I have a dream...to be a MFW

ajmoney

Things to do before Monday

Finally finish off work project (just need to annotate what I have used for info)
Pack to go back
Sort my cupboards and drawers We may both me tackling our cupboards later!
Sort vacuum stored stuff in spare room
Keep on top of spending diary Done so far

Productive morning so far. 1 load of washing already out on the line and the next just about finished. Trying to help Mr AJM finish an application for a children's panel and then I will try and finish my work project. I would like to submit this on Tuesday morning when I get back as it has been hanging over my head for far too long now!

We have decided to stay at home today and just nip out to do some window shopping for the house this afternoon so I can get some ideas on how we can make our house a bit more homely.

Really loving having some time with Mr AJM today and trying to ignore that I will have left in 2 days time.

ajmoney

And back to having a 500-mile distance marriage :mad: the journey was slow and tiring today but I have unpacked and got my food shopping in. Keeping the receipt handy as I am trying to work out how much my meals are costing me. Also keeping on top of my spending diary, will post an update tomorrow.

I will be glad to get back and start work tomorrow, after an early morning run, Mr AJM and I have been going 3 mornings a week before he goes to work but we are both reluctant to get up and go on our own in the morning. My alarm is set and my running kit ready so I don't have an excuse!

ajmoney

What a first day back, at least I haven't got time to be bored at the moment! I knew I would be given more jobs to do so it is not a surprise but it is going to take some clever planning during some weeks to make sure I can still fit my personal training sessions in. Luckily I went for a run this morning and although I could have finished early I thought I would be better trying to wade my way through my lists while I had a clear afternoon. I hope to have things under control by the weekend.

I am off out to the cadet band tonight so need to eat dinner very quickly at the canteen, I am using tonight to see if I have time to do this on normal nights or if I will need to prepare stuff myself. I am unsure yet whether this will always be a twice a week commitment when work allows but if it is it will go a long way to helping pay for my personal training sessions. I will be glad when 9pm gets here and I can sit back and do nothing though!

Some of my old colleagues started working with us today so it feels a bit less lonely, some of which I hope to be meeting up with for cake and a cuppa sometimes!

I hope everyone else is having a lovely day.

ajmoney

I managed to rush my food at the canteen before going for my lift, at least I know dinner only needs to cost me £1.99 instead of spending extra on meals made in my room. We were paid even though we turned up and weren't needed, once I get paid (don't know how long it takes) I will be £50 richer. I should be able to make £200 this month around my other commitments so it looks like I can afford to keep up the PT sessions.

Seeing as I got back early I spent an hour working on the nutrition course I signed up for and also did some music tests to keep my knowledge up for a course I might be starting next year. I am determined to start as I mean to go one as I have a lot I would like to do during this term and maybe even the next one.

I am going to turn my laptop off and enjoy reading for a bit now

ajmoney

I slept amazingly well on my first night, last night when I tried to wind down early I slept really badly. I felt like a zombie at work today, luckily we only worked this morning. It looks like we might have Friday off so I will be able to use that time to get on top of my to do list.

PT session was quite enjoyable, I am so glad I kept up with stuff while I was away, it doesn't bear thinking what it would have been like if I hadn't. I can't work out if he was going easy on me but we had longer breaks than usual, my body will tell me tomorrow I am sure...just in time for my next session. These sessions are the only thing that keep me sane away from work, as I don't see many people to talk to and we have great conversations during the breaks.

Going to a charity night tonight so looking forward to some socialising. They are providing a hog roast too

ajmoney

The charity night was very enjoyable last night, I spent a total of £8.20 insluding £1 for a strip of raffle tickets that got me a voucher for an MOT at the local garage (£35 I think) so I think it was a good night, especially with them making a good amount for the charity. Although there were quite a few people from my wider work circle there I spent the evening with the friends I have made that live here too. I am quite touched as they have invited me to their work Christmas do, they all work together and are going to get their own table. It meant quite a lot to me so I am really hoping I am not working that night so I can join them.

Had another session with my PT today, also known as my personal torturer which he thinks is really funny. It was hard and I know I will be cursing him tomorrow but I really enjoyed it. He works Saturdays now so I have booked in for the weekend, it gives me less to find so I don't get bored! Looking forward to a lovely day with my sister and niece on Sunday too, does anyone have any suggestions for things to do in teh Hampshire/Surrey/West Sussex area? We normally go to children's farms as my niece is 7 and can get bored but we are starting to exhaust the local ones to my sister who lives near Redhill.

ajmoney

First week back at work hasn't been too bad. I have managed to catch up a little this morning but will still do some stuff over the weekend as our work schedule may be a little chaotic next week. I am heading north for a wedding and eventually home next Friday for a week and would like to have all work stuff completed by then.

Went for a run this morning and going for a swim in an hour o try and ease my back and shoulders before having a really good stretching session! Might treat myself to a cup of tea and a treat after

Credit card bill has gone out of my account today so I feel my finances are easier to control. I won't need to spend on it for the rest of the month so am looking forward to not having that expense in October. My PT sessions are paid for until then too so I may be able to pay for the next set from my wages rather than postponing it! I am still keeping up with my spending diary so I can assess where my money is going and how much my food is costing daily to work out a rough budget for next month. I did make an unbudgetted spend this morning on a smoothie machine however it was a good offer and is something that will make my life easier here.

Off to cadets again tonight, looking forward to doing some work this time!

edinburgher

Glad to hear that stepson got your laptop sorted, there is so often a simple explanation for these sorts of things. Before getting our new laptop (well, 2011), I spruced up the old one with nothing more than some extra RAM, a good wash and a thorough cleanup of the hard drive and unused applications.

Not so good to hear about your ISA, but you appreciate that it is a long term game and that's key. I like a phrase that I heard recently, 'don't just stand there - do nothing!'

Unfortunately I withdrew quite a bit of money before we offered on our new house, regretting the £500 the account had dipped in the months before doing so...

Have you had any luck considering other hobbies that you might be able to turn your hand to while you're working away? It's hard to be apart from the people we love, distractions are always a good idea

ajmoney

Thanks for your post Ed.

My stepson uninstalled and re-installed a couple of toolbars/things on my toolbar I have running in the background and that did the trick

I am undecided on any new hobbies. I am fairly busy at the moment and am enjoying the free time I get, in a few weeks I may not be so positive! I signed up for an online nutrition course in May/June and sidelined it at bit so I am concentrating on this at the moment with possibly a sports one to follow. The cadet band also takes up 2 evenings a week so I am waiting to see what time this leaves me. I am thinking of setting myself a swimming challenge for this term so may need extra time to do that, manage half a mile this afternoon without really trying. I guess the short answer is I have absolutely no idea!

I decided against having a cuppa out but bought a cupcake while I was at the supermarket to have after my chippy tea as I don't have time for dinner in the canteen before cadets tonight. This way I can treat myself out tomorrow if I want :j

ajmoney

I have set myself a small exercise challenge to get me to the end of the month...to swim 5 miles. Once I get into the pool this isn't a challenge but actually getting into the pool might be. A couple of years ago I set myself the challenge of 20 miles in 30 days which was really hard going so it makes sense to start with something more achievable. I need to come up with an idea from October onwards.

My chippy tea was disappointing, my local shop at home is obviously too good! The cupcake wasn't great either