Forget about likes and dislikes. They are of no consequence....

[Deleted User]

You've possibly already left by now but if you get to see this before you go I'm just sending all good wishes for a lovely and much-deserved break:beer:.

Shame about OH's parents spoiling the party:eek: but you may be able to give them the slip sometime. Rome's easy to lose people in;)

Emzilla

Buon giorno!!

Sì, I am back - and that's as far as my Italian goes.

Well, Rome was lovely. Lots of beautiful things to look at. I'm feeling not so lovely. We basically walked about 6 miles each day in 30+ degree temperatures. We spent an absolute fortune on eating out (Hard Rock Cafe 5 - yes 5!! - times).

The hotel was okay, not a 4 star as they claim in my opinion. It was quite dated and we had a leak in our room on the last day. I didn't sleep well because of the heat, the mattress was rock hard (fine for OH, but not so fine for me as I'm all skin and bones) and the pillows might as well have been non-existent. So I was walking around all day, needing to sleep to recover, and not managing to do so.

I'm so glad I'm not at work this coming week as I really do need time to get back to feeling normal.

Our money ran out pretty quickly (OH's parents have a great knack of playing dumb and pushing OH forward to pay for everything because 'they don't know what to do'), so our money situation is pretty dire. OH's parents are apparently giving us some back, but I'm not going to hold my breath.

I get paid on Thursday, which will be a godsend. At least I've got OH's present all sorted as it's his birthday on Wednesday. Just need to buy him a card. We're going to his parents on his birthday and they're buying him a meal. Still means we have to pay £40 petrol to get there and back though.

I need to get earning some extra. I don't really want to fill my downtime with more work, but I've got so much to pay off, I'm going to have to.

Will come back later (when OH's parents have gone) with a plan.

Emz xx

BTW, 1 item gone from the bucket list!!

Buffythedebtslayer

Very glad you got to cross an item off the bucket list Em and my deep and serious dislike for OH parents is increasing. Paying for stuff is the same anywhere!

XXX

in_need_of_direction

Why not plead tiredness and spend the petrol costs on a cosy take away for the two of you?

[Deleted User]

So glad you are back safe and sound and have crossed something off your bucket list:T. I saw the Pope on the news the other day, he'd just strolled into the opticians to get some new glasses. He hates protocol and all the stuffiness associated with being Pope and just goes out and about in Rome and elsewhere whenever he feels like it:T. Must be a nightmare for his bodyguards though:eek:. I wondered whether you saw him out and about.

You're back in time to see Andy Murray have a good crack at winning the US Open:j. The heat there is awful, retirements all over the place, but he seems to be coping OK. Nadal was beaten last night and so was Ferrer:( but I'm not really surprised about Ferrer as it's the first time he's played since injuring his wrist before Wimbledon. At least he got to the third round and will hopefully do better as the year goes on when he's less match-rusty:T

I know your money situation is worrying you but please take some time to recharge your batteries. The heat, lots of walking and lack of sleep can play havoc on anyone's health, especially yours so try to crash out and do as little as possible this weekend:beer:. You haven't mentioned your eye so I'm assuming it didn't develop into anything too serious.

Emzilla

Thanks everyone - it's really nice to be back.

Buffy - I know, it's not as if the people working at these tourist attractions and restaurants only speak Italian. Any excuse not to spend their own money!! :mad:

INOD - I think OH is set on going to see them. I can understand it in a way as he doesn't have any other family he's close too. At least it's only for a day.

CBC - My eye is fine now thank you. I wore my glasses when we went to Rome and then went back to contacts the day after. Have been wearing them since then without any problems. Sorry Ferrer lost, but at least he didn't go out first round. It's always hard coming back after a long spell out.

Emz xx

Emzilla

So, one thing I didn't mention before we went away was that we've booked a cruise for next year. We've got a couple of friends and their kids going on the same cruise, so that will be good.

We had to pay a £200 deposit (which OH paid from his bonus) and the rest is due on the 3rd February 2016, which is roughly 150 days away. The balance to pay is £1,293.50, so that's less than £10 a day we have to find to pay it off.

I'm actually really excited about this cruise. We're going on 3rd April and coming back on 10th April. It goes from New York (so we will have to book a flight and get an overnight hotel at some point too) and we sail around Florida and the Bahamas. We've got a room with a balcony and that price includes our food, drink and service charges.

It will also mean I can cross another item from my bucket list :j

So that is an incentive for me to start earning some more. If I can pay off the cruise with extra money earned, then OH can pay for the flight and hotel from extra money he gets in January from selling his leave.

My plan is to start putting £10 aside each day into a separate savings account from the 25th September onwards. That is 130 days before the payment is due, so we'll end up with £1,300 to pay off the cruise on the due date. If I can get earning now, then the money should be trickling in by then too.

I'm not going to lie - I'm excited!!

Emz xx

in_need_of_direction

I've been on a few cruises and love them. Remember to factor in the money you save by being away on an all inclusive and you'll see what a great deal they can be. Also, you should check with the cruise company and see if they will quote for flights as it can be cheaper that way.

beanielou

Yes I agree with Buffy~ my dislike for OH's parents increases every time I hear about them.
Odious springs to mind.Sigh.

Emzilla

Morning

It was lovely having a week off from work, but I'm back now. Went back yesterday. Doing an 8 hour shift today. I've got nearly £100 worth of overtime this month, which is pretty good seeing as I've had half the month off as leave and I only got £150 overtime last month in total. It helps that the younger staff members are back at college now and therefore can't work during the week. Plus a couple of the girls left to go to uni.

We've got a couple of new additions to the household. A woman that OH works with got a couple of degus for their kids, but they went off them pretty quickly when one of them put their finger in the cage and got a nip. It happens - mine nip at my fingers all the time (not really biting, just nibbling). So, needless to say they were pretty keen to get rid of them ASAP. OH mentioned that we already had 2, so they said we could take them for free, with the cage and everything. They are adorable - only a few months old. One is white and the other is brown with white specks. I'll try and put a picture on here later.

I'm hoping to integrate them with my other two degus eventually, as they're all girls. I've got the cages next to each other and they seem to be getting on okay, even cuddled up on the top shelf next to each other on the first night, so I'm hopeful they can all live together eventually. Won't rush it though.

I paid another £200 off one of the council tax debts, so that's down to just under £200 and will get cleared a week Friday when OH gets paid.

Before we start paying the cruise off, we need to pay another debt off first. OH borrowed some money from his mate a little while ago to pay his car off. He has been paying it off gradually, but his mate is getting a bit funny about it now (understandably), and I feel awkward when we see him. I would like to clear it ASAP so that it doesn't ruin the friendship. I guess that's the issue when borrowing off friends - I did warn OH at the time.

Anyway, it's a little over £2,500 that he owes, so it's going to take some clearing. But hey, it's only 25 lots of £100 that we need to find. I've already got one lot with my overtime this month, so only 24 to go. How hard can it be?

Better get cracking as I'm due at work at 12 and have got some stuff to get done before then.

Be back later.

Emz xx