Apple muncher's number crunching

apple_muncher

Pip is still pretty exhausted, but is 'getting up' earlier each day so far...

I have updated the October receipts that I have, and checked my back account for any online ones. (and decided to bin the July + earlier ones - all they are is a millstone around my neck and another reason not to clear the dining table... ) We get through rather a lot of money each month. A huge chunk of that is the sch fees...

Dh has had a letter re his company pension next Sept. Good to get some figures.

apple_muncher

Wow! Thunderbolts and lightning, very very frightening out there . We had to come out in the thick of it, to get to bouldering. It was like walking across the causeway again, sodden feet and up to the knees, but also from the top down too!

DH got home earlier than expected, which was nice. But it was just as me and pip were changing into better clothing for going out in a downpour. So we've only managed to say hello!

apple_muncher

13 knitted figures have had their bottoms, legs and arms sewn up. Some even have pompoms on their hats. And two each of Luna and Hermione have the rest of their hair (though it needs styling). I planned to start sewing eyes while pip bouldered, but I'd forgotten to take a needle, so scuppered that plan rather neatly and completely.

And I feel so much better for finishing some items, and putting the various balls of wool all away in the same place.

Tomorrow is a busier day: collect a bundle of clothes for pip, stay in the area and run round the ch shops with pip, home, lunch, go for my flu jab, take pip to opticians (also do m+s and riemans), home, tea, relax.

apple_muncher

Back from ch shop trawling. £23 got pip some geox sandals, Sketchers trainers and a bag of clothes from a gumt lovely lady. £12 got pip a long warm coat (but only really cost £2 as I used vouchers😎), and £3 got me more felt (I know, I know...) and 2 balls of pink + purple + white cotton/ merino wool that was too good to leave behind!

And I filled up with fuel. And bought some gf/df nuggets at tosco.

And then we have the opticians + other shops this pm. Gonna be spending a lot!

Yesterday's storm did some damage round here. All surprisingly localised, like mini tornadoes hit a spot and then dissipated.

apple_muncher

Ooph. Found what we needed in rymans, had an excellent time at the opticians. Were seen by fab people who just 'got' pip. The eye test was fast. The chap who helped choose the frames was fab. Pip is v happy with their choices. And m+s provided what m+s does best. Pip hates going to buy these things so I found some to show them and then they chose.

Overall, loads of pennies left my account today... But all worth it.

Karmacat

That sounds a really good day, and lots getting accomplished.  Good for you, good for Pip  

Humdinger1

apple_muncher said:

Wow! Thunderbolts and lightning, very very frightening 

You parachuted me straight into Bohemian Rhapsody there  @apple_muncher! We drove home to the soft South from the Midlands in it; forked lightning against a backdrop of sheet lightning; can only agree, it was frightening.   Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

apple_muncher

I've signed up for the latests NST challenge. Here's a summary.

NST Nifty November

You see, being organised is not about perfection; it's about customising your whole world to work for you.

Welcome to NIFTY NOVEMBER

N   NO GUILT. NO 'shoulds', 'oughts' or 'have to's. There's no perfect solution in some circumstances. Make a decision based on your values and don't look back.

I     IDEAL world, ideal celebration (no such thing). You can dream about what your ideal life or celebration looks like but then decide:
      a) What you would like
      b) What you NEED (even if it's a nice uninterrupted bubble bath once a week)
      c) What is possible You may dream of an island in the Caribbean with the partner of your dreams but if you have 5 young children and a nice but not dreamy mate for life, it isn't going to happen (without massive upset and disruption). It is however perfectly possible to enjoy what you have and find ways to make it even better.
      d) Work out the first steps to achieving your modified ideal

F    FIRST pay off some debt or add to your savings, live on what is left. Set your Budgets and stick to them - Food, Travel, Personal, Entertainment, DIY. Look at your month -    any birthdays or events (school fundraising will start ramping up). 15 NSDs please.

T    THINK AHEAD Meal plan based on things you already have in (main meals and lunches to work). Stock check now

Y    YOUR HEALTH is important. Try to eat, drink and act in ways that support your physical and mental health and your immune system.

N    NOW The first week after the clocks go back has more accidents than any other week in the whole year. Make sure that children especially are visible if walking or cycling, check your outside lighting (no fun being cold and wet and not being able to see where you're supposed to put the door key) and check your emergency car kit (warm coat, a shovel, old carpet strips, torch) in case of breakdowns.

O    Think about OTHERS. Many of you already give regular donations to charities of your choice but see what else you can do. For people already struggling with poverty, homelessness, ill health or loneliness, the festive season emphasises everything they lack.

V     Have the VISION to understand that other people choose to celebrate in different ways, or not at all. Please be sensitive to others needs and if you feel the need to absent yourself for a while and go and be somewhere qt, please do so.

E    EVALUATE any home made presents. Work out how many hours you need to put in to complete them. There are lots of home made gifts that can be started any time now, right up to the last minute - from infused oils and flavoured vodkas to truffles. It's time to round up any bags, baskets, fancy bottles you have been keeping and put them to good use. Look at craft supplies and see what you can do with them. 

M    MAKE  A LIST Check it twice. Random things to remember  can pop into your head in the doctor's waiting room, at a bus stop or in the middle of a church service - jotting it in your notebook is infinitely better than chanting it under your breath until you find a pen and a piece of paper.

B    BASICS Do you have stamps? Do any gifts need batteries? Lightbulbs? Allow time for running down stocks, defrosting the freezer and refilling. Is the oven so in need of a thorough clean that you fear the turkey might go up in flames.

E    EVERY DAY (where possible) check in and give us 3 things you are grateful/ thankful for

R    Read Rest Relax Recharge   

The challenge lasts for the whole of November

apple_muncher

After 3 weeks off school, I really don't want to go back tomorrow . I was mulling this over a few days ago and came to the conclusion that it is the expectations of SLT that I will do lots of extra stuff, that I am being held accountable for things where I have minimal input/influence, that I am generally feeling not appreciated... No praise, just a list of things to be better at... I could say more but won't!

Since realising this, I have swallowed a couple of frogs that were contributing to this. Which has helped. There one big monster frog left, but that's postponed until Weds.

And the conclusion has confirmed my decision to leave at the end of the academic year.

I'd done a fair amount of prep before breaking up, but then none since. I was feeling fed up about having to do it today, but then changed the thought pattern to along the lines of ' by doing it today, I'll have more free time on weds and thurs and shouldn't have to do more next Monday'. I want to be able to drop off pip, go to the gym (car or bus or foot, depending on how I feel), enjoy a mooch in liddle if I feel like it and come home and do things I enjoy without the constant thought of 'I need to do x/y/z for work'.

Karmacat

It's good when you mull decisions over, and the right one for you floats to the surface.  Since you're there till the end of the academic year, there'll still be compromises, but you know what direction you're going now, just need to keep it in mind.  Good for you.