Spent 4 years pretending it's all OK

Cherryfudge

Crumbs - that's a lot of long hours. Look after yourself x

NoOneAround

Hello I'm back!

Term ended, and its bliss not having to get up and go to work (rest of the family all left at 7.30 this morning while I had a lie in, reading in bed - can't remember the last time that happened!
Life has been busy, exhausting around work, but have survived

Consistent income has taken pressure off a bit and I even have a week holiday booked for August!
Next couple of weeks are going to be taken up with a mega effort on decluttering once and for all, and trying to tame the wild neglected but very nature friendly garden.
DD still waiting to hear about her job but is working full time pretty much with her temp job, DS has found some work too, not regular but a good start, and rest of the time he's helping at home with big jobs in the garden, in exchange for new laptop, phone and other expenses etc for when he goes to uni.
Spreadsheet totally out of date, just haven't been able to keep up, but as SE work has also been busy, haven't had to keep too close an eye on bank balances.
So all in all, a little stability gained, Just now need to work on trying to be happy. Am avoiding thinking about total empty nest, also how DH and I might fare. Hmmm.

Hope all well with everyone, I have not managed to keep up at all this past month:(

NOA
x

.

Cherryfudge

Hooray for holidays!

Let us know how you're doing with the decluttering and the garden, I always find other people's efforts spur me on (I'm the sort of person who makes a separate decision out of every paperclip ).

NoOneAround

Hello Cherry

So far.....

H__*and M have a good recycling scheme, you get a £5 voucher for a £25 spend for each carrier bag of clothes (any brand and condition) you take into store, so far in last 6 weeks we have taken in 9 bags for 9 x £5 vouchers. DD buys stuff in there regularly anyway, I have found some things and so did DS in the sale! so feeling quite pleased we spent £78 and got £15 off (11 items).

Chucked out 2 old (spare) duvets and some old cushions which have been sitting in spare room unused for 2 years (recycled the textile bits).

Gardening - in last 10 days
1) DS who is now off school waiting for A Level results, has jetwashed 2/3 of the patio
2) DS has cut grass this weekend and DH started strimming the edges (usually 2 days work)
3) DH and I have weeded by hand (chemical free) all weeds in joints on paving/patio :eek: its looking really nice, but joints need repointing (if that is the right word?)

Jobs on the list,
pruning shrubs (big job), hedge trimming (big job), and countless more. Lots of decorating to do inside if I can get decluttering sorted.....

NOA
x

brizzlegirl

Sounding good NOA. Glad you survived June!!!

Empty nest indeed. We are the same. I describe it like tectonic plates shifting. Got off my *rse last week and took control with a potential side hustle just for me next year and a desire to learn some conversational French, onwards and upwards or perhaps Allez Allez!! :rotfl:

Cherryfudge

You've got the gardening/decluttering off to a cracking start then! And getting rid of spare duvets will inevitably have created space, which makes it easier.

That's a useful incentive from H_*and M: I buy quite a lot there but I've never been organised enough to take a bag of clothing in for a discount.

NoOneAround

brizzlegirl wrote: »

Sounding good NOA. Glad you survived June!!!

Empty nest indeed. We are the same. I describe it like tectonic plates shifting. Got off my *rse last week and took control with a potential side hustle just for me next year and a desire to learn some conversational French, onwards and upwards or perhaps Allez Allez!! :rotfl:

Potential side hustle sounds intriguing
Term time job will take a lot of energy for me I think and DS will be a 4-5hr drive away (hopefully results pending!) in a lovely part of country so a few weekends away (to keep an eye on him might be in the offing :rotfl: Likely that DD will be in the big city so perhaps more time for doing all the things I never had time for before.....
x

NoOneAround

Cherryfudge wrote: »

You've got the gardening/decluttering off to a cracking start then! And getting rid of spare duvets will inevitably have created space, which makes it easier.

That's a useful incentive from H_*and M: I buy quite a lot there but I've never been organised enough to take a bag of clothing in for a discount.

It is a good incentive, I've just been keeping a bag by the door and putting things in one at time as I come across them Then if either DD or I are going into town near H__andM we just go get the voucher - they are vaild until Feb next year:)

Spendy day today as DS is going somewhere very hot for a week - 8hr flight to stay with a friend - over £100 in summer shorts, T's , swimwear, beach shoes etc. plus WW insurance and currency picked up. Lucky boy, am very jealous.

x

NoOneAround

Not MSE stuff but.....
There are times where you are just bursting with pride, and a whole host of other emotions, but if one is not a FB or other "look at me" social media addict, there is nowhere to go. So here behind the curtain of anonymity provided by this forum and in the presence of virtual friends who have in many ways shared a much more personal journey than most of my RL friends, I can cheerfully and tearfully type away.
Sitting now in an empty house (DD/DH at work, DS en route in the air) and having called my mum to share happy news, then breaking down because actually the one person who I wanted to tell the most is no longer here. I realise again how much I miss my dad every day.
DD has landed her job and everything is falling into place. How proud he would have been. It wasn't anything she had ever thought about doing, but the further along the process she got the more she knew it was for her - and that anything else would always be a compromise. She is so happy, and I can tick that box as a resounding success. Then getting notes from people who have been involved in DS's education, saying what a fine young man he has become, always humble and modest and wise beyond his years. How proud my dad would have been. Another ticked box. and a pat on the back for proud mum me - I think "I done good" :)

Off to work to finish off a few things.
Have a lovely day
NOA
xx

Cherryfudge

How lovely! Well done to both of them. You are right to be proud. :j:j:j