Trying not to fall off the DF wagon

vasseur

Cold again this evening so I've put the heating back on for a couple of hours...blinking nuisance.

Food shop tonight and came in at £31.54. Very pleased with that. I've got a couple of bits to get tomorrow. Car needs filling up with petrol but already have money put by for that. I need to pop into town to the bike shop and get a couple of spare inner tubes just in case my puncture resistant tyres decide to puncture on Sunday - just want to be prepared.

I'm taking dd to a roller disco tomorrow afternoon. It's one we haven't been to before but it's kids only they are missing a trick there - I'm sure there would be plenty of mums and dads who'd like to join in too. Instead we have to sit there and drink tea for 2 hours!!!! I will take my book I think. I might just put my skates in the car in case they do let adults join in

Still got a sore throat and the sneezes. I will go to bed as soon as the washing machine has finished.

vasseur

I haven't posted for nearly 3 weeks! Since my last post I have done another charity bike ride - this time 33 miles. It was lovely and we cycled through lots of lovely villages - I have seen so many oast houses recently

I have been averaging about 31 miles a week on my bike and this Sunday it is the biggie (for me anyway). London to Brighton, 54 miles and I have just scared myself silly by watching a y0utube video of the massive climb up Ditchling Beacon which is about 6 miles from the end :eek:

I went to see The Stone Roses on Friday with WLM. We had a lovely day, lots of laughs and lots of booze which I am really not used to . Struggled a bit on Saturday but it was nice to let my hair down for a change. I'm still not sure what's going on with him. We get on so well and he is so thoughtful and helpful but I'm not sure that I figure in his plans longterm. I know I should ask him outright but I don't want to get the answer I don't want to hear. I should just enjoy it for what it is (if it's anything even) and see what happens.

Have massively overspent this month (serves me right for going AWOL) and have had to dip into my emergency money. My car is having a mini-service and MOT on Friday and I do have about £190 put by towards that so hope it doesn't come to too much more. Food is all taken care of, just need to reign things in a bit everywhere else....

The Fall is on now - last episode. I have loved it!

RosaBernicia

Hi Poles

Glad all is good with you , :eek: to London to Brighton will think of you on Sunday! Good luck!

Also overspending here and should get back on track...

Rosa xx

vasseur

Well I have done it, I can say that I have cycled from London to Brighton It was a great day and I am chuffed to bits that I made it up Ditchling Beacon without stopping :j It was a beast! My friend got to the top a couple of minutes before me and when I got there he had bought us a cupcake each to celebrate Cycling time was 5 hours 45 minutes but in total it took us just under 7 hours. We were delayed a lot by sheer volume of cyclists and several accidents. It was lovely to see dd and the rest of my family waiting for me at the finish.

I enjoyed every minute and would definitely do it again but would go for the 6am start next time.

I have had quite a bit of expense over the last week. My car had a mini- service and MOT and it failed the MOT because the screen washer wasn't working It cost an extra £95 to sort that out so in total it cost me £285.

On a more positive note I had a win on the horses at Ascot today :T I had a tip but it didn't run so I put it on the favourite e/w and won £80 :beer:

I'm going to a clothes party tomorrow night. I'm not sure it's really my sort of thing but some of what I've seen looks quite nice and they are quite reasonably priced. It's a night out anyway and at least I'll have some money to spend.

Payday on Monday - can't come soon enough.....

vasseur

Been AWOL for another month but finances have not suffered for it even though I have been quite naughty and bought myself another bike It was all with money I had saved up so I don't feel too guilty. I did my research beforehand, went to try it out and have been fitted for the right sized frame. It was also 10% off and comes fitted with puncture resist tyres as standard so that was me sold I pick it up tomorrow and can't wait.:)

Other spends today was £38 on petrol (already accounted for) and £41.49 in A1di (almost all accounted for )

Tomorrow night I am looking after my nephew but in the afternoon we are going to our local promenade where they have a concert with tribute acts. I'm going for the Bon Jovi tribute but dd wants to see One Direction.....:eek: We're also taking my friend's dd so for the first time ever I will be in charge of 3 children :eek:

Hopefully this beautiful weather will continue through the weekend. We want to go and use the pool at work on Sunday - that will be a nice free day out

vasseur

Picked my new bike up but I have only had a 5 minute on it in the alleyway behind mum and dad's house. Far too many other things going on last weekend so it will have to wait till this weekend. I think my sister is going to come with me on my old bike as she wants to get fitter.

DD and I are doing the Ride London Freecycle on 3 August. There will be an eight mile loop in London where the roads will be closed and you can just cycle round with about 50000 other cyclists and there's going to be loads of bike based activities going on. It takes in all the sights so hopefully will be a really good day out. DD hasn't seen that much of London so this will be a novel way of doing it. There is no way I want to cycle round London when the roads are open to cars!

So I have bought DD some new inner tubes in case of punctures and a pair cycling gloves. Just need to get her some glasses and we are all set.

Pay day today so I have shuffled money round. I've put by a fair chunk for our holiday spending money, car money, grocery money and emergency money. We still have some left over for some holiday clothes too

I have been getting back into my running over the last few weeks. I've even increased my route and am feeling better for it. I've been tracking my runs with my Strava app so now I have times to beat each day. It's been very hot though!

pixiechick99

Heyyyy poles, how are you?
When is your holiday? We had a brilliant one, even after 2 weeks we weren't ready to come home...still want to go back:(
Back to normal...and the familiar money worries, grumpy teens and pants weather;)

vasseur

Hi Pixie - I saw your photos, it looked like you had a fantastic time.

I've been AWOL again....:o We got back from holiday 2 weeks ago. We had a great time and did so much. I still had an extra week off and have now been back at work for a week. Scary how quickly you get back to normal....

Financially things aren't looking too bad. I have had to buy a new fridge freezer because our old one's freezer part started to play up and as I am the Queen of Freezing I couldn't have that. Obviously I didn't have the necessary £300 lying around so have got it on a buy now pay in 6 months deal. I'm aiming to put by £100 a month so can pay it off sooner.

I guess the next thing will be saving for Xmas.

Tomorrow I am doing a Go Sky Ride group cycle. It's not for charity or anything but it is 30 miles which is the furthest I have ridden since L2B. I did do 24 miles last week with my Dad along the Thames Path which was good fun but really hot.

DD and I are now watching Strictly so that's Saturday nights taken care of until Xmas...

vasseur

Been ages and ages since I have posted and loads has happened so I will try to recap.

Work has been OK. Lots of changes recently but things are settling down now. I had an excellent appraisal and I am going to start taking some more exams. In a sadistic way I am quite looking forward to it.:D All in all I am really enjoying work at the moment.

I'm running at least 3 times a week. I've really got back into it. Unfortunately have not been on my bike as much as I'd like to although dd and I did do a charity ride last month - she cycled 27 miles bless her!

I've also stopped going to my pole classes. It was getting a bit annoying as every time I went I managed to pull a muscle in my back. It has made weeknights a bit less hectic though especially now dd is knuckling down to do her 11+ next year.

Also and this is the biggee - we are going to move house! I have always liked my friends house and she announced in the summer that she was moving in with her boyfriend, he was going to sell his place and she was going to rent hers out. I said if she ever changed her mind and wanted to sell then she should give me first dibs. Well, she rang up a couple of weeks ago with news that she was pregnant :T and now with the need for guaranteed money, rather than monthly rental income she was now selling. She got her house valued, I offered the asking price and she accepted knowing she wouldn't have any EA fees. In the last week I have put my house on the market and on Friday I was offered the asking price :T

So this weekend dd and I have cleared out the shed, had a good sort out of our wardrobes and cleaned out the 'man' drawer in the kitchen. We've made 3 trips to the tip and it feels marvellous. I know it's early days yet but I didn't want to be clearing stuff out in the snow.:cool:

We've given a huge sack of clothes to charity and I have listed 15 things on e-bay.

Next step is to see a mortgage advisor. Hopefully my friend can find a new place with her bf soon and then the chain will be complete and the ball can really start rolling I'm v excited :j

So, definitely need to stay on the wagon regarding money. The only debt I have is £58 outstanding on the fridge freezer which I will pay off next payday. Obviously I have to pay for xmas but I think that's all very doable at the moment. I have already started being careful - food shop was only £25.46 this week

Coco114

Hey Poles , good to see you !

Exciting times for you .... Congrats on the new house :T very exciting !! As always am impressed by your energy ... But , more than that - your food shop was how much ???!!! I know I have 2 strapping boys , but , even so - I must be doing something wrong .....

Glad all is good with you and DD X