Squirrel's Smiley, Smart and Solvent Diary

redsquirrel80

I thought I should copy over today's bit of the challenge too, it elaborates on the long term plans I made a while back on here so..

1. I am living a happy life with Mr S and one or two healthy happy kids (and the cat), in a nice house with a big garden, growing lots of fruit and veg. We have a few amazing holidays abroad every year - end of 2012/ early 2013.
1. Have proper conversation with Mr S about moving in (as opposed to living there but still having my own empty flat) - I am
planning to do this tonight!
2. Get debt paid off as soon as possible so I can actually be on a mortgage.
3. Look after myself so I am fit and healthy as possible when it comes to having kids.
4. Practise making babies (sorry :rotfl:)
5. Learn as much as I can about growing fruit and veg so when we have a big garden I can make the best of it.

2. I have no debt - end of 2012
1. Keep on paying off debts as fast as I can

3. I work on a few different projects which I love and which pay enough for a comfortable life - 2015.
4. I have a PhD in Philosophy and some of my work includes writing about and teaching Philosophy - 2020!
5. I speak two or three languages well and some of my work involves translating - probably 2020 for this too.
I'm sticking these three together as they overlap..
1. Do training/ mentoring course which I've just signed up to and further courses
2. Do Philosophy short course which starts next week to get me back into it.
3. Research and sign up for further Philosophy courses. Finish degree level, do MA, narrow down area of interest for research.
4. Do language courses to brush up and improve my skills.
5. Do translation course.
6. Get as much experience as I can in these areas.
7. Take any opportunities that come my way.

6. I have some writing published - actually, for this one, I already have done, but just a few bits of poetry. Probably 2020 here also.
1. Keep writing whenever I can
2. Start a blog for experience
3. Find out how to get work published.
4. Produce something I'm really proud of and try to get it published!
5. Forgot to add, can do some courses through work, e.g. there is a copywriting course coming up soon.

7. I can confidently speak to an audience of people about things I am passionate about - by the middle of next year.
1. Have signed up for 'Confident Communication' course at work.
2. Get experience of speaking to increasing sizes of groups.
3. Do as many courses as possible to help.
4. Face my fears and speak even when it's scary!

8. I am fit and healthy, I run, swim and go hillwalking regularly - this is an ongoing process but I'd like to feel fit and healthy and be at my happy weight by the end of this year.
1. Keep going to the gym and swimming
2. Start running properly again
3. Get swimming lessons - just looked into this, it's about £3.50 a lesson with my gym membership
4. Remind myself how much better I feel when I do exercise.

9. I sing and play music as a hobby. I have a nice singing voice, I play the flute again, and we have a gorgeous grand piano in the house - OK, I could take singing lessons (although whether they can work miracles I don't know!), I could quite easily pick up my flute again, the piano will have to wait for the big house! Lets say 2015 for all this lot.
1. Start playing flute again (sorry neighbours), maybe get a few refresher lessons.
2. Find out about singing lessons and/ or local groups or choirs.
3. Save up for the piano!
4. Get a few piano lessons

10. I am happy, confident and content - ?????!!!!
1. Well if I do all of the above it will help a lot!
2. Be true to myself and appreciate the good things about myself
3. Learn how to deal better with stress and set-backs
4. If I want to change something, do something about it.
5. Appreciate everything that is good about my life
6. Spend time with people who make me smile.

Karmacat

How lovely! Thats really wonderful, I like it a lot - I like the way you've broken it down too.

Um, are you going to share any of that with Mr Squizz? Hope it goes the way you want it to go tonight .........

redsquirrel80

It all sounds good, doesn't it? I've never really planned like this before, just let things happen, but I quite like it!

Mr S knows about most of it, perhaps not the specifics! We have vaguely talked about most of the important stuff but not in any definite terms or timescales.

Anyway, keep your fingers crossed for me this evening x

elfen

I stole your idea of putting my aims on my thread, hope you don't mind. And are oyu going to tell him or spring it all on him lol

Karmacat

gl gl gl gl

Thinking of you ......

redsquirrel80

Of course I don't mind Well I haven't read him the list complete with dates but we're both aiming in the same direction

And....

I'm moving in







:j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j :j

Karmacat

Squizz!!!! :j:j:j:j:j:j

Thats fantastic! See what talking will do! And an extra £500 or so a month to pay down the debts and start achieving your goals for your life together!

Have a cake :bdaycake: have a cup of coffee :coffee: have a glass of wine :beer:

Woo hoo!

redsquirrel80

Thank you Ooh bit early for wine, we got through a very nice bottle of red last night! Coffee and cake though....

We've agreed he should think about the money stuff, there's no rush - basically I've said I'm happy to pay half of everything and he can decide what he's happy with. Either way we're both going to be better off, I can pay off my debt quicker and we can do more things!

Karmacat

Absolutely, no rush - you've proved through the last months and months that you both have heads on your shoulders, that you're simpatico in so many ways. Lovely stuff.

Pooky

About ruddy time too! :T