Wols Riverbank Tales 5: Recapitulation

Wol2

Greetings everyone :j:j
Deep breath!

Sorry it's taken me so long to come back to DFW. . I've dabbled in the last few months but haven't felt able to "commit" to another diary until now.:)

For those that want the history it can be found here in 4 parts:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2653229

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1885875

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/1409541

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/975983

To update: Unfortunately in March last year, the Financial Ombudsman finally decided to rescind the previous decision to award me rather a lot of money for the Dodget and Bodget "restoration" of my home after the flood in 2007. This knocked me for 6. I am now therefore skint and have a £60k debt in my mortgage offset account.

I was left with no savings/pension and a load of grief. I had also developed an alcohol problem and my work had dried up.

So, I have been plodding on with baby steps....and whilst I am not out of the woods yet, I really think I've made some good progress and it is time to re-start the diary. I've missed you guys and all our little jokes........

Currently
a) all my self-employed work dried up last year with the Govt abolition of the Reguonal development agencies
b) I'm now looking at Community and 3rd sector funding/jobs and have had a PT contract to implement property protection for residents at risk of flooding which ends in June.
c) Most of the original piggies have now passed to Rainbow bridge - but I still have 10 pigs and am involved in voluntary piggie rescue transport all over the country :A
d) Numpty is now honorary chief gardener/patio washer/dandelion picker and due back down here in July :cool:
e) I have been on a programme ref the alcohol and it is now not as serious as it was...but i would like it "gone for good"

The last year has not been without some pretty serious !!!! to deal with ......and at the moment I am in dispute with Southern Water over their decision to plonk a rather big pumping station in my garden.

However - there is positive personal movement - and whilst it is not as quick as I would like, I think Wol is now committed to starting a new diary and making baby steps.

The 3 things i want to achieve this year are
a) get reasonable on the booze
b) find a decent job that helps launch a new career
c) start paying off my £60koverdraft on the mortgage account - using ebay/amazon/free-ads and anything else

So welcome to the new diary. I can;t promise to update every day....but I'm hoping the friends I've made on here over the years will walk with me on this....and we can also have a few laughs on the way!


xxxx

Sparkles87

Lovely to see you back Wol and best of luck with everything

Numpty_Monkey

Wol2 wrote: »

d) Numpty is now honorary chief gardener/patio washer/dandelion picker and due back down here in July :cool:

and Guinea pig tickler

beanielou

A face from the past.
Keep plodding xx

Tixy

Nice to see you back Wol

How you keep fighting all that life throws your way I don't know. What you have been through is enough to knock you for 66 not 6.

Good luck with the baby steps and hopefully they'll turn in to giant leaps in time. :)x

Buffythedebtslayer

Hello Wol, I found your diary and then lost it again. Good to see you back and thank you for the lovely PM in the other place xxxxxx.

I am a bit nervous re not having a job but hey ho. I am seeing it as a new adventure.

Will be back to chat more but I am pondering many things. Guinea pig hutches included!


Love Buffy


xx

Wol2

Numpty_Monkey wrote: »

and Guinea pig tickler

I knew I'd find a way to get you back onto DFW

Welcome back Hun :beer:
xxxx

taxi73

Welcome back and Happy New Diary.
With your determination I'm absolutely certain that you can turn these things around xx
Just take it one step at a time x

Wol2

Lovely to see some old faces on here- thanks all of you for coming back :beer:
I have decided that this diary will not "bombard" everyone with daily information.on a myriad of things...this time I will be focusing on subjects.

Subject today is The Pigmobile/my weekend

Today I have booked the car in for some remedial work needed before an MOT- chuffed at being so very organised and not leaving it for a last-minute rush before the tax is due at end of this month.

Yep the pigmobile is still here and going strong at 140k miles :j

It does need some rather expensive - but not unexpected at it;s age -suspension work done before the MOT in a couple of weeks. However I am STILL owed £6k from a client for work invoiced on 31st Jan and I need this to pay for the pigmobile.

So my priorities tomorrow -
a) juggle some accounts and chase the payment owing so i can get the pigmobile fixed...plus
b) raise an invoice for other work outstanding amounting to £2k.
c) do some work against the part-time contract I currently have- I now have to get it all signed off by end of June when my contract ends so pressure is on to "concentrate the mind and the body"
d) tomorrow evening - clean the rest of the pigs out - being the smelly single boars - all four of them

I will at some point update you on the Wol menagerie as there have been lots of changes owing to piggies passing to Rainbow Bridge :sad:

This saturday I am doing another piggie rescue run to Wales and dropping in on the way back to take my mum out to dinner for her birthday....wish me luck! Last time I went to my parents there was a big row and i ended up leaving at midnight to stay in a hotel . Hopefully I have learned some new techniques from my Counsellor and she has rehearsed me for this weekend in terms of dealing with my mum :cool:

I am making good progress - this time last year I would be stressed up/anxious/dreading seeing my mum - now I'm feeling confident about meeting her on my own terms.:)

Will post some piggie pictures soon.

xxx

SSA

Hello Stranger! welcome back Hun.!

Sounds like you have been through some really tough times and sorry to hear about the Ombudsmans ruling :-( but I am glad to see you back and positive....good luck with the new diary.

Reminds me that I have been away for ages too...hmmm maybe I will take your lead and start another diary of my own.

Good luck

Angiexx

taxi73

Looks like a good plan to me.
The Mum thing is a massive improvement..well done..just remember you are the in control x