The Ultimate Incentive natters on. Part 9

Tete_en_l'Air

It is starting to settle on the road. I have a few things I want to get done today so going to race through them. don't want to make the mistake I did last week and wait to see what happens and then have the snow stop!

I would LOVE to be on Pointless!!! Couldn't believe Ondine wasn't a pointless Colin Farrell film the other night, thought I was on to a winner there...

Dinah93

My dad's friend is trying to convince him to go on together. I have no idea what it is but dad isn't keen!

shrimpy_80

Ouchie to the dentist (painwise and moneywise) Hope your and Birdie's OHs are both feeling better soon. I have completely and utterly lost track with the declutter but am sure I have probably passed the 310 mark already as I feel like all I have done recently is bin things. I just can't bear to pack and unpack things I don't really want. The place is under about 2 inches of dust now and I'm itching to clean it so think I am channeling that into decluttering!

I love Pointless too but its so hit and miss, sometimes I ace the final and think I'm amazing and other times I struggle to get an answer at all, never mind a Pointless one! A couple won £20k this week which was the biggest jackpot to date (yes, I think I need to go back to work!)

clearmydebts

Boo! I can't watch ITV Player because I am not in an ITV region

Happy Friday everyone! I am off for a night away tomorrow with my mother, granny, auntie etc. Looking forward to it. Have a great weekend everyone

Birdie85

Morning all! :wave: Did everyone have a good weekend? How strange was the snow?! There in abundance one minute, gone the next!

How was the presentation Lara? Did you have a nice time in Edinburgh?

Really going to struggle to hit the magic 310 de-junk target by Thursday. Didn't get nearly enough done over the weekend, just a couple of bags of clothes for the CS and a bit of general tidying/binning. Still... it's more than I would've done without the challenge so that's a bonus! :T Definitely going to keep it going in February as well as making and selling Valentine's cards which will help to reduce the craft stash.

And with V-Day in mind... I can't believe it's going to be February on Friday! Where's January gone?! :eek:

Lara44

Hey Guys

Thanks for the good vibes, the presentation went really well. I got lots of great feedback and met some very cool people. I surprised myself a bit - was getting so down in the dumps about work lately. It's given me a good confidence boost.

We had fun in Edinburgh, though the weather was pants - so much sleet. Ended up on big old pub crawls really! Met up with my sister too, which was nice.

I was thinking of you all as I got the East Coast mainline home, through Newcastle, Darlington etc.

Just got some reading to do today Hope you're all having a happy Monday!

wendz86

Morning,

Our snow finally dissapered over the weekend, i was very bored of it by then!

At least you managed to get some decluttering done Birdie even if you won't reach the target. Bet your valentines cards will be fab.

Lara - glad the presentation went well.

I am glad its Feb soon, so bored of Jan and still don't get paid till wednesday. Actually haven't done bad with pay though and will only slightly eat into febs budget.

Can't believe is less than 6 months till wedding now! I was cutting out mini bunting to go on the wedding cards yesterda while Poppy was napping.

Dinah93

Our pay situation is ropey to say the least. I need to do a full budget later today but I think there is a chance we may need to borrow a few hundred off mum to see us through the month. Hoping it doesn't come to that but NIMs laptop needs to go into the shop to try to fix it, and he needs some replacement part for the car as it broke this morning so now he has no wipers in the rain. We've decided to put off going back to Ireland until after I'm back at work and RSI season is over, while it means me using more holiday it's better as I'll have a wage coming in again and also for the peace of mind that Grace is less likely to catch anything.

Current return to work plans are that I'll ask if I can work from home 1 day a week, if that's approved I'll use 2 days holiday a week for about 9 months to work part time but on full time wages. If I can't I'll put in 3 days holiday a week for about 6 months. Either way once my holiday time runs out I think I'll be quitting as NIM can (hopefully) work 10 days over 9, plus has 1.5 days flexi a month, so he can do 3.5 days childcare over a 4 week period, while my mum can do 0.5 days a week. Dad can do another 0.5 days in the short term, but longer term he may or may not be able to, so realistically it's just too tight for me to even work half time.

Dads birthday today so doing dinner for him and my mum tonight, and baking a cake. I love any excuse to bake a 'proper' big cake.

In hospital again this morning, just the dietician, but fingers crossed Grace might have risen above the 0.4th centile as she's a huge 14.1lbs now. She's almost gained as much as I've lost this year!

Due at my cousin's wedding in May, but not sure we're going to be able to afford to go. I really, REALLY want to, but it's in Greece, and I think it's going to be about £1000 for the week mostly just down to travel costs, the very lovely hotel is only around £40 per night. So it's a big drive to me at the moment to clear debt and make some extra income so that I can go.

Had a good declutter weekend, NIM sorted lots of his DVDs and games, £40 or so from music magpie. Although I think that's all going to be eaten up by the laptop diagnostic on the screen. I sorted and shifted about 200 books, but no actual money for them, just donating them to a local museum to sell to raise funds to keep open.

Would anyone like a Feb challenge, or do you want a month's rest?

Birdie85

Depends what the challenge is!

Nice to 'see' you on here with an update Dinah, I get a little unnerved when you don't appear for days!

It's a shame that it may come down to you having to leave work, but it's for the best. Good idea to use your holiday to cut down to part time for a while, thank goodness your employers are so generous with holidays! Can you apply for a sabbatical rather than quit completely, just to keep the door open for a while?

Sad that you might have to miss your cousin's wedding in May but I'm sure she'll understand if you can't go.

Very exciting that your weddings are creeping up Wendz and Shrimpy! :j

Ruby, if you're around, how are you doing?!

wendz86

Sorry to hear about the ropey pay situation.

Thats good you will have some help with the childcare if you go back to work for a bit.

Good luck with the dietician, that is amazing with her weight gain consdiering how small she was!

The wedding sounds good in Greece but is a bit expense, would be good if you could manage to save up the funds to go though.