TallGirl seeks new financial freedom & hope to loose a few pounds on the way.

TallGirl

Wow times flies about time for an update.

Money from wine company back lost £100 but fair is fair he did sign up so lets leave it at that.

Back is fine now and I have been back to the gym. I have been playing golf twice a week but this week I went to the gym for the first time in ages to do my Zumba class. As I walked in this guy said hello and I thought I know you from somewhere. I went to fill up my water bottle and it had a notice saying we now got a new Personal Trainer Darren. Well it was Darren who was at the gym in its previous guise so went to talk to him and signed up for 4 sessions there and then.

This week I have done Zumba, Pump & Pilates plus 45 work out with Darren. Next week will try to do 2 classes and then seeing him on Friday. No golf this weekend Captains Day rained off its horrid out there too wet.

Re DH health problems went to see the DR on Wednesday and she said the blood test shows change to red blood cells and liver plus vitamin B deficiently (not B12). So he now has a scan on Wednesday for the abdominal, multivitamins and some thing to settle his stomach. She is happy for him to see the counscellor but she thinks the tingling in the legs and the memory loss could well be from the excess alcohol he drinks. He has now cut down but not quite enough, its a start and he is keen to get better. Still seeing the counscellor which is good and he says it helps.

His brother and GF is back from Scotland spoke to them briefly this morning wet and horrid apparently. Coming down at 4.30pm.

Went to see the Virgin travel agency in Tesco this morning to look at our holiday to South Africa. We quite fancied flying to Cape Town do about 5 days there then fly up to Jo'Burg and then back home. Honestly she was rubbish couldnt get the computer to work out the multi destinations, thought they only have a few flights a week to Jo'burg really crap and really expensive compared to going direct to book flights with Virgin.

Anyway here are our options depending on FIL and what he wants to do. Guess which one is the MSE option that we both want. However if he cannot manage the office from the 13th to the 21st then we might have to rethink or they will both have to agree to close early. I am not going for 12 days.

Option 1 – FIL keeps office open until 21st December

Travel Direct flights only 21days

Weds 12th December to Tues 1st Jan

Virgin £853 x 2 = £1706 (DH & me)

FIL stay to 13th Jan (3 weeks)

Friday21st December to Sunday 13th Jan

BA £1070

Total £2776


Option 2 – closing office Friday 14th December all flyout at the same time.

Friday 14th December to 1st Jan 18 days

Virgin £1188 x 2 = £2376 (DH & me)

FIL stays to 13th Jan

Friday14th December to 13th Jan

Virgin £1071

Total £3447 ( cost £671 more me & DH gets 3 days less holiday)


Option 3 All fly out 21st December

Friday 21st December to 1st January (12 Days)

Virgin £1188 x 2 £2376

FIL stays to 13th Jan

Virgin£1071

Total£3447 (cost £671 more than me & DH only get 12 days holiday)

TallGirl

Spoke to BIL and GF last night and they think we should stay to the 5th Jan meaning DH would have to shut the office for nearly a week but he seemed fine with that. Well not sure how long that will last.

Anyway they have booked their lovely 3 bed room house on the golf course from the 26th to the 3rd Jan so we can drive down there in 2 cars. DH and I can walk to the first tee (golf is free would have to pay for buggies or caddies or trolleys). It is almost like a resort it has a club house, a country club, various swimming pools and a beach club complete with private beach. Very cool.

I would need to take 11days leave but have 13 left and the last 4 would be in next years leave allowance anyway. Will need some for going to the family gathering in September though.

BIL are back this afternoon hopefully he will have spoken to FIL so we can get the tickets booked.

Happy days cannot wait.

TallGirl

Now FIL is refusing to stay until the 13th says he wants to return on the 1st which mucks up our trip down to BIL house in the final week. BIL will work on him but as I'm away tonight and DH cannot remember if he spoke to his dad bout this today it will have to wait until tomorrow their last night when we are all going out for roast dinner at a lovely country pub.

Just been for a work out and a swim plus steam and sauna, staying at a lovely country club with a beautiful golf course so wish I could have played lovely sunny evening here near HQ.

Had the big meeting today about my area and looks like I won't have to keep going into London which is fab news.

Done my weekly weigh in 1 lb on dispute all my efforts. Just had a niceteak sandwich and crave chocolate but don't want to have any might have a hot chocolate in my room whilst watching Jamie.

TallGirl

Sorry for not being around still here loving the sunshine.

Been up to HQ for two nights last week three whole days so a bit of along one but not too bad. This week is only 4 days as we fly out to Denmark Friay morning but spend Thursday night in an airport hotel.

DH is still the same with his memory loss it's really annoying. He keeps forgetting how we are getting to Denmark (somehow thinks we are driving) but I think a lot of it could evolved if he carried a diary around with him. I really need a haircut so might pop into town and get one for him today. his tingling legs are much worse when he has been drinking seems he can do 2 pints of weak ale and two glasses of wine a night anymore and he is suffering. I try my best to limit him but it's hard. Going to Denmark might be better might we worse. I think he will keep up to drinking less but we shall see. He has his doctors appointment on Wednesday.

Garden is looking good we managed to sit on the patio Saturday night and use the Cobb BBQ. Sat on the deck last night very vice and warm.

Lovely to watch the open my Dane came in the top ten and the UK got a tour de France winner well done.

Right it's 8.30 time to et up, working from home conference call at 3pm personal trainer at 5pm should be a hot one too.

TallGirl

New year now start
I feel like starting a new diary as these last few weeks there has been a lot of changes and of course I am now a year older.

Looking back on the last 2 1/2 years since I be came mortgage free I really have not done much in terms of saving. Mainly due to gambling but also spending on nice things to be honest like the garden and leisure.

This has got to stop and I have not gambled for about 1 month. Another thing I have been battling with is my weight and although the personal trainer and the gym has helped I have taken another large decision stopping alcohol for 3 months.

This is not all down to me but DH and his health. As you know he got terrible short term memory loss right after him mum died and he gets easily confused. He started having counseling and it has helped in as much that he feels better in himself and is not depressed anymore. He does however still have memory loss. Been to the doctors for test and 3D scan and he has a fatty liver due to alcohol. Yes he drinks too much and every single day has done for as long as I have known him (21 years).

Fatty liver can be reversed and go back to "normal" if you stop and the doctor said 3 months. If you look at the symptoms of fatty liver memory loss and confusion is in there.

I wasn't sure he would agree to stop and it was really bad timing as we were told the day we were going on holiday to Denmark on the 26th July. We agreed he would stop when we got back and that I would stop too. In Denmark he drank very moderately (for him) and stayed almost off the wine (his downfall).

We came back Sunday after a lovely 10 days with friends and family and last night was the first night alcohol free for him (I stopped Saturday). I had bought some alcohol free beers and was off to the gym at 5pm. He usually has his first drink at 5.30pm but when I got back at 6.20 he was still on the ice tea. We went to bed at 10.30pm and he had by then had 6 small alcohol free beers and nothing else. :j:j:beer::beer::beer::beer::j:j

This morning his liver didn't hurt and he said he felt better for it. I really hope he keeps this up it would be so so good. I am not sure I really want to contemplate what happens if he goes back to drinking as it could be rather bad for his liver.

I am happy to support him and I know my cutting out drinking will not only save money but also help me loose weight.

This is getting a bit long so will stop now and set up a new signature so I can monitor things and set a new savings target. Only major expense this side of Christmas is trip to South Africa, tickets booked and on DH's credit card. He also owes me a birthday present so need to think about what I would really like.

SuzieSue

I'm really pleased you're cutting out the alcohol. My OH doesn't drink that much (I don't drink at all because I don't like the taste) but when he can't sleep he sometimes has some whisky. The other night he had too much and just collapsed on the bed and I couldn't move him. Luckily he was ok in the morning, but I have now banned him from having any whisky as I can't cope with the stress.

TallGirl

Thanks for popping in Susisue whisky is really bad my DH rarely drinks it but when he does he ends up with weird dreams and talks a lot in his sleep.

We have managed day two, DH wanted to go out for dinner and actually whilst waiting for the food said he was hungry something he neve is. I allowed him to have one bitter shandy I know it's not alcohol free but surely it must be low made with John Smith.

This morning he is feeling crap shivering and cold. I think its the lack of alcohol but not saying anything. I have a headache but that's to do with the personal training session and the Zumba last night.

Taking Thomas to the vet this morning hope he doesn't run too way we need to leave at 8.40am.

SuzieSue

TallGirl wrote: »

This morning he is feeling crap shivering and cold. I think its the lack of alcohol but not saying anything. I have a headache but that's to do with the personal training session and the Zumba last night.

Well, if he has drunk for decades then he will be having severe withdrawal symptoms. Have you asked for advice on how to stop drinking from your GP or on the internet?

TallGirl

Right day 5 completed and we are doing pretty well. No severe reactions from DH he has had a couple of 2.1% bitters (very MSE at 25p a can) so I think we shall be ok. He is so much better already more cheerful and starting to notice things around him. We even sorted my birthday present out a new Kenwood mixer, he paid 1/2 and we used our Nectar points for the rest. Will be trying it out today.


I think we can do the full 3 months looking at some alcohol free wine today and have found a website that does mixed lagers and 1 alcohol free bitter. Expensive delivery but at least we can try before we buy.


Hope to sort the gArden out today Getting some seeds in and mow the front lawn, done the back. Managed to get three free bags of manure will neeed to leave it to rot but will be great for planting in the spring.

No gambling either so life is pretty good.

Off to town to do the shopping get DH a haircut and maybe eat brunch. Also need to pay the paper bill.

Worked out last night that DH used to spend £350 a month on booze we should cut that down massively now.

TallGirl

Lots of things achieved today:

Done front lawn
Weeded veg garden
Played golf with DH (first time in a year he's been out on own course) :j
Tidied and cleaned kitchen cupboard to make room for food processor bits (chucked a load)
Sorted draw plus cupboard out with tea towels and table cloths chucked a load.
Done the shopping only alcohol free wine went in
Taken bottles to recycle ( 4 huge bags)
Phoned uncle to say thanks to birthday present
Paid paper bill

Playing golf with the ladies tomorrow and DH is playing with his dad :j:money:. Great to get him out there he is so much more with it and happier today.