So here's to you, Mrs R....

mrs_robinson_3

Thank you people for helpful posts!

Gah - just lost long post of my own - too frustrating! So suffice to say:

Mortgage - progress - a plan - stay on SVR when current deal runs out. SVR is competitive and no hassle over income etc

Job - one has emerged for which I meet all criteria. Not full time but too many hours to combine with HM work. But maybe could do short term whilst our bigger future pans out? Maybe would get someone to take on my HM work which would leave me an exceedingly modest income, but would be extra, and would at least keep it going. But also going to be proactive on HM so either way, something will work out. So must make job app! Main thing is to keep all options open, put many irons in fire etc

Mr R - infuriating! Too boring to explain. But from next week my extra mission is to free him up so he can begin the job search - that is top priority.

Money - encouraging. Am exactly where I should be in the month. Perhaps may even be enough for a treat or two towards end of month. We'll see.

So, that's it - a bumpy week - but onwards and upwards.......

Hope all good for you guys

Mrs R

hypno06

Bumpy weeks are par for the course at the moment - but enjoy the up bits and don't fret about the down bits!

macgirl

Good to hear the week has ended with some positivity - long may it continue!

mrs_robinson_3

OK, lots to say as per, but going to try to be brief, to whit:

Matters financial - all under control here. Have £67 left until 30 Sept. Such a paltry amount in the grand scheme of things, but have paid all my bills, and another £400 off the debt, and cut back by £50 as mentioned above. So am actually rather pleased.

Allowed myself two treats last week, from my fave high st. store...you know the one...begins with a T and a K and ends with an X.....a winter coat for £24.99 - can you believe it - well, it's not wool or anything...in fact it's some kind of polyester, but can go in the machine, which is a great bonus...and is a classic kind of grey with double breasted buttons and ever so slightly trapeze shaped, which is v flattering on a small person. And as I have a "good" tweedy coat, and a "going out" black coat, I just wanted an everyday one for running around in. Was v tempted by some nice boots, which I might actually get next month, but held back as a) I have two good pairs already and b) I really needed a half size, though the size up was OK - but it was good to have a reason NOT to get them.

My other treat was a Stila lipstick for £3.99, in a shade called Traci in my favourite pinky glossy natural beige. Mm hmm. V satisfying.

Applied for the "job" I mentioned. Well, I don't really want it, but it is something I have a great interest in, and could tick all the boxes for, so it seemd daft not to. It's supposed to be 4 days a week, which is the reason I don't want it......but decided to worry about that later. Getting an interview would be a major bonus and as am good at those, and a bit of a charmer, might be able to wangle a job share or something. Shortlisting was yesterday, and interviews next week, so not long to wait to find out if I made the cut.

Mr R says we have plenty of money, so not to worry. Not that he's advocating wild spending, just that I should trust him that our plan to be free of office slavery is underway, and is working.......just not yet bringing in the sorts of money we will need, going forward. So have decided to worry no more.

Instead, am concentrating now on building up HM - so have been out today putting my cards into likely looking homes in the nicest neighbourhoods, looking for those five new clients.......and my new ad will be out next week, so am hoping to snare my new special friends before too much of October goes by......as it is, this month I am going to make about £900

Matters of health - now feeling much more chilled. Plucked up the courage to look at t'internet about my ongoing issue - and looking very likely it is entirely age related. Not just my major sypmtom, but all sorts of other funny little things that I've noticed of late were there (tingling fingertips, of all things!). Mind you, this was after I'd had a MAJOR blub when I went to get my blood done - the nurse was so kind and reassuring, and I think I felt a bit better for having had the blub, that I decided to be brave and see what was out there. Now heading back to the GP on Thursday for the results, but with less trepidation than I was. And, natch, the "ongoing prob" stopped on Friday! Now was that as I relaxed, or just a coincidence, or had the thing just run its course? Who knows, but am feeling much more like the old Mrs R.

Matters of life - thank goodness, all DSs back at school and settled in a for a new year. It shames me to say it, but I just run so much better in term time than holiday time, which is probably also why am feeling much improved. Friends came to dinner, and it was odd, but actually felt like I was coming back into my body, after the summer....silly Mrs R! Mr R and I are getting along ok - better - improved - but am still intending to read MAFRM...etc.

Matters of home - all good here. Kitchen electrics now finished. So all complete.

mrs_robinson_3

Oops - posted before I finished! Final kitchen total about £17k, give or take. A lot. But worth it.

Matters of self improvement. Thinking about the MG challenges. Had a look recently, but not much of a self helper, TBH, and find Mr B's resolutely chipper messages a bit annoying. Though that, of course, is just my British reserve. Which I must get over. So have started. Because I am not a procrastinator, and am really quite driven, so feel sure I will gain from the experience, once I get over a certain degree of group hug creepiness. Which is all my prob, of course. So have decluttered my purse (took all of 20 secs, as am good in this area) and probably was spurred on to do my cards by the 250 people thing, and have though about what I wanted to be when I grew up...which is part of the prob, as I DID that...but maybe I can do more of it. So, music. And writing. That's the thing. Oh, and making things look lovely and ordered. Which have started, of course. So feeling a sense of progress already!

Probably biggest news of all, something has shifted in my head about driving!! This is a major breakthrough as suddenly I can drive to places I've not been able to get to for years! Not sure quite what's going on here. Might post more about this later, but need to get on now.....

Mrs R

hypno06

Things seem to be going quite well for you then, Mrs R - glad that the kitchen is finished, I bet it looks fab!

And well done (without wishing to sound patronising) on the driving - it will make such a difference to you, especially as you build up the business :T

macgirl

LOL @ "group hug creepiness" :rotfl:

But even if it's not for you, you have quite rightly identified strategies for helping you grow your business. And all for free - so that alone is worth the read.
Good luck in the quest for more clients and enjoy your lovely kitchen

mrs_robinson_3

So here's a strange thing. Mrs R is officially menopausal. The GP says my tests were all A1 in all other regards, but my oestrogen levels are really quite low. In fact so low that normally I would start HRT straight away. But as my mum had breast cancer and died young, it may not be so advisable for me. So we need to get advice on what my regimen should be.

Well, was pretty encouraged by all this, TBH. As is entirely natural process, am not worried, and as have had thyroid, anemia, tumour markers etc done as part of the test, I really am OK. Just another stage in life's rich journey, la la la. A bit earlier than I'd hoped for, I guess, but apart from the one horrid symptom I have, which is a real PIA, it seems that considering the lowness of my levels, am really quite symptom free. So lucky me!

Have to start taking evening primrose oil, which is fine, but avoid all other complementary type stuff because of my family history, which is fine by me. Go back in a couple of months after monitoring my symptoms, and then we can decide what if anything to do.

Is most bizarre, as am honestly no different than I was 16 years ago, when first expecting DS1 - looks, attitude, weight etc all the same, so it feels really odd to be told am actually in a different phase from what I thought, IYSWIM. Which is just a good reminder of how time passes and there is no time to lose now, to achieve all the stuff I want!

In other news, DS2 dislocated his shoulder playing rugby today, I had philosphical thoughts about money and the meaning of life whilst HMing today, and am still on track to end the month with money in my account!

Have a night out planned with very good friends tomorrow, who have not seen for a while, and am massively looking forward to it. After a few weeks of worry, it's def time for me to let my hair down. Well, it's not thinning yet.......(that's something us low oestrogen types have to look forward to), so look out local scene, Mrs R is set to rock n roll.

Hah!

Mrs R

hypno06

Rock and Roll :T

Ouch to DS's shoulder, and hurrah for health being A1. At least if it is only the menopause, it can be managed, and it doesn't last for ever.

x

mrs_robinson_3

Just a quickie, whilst procrastinating....

Signature updated, as RBS paid off today. Feels a bit underwhelming, TBH, as Mr R paid it, and I will "repay" him by taking less from our joint pot this month and next, when I would otherwise have repaid it. Still, it's fab that it's gone, and am now some way under 3k!

Also a bit underwhelming as for the next few months, whilst I try and presss on with HM, and Mr R sorts himself out, am only going to make minimum payments to Virgin, whereas I had hoped to be starting £400 a month to them, with the aim of clearing by next spring.

But we have the joint money for me to clear it at any time, it's just a case of choosing to preserve our bigger cash pot for now whilst we make the future unfold......

Speaking of which, Mr R says this time next year, we will have tons of money...... he seems to be feeling a bit more of his dynamic self at the mo, and is working on a couple of ways of increasing our income streams, without actually resorting to a *job*. So long may that continue. In the meantime, whilst waiting for our boat to come in, I was v happy to receive a cheque for £5 in the post today for some mystery shopping or other I took part in the other week!! Such a small but cheering thing for a monday!

In more exciting news, the freelance work I have mentioned from time to time is actually happening - like definitely - like am working on it NOW (which is why I am procrastinating, naturellement) and in a few weeks I can invoice for almost £2k, which is almost pure profit! So am thinking I may use a chunk of this to go towards Virgin. I would be happy if that were sub £2k in the not so distant future.

Also my latest HM ad will be out on the streets this week, and as I always do well from this, I expect to pick up at least another couple of clients in the near future.

And I have two other opportunities for part time, sporadic work to deal with this week, which might suit, though I wasn't shortlisted for the other thing I applied for. But such is the way of life for a freelancing self employed chancer like me, that I am not disheartened. Well, not yet anyway.

Kept a tight rein on my purse strings and once again managed to end the month exactly where I wanted to be. Not easy, but mainly a matter of saying no! If I can stick to it (and I will) there's probably just about enough slack for a small treat or two, but only much later in the month, if still on track.

And did I say my ancient car needed minimal work to pass the MOT? So it was only £51 in total, which was very pleasing. And am really facing up to my driving demons and making myself do stuff I felt I couldn't before, on an almost daily basis, which is also making me feel good about myself.

On that cheery note, I depart for now.......

Mrs R