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

EssexHebridean

Cheery_Daff wrote: »

I may well consider overpaying the mortgage Lara, once we've dug out the paperwork :rotfl: Thing is, it's only £280 a month, and has less than 4 years left on it anyway, and as far as I know all the interest was paid upfront, so overpaying won't make any difference. But we'll see when we've dug out the paperwork tomorrow, and if that's the most sensible option then we'll do that.

We've both been living on the equivalent of part time hours for several years now, so no problems there!

No thoughts of mini-daffs in the near future (or ever, for that matter!) Mr Daffs gave up his office job a couple of years ago, and has had a merry old time doing musical projects since then - he earns some money, but it's very nice for him not to *have* to. I'd like to be in a similar position (not that I'm musical, mind you :rotfl: And he does point out that he worked in an office for 20 years before he could give up, and I will have only done it for 2 years, but still :rotfl:)

I also know my contract only runs until December 2012, and after that I have no guarantee of a job. I'd like to have the space to consider my options, do some voluntary work, take on a bit of part time stuff or whatever, rather than be forced to take a full time job I wasn't sure about, or worry that I wouldn't be able to find one at all.

Basically, I'm fundamentally idle, and it suits me very well to work a couple of days a week, do a couple of different projects, and spend the rest of the time drinking tea and pottering I've spent most of my life doing that - and it would just be nice to do it knowing I've got a little bit of backup in case the boiler breaks :rotfl:

Phew! At long LAST someone else prepared to admit to this! I think there are so few people out there prepared to admit that, so long as they have "enough" then that's the important thing, and they are not motivated to work more and more to earn more and more!

I wonder whether a mini-Daffs should be referred to as a bulb?! Either way, no plans for any mini-EH's round here either - just something that has never really featured in my life-plan, I think my maternal instincts all went to find someone else when I was small! MrEH feels much the same (when we have "The Conversation" his reaction was..."well I've always assumed I'd have kids, it's just what people do, but I don't really want them!" :rotfl:)

Lemon_Tree wrote: »

giving blood isn't everyone's cup of tea so people shouldn't feel guilty if they medically can't or are too scared. For me it's an easy no problem way of helping someone and i get a biscuit at the end of it. I'm also registered as an organ doner which will probably be my last charitable act but one which i do have strong opinions on.

The other stuff doesn't really take up too much of time time, but does always seem to come at the wrong time IFYKWIM.

I aspire to your lifestyle Cheery, i'm stuck in an office 5 days a week, i should be able to work from home sometimes but they won't give me remote security access so it makes a mockery of the whole principle. One day i'd like a little part time job, and to do peoples accounts as self employed but i think that's a long way off.

Assuming you have all the qualifications LT, then is it not something you can start working towards with a promise to yourself to give it a go once your financial situation is a bit more solid? I know as well as anyone that going SE is a big step, and it certainly takes time to get up and running properly, but I have NO regrets whatsoever about doing it!

Thanks also for reminding me about organ donation - I've just formally put myself on the organ donation register so should the worst happen at least they know. I know if MrEH was just asked in that situation without the reminder that it was my wishes his instinct would make him say no, so this feels quite important to me.

As for the charity giving thing, we have a monthly DD that goes out to the RSPB which as well as a donation also gives us membership. We find that the RSPB reserves are lovely places for walks with lots of interesting stuff to see, and I do spend a fair bit of time at our local one too when the weather is good, so that feels like both parties get something out of it. I donate as much stuff as I can to our local hospice shop - the hospice gave my Uncle so much care when he was ill (and also support to my Aunt who, as she was home-caring for him, really appreciated this) and also cared for the wife of a good friend of ours in her last days so it is a charity very close to my heart - and I also buy from there when they have something that grabs me too. I have certain charities that I was always pop change in a collecting tin for too - RNLI, RSPCA, Guide Dogs for the Blind (my family used to fund-raise for them for years - I have a couple of "sponsored dog" presentation pics around here somewhere, and also a lovely engraved medal I was given for collecting in my own right) and MacMillan Cancer care. On the flip side, I also have charities that I won't donate to, and I am wary of the number of small charities there often are around one central "subject" - cancer is a good example of this - I sometimes feel that they would do better pooling their resources into several larger pots than hundreds of small ones. Apologies if anyone objects!

Karmacat

I know what you mean about very small charities, EH - I've just come across one this Christmas thats really powered by one man's megalomania. If its a lobbying organisation, or starts off tiny and fills a real need (like the one named after that poor estate agent, ye gods I forget her name) .... then they'll grow anyway. There was one tiny one I supported because I just loved the name "The Elderly Cats Welfare Association" - you can't get better than that

Interesting to mention organ donation - there's also the Anthony Nolan Trust (another one that started tiny but filled a real need, so grew like crazy) - to donate bone marrow. I was a partial match once upon a time, but not a good enough match to donate, but they are *so* worthwhile.

I think if we want something, its important to work towards it in steps, whether thats travelling or self employment or whatever. I've had my lightbulb moment this last week about the house - I don't need a humongous great thing! I'd really like the same size house detached not semi, but not enough to spend the extra £100,000. So property wise, I'm set, thats it. Now I just need that retirement fund of mine.

And even when I have energy, I like the slow life too! I'm not at all fond of dash-dash-dash. Time goes by, time actually *ends* - living in today is incredibly important.

redsquirrel80

The charity talk is really interesting - I stopped my regular direct debit payments when I was struggling but keep meaning to restart them. I really want to have a good look into whatever charity I decide to donate to though, and make sure I'm happy with what I'm giving to. I've always tried to sponsor friends doing events even if it was only for a few quid - I think that's almost as much about supporting your friends as donating to charity.

Thanks for the reminder that I was going to go and give blood too....

RubySewSew

It's funny, i had to give up my charity dd's years ago when things first starting getting tough. My 2 £2 dd's bounced once and cost me £60 in charges - that was the final straw! The irony of paying the banks more in one month than went to the actual charity in a whole year. Grrr.

I have for years done voluntary work trying to improve local and national maternity services and offering support to other new parents. Having been a volunteer and recruited other volunteers I can tell you how valuable somebody's time and energy really is. Although my self employed work is part paid and part voluntary I haven't really done anything for a while. I forged a whole career out of the experiences I got from volunteering. Actually, that's not entirely true, I volunteered at the school for 2 terms last year which led to a second career and my second job!

I'm hoping to set up a gardening club at the school I'm at now which will take me back into volunteering. I do think though that there is an enormous value to volunteering outside of your own sector and experience. It gives you the chance to see the world differently and to grow and develop as a person.

I think good people 'contribute' all the time. By being good friends, good neighbours, good parents etc.

i have been a blood donor since I was 18 and in all that time have only donated 5 times! I would love to donate more but between pregnancies, piercings, tattoos and illnesses I don't often get the chance. I've been told I can become a donor again once I have been 6 months without infection or antibiotics. One sixth there! Until then I will buy chocolate for the bf and anyone else who donates in recognition of their contribution.

Cheery_Daff

Wow! All this experience and chatter about contributing, it really is good that you all see giving money in the context of 'giving' in so many other ways too :T Lots to think about :T

(which I *will* think about when I'm not meant to be working :rotfl:)

Cheery_Daff

Such a lot of things to think about! :T

EH, and Lara, I know lots of people that in the last couple of years gave up 'proper' jobs to do voluntary work, or part time work, or self employed work, or just less work, and every single one of them is happier now :T I know it's not always the case for everyone, but all of them thought long and hard about it first, and made sure they were in a position where they could survive for a bit, and off they went. It is indeed inspiring :j :j

(I'm constantly shocked at the minute that with my temperament I've managed to land myself a full time responsible job :rotfl: :rotfl: I'm still not entirely sure how it happened because it certainly wasn't planned! :rotfl:)

Long day today, and I'm not feeling awfull coherent Left home at 7am, managed to miss the train by about 2 milliseconds (the doors were just closing as I reached it, and they wouldn't open them again, pah!) so didn't get to work until 10am. Then straight from the train to my old Al Anon group that I used to go to before we set up a new one, and then walked home (uphill. For an hour.) - got home at 10pm, and been staring into space ever since!

Even managed to make myself a cup of tea that's so cold I must have just not boiled the kettle :rotfl: :rotfl: Do you think it might be time to go to bed?! :rotfl:

MrsMoo2U

Hello, bit behind but just had a quick scan. Love the talk about charities. I believe in giving my time too. I am always really careful about the charities that I support since I found out that for the NSPCC Stop campaign several years ago only 20p in every pound actually went towards the work it was meant to be supporting. The rest was spend on administration. I have given my time to many charities over the years. Currently I support Marie Curie Cancer Care and Make a Wish Foundation. Both of these are good charities and do really good work so I am happy to give my time to them both in fundraising activities and wish granting coordination. I also think that I get far more from giving time than just giving money as I actually feel involved.

Pah to cold tea Daffy, sounds like you did need your bed at that point!

Cheery_Daff

Oh dear, I *was* tired last night! :rotfl: Feel much better now though Gosh I'm enjoying being able to roll out of bed and start work five minutes after breakfast :j :j :j

Had a good chat with a friend last night who works for a charity. He said lots of interesting things, including about how donating to a specific appeal means the money is ringfenced for that appeal (understandably!) but obviously charities also need money for overheads and staff costs (I realise people object to how much is spent on this sometimes - but I do accept there has to be something or there would be no charity at all!). He also said that grants are often given on the basis of match funding (so the charity has to match the amount the grant is for in other funding from elsewhere - or in volunteer hours) - so volunteering is also valuable for this reason, as well as for itself.

Anyway, all good stuff. So a day working at home today, and I'm well in need of it! Cup of tea first though - preferably a hot one this time :rotfl:

redsquirrel80

That is really interesting Cheery. I forgot to add to my post about charities that even when I was on a tight budget, I did do charity shop shopping and buy things like charity cards and 'give a cow' presents.. and try to do one fundraising event (usually a run) a year. I'd love to be able to do some volunteering but the opportunities that I'm really interested in all seem to be on weekdays.. another problem of working full time!

Hope you had a nice hot cup of tea

Souk08

Morning Cheery, loved the stuff about your new budget. Great to have money for treats and fun stuff. X