This Time I'm Really Going To Do It

Karmacat

But not **offering** - or giving it to him too easily!  If he wants it, and he's legally entitled to it, make him work for it!

LadyWithAPlan

Just catching up on your diary. Your night in with friends sounds lovely so I would encourage you to do more of that In 3 years time you will have moved on, he will be out, or you will have sold .. and you will have a day without worrying about seeing his grumpy face.,

Glad your horse is over the colic surgery ok. 

Watty1

I decided it was too stressful for me to sell the piece of machinery and took it off the selling sites.  Partly because of the joint ownership issues and partly because I think I had listed it too cheaply anyway.  I messaged the three people interested in buying it and said it will be sold in a couple of months and I'll get back in touch then.     Am not entirely sure things will be over in a couple of months but it solves thinking about that for now.   The less stress I have the better I think.

Watty1

Have a somewhat "chaotic" wreath on front door. I made it at a wreath making evening I organised (inspired by Suffolk Lass a few years ago).   It was really good fun. I organised a florist to come to the house, opened the table out so it filled most of the space in the house and invited friends.  Made a big pan of lentil soup for supper.  Some came to make wreaths and others to watch and drink fizz.     I also invited my sister as I thought she might enjoy it.  She came, did enjoy it and told my friends that we were clearly lucky to have each other as we were all so lovely.   We all had a fabulous time.    We split the cost of the florist amongst those making and I've covered mine with stuff I've sold.    I also explained to the girls that I really do need a very cheap 2023 due to vet bill and finally resolving issues one way or another with the ex.

Charming cob recovery going well.   Am so grateful for that and for the VNM who has just been so kind and supportive and genuinely helpful.  During the Wreath Making Party he popped up a number of times to check Charming Cob was ok, walked WattyDog to prevent WattyDog assistance with wreath making and served coffees, poured wine and was just generally lovely

The ex-came in during party and sat on sofa and rang his girlfriend.  That was very uncomfortable.  My sister and one friend kept saying they wanted to go and hit him, and another who is a GP was concerned he is mentally ill.  A discussion with the court guardian, a social worker and the GP that were present followed with all 3 urging me to encourage him to get help for his mental health. I've mentioned this before on here and now decided to make one more call to his psychologist using the words they gave me.  He is not my responsibility but he clearly is ill.    

It is a credit to my friends that his presence and loudly having a call with the girlfriend in the midst of a party he was clearly not invited to did not spoil the party although I did feel very uncomfortable by it all.   I grin at the wreath every time I see it.  Yes there are many many  better made and better-looking wreaths but I doubt as many were made amongst so many lovely people.

Watty1

Off to a second birthday party this afternoon. 

Had been so wrung out that my brain was completely devoid of ideas for a gift so messaged a friend who said books from Amaz0n.  Great idea, they saved me going shopping and were delivered promptly.  I picked the ones I liked best and returned some.  Pink gift wrap from Aldi and a pink gift bag from the charity shop completed the gift.   (The local charity shop always has a great selection of gift bags).   I'm looking forward to the party.   I had a minor panic attack in Aldi as wasn't happy being away from home and the horses but the party is just a short way away and a party for a two year old is probably a short party!   Plus the parents are seriously horsey so they will understand me leaving early to check Charming Cob if I need too.    

Karmacat

Thank goodness ex didn't spoil your party - I remember his previous mental health issues, and it certainly sounds like he's dipping down again, to do something like he did.  Anyway, enjoy *this* party - stay as long as you're comfy, then go  

Watty1

Lovely 2nd birthday party.  So nice to see the birthday girl rushing around playing with her bestie.  Just a delight.  Got into a bit of a tizz but calmed self-down had a cup of tea and enjoyed the afternoon.  Bonus was that there was so much savoury snacks that I didn't need dinner and bought a takeout baggie home for the boyfriend so he didn't need feeding either.

Sold a dress on Vinted. Not a fan of that site as the buyer can choose the delivery option and dress has now to be taken somewhere that is not that local - however - checked further afield and there is one near the boyfriend's mother so it can be sent when he next visits her.  Clothes do seem to fetch a reasonable sum on Vinted tho, dress made £40 so happy with that.

Sorted car insurance, make a saving on that. I wasn't going to bother given the traumas of last week but glad I did as saved just shy of £90 and then decided it was time to splash out on a car rescue service and remembered cash back sites.  AA membership purchased for me and the VNM for £20 each once cashback taken into account.  Really happy with that.   Having re-remembered cash back sites I then bought cat litter on special offer with a discount code and cash back of £5

Delivered the cold frame I sold and opened a new savings account for the business which should mean an extra £40 or so a month interest. 

That vets bill (as yet unknown) has really focused my mind on returning "in full" to MSE ways.  I'm thinking I might keep a tally over the next 6 months of how I do as currently sales of stuff about the place at £75 with cashback of £55 to come and that interest means the potential already stands at £370 which is a motivating figure to keep going.

Watty1

Below freezing here.   So cold.    The soaked hay for the recovering Charming Cob froze last night so I bought it in to the house to defrost before hanging as I'm sure that eating frozen hay won't be good for him after the stomach operation.

Not sure saving is going to well.  Received the £160 for switching bank accounts and promptly spent that on supplies for changing his dressings.

Up early as bedding delivery for stables arrived at 7.00 am, I can barely bring myself to look at that bill as that has really short up and having to keep two horses in pretty much all the time I'm whizzing through the bedding.     Need to order in hay too.

Looking hard from some positives:  the living room is toasty warm as the wood burner is going.   I bought the VNM a chain saw and safety outfit and asked if he would cut up some of the wood laying around the place and he has cut sufficient for the winter so heating bills should be low.  

Watty1

Just purchased Christmas Gift for the VNM.   Am so glad that when the idea of Christmas Gifts was mooted when we first started dating I said no, too stressful and too expensive.  After negotiation we agreed that each year we were together we would buy a Christmas Tree decoration that reflected the year or a point in it.  I said if we stayed together for years we would have an amazing collection of memories for the tree.   Christmas gift purchased for under £20 and I know it will be something we will love for years to come.   I'm looking forward to seeing what mine is too!

LadyWithAPlan

Watty1 said:

That vets bill (as yet unknown) has really focused my mind on returning "in full" to MSE ways.  I'm thinking I might keep a tally over the next 6 months of how I do as currently sales of stuff about the place at £75 with cashback of £55 to come and that interest means the potential already stands at £370 which is a motivating figure to keep going.

Well done on the cashback and the selling. I am definitely going to start doing a full tally of where my cash goes. I have a spreadsheet where I post any sales/interest/cashback as part of my deposit saving and I do a monthly budget and put my money into virtual pots for groceries etc - i have 15 pots including vacation, clothing etc. However I feel I want to track the yearly actual spend figures and also monthly next year to show where I can save more and just be more focused.

Having horses as you know can be very expensive so finding ways to save and sell things to support them is a great idea - as well as making 2023 the year of getting the ex out your life.
The wreath sounds fabulous, sorry he tried (though obviously failed) to ruin the night for you.