Trying to get on track

in_need_of_direction

Heading towards the weekend, then two days next week and off on holiday next Wednesday. One work item put to bed yesterday, quite a few others still to go. My team are being brilliant, my management less so. Had my meeting with the two senior partners, they just about listened and will get back to me when I'm back from holiday which is what I asked for. I have now created the foundation for a constructive dismissal claim if that is what it comes to. On other news, I have decided not to access my bank details until after my mortgage payment on Friday as I don't want to see the balance having crept up due to quarterly interest. Anyhow, gotta get to the saltmines. Have a meeting in dublin at 12.20 along with one senior partner. Won't we have fun conversations there and back.

in_need_of_direction

Today I'm in Stockholm airport en route to Beijing. Need to update sig, etc but all that will have to wait until I get home again which will be a week from payday. Was working until around eleven last night and then had to pack. I think the next day or so will pass in a blur of tiredness and jet lag. On Monday I found an offer on one of those voucher sites and so got 14 days parking, airport shuttles and b&b on return which is great as we get in quite late to dublin airport. Total cost was £58 while taking a bus which was our alternative would have been £50 and this gives so much flexibility.

beanielou

Hope all goes well.
take care

Verbatim

Enjoy your holiday.

parsniphead

I hope everything gets sorted at work for you.

Enjoy the trip. Stockholm, Being, very exotic.....very jealous.

in_need_of_direction

Well, I'm back and back to the salt mines. Holiday was so much better than expected though, as anticipated, I struggled with some of the food. On the plus side, I'm lighter now than I have been in the last two years which has kicked my !!! sufficiently to eat more healthily. So, this morning I am grateful for porridge with cinnamon.
Made an op to the mortgage yesterday and updated my sig. Am in a total quandary though as I have money to make a good sized op ( for me) but am not sure if I should instead put it aside for my share of son's property purchase.
Am back full of resolve as to how things should be better going forward and have committed me and OH to a 100 item Declutter pre Christmas. It's so doable but so far I've only shifted two things. The weekend was indulgently spent on soap catch up along with sleep catch up. The 21 hours of travel took its toll. Also did some shopping and snagged lots of whoopsied things in m&s and a £5 off a £25 spend in local grocers. Mr sbobs also welcomed me home with 5 weeks of vouchers so the ops are assured at some level. I did some batch cooking of soup and bolognese with whoopsied items purchased so quick and relatively healthy things are in the freezer ready for consumption. Next weekend will be the Halloween baking. Anyhow, need to find some work appropriate clothes. Hope everyone's week gets off to a good start.

in_need_of_direction

So, Monday is out of the way and went okish. I'm determined to get my Wednesday off this week but may end up working from home for part of it. Last night was spent searching for cheaper insurance. Got cost for a year down to £163.90 from the £488.17 my original insurer had hiked the price up to. It was more than a 33% increase despite continuing claim free. No explanation given just an offer to play around with excess levels. I also got £2.41 cash back. So, I paid upfront and will have a look at how my isa is structured. It can take monthly contributions in increments of £25 or £50. If it's £25, that will be upped with a regular monthly mortgage op of £7 being made. If it's £50, the full £32 will go to the mortgage.
Anyhow, a busy day ahead. Fingers crossed it's a productive one.

Ali-OK

Welcome home

What a big saving on the house insurance, rarely pays to be loyal these days it seems.

Mortgage is looking good, feel your dilemma pain...now where did I put that £40 that didn't got in the MOP yesterday :rotfl:

Hope work is going ok too.

in_need_of_direction

Work's work but I'm trying not to let it get to me. Am in the office this morning with a tender to go in for 12 and have a board meeting this afternoon for which there are shed loads of papers so it's likely to be a long one. Got half the things on my to do list done yesterday. Unfortunately the undone included picking up shoes from shoemaker. Not good as there was a pair I wanted to wear today. Am going to go, make a lunch as I may otherwise skip it which wouldn't be good. I'm trying to cut out scooby snacking which makes meals critical. Also discovered yesterday that when sugary stuff is within reach, I just eat it mindlessly. Not good.
Did a top up shop yesterday with a few extras so used my £5 off a £25 spend and was rewarded with another voucher. Just need to transfer that to the mortgage now. Anyhow, I need to get a wiggle on. Hope everyone has a good day.

in_need_of_direction

Yesterday I used my latest £5 voucher plus a £9 sainsbugs one and £15 in mouldy brown. Unfortunately I picked up a £55 candle instead of the £36 one so the saving negated itself. Have had a few spendy days with another foray to b00ts Thursday evening plus a snacks meal with a friend £8 inc drinks. Fri we went to wonderful Michael Palin and had dinner with friends first for which we picked up the tab by way of their engagement present. Didn't need many groceries this week so used the sainsbugs voucher to buy a case of cider and six bottles of wine at 25% off. This inc two bottles of champers and one of prosecco so Christmas prep well in hand. Last night was Spent on dog calming door opening duties and today I am committing to sorting out all the potential gifts and assigning purchases to recipients. Oh oh also weighed myself and killed off two pounds this week. Another four and I'd be in another stone. That's the aim for year end.