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

Karmacat

GG, it sounds amazing! Great idea to do that in fiesta season (though it sounds like fiesta season is year long). I'm sure I've seen a "bullfight" like that, where the bull isn't harmed - at Ronda, next to the Bullfighting Museum. The bull jumped into the safety corridor and chased all the blokes sheltering there

Lucifer heatwave sounds terrible, and a bit scary. Glad you're not suffering

gallygirl

Last eight days on my own have just flown by and now I'm off to that England place tomorrow to catch up with DD, DS and friends (including an MSEer :T), staying in six different places :eek:. Travelling by train and got some bargainous fares :T but still haven't worked out how to get from MSEer's to DS .

Big list of things to sort out/buy while I'm there, including new underwear - will probably be in the place a few hours :cool:. And credit card will melt :rotfl:. Also some random things like clothes dye which I've not found on sale here. I'm not taking a suitcase back, going to use parcels2go (I think that's right) that a friend uses - as cheap or cheaper than a suitcase and collect and deliver door to door :T. Will need to find a VERY big box though :rotfl:. Going to balloon fair and pet show (free tickets from MSE :money:) with DS, he knows how to show his mother a good time . Whereas DD is just taking me out to eat and drink which also is a good time .

When I'm back I have letters to post to all tenants saying rent is going up, and we will be reviewing every year afterwards. We don't do regular increases as we appreciate the tenants we have, but it's been at least two years so need to play a bit of catch up. Will also be doing inspections so will see them all face to face rather than just post the letter and run (which would be my preferred option ).

At present we have an Android box for TV but the popular channels freeze at awkward moments - especially during live sport :mad:. When I get back I'll be researching options and deciding what to do - we'll probably end up with IPTV which will cost around €20-5 a month. To us that seems expensive as we don't really watch a lot of TV, but when we do watch it we want it to work! Time to spend some pension money :cool:.

All spreadsheets up to date and money shuffle done early in case I can't remember log ins . Case packed - weighing in at 9.97kg :T. Just need to wipe the kitchen sides tomorrow while I make tea - we had heavy rain the other day (during the night obviously ) and it came in through an open window, bringing the dirt off the mossie screens with it. As the worktop is speckled I've only just noticed :rotfl:.

See you on the other side .

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shangaijimmy

Hope you enjoy the drizzle. Drizzle that only the homeland can provide!! You'll soon realise how much you miss it...;)

TallGirl

Sounds a bit hectic hope you enjoy it I'm the same when I go back to Denmark things to buy and people to see and lots of eating to do.

Popgirl

Safe Journey GG hope you have a lovely time in the UK catching up with family, friends and shopping of course. DH and I are heading the other way today (just at airport now) for a 3 month trip so hope you have left the sunshine behind for us to enjoy.

Karmacat

Have a great time, GG safe flights

I know what you mean about rain through the flyscreen (my vinyl got soaked in the downpour!) and about the watching-what-you-want-to-watch, even though its rare. I'm considering a trial with Netflix, to see what its like.

greent

Sounds busy!
x

lulabelle1

Enjoy the trip, give me a shout if you have time for a quick coffee catch up xx

gallygirl

Oops, gone MIA :cool:.

gallygirl wrote: »

A fabulous road network, a joy to drive on :T.

So joyous I managed to get a speeding ticket :rotfl:.

gallygirl

End of year round up a week early as I've been awake for a few hours :eek:.

2017 Goals

Financial

• Keep to our fairly generous household budget. Continue to monitor spending and try to build a small surplus. I've rejigged how I keep track so hopefully it will be easier. CONTINUOUS ACHIEVED, well, the monitoring of it anyway :rotfl:. Need to finish off this month, do a good review and set up for 2018.
  
• Don't be afraid to spend some of my own money - I've taken (and spent/reinvested) the 25% lump sum but need to overcome my fear of touching at least some on an annual basis. To stop Mr GG moaning about me buying unnecessary things for the house as much as anything :rotfl:. CONTINUOUS ACHIEVED, not spent anything major but pretty relaxed about it. Have written bucket list so gearing up for some bigger spending in next year or so .
  
• Look at how our cash is invested. At present we have a small amount in P2P, a small amount in 5% accounts, 20k getting 3% and the rest is getting 1.2%. Need to think about what to do. BY END OF FEB 17 NOT REALLY ACHIEVED, need to spend more time on it, though have been increasing P2P slowly.
• Tax - we're Spanish residents and I need to find someone who can properly advise us, especially as we became resident in September, the Spanish tax year ends 31st December and the UK tax year ends 5th April. BY END OF FEB 17 NOT ACHIEVED, just can't find anyone giving coherent advice. Have a contact that I need to chase up (though rather put off by needing to chase him!).
  

Health

• Research going onto the Spanish NHS and register (we have to pay as we're so young ). BY END OF JAN 17 NOT ACHIEVED . Luckily we've been relatively healthy but need to get cracking. I did get some quotes and I still have them so have to prioritise this .
  
• Get a grip of my weight (there's plenty to grip ). Stop acting as if we're on holiday - eat out less and drink a lot less. Lose 2.5 stone. 1 stone by Easter 17 SURPRISE SURPRISE, NOT ACHIEVED :rotfl:. However, have lost 1/2 stone since Sept and been doing a LOT more exercise - body shape is changing and I am down a dress size which is what really matters.
  
• Inspired by NG, walk 3,000,000 steps :eek:. This is less than 10,000 a days so perfectly doable. CONTINUOUS, BUT NEED TO GET AHEAD AS WILL DROP OFF IN SUMMER ACHIEVED :T, even if I don't walk another step I've averaged over 11,000 steps and 5 miles a day. Just under 4,300,000 steps in total :eek:.
  
• Get Well Woman/Well Man checks done. AT LEAST BOOK BY END OF JAN 17 NOT ACHIEVED, this is linked to private health care.
  

Spanish. We are probably in the top 5% of Spanish speaking ex pats but sadly that's a reflection on the others lack of ability rather than our progress.

• Continue with Spanish lessons and practice when we can CONTINUOUS ACHIEVED, now doing our one hour private and two one hour group sessions. I still don't feel we're making much progress though .
  
• Join the 3rd Age bar (though we're officially too young ) to give us access to more Spanish speakers - that is our biggest problem here really. BY END OF JAN 17 NOT ACHIEVED as were are too young .
  
• Investigate intensive courses (I don't think we're ready but no harm in starting to look) BY END OF JAN 17 ACHIEVED but don't think we'd benefit yet.
  

Culture

• Explore more of Spain, a new town or city each month. So far booked: January - Almeria, February - Antequera and Sevilla SEE BELOW
  
• To visit as a minimum: Granada and Cartagena and at least a three day trip elsewhere. PARTLY ACHIEVED. We still haven't been to Granada (it's Mr GG's Xmas pressie though so off next month - hopefully) or Cartagena. Almeria still needs exploring - we had to come home as I was ill. However, we have had four days in Sevilla and Madrid (combined with watching Mr GG's footie team playing in Europe :T). Also visited Antequera, Ronda, Zaragoza, San Sebastian, Logrono and other large towns.
  
• Find out more about the local area. Start by reading the book I bought Mr GG for Christmas last year, which neither of us have read . BY END OF JAN 17 ACHIEVED, have managed to read the book :rotfl:.
  

House

• Decide what to do with lower terrace - then do it!! END OF SUMMER 17 NOT ACHIEVED as I still can't decide what to do. 'Nothing' looks like an option :rotfl:.
  
• Lighting for roof terrace and main terrace - I have some strong and not so strong solar lights which we will probably move round - but need to put hooks up for them. BY EASTER 17 SORT OF ACHIEVED - the little ones died a death and I decided to leave the larger ones unfixed.
  
• Sort out drains - previous owner is paying but need to get it done. BY END OF MARCH 17 (let's be realistic here!!!) ACHIEVED - but not until July :rotfl:.
  
• Utility room. DK what, just do something with it!!!!! It's too big and characterless. There is room for a temporary bed so need to make sure I leave room for that but I would like a big armoire for linen. That will probably end up being an upcycled wardrobe . BY END OF SUMMER 17 NOT ACHIEVED as I've decided I can make do with existing wardrobe in room next door.
  
• Get foldaway bed that can be used in house or apartment. BY END OF DEC 16 ACHIEVED
  
• Finish painting and recovering stool (abandoned by someone at the bins ) BY END OF FEB 17 DECIDED TO ABANDON - does that count as achieved :cool:.
  

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Bit of a mixed bag - happy with progress in some areas but not others.

Been a sad end to the year as Mr GG's mum passed away (10 days after we returned to Spain), so quick turnabout and we're back in the UK. Funeral Part One was a few days ago, Part Two - the Return of the Funeral is next weekend in Ireland (you know the saying 'less is more'? Well she believed 'more is more' :rotfl:). So we're in limbo a bit and have a lot of admin to do after returning from Ireland = she's named a friend as executor but he wants us to do most of the work. Obviously it's a very sad time, but tempered by the fact she was very elderly, fading and ready to go, also she went quickly without pain.

Staying in the UK is not without it's challenges, let's leave it at that :rotfl:.

I'll be back with 2018 goals at some stage, but now to get ready to go round to DS's for stocking opening with DD as well, so that's a nice unexpected treat :T. Merry Christmas :xmastree:.