The Big Adventure

Goldiegirl

newgirly wrote: »

We really like Auroura, how amazing going to Australia! Can I be really nosey and ask what type of cabin you go for on a long cruise like this, the difference in price is very large for a balcony but I'm not sure about being inside/outside for a longer cruise. Or perhaps you are so busy visiting places it doesn't matter?

Hope you don't mind me asking, I am planning lots of trips for the future in my head

We looked at outside cabins and balcony cabins. The balcony cabin cost about £6000 more for the two of us, so we decided to go for a window cabin instead, so we could feel as if we have money to spend on excursions etc. The inside cabin is prob about another £5000 cheaper still, but for a long cruise like this, we felt we'd enjoy having at least a window.

There's quite a few sea days, and it's nice to put your feet up in your cabin sometimes, so felt the window on the world would be the best choice for us.

There's a lot to think about, just sent off for my new passport, then will need new ESTA for USA and visas for Australia. Also looking at the excursions as they are now online.

Part of my always freaks out about all the preparation, especially on this scale, but the rest of me is excited as it's something I've always dreamed of.

Goldiegirl

It's been a while since I've been on here, but apart from holiday preparation, I'm doing some writing, and it's gets all consuming when you get stuck in.

My cousin Michael, in Canada, is writing his memoirs. He's had an interesting life as he's lived all over the world working in the oil industry, then decided to go to university to study history later on in his life. He's currently a history lecturer in a Canadian university

Although he's 17 years older than me, we have a lot of childhood experiences in common. My parents took over the tenancy of their house from my great aunt and uncle when they died. When Michael was growing up he spent a lot of time there, as he was very close to our great aunt and uncle.

He sent me his draft of that period of time, and it sparked off so many memories. Some of the things he had mentioned I never knew about, but there were other things I knew more than him about.

Plus, I've done a lot of family history work, so I have lots of dates to confirm when things happened

So I got writing, and he's going to add some of my my recollections to his story.

I've still got some writing that I want to do, but I've done the bulk of it now.

Financially, the Sipp has gone up by £1500 in a month. But this is more down to the state of the pound than any expertise on my part.

We've had confirmation of Mr Goldie's state pension amount, to start at the end of the month. £195.02 per month. This is big money for us, and will make a lot of difference. Hopefully, we'll save most of it, and it will go towards holidays and larger purchases of things that we'll need. It means he'll start paying tax again, however.

Not so good, the state of interest rates. I've had notification of the reduction in the TSB rate, and I've heard that the Halifax reward is going down to £3 per month.

We also have some fixed term accounts maturing in February, so the rates we get on that money will drop like a stone.

It has been good while it's lasted, and I will try and get the best rate that I can, but I'm not going to go mad swoping money around for a small additional amount of interest. There comes a point where the effort involved to return received ratio makes it not worth it.

Still getting a lot of walking done, as the weather is still very nice

Karmacat

You're writing too now! Yay I like the "getting stuck in" part - I'm a bit bad at that, I start opening other software ...

I'm glad you're still getting out walking, it's so beautiful outside right now (when it isn't tipping it down ...)

misscousinitt

All very exciting Goldie with the writing and the holiday preparations.

MCI

Watty1

Love reading about the holidays. Living a retired life via your thread

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Australia cruise sounds amazing. Six weeks with one case, and presumably lots of different weather, is a real challenge though. Good luck with that! I feel like you about the efficiency of money shuffling with such low rates. As the different accounts reduce their rates I am gradually consolidating into the remaining higher payers, not that they are that great! But spending time shuffling for the sake of a few pennies is silly.

Goldiegirl

Hello everyone!


I've finished my writing for the time being at least, it's a relief to get it out of my head, on to the page.


I 've transferred part of my tax allowance to Mr Goldie, now that he will be a tax payer again. I did it online, and it was very easy.


Mr Goldie became an official old age pensioner last Thursday. The first bit of pension will hit our bank account on Tuesday and thereafter every four weeks.


The say they'll automatically tell his tax office about the state pension. All these changes will probably take a bit of time to bed in, so will have to keep an eye on it.


As we now feel a bit more flush with the money, we've been buying a few things we have put off, such as a new winter coat for me. Now we need a cold winter so I can get some wear out of it!

Karmacat

Congratulations to Mr Goldie!

What are you going to do with what you've written, Goldie? Is it mostly in support of your cousin, or something of your own?

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

And congratulations on the new coat! I have found over the last few years that it is rarely cold enough to wear my big coat, especially out walking as you get so warm with the exercise! Lovely to have when using trains and waiting around though. Enjoy it!

Goldiegirl

The writing started off as a support for my cousin, but I think I'll end up 'polishing' it, and adding to it as a basis for my own life story. Some of the things that have happened in the family have been very interesting, so I may even use it as a basis for a fictionalised family story.





In 2004, after my dad died, I wrote a couple of long stories/short novellas, as it gave me something else to think about. I cant pretend they were any good, but it took my mind off things, and I posted them on a fiction website, and got some nice feedback. it's just a hobby thing, from time to time.


Mr Goldie heard from his tax office - they confirmed that 10 % of my tax allowance had been transferred to him and his new tax code now that he's got his state pension. I checked it, and its right, so that's a bonus.







I've been keeping a close eye on my two Tesco current accounts and Mr Goldie' Tesco current account. Fortunately we have not been affected by the recent fraud, but its very unsettling. It's such a huge data breach. I hope they will be honest and tell us exactly what happened.


Yesterday, we had a smart meter installed for the gas and electric. These smart meters are to be rolled out to everyone by 2020, but we applied to have ours done, to get it out of the way.


You get little gadget so you can monitor you usage and set yourself targets or limits. It tells you the cost of the energy you use each day, which is interesting, and could be very helpful for those who are budgeting.


We went to Canterbury last week to see Woman in Black at the Marlowe Theatre, which was chilling, much better than the film. I found the end of the play very unsettling.


Now the clocks have gone back, I find myself looking inward towards the home, but the weather is still nice enough for a bit of walking, hopefully will be able to keep this up over the winter period.