Daffy's 'a nice cup of tea cheers you up' diary

Cheery_Daff

I did consider this journey long and hard before I signed up for the job, and normally it's fine, I was just feeling rather sorry for myself yesterday Posting on here though and having to answer to people is really good for making me examine my *real* motives and see if I can jolt myself into a different kind of action, so here goes! :j

I could drive, but there are several reasons why I chose not to:

* time/multitasking - it's 120 miles round trip, which the AA says will take 1 hour 20 each way (not a very direct route, a bit cross country). I can't do anything else during that time - except I suppose learn a language or something from a tape! On the train I usually work, read, do a bit of PhD, sew, eat breakfast...

* vehicle - we only have one car - so me taking it to work means Mr Daffs can't get to his various musical activities - and he's usually carrying far more than I am!

* cheeriness - I don't really like driving that much, and I CERTAINLY don't like sitting in traffic!

* cost - this is the big one. My train fare, if I book in advance, is £10.85 a day. No idea how to work it out properly, but according to a very rough calculation I just found, it'd cost £16 to drive that far in our car. On top of that is £57 a month parking permit at work (for 2 days a week)

* reliability - when I got the job I was driving a battered unreliable old post van that I would have no longer trusted to get me to work than to get up in the morning and cook me breakfast New car is a little more reliable, but I'd far rather trust the train!

* exercise - another big one. Yes my journey takes a while, but if I cycle for example, it takes 4 hours a day (as opposed to 2 hours 40 in the car). In that time, I'll have cycled 8-9 miles, plus spent 2+ hours on the train doing whatever other stuff there is to do. Means I don't need to fit in a 9 mile bike ride/walk another time in the week - so it feels much less like 'wasted' time.

*environment - I'd rather not be driving 240 miles a week if I can avoid it!

So - a combination of all those reasons really! It's a much more reasonable journey when I cycle, 2 hours each way, and I've fitted in exercise, planning, phd, sewing, staring out of the window... Sometimes it feels 'easier' to walk. But there is always an option of a bus for all of the walking/cycling bits - which is what I SHOULD have done yesterday...

Sometimes I think I'd like a job closer to home, but this was within the range of travelling I'd said I would accept (just about!), and I LOVE it, and since I only travel 2 days a week, it's fine. I'll be travelling 2 or 3 when I start working full time in January, and working at home the rest of the time. They're pretty flexible about times too.

Phew, need another cuppa and another pancake now! :T

redsquirrel80

Ahh there is a bus option - sort of assumed there wasn't from what you'd said. In future, take the bus when you're feeling poorly.. or we'll tell you off! x

Cheery_Daff

Ok I always take the bus back home from the station at this end - it's all uphill and would add another 3.5 miles! :eek: and it only costs 50p At the other end the bus only saves about ten minutes in traffic in the morning - which is why I don't usually bother - that and the fact it costs about £2 :eek: Sometimes worth it though!

Karmacat

I think all those points are really sound, cheery - you can't judge a journey by how it feels on the rare occasions that you're ill! Just take care of yourself a bit better when you are ill and still decide to go in! Otherwise, as Squizz says, we'll tell you off

Cheery_Daff

Pah, just replied and it vanished! Ah well - just said thanks, and that I'd had a lovely bath, and was heading off to hunt down my 50 day challenge list..

Cheery_Daff

Ok, so week 2 ended last Sunday, but I'm going to update on that first, then give you my week 3 goals - which I now have three and a half days left to do :eek:

UPDATE ON WEEK 2 of 50 DAY CHALLENGE
PHD
* [STRIKE]Meet with examiner[/STRIKE]
* [STRIKE]meet with supervisor[/STRIKE]
* [STRIKE]list findings[/STRIKE]
* rewrite and submit chapters 5, 6, 7 and 8 reset deadline to the end of this week
* [STRIKE]plan deadlines and meetings until submission[/STRIKE]
* [STRIKE]email supervisors[/STRIKE] and other people who've said they'll read chapters
- did supervisors, but not the other people!
CHRISTMAS
* confirm dates with Pippi
* list of things that need doing to car
* budget for presents (investigating offers, surveys, and amazon)
* write master list of presents to make
* print part of mum's present
Oh dear, didn't manage any of those! :rotfl:
HEALTH
* [STRIKE]5 x 30 mins exercise - plan into diary at beginning of week[/STRIKE]
* [STRIKE]limit of 3 cups of tea a day[/STRIKE] Well, I limited it to four, it *is* cold and wintery...
* [STRIKE]eat 3 pieces of fruit a day[/STRIKE]
* [STRIKE]get an average of 7 hours sleep a night[/STRIKE]

Hmm - altogether, PhD's getting there! Christmas isn't ticking along *quite* so quickly as I'd like... Anyway - another post with Week 3 goals coming up! :j :j

Cheery_Daff

WEEK 3 OF 50 DAY CHALLENGE!

PHD
* Finish and send chapters 5,6,7 and 8 Finished 5 already :T
* email 2 people re reading chapters
* 4 hours a day, 4 days a week - in the morning!

Christmas
* confirm dates with Pippi
* ring Inverness friend re visiting on way home
* list of things to do to car
* [STRIKE]budget for holiday[/STRIKE]
* master list of presents to make with ingredients
* finalise list for Mr Daffs
* [STRIKE]presents budget![/STRIKE]

HEALTH
* 5 x 30 mins exercise a week
* [STRIKE]plan exercise in diary at start of week![/STRIKE]
* 4 cups of tea per day
* 3 x fruit a day
* 7 hours sleep a night at least

So I've got a couple of things crossed off already! :T Still a few more to do though... But all good, off to do something sensible with chapter 6 in a minute...

EssexHebridean

Going really well there Daffs although I was sorry to hear how rough you've been feeling. Agree with those who are offering tickings off if you walk when you ought to get the bus in future!

Remember when you start planning your drive to Pippi's to make sure you leave room for a spade, some old newspapers, perhaps a bag of salt/grit, and warm blankets in the car as well - the blankets should be in the main body of the car as well, not the boot!

Cheery_Daff

Thanks EH, although :eek: at thought of taking a spade! ::eek:

No problems with the blankets - we're planning on sleeping in van on the way home so there'll be a nice cosy bed in there already :rotfl:

Haven't managed to make it up to the attic to start work yet Will switch internet off and go now

Karmacat

Yikes to the blankets too.

Erm, Cheery? Go away :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:I mean, get up to the attic, girl :cool::cool::cool: