Taking my finger off the self-destruct button

bast · 12 June 2012 at 6:11PM

I am delurking today to talk to my fave diaries... I truly believe you have done the right thing with the cottage... enjoy it as they say life is for living...........x

VegGrower · 15 June 2012 at 10:36PM

You're back! Brilliant. I read your diary from start to finish, go to the end just as you headed off to Cornwall, very jealous by the way! Been checking for updates and just found yours! Glad you had a good time and very much looking forward to more posts

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miggy · 17 June 2012 at 12:35PM

I missed your post about Cornwall et al and have just had a very nice catch up.

Good to know everything went so well, though sorry to hear about your old house.

Perhaps it will be like the Professor's house in Narnia and live on somewhere despite being gone from Ireland.

And so much work! I reckon you deserve a table after all that.

Wordsmith · 12 July 2012 at 11:16AM

Hello there. I hadn’t disappeared again, but I have been so, so busy – working 7 days a week and usually late into the night (or if not, only because I’ve fallen asleep at my computer). The usual refrain, of course … I’m not moaning, I’m glad to have it … but at one stage last week I started hallucinating because I was so tired. My biggest fear (after wondering whether or not I am going to have a stroke) is whether I am not doing things properly because I am too tired.

Moneywise … well ...

Plus
I have reached my halfway point in repaying my debts – this is a massive milestone for me. Massive.
Unplus
It has taken me five years to get halfway. I’m damned if it's going to take another five to reach the end.
Plus
At the beginning of the five years I was in total despair and juggling (or not) all over the place … now I have a better handle on things, can open letters without (too much) hyperventilating, know where I’m heading (hmmm?), know (for the first year ever) exactly what I owe for tax and VAT for at this very moment and have that money put aside.
Unplus
The tax reference was for my Ireland tax; I’m not so sure about UK – I am only just taking my head out of the sand for that one. My only income is from the rent on my house, and I don’t think I will owe tax on that. However, reformed character apparently I am not as I have only just started to put that right and even if I don’t owe tax I certainly owe some fees.
Plus
I have learnt loads along the way. Largely, it has to be said, about what my limitations and weaknesses are (they are legion), but also what is truly important in life. Can’t put my finger exactly on what that is at the moment, but I do know what it isn’t.
Unplus
NO worklife/balance. Apart from the book club, which has – my very essence is in tatters – decided not to meet in August. For God’s sake, ladies of the book club, do you think I have a life to lead?
Another unplus
I have not kept up with my resolve of writing a given number of words every week. I have not given up on this, I just physically can’t fit it in. But it is still in the plan. (There’s a plan?)

Still a bit to work on, then.

I am loving my house. I am not spending enough time there, though. I take my computer home in the evenings – I usually get home between 8.30 and 9, and work sitting on the sofa. No, not at my new table, because if I am on the sofa I usually have a cat or three (I may not have mentioned the new kitten) keeping me company, so at least I can feel as though I am giving them some time.

Although I love my house, I do not – in any shape or form – love the midges. What is the point of midges? I am seriously, seriously, thinking of investing in a midge catcher – does anyone know how well they work? I’ve been reading up on them and apparently they do, but I don’t know anyone with first-hand experience of them.

My exceeding tiny foray into growing veg has been largely thwarted by slugs. I have discovered my lane is the Ibiza of the slug world. On a wet morning, I can’t even walk down it admiring the view as I am tip-toeing about trying to avoid the pesky beggars. They hang around in gangs – the large black beasts with an admiring gaggle of yellowy ones. Some are suffering the after-effects of a night on the town (mainly in my bar), and some of them are gathering forces to plot their next move (mainly in my bar). A few revellers fall by the wayside, abandoned by their inebriated best mates from the night before. Some of them are even having sex. (They are the only beings in my lane that are, goddammit.)

I do get a bit of non-work time. The tart needs to go for her walk every day, and I spend fifteen minutes or so every morning and evening talking to the donkeys (I may not have mentioned the donkeys). Sadly, at the moment, the non-work time isn’t resulting in house-cleaning time.

I’m not spending too much, although I had to go back to the osteopath (€60) and I've just paid someone to make me a rabbit hutch. (I may not have mentioned the rabbits.) I’ve also paid to get some ground strimmed – no strimmer, no time, but I can’t keep paying for this, so I think I will invest in a strimmer of my own (and discover another skill that I can’t master). I so want to be Moo2Moo. Like, really want to be her.

Favoured friend came for a visit. A short visit. It was fairly pleasant, and he doesn’t seem to have noticed that I am still barely speaking to him. So all’s well there.

Ooh, I almost forgot. Our Paddy’s gone global: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJslDCjJtC4 He said that he was pleased with the way he talked but he felt he looked awful old and beat-up!

Next project: hens.

Wordsmith · 12 July 2012 at 11:26AM

VegGrower wrote: »

You're back! Brilliant. I read your diary from start to finish, go to the end just as you headed off to Cornwall, very jealous by the way! Been checking for updates and just found yours! Glad you had a good time and very much looking forward to more posts .

Oh, HELLO. Thank you for calling in. With a name like VegGrower, you have just got to be my new best friend. It's part of the plan, is veg growing. My first stumbling block (have you picked up that I'm hopeless - beyond hopeless - out of the stratosphere of hopelessness - at anything remotely practical?) is that I can't even decide where to start my garden. Or the best time to create some raised beds. Or what to do first when I have said raised beds.

I've tried a few things in pots this year (domestic goddess no. 2 put some seeds in for me), but have failed to repot the ones that need it, and have failed miserably to keep them safe from predators. The pots came about because I didn't know where to make a garden.

Anyway, that's about me. Tell me about you.

Wordsmith · 12 July 2012 at 11:28AM

bast wrote: »

I am delurking today to talk to my fave diaries... I truly believe you have done the right thing with the cottage... enjoy it as they say life is for living...........x

Thank you for delurking. But please don't lurk - join in! Especially if you are going to endorse my naughtiness.

Wordsmith · 12 July 2012 at 11:29AM

miggy wrote: »

I missed your post about Cornwall et al and have just had a very nice catch up. Good to know everything went so well, though sorry to hear about your old house. Perhaps it will be like the Professor's house in Narnia and live on somewhere despite being gone from Ireland.

And so much work! I reckon you deserve a table after all that.

Thanks, Miggy. Do you think I deserve a freezer, too? Just asking.

bast · 12 July 2012 at 7:07PM

You are not naughty, you are wise and sage, You understand there is more to life than just money and for that I love your diary..... Your diary is about life, ... and the disquieting fact that life is ever continuing with its craziness, sadness and sometime happiness... For this reason your diary remains my favourite please do not give it up...