Getting out of my comfort zone

gilligansyle

Further news - had an email late last night confirming date and time etc. I am meeting a manager in a motorway service station. That should be interesting!

I'm going to speak to my brother later, as he has had a few interviews where you have a technical interview, then get shortlisted down etc. just so I know what to expect as I've never been in this situation before.

Rather a dull day here, not sure what I'm going to be doing yet. DS wants to shift furniture round, move the fish tank to another room etc. May be a good idea, then he can paint in here :j

gilligansyle

Well I don't know where yesterday went. It started of dull, and got worse.

So I've been trying to sort the money out.

Money in bank - excluding tax saver account and ISA - 500
Money in 'mortgage money account' 2,000
Money to come in next few weeks 3,100

Spends so far this week
Petrol 84.58:eek: but did include a 400 mile round trip.
Gas and Electric 25
Mobile 22.53
Morrisons - cakes for last day at work 8.50
New shoes 10.00
Asda 16.24

Market on Friday 4.50
Costco 22
Co-op yesterday 19.07

The costco shop means there's a lot I won't need to be getting for a few weeks, drinks for DS etc. and now I'm home, I can use up some of the stuff in the freezer, so should be ok.

If I get work in the next week or two, I won't have to dip into the mortgage money, I'm also pursuing a PPI claim. Had a loan from Egg that was done online, and the box for PPI was automatically ticked. There's no harm in trying.

Hope someones getting nice weather:)

gilligansyle

Have had a lousy nights sleep, awake at 2:30 and then tossed and turned for hours. So eventually woke up at half seven which is late for me.
Lots of things to think about, have spoken to brother about the format normally of a second interview - as he's been for a few, so will do some more reading up this week. Thinking back, there were a few things that I could have done better, but obviously I didn't do too badly or I wouldn't be asked back.
Mum hasn't been too well again, not sure what she expects of us.

Money stuff - yesterday was a NSD
Today,will use up lots of bits and bobs out of fridge to make a quiche and have taken some pork steaks out of freezer so will have to think of something to do with them.
There is also some curry left from Saturday, so may decide to freeze that.

Plan for today
Work out what is in freezer - sort freezers out.
Make quiche
Finish sorting back room - empty ottoman type thing of junk, as its going to Mum's
Finish ironing AND PUT IT AWAY!!!!
Admin stuff - sort out receipts etc. Pay NIC for first quarter.
Have a bit of a social life while I have the chance - arrange to meet up with friends.

Money in purse 48.30
DD's to go out NONE
Money to come this week around 600 ( I know what the gross is, I can't work out the net at the moment, too tired!!)

gilligansyle

The list

[STRIKE]Today,will use up lots of bits and bobs out of fridge to make a quiche and have taken some pork steaks out of freezer so will have to think of something to do with them.[/STRIKE] Quiche made and taken to Mum's. Pork steaks in a sort of marinade/sauce at the moment, will cook tomorrow.
[STRIKE] There is also some curry left from Saturday, so may decide to freeze that.[/STRIKE] Having some of this for tea, will freeze the rest.

Plan for today
Work out what is in freezer - sort freezers out. DONE
Make quiche DONE
Finish sorting back room - empty ottoman type thing of junk, as its going to Mum's -
Finish ironing AND PUT IT AWAY!!!! DONE
Admin stuff - sort out receipts etc. Pay NIC for first quarter. STARTED
Have a bit of a social life while I have the chance - arrange to meet up with friends. ARRANGED 2 SEPARATE LUNCHES THIS WEEK

I got a bit side-tracked with the sorting as I found some soap moulds, so made some soap. I'm not generally keen on the moulds as they have rounded edges, but just thought I'd try them again. And I'm still not happy with them, but will parcel them up as gifts . I've also mixed some bath salts, so the kitchen smells lovely.

gilligansyle

Morning
I've done an approved foods order again - prompted by reading FW's blog. I used to shop from there, but with being away a lot, it didn't suit. Now I have cleared some space in the cupboard under the stairs, so have plenty of space. Yesterday I used some breadmix I had bought when it was on offer for 25p - use by date of December 2010 - it was one of the best loaves I've ever made.

Plans for today mainly involve spending some time at Mum's, I'm going to strip her bed that sort of thing, and take the Vax up to do her carpets. Because her hands shake so much she keeps spilling her coffee as she walks into the living room - I've told her not to fill the cup so much but she keeps forgetting.

I'll take some photo's of the soaps etc, they were done using the moulds so not as good as the ones I normally do, but quite pleased with them.

hypno06

DD and I were talking about making space in the garage (easier said than done.......) and putting some shelving up so that we can start bulk buying from AF and our local Makro (I bizarrely found a membership card for there when I was sorting a box from the move, so I may as well use it!) in the hope of keeping our overall grocery spends down.

Fingers crossed for the impending job interview

gilligansyle

Mainly this time I've ordered a few things just to try, but will probably start putting money away for bulk buys and have a sort of system. I have a costco card, but find that you have to be really careful with the prices as often you can get better offers in supermarkets. The only difference being that sometimes supermarkets limit how many you can buy.

I've ordered things like sachets of tartare sauce and salad cream, as we don't use enough of it to make it worth buying. And little jars of jam (for hampers!) DS favourite soft drink was on offer in glass bottles, so have bought some of them to put away for Christmas - it won't actually kill him!

gilligansyle

Spent lots of yesterday at Mum's and did loads of tidying. Why can't I be as productive in my own house?
I know her house is only a little bungalow, but it does get a mess really easily. I cleaned the living room carpet while she was having her hair done; dusted, polished and piled stuff up for her to go through. I'd already taken quiche up, so we had that with salad for lunch.
I was telling her about bread making, and she asked me to make some for her, but I think I'll buy some fresh mix - I know that using stuff after the best before date just means it loses some taste, but with her poor health, I don't want to chance it.

Interview date has been changed, and is now Monday, but in the same place.

Nothing much else happening, have sorted of slowed down on looking for contracts, partly because of interview, and partly because using time to sort house out.

Was speaking to a friend last night, catching up, and we were laughing that no matter how long it is since we last spoke, we can just pick it up as if it were yesterday. I suppose that's what real friendship is about.

hypno06

Definitely what real friendship is all about :T

gilligansyle

After a reasonably decent day with the weather yesterday, today dawns blustery and horrible again.
DS and I shifted some furniture around, trying to make better use of space. He had one remaining fish in his tropical tank, and as this fish had been alone in the tank for a while, was wary of getting new fish. So we've dug out a smaller tank, and have got that working, and put the fish in that one. The big tank has now been moved to the back room, in an alcove so has freed up a lot of space.
It also means that DS and his mates can use that room, and then go outside for a smoke, rather than the current pounding up and down the stairs.

Plans for today, meeting friend for lunch in town. Really odd as I haven't been into town centre for ages, so had no idea where we could go.
Then will call at Mum's before going home - AF delivery coming this afternoon. Lots of space cleared under stairs ready for that.

Money stuff:-
I forgot that secured loan was going out this week, so it took me overdrawn for a few hours! Hopefully won't get charged; I think I remember seeing in the t&c's that if you put account in credit by end of working day you were OK.
That put a bit of a dent in plans though, as I'd thought it was due out next week.

Money in purse £42 (yay got pound sign back!)
Money in bank - £120 - but had to move money from mortgage account to cover it.

No petrol needed until Monday when go for interview.
Lots of food in freezer and cupboards so trying not to go shopping.

I've basically written off this weeks wages, as they went on the secured loan, and the statement for that loan will be here soon, so should see some changes as I've been paying £25 extra each month, and have been paying 4 weekly rather than monthly, so have made an extra payment.

Sorry for the ramble if anyone's reading.