The Big Adventure

greent

Which scales do you use, please, Goldie? I'm looking for some which measure BF - and ideally store some previous measurements - without paying an absolute fortune

Goldiegirl

Hi GreenT.

We got our scales from Argos. The exact model isn't on their website at the moment, but these are similar.

http://www.argos.co.uk/product/4606156

We've had them for a couple of years, and I really like that it gives more info than just weight. Our scales also give a reading for bone mass, which is useful, now that I'm a 'woman of a certain age'.

I read on your diary that you are starting to re-read your diary from the start. I'm also doing that, at least for the first year or so. I got spooked when a lot of diaries disappeared. The first year of my diary was a big year, what with preparing to retire and finding out that I had Meniere's, and I don't want it to disappear into the ether, so I'm copying it into a word document. I've just got to the bit where I had my first vertigo attack. I'm described how it felt very well, but at that point, I had no clue that it was vertigo. It's interesting to see how I reacted to it all

greent

I found re-reading my diary helpful, on several levels. I think we sometimes fail to realise how far we've come (whether personally, financially) or other - day to day changes are small, but you can see the difference when reading back

Thanks for the scales linky - will have a look
x

Goldiegirl

May turned out to be a busy month.

We had made arrangements for someone to cut back all our large shrubs, as they were completely out of control. The work was set to be done on the weekend of 12th & 13th May.

On the 11th, at 9.30pm, I got a text from the guy saying he couldn't do it, as he'd hurt his hand. We've used this guy a few times before, and, although he does a good job, there's always some sort of drama about having to change the plans that have been made. He wanted to rebook for yesterday and today, and, frankly that was too long to wait. We've been quite understanding in the past, being flexible to fit in with all the changes in arrangements, but we had had enough. I told him that we'd cancel.

We bought a little chainsaw on a pole from Argos, and did it ourselves. It took a week, but it was worth it. I think we did a better job than the bloke would have done.

We had a ridiculous amount of cuttings to get rid of, and we had to get someone to take it all away for us, but it ended up cheaper than if we'd got that guy to do it for us.

Then we were able to move on to getting flowers in. We've spent a bit more than we have done in recent years, so it's all looking very colourful now,

The lawn isn't in very good shape, as the shrubs were blocking out the sun, so we're now concentrating on the lawn. We've put seed down and it is starting to sprout following all the rain recently. We've got lawn food on order, and will start a feeding programme soon.

I still do a bit of eBaying for my friend, and I had a batch of stuff from her, and it's nearly all sold now.

Along with all that, I've been able to get a lot of walking done, so I feel optimistic about reaching 1000 miles by the end of the year. What with the work in the garden, and the increased amount of walking, I lost 2lbs this month, which was pleasing.

Overall, a busy, but good month.

Karmacat

Empowerment that's really good that you went for what suited you, and it worked better, in relation to the gardening guy

Goldiegirl

Gosh, it's nearly two months since I last updated!

To be honest, I haven't spent much time on the computer at all. As the weather has been so fantastic, we've been out and about a lot. We've been packing ourselves a lunch, then getting on the train to the coast and walking for miles. I've really enjoyed it and we've been able to get good use out of our English Heritage memberships, as we've visited Dover, Walmer and Deal Castles.

We also had a few days away down at Hayling Island, and visited Arundel and Chichester.

It seems a while ago, but the England World Cup run was exciting. It was the semi final while we were down in Hayling Island, and I watched the match on a massive screen in the hotel entertainment 'Pavillion'. It was quite a night.

When we look back on 2018, I think it'll be one of those legendary summers like 1976. However, I have some disquiet about the Brexity clouds on the horizon. It seems like 'no deal' is becoming a distinct possiblity, and the government is planning on stockpiling food! In peacetime!!!! For something we are inflicting on ourselves!!!!!! I despair sometimes.

Anyway, I've started my own Brexit stockpile. I intend to build up stocks of things like rice, pasta, tinned beans, pulses, chickpeas etc, so I can make some sort of meal, even if the shops are bare. I can't believe that I find it necessary to take these precautions, but the outlook doesn't fill me with confidence.

But apart from that, things have been going well


ETA. We're having a week off from our seaside excursions as it's so bloomin' hot. I've been out for an early morning walk before the heat of the day builds, but come back with dripping wet hair. Not a good look!

Karmacat

Sounds wonderful, Goldie! Amazing that you managed to go walking in this heat - though you do say you took a break from them. About a third of my time since the cruise has been taken up with DIY on Merseyside, though my sister and I have a National Trust trip planned in a couple of days.


Lovely to hear you doing so well

Goldiegirl

Hello, in time honoured tradition, I thought it was time to review my plan for 2018, and see what was achieved.

Financial

My grocery expenditure is a benchmark that I like to keep note of. In 2017, my monthly expenditure was £228. As a new Aldi had opened nearby, I wanted to decrease my grocery/toiletries spend. I now get about three quarters of my groceries from Aldi and the monthly expenditure reduced to £211. It would have been less, but I've felt it necessary to engage in a bit of stockpiling

I'll also note here that my eBay profit after fees was £281, mostly from furniture we sold.

Another thing to note, my You Gov total is 3055 points, since October 2017. It's diabolical at the moment, compared with Prolific. My Prolific total for the year is £154, and I haven't even been trying too hard.

Home

As planned, we did a major revamp of our living room and dining room and we are delighted with what we have achieved. We also kept to our carefully planned budget! We spent the eBay proceeds on new table ware, and we are enjoying our new contemporary living space.

We also cut back some major shrubs in the back garden, and it's made a lot of difference to the light coming into the garden.

Health.

My priority was to break this spiral of anxiety that I'd got into. Im pleased to say, this has been achieved. I wish I could pinpoint HOW I did it, but it's just a combination of walking, relaxing, thinking calming thoughts, and taking a deep breath if I feel myself getting wound up.

Walking - I intended to walk 1000 miles in 2018. Total as at today's date 1063 miles - achieved !

Weight. I'd been putting on a few pounds every year and wanted to reverse this trend. I used Christmas Eve as my weigh in date - and I was exactly the same weight as the previous Christmas Eve! In the summer when I was doing loads of walking, I did lose a few pounds, but it crept back on again. But it's not feasible to do 10+ mile walks twice a week for the whole year!. So, partially achieved. I eat sensibly, so there's an acceptance that this is how much I weigh now.

Also, on the health front. Mr Goldie has had a couple of problems in last few weeks. A tooth near the front which has been filled many times finally broke off, so he's going to have the root out at some time in the new year. Then, he suddenly got floaters in his eye. He got referred to hospital, and they think its a PVD (Posterior Vitreous Detachment) which is quite normal in older people and is harmless. However, there was some blood in the eye, and he's going back on New Years Eve, so they can have another look, just to rule out a tear in the retina, which can be more serious.

Making memories

Some good memories made this year. Being in northern Norway in March and seeing the Northern Lights on my birthday. Days out on coach trips. Train rides to the coast for long seaside walks, especially in June and the first part of July when the sun never stopped shining. The summer when football nearly came home and I saw the semi final on a massive screen at the hotel we were staying at. In September and October another cruise, sailing into New York, past the Statue of Liberty. Then leaving New York in the evening seeing all the skyscrapers lit up. Walking the Freedom Trail in Boston. Sailing along the St Lawrence River to Quebec. Lots of other things too.

It's been a good year.

To follow soon - plans for 2019

CathT

Wow you've had a great year. Good to hear you've made some positive changes physically and emotionally, sometimes these things can take us by surprise.

Goldiegirl

And here's my plans for 2019

Finance
Generally, just carry on with what I've been doing for the last few years.
Keep a special eye on SIPPS and S&S ISAs. Our portfolio is well diversified, and it's long term savings. However, this year is likely to be rocky, so I want to a) keep my nerve, but b) de-risk if necessary. It's like walking a tightrope!

Home

Decorate our bedroom and get new bedding and other accessories, plus a small wardrobe for an unused corner.

New bathroom and cloak room. Our current bathroom suite is 30 years old - it badly needs renewing.

(I've already got the money saved for the bedroom and bathroom).

New laptop - my current laptop is 7 years old and is now getting very eccentric!

Garden - cut back remainder of large shrubs - will probably need to get someone in to do this, as they are now very tall.

Decorate hall and stairs, with new carpet for stairs. This may get carried forward to 2020

Memories

We have two cruises booked, in May and September. Also we hope to do more coach days out and more coastal walking.

Health

Now that I seem to have been able to shift the generalised anxiety that I was suffering from, I want to keep this frame of mind going
Weight - Don't put on any weight this year
Walk 1000 miles in 2019

Reading
I have 13 books waiting to read on my Kindle, and 17 unread
paper books, that I've had since I got my Kindle in 2012. I want to get most of these 30 read, before I buy any more! I've just read the first of the physical books -I love my Kindle, but I had forgotten the pleasure of holding a book and turning the pages.

Brexit
I don't think it's possible to plan for the year without mentioning Brexit. I thought it was a mad idea two and a half years ago at the time of the referendum, and I think it's insanity now! I've been quietly buying additional food items since the autumn, and will ramp this up into the new year. Unless there's an outbreak of common sense, I feel a no deal Brexit is the most likely outcome, which could cause all sorts of problems in just three months time. Therefore, all my plans are fluid as I may need to adapt them to changing times.