My Proper DFW Diary

Lucy5781

Nursery and preschool both still shut. 
Hubby still sleeping on couch with puppy.
Solicitors finally got updated probate form with our correct door number on it this week, so things can start moving on that end again and today, accepted an offer on the house up north for less than we asked but still above probate value from the neighbour who originally said she'd be able to make deposit by Christmas. I suggested yesterday that hubby contact her about the house and after texting her yesterday she's viewed house again and put in the offer, so fingers crossed that goes well, she's got no chain, which helps etc.

Had an email from nursery offering new 2.5 day options for when DD starts in September. Currently they only do five mornings or five afternoons. Two full days minimum whilst DS is at school from the same time, every day, would be massively helpful for me getting back to work. My old company's infrastructure section has just advertised a local contract admin role which I'd be perfect for so have applied for that and will see what happens.

Lucy5781

Hubby also had update from his mortgage guy that all's ready to proceed his end as soon as we're good. We need £15k-ish paid off our own mortgage first which is not actually a problem, just not immediately possible to do, the funds are in the estate one way or the other though.

Would help if hubby and I weren't both struggling with our mental health, mine's more hormonal and exhaustion from having both kids at home again, they're very good but they are constant (DS is nearly four and a half and DD is almost three).
Hubby's is linked to losing his Mum during all this and work just not being the same etc, hoping once the estate starts distributing etc and restrictions slowly start easing we can both start feeling a bit better. We do talk about it but we're both very solitary at times as well.

Sarahwithlove

It's never easy losing someone you love and I think in current circumstances it must be even worse as there's no way to distract yourself from your grief. Just try and make time for yourselves if you can and keep talking. 

Lucy5781

Sarahwithlove said:

It's never easy losing someone you love and I think in current circumstances it must be even worse as there's no way to distract yourself from your grief. Just try and make time for yourselves if you can and keep talking. 

We do, we both get that, as loss of my Mum as an outlet to talk things through with was one of my most obvious issues. I now split it all between Hubby, my Dad and my Mum's sister, my aunt. We're doing ok, things are shifting, a bit slowly, but surely.
We're on half term now, I interviewed for a new role with my old company two weeks ago, closing date is today, may hear something tomorrow (Mum's anniversary of course) and my nursery/preschool re-open fully from 22nd (they shut premeptively at start of January as they have a high number of keyworker and vulnerable children registered anyway) so, four mornings DD will be in, DS will be in for five.

If I get the job, hubby's planning to ask for a six month sabatical to mentally deal with his health but also to take up the childcare shortfall until Septemeber when DS starts Reception and, as long as I'm working, DD will qualify for 30hrs funding when starting nursery so they'll both be in 9am-3pm-ish and between us, Hubby and I can split drop off and pick up etc.

Having a salary again will be odd!

Lucy5781

Still nothing from my job interview, despite two very brief emails to them confirming my childcare reopening and asking if there is any feedback forthcoming. Think they're still waiting on head office to comfirm a few things but they could just say that, I did previously work for them for like six years.

MiL's estate has paid out, on request, enough for hubby to clear that extra £15k off our mortgage, so next week the two rental flats should be going into his name only with renewed mortgages, so from that point, all rental income will go to hubby only whilst his brother has had a more substantial cash payout to match the values of the rental properties. Up until now they've had 50/50 of the income as it's been shared inheritance.

Hubby's also booked us (inc my Dad and Stepmum) a week a Centre Parcs in August, fingers crossed for that. It's either £100 off a change in date or a full refund if Covid changes things. My Dad got his vaccine last night, he was 69 last month so fell into the next catergory, along with his mild COPD. Though he thinks him and my Stepmum had it back this time last year already, they were really ill with awful coughs etc.

Made the mistake of looking at TKMaxx website last night, OMG I miss going out, actually shopping, especially there and at the Choice store in the outlet shopping centre that's only ten mins walk from here!!

Lucy5781

Still no word on the job, four weeks later. Have gone over the initial woman's head and emailed the secondary woman for an update.

Hubby has now had the mortgage on the second flat approved, all paperwork for both flats now going to the solicitors etc so all rental from them should shortly be solely hubby's, no longer shared with BiL as he's having cash equivilent from the estate instead. Sale is proceeding for the cottage up north and whilst we're still waiting on a decent offer on the North London 4-bed, news that 95% mortgages with government backing are about to return, we're looking hopeful.

Lucy5781

After an apologetic response from the Contract Manager for a lack of response yesterday, this morning the original lady finally replied with a 'sorry, H/O want us to restructure and use current staff whilst we're still locked down' blah blah.
OK fine, but, not really impressed with such a poor response from someone who would be my line manager and obviously doesn't understand the basic customer service premis of keeping clients informed....

Lucy5781

Another negative from an Admin role at a local care home. Pending applications at about three more roles.
Entered a draw for a free course of Women's health treatment with a local osteopath and won. Had intial consultation and reviewed everything I've been telling my GPs for years now and she instantly says she'll write to them recommending specific blood tests and MRI to say it's imflamatory arthritus (something I tried suggesting to my GP in 2013!!), so we'll see where that goes.
Had my covid jab a couple of days ago, felt awful 12hrs later (hubby and I think we had it this time last year so, bigger reaction). I'm not 40 until July but having gestational diabetes with my last pregnancy left me at higher risk for typre 2 so that bumped my up our GP Surgery's list. I was one of the 800,000 in one day.
My arm still feels like hell!

moneyonmymindsam

Sorry to hear about your arm. Hope you feel better soon. 

Keep plugging away with the job applications, just so many out of work at the moment. It's been an awful year to jobseek so don't be too hard on yourself. 

Have you ever thought about reselling charity finds as a small income so Facebook, depop, vinted, ebay (can now use bank payments not PayPal) as a bit of a self employed part time gig to start? 
Sam x

Lucy5781

moneyonmymindsam said:

Sorry to hear about your arm. Hope you feel better soon. 

Keep plugging away with the job applications, just so many out of work at the moment. It's been an awful year to jobseek so don't be too hard on yourself. 

Have you ever thought about reselling charity finds as a small income so Facebook, depop, vinted, ebay (can now use bank payments not PayPal) as a bit of a self employed part time gig to start? 
Sam x

Ironically, due to all the pending inheritance, me working isn't even about the money (though it all helps), it's partly for my sanity but also, as long as I'm working at least 16hrs a week, DD will get her 30hrs free at nursery in September so she'll be in same hours as DS in Reception. I could obviously get 'hours' verified self employed but it just feels like a faff to me. Plus, I don't want to start something, registering as S/E and then stop it, close it all down etc when I get something more solid. It's a nice idea though.