Bright light, bright light!!

Knitting_Nora

Evening all :hello:

Been lurking throughout the day, knitting my first hat in the round (slightly blue air, but I think I've got the hang of it now...though my poor BIL may be getting a beanie that looks more like a witches hat!), and trying to repair the architrave which my dog ate while she was alive....as somehow I can't see big bite and scratch marks on the wood encouraging my Landlord to hand back a huge portion of the deposit!!

Checked the accounts, and I've drifted into my overdraft again. But I know exactly why (little bit of unplanned/emotional spending) and I've already done a bit to offset, including taking a couple of things back, and banking the spare change pot etc.

Have also put together a large pile of bits and pieces for ebaying over the weekend...joy!

What strikes me today, is that I appreciate it didn't need to happen - I at least have something to show for it (the other one of my favourite ever dresses - for £65 rather than £130 plus p&p, and sorting out an outfit for two weddings and a hen night next year....thank you ebay!!), which is unusual.

I'm not bashing myself over the head, plus I have 4 days til payday, and I haven't even wandered near the limit on my cards, the overdraft etc. All in, not bad for my first full month of MSE-ing. And the overspend has motivated me to tackle a few things differently next month in terms of ebaying, food buying, meal planning etc. :think:

Next weekend is the craft stall - which will hopefully clear out some of the old stock (and reduce the amount I have to move!). Fingers and toes crossed across the 'verse please.....:)

I don't expect to make any money out of the stall as the petrol will wip out most of it, and I'm nipping out for dinner with friends afterwards. But it's a favour I agreed to before MSE, and to be honest, it'll be good to catch up with my Southern pals!

I've also been looking over my past and present Christmas spends - I'm transferring a paper record to the laptop. Strikes me that I buy for about half the people I did in 2009, and I honestly couldn't remember what I'd bought almost any of them. This year I've spent about a third of what I'd spent back then on the people I still buy for (makes sense to me!) and each present is much more personal.

One of my favourites this year is a bit of skills-sharing - I'm teaching a friend to bake cupcakes and I'm hoping (have yet to ask) she'll give me a make-up lesson as she always looks gorgeous, and I'm scared to open a lipstick!

On that, I think I might set the tree up early next week...has to be down by 12th December in order to be packed and stored....plus I need somewhere to put the presents!

Righto, off to see what everyone else has been up to...

Nora.x

Knitting_Nora

scotdebs wrote: »

I was just about to crack open the Ferrero Rocher to lure you out ...................... ah well will put them away for another day;)

I can be quiet tomorrow *gives timid smile of pure hope*

freebyfifty

Knitting_Nora wrote: »

Checked the accounts, and I've drifted into my overdraft again. But I know exactly why (little bit of unplanned/emotional spending) and I've already done a bit to offset, including taking a couple of things back, and banking the spare change pot etc.

At least you have noticed that you've drifted into the overdraft and tried to do something about it. I bet before MSE you went into the overdraft a darn sight more than you have this month and didn't either notice or do anything about it.

Knitting_Nora wrote: »

I'm not bashing myself over the head, plus I have 4 days til payday, and I haven't even wandered near the limit on my cards, the overdraft etc. All in, not bad for my first full month of MSE-ing. And the overspend has motivated me to tackle a few things differently next month in terms of ebaying, food buying, meal planning etc. :think:

Bashing yourself over the head is never good. It only makes your head sore
You and I have only been on here a month and think about how much we have learned!!! Every month is a little step into a debt free future and imagine how our bank accounts/cards would be looking if we hadn't been doing what we've been doing over the last month.

Knitting_Nora wrote: »

Next weekend is the craft stall - which will hopefully clear out some of the old stock (and reduce the amount I have to move!). Fingers and toes crossed across the 'verse please.....:)

I don't expect to make any money out of the stall as the petrol will wip out most of it, and I'm nipping out for dinner with friends afterwards. But it's a favour I agreed to before MSE, and to be honest, it'll be good to catch up with my Southern pals!

Fingers/toes/legs/arms/eyes all crossed for you but you won't need it, your craft work is beautiful and being with friends is priceless so don't bash yourself over the head about it (see above)


Missus Knitty - you are an inspiration, I was most distraught when you didn't give an update yesterday, what would I do without you :rotfl:

Knitting_Nora

Morning 'verse

The morning started in the usual way - unable to force myself out of bed, I simply rolled until the bed ran out and the floor started....

I know, it's neither the most graceful way to get up, nor the safest (it takes sheer talent to avoid the sharp corners of the bedside table), but you have to admit that it's effective.

Like others on the forums, I've woken up to a very windy day here. Thankfully it seems to be calming - and nothing has done the Wizard of Oz routine in the garden (unlike next door - their patio set umbrella is toast..which is a shame as it survived the tail end of the hurricane which hit the West Mids earlier in the year ).

Although it's overcast here, the wind has settled into more of a breeze with attitude - so I've thrown open a few windows to clear out some of the proverbial cobwebs.

As I'm typing, it's really calm and quiet outside - no cars, no neighbours shouting...I can hear the clay pigeon shoot in the distance (well, it's either that or open warfare has started up in my little corner of the countryside...and to be fair, where farmers are concerned, you can never tell! ), but not much else...lovely.

I honestly love days like this - yes, it'd be nice if it was sunny as well, but so long as there's a breeze and it's generally calm I tend to feel pretty motivated to get on and do stuff. These are what's known, mainly by me, as my 'doing days' - those days where, for no good reason than the air smells fresh and lovely, and you've woken with a sense of peace (albeit an aching back - because Lord, that bed is uncomfortable!! Anyway, I digress...), you feel like getting stuff done.

So what's on the cards for today? Well, I'm going to be decluttering the 7 drawers of random carp I have in the livingroom. This includes the drawer of cables, tv and computer stuff - all of which I don't use as everything is fully wired up already...but there's something about cables which makes me all afeared to get rid of them...

Plus I have an ancient laptop and desktop PC which both need to be properly cleared (security-wise) and got rid of. Must look into ways of recycling (or whatever) them as it seems such a waste to bin them.

After that, I'm going to write up the letters to all of the utility companies etc notifying them of my move date - should upset BT, as I'm sure I'm in the middle of another contract....oh well....that'll teach 'em to constantly get my bills wrong...

And then I'm going to do a few chores - after a busy day, there's nothing like sliding into a bed with fresh linen on it, is there?

A quick jaunt out of the house to put a friend's curtains in for alteration, but all in there's a strong possibility that it could be another NSD for me. We'll see.

By the way, did I mention that I managed my 10 day NSD target yesterday? I'm not extending as it's cutting it close to the end of the month..but I'm very inspired by Freeby (who not only started out with a bigger target, but blasted it out of the water pretty early on and has extended...), so I think my December target....despite the challenges of moving house and Christmas....may just be a bit bigger.

Right, that's enough waffling from me - time to shake a leg (and hope the rest of me follows!).

Nora.x

Knitting_Nora

hmmmmm, well, so far I've managed to run through the shower and get dressed....oh, and I've emailed the letting agent who is pestering me to allow viewings of my home before I've burgered off.

I don't mind the concept, after all, it's a business. But you'd think they'd be a little more understanding of why I want to be present in the house when random strangers are wandering through it, and no, thankyouverymuch, I don't want people wandering in and out all day, every day, at random!! Last time they rented a house in this street, they put up the details of my house rather than the right one as "it was easier" for them rather than coming out and getting new pics of the right house!! I only twigged when this big scary guy appeared on the doorstep one evening demanding to be allowed in to view the house!! *mutters about how she hates renting with a passion*

Having lurked around the renting threads, I think I've found a good compromise. Out of the three (ish) weeks I have left in here, I've offered them 6 'appointments' of 2 - 4hrs over the first two weeks when they can show the house off to their hearts' content. Outside those times, they can burger off and leave me alone. The third week is removal and cleaning week, so I've told them it simply isn't convenient for them to do any viewings that week.

Keep your fingers and toes crossed they know the law re. tenancy rights, and appreciate that this is a very reasonable offer on my part....

Now, the moral dilemma....do we think I should point out that the details and pics they've put on the internet about the house are misleading....or shall I just leave it to the poor sausage who does the viewings to explain why this isn't the brand new, previously unoccupied house they promised.... *evil grin*

The_Dragon

Leave it to the person doing the viewings!

Okay off to wash my hair and then get the crochet out

freebyfifty

Missus Knitty, I'm gald you are up and at 'em today :)It's lovely feeling all productive and getting stuff done and out of the way. Good luck with your viewings and your letting agent

Knitting_Nora wrote: »

By the way, did I mention that I managed my 10 day NSD target yesterday? I'm not extending as it's cutting it close to the end of the month..but I'm very inspired by Freeby (who not only started out with a bigger target, but blasted it out of the water pretty early on and has extended...), so I think my December target....despite the challenges of moving house and Christmas....may just be a bit bigger.

Nora.x

Well done you :T:j:beer:

And I only got to my target coz I'm too miserable to spend any blimmin' money. :rotfl: And I've not got any to spend
Today I knew I was going to be spending so I just got everything in one day so that I don't have to spend now for another couple of days.
December may well a whole different ball game though

Lemon_Tree

i love the idea of a skills swap for christmas, i like you am terrified of makeup and would love someone to give me some help and a lesson or two. good luck with your move.

The_Dragon

Have you thought about going to one of the make-up concessions in a department store (or a decent sized B00ts) and asking if they can show you how to apply make up and what colours suit you? (it is in their interest after all - they hope you will then come back and spend gazillions of pounds with them :rotfl:)

Lemon_Tree

may have to have a look into that Dragon, i'm sure i could find something on you tube but i just need someone there in the flesh