Renovations and Repayments.

AlexLK

newgirly wrote: »

I agree with toots so much to look forward to Halloween , Christmas :xmastree:

Start making plans for your next adventures! we took the kids years ago to story telling In the woods at night for Halloween with jam jar painting whch you then carried as a lantern in the dark, maybe there is some thing like that going on nearby?

Spooky movies and toffee apples at home - haunted mansion was a favourite of my lot (not too scary it's Disney!) or Casper.

Pumpkin carving of course

Christmas the list is endless, I've recently started doing advent boxes for my lot, glittery gift boxes from the card shop with little candy striped paper bags numbered one to 24 we gold stickers, filled with whatever small things they like that fit. In the past we have done clues for treasure hunts in there, sweets, small toys, write down things they will be doing that day, ie. Go on a Xmas tree walk - walk around the neighbouring streets marking the decorations out of 10, simple but fun, I used to go with my grandad when I was little.

Making reindeer food, writing and posting to Santa, follow the sleigh on the NORAD tracking system, so many things!

As you can see I suffer from excessive Christmas obsession and have teenagers who will no longer comply with my festive demands :rotfl:

Make plans for what's coming next, he will be off for half term in the blink of an eye

:eek: It is not Christmas time yet, NG.

I used to really hate Christmas but quite enjoy it now with my son. We've got a few things planned over the coming weeks now my wife and I have discussed some things to do.

No doubt we'll end up having a Halloween party, then it'll be his birthday and than advent. The last three months of the year are busy.

hiddenshadow wrote: »

Hope you and LittleK feel better soon!

Thank you.

maman wrote: »

I know how you feel Alex but the world really doesn't end with the start of a new term. This is a very common feeling for children and teachers! :rotfl:
When it's holiday time 3.30 in the afternoon feels like there's plenty of day left to enjoy and the same will be true on Monday. Plan some nice but simple things to do with Little K like walk the dog or prep the dinner or a short visit to grandparents or to the horses if it's near enough. It'll be light after school until half term. Then there's weekends......

You'll cope!

I'm a lot better than last year, maman.

Next week I've got a lot of music teaching work. Tuesday I'm going into school for Y7 music assembly / question and answer on their first day. School seems really keen to promote it this year.

We always find things to do, I just like the summer holiday too much!

newgirly

Bah humbug Alex, it's only 114 more days :xmassign:

maman

AlexLK wrote: »

I just like the summer holiday too much!

You're not alone!:D

AlexLK

Pleased to announce we've had an NSD! This is some feat of achievement after the last six or so weeks of spending, spending, spending.

newgirly wrote: »

Bah humbug Alex, it's only 114 more days :xmassign:

:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: That is actually rather scary.

Can't believe summer is almost over.

maman wrote: »

You're not alone!:D

:rotfl: ... I must be ready for this teacher gig, eh?

AlexLK

Not an NSD today. I had hardly any sleep, seems I am getting used to having a better night's sleep as I'm rather suffering for having little. Basically meant my morning was a write-off (planned to get some things up for sale but it's not happened). This afternoon we went out, which was nice. Really rather sad summer is over and wife returns to work on Monday morning before son (and I!) have school on Tuesday. However, the black dog isn't taking over. Slowly starting to realise that a bad night / morning doesn't have to mean a bad day which turns into a bad week leading to a bad month and bad year.

My wife and I had some conversations I never thought we would this evening, sensible and civil conversations about our spending on various things including food and bills. For once we were informed by the spreadsheets we've been keeping and no confrontation over it, just initial discussions about where we think we overspend and areas we could try cutting down on. So pleased with this leap forward.

newgirly

Glad all is going well

maman

Sounds good Alex I'd forgotten about the spreadsheets. Looking forward to hearing about the moneysaving ideas.
Hope you get a better night's sleep.:)

A_Frayed_Knot

AlexLK wrote: »

. . . . but we are going there on Sunday for lunch.

. . . . . but it's not the first time he's apologised and turned things around before everything slides back into how it was.
You've reminded me I need to carry on with the declutter for September.

I can't say I want things to go back to 'normal'. It was causing a lot of trouble within my marriage that I wasn't entirely aware of and making me think I was entirely useless with no hope. I suppose a lot of things haven't changed but I don't want to go through life not bothering to challenge myself.
My parents see me being at their beck and call as something of a right. Father constantly tells me how lucky I am to be their son (all to do with money, of course).

Can I remind you, any nonsense, and your all off . . . .
Apologises then everything back to how it was . . . . . You are stronger now and have your family behind you, so do not put up with any nonsense, and this is your normal now, not the way it was before, the old normal was nothing but trouble and unhappiness for you, they days are gone, you have moved on and hope you tell them this. If things haven't changed then its up to you to change them, and don't think you can't because you can.

I have heard about so many turning their lives round, whether it be losing 6 stones, give up drinking, getting away from a bad relationship, they have all been at their low points, and I'm in awe at their strength, to do something about it and then actually change their lives around.


Just read your last post - it oozes change - and all for the better :A

AlexLK

maman wrote: »

Sounds good Alex I'd forgotten about the spreadsheets. Looking forward to hearing about the moneysaving ideas.
Hope you get a better night's sleep.:)

:rotfl: I've not!

Despite feeling awful this morning, I'm wide awake now I should be in bed ... :mad:. Really need to sort this and get back to the good routine before everything starts again and I'm feeling ill with a lack of sleep (convinced it triggers some depressive and anxious episodes). Wish I could sleep like my wife: bed at c.10pm, bit of reading, 8 hours per night EVERY SINGLE NIGHT.

Just posted this in someone's diary but thought I may see some other replies on here: We need to cut down on the food spends at c. £500 not counting eating out.

Currently we (usually) eat three meals per day: breakfast is usually something like fruit salad with Greek yoghurt and honey, poached egg and smoked salmon on an English muffin or toast and marmalade if really lazy. Lunch is difficult because usually my wife is at work and son at school, so something is made for son (cous cous, salad, pasta salad, etc.), wife sometimes takes lunch but often doesn't and I sometimes have same as son, sometimes not. Dinner is usually something like fish, sauce, new potatoes and seasonal veg, a similar thing with meat or a salad followed by a pudding course of some kind. We do sometimes have silly things like oyster appetizers / an expensive bottle of wine but that's not everyday, generally I think we eat very simply but it does seem to cost a lot of money compared to other families on here.

A_Frayed_Knot

I think you do. Need to cut food spends. Would you be able to keep a food spending diary? that way, it normally hits home where it all goes, do you have a lot of food waste? Do the meals you cook, able to be frozen, that's where batch cooking comes in and let me tell you I was not a believer in batch cooking saving ££'s but I tried it, and let me tell you - it does.

I can hazard a guess and think you will find your butcher meat may well be your highest bill (not counting the wine ) could have something to do with the variety or size of portions? What do you think?