The Big Adventure

Goldiegirl

AlexLK wrote: »

Glad to hear everything is going well, Goldie. Norwegian cruise sounds wonderful. We have not been to Norway but did visit Iceland many years ago, though only for a couple of days. Can attest to the Canada Goose being required. :rotfl:

CathT wrote: »

Good to hear from you Goldie. Retirement life sounds wonderful.

Watty1 wrote: »

How wonderful to see a post from you Goldie....long may it continue

Good to 'see' you all.

I hope to look in on your diaries soon

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Lovely to hear from you, I am so glad that all is going well xx

newgirly

Goldiegirl wrote: »

We went on CMV Columbus. For the price we paid I thought it was very good indeed. I think it's fine for a shorter cruise, but I'm not sure I'd go on her for a longer cruise, as there isn't the variety of places places to eat or choices of entertainment like you get on P&O. I think it's definitely worth a try, and I would sail on her again

Thanks GG

greent

Lovely to see you post We'Re contemplating a cruise (short one - no more than a week, as we'd be going without children) in 2 years time for OH's 50th. Never done one before
X

Goldiegirl

A slight delayed reaction to GreenT's post, but, sounds like a good plan for your OH's 50th. Be warned though, cruising is very addictive!

Well, another two months have passed since my last visit to the forum. During the down time between Christmas and New Year, I intend catching up on a few diaries. I looked at a couple this morning, and one thing that struck me was that this place is such a lovely supportive community, and I've missed that. I think I did the right thing to stay away from MSE for a while, as I realised that I was getting slightly dysfunctional regarding money. There are certain areas of MSE where the frugality is quite intense and spending money is almost looked on a bad thing, and I started feeling guilty about spending, which is not good. Therefore. I needed to put some distance between myself and MSE for a while.

I thought I'd do a few year end comments - I did quite a thorough review last time I was here in October.

The last time I posted, the cooker had just been repaired. A few weeks after that our induction hob started playing up. The heat started cutting out, so it was taking longer to heat up. I thought it'd limp on for a while, but one day it failed completely. We bought another one, of the same make, and looks almost the same. Bought it on a Friday afternoon and installed by 8am the following Tuesday. Well done Currys! Most of our appliances and electricals are getting old, so over the next few years we will have to expect to replace some as they wear out.

This year we've done some work around the house. Two bedrooms have been perked up by painting, inexpensive new duvet covers, and some new wall art. We used photos that I had taken, and had them blown up on canvas. I'm very pleased with how it looks. Next year will see major work in the lounge and dining room. We've ordered two new sofas, using money from a little pension pot than Mr Goldie hadn't put in his SIPP. We ordered them on Black Friday, so got an additional discount, which was handy. the sofas will be delivered in the middle of January.

Regarding money in general, the only thing I keep a really close eye on is the supermarket shopping. Last year, we spent an average of £222 per month. This year the figure has increased to £228 per month. I'm quite pleased with this, as prices have noticeably increased over the year. In 2012 my average was £363 per month, so I think we've done well in this area. An Aldi opened near us in October and I'm very impressed with the range and quality of their stock. Each time I go to Aldi, I save about £15 compared to Sainsbury's, which is excellent. Other spending was up a few pounds in some areas and down by a few pounds in others, so consistent and satisfactory.

On the health front, some good, and some things I can improve on. I'm still trying to keep active by walking. I got a new phone in July, and since then I've averaged 2.3 miles a day. This would work out 839.50 miles for the whole year. Not bad, but room for improvement.

Bearing in mind I do this walking, and that I eat a sensible balanced diet, my weight has still crept up each year. This year I put on 4 pounds, which might not seem much, but that's been the pattern for the last 7-8 yrs. If I don't put a stop to it, I'll be huge in 10 yrs time!

Apart from one vertigo 'turn' in February, which I think was self inflicted due to anxiety about my impending holiday, I've been vertigo free since August 2014. Very pleased about this.

This leads me to the part I find most difficult to write about - my mental health. I have always been a worrier, but a few months ago, this really got on top of me, and I was having panic attacks and was fearful of virtually everything. I seem to have been better for the last couple of months, but need to think about this, as firstly I've wasted too much time in my life worrying and secondly, anxiety seems to be my Menieres trigger.

So, that's where I am at the moment. In another day or two I'll make a few notes about what I want to do next year.

Watty1

Lovely to see you posting again. And you are right. This community is fabulous. Sorry to read about the mental health issues, but, admitting them, although difficult is a great first step to healing.

greent

Lovely to see you again - will pick your brains closer to the time about a cruise, if I may, please? (you and newgirly!)

Mental health is a huge topic and one still - sadly - surrounded by stigma. As Watty has said, recognising an issue exists (and in your case that it may trigger another unwanted issue) is the first important step. Self care is overlooked by many of us - but shouldn't be

Look forward to hearing of your 2018 plans
x

Karmacat

Hello Goldie

That kind of free-floating anxiety is so widespread, isn't it ... I know if something sets me off, it can really bring me down. I'm sure that's what some of my fatigue is, actually. But not ignoring it is one of the best things we can do, I'm sure of that too.

Goldiegirl

Watty1 wrote: »

Lovely to see you posting again. And you are right. This community is fabulous. Sorry to read about the mental health issues, but, admitting them, although difficult is a great first step to healing.

In the past I've brushed this off with 'oh I'm a bit of a worrier', but this is the first time I've admitted in public that it is sometimes a real problem, and can be really debilitating sometimes.

greent wrote: »

Lovely to see you again - will pick your brains closer to the time about a cruise, if I may, please? (you and newgirly!)

Mental health is a huge topic and one still - sadly - surrounded by stigma. As Watty has said, recognising an issue exists (and in your case that it may trigger another unwanted issue) is the first important step. Self care is overlooked by many of us - but shouldn't be

Look forward to hearing of your 2018 plans
x

Feel free to ask any cruising questions that you want. I have a bit of a reputation for being an unofficial cruise consultant :rotfl:

Karmacat wrote: »

Hello Goldie

That kind of free-floating anxiety is so widespread, isn't it ... I know if something sets me off, it can really bring me down. I'm sure that's what some of my fatigue is, actually. But not ignoring it is one of the best things we can do, I'm sure of that too.

I think that is my big problem, it doesn't take much to set me off, and I think I've got worse in recent years. Poor old Mr Goldie, he does his best to help, but he's quite level headed and practical, so he doesn't really get why I'm so volatile sometimes! I have a good friend who 'gets' it, as she's very similar, and we often commiserate with each other, and end up having a laugh, which must be a good thing!

Today is an indoors sort of day, some snow this morning, and now just wet and windy. Hopeful of a walk tomorrow though

daisy_1571

Goldiegirl wrote: »

Canterbury and Broadstairs are lovely places to visit, and we are very fortunate in that both places are an easy train ride away. If you are down here again, another nice place is Whitstable. There's some interesting and quirky little shops, and good walks along the river front.




Regarding working part time - I feel very lucky about this. I worked full time from the age of 16 to 50. ( I don't have children) But shortly before my 50th birthday, it was announced that my office was closing and we were all going to be made redundant. My employers were offering an enhanced pension as part of the redundancy package to the over 50's, so I just managed to qualify for this. It was a chance to re-evaluate things, and having the pension meant that I could work part time, and still bring in the same amount of money each month. I was really lucky to find a two day a week job, which uses all the skills I learnt in my previous working life. It's two very busy days, but they do pass very quickly.


If I hadn't been made redundant, I'd probably still be working full time now. The general plan was for Mr Goldie to retire, and at that time I would have taken partial retirement from my job. It was possible, at age 55 or above, to take your pension, but still carry on working on a part time basis. I would have been happy to do that, as I had many friends there, so there was a social side to it as well. But I don't have that same attachment to my current job, so I'll be happy just to leave it behind!


Mr Goldie only works 4 days a week now. A few years ago, his firm was going through a difficult patch, and they asked everyone to drop their hours. He liked it so much, that when the full hours were restored, he opted to stay on the reduced working hours.


So that means we have Wednesdays off together mid-week, which means we can go out or do garden work together.

Hi goldiegirl :wave:

Just started your diary and had to say hi. We are in almost exactly the same position as you list above, Mr d works 4 days and we have Wednesdays together, I got early retirement one month after my 50th except I have retrained in the last 2 years to be self employed but I aim to only work 2 to 2.5 days a week. I will catch up on your diary over the next while.

Cheers daisy xx