Horace's Biting the Bullet Diary

Horace

Am trying to sort out my books but keep being distracted by them - I figure I have about 20 books that I have bought and not read yet (more bought from the charity shop the other day). I think that I will get rid of the Kathy Reichs and keep my other crime thrillers. Some of my others can go e.g. Wilbur Smith, Bernard Cornwell, Chris Ryan but I am hanging onto Beowulf and my Latin Dictionary.

I think I might ditch the TV altogether and stick with books, my CD player, my portable DVD player and Radio 2. Scary being without a TV but needs must plus my TV is a big cumbersome old thing and heavy and is wearing out...the on/off switch no longer works so I use the switch on the wall for turning it on and off.

My friends have said that they will help me move - two burly chaps and a female friend from Cheshire has said she will help out too. Her advice has been invaluable but then she is a property developer. Now I need loads and loads of boxes - I have plenty of bags..lots of bags for life and jute ones.

Aesop

You can always watch TV through your laptop/computer. Catch up TV/iPlayer, so you don't need to have a TV licence for it, this will save you some money.

Good news about your friends coming to help you move.

Horace

I have new hair - I went along to the new college that has opened near me today to have my hair done, I was expecting to pay £32 for a cut & colour (anything to hide the grey) but instead I was charged £28.80 as it was my first visit and thus I was given a discount. I was also given a loyalty card which will get stamped everytime I spent over £12 and when I hit 5 treatments I get 15% off and when I hit 10 treatments I get a free treatment. There are offers on all the time apparently. It was very quiet but then they are still getting their name known - I had a lovely cup of cappuccino (no charge), however the magazines were a bit bad - old copies of Style Birmingham (made me smile - a super present for a husband, a cheap tie - it was £110:eek:) and a battered copy of Woman & Home from December. They had music playing too which wasnt too bad.

My hair looks better as it has been cut level and the back looks better although there is still a layered bit that needs to grow but it is only an inch shorter (my hair grows like weeds).

After my trip to the hairdressers, I went home (for the loo) and then I picked up a shopping bag and headed to Northfield - I had intended to buy loo rolls but came home with sugar (needed), lemon juice for pancakes, a pack of onions, some large baps and I bought some new things for my new home - a garden bag for waste (now this isnt the pop up bag and it takes up less space) and a pebble effect mat to go in the bath - I am for ever slipping over and feel that a new mat will do the trick.

Later on in the month I shall return to Aldi for some summer bulbs that way I can have some flowers that will come up year after year. I am on the look out for a dutch hoe - keeping an eye on freegle and I have a friend who has a landscape business so I shall ask him if he has any equipment going spare.

I figure that I shall take several days to move stuff across to the house so as soon as I get the keys I shall start taking stuff that way I can sort as I go and if I can get the bulk of it there by car all the better. When my chums help with the removal I can see beer, pizza, coffee and wine being consumed.

greenbee

I'm glad you're feeling positive - investing in yourself and your new home! Don't buy TOO much for the new house yet though, as you never know what you will need at the time, and you can always get stuff after you have moved, and then you won't have to pack it and ship it over either.

Horace

This is all I am buying for the new home - I have tons of veg seeds and some flower seeds (but not many of them). I must save my cash now.

I have just seen a fabby job at the local college although I must ring them on Monday to see if I can go and collect an application form as I cannot do their online forms via FE jobs (it is like looking through a letterbox the text is so small). It is a job as a Personnel Assistant in Payroll - now looking at the job description I have done similar things in my role as Head of Dept's Secretary in Cleaning Services and as Divisional Secretary in Cancer Studies and in my own self employed work. The salary range is £16821-£18012 per annum and I am fine with this because I will be walking to work - it will take me 20 mins to walk from new home to work...so it won't matter if I can't see to drive in the dark:D

The only thing that grieves me is the lack of a reference from the University - I vowed never to ask for one when they made me redundant so I have more recent references relating to my work and my capabilities but not necessarily around the job that I could be doing. I would love to work at the college because the staff (the ones I have met so far) are nice and the whole atmosphere is good.

Keep your fingers, toes and paws crossed:D

I am meeting a chum on Tuesday for coffee - she will have a quote from UW for me because I plan to buy my gas, leccy, broadband and telephone from them thus I will save money. Need to look at buildings & contents insurance - mum suggested basic and not list the high value items that I have, some of which are irreplacable because to be honest I don't see the Australian photographer being able to reproduce the limited edition pictures that I have.:(

beanielou

Happy new hair~bargain
Positive positive vibes for the job.

Verbatim

Congratulations on the house. When do you exchange contracts?
I'm glad your hair is looking good and fingers crossed a great job comes your way soon.
V x

Horace

Verbatim - no idea when the contracts will be exchanged, I am keeping out of it as it is between my parents and the vendor.

Now hunting for boxes - I could curse because I had a massive clear out before christmas and chucked out a load of boxes as they were taking up too much space - wish I hadn't now:( I know I could sell some books but that means that I will need a box to send them away in and boxes are precious so I will take them to the charity shop as they appreciate good books (some came from there anyway).

Tomorrow will be charity shop day and sorting day - need to ring him that I am getting a divorce from to see if he has received the papers. I sent the papers to the court last week stupidly not recorded delivery and I am not sure if I put enough stamps on them:( No idea how long it takes the court to process these things either - might ring them next week.

Trying to fight off a lurgy - I get this irritating little cough that appears and disappears (I blame the flat it is an unhealthy place).

chevalier

hi horace
woohoo to the new house that is so awesome for you. And of your parents too. So glad they are being supportive. The only thing I am a bit worried about is how the deeds are going to be. I know you can gift money to descendants, but am worried about the 7 year rule surrounding death duties. Just check you won't be caught out.....

Sorry to bring this up, just want to make sure you don't have a problem later.

Good luck with the divorce I think he is being very lucky with what you are asking for....
chev

Eager_Elephant

Horace wrote: »

I am meeting a chum on Tuesday for coffee - she will have a quote from UW for me because I plan to buy my gas, leccy, broadband and telephone from them thus I will save money. Need to look at buildings & contents insurance - mum suggested basic and not list the high value items that I have, some of which are irreplacable because to be honest I don't see the Australian photographer being able to reproduce the limited edition pictures that I have.:(

Great news on the house!!

I know I am probably teaching you to suck eggs but be very careful about UW.

The people I have dealt with at work have been signed up by friends who told them what a great deal it was but then found that as the months passed they were actually paying more than they were before. They also weren't aware that their friend was a 'rep' and got commission for them signing up and also each month.

Personally looking at their website I can't see how they can remain the cheapest long term as they have to pay out commission.

Apologies if I have overstepped the mark.