NST SEPTEMBER 2026

grandmanerd

okay, today should have been a catch up day (so many things need doing - I'm not going to say I should/ ought to do them). Decided my three essentials were to get washing out on the line, clear up the mess (there was an incident this morning which made everything sooo much worse) and deal with the plate. I was cold, my stomach hurt and I was so tired and sore. But I have done the 'mess' (supermess) and got the first load of washing on the line. It was all slow and very very painful but I did it, bit by bit.

The plate didn't get done but I moved several sacks full of rubbish and recycling. I spent some time hand-washing and soaking various items and then for my second wash load I did a bedspread and a few rags. I've moved some of the shopping which came Monday night. I wasn't able to do it earlier and then DS3 kicked some of it when he was trying to get through the door. I've put all the cans into a wire basket, any other food will go on top in a second basket and all the drinks will go back in the vestibule. DS3 will be acting as my legs whenever he comes downstairs, he can work out which water bottle he broke - I had to soak up a small puddle yesterday.

I've just set off a third wash load (dresses, 2 sheets and the knee sleeves, I have a second pair to wear tomorrow) after getting the bedspread onto the line (I've been holding onto the line to get up and down the yard. Mrs Builder is coming tomorrow. She was due to come Wednesday but got called into work. I've rested on both the couch and the bed today in between doing little bits. I've finished the second series of my drama.

Grateful for getting things done in difficult conditions, a good book (fun rubbish) and an excellent drama series, feeling clean from my shower.

apple_muncher

We visited a garden centre today- they're not cheap!!!

Bought some garden edging, 3 thyme plants, some non-standard daffs/ narcissi, and a succulent for dh. Tomorrow is possibly the day to get them into the soil.

Today I am grateful for my packet of cheese and onion crisps having double the quantity of crisps in it (I weighed it!), for getting the edging, for Pip's waterproof arriving, for my bed to snuggle down in, for going for a run this morning.

grandmanerd

Mrs Builder came yesterday, so kitchen and shower room are done. She also put all the thir lot of washing out on the line, brought the bins back from the collection point and took all the recycling (I had 3 bags by the back door) and brought in all the shopping I had delivered and put all the perishable items away in the fridge.

I am still unwell. I'm back on tinned soup and rice pudding. My stomach hurts, I'm wary of taking my pills on an empty stomach and I was so frightened of a repeat of Thursday's incident. I spent most of the day on the couch, sitting on an old towel and an old sheet and added a plastic sheet later (I had bought a pack for decorating). Thankfully there was no reoccurance.

Some of my mini can stock up had been substituted so I have multiple cans of DS3's 'grandma soup', which I can't stand. The new order was ingrediants for turkey stew, beef stew (wanted brisket but they only had beef strips so it will be either stew or curry) and bacon soup. I was hoping to spend the afternoon chopping stuff and dropping them into a large pan but that didn't happen.

I listened to my body and what my body seems to want most is sleep. I'm battling the resurgence of some old side-effects, which are time consuming. I also smell. Not dirty so I'm asuming it is just 'illness' smell. Ah well worse thing happen at sea. The rain has stopped and the sun has come out so I might be able to bring in some dry washing at some point. I have ordered some repeat prescription items.

Grateful for books and films (very short attention span so currently circling through drama seriees, a follow on funny film, a charity taskmaster and I believe there was the latest episode of Reacher due before my world got crazy). Grateful for the food I have had (eating sparingly) and the bed and couch. I have homework from therapy and will do anything that doesn't involve much movement.

DawnW

Hope you feel better soon @grandmanerd.

Done a bit of garden tidying today. There is lots more to do, but bit by bit is fine. It isn't as if it is a huge garden after all. Much as I would love to have a big garden again, I know I couldn't manage one now.

Picked the last couple of cucumbers and composted the plants.

Went to empty an old wooden trough and it fell to pieces. Too rotten to repair (it was thrown out by a neighbor a few years ago) so OH cut it up and added to the firewood pile. Waste not want not!

Watered the pots in the front garden, moved some of them around, and dead headed the geranuims. It looks much better now.

More watering at the back. We haven't had rain for over a week and some of the pots were really dry. We still have a hose pipe ban, but there was water in the water butts from the last time it rained. Also topped up both little ponds, and pulled green slimy weed stuff from the larger one. I have to be careful to remove the baby water snails from it before it goes into the compost bucket.

grandmanerd

I'm improving but slowly. I'm under par and side effects are attacking whilst I'm vulnerable. Get one back under control and 2 more start. I will get over it but I don't like that the 'winter bugs' season is starting so early. Will work on simplifying, habit building, taking out the trash and eating well (may have to rely on steamed veg added to everything). just had chicken and broccoli - lovely.

Grateful for early warning on the need to be prepared (for weeks of sickness), good series, cancelling a subscription

apple_muncher

grandmanerd, one of my go-to lunches is microwaving a big bowl of frozen veg, then adding a tin of fish (tuna, sardines, mackerel) and a squirt of salad cream. Yum!

We've had a very rocky few weeks for Pip, but that's behind us now.

Today I am grateful for my gym session, for making a new gym buddy, for getting Pip some new trousers and using a gift voucher so the cost for 3 pairs was only £10, for the sunshine, for dh and his unwavering support for my weird and wonderful schemes.