Mortgage Free - so good they'll do it twice! Wynnvegas aiming for the big house

wynnvegas

Hi Pammy,

Thanks for the message. I'll stick to my guns and to hell with those that have a problem with it.

It's been going ok for a good wee while now. I've stuck between 12'4 and 12'10 for two and a half years now after losing the initial three stones back in 2008. 12 stones is the intended target but it seems that short of starving myself for a couple of days, those last four won't go. Can't say I'm stressing out about it too much mind. With the additional swimming, and the cardio stuff at the gym, it's more about toning up these days. I've also started taking some multivitamins for no good reason in particular. Can't see that they'll do any harm but I'm not all that convinced about the benefits either.

In total, I think this jigsaw is just shy of 3x2 metres so a fair size. The new one that I'm looking forward to starting later in the year is 5x2 metres which will be amazing once it's done. The one that's just finished will be sunk into the floor in the big house when we get around to building it. The bigger, 24,000 piece number will, according to the current plans, be put along the wall in the swimming pool room.

Cheers,

Billy

pammyj74

Cant wait to see pictures. I did put a 2k one of an akita in a frame once, I was given it for xmas and I had an akita at the time It seems such a shame to spend all that time doing them to break them up doesnt it. How are you storing it when you move/have things in storage?

babyb06

3 x 2 metres?! Where do you have the space?!

After reading about your puzzles last year it inspired me to ask for some for Christmas which I am really enjoying (although more in line with Pammy than yourself size wise) - good relaxation of an evening. So thanks!

wynnvegas

Hi Pammy,

Getting there with the solid blue border. I hope to finish it this week. I'm well ahead of schedule though as there's a big box of maltesers riding on the whole thing being complete by the first of April. When we move, we'll be getting in professionals to sort everything out so I'll take their guidance at the time. Hopefully it won't be overly difficult. For the moment, it will live as quarters piled on the living room floor.

I disagree completely with breaking up jigsaws. Moyra's mum did the first piece of her 18,000 jigsaw and then broke it up. Still haven't forgiven her!!

Cheers,

Billy

wynnvegas

Hi babyb,

It takes up a quarter of the living room at the moment and that's with it in four 4,500 parts!

Glad you've caught the bug. I've always loved doing jigsaws and, with the effort that goes into them, I prefer framing them and sticking them on walls as opposed to pictures. In saying that, we now have the best of all worlds where we have taken some of the really good pictures and made them into jigsaws. We've done the first one - http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz190/wynnvegas/BellagioNight.jpg - which looks brilliant and the next two to do after this one is finished are Moyra's mortgage free presents to me - A Bellagian's view by day - http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz190/wynnvegas/DSCN4162.jpg - and a Bellagian's view by night - http://i826.photobucket.com/albums/zz190/wynnvegas/DSCN4062.jpg which were taken from our room last year.

Cheers,

Billy

wynnvegas

Morning All,

Back from the dentist and it's indifferent, indecisive news. The dentist is happy enough with the tooth he's trying to fill but my mouth certainly isn't. The swelling from the infection has gone but there's a wee lump remaining where the tooth has reacted so we're giving it a temporary fix at the moment with a view to either filling it or ripping it out in a fortnight. I'm getting to be nonplussed either way at this stage but I don't want to start losing teeth before I'm 30 so I'm hoping he can save it. To have spent all the time, money and effort trying to fix the damnable thing only to pull it out at the back end would be a wasted exercise.

Other than the dentist, I'm waiting to see what the deal is with the money front. A lot will be dictated by the minimum payment we need to make to our newly acquired debt. We're now hoping to be shot of the lot by the end of September by making a sacrifice or two on the Vegas trip but it won't kill us if it goes until October. The slight benefit is that we'll have an extra £250p/m coming in over the next 5 years which will let us save that bit harder for the big house when we get back around to it!

Cheers,

Billy

mintedmatty

Hi WV,

Sorry to hear about the dentist, i've got a trip booked to see mine on Thursday so hopefully no problems!!!! The budget you set out for Vegas, is that 4 adults and includes everything? it equates to £1875 each? Only reason I ask is im going on my stag weekend there nextyear and have 10-12 mates paying into an account to book august time? I'm hoping we can go through expedia and get something around £650-£700ish, what Im struggling to let the lads know is 'spends'?? I've been twice before and I cant remember how much I spent? I can remember buying around 12 Tshirts in Abercrombie&Fitch mind, so I know it will be a lot? But Im saying another £500 spends for 4 days should be plenty and just wanted your thoughts?

unhappy_shopper

pammyj74 wrote: »

It seems such a shame to spend all that time doing them to break them up doesnt it. How are you storing it when you move/have things in storage?

I always use puzzle glue to fix the jigsaw puzzle once it is done.
Then, until it gets framed, it resides under the mattress in the guest room (on a solid bed base, not a slatted one). Puzzle glue can be bought from WHSmith's or any craft shop for a few quid. HTH.

wynnvegas

Hi Matty,

The total figure for Vegas takes account of flights for 4 (3,000), hotel for 4 (£1,500 although we'll trim that cost a bit with the current deal) and, if memory serves, our spending money which is around the £3,000 mark for the fortnight. We can't yet afford all inclusive holidays for others! We normally work on a budget of $300 a day between us (excluding meals) and our gambling strategy (a whole other story) goes towards a shopping fund to hit the malls at the end of each holiday so for three weeks, we ordinarily take £2,500 dollars or so. This year is a bit of a celebration so we're going a bit further but not overly extravagant. One year, we'll do the whole time at and in the Bellagio but that's still a dream at the minute.

Have a great time where you go. I've been on a few stag do's in the last couple of years to various places and Vegas is always mentioned as a throwaway option. If it was ever me getting married, there'd be nowhere else I'd consider. Best of luck with the dentist!

Cheers,

Billy

wynnvegas

Thanks US,

I've glued a couple previously and it's worked fine. We've found that the cheaper frames have been the difficulty in hanging some of the heavier jigsaws. Our only trouble with these ones is that the glue tends to seep through and stick the whole thing to the board - no good when the plan is to move it to a different surface later down the line.

Cheers,

Billy