The Travelling Fund; £10,000 in 10 months!!!

killerpeaty

Things are a bit up and down with me. I need to take on a lot more of the household bills, work is utter pants and fibro is being a little tricky. But my studying is going well, moneywise I'm doing ok and I'm getting interest from companies a bit. Things will get better I'm sure.

Oooh looks yummy! You should totally cook for me some time.

liltdiddylilt

That Steak looks gorgeous! I lived off cauliflower cheese (I know it's a no-no for you veganists!) when I was pregnant. In fact mashed potato, veggies and cheese sauce was basically all I ate for 9 months! Somehow I came out of that pregnancy a stone lighter than I was when I got pregnant... :eek: time to start that diet again!! Lol.

Peaty I am sorry to hear about fibro & work etc doesn't sound good. Sending you both happy thoughts!

NinjaSavingKat

Oh Peaty.. that sounds awful for you! I understand how work is pants - but you are clearly something special honeybunch if other businesses are taking notice. Good for you with all this study - kinda jealous really cause I will be coming back from traveling to Starbucks... lol! Big hugs for you - and how cool would a vegan BBQ be someday with "the diary followers"...I can dream....

Lilt I was a mad mad mad obsessive over Mac&Cheese - some substitutes are okay to be honest but I have yet to experiment with cheeze sauces - it's on my list of things to try though. Mummy Bear got a plate of vegan Mac&Cheese but I think I let the side down using sweetened milk instead of unsweetened .......back to the drawing board..

Let me know how the diet goes this time round without a Jellytot " nom nomming" from the inside.... hahaha!

NinjaSavingKat

A colleague resigned yesterday. I asked her how she felt. Her response - "Smug"

NinjaSavingKat

On Saturday I went for a cycle.

In simple terms this was to be a "6 mile bimble" - not a race. I got distracted however by a scenic cycle route with a man-made road that meandered through marshes, canals, fields and all manner of amazing views.

I just kept going!
26 miles later and 3.5 hours I got home just as my legs were failing me.
:T I felt like a champion. :T

Knowing now what I can actually do and not one to shy away from a challenge I have set up July's challenge in order to help people burn calories and save money. And the "crazy" within told me I should take this seriously - you know considering it's my own challenge and that - and stop using the expensive, unreliable bus service that costs me £52 a month and start using my legs.

So this month I will not be buying a bus ticket. I will pay £25 (refundable) for a key fob at the train station for the secure cycle cage and pray I don't lose it.

This is a round trip of 5.4 miles per day and 27 miles a week. If there is torrential downpours I will consider walking with a big hood. But either way this is about 108 miles for the month.

But there you go. I do however foresee some issues....

• Helmet hair.
• Being hit by a lorry / car / pedestrian / fashion police etc
• Stupid cycle clothing amongst the uber stylish London set.
• Not being able to buy shopping at work at the big Tesco's.
• Not being able to buy anything that won't fit in my one lone rucksack.
• Fitting a change of work clothing and lunch tupperware in my one lone rucksack.
• Fighting for one of the two showers at work amongst all the runners if I get soaked in the morning.
• Looking like a complete eejit in cycle clothing walking into work with no bike to speak of.
• Carrying the most enormous and heavy d-lock to use at the gym on the way home.
• The hill on the way home after a late shift.
• The gears on my bike that won't change properly because I think I know everything and didn't read the instructions for the weird gear levers / handles..

And the positives...

• Whizzing down-hill to the train station ( not all the way though )
• Saving £52 that will pay for a week in a Thai beach resort (already sourced) and feeling gleeful about it.
• Getting fitter and feeling amazing.
• Not waiting for a bus that won't show up.
• Not having to come home early from seeing my friend to get said stupid bus that won't show up meaning the next one that runs from 2100 onwards is a different company and an extra £2.50- cause the tickets aren't interchangeable ......... AND breath!:o
• Embracing the fact I don't care what people think about me in preparation for looking like the great unwashed for the next 5 years.
• Being able to ride straight into the gym area and get onto the equipment since I will already be in my gym gear (kinda) and won't have to double back and thus saving time.
• Having already done my cardio warm-up by the time I get there.

So there you go.

I also discovered a lot of blackberry bushes that will get stripped come august by yours truly and a cherry tree near my gym ( not in someone's garden but close enough to look weird if I turn up with a step-ladder) that gave me a handful of the yummy berries post workout on Friday. It shall be foraged with great zeal today.

Right enough waffling.....

Do you feel brave enough to for-go the car for short journeys and walk..? Would you like to cycle more but can't find the time? Can you ride a bike? tell me your July money-saving escapades please.

shyspender

Kat - thought I would pop my head in...I often read but never post.

Was wondering about the gym bike securing thing, I know it's cheeky, but could you maybe leave the lock secured to the bike storage part at the gym so you don't have to heft it about? Like I said, it's cheeky, but loads of people do it, and you wouldn't be prohibiting others from using it by leaving a bike there all the time.

I would love to cycle to work, I admit I would be a fair weather cyclist, although the shower at work is fantastic, however the route to work is killer, literally, to work and I don't want to risk a serious accident. I would also like to get out on my bike more. At the moment though that's a no go for lots of reasons. The main one being medical, no exercise at the moment and the other main reason is that my bike is dismantled in the shed. Still waiting on a moving date, am hoping when I do move, I can get out on the bike and keep it in good condition because I will have a lot more space for it.

apple_muncher

Kat - you need to find a guaranteed way to NOT lose your special fob! Glue it inside your undies? Chain it around your neck? Swallow it and learn to regurgitate it at will? Attach it to the huge d-lock?

NinjaSavingKat

Apple Muncher you will be glad to know I have celloptaped it to my head. I just need to bend and swipe when needing to use it...:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

But on a more serious note I need the lock for the cage at the station otherwise anyone else with a fob could take everyones bikes and need it for the gym which is a 15 minute ride away so I need to carry it - although I can attach it to the bike while I ride so it's not on my back...

The fob is actually attached to my house keys so I can't forget it EVER...

I went to the gym tonight and really pushed it hard and I think this cycling to the station should be fine. Just not entirely sure what to wear. Hoody and stretchy pants it so untidy but we shall see. I need to be comfortable.....

NinjaSavingKat

Good Morning Diary Hunters.


It is day one and I am at work alive. You're impressed aren't you. Admit it. What a rigmarole though - it's like walking again but with more hassle although I didn't have to get up any earlier

Everything into my backpack - clothes to change into that are not crush-able (don't forget your tights), flat shoes, hair brush and hair-spray, make-up bag, food for the day (a lot), kindle, work pass, travel-card (all three within easy reach), deodorant, phone, diary, underwear... green smoothie bottle upright in the bag.. food in a bag in-case of leakages..sunglasses so I don't get blinded and rear end a car....

However I have compartmentalized everything before packing and shoved the personal items in a little shoulder bag that goes inside.

I put a bottle of water in the freezer to chill when I get up but only use the bike water bottle - no point bringing the fancy one that won't fit in the bottle holder on the bike...

Heavy duty D-lock and cable go on the back of the rucksack - turns out there ain't no where to safely attach it to the bike as I ride...

I have also realised with this on my back including a hoody AND a gillet it was too much clothing...Hot Kat is not a good idea. :p:p

I think I made it in under 15 minutes. With sweat dripping down my face. Ugh! Cooled off in time for the train though.... Stretchy pant leg hoiked above my knee was pulled down cause I didn't want to look totally uncool.

Heading to a friends house tonight but will get the bike first, then her house, then back home although she is only on a very slight detour. Then I really really need and early night....

Over and out!

apple_muncher

Yep - am suitably impressed! Well done :T:T:T.

Can imagine you bending and swiping with the fob stuck on your forehead! Just watch out you don't wallop your head on something, eh?

Is there a place at work where you can leave stuff like spare undies, deodorant ...?