Apple muncher's number crunching

apple_muncher

Pearla*Merle wrote: »

:rotfl: I meant that there's loads of hills and no flat bits there, don't know how it came out like that! Teaches me not to speed post

Aha! I get it now!! Even when I lived above the snowline, there was still lots of uphill-ness left to conquer. No such thing as a flat run, ever.

How are the plots and plans coming along? And are you better?

apple_muncher

Yay - the last working day of the week has been a good'un!

We are all on the mend, at varying speeds.

Dh has his last day at work tomorrow, then another eye appointment, so I reckon it will all be a bit of a damp squib.

I hope to get in plenty of walking (rather a big list of jobs and shopping) but no workout until I am fully better.

Anyone out there want a referral to Bounts??

Got 4 bags finished, so am on target for crafting thus far.

apple_muncher

Unsurprisingly, dh has very little enthusiasm for going in to work today.

I might do:
-schol runs
-PO
-c00p ys search
-library
-sainz
-aldee
-sweep
-wash up
-washing
-cut out bunnies
-stuff bunny legs
-take photos
-mark essays
-knit to the armholes
-make bunny hats?

apple_muncher

apple_muncher wrote: »

Unsurprisingly, dh has very little enthusiasm for going in to work today.

I might do:
-schol runs :T
-PO :T
-c00p ys search :T
-library :T
-sainz:T
-aldee :T
-sweep :T
-wash up :T
-washing :T
-cut out bunnies
-stuff bunny legs
-take photos :T - this is a biggie!!!!
-mark essays
-knit to the armholes
-make bunny hats?

Not bad. Just gotta nip out and run an errand then I'll work on the bunnies...


Pearla - I may send you some bunny photos to get your honest opinion, if I may!

Pearla*Merle

Ooh yay! Yes please! Can't wait, get sending!

PS. My pinterest plotting has gone a bit overboard. :rotfl:

apple_muncher

Also stuffed a dozen bunny legs and cut out 3 more bunnies. Go me! (No knitting though... or marking)

Dh had a damp squib of a day and I think is rather disappointed in how the day went. He was home by midday as they revoked his pc rights so he could access nowt.

Anyhow, he went for his eye appointment and now has another one in 6-8 weeks. He was going weekly for about 2+ months, so this is good news indeed.

He has acouple of applications in the pipeline - very different ones. One is just 30 hours and would give a wonderful home/work balance, as well as allowing him to pursue other interests. He is severely overqualified for it though,andthe pay would be less than half of thecurrent amount. The other is returning to a previous place of employment,so he knows the ropes. Pay would roughly be the same as now, same for the hours. But longer days as more travel.

And factoring in the travel, the former is within walking distance, the latter would cost over 3.5k per year.

So, we'll see what happens .


I have to get up fairly early tomorrow and get the bus to a kids klub meeting. All the others there will be leaders, so I feel privileged to be asked to join them. Should get in a decent amount of steps...


Pearla - hope you don't get swallowed up by pintrest! You will hear from me soon - dh has been hogging my laptop today!

apple_muncher

KK meeting all done and dusted. Then in to town to get things for dd from the land of £. Then home. A total of 6 buses! But once I've been on 4, it is effectively free.

Dd wants to watch 'Enchanted', so that is the afternoon sorted. I'm quite glad she has chosen not to go out.

apple_muncher

How could I have forgotten that the rugby was on?!!? Only missed 25 mins - phew.

6 bunnies all finished. Cardigan knitted to a few rows beyond the armpits.

The roof is leaking again. Or rather, the roof is still leaking and the container dh put there to collect the water was overflowing. On to the bit above my side of the fitted wardrobe (the one I emptied into the spare room cupboard a few months ago When this last happened), and dripping in there and down the wall. Yukkity yuk yuk yuk. Black stuff and woodlice. Ugh.

I have never liked the built-in wardrobes, and we have been here 10+ years. I am now determined to remove them and replace with freestanding ones. I suspect we may need to re-fix the ceiling and replaster the wall too. And a new carpet please. No idea on cost. Demolishing the wardrobes is a job we can do, although rehoming the contents will need plenty of magic. Pulling up the carpet can be done by us too. Ordering and building wardrobes can be our task too. So just the ceiling, wall and carpet-laying to farm out...

And my sister told me today that my mum's cooker was condemned and she has been surviving without one! Have put dh on the case, as it was too much for me. My sister is there now so hopefully she can take some pics of the current cooker, measure it/the gap, find out if mum wants the same sort.

I really need dd to get to sleep tonight, and she is really struggling and keeps getting up.

Right, off to find out about the cooker...

CathT

apple_muncher wrote: »

So, several coffees later...

What is Feb all about?


And also the NST challenge:

NST: February: Back to Basics.

• We have 29 days on this challenge together. From the 1st February all the way to the 29th. It is not really a ‘short’ month this year.
• What is important to you? That is what you will naturally focus on and that is what will take up most of your energy, so choose wisely. Keep your eyes on that goal this month. What will you fill your head with this month? Remove excuses, unsatisfying filler activities (tv, FB, PC time) and dedicate time to your chosen focus.
• Cut back to the basics. Be austere.
• When is your Debt Free Date? How much do you need to pay each month to achieve this? Can you bring this date forward? What are the consequences of not meeting this date?

Food: If your cupboards are stuffed, then you are to hone and tone them. Be creative in your concoctions. Downshift brands. Set your budget and stick to it. Can you reduce it by 10%
Every penny has a purpose and a job. Allocate a role to them all. Pay to your debt/savings first. Do not give your money to coffee shops, canteens, vending machines, corner shops, takeaway outlets. Budget before the month starts and ensure you compensate for food, vehicle malfunctions, birthdays, travel, outings. And cut it back to the bone.
Buy a homeless person a tea/coffee; donate to a foodbank or the trussell trust; volunteer.
Recharge your batteries. The lighter days are coming. Do what you need to do to lift your mood (that involves no spending…!) Do it 5 times per week. So, clear stuff out and recycle it/give it away/donate it; sort out the paperwork that bothers you; exercise; listen to music; dance.
Use what you have before replenishing eg toiletries, cleaning products. Use up your freezer and cupboard stocks. Plan your meals. Take your lunch to work every single day you are there.
Avoid the virus that puts the over-riding feeling of ‘want’ beyond what you actually ‘need’, that makes us spend, waste food, accumulate debts. Weigh up every spend and if you decide to buy it, keep a note of it in your notebook.
Reduce your outings. You cannot afford to go out every weekend! Arrange them before the month starts and cut by 1. Can you do it cheaper?
Yellow stickers are your friend. If you need to use these or can get to a supermarket at the right time, then set yourself no NSD target (but keep within your budget). For those who prefer rules, you have to get 16 NSDs (not lost if you need medication, fuel, regular activities that need paying weekly or only buy reduced items)


Frugality is key this month. And eating well but not excessively. I used my new Indian recipe book a couple of times last month, with yummy results, so that is worth repeating. Alongside AGCJ. Cutting back on the 'treats' and puds will help too. Okay, so aldee does 5x small bars of choc for £1.19; but approx 500g mince is only 60p more!

With 1 week of half term and 3 weeks with dh around 24/7, it will definitely be a 'different' month...:D

Love this challenge Apple.

apple_muncher

Hmmm. Not being very austere yet!

12 in the £shop - 5 school bar packs for dd, 2 really lovely notebooks (presents?), 2 packs of chocbars for dh for the 14th, 2 packs plain cashew and 1 pack blackcurrant throat lozenges. The sch bars alone have saved us £5 compared with Sainz prices. And £3 on Cmas fabric to make some bags and hopefully a little profit...

Following yesterday's interior rain, I have done a list of things I'd like to get done this year...the main downside being that they mostly cost money...
-get roof mended
-dry loft
-demolish wardrobes
-replaster wall
-sort ceiling
-redecorate bedroom
-new carpet
-curtain rail
-new wardrobes

-loopipework
-replace loo bowl
-bathroom flooring

-replace some window glass
-replace front door
-replace internal doors
-new stair and landing carpet

-new kitchen!

The roof is a 'must' though...