Any diagnosed germophobes or hoarders on this forum?

[Dimity]

Thanks for your kind wishes @NatureLover .

Well done on your efforts yesterday - very impressive. I marked my calendar with bin days today. 

Using cash may make you more conscious of what you're spending - good luck with it. I think you've said you already use a lot of hand sanitiser - I trust your hands don't suffer. 

I'm tired and sore after 5 1/2 hours' work today plus a walk. I think it's a record. If I can dig more oxalis I'll try putting down mulch. Most of the blackberries so far have been coming through under the fence. I'm also trying to deep clean inside and declutter files, which of course doesn't look much when I still have boxes and baskets of stuff. Hopefully I can persevere.

Best wishes for your "fresh start".

[NatureLover]

Wow, am very impressed with your 5 1/2 hours @Dimity ! 👏

No wonder you were sore. I did 4 hours yesterday and was sore. 

I went grocery shopping this morning with cash, and got a shock. Hadn't factored in coins...hadn't added up as I went along the aisles... Went to 2 different supermarkets for different things and didn't have enough cash for the second one because I bought up some specials in the first one. 

I can see it's going to take a lot of adjustment. I think I'm going to have to add up costs before I even leave the house. Plus I tend to buy up big when specials are on...not sure I can do that any more. Hmmm, quite a shock! 

However, a good thing is that my silver sandals arrived this morning and they fit beautifully and feel comfy. They are a bit delicate with thin straps though so I will keep them for best. Glad to have the wedding shoes sorted. 

Now I just have to find my small silver handbag somewhere! Got a week to find it. I'm pretty sure it's in the house somewhere. 

Am feeling a bit overwhelmed so am having a lie down before I start on the house. 

Good luck today with your tasks. Is there much oxalis to get rid of? 

[Dimity]

Glad the sandals suit @NatureLover .

Perhaps your cash strategy needs a bit more planning. A weekly shopping list of staples that you can budget for, with an allowance for buying specials.

I'm finding I'm spending as much on the cat as I am on myself. Groceries are quite expensive. 

I'm still plugging away. I guess there's not a lot of oxalis but it's fiddly to dig out. There's a lot of wandering trad but it's easy to pull out. I think I'll need help to deal with the woody weeds. My decluttering is very slow as I'm going through papers.

I've picked up a book from my TBR stash. It's been a long time since I was last able to read comfortably. 

It's very late here. I wish I could reset my body clock. 

Best wishes for tomorrow...

[NatureLover]

Hi @Dimity , the weeding sounds tough. And yes, papers do take a lot of time to sort and declutter. 

Am so pleased for you that you're able to get back into reading! 

Yes, my cash strategy definitely needs more planning.

I didn't achieve much yesterday - was tired and overwhelmed, plus socialising with the neighbours. I did a laundry wash and watered front and back gardens. And the blasted possums have eaten the top 20 - 30cm of all my tomato plants, including the flowers! Obviously I can't have any plant that requires pollination 😣 

Am hoping to achieve 3 hours today. I'm starting to see a bit of difference in the house - just a little. 

I hope we both have a successful day today...

[Dimity]

I'm so sorry about the tomatoes you've been nurturing @NatureLover . I guess it's too late to wonder whether to cover them at night. 

I have a mental block at the moment and don't know what to do. I've been moving some of the clutter around while working on it and it feels overwhelming again. 

[NatureLover]

@Dimity  I feel so dumb - it never occurred to me to cover the tomatoes at night. I don't know why 😣

I have covered them now and am hoping I get some flowers. 

Sorry you're feeling overwhelmed. I know that horrible feeling. I hope it goes away quickly.

I only managed 1.5 hours yesterday. But this morning I did the watering early and put a laundry wash on. 

What will you do about your evening walks on the next 2 extremely hot days? 

[Dimity]

I felt dumb too @NatureLover , I'd assumed your problem was birds not possums. I hope there's time for new flowers and fruit.

I only did 1 1/2 hours yesterday and 2 hours today and felt I was slacking. I've also finished a novel, a very silly romantic comedy by someone I'd briefly worked with. I think I'll try something more substantial before going back to the sequel. My eyes got very tired, despite the good light, so I'll be careful. 

It's odd really what we expect of ourselves. A few weeks ago we would have been very pleased to achieve an hour and a half. Maybe we're improving!

I remember we agreed that tackling boxes would be a good thing to try in January. It feels very daunting. The livingroom is already worse again because I've been working through folders I brought in from other rooms. I guess I did that so I could sit comfortably while I work but it's why things feel overwhelming again. The boxes would be another big step. I only have 4 weeks now to spring clean and get on top of the garden and I'm not sure it's possible. 

Sunday tomorrow.  Another hot day. Today I walked at twilight. If I'm up early enough I'll water the grapefruit. 

Let me know how you get on.

[NatureLover]

Hi @Dimity , I think you're right - I think we are improving! 🙂

I only did 2.5 hours yesterday and am hoping for a bit more today. However I've woken up feeling tired and with tired muscles. I've been up for an hour and would quite happily lie down again, so it might be challenging today. 

You finished a novel! Well done, that's something you haven't been able to do for...how long? 

Regarding the boxes, yes they're on my mind too. However the house comes first. Still a lot to do on the house...

I'm impressed that you walked at twilight, as it was still very hot then. I hope you were able to sleep last night. 

Good luck today for both of us...