EH is Back - and going Onwards, and Upwards!

taxi73

i remember that one on the news last year...old woman I think it was

EssexHebridean

Scary stuff! :eek:

taxi73

was on the motorway today and a car must've had 8 inches of snow on his back windowbut had cleared the top of the car and front window..so many idiots about.

Pippajo

Someone told me in the last batch of snow that it is an offence and 3 points if caught driving with snow on the top of the car as it can cause accidents when it blows off and hits the people behind.

Lemon_Tree

quite true Pippa, something to do with hazardous driving and think the police are so fed up of muppet drivers that they're starting to stop people

mineallmine

How you doing EH?

EssexHebridean

Hi Mineallmine! Not too bad thanks - been a hectic few days with getting everything sorted and ready for christmas - by rights I ought to be getting some last presents wrapped right now but MrEH is secreted away in the bedroom with the wrapping paper and tape so they will have to wait!

Quick update then:

Storage heater was fitted as planned and is now pumping out heat marvellously! We actually woke up slightly too warm yesterday morning which was a novelty! It came to exactly the amount quoted as well so full marks to the sparky - he'll certainly get more work from us if we need it at any stage. I will monitor the electric meters carefully over the next little while but more in a "how much is it going to cost us" type way than a "Must turn the heaters down" way - I'm feeling increasingly certain that the general coldness and dampness hasn't been doing anything for my health (I get far more colds and bugs now than I used to) so we need to bite the bullet and start increasing our spend on heat I think.

Grocery budget: Currently coming in at a very healthy £2.57 per day, however this is skewed by the fact that I have not included ANY of the christmas food in there. I'm expecting that to increase yet as we will buy at least one if not two whole salmon while they are half price at Tesco, although that spend will be split over the next 4 months, probably, to reflect the timescale over which it will be used.

Bank: Savings accounts are still standing as they were - we're trying to make sure that we really don't have to dip into them for day to day stuff at all. Ideally I'd like to be putting at least something back into the savings accounts as often as I can. One account that will start getting fed once it's fully active is the new online account I have set up for my virtual sealed pot challenge. The joint account should only have the credit card and a few small items coming out before the end of the month and there is enough there to cover all of those with some slack. MrEH gets paid tomorrow, but so far as I am concerned that money is "not there" until January 1st.

General spends: Fairly under control I think. Christmas has come in at a sensible level - we agreed with my parents that neither of us could afford to go mad this year but by canny shopping I still seem to have done fairly well for everyone. Hopefully they will be pleased anyway. As for me, MrEH is just putting the tags on a pile of wrapped presents for me now - some things I can guess (S&G!! Woo Hoo!) and some I can't. It does rather look like I have been spoilt though!

Work: Job 1: My regular client is still delighted with having me there, and they kindly gave me a £50 christmas present which was lovely of them, and very unexpected! I'll be back there to continue my two days a week in the new year, but must also start making steps towards gaining some more work as well. Job 2: Avon quietened down a little for the last campaign but with delivery being so close to christmas that wasn't that surprising. I dropped the current book off with the customers on Monday and it will be collected back (hopefully along with lots of orders!) on Tuesday next week. Hopefully the ice will have melted by then!

EssexHebridean

Quick plan for tomorrow:

Get out early early EARLY to Sainsbury's for their cheapest soft cheese & some eggs. Ideally need icing and marzipan as well but if they are out of stock then tough, the cake goes without.
Home - washing from airer, fold and put away
washing from machine to airer
Cup of tea
make cheesecake
Empty dishwasher
wash up carnage created in kitchen from cheesecake making.
Cup of tea and internet time
Pack presents ready to take to mums
wrap OH's final present.
Quick tidy of front room
Sort out clothes to take to Mums for christmas day & boxing day and chuck in bag.
At some stage fit in deep conditioning hair and epilating legs. :eek: Do not muddle the two up.

taxi73

Sounds like a busy day again tomorrow.
how lovely your clients giving you £50.
totally agree with you regarding the heating..it's no good saving on fuel and then being ill.
good luck with the Avon books

yukkibear

If I don't catch you before, have a lovey Christmas xx