Daily Project Round 4

[SpiritOfEdna]

Here’s the last thread: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4722070-daily-project-round-3?page=40&reply=129305044
@peridot1
@ThunderclapCloud
@petalpower
@autumnangel

@RunningKatie
@LateSummerLobelia
@Aria999
@Mumtobabyhavoc

and anyone else who would like to join us, whatever your daily tasks are.

I joined after procrastinating putting up some curtain tie backs and now I am flying through a massive decluttering exercise. (I need to tackle the loft next, but I may need to sit down (a lot) before I do that 😄).

Hope the tagging works, SoE.

lol at the chair pile @Peridot1 🤣

That's exciting @Thunderinglightly hope you enjoy it! I accidentally became self employed too.

Today DS is off school sick. I will try to do some cleaning and tidying but not sure what yet.

Thanks for your kind thoughts and wishes everyone. My dad has been discharged from hospital but he is very disoriented and confused. He has had a procedure which we now have to manage at home (obviously don’t want to be TMI or outing!) and will be waiting for further outpatients tests etc. I feel a bit overwhelmed with it at the moment as there’s a slightly complicated family dynamic. I also seem to be sharing a single bed with Petaldog as dad often wanders at night so it’s better to have the dog in with me. Zero chance of Christmas cards being written today. Today I feel like a very substandard juggling act but tomorrow is another day!

I hope you are managing some much needed sleep, Petal. 🩷

Oh @petalpower that sounds tough. I hope things improve.

Today I mended a sweater and some DS trousers then got bored of mending. I tidied up about 5 objects in DS room then got bored of tidying. Not actually sure what else I did 😳 looked for jobs but only for 10 minutes.

I am so sorry about your dad @petalpower . I know how stressful the juggling is. I hope you got some decent sleep and that today is better,

Morning! Real thick frost here today.
So much sympathy and solidarity @petalpower! I hope you got some sleep. I have done overnights at mother's from time to to time when she's been discharged from hospital (always too early in my view) And working as a domiciliary carer, I'm also very familiar with the impact on whole families when a loved one is unwell. Best wishes to you all 💐

That all sounds very stressful @petalpower. Hope your Dad improves.

Thinking of lists (per posts upthread), mum is very much a list devotee and has been for as long as I can remember. It's standing her in very good stead now that her memory isn't what it was, so it's probably a very healthy habit. I'm a wannabe list writer/journaller as I have a love for pens and stationery, but never really know quite what to do with them. I have begun doing a daily regular brain dump which is very useful but I shred it because what I write is not what I'd want anyone to find if i die unexpectedly

I enjoy reading the to-do and ta-da lists on this threads, and also the musings on daily life 💕

My bit of work came about due to a good friend having an injury so I have stepped up and taken her place at some of her jobs. I'm actually really enjoying it so may well do something similar, officially, starting next year.

I do seem to get more done at home when my time is more limited 'if you want something done, ask a busy person' holds true for me.

Thank you all as always for sharing little snapshots of your busy lives xx

Love stationery here also!

I am inspired by your mum @Thunderinglightly and will start to list more seriously. I am hit or miss, but I feel a great deal more in control of our chaos when I do so.

The carpets are finished!!!!!!! They look fabulous!! A nice pale neutral cream colour which goes with our now neutral walls and gloss white doors and trims. SO SO much better than the dark blue. I know that neutrals are probably passé now but after the horrendous mish mash of clashing colours and dark furniture I am going to go with it!!

The Dcs also pointed out they can now change the decor of their rooms as previously we were a bit limited by the dark blue 30 year old carpets. So this afternoon we are having a trip to Dunelm to pick out new cushion covers and throws in their preferred colours. Plus some serious houseplants as DS1 has recently been inspired by a youtuber he found who lives in a teeny tiny Paris apartment and who has some really lovely greenery around.

Now we have cleared as much furniture out of rooms I am reconsidering how I arrange it when it goes back and have decided to change my study into a dressing room / ironing room and will move some of the rejected rugs and cushions from the Dcs current rooms to that. It will ease some of the clutter in all the bedrooms as well and actually ought to end up as quite a cosy space.

So, despite the stress it is a VERY great success!

Now DH and I are debating which 'big project' we will do for 2024. I want the conservatory sorted as it is falling down but he insist the roof might take precedence. It is a bit holey true so he might be right.

Other than this today is a Christmas market day and once the sun goes over the yardarm a glass of prosecco to celebrate the new carpets and to toast our old carpets that gave us so many years of service.

I hope everyone has a lovely day.

Yay carpets @OrangePumpkinLobelia ! That's a resounding success!

@OrangePumpkinLobelia The new carpets sound fab! Neutrals are definitely the way to go. So versatile.

A bit of a lazy morning here. I was up early but was then falling asleep around ten so took myself back to bed. Woke up at 12.

We are having friends over for dinner tonight so all that will be done today is prepping for that.

Also had some stressful news. One of my sisters in Dublin is in hospital. Her liver seems to be failing and they are not sure why. She is not a big drinker. Has taken lots of medication over the years as she gets lots of migraines and is bipolar and went through a stage of self medicating with various medications. She is having a biopsy and mri on Monday.

Sounds very concerning, Peridot. I hope they figure out a plan for your sister.

Great news @OrangePumpkinLobelia Really happy for you!

How worrying about your sister @Peridot1 I very much hope that they can find out what's wrong and begin some effective treatment 💐

The new carpets sound fantastic @OrangePumpkinLobelia . I bet it’s made a huge difference to the look and feel of the house.
I hope your sister is being well cared for @Peridot1 . That must be very stressful when you’re not geographically close to her.
My dad has been a bit more settled today which is good. Evenings are often worse so I’m preparing myself mentally.
Things I’ve achieved today:

• chased up my dads medication
• visited elderly in-laws who are close to here and dropped off Christmas presents for that side of the family
• found some screen wash and topped my washer bottle up
• gave Petaldog some wormer
• given DD instructions for posting an eBay parcel that I can’t send myself as I’m here and not at home

@petalpower so sorry to hear about your dad, fingers crossed that you have a calm night.
Carpets sound great @OrangePumpkinLobelia - I'm imagining removing all our furniture and clobber and having a blank slate. Would be so nice.
Hope your sister is ok @Peridot1 and being well looked after.
It ridiculously chilly here, I've changed the beds, persuaded the dc to do homework and tidy rooms etc. Really I'd love a nice peaceful nights sleep, I've been struggling to drop off and having silly mini panic attacks, no idea why.

Back here after disappearing - super-long Thursday at work, and trying frantically to catch up with life yesterday and today (Sat) - and very sorry to read your news, @Peridot1 and @petalpower . Sending you good wishes and strength.

And joining in the amusement for @Thunderinglightly 's short-lived retirement, and the celebrations for @OrangePumpkinLobelia 's new carpets!

Having shared my excitement with you at the ease of renewing the driving licence on Wednesday, I am even more shocked and excited to tell you that it arrived this morning!!! I still can't quite believe it. The only other domestic wins of the past couple of days have been picking up a present for my nephew and donating a small bag of clothes to one mom, and an item of toddler equipment to another. We were out in the cold for over three hours this morning doing Christmassy things and it knocked me out, I think being in the cold makes one more tired than normal, don't you?

We have received our first Christmas card so I think we need to get some going...

I hope everyone has a lovely and calm and cosy Sunday

Hello! Now we have rain. I totally agree with @SingleThreadJoiner about cold being very tiring. A lot of my accidentally not being retired takes place outdoors, and I do need to update my 'outdoors wardrobe'. I'm glad I have amused you all!

@RunningKatie sorry to hear about the panic attacks. No fun at all! Hugs ☕ 🍪 << code for hug

Thinking off all of you with various family, work and other general stresses. Life can be so complicated sometimes. I'm currently watching the cat trying to catch his shadow on the wall opposite me. He's really annoyed with me for organising the weather, so he's been getting into mischief a bit this morning.
We have family round for dinner tonight so best go and prepare some veggies. Maybe I shall clean out a drawer while I'm in the kitchen 😇

Lots of snow here this morning but it’s starting to rain now so hoping it’ll have disappeared by tomorrow as stepmother and I have a lot to do before I go home - possibly on Tuesday? I will feel guilty about leaving whenever it is as my stepmother will have to take over with caring for my dad and his new medical equipment. Not a single Christmas card has been written since I’ve been here! Caught up with more family today who have been to visit.

Katie, I struggle with anxiety/panic. There are lots of breathing techniques that might help, but a very simple one is:
fold middle three fingers of your hand to palm to make the surfer's "hang loose" sign;
use thumb to close nostril and breathe in at a slow count of 5;
use pinky to close other nostril as you release thumb and breathe out for a slow count of 5.
Continue alternating breathing in/out until you feel heart rate/panic subside. 🩷

Yesterday's successes:
Christmas tree is up on the deck and covered with lights and a star and I've got a string of lights along the railing. I also put mini lights in some lanterns out there, too. Deck is 80% tidied. 👍
Sorted box of Xmas lights and getting rid of 3 sets. Will offer to neighbours. If no taker will take to recycling. Also purged a few decos.
Cleaned bathroom including washing floor and got a load of laundry done in the morning and another before bed. 👍👍

Another load of laundry just finished so will hang up and put more in to wash.
Raining here, so not in a hurry to go out today...

Have now vacuumed and got 3rd load of laundry going;
put Havoc down for a nap;
have offered extra Xmas lights to neighbours and awaiting response;
and am sitting on the couch with leg compression cuffs on, scrolling MN and re-watching season 5 of The Crown. 😁😁😁

Morning all.

I am so sorry to hear about your sister @Peridot1 . I hope the biopsy and MRI goes really well for her and they find some answers and a plan forwards. .

@RunningKatie I hope the panic attacks subsided and you got some proper sleep.

Hope everyone is well. Stressful times for so many right now with family.

Busy day yesterday putting stuff back after carpets. They have given me such a mood lift. It will be more of that and I guess I need to crack on with some Christmas cards as well.

I hope everything goes smoothly for your sister today @Peridot1 .
Also hope everyone else with challenging health, home and family stuff is doing ok. I’ve been keeping up with the thread and reading all your news and achievements whilst I’ve been away. Feeling very torn about needing to get back home to fulfil commitments and also get Christmas stuff sorted and staying here to support dad and stepmother who are both in their eighties. Lots of tradespeople going in at home th is week to do final stuff on our big build so am hoping to see a big difference when I get home and have my fingers crossed that we’re getting towards the closing stages. I am itching to get builders dust and mess gone and furniture put back - it will be a mammoth job!

I might use that breathing technique @Mumtobabyhavoc. Feeling very panicky and emotional this morning.

My sister is a mess. Terrified. Annoyed she didn’t push for more answers/tests months ago and worried it’s self inflicted. She’s not a big drinker but has self medicated with lots of various medications over the years. She is bipolar and went through a really bad time a few times and nobody really knows what she took back then. And how much.

@RunningKatie - I use the Calm app a lot during the night when I can’t sleep. Lots of meditations and sleep stories which I find helpful.

@petalpower - hope all goes well with your dad when he comes out of hospital. Will your stepmother manage do you think?

Just linking a pranayama breathing video for further info from YT. As prev post, lost of variations/techniques, but this is simple. You don't need to do it as "yoga" as it can be done any time you feel anxiety/panic, trying to go to sleep, whatever. Lots of scientific/medical research supports as well. The counting I mentioned helps when in/starting panic attack to re-focus the mind.