Come on in, chat thread

[BlackeyedSusan]

Good morning. Come and chat. Somewhere to escape to if the rest of life is too overwhelming..or just to relax.
Help yourself to

Oh no Emma, sorry to hear that! Thanks so much for the reassurance about the hrt, I missed Friday due to being in bed but I took it the last 2 evenings and had actually forgotten I was feeling nauseous yesterday until I came on the thread!! So hopefully a minor blip.

I've given up on trying to have a waist, I had back surgery a couple of years ago and am only just starting to move normally from that, so grateful just to be able to move about relatively normally! Have a physio class this afternoon though so will be doing some minor exercise 😹

I'm very jealous of your planned pond Barrow, we said we'd build one when we moved in to our home, that was 4 years ago and... yeah, between lack of physical ability and money I think I'll just be coveting other people's ponds for the foreseeable 😹

Wow, I had never heard of that before Barrow! And it's not just pure amphetamines like diet pills used to be in the old days? 😆

Is the low carbing helping with the appetite suppression? I find it does- only after a couple of weeks though nowadays. I have been SO hungry the last few days, and have really overeaten. I'm perimenopausal and my hormones are all over the fucking shop. (Contemplates a future of tofu and cauliflower with distaste).

And it's not just pure amphetamines like diet pills used to be in the old days? 😆

I know, I used to nick my mother's diet pills back in the 80s. I got down to a size 10, never ate anything and used to faint 😆 I've been a fairly sturdy lass ever since though 🙄

I read something recently that declining oestrogen increases the appetite, which is why middle aged women can be a bit hefty. I also crave sugar cos of my adhd 😖 my dopamine levels are way too low and no amount of crochet is going to increase them 😵‍💫

Low carbing is great. You have to eat mainly vegetables, healthy fats and protein though. I don't find it very varied or interesting. Some people make snazzy baked goods out of almond flour, but I'm not into that kind of activity.

I found it loads easier when I et fish.

Quite difficult to type...stripey cat is being quite aggressively loving right now 😆

Puurl glad you feel fine.

Barrow pond envy here too!

Doom cat envy!

Got some sleep this afternoon, still feverish after pills though.

Trying to figure out better list making methods to help with organisation. I find it all such a faff. I wish I was someone who enjoyed bullet journals but it all seems such a faff, and horribly overwhelming when done in that style.

😆 aggressively loving. I have one like that 😆

Emma sorry you're unwell 🤒

Have you tried an organisational app?

Thanks Barrow
Now I have cat envy of you too!

I don't like tech. My use of MN is pretty much it in leisure time. I have sensory issues as well, I don't like podcasts etc. Those animations that pack in tons of stuff are unwatchable to me. Books are always best for me.

I do like paper and if I could cover a wall in stuff in a to do list, that might help. But I already have some whiteboard paint on a wall for work things and that will have to go for the flat to be sold, so I have to get used to a different work method too.

The core thing with housework seems to be habits. I have trouble forming habits full stop. I've got a summary of Atomic Habits to read.

I have no problem organising my work but I guess that's a different incentive because bills would not be paid without it.

Whatever this bug is, I must be a few days clear of it before I see my mum - so that means I will have some free evenings to sort stuff out.

(she would rather I went sooner than later but who wants to pass a bug to an 83 year old?)

Housework is such a challenge isn't it? Urgh, the bathroom is my worst thing. It's so thankless doing it. How does it get so dusty? 🤔

I’m cooking pasta and pesto!

I’m cooking pasta and pesto!

😋 yummage

The kids had tortellini and my super- quick tomato/ cream/ basil sauce. I had a meagre 500- calorie meal (lentil and egg curry) because I'm on a 5:2 fast day. I love food! I love booze! And this is why I have to diet ☹

My stripey:

(Sorry, I missed the cat photos thread!)

Had a massive go at DS1, due to his stroppy attitude over his INABILITY TO PROPERLY PLAN (and listen!!). Mate, I don't care if your friend said he was going to be in the skate park in X Town this afternoon, don't you understand this means NOTHING until you have BOTH double confirmed this with your respective maternal taxi services!! (I took him to the skate park. Friend didn't turn up. Friend doesn't have a phone yet. DS1 can't see the point of getting friend to give me his mum's phone number. DS1 is now in a black mood because he thinks friend doesn't like him or something. He is being ILLOGICAL grrrrrrr 😬)

Gorgeous kitty.

That's a lovely kitty 💚

How old is your ds? crackofdoom

They're hard work when they don't plan properly.

He is 12. Wobbling on the cusp of independence, but doesn't quite know how to do it and won't fecking listen to me telling him how!! 😬

(Actually, not completely fair. After he calmed down this evening he did agree to give his mate my number to give to his mum. So we'll see...)

Beautiful kitty @crackofdoom 😻 I also have two absolute love monster cats!

Sorry you're feeling so poorly @EmmaH2022 I hope that you turn a corner tomorrow. I've developed a complex system of paper records which kind of helps me to plan, involving a super user friendly A4 spiral bound business planner where I have to write 3 tasks a day (so nothing like 'clean studio', it has to be specific like 'clean desk', 'make certain thing', 'post on insta') which helps me to get started and usually means I keep going. Then I have a big wall planner that actually lives on my coffee table so that I can see the year at a glance if I'm trying to fit things in. Then a personal diary for everything I have to do on a certain day/time, so there's a lot of crossover between the 3, and I also have various notepads and jotters on the go for lists, ideas etc. Which all sounds very chaotic (yay ADHD!) but works to a fashion, mostly, especially if my mental health is good.

So yeah, tldr: I'm addicted to stationary!

You'll have to get him trained up crackofdoom there's nothing like the withdrawal of lift services to focus their minds 😄

Thanks Pango
I have a diary, a weekly planner and a monthly planner. They're all too small though!

I try not to have crossover which might be a mistake.

I literally need to focus. My scattered focus is a huge problem. I love stationery too, but am capable of spending hours looking for magic stationery online!

I used to try and keep one diary as I didn't like crossover, but then the realisation that crossover means I can buy more stationary hit! Focus is definitely the hardest thing, I've had a great day today, lots done, boxes ticked! There's every chance that it won't carry over to tomorrow and I'll have a day of procrastinating, flitting about, and being generally chaotic and hard on myself. Why doesn't that feeling of satisfaction after a good, productive day make us carry on with it the next?!

Oh gosh, focus. I’ve spent another day getting muddled and getting nothing done. I hate emails, they throw me totally and I have systems to help me stick to systems and nothing works. Tips welcome!

But it's harder to eat while you have your fingers tangled in yarn barrow!

Hefty is such a good word.

I have lost two stones. I am a healthy weight but my waist is not healthy circumference.

I have had to cut back on a lot of food to get it shifted but it is taking a long time.

I like beans and lentils but the ozone layer tends to suffer.

Will finish reading the rest of the thread in a mo

But it's harder to eat while you have your fingers tangled in yarn barrow!

Trust me, that is no bar to stuffing the ole cake hole 😋 I'll just get dh or a cat to feed me 😄

My pen arrived and I've started it. Just have to wait and see.......and eat Massive Salads 😆😆😆