Second Time Lucky

amycool

Oh wow thank you so much for so many lovely comments. Now I'm not working I don't have my colleagues to vent all over (poor colleagues ) so it means a lot to feel listened to!

I've started leaving in the morning so we get there just as the doors open. It means avoiding the bragging parents but also less chance of DD getting told off for running off - so win-win.

In the afternoon I have been putting my headphones on and again getting there just in time. I'm stood with different parents so just smile and nod.

I was called in last night (slightly more embarrassing having to walk past every single ruddy parent!) but it was just to book in a meeting to discuss the ongoing issues. I'm not looking forward to it as DD's teacher is saying they did something that they definitely didn't. DD also got accused of something she didn't do last week (she's incapable of lying) and I'm starting to dislike said teacher!

Healthwise - I woke up really dizzy today. I think it's my sinuses again, which will explain the tiredness. I've done very little of anything this week and I'm frustrated with myself but hopefully OH can help me with the decorating this weekend and move it along a bit.

The escapee rat has calmed down a bit but still seems a bit more shy than usual. I need to get some advice about how to diet one rat as she's much fatter than the other two!

I actually cried at school yesterday as DD was really upset (3 teachers sat gawping at us, not helping at all) and I couldn't console her. Luckily one of the lovely mums (she works so I don't see her much) gave me a hug.

In money news - OH had to go to a work conference and it ended up costing us £50 in taxis and tickets, plus he dropped the work laptop so he may have to pay for that! :eek::mad: He didn't even get anything out of it but had to show his face. This month is already ridiculously expensive and we haven't had a chance to cash in the tax cheque yet so it will be a big minus on the spreadsheet! And I guess next month isn't going to be a cheap one either. We can start making progress in 2017.

So I'm listening to some Travis from the 1990s, which is good as it's in just the right key for my voice to sing along. We were listening to Rachel Platten in the car (DD likes her) and trying to sing along is painful (very high).

amycool

I wish I didn't, but I truly hate having any kind of stranger, particularly tradespeople, in my house. I've just had an electrician round to quote for doing a few jobs and I basically just said yes to avoid having anyone else come round. It sounds reasonable. He's coming on Tuesday. I'm dreading it.

Why do tradespeople always have to judge my life? I'm sure he was just being friendly but it makes me feel so uncomfortable.

Anyway, the bad news is I have also contacted someone about putting up the lining paper. I haven't heard back yet. That's at least 2 more visits.

I wish all trades were centralised by government and you could go on a database, put in your criteria (including "won't make small or big talk") and someone would come at the specified time, charge a fair amount and do a good job.

I've decided I'm going to paint the lining paper. It means a day less with the decorator.

So I finished all of the scraping and it feels weird not to have any left to do! I also ordered the new sofa, plus a chair, shelving and a coffee table. I felt a bit sick spending that much (over £800), especially as this month we're looking at a big minus number.

I've also put the old settee and chair on freecycle. I pondered ebay as they are original art deco and cost me a lot when I bought them, but I looked on ebay and quite a few art deco sofas didn't sell. I haven't got the space to store them as well as the new ones. No interest yet but maybe the advert hasn't gone live yet.

The curtains came and they're actually pretty good quality for the cheap cheap price. I'm going to have to hem them so I'm thinking I'll take down the old ones and use them as a sort of template.

Once all this lot is done, I'm going to pause for Christmas. Then we'll sort the fireplace and shelves out as that will require another tradesperson.

In money news, things are not looking good! We've had so many massive outgoings this month so quite a lot of the savings will be eaten up. It won't be so bad once the tax rebate gets paid in. And of course my £5 cheque from the lottery. :rotfl: I really don't cope well with spending money.

I got £54 from TCB - mostly from the home insurance.

Unfortunately we only make £3 a month in cashback from the 123 account, which doesn't cover the £5 fee. However, we do make a fair bit of interest so it's not worth moving accounts.

School are in full begging mode at the moment. Money for Children in Need, raffle tickets for the Christmas Fair, Chocolate for the Christmas fair, "good as new" toys and games for the Christmas fair, money to see Father Christmas etc etc. I'm doing as little as I can without it being noticed.

We had our first parents evening this week. DD is in the top group for Literacy and is really confident with her reading. Writing is more of an issue - a combination of low self-esteem and laziness! We thought she was really behind in maths but actually the teacher had lots of positive things to say and it's only when it comes to working independently that she struggles. I know they don't really tell you anything negative at these meetings but it was nice to hear some positives.

DD has a wobbly tooth. 2 wobbly teeth. Are we going to go for 50p per tooth or £1? That is the question. She's not getting pocket money at the moment as she was struggling to earn any (behaviour related) and we thought it was counter-productive. So maybe £1. She has £15 plus a £10 toy voucher in her money box at the moment but she has no idea of what that is worth.

OH hates his job. It's rather all-consuming at the moment.

I'm supposed to have put a wash on. I haven't. DD comes home covered in mud EVERY DAY.

I should stop typing now.

Muser1

My oh is a tradesman and when he started up he did it with me in mind. I absolutely hate tradesmen in my home I get huge anxiety. My oh has built his business around being a lovely bloke who's easy to have around, turns up when he says he will and does a good job. I can't understand those that don't.

Glad parents evening went well that's fab.. x

debtfreeoneday

I was grateful of a visiting grandchild next door who cheerfully told my two the tooth fairy brings 50p for a tooth -got away with it lightly i reckon.

Hope you're ok, glad parents evening went well!

amycool

Muser1 - I'm glad I'm not the only one to get so het-up over it. I try to think logically but I get so nervous.

Dfod - I chatted about the options to my husband and we've decided on £1 per tooth. It's a bizarre idea really to pay your child for a piece of their old body falling out.

Redecorating - the electrics are done! The chap was actually very nice and charged reasonably but I couldn't help feeling mega-uncomfortable.
The wallpaper man is coming tonight to look at the room and quote us. He mentioned possibly being able to do it on Friday so fingers crossed. The other wallpaper man is also going to quote this week, but not sure when.

HMRC - aaaarrrrggghhhh!! Okay, so we have claimed the 2 tax rebates as we were fairly sure they were correct from the dates. Then a cheque for over £8000 appeared from last year, which just can't be correct as it makes no sense. This has now made me doubt the last 2 cheques. Why don't they work it all out, send us their workings and ONE cheque. They didn't even send an accompanying letter explaining anything so we've no idea what is going on. Needless to say, I won't be cashing the mega-cheque until it's sorted but that will require my husband phoning them and being on hold forever.

I bought some winter boots to replace my trainers that fell apart. Reduced from £40 to £20. Also got a few stocking fillers for DD from the bargain shop.

Treated myself to a Subway for lunch as I spent the morning at the hospital. I hadn't been since I was very young and was expecting my free cookie! It never came. :rotfl: I found the whole process rather stressful and would rather they had just made me a sandwich of their choice.

Just remembered to add - my settees weren't taken on Freecycle and so far no bids or watchers on Ebay!!!! I'm gutted. We could just take them to the tip but they're nearly old enough to be antiques. If they don't sell on ebay I'll try the local antique places.

debtfreeoneday

How about a local facebook selling page?

amycool

That's an idea. Still only 2 watchers and no bids with less than 24 hours to go!

Yesterday was weird. The electrician rang to see if he could come round next week as he enjoyed my company so much. I'm aware that I am mega-anti-social and it takes me about 3 years of knowing someone before meeting them for a drink is even feasible, but that's odd isn't it? I said no of course. I'm now thinking I should be really horrible to all future tradesmen just in case. No chance of any problems with the wallpaper man as he's very grumpy and will probably be very happy for me to stay out of the way.

I have hemmed the curtains! The first one is a bit wonky at the ends but the second one looks okay I think. They look awful against the yellow plaster but should look good when the walls are white. It took me about 5 hours in total, which is ridiculous but I've saved £300 from not getting them hand made.

The tooth is still in. Dentist tonight. I'm going to get told off for not flossing.

Got the details of DD's child trust fund provider so I now have to send the same proofs to them and then it will be transferred over. They charge 1.5% a year to look after it so there won't be much in there!

My Mum has her Christmas decorations up as she was bored. We're going to leave it until the week starting the 5th. My plan is to put up the bulk of the decorations in peace, then add the baubles when DD gets home from school and OH gets home from work. It was mayhem last year. I'm hoping on Friday (whilst stuck upstairs to avoid the wallpaperer) to make a few more decorations. I'm pondering rat ones with our girls' names on in the shape of our rats. Knowing me, I'll take 4 hours to make one and then regret it.

We got the explanatory letter from HMRC and the £8000 is ours! It's for the 3 years that OH was a full-time student but was made to pay tax on the bursary at the time. We've spent about £2000 of it already on the living room and the holiday. I'm keeping £4500 to make a big 10% overpayment in January. That leaves £1500 to top up the savings and maybe do something fun with. We'd decided against the pantomime as it's so expensive but maybe we should go after all. Last of the big spenders! :rotfl:

I definitely want to give some to Kiva as I used to make a Kiva loan every month or so when I was earning and I haven't added any extra funds all year. Ooh, just went on and I have $69 to relend already but the website has changed. Okay, done. I'll talk to OH about how much we should spend and I'd like DD to choose who to lend to.

It's probably a pretty good sign that finding out we have £8000 wasn't exciting to me as I have everything I want and need. I really don't care anymore about "stuff", we already have a nice holiday booked for next year, and we're already doing up the living room. If things were different with DD it would be lovely to have a night away somewhere with OH but it's not possible yet and it doesn't bother me too much. There will be time in the future for that but right now she needs me here as much as possible.

I am thinking of buying my brother's keyboard from him. We've been borrowing it to see if DD likes it and she plays it most days. It's a really snazzy one with a million buttons.

I'm just thinking aloud now...:)

debtfreeoneday

I think that is really strange from your electrician. That would freak me out.. Great news about the £8000 - just awesome.. i'd be like a kid in a toy shop right now, no wonder you're finding the lure of Black Friday exciting!

amycool

OH is working from home as he's I'll so I'm stuck with the kindle.

I have another stinking cold. My to do list is huge and getting longer!

Just ordered the panto tickets - £54 for 3 of us. They were nearly sold out so glad I did it. We're going on 29th so that's something to look forward to after the Christmas excitement. There is a very minor celebrity.

The wallpaper is done and 3 walls painted as we ran out of paint. I had planned to do it today but no energy. We got the lining paper done for just £95, which was much cheaper than expected and looks great.

The old sofas didn't sell. The chair went to the tip and we'll have to saw the settee in half.

The new furniture came at 7am on Sunday - we were fast asleep. Bundled DD off to grandma's so we could argue over flat pack furniture in peace. I love my new chair and settee and coffee table.

I have written zero Christmas cards so far. Every night we try to get DD to write her class ones as she insisted she wanted to do them but it's slow progress.

I got 50% off some photobooks and photos so that's all gifts now sorted.

Had to buy a Christmas play outfit too.

Right, must try to tick at least one thing off my list.

debtfreeoneday

One thing at a time Amy... you'll get there, This weekend is also Christmas card writing for us, though I've mislaid one box and only have the littlies ones for their friends.