Nayu's News #259 Autumn catch up

Mizuki from Aikatsu! looking gorgeous as ever at night

 

 November has marched along mostly to me having a lot of poor sleep which was not very fun. It's why I decided not to catch up with October reading and playing lists, to give myself grace. Starting to sleep a bit better, kind of, which is nice especially as the weather is getting distinctly colder which my body hates. Busy with gaming or TV watching. I am getting back into the habit of watching anime daily as my rest time, which is fun for sure! 

 As for my laptop charger. My laptop is old, and in the next few years I will need a new one. For a long time whenever I use it the charger gets crazy hot, like so much so I feel it could be a safety issue. Last week I ordered a new one, not too expensive, thankfully. And you know what? It is so much cooler that I have to wonder what on earth was wrong my original one. It's been on a few hours and is cool to the touch apart from a slightly warm area. This is in stark contrast to the so hot I feared it might set on fire older charger. So if a charger is heating up, I advise getting a replacement. Maybe it can be cleaned if you a techincally minded person. I'm not and I don't want to electrocute myself thus a new charger happened!

Hope you all are having a good week start to autumn!  

Sakura from Aikatsu!

 

Nayu's News #258 No reading/gaming posts this month

best girl from AKB0048 anime Mimori! She shines so brightly ^u^

 

The past few weeks have been crazy, mostly recovering from vaccines and poor sleep. I'm thus skipping both September and October What I've read lists. I have read books, a lot have covers I can't show as they are too...mature for my blog. I skip the steamy scenes but do love the books. Plus I still haven't found the book where I like to keep track of what I've read/watched. It has vanished! I have started a temporary one but equally haven't read as much this month. So the next monthly catch up will be in December for November's reading. Apologies, but with little energy I have to focus on rest as Winter is not kind to me health wise. I'm getting through as I always do!

Nayu's News #257 Life happens

Mikuru from the anime Aikatsu! looking unsure

So new posts are coming very soon, I've just had life drama happen (still the stuff which I can't talk about) but I am relaxing when I can. Still working hard on My Time At Portia on Nintendo Switch, awaiting my 1st child with Aadit (Yes I know what happens to him) while helping Portia expand in size by taking on quests for the town. Stay tuned!

Nayu's News #256 Getting there slowly

 

Tiffany (French name), Sakura's best friend in Cardcaptor Sakura

 

It's a slightly sunny day, I can see some blue sky through my window, along with rain laden looking fluffy clouds too. I'd been putting off this post for a while, but well today it'll go up. It's an apology for the lack of content the past few months. I've had a lot of life stuff going on, and needed time to regroup here and with emails. I am slowly catching up with a few belated reviews, so those will be incoming. While the main issue is still ongoing that I can't talk about, the others are hopefully being sorted soon.

Well, I'm on new medication for one thing, which makes me super tired, more than I am normally and has me going to bed a lot earlier at the moment. I'm hoping that will improve over time, but been a few weeks and not really much change yet. Just going to do things as and when I can, so watch this space! Thank you to regulars who do check in from time to time, it is appreciated. I will get there, I just don't do so well when everything happens at once! Hopefully the rest of 2023 will go better than the first 2 months have. 

Sakura and Kero, Cardcaptor Sakura

Nayu's News #255 I'm In Twinkl's Top Picks For Book Bloggers!

 

Lately I am not super regular in book reading or reviewing, I am trying to change that this year. Due to the sporadic blogging it was a surprise when I was contacted by Twinkl, an international publisher filled with learning resources,  to say I'd been chosen to be featured in an article about book bloggers! How cool is that! 

I sent in a photo of my bookcase and some words which actually refer to my good friend Gina of Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers who is all sorts of awesome despite being on a different continent. Here is the official info with the link to the article-I was asked to use the exact wording but I'm happy with it.

"I have been included in the most recent article <Twinkl's top picks for 
book bloggers> by the international educational publisher, Twinkl - you can 
read more here."

I even get a metaphorically shiny badge for my blog!!! It's so fancy!

It's a great way to start 2022 so thank you Twinkl!

Nayu's News #254 It is Time

This story has a happy ending! This is my fave character in the anime Aikatsu! Mizuki

I have wanted to share this post many times in the past 18 months, but until the situation concluded I couldn't face talking about it because of the stressful nature. Many of you know I have chronic illness which is predominantly extreme fatigue and severe pain, to put it simply. I am unable to work now because of it all, and as a result am on a disability benefit known as PIP, Personal Independance Payment. In 2016 I got transferred to PIP from an older disability benefit. There are two elements to it, personal care and mobility. Back then I qualified for standard personal care and enhanced mobility so I was able to get a car through the charitable scheme Motability. The car gave me indepdnence, I could go to some hospital appointments by mself, visit friends, do my shopping. 

In February 2020, just as the pandemic was starting up here in the UK, I had to renew my PIP application. I filled in the forms, sent them off and waited. I knew the decision would be a few months,  but since there was no real change I hoped it would be straight forward renewal. Ha! Wishful thinking. 

I got word that the assessment deadline was pushed back until August 2020 due to corona. Months later I received news the assessment may not happen until February 2021 again due to Corona. All this time there was underlying worry that I may not qualify again for a car, although by that time I was going nowhere and my car was more of a nuisance as each week I would either go for a short drive if I was well enough or simply sitting on the drive letting it run for a bit to keep it ticking over. 

Fast forward to January this year and I receive a notice that I no longer qualify for PIP. It was devastating. At the moment I live with family so the drop in income was ok, I still had another benefit so I could by my food and other essentials. It meant I'd have to return my car but because of Corona that didn't happen until the end of May, because Motability had to wait until the government told them it was safe to accept cars being returned. They very kindly paid for the car even though I wasn't having the benefit that went directly to them. 

Naturally I appealed the decision, and that appeal took time. I can't remember which month it was but I got told that appeal was rejected. The appeal had been made with an excellent letter from my specialist nurse who didn't mince her words in how ridiculous it was that the PIP assessors never contacted her about my unique condition. It must be noted that losing that appeal was not a surprise. It is well known that the people who assess PIP applications get paid a bonus for kicking people off PIP. They don't want people on it and the reassessors are in the same office.I was in touch with a specialist PIP advisor who helps people like me with my condition appeal PIP- thanks to my specialist team for putting me in touch with thta person.She helped me with the first part of the appeal process, and the second which was going to tribunal. 

Madoka is shocked at something in Aikatsu!

The tribunal is super official, held at court with a judge, a doctor, and someone else who has a link with the medical field. Unfortunately it was months before I got told when the tribunal was. I expected it to be next year but it was 30th July in the afternoon, which is my worst time of day but I didn't change it because I didn't want it postponed. I wanted it over and done with. For the tribunal I submitted evidence why I felt the decision to take me off PIP was wrong. My advisor wrote a brilliant letter, and I think I had another from my specialist nurse who is one of the most amazing people on this planet. Anyay, I think at the end of June I got notice when the tribunal was. I was excited for it to be over, the stress has been immense and on a scale I can't begin to describe. Having to defend how sick I am is not fun. I hoped I'd be successful, 75% of all those who go to tribunal are succesful. 

I was super nervous and hoped I would get it back, but I didn't think it would be easy and I wasn't sure that I'd necessarily get it back at the same rates I initially had, because of how ridiculously strict the 1st appeal had been. Legally I am not allowed to disclose what happened in the tribunal, or say how awesome the judge was, but I didn't have to say anything. I got told at the start they had looked at my case, couldn't see why I'd had PIP stopped, and it will be reinstated! I was overwhelmed by the good news. I will have to be reasseassed in a few years, unlike in the US disability in the UK isn't permanent, and while it is possible that a similar traumatic experience regarding reassassment may happen again, it is hopefully less likely because of the weight of the judge's decision is high.

I am one of the lucky ones. There are many who are put off by the stress of the appeal, and they don't appeal. Or worse, some start to appeal but then kill themselves because the stress is too much. It is for them that I decided to write this post. Stress for anyone is bad, more so if you have chronic illness as it can make it worse. I can't begin to share the immense stress I've had over the past 18 months. The sheer joy and relief that it's over and I've been successful is simply wonnderful. I'm very thankful to God for this happy outcome. I hope one day the system changes and doesn't try to punish the people who really need to be on PIP. Having to prove how sick you are is not fun. I was fortunate to have a supportive medical team who knew the right people to help me. There is help online too for others in my situation. I hope this never happens to me again, but now I know it could I am more prepared for it. 

A young Otome sliding down a rainbow Aikatsu!

 

I am not getting another car: I didn't use it much before the pandemic, and I certainly hardly used it during it. The pandemic is still ongoing (think it's now endemic, so its part of life in my country). I am still not seeing friends despite being vaccinated as it could still kill me. I highly doubt I will be social for at least another year. Either way, the money that would have gone straight to Motability for upkeep of a car will go to me so I can save and use it for getting a taxi if I want to go places. It's not worth me having a car for the little I use it. 

I may have some really positive life changing news early September, but for now it's back to life as normal with a massive stress out of my life. Yay! 

I am disallowing comments for this post because I don't want trolls, and I'm unable to help anyone else going through PIP appeals personally as everyone's situation is unique. There is help out there and countless info on it. If you want to message me you can on Twitter.

I'm so happy I won!!!! (Ichigo from Aikatsu!)

Nayu's News #253 Good Intentions

 

Ichigo from Aikatsu!

I'm alive! Which if on Twitter you know as I'm there daily. Life has been it's usual self. Despite officially being Spring, and some days hitting a maximum of double digits, my silly body reacts to the coldest temperature of the day, which has consistently been under 5C, occasionally under 0C, which is when I simply don't function at all well. So apologies, I really am going to try to check in once  week not once a month. Even if it's just a short paragraph and a cute  picture. 

 

Yurika from Aikatsu! (I'm in an Aikatsu! mood)

Life continues being life, there's still some stress which I can't talk about and probably can't for a few more months - I will when it's all over. I can be found gaming most days. I am slowly starting to do a little sewing and crochet, progress pics will happen in due course. I am slowly fitting in more reading time (also a good thing). All family and pets are well. Been busy growing some plants, again pictures will happen later (I really do post everything on Twitter. I'm only on 1 social media now.) Ramadan is coming to an end but I will try and do a special post before it ends. I've been managing to mostly hit my goals which got adjusted but that's ok too.  Life is all about adjustment and good intentions! 

Aoi and Ichigo from...you've guessed it, Aikatsu!

Nayu's News #252 Had my vaccine!

Kinda sleepy as I've been up since 2am (my body does not like it when the temp feels like -7C even if it's only 2 degrees warmer at -5C) but for those not on Twitter I had my coronavius / Covid-19 vaccine last week! Got the 2nd one booked for mid April. Despite the NHS saying I would be contacted nearer the time, the test centre, a hotel, gave me the date while I was there. 

 

It was all really well run by a lot of volunteers. I found it after the sat nav took me to the road behind the hotel (I always look it up onine before my journey. I wanted to find it a few days before the actual vaccine day, but my body didn't play ball so when I went to get it was the first time I'd been there. Thankfully when I searched for the hotel rather than the postcode the satnav guided me correctly there, as did the giant signs saying vaccination centre. 

 

I went in, was directed exactly where to park, and waited a while to be told when I could go in. It involved an awful lot of being told where to sit. I was the youngest there by several decades, the main age group was over 70s, but I'm in the extremely high risk vulnerable group so I was allowed there. There was lots of ventilation which was nice as there were so many people. Coming from not leaving my home since last March except for hospital appointments it is always weird going into the world. I was ok, I dutifully promised to wait 15 mins before driving away to the dr, and my vaccine was done. 

Ended up with the Astra-Zeneca, which wasn't quite the one I'd wanted (Phizer) because Phizer has better rate of effectiveness but AZ is still very effective against the virus. That's if my body accepts the code and learns from it. I was rather rough for 2 days which was probably because of my health issues rather than the virus. Felt very rough and also had 24 hours of whenever I moved my arm it was so painful I wanted to be sick. I often get side effects from vaccines, just not as fast or strong as last week. I am all better from that now, just battling against the cold as it is trying to snow but not being successful. Whchever vaccine you have I do recommend getting it, to help yourself and other people. People like me may not get as much benefit from vaccines due to our screwed up bodies, but some protection is better than none. 

I do wish I had Compa, a trainee nurse from the Neptunia gaming universe give my injection! She might have given me pudding with it!

Having my super strong meds today, but keep an eye on Twitter as I have a lot of game reviews to post about. Gaming is mostly all I'm doing which is fine for now. Hope you all have a good week! 

Nayu's News #251 Happily hibernating!

Credit to whoever the artist is

Despite the deceptively sunny days and the changing clocks at the weekend, my body still feels it is winter due to the temperature so I am cosily hibernating away. Staying in due to a certain pandemic isn't too different for me, as I am mostly home and have plenty of hobbies to stay busy. Once the temperature starts increasing more reliably (it is the minimum temperature which I have to pay attention to) I will blog a bit more with what craft projects I have on the go. I can be found on Twitter daily @Nayuleska

I pray you are all staying as safe as you can, staying home where you can and only going out when you absolutely have to. The world is crazy but we will get through it. I expect it to be like this for a while. Take care and let's hope April is a bit kinder to the world than March has been.

Nayu's News #250 Games galore & what happened at the pain clinic.

Yeah!

I am super excited because hopefully today 2 rental games are coming - Ni No Kuni & The Legend of Zelda Link's Awakening. Unfortunately I am going out at lunch, other than that it will be a day of gaming!!! Yeah! 

It's Link!!

Will I like this game?

A not so bouncy post is what happened at the pain clinic in August - I don't mind private DMs/emails about it, but some of the content won't be talked about online again. That'll make sense once you read it. I had to explain the full story in order to help you understand why it was such a terrible appointment. Will keep you updated as and when I have news, so go read it on Nayu's Crochet Dreams. I reveal stuff that I have not talked about before in public. Ho hum. Time to check emails and carry on gaming with Dragon Quest Builders 2 English version (on rental so I understand it better & already I do. Who knew fields didn't have to be a 9x9 square? 

Not my image but I have worn this outfit in the Japanese version!

Nayu's News #249 I am getting better slowly!

Artist unknown, she is so cute!

It is just about still morning here, so good morning! Hope you are having/have had a great start to the week. I have got through my emails, I'll be scheduling some blog posts tomorrow (some are a tiny bit delayed but they are coming). 

I am finally getting better! Albeit extremely slowly, with slight regression after an annual hospital appointment on Thursday, which has the potential to be stressful but I am not discussing that until what it is is resolved. It's not directly a health issue is all I will say on the matter. It'll tire me out which is why tomorrow I'll be catching up with reviews so you have at least a week with lots to look forward to. 

I am being careful what I do, as I need to rebuild up my stamina for doing things, and I am very aware of how fine my line is for overdoing it. Which is why today is only a day for emails, as they take quite a bit of time in their own right. I am about to finish up this post, then relax for the rest of the day with gaming and reading. Yay! Once this week is past I hope to start doing craft again! And I have some special game related news which I hope to share with you soon ^u^ 

Artist unknown

Nayu's News #248 I am a reluctant smart technology user

No idea who the artist is, but they really capture the cuteness of this girl!

When I was younger, I used to be the one in my family who had the latest gadgets & technology, both gaming and non-gaming items. These days I am the least technologically advanced person in my family. I've only just got a smart phone: I had one over 10 years ago when they first came out, but then didn't get on with them. I only have one now so I feel safer when I'm out and about for hospital appointments in London, when my family take the more fun option of going shopping while I wait for my appointment. If anything happened, I wouldn't know about it unless the hospital went in lockdown. Having BBC news on my new smart phone makes me a lot happier. 

I love some of the technology advancements. I like how when I forgot a password this morning, the software I was using instantly linked up with my phone to help verify my identity. That was impressive. I believe smart devices have their place in life, and are more useful to some people than others: being able to ask a device for info instead of having to search for it when you have sight loss is hugely important to a family member. I do not have a smart device like that, and I don't want one. The more advanced something is the more concern I have for it going wrong. I prefer simpler technology that I understand and can use without worry. 

Go check out this artist! 

I am talking about smart lights in particular. Saw an add on my Kindle Fire for some smart lights. Never heard of them so I clicked on the link to look at what they do (and their expense). Frankly I don't get why most people would need/want them. If you want lights to go on/off at certain times so the house looks occupied you can use simple timer plugs. You can't control those lights through an app in your phone, but bearing in mind I only use my phone for messaging/calling and Twitter, I am not the targeted market for a smart light that can be in a zillion and one colours/hues according to the blurb. 

A light is a light. I like switching them on with a switch myself. While I believe smart technology is appropriate and innovative for people who may struggle a bit without it, mostly I honestly don't see the point in it. Why pay well over £100 for 1 or sometimes 3 fancy light bulbs when all you actually need is one that gives you light to see? Even if you have the money I feel society expects people to welcome smart technology with open arms, and if you don't like it then you are weird. I am happy being weird! I am happy with my normal lighting, and with minimal apps on my phone. 

If I have already posted something similar to this, apologies, my memory is on the lousy side. Life's been a little crazier than normal.  I feel very blessed to live in the modern world with both advances in and access to medicine, which so many people in the world still don't have as a basic right. I will be doing a Ramadan post later in the week, and ask that you really count the blessings you do have, rather than focus on what you don't. If you read this post you are very blessed for access to the internet, at least one with uncensored speech, which again not all people have. It's ok, I am climbing off my soap box now!  The next post will be a fun one, I promise!

Quite an apt picture for this post: artist unknown. 

Nayu's News #247 Unsolicited emails are entertaining

No idea who the author is for this awesome artwork that's on my laptop

This morning I went through emails, even checked my spam email which make me laugh. There's the usual asking for money, the notice of a tax repayment, a TV licence issue (I don't even pay it, my family does), a delivery issue with a company I do sometimes receive goods from but I know it's fake, various inappropriate emails to name just a few. A few real emails got caught up in there which wasn't so good, but I've rescued them. 

I am primarily a book reviewer but my inbox sees a variety of requests which again make me smile. I've had a company contact me because they saw one post of mine a long time ago about a car wash, so they want to tell me all about how to wash my car. I get many requests for mentioning new bands/singers - I don't even listen to mainstream music so why would I be interested? I spotted one about a multi-climate control thingy - like why on earth would I need that? Seriously people definitely don't read my review policy, something that unfortunately happens far too regularly in the blogging world.

I hope to schedule more reviews next week: having my mega meds tonight, praying the weather improves soon as my body hates all the rain and cold, and in theory I should receive my special supplements which turn out to have more of an impact than I realised this week - the hospital pharmacy didn't inform me of the delay so I am on reduced dose of one and zero dose of the other. Fun times.

I feel is is what would happen if Hatsune Miku was evil

I've been reading a bit, and gaming loads on Animal Crossing Pocket Camp, which has had a fun event on, Farm Together which has me working hard on an event because the prizes are so cute (will show pictures when I talk about it in a future post, Yoshi's Crafted World which I am for some reason trying to complete absolutely everything on (all the collectibles) which is fun to do, if a bit time consuming, Dragon Quest  Builders 2 got even more amazing than it already was (again it will have a post soon), Animal Crossing Wild World which I'm replaying for fun and just got a house upgrade (so my room is no longer super tiny), and I think those are the main ones. Due to get The Caligula Effect: Overdose today or tomorrow which I really want to get into. Think it's a JRPG, I know that it has an idol like Miku (but eviler) in charge of the word that lets people live out their school lives in virtual reality. When I'm better I promise I'll do more game posts, need to rest for now. I stupidly got excited when a newspaper online had the headline including blistering heatwave: unfortunately I do not count 16'C as a heatwave. That is merely warm. A heatwave involves temperatures of over 20'C! Ideally nearer 30. Should have known better from a tabloid. 

Love this fanart of a Muslim Miku, she still looks as adoable as ever!

 I usually put a saying or quote, but would like to mention a random Twitter user I follow which is about the life of some frogs (yes I like frogs quite a bit, not as much as cats). Go check out Sticky Frogs whose latest tweet at the time of writing this post included the follow image. I love the colours frogs come in, the shine on their body and their cute little feet as much as I love how prehistoric looking crocodiles are, and how the babies are super miniature versions of their parents, which in turn I love as much as super adorable furry kitten. My tastes are eclectic! *coughstrangecough*

Nayu's News #246 Winter Returns + Pokemon Go fun

If only I could bribe this Pokemon to influence the real world weather....(Picture source unknown)

This time of year feels like the weather should be getting warmer, but unfortunately England is enduring a cold spell due to various air currents and weather stuff that I have no clue about. It is due to get warmer in a few days, but the lowest temp is still way too low for my comfort as my body is stupid and bases itself around the lowest temperature of the day, so I'm hibernating this week! Got lots of gaming and reading planned, especially with tomorrow's My Time At Portia launch on Switch (+ Xbox One + Playstation 4) you will know what I'm doing! 

Have to go out today for routine doctor's app so I will be checking out Pokemon Go stops on my way there - yes, I now have Pokemon Go! I will do a full post soon about it all, I won't do all the walking, for obvious reasons, but if I go somewhere I will check to see if they have anything. Although I do wonder the logic of putting Pokestops at war memorials...I guess maybe they want to encourage people to visit them? I didn't expect anything where I live in the country, so it's a great blessing. I won't take on a gym, but staying home I've caught quite a few so far! Would love to know if you play it too. 

Nayu's News #245 Winter continues

Haven't used this pic for a long time! I'm thinking it is sort of wintry with the scarf

Hey guys, I hope you were ok if you had snow last week which brought part of England to a halt. For once we were in the crazy zone with lots of snow and chaos ensued as it always does. It was pretty, and got melted away by rain. Oh this is being posted simultaneously on my other blog, Nayu's Crochet Dreams to save me time and energy.

(This is just for this blog, but I've somehow missed out the 243 post to my Nayu's News series - easier to skip it than add it back in out of order!)

View from my bedroom window during the snow sprinkling

Because of all the weather I'm having my super strong meds a bit earlier than I normally do - my body really hates snow. So there won't be a blot post for a week, which I know is currently the norm (I'm truly sorry for that, I hate not posting much), but I need the rest to get over the initial side effects of my meds. Unlike my cat I can't just sleep through winter! 

As always, I can be found on Twitter @Nayuleska I tend to tweet a bit less during my mediine down time, only because initially I do get pretty hyper and don't want to be repeating myself or gushing over a game too much. 

The familiar green Yoshi comes in many other colours, but this is the most well known.

I am hoping that we've had our coldest time of year. Our winter usually does come in February rather than December, but I'm praying that's the only insanely cold spell.Warmer weather = bit more energy + can concentrate on stuff = more craft! & other stuff in general. Until then, it's reading and gaming for me. And anime.I'm having so much fun with my game rental service, currently on Yoshi's New Island on the Nintendo DS (or 3DS, can't quite remember) I want to complete it so I can play the next game in the series, and then hopefully the new one out this march! The next one is based on yarn so I'm very eager to play it. The little green dino is adorable, especially the way it can eat enemies and turn them into eggs that follows wherever it goes. 

Love Obelix (left) and Asterix! )

I've got a nice mild romance series to read, along with a pile of Tintin and Asterix books. As for anime, I'm watching the usual favourites of Winx Club and Aikatsu! which I always watch. I'm rewatching Neo Angelique Abyss, both seasons, but in looking it up online I discovered there's another spin off series: both anime series are spin offs from a game series. I'm on episode 5 of the one I haven't seen, and while the rewatch will always have a special place in my heart, the new one is pretty good, and I understand why certain things happned in the one I've seen now I know more backgorund info.

See you on the next one!