greent's mfw journey

greent

Almost 2 weeks without a post!!!

DS3 ended up being off school for 10 days! - including his birthday. Poor thing All better now, though

DD is now home for the Summer (she's heading back to Cardiff/ their flat later in June for a few days to a - see Ed Sheeran b - get the flat clean and tidy ready for inspection/ to hand keys back. We'll need to collect her again, as there's still a reasonable amount of stuff there (too much for her to bring home on train) - all the kitchen stuff, bedding and a blanket box We then need to take her and a load of the stuff back over to Cardiff for the new flat a couple of weeks later (saves having it all hanging around here over the Summer) Good job it's only about an hour away!

DS1 has had 2 AS exams (resits) so has 10 more papers to go...... I'm still not convinced he understands the importance of revision

DS2 is also revising this half term - he has Y7 end of year exams next week/ the following week.

It's been busy at work for me, but it does mean I paid a decent lump to my CC - all of my invigilating money (and rounded up) went there this month. Looking forward to having that gone! I go back from half term to 2 stupidly busy weeks, as A2 and GCSE exams are both running. It calms down again after that, and I finish June 29th

OH's car was damaged in the car park last week, so that will need sorting (not worth an insurance claim) - and part of our guttering fell down in the heavy rain the other day! :eek: - looks like we will need to replace fascias/ soffits, as they are wooden and (from the ground) looking ropey. Some emails have gone out to various companies to try and get some quotes in.

We're off to Leg0land on Thurs, courtesy of Te5c0 CC vouchers :T - even the big 2 still love it there Sadly, it looks as though the weather will be appalling (It wasn't when we decided to go, and we have to fit in with OH's work, so can't just change our mind that easily) but am sure it will still be fun....... Will take a picnic lunch/ snacks and get food on the way home for dinner (assuming we stay there all day - we normally do, but if the weather is truly awful we might cut it short, I guess...)

OH's contract is due to finish end of June but - yet again - they are talking about the possibility of an extension!! We were quite looking forward to him having the Summer off, but a 3 month extension would be another load of money in the bank and mean that he definitely doesn't have to get another contract for the rest of the tax year.... not a bad place to be

brizzlegirl

Commiserations from the land of exam revision...its a tough place to be as a parent let alone as a student!! DD1 is sleeping now, shattered and feeling sick and ropey. But its the first time she has a wobble so could be worse and at least there are no exams this week.

I would take the contract now and then sit it out until the end of the year..happy days

greent

So the end of half term is almost upon us - and then DS1 exams start in earnest! (DS2 has Y7 end of year exams too)

Leg0land on Thurs wasn't bad - took DS1's gf with is, so we were a full car of 7! Queues on the first 2 rides we went on were horrendous (not as advertised - one said 15 mins, the other 25 and both were well over an hour ) so we were hot, bothered and not feeling the love! DD, DS1, his gf and DS2 then all went on the logflume type ride, and OH myself and DS3 declined. OH and myself had much needed cuppas (from flasks ) and some food, as did DS3 - who then went into the playground next to where we were sitting. We all felt much better after that! Re-fuelled the others when they got off the ride (somewhat soggy! ) and then carried on. Rest of the day was much better - think we'd just got over thirsty/ hot/ hungry in first 2 queues. All had good fun, although we were really hungry when we left the park at almost 7pm. We were super lucky with the weather - it was dry and warm all day and just started raining when we were in the car. Because we were running later than anticipated we just dived into a McDs in the next town for a much needed refuel! Journey home was quite scary at times, as the weather was horrendous at points so we took it slow. Made for a long day, but we were all tired in a good way

DD's bf is coming to stay today for a few days. Whilst DD could go and collect him from the station by herself, the station is almost next to the big A5da (which I hate, but needs must) and I need to go there, so I will be interrupting their reunion

Have some potential larger spends this month - part of our guttering fell down in the rain and it also looks like the fascias and soffits (wooden) are rotting and need replacing. Have someone coming out on Monday for a quote. Also have an electrical issue - lights in boys' bathroom went off (no trip activated) and won't come back on again... Our usual friendly electrician is really busy, so I've emailed someone else about that. Have also contacted another painter about getting the kitchen painted (almost there!) Someone has also damaged OH's car in a carpark (scratched it) so he wants that repaired - am hoping he can wait a month or so - it's only cosmetic. Definitely a money going-out kind of month!!

greent

We've actually been organised (for us) and decorator is now booked in for the kitchen (just need to email her the paint colour choices), the guttering is being replaced next week (poss week after - OH has booked it - it is on the calendar, but I can't be bothered to check when it is right now! ) and an electrician is booked in for the boys' bathroom m:T Go us! :T OH has also ordered a pile of decking - he is going to build a deck at the top of the garden - that area is sunny for breakfast/ lunch at this time of year. We used to have a tiny, tiny patio there (already there when we bought this house) but the slabs cracked and fell down in holes! :eek:(was constructed badly!) so OH broke it up last year. We have been saying almost since we bought here:o (12.5 years ago) about changing that small patio for a larger deck, and it might finally be happening!!

'House' account is/ will be somewhat depleted after all that! Still, some bits (guttering & electrics) are necessary and the kitchen will be much better done by a professional (and we managed a bargain price due to a cancellation) and the decking will make the garden a nicer place

DS1 is well and truly into his exam period now - 4 down, 8 to go. He also has another attempt at his driving test this week (nothing like piling all the pressure on at once! :eek:) so am hoping that goes well

DS3 fainted at school yesterday - no idea why. However, an hour or so later he was happily doing star jumps and pogo-ing around the living room, so he seems fine! He does have a carpet burn type injury next to his eye where he fell at school, but nothing else other than that is evident. He has also just informed me that one of his close friends went home today after going very pale suddenly like he did. Weird.

OH's contract hasn't officially been extended - but they have started booking him in for meetings next month (current end date = June 29th!) We shall see. He actually isn't fussed about continuing - he needs time off. Obviously he could do this and stay on but it's his choice. He's a bit burnt out at the mo (we worked out that - other than the enforced Xmas break & other Bank Hols- he's had 9 days off work in the last 15 months - and they've all been taken up (5 on holiday, 2 day trips and 2 uni visits) and fancies some time out. The 'joys' of contracting!!:rotfl:

Generally, life is good - if tiring - at the mo
xx

shangaijimmy

Things sound as hectic as usual in green towers! In a good way as well.

Karmacat

So impressed, as usual, greent - but it sounds like your OH needs a break!

greent

Mr greent does indeed need a break, Kc. We'll see what he decides to do....

So - in a mad moment I paid £950 OP to the BTL mtge today, and £3k to my CC! :j - leaves £1025 on my CC to pay (I know that as it is 0% for another 2 years I could make my money work harder by having it sat earning interest in the meantime and just pay minimum payments each month, but my brain doesn't work like that! It's a head/ heart thing - and heart wins on this point!) Invigilation money *should* clear most of that, I hope... This means that all the little bits of money can then be thrown to the BTL! I've finally set up a spreadsheet for it today (why it's taken me so long, I have no idea!), so I can start to play with it :T I think the payment to the BTL should actually get me up to date for my annual target on the MFW2018 challenge, too :T

On the subject of BTL - bargain Landlord insurance bought - if cashback tracks at the suggested rate I should effectively pay only c£40 for the year :j

Ahhhh... I love money movements like today's - shame they can't all be like that! :rotfl:

ETA - and another positive thing for today - DS1 says his exam went well :T

ETA 2 - Just had a small flebay sale come through too (nets just over £10, I think) - all adds up!

brizzlegirl

Sounding fab greent. Hope OH gets the rest if he needs it...sounds like it. I am working Ft at the moment but largely because of the 3 day weeks I have had recently. Need to make some up where I can..

OH on decorating duty tomorrow,,,,it never ends Also tried TCB for car insurance but after checking with ComparetheMkt the renewal is the cheapest so we are sticking with that. Next spend is some business insurance. Need to do some checking with that. Also MOT month so yes like you another money flowing out the door month....cars hey...needed but pricey things.

Have a good week and best of luck to DS

X

greent

Thanks, brizzle

More money just about to flow out - DS1 passed his driving test this morning :j :j so I shall add him to my insurance (cost me over £1k to add DD for 10 months when she passed...! :eek:) Brilliant that he's passed, but, oh!, I'd like not to be spending more money this month! Still, I'm sure it must even out eventually.... fingers crossed!

DS1 quite fancies the idea of driving me into work, I believe - I think he wants to drive past his friends in the VIth form car park and go into the staff carpark - that would appeal to him!

I did do some extra hours this week at work as well, so am hoping for a decent amount at the end of the month. Ideally I'd like the CC gone by end of July, but not sure I'll manage that. As original target was Oct (I think) it will end up being cleared a little bit early :T

newgirly

Fanatastic (if expensive ) news greent, well done to your ds :T