The Ultimate Hard and Fast debt clearing mission

N.I.M

Birdie85 wrote: »

might start a little Disney savings fund to pay for a return trip!

Is that the Florida or California one? I was 12 last time I went. Looking forward to the bairn being old enough to take cause then I can go back

Dinah93

Bit less shattered yesterday, today isn't shaping up so well though, already tempted by a nap though.

Have made the decision that all arguments are void other than the one that says if I don't do everything to keep the baby safe I'll never live with myself, so I'm going to ask to be signed off for a fortnight, and see how the blood pressure is then once I've settled onto the new tablets. The doctor I saw is in the surgery on Monday afternoon, so I'll go to hospital Monday morning, then pop up to work to pack up my desk as we're moving offices on Thursday and I'd rather pack my stuff myself as I have all sorts of junk like shoes and bottles of squash in my desk (and evidence of unlawful practices by my former boss, just in case I needed it when I thought they were going to fire me for not driving a car after my knee op), then have a phone consultation to get the sick note Monday afternoon. I'm not making a decision for the next 5 months, but for now it's what's needed.

Just realised I forgot to tell you about my pregnancy dramatics yesterday. My tablets make me a bit light headed.. well yesterday the postman came to the door, I opened the door and as I did the world just spun and I went down in some kind of Victorian swoon and the poor bloke had to catch me!

Going buggy road-testing tomorrow, I had to make a decision somewhere as I was just too daunted, so I've decided I want one that can take the Maxi Cosi pebble car seat, as it's in more of a lie flat position than most car seats which means the baby isn't quite as squashed up for breathing, so can be used for 4 hours rather than the usual 2. While we'd be unlikely to drive continually for 4 hours, I feel better knowing the baby might find it a bit more comfortable even if only in it for short journeys. It's also rated as the best for preemies so covering that base too.

Dinah93

And new essential spend has come up, as our rikkety old fence has come down in the winds. We'll need to put a new one up along that boundary in the Spring. Our neighbour has offered to pay for half, but it'll still be about £200 for our part.

Birdie85

N.I.M wrote: »

Is that the Florida or California one? I was 12 last time I went. Looking forward to the bairn being old enough to take cause then I can go back

Turns out they're all the same more or less. Magic Kingdom in Florida is the same as Disneyland California and Paris I think. We really want to go back to Florida; we've already planned where we're staying (10 days in Disneyworld, 4 out in the real world), when we'd like to go (October for Halloween and the food and drink festival at Epcot), what we're going to eat (everything! We'll be Disney Dining Plan-ing it so can eat at the more expensive restaurants without it costing too much!) Just need to find the money to pay for it now! :cool:

Nice swoon Dinah! I'll bet the postie had no idea he was so dreamy to have women falling at his feet!

Good plan about work, take it a step at a time, you're right that your baby is the most important factor in all of this and you need to do everything to keep it safe and happy!

All the buggy stuff is gobbledegook to me Car seat sounds good though, nice and comfy- do they do them in big girl's sizes?!

archersluck

Can't help but giggle at you doing victorian heroine dramatics Dinah! Sounds like you've made the right decision for now, just see how you feel. Car seat sounds good, not that I know much but I do feel for babies being carted round town in them for hours looking all squished!

Ooh Birdie your game sounds fun, I've been to the cali disney and it was pretty identical to florida and paris. The California adventures park next door is good though. Think my girls holiday this year is going to be a long weekend in Paris and a few of us want a day in Disney which makes up for being banned from going when I was in Hong Kong last summer, boooo.

My first free Friday due to the 4 day week, have just got home from boyfriends and I have a do list a mile long

Dinah93

I think you'll soon wonder how you worked 5 days a week.

One of my best friends is having a big turning 25 birthday bash, which is 3 days at an activity camp place doing canoeing, caving and gorge walking. I'm really sad I'll miss it but with it being 2 weeks before my due date I'm sure she'll understand. I just feel bad because she invited all 28 of us over facebook, and so far all 6 or 7 responses have been no's.

Birdie85

Hope you get everything done Archers, might as well put your free day to good use! I had a big list of things to do last night... but then I found Ratatouille on TV and had no choice but to sit down and watch it! Will try to be more productive tonight!

That trip sounds so fun Dinah! Shame you can't go but out of everyone saying no your excuse is surely the most genuine one!

Planning for my friend's Hen in June and we're going to a cottage in the Lakes for 2 nights, I found a company who comes out and does a murder mystery event tailored to the bride and groom but they got back to me with a quote for £350! :eek: Looks like there are only going to be about 9 girls going so that's pretty darn expensive per head but we really wanted to do something a bit special and dressy-uppy since the cottage is in the middle of nowhere so we wouldn't be going out on the town! I've never done a murder mystery party before so don't know how good it'd be if we DIY'd it? Hmmm... anyone got any good alternative ideas?

Ooh just had an e-mail from the work volunteer scheme asking if anyone wants to help out at Crucial Crew one morning! Fun! Anyone do this when they were younger? I could be a 'stranger', 'dead/dying body' 'drug dealer' or a '999 operator'!

Dinah93

I've never heard of it if I'm honest Birdie.

I know my cousins did a DIY murder mystery thing for New Years, there might be some ideas on how to pull it off on Google?

I forgot, I have a new money idea. Since I've decided to take things a bit slowly and expect to be off at least a fortnight I needed to find a way I can still be useful rather than just lying wrapped up in a blanket reading books. I have to stay with my feet elevated on the sofa/in bed so tidying etc is out, but I can ebay. So NIM is going to brave the horrors of the attic for me this weekend and get me some stuff out to list. The aim will be to list approximately £100 of sales a day, which should clear us lots of space and bulk up January's debt clearing total well as with doing so little in December, and the mystery shopping just ramping up again this could be a hard month to get money in during.

Birdie85

Ahhh Crucial Crew was brilliant, we did it in primary school. They take you round lots of rooms set-up with a different danger/incident and teach you how to deal with it, we learnt how to do CPR, how to dial 999 and what to say and stranger danger! My teacher friend went with her class last year and was so excited!

Ebay plan is a good one! I can't believe that you've not run out of stuff to ebay by now, do you have a magic stuff fairy who keeps leaving boxes for you?!

Think I'll look into a DIY kit for the party, but I don't want to know who the killer is or anything as I want to join in... and I'm awesome at these types of games!

Dinah93

We do actually, it's NIMs dad. He clears out his warehouse and sticks anything he thinks *may* be of use to us on a pallet and sends it over. Some things are more useful than others. The 30 odd t-shirts and shirts he sent will sell, the old used bedding went in the bin, a few bits NIM wants to keep. We also still have a shed (and when I say shed this thing would comfortably fit a small car in it) full of stuff at my parents house too. I think I could sit here for the next 5 months doing £100 a day and we might worryingly still have 'stuff'. Count your blessings that a flat doesn't allow room after room for boxes of crap no one really needs or wants.