Further financial faux pas and even more disasterous decisions

moo2moo

Went to buy dog food on the way home but changed my mind when I discovered it had gone up by £12 a bag. Nope most definately not a typo. Last month it was £20, this month its £32. Worse still its only a 15kg bag. Need to source either an alternative supplier or an alternative brand suitable for donkey sized puppies sooner rather than later. Quick surf on t'internet sources it for £25 plus shipping unless I can buy £100 worth but then where on earth do I stash 60kg of dog food. Thats like cramming a spare person in a cupboard somewhere. Why is life, particularly my like, never simple? Suppose the answer id because i manage to be different without trying. Had I gone for a smaller pooch I could have fed her on any old puppy food from pretty much any supermarket but because shes a chunky monkey I have to feed her on large breed feed which isn't common place in the first place. Still when the alternative is to feed her almost an entire bag of Iams in a single feed then large breed food works out considerably cheaper.

Whinge whinge moan moan....

beanielou

Blimey nthat is just one massive increase:eek:

moo2moo

Here I was feeling sorry for OH as he'd put in yet another 12 hour day only to discover that he'd actually only worked for 5 of those hours. The remainder had been spent on a shopping spree to Blackpool. Note at this point that everytime I've considered taking the DDs to the Blackpool Illuminations thoughts of an overnight stay have entered my head. Its not as if its next door or anything. Turns out the reason he pootled there was MSE, in a way that only a person with a pair of shrivelled kiwi fruits in their pants could consider something as MSE. I mean why pay £4.95 postage for something which might not be quite right when you can squeeze in a four hour round trip to the shop.... well what would be the sense in that then? Meh. Still he has his new gadget. A combined laser and torch unit for his new pistol which will apparently make target shooting in the dark so much easier. Obvious really. Can't believe I didn't think of that. Clearly everyone shoots in the dark in the middle of summer, the most critical hours for getting some practise in being between 10:30pm and 4am. Still at least thats thins months ridiculous object purchase out of the way. Seem to be running at one truly pointless thing a month at the mo. At least hes working tomorrow as overtime to pay for it.

Still clueless as to whether OHs friend is arriving today or tomorrow and whether hes departing on sunday or monday or even tuesday. Why on earth would I want to know random details like that?

Was planning on a night out tonight. One of the best Queen tribute groups in playing in the village which is rather odd considering they only usually do huge festivals and high profile things. Had talked myself into parting with a tenner a ticket and taking DD1 but it turns out its an over 18s only thing so I'll be spending yet another night watching the telly box and doing random things.

Chucked out two more bin bags of junk from downstairs. Have a small pile of stuff to donate to the school fayre, a couple of bits to E-bay and an enormous Chinchilla house that no one seems to want. My mission for the weekend is to get shut of it asap. Its driving me nuts. Mind you once its gone all the off cuts of plasterboard and sheets of metal that lurk behind it will drive me even more nutty.

Lula-Hula

Morning Moo,

glad to see that the it's 'situation random' as usual chez toi !

Have you checked out pets at home for doggy munch ? They're on quidco ... I'm still feeding my friends cats, as in everyvariety of cat food I try, the little bu**er sniffs at so I just pass it on.
Mental note, NOT to buy 12 cans of the stuff the rspca said he loved. They lied.

moo2moo

Hiya lula, gave in and bought the £32 stuff. She likes it and considering I came across several alternatives that were in excess of £50 a bag I guess I'm getting away lightly. At least the kitten will be cheaper to feed... hoping at this point that I have previously mentioned kitten as OH looked a bit blank last time she cropped up in conversation. Have days when I'm not quite sure whether I've told OH what I thought I'd told OH and he'd just forgoten or whether I intended to mention it to OH but never quite got around to it. Either way is a possibility.

Meanwhile had an even more random start to the day than the one I had planned. Needed to drill a hole through a wall will a drill bit that was never going to be long enough. Big boss man decreed that we'd drill from one side and then guess where the hole should be and drill from the other side. One side is on view with a nice neat hole, the other is in a ceiling void which is just as well as we'd made a 3" crater without successfully joining the two. Mrs big boss man arrived as I was departing with a v. v. long drill bit to allow the hole to go through in one so that we can conennect the big screen in the main hall to the beeb or whoevers showing footie for tomorrows fundraiser. Theres nowt like leaving things to the last minute and this is nowt like leaving things to the last minute. That would involve me being reminded at 6:30pm about that hole and the cable and the removal of a dozen or so ceiling panels. Ho hum

Have mowed the garden at the rear of the house for the first time in two years. Now the chickens aren't chowing on it daily its growing remarkably fast.

My one and only contribution to girliness arrived this morning in the form of Cross Stitcher Magazine. My closet sado side. Half price offer of the month is a kit from Michael Powell who is my fave designer ever. Yep I'm getting sadder and more pathetic sounding by the minute. Problem is the code isn't working. Couldn't face parting with £28 but £14 well... it would be churlish not to... and it would keep me busy for months.... but not if the offers not working.

moo2moo

The Halifax are officially my least favourite bank. I do think that perhaps I'm becoming a tad impatient in my old age but to date other than a summons to a branch I've heard nothing from them whatsoever. No thank you for opening your account heres your account details cos you're thick and will have lost them already... no nothing... so I did the bright thing and signed up for internet banking only to be told I'll have to wait a gazillion years for my temporary pin to arrive in the post. Bah. All I wanted to do was check that the £1 I'd transferred from another account had landed in the right place so that on payday I can transfer the magic £100 to unlock my cash card in order to access the cash that I have to put in there to start things rolling. Its not like I can walk into a branch and withdraw over the counter either. You can just imagine the scenario.... hellooo I'd like to withdraw a smidgen over a grand please on the basis of this funky pink post it note... mmm perhaps not.

Still unsure whether the arrival of OHs friend is imminent. If it is hes in for a shock because I've done sweet FA in preparation. If he can't be bothered to say I'm turing up on Friday or Saturday or even Sunday then I really don't see why I should spend my weekend hanging around on the off chance he shows up when the DDs and I can be walking the bigger hairball at the park. Assuming he does show then I have beds to change and a room to strip of all edible toys and treasured possessions as well as DD1s disaster zone to assualt so that I can cram DD2 in there too. I'm not an organised person but I would appreciate a little bit of warning if only to preserve my sanity.

Have been reminded by several people that I can go into school tomorrow to watch football ... mostly though I kept being reminded that I was the only person who knows where the keys are for this and how to operate that and where to find something or other else in an emergency. Imparted all this knowledge to the boss before departing for the night. Had a minor headache with a ghastly vibration coming from the boiler room after everyone had gone home. Turning everything off did nothing so have pulled the breaker killing mains power to the area. Phoned the plumbers who were in yesterday fitting a radiator... "we haven't been in the boiler room love" despite the fact that the radiators rumbled earlier in the day signifying the pumps were working and the only way of doing that is magic or the on button in the boiler room. Its just air settling in the expansion tank apparently. Sounded more like an airlocked pump breaking down to me if not something considerably more expensive. They've promised to take a look before school on Monday. Its all fun fun fun. Have left the boss a note telling him hes no hot water over the weekend. He will be pleased.

mooomin

moo2moo wrote: »

Its not like I can walk into a branch and withdraw over the counter either. You can just imagine the scenario.... hellooo I'd like to withdraw a smidgen over a grand please on the basis of this funky pink post it note... mmm perhaps not.

Actually, if your account is mid-opening then you can. Take your pink post-it and some photo ID (Passport/driving licence) and they should be able to sort it for you

moo2moo

Thanks FF!

Meanwhile have almost recovered from a weekend of endless ridiculousness. OHs friend arrived complete with puppy. Settled in really well and then we made the mistake of going out for an afternoon to a plcae which didn't allow dogs. Had a fab time, the DDs made sausages and leather keyrings with their names on and wandered around a farm looking at chicks and lambs and piglets and baby buffalo before attacking the cake stalll with the sort of enthusiasm exhibited by children who haven't been fed in several weks. Returned home to find the giant dog cage empty with no sign of the missing dog. Turns out she'd let herself out by throwing herself at the bars until they bent and then gone for a wander finally trapping herself in the DDs room where she attempted to claw and then chew her way out via the door which now needs repaining. Several toys were written off in the panic and then she p!$$ed on the mattress. Fortunately it had a giant shower curtain over it because the DDs still do this too frequently for my liking but still meant she splashed through the puddle. Spent yesterday evening on damage limitation duty dealing with the mess. Won't be making the mistake of leaving her alone again even if she is shut in a cage.

OH has enjoyed having a boy around to talk landrovers with. They've done lots of dismantling cue even more bits of previoiusly servicable Land Rover on shelves in house. Mutter mutter. No sign of cheque to cover the garage bill. Will be reminding them of that before OHs friend departs for home later today.

Meanwhile the cash cow that was DooYoo has been restructured and instead of 50p a review in any category its now 10p for films and visits of places, 30p for books, magazines and computer games and 60p for electronics, toys and games. Pants, pants and more pants. Essentially that means that in order to cash out I either have to review 9 washing machines or almost 50 films. Guess I'll be reviewing the electrical appliances within the kitchen then with the odd book review thrown in. Not entirely sure whether I'll continue after payout as its clearly not worth it on the basis of DVD reviews although they are much easier to write.

moo2moo

OH has been for his annual check up at the quacks to be told his blood pressure is sky high again despite three types of medication and hes gained a stone in a year making him 6 stone more than me despite being the same height. Perhpas now he'll take me seriously when I point out hes piling on the pounds. Surely the nurse pointing it out coupled with an inability to fasten his trousers has to convince him that something needs doing.

Meanwhile came home to find the indestructible extortionately overpriced dog chew is totally destroyed... at least it was that and not a door or the furniture.

Boys have gone to the indoor range to do some male bonding leaving me in peace to clear up the mess they've left behind. Still at least I didn't get pressured into going with them.

moo2moo

Had a blonde moment yesterday and completely forgot about my dental appointment until two hours after I was due in the chair. Phoned and apologised which made the receptionist laugh. Apparently no one ever phones up to say they've forgotten about it. Have another appointment for next monday. Just hope they don't slap me with a no-show fee.

Finaly sold the giant chinchilla cage whaich has made the room feel three times bigger already. Need to clear up all the carp that was stuck behind it .... I guess that and tackling the rest of the room should keep me quiet for most of the day. Have a couple of dozen loads of laundry to get through and really really need to get a new sheet for DD2s bed as her spare one finally wore through and ripped beyond salvage.

Today is payday - whoop whoop - so I've transferred enough cash to the Halifax to keep them quiet. Hopefully now they'll send me something in the post as I've still not had anything from them. Need to be careful not to shuffle too much though as my car tax is due and I'll have holiday club to pay for.

Have to sit down and do some financial jiggery pokery as DD1 has the honour of being invited to Pony Camp at a mere £150 for 3 days. Ridiculously expensive but she'll love it. just hoping I can find a willing friend to have DD2 for a day or so of it to allow me to work to offset it as a childcare expense rather than paying out for childcare too. Meanwhile I already have the kit list which requires the purchase of two more pairs of jodphurs amongst other things. Really can't justify 3 pairs of jods in one size knowing how fast she grows out of them. Its not like they'll get much wear at all. May well be trawling fleabay in the hopes of finding some for a couple of quid that she can wear a few times.