Jamiedodger's 2010 Journey

JAMIEDODGER

Morning all:)

1st October already! This will be my last post until sunday as I am off to London today for the whole weekend:D

Kids bags are packed 99% just waiting to pop in toothbrushes! Mine is nearly done, just toiletries to go in. Camera has new SD card and batteries. I am very excited:D

Train leaves at 9.56 so need to get the kids to school then back home for a last check, get bags and I am off:j

Still waiting for quite a few people to pay me on ebay (expect today is payday for a lot of people) but they will have to wait until Monday for their parcels to be posted now.

First DD of the month has come out this morning and this month's budget is all up and running.

I will probably do my first little food shop sunday when i come back before I collect the children, as I will need basics, milk, apples, bread, cereal, but will leave the main shop until later in the week.

Woke up way to early this morning but I always do when I have something major going on that day. It's like my brain doesn't want me to oversleep and miss it:D

I shall probably be very tired this evening! I have a good book to read on the train, which I bought a few weeks back and have been saving for the journey. Looking forward to reading in peace and quiet:T

Have a fab friday everyone and I will update when I get back from my travels:D x

beanielou

Hope you have a fabby time

JAMIEDODGER

Hi all, back to reality!

Had an amazing time in London, will fill in on all the details tomorrow, as have a ton of stuff to do and we have had a bereavement today.

JAMIEDODGER

Morning everyone.

Had some very sad news yesterday. My ex husbands dad died very suddenly so I came back from London at 6.30am yesterday morning to be with my boys. Very sad but they are taking it ok at the moment. They are having today off school/college as I wanted to keep an eye on them.

On a lighter note, London was amazing and I had a totally fab time. I took lots of photos and walked so much! Grease was fantastic I loved it, my hands hurt from clapping so much! Went to see changing of the guard on saturday morning, nipped in to harrods, walked The Mall, went to Hamleys, did the whole Regent Street and Oxford Street thing on saturday (manic) Went to the National Gallery on friday night as they have late opening and did an audio tour. Loved Piccadilly Circus at night, likewise Trafalgar Square.

My hostel was two minutes walk from Piccadilly Circus, so central for everything! I bought myself a book and a mug and tshirt from Grease! I came home with over half of the money I went with!

Hamleys was something else and DD is going to love it when I take her in November!! I missed all the children although I did speak to them all while I was away. They all had a good weekend too (until yesterday:()

But back to reality this morning! I managed to do five washes yesterday and have tumbled a great deal of it although I still have some drying on the airer. More washing to do today, where does it all come from???

Banking done and spreadsheets updated. Direct debits come out and everything is ship shape!

Need to get on now, have a shower and another cuppa before I get little two up for school.

JAMIEDODGER

Morning everyone.

Had some very sad news yesterday. My ex husbands dad died very suddenly so I came back from London at 6.30am yesterday morning to be with my boys. Very sad but they are taking it ok at the moment. They are having today off school/college as I wanted to keep an eye on them.

On a lighter note, London was amazing and I had a totally fab time. I took lots of photos and walked so much! Grease was fantastic I loved it, my hands hurt from clapping so much! Went to see changing of the guard on saturday morning, nipped in to harrods, walked The Mall, went to Hamleys, did the whole Regent Street and Oxford Street thing on saturday (manic) Went to the National Gallery on friday night as they have late opening and did an audio tour. Loved Piccadilly Circus at night, likewise Trafalgar Square.

My hostel was two minutes walk from Piccadilly Circus, so central for everything! I bought myself a book and a mug and tshirt from Grease! I came home with over half of the money I went with!

Hamleys was something else and DD is going to love it when I take her in November!! I missed all the children although I did speak to them all while I was away. They all had a good weekend too (until yesterday:()

But back to reality this morning! I managed to do five washes yesterday and have tumbled a great deal of it although I still have some drying on the airer. More washing to do today, where does it all come from???

Banking done and spreadsheets updated. Direct debits come out and everything is ship shape!

Need to get on now, have a shower and another cuppa before I get little two up for school.

JAMIEDODGER

Morning:)

I had to go and pick DS3 up from school yesterday as he had come down with a tummy bug, both my two older boys have it too now, so we are the house of lurgy! DD has managed to escape from it so far!

Wont be going anywhere much until thursday when boys should all be returning to school.

Banking done and spreadsheets updated. Monies transferred to spending account for this week. Wasnt a NSD yesterday. Popped into town, parking 70p. Picked up a couple of reduced presents £11.00, Petrol £50 filled the tank right up! and Milk was reduced 90p, needed calpol £2.76!! I think thats it. No Cubs last night for DS3, so no tuck money or fees this week. No special needs after school club today which means one less journey to the next town and back saving petrol.

Have entered all these figures into the spreadsheet and know what I have left to spend in each category:)

Posted a lot of eBay parcels yesterday but postage didn't come out of my money. Still waiting for some money to come in and listings to end.

Have a good day everyone:)

hypno06

Sorry that you are having "mixed" times at the mo, and I hope the children all recover quickly. But lovely to hear that you had such a good time in London, and not an expensive time either.

JAMIEDODGER

Back from Tesco. Spent £59.10.

£14 of that was bday presents and £14.96 on toiletries/cleaning/pet food a magazine for £1.30 and the rest was on food. Total spent under Groceries budget: £43.80. will adjust sig.

JAMIEDODGER

Morning:)

Ended up spending another £5.20 on bits I forgot yesterday so that takes total spent so far to £49.00. So £231 left and 25 days to go. This is doable as long as I am careful. Dinner all planned for tonight, pasta and meatballs.

DS1 is going back to college today, DS2 has inset day, DS3 is still not allowed into school until tomorrow.

Boys Grandad's funeral is next thursday so I need to arrange childcare for DS3&DD so I am able to attend with the boys. I will also need to buy them something smart to wear.

Banking and spreadsheets done. A few DD's have come out today and I have transferred some more money to my spending account.

Off to London again in 38 days! Need to start planning a proper budget for this, I dont think I am going to come home with loads of money left like I did last weekend as I have DD with me:) I am sure she will be more than happy to help me spend it!

I am out Friday night as there is an adult quiz night at DD school. Quiz and curry & drink £12, this is already paid for and I am looking forward to it, will need to pay out for the sitter though.

The last of my ebay items are ending today. I may give it a week or so before I list anymore as I am a bit ebayed out now. Will wait for everyone to pay, post them and then transfer all remaining money to my paypal card, order the bunkbeds and give it a rest for a bit!

I have £130ish in my quidco account towards DS1 bed, so will need to ebay £70 of stuff to be able to buy it. No rush though as I am waiting for the quidco payments to be paid.

Right off for a cuppa now.....

JAMIEDODGER

Afternoon:)

Spent a lot of today browsing the forums for ideas for lunches. I know that this is where I do spend money without thinking about it. I don't eat breakfast as I can't eat that early in the day. I end up starving by 11am. If I am out and about this can be financially disastrous as I will head for the nearest food place to buy something

So today I dug out my food flask from the back of the kitchen cupboard and I am currently 'testing' it with some water to see how long it stays hot. Luckily, it is a stainless steel Stanley Vaccum Flask and if I remember correctly last used 2 years ago for DS1 to take noodles to school for lunch, dont remember there being any problems.

I made up a lunchbox for me today, with stuff I already had in so today was Day 1 of packed lunches and a NSD:D

We had pasta and meatballs for dinner, I have saved a portion for the flask tomorrow, which I will reheat in microwave tomorrow morning to pipping hot and then put in the flask. We shall see if this saves me buying a lunch as I am out and about tomorrow as DS3 has the dentist first thing! I shan't get home until 11 ish so even if I have to stop the car on the way home, I will be eating from my flask/lunchbox to avoid buying overpriced lunches....

Off to do some more browsing:D