The Big Adventure

Karmacat

HiGG

Yes, you posted about ancestry ages ago thats just where I was reading, sorry about that!

Sandwich gate ... I think you're right to challenge a *habit* of spending - when you're heading into becoming a pensioner, no matter how debt free, everything's open to question, so that you can live the life you want to live - conscious choices and all that

Mint1955

I only use mine when I want to really enjoy a tv programme and the others don't need to be blasted so that I can pick up all the speech. I use the tv setting and it picks up the tv and put other sounds into the background

In a restaurant I use the noisy area setting which turns off the back pickups so that the front pickups concentrate on people in front speaking to you and I now find it so much easier to do group dinners out when before I used to have to smile a lot as too many people talking just made things worse.

I don't bother with them every day as I can manage fine.

Goldiegirl wrote: »

Thanks for the encouragement about the hearing aid, Mint. Most of the time I'm fine, but in some situations I know I need help, like if I'm out shopping and the shop assistant approaches me on the 'wrong' side. Anything that makes things easier is worth a try, at the very least.

I've found that my tinnitus has dropped to a very low level. I think my brain has got more used to my new level of hearing, so I'm a bit nervous that by wearing a hearing aid, my brain will get confused, and the tinnitus will pep up again.

I've got my appointment at the 'balance clinic' on Monday, which is more to do with the management of the vertigo and the tinnitus, so hopefully I'll get a chance to mention this at the appointment.

I had a reply to my email to audiology. I'm on a waiting list for fitting of the hearing aid - quite impressed with the speed of reply.



Hi, Hbbb

I've already got rid of loads of papers' and no one seems to have noticed yet! I've got a folder I'm itching to go through, but I think I'll be a bit busier for the next couple of days, as I've got to attend a couple of meetings, one of them about 'plans for next year'. I will try and look interested!

Goldiegirl

Karmacat wrote: »

HiGG

Yes, you posted about ancestry ages ago thats just where I was reading, sorry about that!

Sandwich gate ... I think you're right to challenge a *habit* of spending - when you're heading into becoming a pensioner, no matter how debt free, everything's open to question, so that you can live the life you want to live - conscious choices and all that

It was a good thing to mention Ancestry - from the day I posted about it previously to the day you mentioned it, I had not given Ancestry a single thought....so it confirms that I don't need it at the moment !


With the sandwich thing, I think it's all a matter of finding the right balance of days out / eating arrangements, and getting used to a new way of life. It's a work in progress at the moment.

Mint1955 wrote: »

I only use mine when I want to really enjoy a tv programme and the others don't need to be blasted so that I can pick up all the speech. I use the tv setting and it picks up the tv and put other sounds into the background

In a restaurant I use the noisy area setting which turns off the back pickups so that the front pickups concentrate on people in front speaking to you and I now find it so much easier to do group dinners out when before I used to have to smile a lot as too many people talking just made things worse.

I don't bother with them every day as I can manage fine.

I'm fine with watching TV, as my good ear picks up all the sound, but eating in noisy restaurants is another area where I think I need assistance.


As I wear my glasses all the time, I've always imagined that it'd be necessary to wear a hearing aid all the time, but I think I'll be like you and only wear it when I need it.






The £30 in M&S vouchers that we requested from Nat West came through, so we've put them aside for 'later'. Good quick service from NW, very impressive

WhiteSnowdrop

Good for you on the sandwich stance - Thats the kind of thing I do with the kids when I've just not planned properly. I also have similar conversations with my hubby, I'm trying to convert him to packed lunches at the moment as well as stopping him buying posh coffees at work….. some of our conversations (maybe discussions would be the better word?!) start with me asking why I've been made the grown up about money when he is just as capable. Money eh!

WS

Goldiegirl

I'll give Mr Goldie his due, he's always taken a packed lunch to work, and will drink the office bog standard coffee.


It's just that when we're out and about, he likes to indulge a little more. As I hope we'll be out and about a lot more, we'll need to get the indulgence at a sustainable level.




On the work front, I've been keeping my line manager up to date with my general plans, and had previously mentioned that I would be leaving within the next couple of years. At my last '1-2-1' meeting at the end of July, I mentioned that I could well be moving the date forward to Christmas.


I thought that my manager would probably pass this information to other members of the management team, and I thought that was fair enough, as they need to plan ahead etc.


However, yesterday at work, one of the supervisors kind of blurted out that I'd be leaving at Christmas, right in the middle of the office!


I felt a bit miffed to be honest, as I haven't yet confirmed any leaving date to them, and I wanted to tell my colleagues in my own time.


In fact I was going to tell my manager about my proposed leaving date of 18th December, at my next 1-2-1 next Friday.


I'm not going to make a big thing of it, but I don't think they are very good at confidentiality!


Anyway, another month is drawing to a close, so it's time for the money shuffle.


This month felt 'spendy'.


General spending came in at £463.45, or 87% of the amount allowed for this purpose.


As this included two meals out, various Yankie Candle, trips to the garden centre and a leather handbag, I am pleased with this result.


Food and grocery expenditure came in at £340, or 110% of the amount allocated.


I tend to do a big shop every 3 weeks, and it just so happened that two big shops were done in this month. Also, as we've brought forward our leaving date, I feel the need to get in some stocks to help us next year.


As these were two massive shops, I'm happy with 110% of target.


I've been able to put £1790 into savings. £1750 have gone to general savings, the other £40 to the HAF


My £3 from Greenmet, for my book sale has been received, so I popped that into the HAF too.


So, overall, I'm pleased with the months results.


We've just been online to book a show at the Marlowe in Canterbury for next June, for a Thursday matinee. It's a bit cheaper during the week, and as an over 60, Mr Goldie gets a senior discount too.


I feel quite excited to be booking outings on a 'school day'! :rotfl:

Goldiegirl

I think summer has returned


Neither of us are working until Thursday, so it's quite timely.


As we're not working I've prepared a Victoria sandwich cake, which I'll cook at the same time as dinner.


The veg to accompany the meal will be tomatoes and courgettes. We only have two tomato plants but they are producing a lot, and the courgette plant is still going as well.


We've got a few things to do over the next few days.


Monday is my appointment at the 'balance clinic'. I've got a questionnaire I need to complete about tinnitus and vertigo.


Tuesday we go to the solicitor to get our wills sorted


Wednesday Mr Goldie goes to the dentist to get fillings and crowns done.


None of the above is much fun, but it's stuff to get out of the way, so will be pleased to get this stuff done and dusted

Karmacat

Those are great updates! Tho I agree about the confidentiality at work - also agree with not making an issue of it, since you're leaving it might sour the ending, to no purpose. You want to be remembered well there, I think - always good to leave a professional situation with a good vibe, no matter what else went on, who knows whats in the future (though like me, I'm sure your plan is for more of the above - I love the term you use, "sustainable indulgence", gorgeous

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Sounds like a very busy few days! The work thing is annoying, I am always amazed at the unprofessional behaviour of some colleagues who seem to think they are in a playground and want to be first to tell any news.

Still, the cat is out of the bag and they can have longer to plan a lovely leaving present!

All the best,

Squirrel x

Goldiegirl

It's a strange thing..... every time I go to a doctors, I walk out feeling worse than when I walked in!


I had my appointment at the balance clinic today, and explained what has happened to me over the last few months, and I had to do a few walking exercises and he jerked my head around a bit.


The result of all this - he's said it's Meniere's (inner ear problem to do with fluid levels)


I wasn't really prepared for this - I would have thought the consultant I saw in June might have mentioned this as a possibility.


Even more for me to get my head around - he wants to fit a grommet in my ear, which helps with the balance issues.


It's a fairly minor surgical procedure - but do I really want to have surgery for something that isn't causing me major problems in my life? I just seems a bit drastic!!


I looked on a Meniere's forum, and the people posting on there seem to be really debilitated, but I don't really feel as bad as all that. The vertigo is a nuisance when it happens, but goes within a few hours and I go for many weeks without an attack


I've been advised to follow a low salt diet, which I'm happy to do, but I've got to get to grips with the grommet thing.... it just seems too much !

Karmacat

Best not to rush into it, GG - thats a good idea to have had a look at a forum. Is there any research on anything else that can help? Exercises? My very elderly auntie had balance problems after one thing and another, and she had exercises that started off with looking to one side, turning head to one side, eventually standing on one leg, and I think there was also moving the leg you were holding up! A grommet might give no trouble ever, but it *is* a foreign summink or other in your body ... it'd be great to manage without it.

Sorry you felt carp tho