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Jan. 31st, 2020 04:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
turpsWhile out and about today we drove past the National Glass Centre where Boris Johnson was holding a cabinet meeting. This was because Sunderland was the first city to back Brexit when results were announced after the 2016 referendum. This is not something I want my city to be known for, and in fact, I think it's shameful and not something that should be 'celebrated' by a visit from that idiot.
But better things. James was back at the doctor's today and his blood pressure is coming down. Still not good but while they can increase the dose of his new meds they won't yet as he still gets major headaches after taking them so he needs to adjust to those levels before they're increased again, so he'll still be off work until everything is sorted. More good news, all his heart tests were fine, his doctor got in touch with the cardiologist at the local hospital and they said the worrying results were due to the equipment at the doctors, which yeah, good that nothing is wrong but still worry for nothing.
I'm also at the doctor's on Monday as I got a letter saying my annual blood tests were due. Now, I know for a fact it hasn't been a year since my last lot, but, the appointment was made anyway. But, I guess it's better being tested twice a year than not at all.
As it's the last day of January it's also the last day of my self frugal no eating/drinking out challenge, and I can say it went well. For the whole month I've bought no coffee from the major coffee places -- though, admittedly, used some loyalty points at Cafe Nero once but as I didn't pay I say it didn't count. We haven't set foot in any fast food place, bought soup from Greggs, a sandwich from the supermarket, anything like that. We did go for an actual meal out one day and called in for dinner at the cafe attached to the walk-in centre which serves dirt-cheap food, and then today had a salad at Subway, but compared to how often we usually eat out and the very regular Costa Coffee visits, that's nothing. I do wish we hadn't had that meal out, but even that was only £20 so I'm cutting myself slack as it was at a bad time when we were running between the vets and doctors. So yeah, a success I think, and something I'm going to continue into Feb, until the birthday cluster hits and dining out money will flow through my fingers.
For the first time in many many years, I also posted daily for a full month, which wasn't something I did on purpose, but I saw I had a streak going and decided to try to keep it going. I'm sure many people will be glad to know I'll probably go back to my overly long posts a few times a week now.
But for now, I'm off to watch new Picard.
But better things. James was back at the doctor's today and his blood pressure is coming down. Still not good but while they can increase the dose of his new meds they won't yet as he still gets major headaches after taking them so he needs to adjust to those levels before they're increased again, so he'll still be off work until everything is sorted. More good news, all his heart tests were fine, his doctor got in touch with the cardiologist at the local hospital and they said the worrying results were due to the equipment at the doctors, which yeah, good that nothing is wrong but still worry for nothing.
I'm also at the doctor's on Monday as I got a letter saying my annual blood tests were due. Now, I know for a fact it hasn't been a year since my last lot, but, the appointment was made anyway. But, I guess it's better being tested twice a year than not at all.
As it's the last day of January it's also the last day of my self frugal no eating/drinking out challenge, and I can say it went well. For the whole month I've bought no coffee from the major coffee places -- though, admittedly, used some loyalty points at Cafe Nero once but as I didn't pay I say it didn't count. We haven't set foot in any fast food place, bought soup from Greggs, a sandwich from the supermarket, anything like that. We did go for an actual meal out one day and called in for dinner at the cafe attached to the walk-in centre which serves dirt-cheap food, and then today had a salad at Subway, but compared to how often we usually eat out and the very regular Costa Coffee visits, that's nothing. I do wish we hadn't had that meal out, but even that was only £20 so I'm cutting myself slack as it was at a bad time when we were running between the vets and doctors. So yeah, a success I think, and something I'm going to continue into Feb, until the birthday cluster hits and dining out money will flow through my fingers.
For the first time in many many years, I also posted daily for a full month, which wasn't something I did on purpose, but I saw I had a streak going and decided to try to keep it going. I'm sure many people will be glad to know I'll probably go back to my overly long posts a few times a week now.
But for now, I'm off to watch new Picard.
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Date: 2020-01-31 05:33 pm (UTC)That’s good that they’re working. Yeah I’d say it’s also too soon after starting them to start messing with them just yet
Good luck, hope it goes well
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Date: 2020-01-31 08:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-02-01 06:50 am (UTC)I'm glad that James's situation is improving, though it's a pity you had to go through that worry unnecessarily.
Good for you for achieving your frugality goal! And your posting. It's been lovely getting to keep up with what's going on for you. ♥
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Date: 2020-02-01 07:48 am (UTC)Now to see if this month is just as good.
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Date: 2020-02-01 07:53 am (UTC)On the plus side, the doctors and hospital were fast getting together and working out there wasn't actually an issue. It's just a shame no one phoned to actually say that when they knew. But, I'm not that annoyed as the doctors have been great mostly, especially as juggling all of James' meds is taking two senior doctors together to work out.
Well, thank you. It's been good to save money, though do wonder what the heck I talked about back in the day when I posted daily all the time. No doubts many GIPs and quiz posts that were popular back then.
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Date: 2020-02-01 08:36 am (UTC)Getting the right dose of meds is so hard, especially as he's on a very potent mixture of painkillers. These new ones give a killer headache about an hour after taking, which is good in the terms he knows it's coming and will go, but bad that it's there at all.
Thank you!
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Date: 2020-02-01 01:24 pm (UTC)Good for you, keeping things frugal! You made a goal and you stuck to your guns and met it, which is no small thing. Yay!
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Date: 2020-02-01 02:00 pm (UTC)I'm pleased that things seem to be trending on the right direction for James, that's good news.
You're doing so well with your frugal challenge - I need to get on that bus with you, I think, I should be saving at the moment and I'm not, but this house is so old that I really need to have a reserve for emergencies.
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Date: 2020-02-01 03:39 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-02-01 07:42 pm (UTC)Good to hear that James' blood pressure is down and even better that the heart scare was just a matter of equipment failure. I'll keep my fingers crossed the doctors will soon have managed to fine tune his new meds.
You've been so good with your selfimposed challenge! (One reason to be grateful for living in a tiny town and almost never going anywhere else - I have very few opportunities to eat or drink out.)
I have to confess to looking forward to a less busy reading list now that January is over :-)
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Date: 2020-02-01 07:48 pm (UTC)Glad to hear James’ bp is better. I hope that continues and good luck with getting meds balanced.
Very impressed with your frugality challenge!
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Date: 2020-02-02 07:22 am (UTC)The fine-tuning of his meds is taking so long, not that that's surprising. Hopefully, once this level is in his system and they can go up again without headaches they'll have reached the perfect combo.
It was both good and bad when Costa opened in my town. Though for us a lot of drinking and eating out happened when we go to the cinema. Now we're in the habit of eating before and taking our own drinks, and hopefully, that will continue.
Yeah, January does get busy with posts. It's nice but I'm not used to catch ups taking so long now.
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Date: 2020-02-02 07:24 am (UTC)Along with the meds James is working at lifestyle changes that will help his bp. Not totally there yet as his addiction to chocolate biscuits needs work, but he'll get there.
I have to admit, I'm very pleased with the January frugality challenge. It did suck at times, for example, when I wanted to try Greggs vegan steak bake, but I figured they'd stick around for a while.
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Date: 2020-02-02 07:26 am (UTC)I hear you, and for us it was going out and grabbing something quick like a sandwich or pasty etc when we had plenty of food in the house to eat. Problem is, those little things add up to a big amount of money over time.
Good luck of your own mindfulness.
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Date: 2020-02-02 07:29 am (UTC)It is good news about James. He's really trying with lifestyle changes too, which I suspect is also helping.
Saving can be so hard, especially when you have a money pit of a house. So, good luck if you make your own changes.
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Date: 2020-02-02 07:30 am (UTC)I wish I had the money to splash the cash always, sadly I do not, so frugal it was. And will remain, at least mostly, for a while.
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Date: 2020-02-02 06:25 pm (UTC)Hooray for James' health improving! Good luck with your blood tests. :D
\You/ for being so successful at your self-frugal challenge AND posting every day over here. Doing both things take a lot of effort because it is ridic easy to order takeout/eat while out and about AND keep postponing a DW post til later. All the kudos to you!
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Date: 2020-02-15 04:36 pm (UTC)Sometimes it feels like the whole world has gone mad.
\You/ for being so successful at your self-frugal challenge AND posting every day over here. Doing both things take a lot of effort because it is ridic easy to order takeout/eat while out and about AND keep postponing a DW post til later. All the kudos to you!
Thank you! I've mostly kept it up for this month too. Not as strict for both posting and buying, but enough I'm keeping the buying in check and not posting once a week. Not that I think anyone is sitting with bated breath for me to post, but I do like checking in.