MG - The Matrix Re-wired

Memory_Girl

Here you go chev: http://www.themoneyprinciple.co.uk/ not a "fluffy" read though - researched, thoughtful, insightful and "OMG!!!! moment" provoking in turn.:D

No snow here yet, but it is cold, cold, cold. So today will be a day for keeping moving and keeping cleaning.

Today's 15 minute prep for Christmas. Figure out what you are going to want everyone to wear on Christmas, dig out the outfits and hang in YOUR wardrobe once you have everything collected, cleaned and ironed.

I have gone step beyond and selected "decent" jammies for the boys to wear on Xmas eve so that the photo's on Christmas Day have them in clothes that are neat, tidy ............... Ok - Long enough in the leg:rotfl::rotfl:

Everything down to underwear and my Christmas day apron is now hanging up ready to just pop on. Hangers will go into the boys rooms on Christmas eve as I think it is too much for a three year old to make a decision to wear something "matching" when there are toys to be played with.:cool:

Beginning to feel organised now

MG

chevalier

cricket take someone please. even your OH or a relative or something. They can't gang up on you then.

Love the fluffy snow groatie queen sounds lovely. My boys will be very jealous. Where we live we never get snow that settles.

Well I am at the end of my day while you are all starting.

Today has been a good day mostly. Have cleared another bag and another box of stuff to homes (if not proper ones yet), which meant that I could put my new little sofa in its right spot so all good there.

I was also in tears too though, as first thing there was an interview on the radio about a lady who was ONLY 34 and had stage 4 breast cancer that had spread. She only had a few weeks to live and had a small son and husband to sort out.

It really humbled me. I may have aches and pains, may be stressed but I am not dying. She was fighting so hard to stay till New Year...

It also made me want to make sure that all the girls have their smears and checks up to date. No excuses people. Think on this lass when you think, oh I will make that appointment next week, later, when this is over, when that is over.......

So I am grateful to her, because I will be here for my family after New Year....
chev.

hex2

crickett - some good advice there. Please take someone to make notes on your behalf but if you don't, tell them at the beginning that you want to read them at the end of the meeting, and have a photocopy there and then. No you don't care that they have bad writing, they will just have to go a little slower. Challenge anything you dont agree with on the spot. Take your time, wait for the note taker to finish writing before you answer questions. Taking selective notes and editing out stupid things that managers say is par for the course for some of my colleagues. More generally ask them for a copy of the policy, check exactly what you have been accused of, request copies of any evidence they intend to refer to are made available to you at least 24 hours before the meeting. (if they spring any on you at the meeting ask why it wasnt provided 24 hours in advance), ask them why your records got checked, get them to prove you knew what the policy was, does the written policy match what actually goes on? If everyone goes on the internet and only you are being disciplined then victimisation is a powerful word. Insist it is recorded in the notes that you feel you have been singled out. Make sure you understand the disciplinary policy as well, and keep notes/diary of what happens when.

MrsMoo2U

Crickett, so much good advice here. I do think that, if you can, you should take somebody in with you. They dont have to speak they can just be there taking notes. You are better to have your own notes. You should also be given copies of their notes and asked to sign to agree that they are a true reflection of the discussion. If they are not then you can ask for them to be amended. If you have never been given a copy of the policy or directed to read it and agree that you understand it then you will be within your rights to state that at the meeting. If you have had sight of the policy and it allows some access to the internet then you just need to prove that you have only been using the internet within the guidelines. As for checking your records, I am sure (but dont quote me) that they would have had to tell you that this was being done after having an initial meeting with you to raise the issue of accessing the internet outside of the policy.
It may be that this first meeting with you is simply to do that. Raise the policy, make sure that you are aware of it, discuss the usage and then advise that they will be checking up in the future. If that is the case then you should start to keep your own records of the times that you use the interet and for what purpose.
Hope that helps.

Dorastar

Tired already! Had dancing group Christmas Fayre and dd set up her own name the teddy stall, I did decorating Santa snack plates then face painting once all the plates had gone. Our little stalls made about £30 so pretty good but need a serious sit down now.

House is half Christmassy but also half completely covered in 'stuff' so going to get binbags out this afternoon, hoping to fill car boot with stuff to go and then maybe get some Christmassy crafts on the go.

Memory_Girl

Big Plans Dora - I spent an hour defrosting, cleaning and inventorying my freezer. :eek:

After all that what I really need to stock up on is chicken stock - so the slow cooker is on "plinking" away to itself. Most meals apart from the bird itself are in stock .................. so I am anticipating a "hide in the house and not spend any money" kind of holiday which should get me off to a raring start in the New year:beer:

Now a wee question to you all .................... I have only been counting the money in the offset account as money off the mortgage. In which case, today we managed to lodge our first 1% off the mortgage (allowing for the interest payment on the 23rd)

But what about the ISA money and the Credit Union money?? SHould that be counted too (as I could transfer it over at any time) or should I keep a separate tally? ..................... in which case we have leapt from 10 leaves on our mortgage tree coloured in, to 13 leaves.:j

BTW I am saying this with one part of my brain screaming "MG - what a lovely problem to have":D

MG

Bitsy_Beans

Personally if its not money for the mortgage then I wouldn't count it

Marru

I agree with Bitsy, to not count. But perhaps set up a separate counter for your savings. Flowers with petals by your tree? Pretty

groatie_queen

I'm loving Marru's idea, savings plant pot with flowers beside your mortgage tree.

chevalier

I too wouldn't count them as mortgage money, I would count them as an emergency fund and a holiday fund. Can't have you burning out because you don't have a rest away at some point next year.....

really hacked off today. was being a water safety person two sundays ago at surf life saving. come to look for my wetsuit for today - no wetsuit. must have left at the danm club. so am hoping that a) i am not due in the water early and b) that someone has actually handed in a beaten up old red wetsuit......
c hev