NSK; The August Fairwell

Calling14

Poor you Magic Cat, take it your house is old one. I would get a few more quotes if possible. I work for a house builders amazing how much contractors price can vary. All these hurdles are they to test us on our debt free journey.

Haven't been on here for a few days, combination of feeling bit sorry for myself, together with a bad chest and extremely busy in work, together with office bully but hey ho not going to get the better of me.

Booked a few days off so today is like Friday to me, going to treat myself to some leggings, tops and look into carpets, few home items. Decided time to cozy down for winter.

Well today I was reading Martins newsletter so registered for clothing emails at Amazon got 20% off voucher so bought some new walking boots for 27 pounds. Mine had split and starting to get wet in mornings now so happy bunny.
Lost a sfd but need some fruit/veg/ milk later anyway.
SFD stand at 11 now
Will update other totals later in signature.

Will read everyone's news after lunch still headless chick mode in office.

liltdiddylilt

MagicCat. One electrician or another is telling fibs. With the work coming to an end I am guessing it is the contractors... GET A SECOND OPINION!! Bring in the 'other' electrician who signed off. Then bring in another one as a third party! There is no way they can just expect you to stump up this kind of cash, and something such as a rewire needs doing at THE START of a building job not the end. Don't accept their word, go elsewhere! At the very least you need to get comparative quotes even if the work does need doing. Huge hugs to you!!

I am sorry I didn't check in. I've read posts.

Stewby NT membership sounds lovely. I got a free pass to a local zoo for my birthday from the in laws. As well as one for Him, and their own. It means we have gone no less than 4 times since April, when likely we would only have gone once on my birthday if it had not been paid for! You've done the right thing. But I have to say, your diary posts always seem to have little spends on them, be it a 'good reason' or not, you spend a lot of your free cash on other people. Kind it may be, but not to your pocket!!! I don't think you have yet conquered the art of mastering your money yet, but you're getting there! Especially paying off the credit card extra! I am not judging. I bought carrot cake yesterday and ate it for breakfast this morning, I judge no-one :rotfl:. But just wondered if you noticed! xx

Loveadove everything crossed for you!!

Caeraugirl I did indeed get two PM's from you! 2 is better than none!!! I will reply, I am sorry its been a bit manic.

Everyone thanks for the lovely comments on Jellytot. I do adore her.

I reached 12 SFD. Yesterday was a spend day, as Jelly had her hair cut (£8.70) and went to nursery, and for her check in at the new nursery, then back to old nursery. I resisted by the skin of my teeth a MacD's as I was starving but committed the cardinal sin of shopping whilst hungry & overspent slightly on the budget due to above carrot cake. £2 carrot cake. I would have been under but I have a good reason. No more shopping required apart from 1x loaf of bread and a carton of soya milk before the end of the month. A bit over budget but the cupboards are looking a lot less like the apocalypse is coming.

Other news and the reason for my pity party carrot cake. My Pop was taken back to hospital by ambulance yesterday. Either end stage kidney disease, or his stent has caused a massive infection again. He has requested no more surgeries, DNR's etc and has an end of life care plan in place, so it is unlikely I will see him again in this world as I can't get home. The second thing. My mum facetimed me to tell me 'face to face' that she has breast cancer again. The third time, and the fourth cancer for her personally. Apparently there were some tiny cells left over from the op to remove all tissue over 15 years ago. Just enough to allow a new type of cancer to creep in. She caught it early, but it is an aggressive type. She has surgery scheduled in a couple of weeks, and a course of chemo type tablets, then potential chemo depending on results of surgery. It has not spread thankfully. Again, I can't get home. They want to come down to me before the surgery so that will have to do when all I want to do is pick up and run home. Practicality rules. I have too much ongoing and it costs more than I have to spend to go let alone pay for all the nursery jelly misses etc. Must-Be-Practical-And-Logical... and broken hearted.

I will take the hugs for anyone who didn't need them. Lots of hugs at everyone! xx

MagicCat

Lilt, I am so very sorry to hear your news - I am really moaning on about nothing important compared to what you are dealing with.

Huge hugs about your Pop - I know from what you've said it's not unexpected, but it's such a sad time for you all.

The news about your mum must be so hard for you all, particularly with everything your family has been dealing with. My MIL has had a similar sounding battle with cancer, diagnosed for the fourth time 18 months ago and like your mum was given surgery and chemo...fingers crossed, 18 months later she is still doing OK, so there is hope. Catching it early and not having spread are good things. Take care of yourself.

[Deleted User]

Tough news for lots of turtles today - I'm so sorry that all of this difficult stuff is happening for you.

Lilt, particularly sorry that you are remote (in distance) from your folks at such a terribly difficult time for them and you. I'm so very sorry about your Pop. Try not to beat yourself up about not getting back straight away to your mum though - most important to go when she has asked for you (it may be she needs a bit of time too before she can cope with being mum as well as deal with all this). MC has got it completely right - take care of and be gentle with yourself, others will need you to be strong. We'll be here to listen and back you up. Hold your nerve sweetheart.

Magiccat - what lilt & calling said, both firms can't be doing their job right, surely. Sickening and scary news though, but if worst comes to the worst, you have paid down those amounts before, you can do it again. We'll help. Hold your nerve too. I wish you a bit of mental space from this to enjoy your birthday. Happy birthday from us all. x:bdaycake:

stewby

Oh lilt. I am so sorry to hear about your news. Although it is quite devastating, I always think it is so much worse when you can't get to them. You feel so helpless and lost. It's just a case of waiting which is always horrible.
Like others have said, we are here for you and hope that your mum gets better soon. To be positive, at least it is stage one and they are treating it aggressively. You can have lots of hugs from me. Even a dodgy looking one between you and your mum and dad.
:grouphug:

You are quite correct. I do have a lot of little spends. It is something that I need to correct and soon as I have gone hard-core into the credit card busting.
Tempted to attempt e-bay selling. Is there any other type of selling that people would recommend. It is mainly clothes... lots and lots of unworn or worn once clothes. Young me had a completely different idea of a "skinny wardrobe" than older me does so I need to sell it on.


I suppose one of my postitive personality traits is that I am a problem solver. I like to solve problems, in fact I almost need to solve them. If I can't fix the problem (such as when my mum is unwell), then I tend to try and make it better any way I can (which is chocolate or treats for my mum).
I am hoping I can adapt this problem-solving mentality to my debt.


I will be honest... I thought my morning had been pretty dire but this has certainly put it into persepective. I will have to go back to being grateful for things everyday as I keep focussing on the negatives which, to be honest, aren't that bad. They aren't soul-destroying or heart-breaking... they are just little blips in the road. I really need to remember that and your posts have just been that little nudge that I needed.
Thank you.

Massive hugs to all those who need them or want them.

karmachilovething

Sorry, have been AWOL for a few days and not caught up yet. I had my birthday on Friday and friends visiting to celebrate, so weekend was quite spendy, but on the other hand very good value for what I got!


Most of this week has be SFDs so that kind of balances things out. Just trying to get myself organised ready for holidaybobs on Saturday!


Hugs to those that need them (from my brief skim there are a few) and those that just want one!
KC

speakingofart

Sorry to hear your news lilt; it must be dreadfully hard to be apart from your family <hug>

Check in for today:

SFD 12/12
Exercise 12/16
Food £31.81/ £150 (till 15th September)
Petrol £0/60

Caeraugirl

Lilt, so so sorry to hear your double dose of bad news - it's particularly hard to hear when you're so far away from them, lots of hugs coming your way. Your mum sounds like a brave woman, and the fact that she's licked it before, and the fact that it hasn't spread, makes it sound a wee bit positive........ Have everything crossed for you and your family.

MagicCat, you've already had better advice from some of the others than I could give about anything electrical, but I feel for you, hugs for you too and hopefully you can ninja-turtle kick some electrical butt and get it sorted!

To everyone else in need, have lots of hugs to go round............:grouphug:

And Loveadove, any news from interview yet?

Tiptoes, have been nodding away madly reading your post! We're not brassic, and don't get me wrong, we appreciate that we're much luckier than some, but I can't stand my mum's attitude to money. I just started a HUGE rant in my head that I was going to spill out in this post but tbh am sick of thinking about it so won't start myself off again for now. Hope you manage to work through some of it with her on your holiday and it doesn't sour things between you.

Not much to update, have to shoot off now as should have been at a friend's 5 minutes ago so will do proper update tomorrow.

TiptoesDB

SFD: 7/12
EXERCISE: 16/25

Lilt – I am so so sorry. What awful news. Big hugs. There is nothing much really I feel I can say that hasn’t been said other than we are here for you and I hope others in your life are too… I really hope things have been caught in time for your mum, but it’s so unfair she has to go through this again. She sounds like a brave lady. Life really is unfair sometimes

Mothernerd – your posts are way more inspirational than any running / cycling story I could put on here. And you are beautiful – beautiful!

Loveadove – better too much talking than not enough! Fingers crossed for you! Any news yet?

Oh MagicCat – what a rubbish situation. You have achieved so much though, and this spend would be beyond your control, so don’t feel you are going backwards… but I do agree with others on here about holding your nerve and putting it back to the contractors.

Caearaugirl – at least we both know we are not alone now! I’ll let you know in September how the ‘talk’ went!

Well, ok day here. Got a phone call from the local press where I am doing the duathlon for my dad wanting to talk about the ‘cause’ which was great! Spread the word and raise money… ! did a 6 mile run after work in a slight panic that I have got a lot of sponsorship now and some press attention (!!) and might flunk it…

Away this weekend (from tomorrow night) for a wedding. Hotel and breakfasts for two nights already paid for in January, food and (some) drink at the wedding free and petrol hopefully paid for by work as I am doing a job near there, so hopefully we shouldn’t spend hardly anything!

Hugs to all tonight x

LoveaDove

Hey all,

Lilt- really sorry to hear your news regarding your Pops and also the surprising news from your Mum! Really feeling for you and sending you hugs and strength! I couldn't possibly add any more to the beautifully articulated posts from others, but my thoughts and wishes are the same! x

MagicCat- Couldn't agree more about obtaining second opinions etc.. as suggested by others. It seems astounding for them to return and claim their own contracted work is unsafe, especially following an inspection from last year! I hope you do get it all sorted. I do not think I have come across anyone who has had a straightforward time when dealing with contractors. That aside, a HUGE HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Siouxsie- I think you may have recently had a Birthday, so a belated Happy Birthday!! and a belated Happy Birthday also to karmachilovething!

Let them eat cake....

:bdaycake:

Thank you for those checking back in with me regarding the interview! Early this morning I was offered the job and accepted! :j

In a most typical s*d's law fashion, a few hours later I received an invitation for an interview for that job I spent 3 hours on the application for, a couple of weeks back. The one where I later discovered it had several typos! I think NSK may have been right in her suggestion that they may consider my unique spelling to be of a potentially American English origin.

Unfortunately the interview is not for another 2 weeks. It is for a job I went for last year, and their feedback last time was that they thought my gap since University was a little large and that I would benefit from pursuing a Masters. They were referring to the statistical analysis side of the job, of which I admit I am a little out of practice but could easily pick it up again. I reapplied this year, with a bit of a 'stuff it, what have I got to lose' attitude? They interviewed me last year so they must have liked my application and I feel my work experience is worth more than a certificate. They've also managed to overlook the typos, but to be honest I am not sure it is worth taking the risk, when I have accepted a pretty good job with a quick start. There's a good chance someone with further qualifications will pip me to the post again and the job is quite a commute away with lots of travelling, whereas the one I have accepted is a lot nearer to home and the places I would work would be on one site with a potential new career path.

I am waiting to hear back on 2 other applications, one of which I think is punching a bit above my weight, but would absolutely love the opportunity for the role, as it would be a great stepping stone and they also provide funded Post-Grad study. I would seriously consider attending an interview with them. It seems the service who have just offered me an interview appear to have a 2 week short listing process, so it looks like I may not hear from my 'ultimate' application for another week and a half. hmmm..

That aside, I am hugely grateful for being offered a job so soon, which will provide the opportunity to gain lots of experience, opportunities to learn and the potential to follow a new career path. :T

Goodness me, there I go again...waffling! :cool:

Hugs to all you fine ninjas! xx