Building The Burrow!

Pearla*Merle

Hello!

We're all moved in, to say it's been an epic undertaking is an understatement of the highest order(!). Full tale will be recounted soon, but it all ends well with Mr Merle's job going well, the flat is beautiful with the most gorgeous living room view (who needs TVs when you've got boats, canoes, geese to watch all day?) and life generally settling down. We're half unpacked with more bits to pick up as it couldn't all fit in the van, oops despite this I've put together another charity shop bag which is singing its way out of the house today (wonder if I can employ the services of a local Canada goose to take it across the river for me? :think:)

Money has been a tad wayward due to moving-related nonsense but definitely not as bad as it could have been. Aldi is practically our former shop, so looking forward to the tumbling food bills

Mr M's left loads of copper coins lying about, need to find where I packed the kittybank so he can be fed!

apple_muncher

Congratulations on a successful move! That view sounds awesome!

newgirly

Wow it sounds amazing pearla, hope you settle in nice an quickly

mouche

Sounds great Pearla - congratulations on a successful move.

Pearla*Merle

Thank you, Mouche, apple muncher & newgirly Hope all is well with you folks!

I seem to have gone AWOL again, time for a proper update methinks...

Pearla*Merle

Money stuff & things: I've been running a very tight ship. Apart from a few emergency household bits/espressos/stamps for thank you cards and, I admit it, an oh-gosh-is-that-a-bargain-dress-I-spy? (thought a - useful - present to myself was rather overdue after the madness of the last while really!) spending has been kept at a minimum. I received an inheritance from the relative that died back in June, just over £1k - currently it's tied up in paying back moving costs (we had to do some clever money juggling to make it all happen) but eventually I'll wrench it back & it'll go into the savings.

I need to sort out our old council tax, electricity & water accounts over the next week. Cross fingers they send me some money back!

I finally unearthed the kittybank and fed him, I can report another 27p is being added today. (thank you, obliging sofa!)

In probably the superest money news of the year, our local shop is now an Aldee! Get in! Hopefully our food bills will tumble, tumble, tumble. I've been slowly testing everything out, currently addicted to the Muesli & Greek yoghurt. The wafer thin chocolate discs (Choceur ones, their name escapes me) are fantastic as well, not that I've eaten many as I've finally cracked on with my get healthy/no sugar plans, at long, long last. Coming up to week three and I've reduced the rubbish foodstuffs significantly (sugar down by at least two thirds!), next week I'm cutting it all as completely as possible (including fruit, just for a few weeks). It's made a huge difference, I used to get all sorts of weird, painful twinges (especially problematic in my hands) and all sorts of mood/energy swings that have completely cleared up, joy! It's nice feeling normal again.

Job hunting starts properly in a couple of days - internet is finally being switched on so I can now do it in some sort of methodical way.

Next instalment coming soon...

newgirly

Congratulations on moving near an ald* :rotfl: I don't think there is anything I wouldn't buy in there it's great, don't forget news papers often do £5 off a £40 shop voucher (I think usually on a Thursday ?)

hanging_on_in_there...

Congratulations on your move...and hope all continues to go well for
You... Wishing you happy days!

Pearla*Merle

Ooh newgirly, how did I forget about that?! Must put a reminder on my phone

Thank you HOIT I absolutely love it here, it's amazing having so much space to live in again, but it does mean I now have no excuses not to do my exercise DVDs :think: :rotfl:

Pearla*Merle

I still haven't found the cable for my laptop yet, oops. It's a bit too hard to recount tales by tippy tapping away on the iPad *hand cramps immediately at mere thought of it*

Thought I'd try & get back into the swing of things though. A few jobs have been applied for but was a bit disrupted in my plans over the weekend when we had to return oop north to pick up the rest of our stuff. 'Twas another epic day of moving & somehow we managed to fill a transit van full of extra stuff, egads. I'm back on the serious What Can I Put In A Charity Bag warpath now.

Managed to down half a bottle of clearance Aldee wine tonight, oops, but otherwise healthy eating is going well & have lost around half a stone, huzzah! Definitely need to just grit my teeth and get into doing some hardcore exercise again though - seeing all my lovely clothes-that-don't-fit-me again during the move
has made me want to skinny up asap. :rotfl:

:www: MFW Wonderment: £2.10 into the kittybank and I've spied yet more pennies to add tomorrow! Hopefully getting back some electric money soon. This week there will be lots of money chasing, let's hope I catch it!

:coffee: Simple Pleasures: picking up a book and finishing it swiftly! Thundering rain, while sitting cosily inside; walls in the rain and the hot drinks that follow them.

:heartsmil Burrow Building: plotting adventures to the South Coast, Saturday can't come fast enough

PS. One week til Kate! :smileyhea