Gallygirl's "A journey of 121,226.67 pounds begins with a single penny" diary

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

All sound like good targets. As I plan to be spending most of the summer in a swimsuit, I would like to lose ten pounds at least so also cutting back on the grub here.

Goldiegirl

Great plan for 2016, GG, ideal for the active early retired person!


Although it's not in my plan, I'm also hoping for a bit of weight loss myself - my planned increase in walking should help.


I'm 3st heavier than when I got married in 1981, but most of that has gone on in the last 5-6 years, so I don't want more weight to creep on

Karmacat

I love it too, Gally, and it will be interesting to see what your view is of bowls as a younger person - I hear it can be pretty cut-throat

HelenDaveKids

Nice res's GG. I always set them. Hope its a good year xx

gallygirl

Karmacat wrote: »

I love it too, Gally, and it will be interesting to see what your view is of bowls as a younger person - I hear it can be pretty cut-throat

Already seen it KC with Mr GG and friend :rotfl:.

Will finish off tomorrow .

gallygirl

Plans for 2016:

MONEY:

• Reduce mortgage. Due to buying new house and using offset money to part fund, as of 31st December we owed 51,440k net. That will reduce by 6.8k over the course of the year, obviously we want to reduce by more than that . Can't really set a specific target as need to see how spending out here settles - we're not going to start scrimping to meet an arbitrary target - but will continue to be sensible and see how it goes.

HEALTH:

• Reduce weight. I lost almost 3.5 stone a few years ago, have put most of it back on and now it's going to come back off again :rotfl:.
• Eating healthier, drinking less and exercising more - the usual stuff . Mr GG also on board :T. More specific aims connected with this below.
• A new recipe per week, as per MWC's diary
• Walk wherever we can rather than use the car. Dolly the Shopping Trolley will be coming out to play :T. Need to be careful though as she may aggravate my back/side .

SOCIAL (also related to health, but want to expand social circle):

• Go out with walking group at least once a week if possible. New season started late Sept, first walk was rained off, then I went to UK and came back feeling under the weather for a few months. Now feeling up to it so will look at agenda and pick some out - they do some VERY long, VERY tough walks which I won't be going on ). Both walking days coincide with pilates which I don't want to give up, hence only once a week with walking group.
• Take some bowling lessons - turns out new friend is qualified coach and she is very, very good :T. Decide if I want to continue - if so join club and get clothing and bowls .

LIFESTYLE:

• Spanish - explore having private lessons and find some tame locals to practice on :rotfl:
  
• Eat meals outside whenever possible and continue to embrace outdoor living
• Visit three new cities - I will include our local city as we've only had one brief trip in 10 years
• Enjoy life with my best friend Mr GG :kisses2:
  

HOUSE:

• Move in to new house by end of January - rather than letting it drag on into spring as there is no real rush
• Bedrooms - 2 double beds required by early March at the latest
• Curtains - required for lounge (x2), our bedroom and replacement for one bedroom in apartment
  
• Sort garden out - not that there's much of it, but learn how to prune citrus trees, dig up cacti I don't want (little ones, the 10ft one can stay for now :eek:), sort out pots, grow some veg
• Roof terrace - this is quite large and I'm not sure how best to use it. A few mini-projects (shouldn't take long to arrange but each shopping trip is generally accompanied by a long lunch ):
  
  1. Divide off a bit with plants
     
  2. Put a rotary drier (in a heavy umbrella stand) in one bit - buy drier and base
     
  3. There is a good wind-out blind like this but it needs a new front trim - source and have fitted.
     
• Kitchen - although larger than I have at present it actually has less units. Plus the units are dusky pink :rotfl:. Reactions have included 'its better than I was expecting', 'oh', 'it's awful' and 'it's liveable with - for now'. I tend to agree with the latter and need to negotiate with Mr GG how long 'now' is . Then make plans involving knocking down walls and installing a few arches. Won't be started till end of year I expect.
  
• Air Con - there is only one unit (and we haven't got that working yet ). We're having ceiling fans fitted but will need air con by the summer.
  
• Pellet burner - decide if one is needed, research and have installed when kitchen work done.
  

That should do for now. Pretty ColoursTM thanks to KC :T

gallygirl

Update on other stuff:

Impromptu Trivial Pursuit at neighbours last night (I went round in fluffy slippers ). Hilarious - Mr GG was helpless with laughter at one point - and the girls won :T. Despite Mr GG's best efforts to sabotage us .

New dishwasher installed and working as we speak. Love how they will install and take old one away on day of purchase :T.

Electrician and his tio Juan (uncle John ) managed to get virtually all work done yesterday :j. The 'mucho, mucho polvo' looked more like this yesterday when we popped in :eek: but I've been assured the house is still standing :T. He has a few little bits to finish and ceiling fans to fit but Mr GG & I are starting to clean today :eek:. Painter can start when he's ready now :T.

This week sees our first experience of the Three Kings Day (except it obviously takes two days to celebrate :rotfl:, other places start on the evening of the 5th but we start in the morning ). Our favourite bar is named after one of the kings and the owner's son is one of the kings ('blacked up' :eek::eek::eek:) so we have a table reserved outside to watch the fun :T. When I say 'we', I mean myself and some friends. Mr GG has been excused to go on an airport run to pick our neighbours up, he sees it as 'time off for good behaviour' as he thinks he's seen enough processions to last a lifetime :rotfl:. Our lovely electrician is also taking part, dressed as a Roman centurion but unfortunately for his wife he's not allowed to take his costume home .

Retirement continues to be like a Mr Kipling cake .

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Morning, you'll be feeling great when it's cleaned and the painter has started. Brilliant start to the New Year.

Happy New Year to you both, Tilly x x x

katep23

Hi Gallygirl, sounds like you'll be busy!

I just wanted to say I have pinched your saying about a dream without a plan is just a wish - this is exactly where I am right now so thank you for putting it into words

greent

Great plans - and love the coloured post like Kc's


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