Get It Together . . .

JustAboutThere

Sorry for disappearing.

I've been back down the rabbit hole for a bit again. Not recommended. Hopefully starting to come up for air and de-stress.

Hope everyone is well.

Buffythedebtslayer

Hello


Glad you are back, I remember your diary from the start of the year. no going down the rabbit hole again!


Big hugs in case XXXXXXX


Buffy

JustAboutThere

JustAboutThere wrote: »

Well, at the moment there's a wacking great bush/tree that's uprooted itself. Trouble is, I own downstairs and upstairs is rented - I haven't heard from the owner of upstairs in over two years. He gets the money - I get the hassle, although this lot are way better than the previous ones.

Legally, the garden is split down the middle and, you've guessed it, the shrub belongs to upstairs. I'm not sure if the tenants upstairs are (a) aware of this configuration; or (b) just ignoring it. I'm not paid to manage his property, but its beginning to look as if I'll have to contact the letting agents in order to get it shifted. If there's high wind coming, I don't want said shrub appearing through my kitchen window.

The letting agent for upstairs phoned back today to say they'd had approval from the chap who owns upstairs to remove the large shrub that's been in the garden since early February.

I did tell her I'd begun to think it was a permanent fixture in the garden!

JustAboutThere

Well that explains the trip down the rabbit hole.

Who would have thought forgetting to take my medication most days for the past week would result in AF coming back?

Yeah, I know - entirely my fault. I keep changing bags and the tablets are invariably elsewhere.

Pretty much confirms that its only the medication that's been keeping it at bay - it started in November. I'll have to dig out the letter from the hospital that said I was going to be sent for another investigation - that was back in February. You know the type, phone the number of the relevant Consultant and get the answerphone. Oh joy . . .

So, resulting gut ache at the moment and much scoffing of biccies (budget brand - chocolate bourbon, double pack at £0.44); combined with trip to greasy spoon at lunchtime for mushroom omelette, chips and cola. Sod the budget (and I'm spoiling for a fight).

Its beautiful outside and I'd love to be back in it. I'll have to make do with waiting until after work.

JustAboutThere

A quiet and rather relaxing Easter was had - more scoffing of choccie biccies - I'll deal with the ensuing weight gain later.

Although, I've been slightly better lately at keeping more of a spending diary relating to my food. I've started an Excel chart and its pretty up-to-date, although I need to track down one receipt that's currently residing in a supermarket bag in the kitchen.

I did a little food shopping on Thursday evening and that fed me for all of Easter (and today). Four NSD's - easy when you don't leave the house like a lazy git!

I don't want to be stupid and restrict myself too much, but more get an idea of what I spend. I've found that buying every 2-3 days works better for me, as I don't throw food away like that. I know its not the most budget conscious way, but I can't batch cook (freezer doesn't work*). So, little and often seems to be the way to go.

* Freezer is actually the small ice box in the fridge I inherited from the previous owners when I moved into the house. The fridge still works and I know me all too well. If I replace the fridge, I'm going to want to re-do the entire kitchen and I can't justify that for the little amount of cooking I do.

JustAboutThere

I've managed a few more NSD's - 10 for April, in total, so I'm quite pleased with that.

Mind you, tube pass had to be renewed over the weekend, so that was a spendy day.

Not quite as pleased about the letter that arrived over the weekend telling me my endowment is due to return (at today's rates) roughly £21K.* Pity my mortgage, that is due to be repaid in four years, is £56K.

Good thing I've been saving. Bad thing - most of it will go to 'Abbey Crappy'.

* This would be the endowment policy sold to me by a friendly, fatherly chap with the line of "wouldn't you like enough money to pay off your mortgage with some over for you?". Yes, I've already claimed for mis-selling - one letter was all it took and they agreed I was 'risk adverse'.

I just keep telling myself, in four years I'll be mortgage-free.

PinotGrigio41

JustAboutThere wrote: »

I've managed a few more NSD's - 10 for April, in total, so I'm quite pleased with that.

Mind you, tube pass had to be renewed over the weekend, so that was a spendy day.

Not quite as pleased about the letter that arrived over the weekend telling me my endowment is due to return (at today's rates) roughly £21K.* Pity my mortgage, that is due to be repaid in four years, is £56K.

Good thing I've been saving. Bad thing - most of it will go to 'Abbey Crappy'.

* This would be the endowment policy sold to me by a friendly, fatherly chap with the line of "wouldn't you like enough money to pay off your mortgage with some over for you?". Yes, I've already claimed for misspelling - one letter was all it took and they agreed I was 'risk adverse'.

I just keep telling myself, in four years I'll be mortgage-free.

Think you were sold your policy by the same lovely chap as we were . Our one said if you overpay the endowment policy each month it will be paid in 15 years rather than 20, so we paid over the odds apparently for a number of years. Cashed in now though , sadly, but it was never going to reach the £106K it was meant to xx

Lucky you have been saving though. We have nothing towards ours at all and cant afford to pop it over to a repayment at the moment.

Happy Days !! xx

JustAboutThere

I've been overpaying as well - thinking about it, I believe the actual mortgage owing is closer to £46K than £56K. There's not much they can deduct from my monthly mortgage payment - its under £200 at the moment.

So, possible plan of action - if my probation is successful - pay £20K to mortgage, so that frees up a portion of my monthly savings to spend on the house - garden, refurbishment, etc., I've been avoiding in the quest to have the shortfall. I've just been paranoid about not being able to get there. I can't rely on parents - I actually lent them money (all of the refund from the mortgage mis-selling - and more - if I'm truthful).

Its been a long, hard slog to build up the savings. I may not have debt but I've lived as if I have - if that makes sense.

JustAboutThere

JustAboutThere wrote: »

I've been overpaying as well - thinking about it, I believe the actual mortgage owing is closer to £46K than £56K. There's not much they can deduct from my monthly mortgage payment - its under £200 at the moment.

So, possible plan of action - if my probation is successful - pay £20K to mortgage, so that frees up a portion of my monthly savings to spend on the house - garden, refurbishment, etc., I've been avoiding in the quest to have the shortfall. I've just been paranoid about not being able to get there. I can't rely on parents - I actually lent them money (all of the refund from the mortgage mis-selling - and more - if I'm truthful).

Its been a long, hard slog to build up the savings. I may not have debt but I've lived as if I have - if that makes sense.

Great - I'm now flip-flopping on what I wrote above. I don't know - will it leave me with little savings. What happens if the job doesn't work out. If I need to rush back to the other side of the world for family. If the house needs big repairs . . .

I've been awake since 4.30 a.m. AND its a tube strike day.

I don't think I can cope - with anything at the moment.

Is this a 'real' problem or just hormones . . .

Arghhh!!!!

JustAboutThere

It's been a stressy few weeks after my latest trip town the rabbit hole. So much so that I truly thought I'd screwed up this job.

I spent most of the last week going to work after having been awake since 2.00 or 3.00 am, which doesn't make for a happy JAT!

Anyway, unofficial chat with HR has revealed that they're very pleased with me and the one boss who was causing the most grief had actually passed on some rather complimentary thoughts about my work. Big sigh of relief, wipes brow, etc . . .

Mind you, I don't know how to 'read' this boss. One minute she's snapping 'where is this?' and the next it's 'we should go out for lunch' or 'do you like this new purchase I've just made?' At the risk of stereotyping - why is it always the women? What's wrong with a little consistency!

Here's to hoping the future is bright and much, much less stressy!