greent's mfw journey

greent

This time next week we'll be back at home and fast asleep!! We have planned out the next few days to ensure we get done what we want to (awful sentence construction there, but I'm sure that you'll understand what I mean by that!) It means 2 (possibly 3) longer days in the parks and 2 relaxing (ish!) days at waterparks and a morning shopping in one of the outlet malls. That should do it for us

Spends are still good - I was actually wondering if we'd need more money than we brought out with us when I saw how much prices for food had risen. However, we've spent just under half of what we brought - s it's very likely we'll be going home with some $ too - and - as the rate has fallen - we should be exchanging them back at what we got them for or may even make a teeny profit on them! I wouldn't mind if it was spent, though, as long as purchases are considered. We really haven't bought much to go back with us at all - shorts for OH, a bandana for me (a whole $1! - bought on a day when I'd had too much sun (I don't possess a hat)), lego (cheaper than back at home) for DS2 and DS3 (inc some sneakily purchased for Xmas), presents for DS1's gf, the HP interactive wand for DS2, 2 Superdry tshirts for DD (slightly ironic when we live in the next town to where they started) at bargain prices, and 2 Disney soft toys for DD (purchased with her own money) OH plans to buy 2 pairs of trainers (if he finds ones which he likes), the small 2 have their sights set on customised light sabres and I plan on buying DD a Pandora charm and HP snowglobe and some stocking filler type HP things. I have broken my flipflops (currently held together with a knotted carrier bag - very classy!:rotfl:) so may purchase a 99c pair for use in the waterparks in lieu of a properly joyful pair - unless I see a joyful pair first. Oh - and there's a shop in Disney Springs doing deals on Raybans - I've always avoided very expensive sunglasses but tried a pair of Aviators on (I have Guess sunglasses at approx. £35 - and I thought twice about paying that! - but they are purple and glorious - and also sadly have a small crack in one lens ) and they were so comfortable it really was like wearing nothing..... so I may succumb as they are very joyful...

x

tattycath

I'm pleased you're having such a fab time greent :j
If the sunglasses you've seen are joyful, why not buy them? You are on holiday after all and under budget.

newgirly

Buy the glasses

greent

Back from holiday - and I didn't buy the RayBans. Instead I bought a new pair of Guess sunglasses @ US$35. We ended up bringing back just over 1/3rd of the cash we took with us, so that was fantastic! I was prepared to spend all of it (and maybe more!!) We worked out that we spent at least $450 on ice cream alone! (ooops - SW weigh in tomorrow.......)

We had a fab time And I've bought some brilliant HPotter bits for DD. Took lots of pics, most of which I've been through. And now we're still struggling with the time difference.

Have been doing a bit of sorting out since coming home - some items priced up for NNS, some boxed up for Ziffit and some made their way to CS. House feels chaotic - messy and in need of a clean. Have spent part of today cleaning the kitchen - will carry on tomorrow and also tackle DS3's room (with him) I have loads of stuff to do - so I just need to get on and do some of it!! x

smallholdingsister

Glad you had a good time. Not long now until results day.

greent

Not long at all, shs! I am at work that morning from about 7.30/7.45, giving out results to A level students (Available from 8am) DD's results aren't available until 9.30am from her school (5 minutes drive away from work)) - work don't know yet but I'm going to have to nip out and take her to get her results - I can't not be there!!! It's too important!
DS1's results are the following week and I'm at work again giving out results - but I work at his school. He's also away on army camp, so I need to collect his results and book him into VIth form, anyway, so I need to go in about 45 minutes early to sort that, so that's easily managed

Holidays are rapidly disappearing! Family situation with late uncle's estate has been horrible and I was accused of sorting Probate so that I could benefit by £000s I wasn't getting a penny and it has cost me lots of hours and would have cost a small amount of money (postage, parking etc) to deal with it which I wouldn't have claimed back. Am currently not dealing with it - was told someone was going to go to a solicitor's office to sort it - so they can and then they'll see how much they'll get charged

We've done small decluttering things - but you can't see any difference Ironing is finally up straight though - has taken me a week to catch up with it all post-holiday!!

Ooh - SW weigh in on Tues showed a 2lb gain - not bad for 3 weeks in the US! - now I just need to get off my bum and lose some!

Have an ever growing pile of things to ebay. Will tackle more cleaning and some paperwork before listing them, as they create mess (temporary) when listing (getting it all out to take pics and write descriptions, etc)

Blue sky of earlier has now been replaced by clouds

Wishing everyone a lovely Sunday

xx

newgirly

2lb is not a lot to put on well done

Debsnewbudget

Wills and probate really do bring out the worst in people don't t they:mad:

smallholdingsister

Glad you are home safely xxx

greent

Grrr! Sometimes 'new improved' systems are crazy. I went to the local Bcys bank to deposit over £1k in cash and also wanted to close 2 ISAs with remaining combined balances of less than 20p Firstly I was told I needed to make an appointment to see a personal advisor to do this (at a branch in town, so involved more driving and parking fees) I was told I couldn't do it in writing so told the cashier I could and asked for a form - not possible, I'd need to write a letter. I left, very unhappy. The next customer came after me saying that the cashier next to the one I had had said I could - so I went back in, where I saw the 'branch manager' (equivalent in a tiny sub branch to a junior grade from my time) who said I needed ID. I asked if I could complete a form - no, all forms are only on the system, not printed, so I'd need to write a letter and bring it in (a round trip of around 6 miles, or post it at a cost greater than the amount remaining in the accounts!) I have come home and written said letter, and will drop it off at the main branch when I am in town buying school shoes on Friday - and have pointed out that better customer service would perhaps have been to provide me with a blank sheet of paper to write a letter there and then (I was not expecting that sub branch to be able to close the accounts - they are merely for paying in/ withdrawing) I also witnessed the same manager talking to an elderly, confused and slightly deaf gentleman through the screens, building up a queue as she did it at another cashier's till, about his confusion over some banking issues. She was talking loudly and all of us in the queue could hear everything - she could have come out from the secure area to the desk in the hall and discussed it in a quieter voice. Grr!

Poor customer service makes me angry. Sometimes thinking out of the box may be required (such as giving me a piece of paper) and that seems to be seen less and less now. If it doesn't fit their tick boxes then people are unable to deal with it. No initiative, no common sense.

Rant over! (I would also like to say that I do make a point of mentioning particularly good service where I see it, too! )

Finally managed to deliver 3 boxes of items for Ziffit today to a Collect+ shop - 3 of the most local ones have stopped doing it and the remaining one couldn't issue a receipt the other day. Items total approx. £100, but I don't think will all be accepted, as a couple of books and CDs may not be in an acceptable condition for them. Still, it's all money coming in and items leaving
I really should do some ebaying to get rid of some more stuff, but am lacking in motivation

Couple of paperwork tasks completed last night (VAT and PAYE). They were the quick and easy ones Will try and get at least one of the bigger ones achieved this week.

Have afternoon tea booked here tomorrow: https://www.hatton-court.co.uk/ - am looking forward to it. Am going with OH, my mum and my aunt (it was part of my present to my mum for her bday ) Weather here has been gorgeous and is set to be the same tomorrow (hopefully around 23degrees) and it's quite a pretty venue.

School shoe appointment made for Fri morning for the small 2. I have had to make a separate appointment for DS1, as he is away until 26th. I need to check trousers and PE kits for the small ones. New socks have been ordered (DS3 is very hard on socks - the 5 new pairs of school socks from M&S in about Jan time have all been nearly worn through on the heels already - and he does the same with all of his casual socks, wherever I purchase them from) I should also look at coats, but that is just too depressing in this lovely weather! When I take DS1 for his shoes I need to get a suit for VIth form (and spare trousers if I can) and new shirts - and a VIth form tie. He will absolutely hate it - he really doesn't like shopping! I may have to bribe him with lunch out

Right - I am meant to be limiting my leisure screen time this month - so I am off to be productive and do some housework for a while!

xx