NST: May the odds be ever in your favour!

mothernerd

Well decided I would have a lazy day watching dvds (must get my money's worth from the £4 for 3 weeks library hire) but would tackle the washing up mountain first so I could slob out free of guilt. Rinsed the stuff for the recycle bin first but water didn't get hot.

Read the symbols and worked out from the manual that water pressure was too low but can't remember which screw to turn to fix it. Cue washing up with kettles, hunting for the card with the boiler man's number on (it was in purse until I emptied to go in hospital), going through phone for unusual numbers (was just after I got the phone and it only seems to keep more recent ones), I had entered the date of installation in the address book but not his number (must only have had it in the phone as I transferred everything from last year's diary).

A dish jumped off the draining board part way through (well the newer pots decide to slide down and push it over the edge) and got a small nick in my thumb clearing up the mess. Short period of chanting "I will not cry, I will not feel sorry for myself". Must do the "Don't give up the day job" challenge and do some serious de-stressing this week.

Bob I did fill in the ombudsman paperwork but they sent me an email back saying they wouldn't do anything as it had started over a year ago (there were four things in dispute and on one of them I had discovered an incident quite a while back, when I was going back through the bills writing a list of readings and charges). However I have got them to admit the errors were their fault and they have said they will give me back what they overcharged me, they just bungled the calculation and have failed to hand over the money (which should have happened in November as soon as I proved that my figures were correct). It's either deliberate or a completely inadequate system but I know enough about accounting to know that the required 'checks and balances' are not in place. I am now aware of a whole host of errors.

I can't remember now whether it was last night or this morning, but have had to send yet another complaint about the other account (on the empty house). I had already complained about yet another 'estimated' £90 of gas usage charges which had been added on this month (they said they would credit it back at once rather than the normal 10 days) but whilst checking back again, the April bill ended with a credit of £143.16 (one of the cheques they did finally send last month), this month's bill opens with a debt of £61.71 so I've told them to remove that pronto. I also posted a cheque for £9.68 for this month's bill on the empty house (21p electric usage and newly increased standing charges) and written on the back that that is the full amount due on that account after all the bogus charges are deducted. So definitely something to go to the ombudsman tomorrow (want to print out both last two bills in full plus my last detailed e-mail which set out the amounts I wanted and why, so need the library). Think I should charge for printing costs and may do a bill for my time (and stress, so so much stress).

Anyway today I am grateful for being able to get the washing up done, that it was only an old dish that broke and for being aware that I need to take action on the stress and a number of other health issues (dvds and sewing have helped but I am not calm). have committed to improving sleep patterns (was getting better but not great last two nights, continuing to de-clutter, more healthy snacks and reviewing the year of happiness topics over the coming week as well as more housework (will help with sleep and calming activity when feeling agitated). May even find some weeds to attack.

Have a good week turtles - pay day and month end are nearly in sight (and I will beat that energy company into submission).

DrCarrie

Been decluttering! The place feels a lot lighter; still soem piles to tidy and I am going to Kondo the paper when I get bakc from Holiday.

Using up food in the fridge, freezer and cupboards so I don't relaly need a shop. Didn't have a NSD yesterday, and have already had the cards out today for travel insurecne and visa this morning, so lets hope for one on Tue, Wed and Thursday....then holiday!

Bobarella

Mothernerd -it may be worth asking them to reopen your complaint. With the new evidence you have. Also companies have a time line for paying up when they've promised a settlement. If they have promised but not delivered then they may be breaking more rules.

wishus

Awesome, The Only Girl! It's great to find another WW member on the MSE forums. Everyone seems to be doing Slimming World!

Well, I'm afraid yesterday did not turn out to be an NSD for me. I packed a healthy picnic for our walk, and we got ourselves a free walking guide from John Harris' Walking in England.

What a fantastic and invigorating walk in the beautiful Northamptonshire countryside! We did a 5-mile walk which took in the picturesque village of Cold Ashby, and a bit of the Jurassic Way. It was so fresh and lovely, we said hello to sheep, spotted buzzards circling ahead and even saw a lone lark pipping up from a fragrant field of rapeseed flowers - just a couple of fields across from the conservation area for them. Of course, no walk is complete without a detour by mistake, and we realized we'd taken our right-turn across a footbridge a bit early when we found ourselves scrabbling through a dense and thorny bluebell copse. We had thought the footbridge looked a bit decrepit! :rotfl:Luckily, we escaped and found our marker a bit further on. We ate our picnic in a lovely meadow, looking out over a rolling vista of yellow and green, with a few sheep and windmills dotted about.

It was just what the doctor ordered... well the therapist, anyway!

No money was spent up to this point...

The trouble with country walks is you do spot a few attractive pubs on the way back, so I'm now down by £8.20 for a couple of ales, well, an ale and a red wine. :beer: And OH didn't want me to cook the chicken I'd planned to do as it would take too long (and he didn't trust me with a glass of vino in me ). He thought a pub meal or takeaway, but we reached a compromise and got an Asda £6 Indian Takeaway meal deal on the way home instead (as our little Asda near us opens late on Sundays).

They are good value, those curries, but heavy on my WW points budget. Luckily I earned 19 points with 50 minutes' cycling and 2 hours' rambling yesterday. :j

Stewby - it looks like our own chicken challenge is postponed until tonight!

Calling14

Sounds a perfect day out Wishus. I always preffered WW to slimming world, their receipes were brilliant. If I don't make any inroads this month, may join up, at least with my cold, off cakes completely. Need to reach a healthy BMI great inspiration. Dread to look what mine should be.

Going to claim a spend free day today. Slurping soup, going straight home after work and out for a long dog walk when I get in.

My progress update
SFD 12/20 may manage it.
Petrol 0/20 - Need to get some tomorrow.
Food 83.55/100 I won't be buying anymore as away next week, freezer and fruit supplies still high.
Trying to eat more healthly/ no cakes biccies in the house.
Exercise - not done too much over the weekend, felt lousy.
Fun-? None, if fact this week has been horrid with friends grown up kids having major ops. Haven't even done my National Trust visit either. If I haven't mentioned 9 more sleeps until Fleetwood Mac so very excited for that.
Unexpected spends, clothes yesterday and a little suitcase for my journey. The wheel is hanging off my old one, effects of cobbled streets in Edinburgh took its toll. I could have borrowed one but I need one and would hate to damage someone else's.

Fmess I may copy your example and pop in Lidls for some flowers for my friend whose 30 yr old daughter is still poorly. Had some vertebrae removed and part of her brain to ease the pressure on her brain was a life/death situation and her daughter has a 3yr old as well. Just awful not sure I would be coping that well if it was one of mine.

My other friends son same age has his oral cancer operation today. Worrying times.

Got itchy feet so want to go to Sainsburys tomorrow 25% event off clothes but NO car tax due next month need to save instead.

Put a bag out full for the charity shop this morning.

Stewby - sorry to hear about ants/chicken how annoying.

Samizel - hope you are over the bug now.

Today grateful for
For my healthy children, grandson
Lovely tidy house and garden,
Watching Chelsea flower show on tv, now want to do a water feature in my garden, found a pump in my garage, Excited about naf things as ever.

Have a nice day x

Bobarella

Hi All
NSD 13 here. And very pleased to report I earned enough club points to get another free day pass for our favourite zoo/theme park so we have 2 of a needed 3 now! As the vouchers are good until November we should be on for a free day out during the summer hols. Or we could just buy 1 child's ticket to get in as it's the cheapest and go anyway!
Has been really busy at the cafe this morning for which I am very grateful. I never know whether rain means no one will come or whether everyone will

Oh and found 1p this morning!
Back later.

Bob

Caeraugirl

Just popped in to log my 12th SFD this month, also LTW again so have updated my sig accordingly. And amazingly, still within budget (but only just, not gonna last the month without blowing it, but am resigned to damage limitation at least.


Just read your post Calling about 25% off clothes at Sainsbobs - am working practically next door to a big one tomorrow so may take a look. On the one hand, a bit naughty as will be previously unplanned spends, but on the other am in dire need of some new clothes since Kondo'ing practically my entire wardrobe lol! I have been squirrelling away most of my wages for last few months in preparation for being a full time student again in September, may just dip into the funds as will need some smart but practical clothes for teaching...

MessyMare

Wishus - your walk sounds lovely

NSD for me today! I deposited the leftover money from holiday (all £5.43 of it!) so I've got £23 or so which I might attempt to use for food shopping at the end of this week - might be some interesting meals on the plan haha! My first day back at work went really well, I don't know what I was stressed about really, and DH has two job interviews this week onwards and upwards!

academiablues

Evening all! Wishus, it sounds like you had a lovely day out MessyMare, fingers crossed for your DH this week.
Absolutely shattered today - stepped it up on my workout this morning and am feeling the results. I probably won't be able to move tomorrow but it's worth it in the long run. Also managed a NSD and usual LTW today, in spite of walking all the way to the GPs to be told my appointment had been cancelled(!) and having to walk back through the shopping centre - I didn't buy chocolate to cheer me up
Happy Monday turtles!

Samiszel

Just found out that one of the regular posters on the £10 per Day Challenge board I'm part of, passed away suddenly last night and leaves a young daughter. How tragic. Rather upset myself now, even though I never met her. Puts things into perspective. She was always so cheery and motivational on the board. R.I.P. :A

Off work ill today. Have managed to keep down some toast today- hooray. First piece of food since Friday!! Claiming another NSD too.