Trying to escape the Rat Race

Hiddenidenity

Its my first time growing potatoes too but I believe you harvest them when the flowers die (should be this month I think)

Dont take my 100% word tho Im sure someone who knows can help us both :rotfl:

picasso2

Well its been a very expensive week but I am not going to beat myself up over it.

This weekend is the anniversary of my Dad dying , its been two years but I struggle on birthdays , christmas etc. Often I don't get out of bed for days so after his birthday I decided to go away for this one to turn things on their head so to speak. Iv'e struggled but things had to be done so I have focused a little and got up and got dressed each day.

We have had takeaways three times this week :eek: which is what we usually have in a month and I've messed up on the postage of items sold on ebay

But this time tommorow we will be getting ready for dinner in Barcelona and planning our strategy for seeing the best bits in two days.

The house is quiet as the animals are in kennels and there is no washing machine whirring as it packed in for good this afternoon.:(
I have a new one on order (via quidco) to be delivered the day after we return but it has had to go on the CC as we are struggling this month and the emergency fund has gone.

Next Wednesday I have an interview for a part time secondment . Its really interesting and would lower my stress at work enough for me to go back. Its also in an area I would be interested in working in so if I get it then maybe it would be a foot in the door.

I've had some nice bits in the post , freebie perfume samples and a Tshirt I won a while back. Its lovely but a little small for me but right up DDs street so its going on her xmas pressie pile.
The other great news I had at the beginning of the week was that I have won an iPad :T This has cheered me up no end as my lappy is on its last legs so I will have some internet access if this goes up in smoke.

So i'm signing off until next week when I hope to be back reinvigorated and back on the MSE wagon.

Cheerio and have a good weekend folks :A

redkez2012

Hiya, I totally understand where you're coming from about your dad. I too feel the same on my mums anniversary, all the birthdays and Christmas. I really hope the trip does you the world of good and that you enjoy your break away. I look forward to reading all about it when you get back. Have a safe journey. RK2012 x

Hiddenidenity

Hope you have a nice break xx

Evcakes

Well done on the comp win and hope you're having a lovely holiday.

picasso2

Hi folks.

Gosh what a week I'm exhausted !

Got home from Barcelona on Mpnday. It was definatley the right thing to do. I left my phone switched off for the weekend and we kept busy every day. Lots of sightseeing and even came back with Euros leftover !

Tuesday our new washer was delivered and installed. I would have done it myself but its rather awkward and was well worth paying extra for installation.

Wednesday I had an interview. Its a part time secondment for 6 months and I was told it would be informal and more of a chat. Well, I had to do three activities as well as a real grilling. I was interviewed for 90mins ! I find out on monday but to be honest they put me off. I think my time will be better spent looking for other permanent jobs. I have applied for two this week. I recieved my pension statement and its healthy enough and looks like I should be able to afford to retire early as long as I get my finances sorted ! Thats just ten years away and has made me realise that I don't need to work on my 'career' anymore and can work towards retirement instead , I feel a weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

Thursday I went to the races with some freinds. It was ladies day and we got dolled up. I've never placed a bet in my life but I placed 3 and won two of them . This made the day cost neutral . I had a fab time and was able to relax and enjoy my Pimms without thinking about the costs

We went to an outlet yesterday and I spent the remainder of my winnings . I got a lovely dress from Monsoon for £5 :T and its something I will wear over and over so a great bargain.

I'm exhausted today though !
I've done a few comps and surveys and rung my sister for a chat as its free. Its my Nephews birthday next week and I've used my red spotted hanky points and got my daughter and myself free train tickets
Ive not had much time for the comps lately but I have won a nice travel bag from Accessorize, some natural salt and a voucher for £1 off coppella. I adore Coppela but find it pricey on a budget. The vouchers make a lovely affordable treat

Finally for today I have totted up my debts. As I had to put my new washing machine on the card its not great considering I made a few overpayments. Tommorow I'm going to see if I can get a 0% deal anywhere and see if I can balance transfer anything.
So here is the debt total for this month :
Loan - £1243 - £113 monthly and 10 months to go
CC1 - 24.9% - £583 - gone up thanks to washer
CC2 - 21% - £1291
CC3 - 16% - £12,450
CC4 - 0% - £1346
CC5 - 0% - £1309

To be fair its still a drop from last month. Next month I should be under 18k. I'm hoping by Mid December to be looking at having paid off over 4K this year which will be great as I have still had a good life and my pay has reduced so less available to throw at the debt. However in 2013 I want to make a significant Inroad and this is likely to cause me some pain

picasso2

Just need a bit of a rant

I had a meeting with managers , HR, Union today. I have stated that I am feeling better and have indicated that I will return to work on 1st October but explained the difficulties I felt I faced. At the previous meeting they had come up with some possible options but today when I said I felt they would be helpful they had changed their mind and I have to return to the job that made me ill as occupational health had predicted it would. HR also said they felt I didn't need a phased return but could go straight back in at full time hours. They have agreed to await my GPs advice on this one. The union were hopeless , they may as well have been a secretary taking notes.

After the meeting had ended the union said I should consider long term incapacity.The reason being that I have had mental health difficulties since I had PND 18 years ago. I have been desperate to avoid this for a number of reasons which include my debts and mortgage.
I know nothing about benefits but as my current pay is 40k before tax I am sure I will be far worse off on benefits.
So there is no way I will ever be able to afford to leave my job that is making me ill :mad: . I feel like I'm trapped in a revolving door as my job is making me ill but I can't get another job (on this grade at least) because I am ill.

To add insult to injury HR made it clear that they would take away my pay protection if they felt I was not complying and applying for the jobs they want me to apply for. No fear , I am applying for every relevant job in the region !

I have an appointment next week with my GP. They have been very supportive. They know my standards professionally and of course are fully aware of my health issues as they have seen me through very dark days. I don't know how this appointment will go , they are usually happy to sign me fit as soon as I say I am.
I know I can do my job , I just don't know if I can look after me

picasso2

Well I'm exhausted after yesterday. It doesn't help that they have just started work building houses very close to me so we have constant noise of skips being loaded and JCBs moving around from 7.30am until 6pm. Mind you at least going back to work will get me away from it !

Money has been really tight this month as I am off sick I am off course not getting enhancements on my pay and there have been a few problems along the way. We are now without a microwave as that blew up last week and we have decided to do without for now.

My freind wanted to go to the seaside for the weekend which would have been lovely but I had to say I can't afford it. We are now going for a day trip and I am taking a picnic for us in the hamper I won. She is a fussy veggie but I've known her for years and she loves my veggie pasties .

Its a miserable day here but I'm going out for an hour or so now the rain has stopped to get away from the noise and I must take my barcelona guide book back to the library as it is due today - those fines are expensive !

Lets hope today can be feel good friday

picasso2

Well its not been a bad day and I got some good news that my work are going to let me have paid leave and travel expenses for a study day I wanted to go on. I was really suprised as I have paid for so much myself and I offered to take annual leave to go.

Got a lot done today.
As the weather stayed fine I was able to walk to town and back so no bus fares and free excercise.
Took my library book in exactly on time so no fine and borrowed 2 more 'The frugal cook' and 'Homemade'. Been practically buried in them this evening.
Made my speciality pasties - some for a picnic and some for me and dd and an apple crumble using apples that have been given to me - I've still got about 2st of them to use up
Did a cheap food shop - saved £1.10 by using coupons
done a few surveys - I have a fair bit adding up waiting to be claimed.
Entered a few comps, it would be nice to win a few xmas pressies now .
Shuffled money but its dire

DD is doing well savvy shopping. She saw some canvas shoes marked down in Debenhams by 80%. Her size and what she wanted but a slight repairable flaw. Mended them herself and has a lovely pair of Faith shoes for a whole £1.20 so proud. She is back at college now and has so much work to do . She doesn't qualify for ALG and has struggled with part time jobs due to her dyslexia. However she has been asked by freinds to do some paid photography work so she is pleased at that.

I've not been able to get a 0% card deal. I suspect it is due to an AP on my credit file from when Dad was ill and I was off work. Its a shame really , Ive not missed any payments and generally overpay every month. I will try again in a couple of months.

I'm trying to keep the heating off as much as possible so I'm off to snuggle in bed now with my books where its warm

picasso2

I seem to be permanently exhausted these days

So pleased to have had such good weather today. Didn't wake up untill nearly ten but glad DD was in a happy mood. She had also slept well and woke up with ideas for a photography project so before I knew it I was showered and putting on my make up and glad rags to pose for her.

After she had done she mentioned she was going to walk her dog on the country lane by our house so on a whim and no breakfast I donned my wellies and grabbed some ice cream tubs and went with her to pick some blackberries. It was the first outing of the wellies and very comfortable I must say. It's been a bad year for blackberries but I soon had 1kg and an hours exercise in the fresh air. I've used half of them combined with apples given to me by my FiL to make a big batch of jam. I'm a novice at jam making but it seems ok and tastes nice, I always struggle with the consistency. I still have nearly half a kilo of berries left over but I think these will have to go in the freezer for now as I have no time to cook anymore for a few days.

I'm about 3/4 of the way through the Homemade book. Some interesting and useful ideas that I'm keen to try out in there but some of the ingredients are rather expensive looking so just writing things down in a notebook until I have time to research properly. Had a quick glance at the frugal cookbook which again seems to have pricey ingredients and just tips really on where to get best deals. Need a bit more time on it though yet to decide.

I had been thinking it would be a no spend day today but it didn't turn out that way. I didn't have enough sugar in for the jam so had to buy some from the corner shop and also my friend who I am going to the seaside with tommorow suggested we stay overnight in a cheap B+B . We found one through a website and I booked it through Quidco. Can't really grumble at £15 each which includes a full cooked breakfast. But I really am going to have to learn to say no as I have realised too late that we will of course have to eat our evening meal out which won't be fish n chips as she is a strict veggie
Having said I was going to take a break from eBay I have now listed quite a few items in the hope of replacing this money in my account.

Right now DD is out clubbing with her friends. Sounds like its going to be a late night for her. On Sunday mornings we usually go to the local car boot. I'm not sure how 'well' she will be feeling but I will be ready to go first thing if she is, she likes routine but I suspect I may have to drive there rather than walk.

Signing off until Monday when I will be counting the damage of the weekend. Let's just hope the glorious weather stays a bit longer