. Good. Saves time

Someone will judge you, whatever you do. So at least make it worth the group chat.

Stop trying to impress people who think that black pepper is spicy

Let them talk. People with exciting lives do not spend all day auditing yours

If they call you cringe, congratulations. You made someone boring feel something

If they think you're embarrassing, excellent. Embarrassing people are usually just free people being watched by cowards

If someone dislikes you for being yourself, that is convenient. The trash sorted itself out

Do the weird thing, Post the weird thing. Wear the weird thing. Make the noise. Confuse the villagers.

Final Goat wisdom Never take criticism from someone who's entire personality is commenting 'cringe' from a sofa dent

(Brad and the goat)

f0xh0les

Quick drop in, I am back from my field trip, I have sung my heart out for 3 days straight (even Elt0n Flippin John - to be fair he was very good and did a fantastic performance), slept in a tent, laughed like mad, and got propositioned by B0y Ge0rge (obv. not the real one, but apparently I am very pretty 🤣) I think 90% of my allure was being behind the bar, bless him. Lots of hugs from total strangers 🤷 and I made a lot of people happy (and a lot of people drunk). Marvellous end to a very short festival season - I worked 3 festivals in 2 weeks, and it was FAB. I need to do much more of this next year, now Mr Small (aka #4) is 16, it is 'providing a good example of a work ethic' rather than child neglect - It's all perspective innit?

Fat wodge of cash handed to me in an envelope - minus tax, fear not HMRC!! you have already got your share - so I have to go to the bank and pay that in, but handily I am working this afternoon so I won't have to pay bus fare or parking or anything as I can claim it back on expenses.

Anyway, I am starting work in 75 minutes so 6 f best clean my boots cos they are currently covered in festival mud!

grandmanerd

My wellies are outside under a chair - they got mucky and some of it is inside the wellies. I have cleaaning them down as one of my extra jobs but I don't want them filling up with rain. The 2 chairs that are good for sitting on both have puddles on the seats. I have cleaned the soap dish from the shower today and I have soaked the dirty marks on a towel in the bathroom sink before adding it to the laundry pile in the machine.

I didn't go to coffee and chat. I had my shower because I could feel myself drifting off again. Then as it got later I was trying to stay awake and then I got very hungry (I didn't have anything I thought would make a suitable snack to take with me) so I ate and then thought it was too late to go. I didn't even go to get more library books.

Grateful for a restful day, little bits of tidying and cleaning done, a great book I am really enjoying.

grandmanerd

Tuesday 9th September 2026

I found something rather joyous this morning. Pictures with captions from a young woman (Thatgirlindebt). It would take too long to decribe the photos but basically she's choosing not to apologise for the state of her house (militant about it - she's starting a movement) and the photos are all too familiar - she's a mum to 2 boys (soon to be 3). Highlights include inviting the guest to find somewhere to sit - either by shifting some of the 8000 soft toys or just choosing to nestle amongst them, choosing a gift from the 'tat' box to take home, admiring her 3yo multi coloured sauce packet collection (not to be eaten) and the view behind the tv.

I read 'Housework' by Anne Oakley (I think, it must be out of print because I can't confirm her name) in my late teens. She interviewed hundreds of women whilst researching her book. The thing I remember most was that every single one of them apologised for the state of their houses (most of them were immaculate). Then and there I resolved never to apologise for the state of my house.

(20+) Facebook

beanielou

I like rhatgirlindebt @grandmanerd. It’s hey did so well paying down the debt.