Reach for the stars...

niccatw

My friend has been learning from my money saving musings (read: lecturing her!). She knew what she wanted from Ikea and we went straight for it, no wandering! (You're right Anonymoose, boring! But sensible I suppose ). They didn't have what she was looking for, so we both left having spent nothing! :j

Then we headed to Sainsbury's. Which also didn't have what she was looking for. But did have 50p Easter eggs. She got two and I was kicking myself for being determined to have NSD 2! (I might go back on a spend day though :shhh:.)

So then we *had* to head through the entire shopping centre to get to WH Smiths. We eventually found what she needed (though about 4 hours later I got a text to say the shredder had broken, the filing box was rubbish and everything in this world is over-priced rubbish :rotfl:.) I couldn't agree more!

But once I am rich (i.e, I've paid off my debts and am spending within my means!!!!), I wil be a wise a learned consumer and I will not buy over-priced rubbish. I will buy, good value, quality (and hopefully eco-friendly) products. And I will still be relying on Martin and his band of merry men (that's you, people ) to help me on my merry, enriched way.

(Maybe the sun has gone to my head... on that note, I'm heading out into it before it goes away and we do not see it for another year!)

niccatw

Yesterday wasn't a NSD either - birthday cards and wedding RSVP. Must get a bulk of cards so never need to nip into town! Or be more organised! I already spent a fortune in Papyrus the other day!

And it's another glorius day here and I'm going out with a friend for lunch. I would have passed in order to get NSD no. 3 but she's been working in the US since August and only got back yesterday so I want to go and catch up - and find out if she met a cowboy and is planning on moving over there to a ranch! I hope not (I'd miss her!), unless she's willing to be my sponsor for an annual visit .

Still not had the details through to reset my online banking so don't really want to take any money out of that account until I can see what directs have and have not been paid yet. Means a bit of creative thinking for lunch out .

And Sundays are not the day for creative thinking! (Nor are Mondays, Tuesadys, Wednesdays...)

niccatw

Had a lovely day in the sun, catching up with my friend. She's sad to be back, she loved America and is disillusioned with her life here. We had a grand old chat and catch up and we've both been feeling similar recently. And both come to the conclusion that we are the only people who can change our situations. And that we are lucky because we can if we want to - neither of us have OHs or children or even animals to tie us to where we currently are. Houses can be sold if it comes to it.

I have my debt, but it's being worked on and in my head I'm working to a two year plan (it'll take longer than that, but shhhh! My wee brain can't cope with that, so two years and re-evaluate is better!). Obviously neither of us know what the future will bring but we both agree a simpler, less materialistic lifestyle is what we are after. And given I work with communication on a day-to-day basis and she works in IT, we are thinking of combining our knowledge and doing something together that would suit us better. What that would be (that would work and generate interest enough to sell) is still up for debate. But even we never get anything off the ground, it's got us both thinking outside of the box (I've never been good at that). So we'll see! :cool:

And tonight I've discovered a few sewing classes starting in the next few weeks so have a few numbers to call tomorrow. I like the sound of "Basic sewing... learn how to use your machine!". Obviously initially I was excited by the dressmaking and designing course, but then I remebered you're don't usually run before you learn to walk. And that I always blame my abysmal grasp of mathematics on an inability to learn the basics in primary school - no point making the same mistakes over and over, so let's get the basics and learn to use this machine properly! It's about time! :j (I will be gutted if the classes are all full now )

Tixy

Sounds like you had a really positive day nicca.

Hope your and your friend have some sort of brainwave about what you could both do. Something that you can start up parttime whilst still having the security of your job would be ideal.

And well done on finding the sewing course, hmmmm maybe I should have a look around for some local to me.

niccatw

I've spent the last two days in the sun shine! And have that sleepy, sun-kissed feeling now! Yesterday was a NSD as we were in my friend's garden.

Today was not as I needed some bits and pieces from the supermarket and we took the kids to one of Glasgow's many and large parks. After playing in the park (the kids, not us - unfortunately, too many children about to get away with it!), we went on an "adventure" to find the waterfall. We've tried to do this a few time and have always wandered off in the wrong direction, but today we actually looked at the map! And we all threw pennies (literally!) into the waterfall and made a wish. I'm pretty sure my friend and I both wished that we could be the only people at the bottom of the waterfall and that it would dry up enough for us to collect all the other pennies (we saw some silver too) that had been thrown into the waterfall!

And we came home via that place that has golden arches. :eek: I hate that place! But it was a one of "treat" for the children - who are so unused to it, they asked their mum if she was sure it was ok as the would go "some-where healthy" if she wanted. Bless!

I came homw to find out my other friend with the children with disabilities has had her children thrown out of youth club as they have disabilities! Needless to say we are all insensed. That is a direct breach of the Disability Discimination Act, policies of Inclusion and more! My friendhas gone to the local paper and there is a petetion! Other children with high care needs attend the group and they have not been thrown out. Iam so angry for her! And she still hasn't told her children as they will not understand why they are not allowed to go and they will be very upset. :mad::mad::mad:

Why does every-one need to fight so hard for everything? Even today in the park, there were two little boys whom had fallen over on seperate occasions and were obviously hurt and very upset. Until my friend and I went to help, no-one else went any-where near. Obviously mum's were closeby and did come over as soon as they could, but we were closer and the children were clearly upset. I understand the fear people have, but I find it a very sad reflection of society today. Though I am still grateful that the mum's in question were sensible and thanked us for keeping an eye on their children until they got there, rahter than go mad at us for getting involved!

Philisophical rant over

niccatw

PS Forgot to say we stupidly took 3 children into Toy'r'us! ANother reason it was never going to be a NSD!

anonymoose_3

Awww it sounds like you had a lovely day yesterday Hope your wish comes true

I can't believe your friends kids have been thrown out of the youth club :mad:

niccatw

Please do not feel you need to, but if you would like to, this is the link to my friend's petition against disability discrimination at her children's youth group. We would be grateful for the help of any-one who feels strongly about this issue.

Her children have been thrown out as they have learning disabilities. This was not discussed with her at any point and the youth group had incorrect information relating to her two children which had not come from her. The youth group is stating that the insurer's will not allow children with disabilities in their group, however there are other children with disabilities in the group.

Obviously my friend will not take her children to the group even if this is a fight they win, but we belive in fighting it in principle. People who have disabilities have quite enough to fight, without those who are supposedly in a position to help adding to it.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fl.php%3Fu%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.petitiononline.co.uk%252Fpetition%252Fstop-disability-discrimination-blair-centre-dalbeattie%252F97%252F%26h%3De6116c82461132c754d7622f2c62f38e&h=52876fc95143efcf7f0866e1d37d4d35

(I actually don't know if the link will work, but thank you for reading my post anyway.)

anonymoose_3

We're not allowed on facebook at work But I'll join up when I'm at home.

niccatw

Aw, cheers honey! That's very kind of you .

Feeling a bit knackered today! I think I need to go back to the gym to get those energy levels back up! It's so easy to find an excuse not to go! And I do actually like it when I get there!

I could feel my back sore when I was at yoga today, which is unusual for me so it's just made me more determined to get back to the gym. (Though todays excuse is that I don't see the point in going to the gym after yoga as I'll just undo all the good wok done!)

And next weeks yoga class was already fully booked when I went to class today :eek:. Teacher told me to turn up anyway as often folk book but don't show. Given it's the only exercise I do when I'm ignoring the gym, it's no wonder I feel bleurgh!

I'm on course for today being an NSD! I really want something sweet at the moment but am contemplating making some banana loaf rather than ruin a perfectly good NSD by nipping to the shop for some chocolate.

Oh, there goes my lodger whacking his laptop again. He's doing my head in at the moment. He never goes anywhere! Even if he went on holiday for a week, or spent the weekend with friend's, I think I'd be ok! I could get some breathing space and run and answer the phone when it rings and I'm only half dressed , or even not jump awake as I'm nodding off when he's swearing at his laptop :rotfl:. It'll be nice when I can afford not to have a lodger! Unfortunately that's a whil away yet so while he might be doing my head in, I'm probably doing his head in too ("She's on that bl**dy site again. What a geek.") and right now I need him here . Remind me of that next time I'm griping!!

I have a pile of receipts glaring accusingly up at me! They've been jumping up and down for the last hour, asking when they can be put into my spending diary. I have asked them all what on earth they are doing on my sofa and how they got into my wallet in the first place, but they are remaining tight-lipped on the identity of the spend-thrift culprit! Pesky receipts!