Better half of 2014 - all about me

lulabelle

thanks when the going gets tough - I have put a budget in place. Basically, not including food/spending money I will need (from 1 march and before then am ok as get paid at end of jan which pays for everything going out at start of feb) £660.14 per month coming in as the boy (presuming his flat is re-let then, at the minute he's only got someone in until end dec) is paying half the mortgage and half the bills, plus my flat in uk pays for itself. Plus will need spending/food money. I won't put down here what I normally allow myself each month as it will just make me seem like I'm being ridiculous, but it's a fair bit. I think the plan is to really try to cut down on that element. I'm hoping that because I will have time to cook properly I will be able to batch cook loads of things for us so that we can cut down the food shopping (really, food is where we spend most of our money). We have to get rid of an old fridge (not working) in the shed and are thinking of trying to get a freezer for in there (second hand if poss) as our freezer is quite small. Then we can batch cook more which should help on the saving. I do agree though, I need to really think about socialising budget and do much cheaper things.

Dreading going into work today. Have a transaction completing this morning which was very stressful yesterday as at one point looked like it was about to fall apart. On the plus side, I am having coffee with someone this morning who I approached last week. He's a partner in a law firm and have been opposite him quite a few times and he also works with my best mate. I just bumped into him at the start of last week and said if they were ever looking for a PSL (professional support lawyer - no fee earning work, just drafting precedents, writing articles etc) then to bear me in mind. He emailed me at the end of last week asking me to go for coffee. Am hoping they might offer me something - if I could get the right salary for 3-4 days per week that would be perfect (would still have some time off first though). Will see what he says. He may well be trying to get me to go there as a fee earner which would be a big fat NO!

lulabelle

so meeting went well. can't say much other than would be a mixed role, mainly PSL but some fee earning to offset the cost, though not running cases. Made clear I didn't want the balance to tip towards fee earning so we'd have to get that right. Possibly a 3 or 4 day week. They are coming back to me but nice to know they think I might be right.

Trouble coping at the moment. AGAIN. Any stress and I am in melt-down mode. Had the girls over last night (which was rather forced upon me plus was expected to provide food), they didn't leave until 11pm so am exhausted today, could literally barely pull myself up the steps near my house to go to work. Needless to say not gone for a run tonight.

Boy is out for a curry (that really is seemingly all he eats), I had a disappointing ready meal so chucked most of it away and had a massive block of chilli cheese instead - was yummy but may give me nightmares, never mind the calorie content.

Re-started Grey's anatomy from scratch as loved it, got to about season 9 then didn't have the sky living channel anymore so gave up - have forgotten much of what happened so have started again. Though will take years as don't think the boy will want to watch it.

Tomorrow night we are out with my friends for a curry (poor boy, 2 curries in a row!) - looking forward to catching up but as ever, will be expensive. We've also had to book our hotel for the marathon today which was £192, plus ordered my parents some wine as not seeing them this christmas and will take presents in january but want them to have something from me for the day - just over £65 (not bad for 12 bottles but money is just flying out).

Think I will just have to grin and bear it and try to wipe the slate clean when we get paid on 24th and be more frugal.

When_the_going_gets_tough

Hi Lulabelle interview sounds good. If you are offerred it try and negotiate a break before you start - you need some down time as you are clearly running on empty. Without sounding too like your mum I want to suggest some fresh air, nourishing food, early nights and no alcohol - not the best time of year I know but maybe after New Year???!!

lulabelle

ha ha, yes, thank you! Thankfully, they said it's not like they'll want me before march/april and I actually said if I can start May or even June that would be preferable.

I agree I definitely need some down time and also early nights, proper food, exercise etc and that is all in the plan though in the new year for obvious reasons!

lulabelle

so, yesterday at work wasn't too bad though I am really so bored now and fed up I just need to get out. 21 more working days.

went out with my friends last night - was a fabulous night but £45 per person! the boy and I avoided expensive drinks beforehand by having a drink at home together which was nice.

Just did the obligatory saturday shop. Went out with a list and saying we didn't need much - £96!!!! Boy putting expensive magazines and those fizzy tablet things you put in water in the trolley. Plus we got some wine to take to his mums for xmas day and some for a party we are going to later.

At party this arvo for a couple of hours then boy is going out with the lads and his cousin (female) is coming round here. We were going to go out in town too (not with the lads) but have decided to stay in. Am rather relieved tbh.

lulabelle

18 more working days!!! 1.5 more working days (presuming we close lunchtime tomorrow) until off for 10/10.5 days! YAY!!!!!!

Got left in the !!!! yesterday - one of the assistants was supposed to have prepared an advice for me - basically told them what to put in and sent them links to the things they needed- half @rsed job because from yesterday they were off for xmas. Really winds me up as I'd said to this particular person I wanted it to be good as I had loads to do and I didn't then want to have to be picking that up or coming in on my holidays - got the "yes, it will be done" and it comes back awful. Took me 4 hours to sort yesterday which then impacts on my own work and my being able to help other people. I think they forget I'm trying to get off for my xmas holidays too.

Not quite sure why I care - any other b*gger wouldn't when they were on count down to leaving but I can't help it - I worry about clients.

Anyway, just wrapped the boy's last present and have 4 to wrap for other members of his family tonight. Then we have to make cookies and chocolate bark as further gifts (or rather, I do) then canap!s for his mum for xmas day. I also have to fake tan!

Went for a run last night - decided I am cutting it very fine with my marathon training so had better properly start. Ran 15, walked 1 then ran 15 again. Longest I've run for since the start of this year, so pleased with that.

Hoping to get up tomorrow morning early and run 16, walk 1, run 16. Boy suggested I think about deferring for a year but we've paid out for hotel etc and he's got himself a charity place for which he has to pay £1800 on the strength of my ballot place so I had bl**dy well get on with it!!!

lulabelle

Hope everyone has had a fabulous christmas?!

I've really enjoyed it - spending time with the boy and his family and just down time from work. Still have 8 whole days off! Then when I'm back I have two five day weeks, 1 four day week and a 3.5 day week and I am done!!!

It is still SO scary in some ways but quite exciting in others - I think just the thought of being able to have some breathing space is quite nice.

The boy is back at work tuesday so we have 2 whole days off together with no plans which is lovely! Sadly, he is not very well (cold) so is still in bed having not slept very well and feeling sorry for himself - poor mite!

MSE is not going too well so far. We obviously spent a bit xmas eve as were out, then yesterday took his mum out for a posh lunch (as she deserves it really) and we paid so that was £130!! Hoping that once we get new year out of the way we can calm down on the spending again. I'm going to need to as I am unemployed from 530pm on 29 january!!!

Not sure what we will do today. We need to clear out the kitchen cupboards as they are a total mess since the boy moved in and keeps moving things so I can't find them! So we said ages ago that when we were off at xmas we would sort all the cupboards - not sure if that will happen now as he is poorly.

Anyway, hope everyone else is off work and having some peaceful restful time!

lulabelle

we did b*gger all yesterday apart from read and watch tv. In some ways was quite nice really.

Despite being ill the boy cooked a curry with his mum's leftover turkey. He made the curry powder from scratch and everything! Was quite nice really.

MSE wise was not great yesterday - the boy went out for provisions but came back with a load of stuff. Today we are doing a bigger shop but I am making a list so hoping that we will be a bit more MSE.

He is back at work tomorrow so I am looking forward to some time alone. Am going to run and read and probably sort out some paperwork. Out for a friend's birthday tomorrow night though really can't be bothered!

Right, suppose better get moving!

lulabelle

did a long post on here yesterday then it failed to post - irritating!

Been really poorly the last few days with a bad cold. Not been out at all. Was supposed to go to a friend's birthday dinner tues night but was so ill I cancelled. Now she is not speaking to me, yet is speaking to one of the other girls who cancelled as her kid had a cold - I fail to see the difference frankly. But am not going to let her or the others make me feel guilty - I need to look after myself and in the end they apparently didn't even order food until 945 (supposed to be meeting at 8) as they had decided to stay on partying in a bar - so I made right call.

As it is, my whole time off has basically been spent poorly. And we are having to cancel our plans today/tonight which sucks as had been looking forward to a lunch out today.

Why is it that one always gets sick when off work?! Doesn't see fair to me.

Anyway, currently under a blanket on sofa watching national treasure 2 trying to keep dosed up on meds/liquids

LondonGirl252

Heya


Just caught up on your diary sorry to hear you're not well, I hope with a few days rest you'll feel better. I've been the same I think our bodies keep going and going until you finally stop and then all the bugs you've managed to hold off hit you.


I was supposed to be in work Tues-Thurs today but had to stay home Tues and Weds as I felt awful so just logged on at home and kept an eye on emails.


So... last month of employment, I have my fingers crossed this new opportunity works out for you and that its the right thing for you.


all the best for 2016!! x