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Taking my finger off the self-destruct button

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Comments

  • chevalier
    chevalier Posts: 7,937 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Wordsmith wrote: »

    I need names for one black kitten, two donkeys and six rabbits.
    .

    I named my black cat midnight. Or how about Coal!

    Bunnies well you could just go for naming them after Peter and his sisters!

    Or 6 members of a pop band?

    How about Tango and Cash for the donkeys or is that showing my age?

    good luck with the naming.. Oh and Word? You do realise you are getting the name for being a soft touch where you live, so harden up unless you want even MORE animals 'given' to you cos nobody else wants them.....:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:
    chev
    I want a job that is less than an hour driving away from my house! Are you listening universe?
  • BlueCrayon
    BlueCrayon Posts: 111 Forumite
    Your new home sounds idyllic! I can't believe its 300 euro for bins though :eek:

    Well done for standing your ground with the work. They probably knew they were taking the pee, if you'd have done it they'd just try it again and then you'd be in a real pickle. Like many I'm writing my novel, if it ever gets anywhere its bound to have some poor proofreader sobbing into their coffee!

    Hope you have a good week and more lucrative work comes your way.

    BC x
    Total Debt 21st October 2012: £11737.03, Total Paid: £0
    Consists of real debt: £5737.03 and preventing future debt fund: £6000.
    PFD is to let me have a shot at my dreams when I graduate without digging myself back into a money black hole.
  • Horace
    Horace Posts: 14,426 Forumite
    Just catching up with your diary Wordy..I barely have time to log on these days:rotfl:

    I managed to mow the lawn using the free lawnmower in the shed - Mum had to tell me how to set the plug because dad has given me a special plug to use with it. It is quite a light lawnmower too so it is easy to manoeuvre. Mum and I have made a start on the front border of the garden it is mostly cleared but the side and the bottom needs doing but it was weedkillered on Saturday. Mum bought her special red watering can with her (it is only ever used for weedkiller). As the borders on the front garden are rather wide, I intend to turf up to the edge of the path and maybe turf half the border in front of the window.

    My back garden is starting to look a bit better due to Mum's ministrations. We have decided that the lilac tree has to be cut down because it barely has leaves on it. The poor thing must be about 60+ years old. There is a border across the top of the garden but that will be removed and the plants relocated and that way I can have a run of turf as far as the hedge. The border around the purple elderlower tree will be re-cut and the violets removed and it will be underplanted with bulbs.

    Mum was round today pruning and raking - she has pruned a few bushes, told me what to do with them too e.g. cut the spirea right back in the Autumn, cut the non-variagated leaves off the euyonymus (sp?). I have some rather nice plants out there - I have the most gorgeous bright blue flat head hydrangea. I have a yellow potentilla, a small pink potentilla, an ornamental quince, a snowberry, a mexican orange blossom, an english orange blossom, something else that mum has in her garden with tiny white flowers (name escapes me at the mo), a forsythia an azalea that is covered in buds. I have a gorgeous clematis and honeysuckle by the patio - the honeysuckle smells divine and I have found others up the side of the fence. I have some monbretia (orange crocosmia) to dig up and get rid of - it spreads and looks a mess. I may replace with some crocosmia lucifer instead which is a bit more compact and has gloriously red flowers.

    Waiting with baited breath now for my 36 perennial plug plants to arrive in the post - they are due this week. These lovely plants cost me £4.90 and they are worth £23 (I only had to pay for the postage), these were ordered on mum's instructions.

    Mum has filled my Aldi tub with fushias (all the same variety) and it has been positioned so that I can see it from the kitchen window. Today she bought two tubs that she did for me using her most precious tubs that need to be returned after the plants have died. I have been told to dead head them - considering it was a tray of annual pinks bought for a quid, they havent been doing too badly and mum added some lobelias to the tubs too.

    I have been gifted the most wonderful border fork - the stainless steel prongs glisten and the oak handle feels as though it has been made for me (it is a small fork), turns out it is made locally to me too. I treated myself (using some settlement money) to a pair of garden shears again stainless steel blades and lovely oak handles from the same manufacturer as the border fork only mum has now given me her old shears - still I will use both pairs as I can use the new ones on the hedge too.

    I have too many weeds and far too many toads - I found a large fat one (didnt realise what it was as it scurried and was about the size of my fist and fat) under the water butt. I will get the lads next door to catch the toads and the frogs and they can go back in their pond. Must admit that I do not like creatures that jump (kangaroos, wallabies and kangaroo rats excluded).

    I have taken up a new hobby - wildlife watching - mainly birds and r*ndy squirrels:rotfl:
  • Marru
    Marru Posts: 4,126 Forumite
    Oooh, love the donkeys. Can't think any other names than Bill and Bob - bit boring. How about name Laku for the kitten? (It means liquorice in Finnish).
    "Everything will be alright in the end. If it's not alright, it's not the end."

  • miggy
    miggy Posts: 4,328 Forumite
    Oh that rabbit! Almost the spitting image of mine! She has to be a Lionhead Dwarf or Lionhead Dwarf Cross? They are reputedly fantastic parents. Mine can also jump out of a run a lot taller than she is, and walk backwards on her hind legs...

    If you want a name suggestion, mine is Sable after the heraldic term... suits her very well. :) No pressure though. ;):p

    As for other names... Aigrette, Allume (if one has red eyes) (there should be an acute accent at the end but I can't remember how to do them), Argent (for a grey or white), Sapphire (for a grey), Lievre or Lapin, Litvit (for white)... that's if you think a rabbit should have an heraldic name! :D

    Not that I know anything about it, but having come up with 'Sable' I knew there would be some of the same ilk on Google. :o

    Of course being rabbits they are unlikely to know their family trees and I've yet to meet a rabbit who answered in French so you could be quite random about their names...
    Miggy

    MEMBER OF MIKE'S MOB!
    Every Penny a Prisoner

    This article is about coffeehouse bartenders. For lawyers, see Barrister. (Wikipedia)
  • Morning Word (et al)

    I've just spent the last 2 days reading your diary, have laughed & cried along the way. You've a wonderful way with words. I think you should just print off your diary and publish that, you'd be rich in no time ;)

    As for animal names, we've had several black cats called, Salem, Pixie (x2 of these), Magic. Donkeys i've never owned lol, but when i was little i had a pony called Kitty :p

    Am *subscribing* i think you've just become one of my top 5 diaries to read (p.s I LOVE long posts :p)
    Mortgage Overpayments 2024/25 - September-December, £152.46. J- £103.27, F- £115, M- £91.50, A- £100, M- £200, J- £200. J- £200. A-£200, S- £221.34. O-£200
    Total- £1783.67
    Goal pay off 1% of current mortgage in 1 year. £1650
    EF- £642.41/500
  • Wordsmith
    Wordsmith Posts: 1,164 Forumite
    Well, where have I been this time? Another lengthy absence, caused by:
    work
    work
    work
    work
    cancer.

    The work was all normal busy stuff, keeping me out of mischief and paying the bills.

    Then, boomph! I felt a bit unwell, for a few days hoped it would go away, lovely boss man asked lovely boss man 2 to have a look at me (no. 2 boss man is a GP in real life). I see him only on his day off and wouldn’t dream of asking him medical questions ordinarily, but he insisted he didn’t mind and examined me in the shop – well not in the shop, that would be too weird, but in the office behind the shop, which was weird enough. I know in some circles it is not unknown for one’s boss to lay an employee on the floor of the office whilst prodding and poking, but that does not generally happen here. The result was me being sent off for an MRI scan (€195 – I could have got it done closer to home, but then it would have cost €295). I got the phone call the same afternoon and could have been admitted to hospital that evening, but as it was a Friday it wasn’t worth it because nothing much would happen over the weekend. So, 7,30 Monday morning I presented myself at A&E expecting to be in hospital for three days … three weeks later I have been through a barrage of tests and have had one cycle of chemo-therapy – next one is next week.

    For the first time in years I had some big publishing jobs lined up to last me to the end of the year – with the plan of using the money to almost half my remaining debt. I have cancelled all these as I can’t see that I am going to be able to regularly work 15 hours a day for 7 days a week. The shop has been absolutely fantastic, and has carried on paying my wages for the last three weeks even though I have done no work – they are under no obligation to do this. They’ve also said that I can work as and when I feel able, with no pressure. I’ve applied for illness benefit – I am not entirely sure I will get this as I am part self-employed, but I am hopeful. If I do get it, it will just about pay my mortgage and not much else.

    I have also applied for a medical card. When I went to the pharmacy last week, the drugs I have prescribed for me would have cost me €280 :eek:. There is a scheme that I have joined that means that I never have to spend more than €152 a month on drugs, but if I can get the medical card, this figure will be much reduced. I may have to pay the €152 this month if the medical card doesn't come through in time.

    How am I going to carry on paying off the debts, though? I will try to do smaller freelance projects and use that money. For the moment, I can only feel my way as I don’t know how restricted my working hours are going to be. I don’t plan for them to be at all, but I already know that is unrealistic.

    I can reduce the strain of all this by selling the house in the UK – and how fortunate I am that I have this to sell. It will take some organisation, though. I will have to give the tenants two months’ notice and then put it on the market – November time. My biggest worry is that while it is on the market and has no tenants, I will have to find the mortgage money. I also have some building work to do before selling, which will cost maybe £3,000. I have just had the chimney removed, and owe the builder £855.

    My mobile phone bill is going to be fairly high this month. While in hospital I felt very isolated and although I was conscious of the cents ticking away, I was texting quite a lot just to keep grounded with people.

    I haven’t told many people about the cancer, but those that do know have been extraordinarily kind. I have discovered that despite all my assertions that I am independent and need no one, I cannot do this alone. My sister came over to visit, and Favoured Friend is coming next week to take me to chemo. The domestic goddesses let themselves into my house to tidy up, leave food in the fridge and change my bed linen. The farmer down the road looked after the animals for me.

    When I can think a bit clearer, I will make a proper plan.
    "Green pastures are before me,
    Which yet I have not seen;"
    I'd love to be a good example - instead, I am a horrible warning.
  • lucielle
    lucielle Posts: 11,587 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Sorry to hear your news Wordsmith. I'm sending lots of healing vibes through the ether. Glad your frineds and family have stepped upto the mark.
    L
    Total Debt Dec 07 £59875.83 Overdrafts £2900,New Debt Figure ZERO !!!!!!:j 08/06/2013
    Lucielle's Daring Debt Free Journey
    DFD Before we Die!!!! Long Haul Supporter #124
  • beanielou
    beanielou Posts: 96,645 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Academoney Grad Mortgage-free Glee!
    Wow that must have been a real shocker.
    I am never good with words at a time like this but I am sending you lots and lots of very positive vibes.
    Please try to take care of you & be gentle with yourself .
    I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.

    Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
    "A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.

    ***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb.
    ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
    One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.
  • Radish72
    Radish72 Posts: 2,075 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Sorry to hear your news. I'm useless with words as well but thinking of you

    Take it easy and embrace your friends wanting to help you

    And the debt is not the most important thing at the moment so concentrate on yourself
    Mortgage Aug 12 £165K, Aug 19 £0
    ISA challenge start 2019 £3000/£1500 (50%)
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