Renovation, Marriage, Redundancy and Pretty Dresses

Kerry78

I’m not actually in debt at the moment, so hope I’m still allowed to join! This is a bit of everything diary. I have so much happening in the next 8 months and I really have to start watching the cents (I live in Ireland so all prices are in Euro) and the pounds (as in weight!). And I honestly think if I don’t have somewhere to offload I will possibly end up exploding!

So I suppose first things first I should introduce myself. I’m 32 and living in Ireland (hence the username). I live at home with my parents to help with savings. OH is 30 and is currently providing all the labour for our house renovation (carpenter) as well as going to college full time doing computers. He also lives with his parents.

The renovation is the main thing on my mind. What “they” say about taking your budget and doubling it is true!! The house is an old rental property and we’ve had to literally tear the place apart to make it suitable for living in. Which we expected, but then there are the unexpected things like the sceptic tank not being suitable (not on a mains as the property is in the country). All this is being covered by my savings but it is literally wiping me out!

I guess renovation also covers MY personal renovation process. I would like to lose weight (currently a size 14/16 and would like to be a 10/12), get my nails in good condition (they’re fairly rubbish, thin and split really easily). I just got my hair cut and coloured last week so I’m pretty happy with that. Not happy with my skin, it’s blotchy with blackheads around my nose. Am having a series of jet peel facials to see if it will improve before the wedding.

We are getting married in New York in August. Neither of us like being the centre of attention so we just wanted to elope to do it. Everyone knows we’re going but no-one is coming with us. Have booked flights and a lovely hotel so REALLY looking forward to the holiday, looking forward to the wedding too (even though I know I’ll cry!) but not looking forward to having photos taken, not getting a choice though, our mothers would disown us if we didn’t have photos!

I got the news yesterday (Wednesday) that I’m being made redundant on 31st December, 2011. There are 104 of us in the company and we’re all being made redundant but I’m in the “lucky” position that I’m in the last wave being left go. Some people are being left go from 31st August. The redundancy package is quite good so at least that will replenish my savings (not that I plan on touching it).

I really need to get my spending under control now, and save as much as possible so hopefully this will help to keep me in track. Although not a great start, popped into New Look (well not really popped, I had to drive 20 Kilometers to pop in) and saw a really pretty dress.it was €44 so I bought it. It’s perfect for New York. As I'm a new user I'm not allowed to post links but if you go into the new look site it's under bow floral prom dress under reception dessses (it's actually the dress on the left of the home page site)

Ok think that will do for today. Will be back tomorrow and will fill in any blanks. I have to admit I’ve had a glass of wine so this might not be the most coherent first post of a diary but if I don’t post now I’m afraid I’ll lose my nerve. Putting this out there makes it all real in a way!

MartyBoy

Sounds like you have a lot going on! Well done for posting and for getting some things off your chest. I am sure that the house will be worth the effort and the cost when it's finished so try to look forward to that day. Are you going to start looking for a new job now? It might help you to start looking at where your skills could be used even though you don't need another job until 2012. If you get something else to start in 2012, you can be sure that your redundancy pay will not be touched. Off to look at the dress now - I am sure it is lovely!

MartyBoy

Wow! The dress is very nice!

Kerry78

MartyBoy wrote: »

Wow! The dress is very nice!

Thank you!

I will start looking for employment around November/December, the problem being I live in an area of very high unemployment but fingers crossed something will come up.

The plan for today is a no spend day so we'll see how that goes.

Better go do some work now as I want to be kept on till December!

MartyBoy

Morning! What about a change in direction? Self Employment? Plenty of time to prepare.............. Have a lovely day!

Kerry78

MartyBoy wrote: »

Morning! What about a change in direction? Self Employment? Plenty of time to prepare.............. Have a lovely day!

On the bright side I am now finished work till Tuesday!

I wouldn't have a clue what to do self employed! Although I do have time to think about it. The local development office is running a course on starting your own business and the list of people looking for a place on the course is a mile long!

Well on the renovation of house front we've had a bit of a small set back. OH was hoping that he'd get the floors poured and the roof re-roofed next week but neither are going to happen now due to not being able to get other tradesmen to the house in time. It's a bit of a set back because he's back in college the week after so not sure when it's going to get done now

I came home to a package from Liz Earle skin care that i ordered. My skin is sooo awkward, it's oily but i get patches of dermatitis that are extremely dry and flakey. It's not a good combination! Have booked a jet peel facial for next Tuesday as well.

No pretty dresses today but I am being tempted by pretty handbags in debenhams 2 in particular. Can't see them on the website and not helped by i can't remember who they're by. One is cream leather and one is gray suede. Both are really pretty but I'm trying hard to resist.

There was another employee meeting today bout the redundency. We need to vote on whether we want to take the company to the Labour Relations Comittee (or comission, can't remember which) to try and get a better redundency package. It's basically a mediation service to try and get the company and the employee reps to agree somewhere in the middle about our redundancy. We need to vote on Tuesday but we lose nothing by going to I'm sure we will be.

The plan for a NSD didn't eactly happen. Crisps and magazines were my downfall. Magazines in general tend to be my downfall, I buy way too many.

I'll call it a day for now. Might pop back in later. And I really want to try and get reading a few peoples diaries.

Kerry78

No news as yet today because I'm still in bed:o watching Murder She Wrote! Will get up and shower in a minute though! Promise!

So today I am DEFINATELY aiming for a NSD. Should be able to manage it too. (Hopefully).

No real plans for today. Will spend the rest of the weekend with OH. No plans for today, he's working on the house.

Tomorrow we're going to our favourite seafood restaurant in Dingle and for desert AMAZING ice-cream from a place called Murphys (the diet is being abandoned for Easter!). There's a really lovely handbag shop there too (the scene of my first row with OH!)

No plans for the rest of the weekend although if the weather holds we might go to Killarney on Sunday for a wander at Muckross House. Monday is a bank holiday here in Ireland but no plans although the Suspicions of Mr Whicher is on ITV at 9pm and really want to see it. Read the book a while ago.

That's all for now!

Kerry78

Well plans aren't going exactly to plan!

Didn't even manage a NSD yesterday. Spent most of the day waiting around for an electrian who never showed up. Gave up waiting bout 5.30 and decided to go see Fast and Furious 5. OH bought the tickets and popcorn. Film was only ok. There were barely any cars in it for the first hour! It was about 8 when we got home so decided to just go to the chipper for dinner. I paid for that.

Today we were going to go to Dingle but our plumber called this morning that he could get to us today after all. So we had to go buy all the plumbing stuff - €2800 :eek: and that's not including labour! Scary but has to be paid! So we'd gotten up so fast this morning we went to town and got rolls for breakfast (I paid for those too). So we spent another few hours waiting around for the plumber! He finally turned up at 4. I'm at home waiting for OH, he's at the cottage with the plumber.

So now I'm just looking forward to watching Dr. Who and Britains Got Talent (loving Michael McIntyre on it) and having a glass or two of wine :beer:

We're hoping we might get to Dingle tomorrow!

Kerry78

Well my bank holiday is more or less over. As before plans didn't exactly work out!

The plumber showed up again on Sunday to finish the job so couldn't go anywhere in case he needed us for anything. Then later the electrician who didn't show up on Friday called OH to say he could come on Monday and what time was good for us. So we said we'd give him one more chance and he actually did show up today. He's going to call later with the quote and we have another electrician coming tomorrow to give a quote too.

So it's looking like we will get the floors poured this week after all! Which is a good thing!

Managed to have a NSD yesterday, but did have to do some shopping today and will have to spend tomorrow (have a jet peel facial booked) but should be able to have a NSD on Wednesday and maybe (hopefully) Thursday.

cassidy0111

Kerry just keep thinking- "I will soon have a lovely home!" :beer:

LittleBoots

Hiya

Wow what a lot going on!! Bet you can't wait to get into your new home when it's all ready .

I like the idea of self renovation, think that's what I need...

Off to ponder...

LB