Was Mortgage Free until 52!!!

A_Frayed_Knot

Anyone painted with just lamps on?  No didn't think it was a good idea myself.  So work has stopped as my lightbulb blew in the bedroom fusing some of my other top lights.  Grrr, never had bother getting a bulb out before, but this one pushes up but won't budge round to come out, hence just my lamps on.  Grrr.  So came on here and will browse as tv along with everything else has been moved out of this room.

A_Frayed_Knot

Well, I tried again this morning, and that bulb is not budging, my mum had a go as well, no luck.

All gloss painted so now for the ceiling and walls, in a race against time for the light.  Have decided that a new lower fireplace would be nice, just need to try and find one now, so wallpapering above the fire will be on hold until I get the correct height, I can still get on with the rest though.

Going to order a few things from ike@, so must get on.

Moneyfordreams

Did you get your pay sorted out? I hope its quick for you, locally if they c*ck up with our salaries it take a month or more to sort. Good luck with the bulb. Don't know what to suggest, depends on fix I suppose, screw or bayonet ? used brute force with bayonet being careful not to break it. I don't want to risk wrath of others by telling you what I would do for a screw cap!!  

ElmoR

With you on the essentials stock up in case of another lockdown AFK. Noticed you have hair dye on the list - I decided to bite the bullet and just go streaky grey/white/black. I have a two tone head now but if you tie it back, it's not really noticeable (in the mirror looking at yourself, and if you cannot see it then it doesn't exist right?). It's been liberating (and moneysaving) to stop with the monthly dye job. Ok, I am visibly aged, but who hasn't the past 6 months!

Have a question for you too AFK...DD has started her NHS Youth Volunteer placement at local hospital. Do you have any tips for her on how to make herself useful rather than an additional burden on the staff? I know that when we have placement young people at work, they can be a time sink but maybe that's because they only stay a week or two, so you train them up and then they go! She's made a 2 year commitment, so presumably there are tasks she can learn that will help on any ward and mean she doesn't become a time sink for already busy staff?

ElmoR xx

A_Frayed_Knot

Hi MFD - No, pay not sorted and neither is my a/l,  I think they are clueless unless you are full time and even then, they used to deduct 7.5 hrs off a/l even if someone was on 12 hour shifts.   Lucky them !!!
Bulb fixed by DB eventually.  I now have light !!!  

How is your work g oing?  I am in one of the three areas with local lockdown/restrictions, eek, with another 2 joining us today, not good news at all, and although expected, didn't think it would be this soon.  My SIL works in a small(ish) hospital and is being tested every week, she is very surprised that I am not being tested being in the huge place I am in.
No visitors allowed for the pt's - again, security is tight and it is not nice walking out of work to find a queue waiting for someone come and collect a bag for their relative - my heart goes out to them.
On Saturday we had a wedding, and yes, not under nice/happy circumstances, nearly never went ahead, as security were at a loss as to whether they were allowed in !!! (no one had told them a wedding was taking place in the sanctuary).
27 staff were sent home last week, eeek, don't have a good feeling about the next few months to come.

Hi ElmoR,  Yes been stocking up (slightly) in preparation, I get my dye from sooperdrug, on special at £4 a go when you buy 2, so worth every penny to me. as some work colleagues think I'm still in my mid 40's.  When I hit 50, one dr    thought I was 30    so must keep up appearances  Not sure I have any tips for DD, with the ward she has been assigned to, being a good listener would be a start, I was always told that was part of their therapy.   

sorry very lare, back in the morning.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Moneyfordreams

Our dept is stopped it's one way system in time for the 2nd wave it seems. I'm sure we will have new rules playing out weekly. It certainly is not nice excluding families, we get some backlash, thankfully not too much as people are generally understanding. i seem to be focused on the present not the future. I'm  a glass half full person really, so I expect i will be slapped in the face with reality shortly There certainly are a few more positive covids getting through. 

Keep up the good work with your self care... 60 is the new 50, never give in , my 62 yo friend went grey last year . lost her blonde bob to a short ( more like mrs merton than pixi cut ) and aged her terribly. thankfully at last weeks catch up she's growing her hair again and gone back to blonde.      
 

ElmoR

Hi AFK

Hope you are well? Wondering where you've been and miss your posts. As one of my leading sources of early inspriration, I have some virtual cake to share with you

ElmoR xx

A_Frayed_Knot

Hello everyone (that's anyone who's reading) !!!

Hope everyone is keeping well,  had a good New Year and settling in to the new Lockdown !!!

Haven't been on here in a while, so have much catching up to do.  I can start with @ElmoR - Fantastic news - you certainly made short work of that mortgage - Freedom . . .    is a wonderful thing . . . irony is, we are in Lockdown 

Been busy at work, still only working the 2 days but funny how I seem to have less time, maybe because I've picked up a few hobbies I used to do - crafts, crochet, sewing, knitting - I'm just thinking about - think I may be all knitted out from my shop days., Feeling very vulnerable at work but got my date for the vaccine - only have to dodge the bullet for another 3-4 working days.
Was doing some decorating until the shops closed but had other things I could get on with, it's amazing how I can fill the days.

Tax rebates slowing down but good while it lasted - it meant I was coming home with a lot more than if I had worked full time, so was steadily investing in Premium Bonds.  Over the last 3 months - I have won 5 prizes, so I'm very happy !!!    

Haven't been going mad but did eventually buy myself that tv I was looking for, and some other things I needed.  Funny thing was after tv installed I don't think it was on for at least a fortnight.

Hope you all let me know how things are going with you, so I can catch up.

A_Frayed_Knot

So today - I have to go out for an essential.  I really don't want to, and wondering if I can put it off until tomorrow, as this wave is scaring me somewhat.

Making things worse is the fact we have  -   snow.  Since the NY we have just been waking up to very frosty mornings.  I do love the snow, so hope that will keep most indoors.

Bought some aran wool on the bay to knit an aran, and a new crochet hook, (I know they don't go together but have so many knitting/crochet projects planned) I am itching to start.  Strange as it seems, just wouldn't be the same if it was summer.

A_Frayed_Knot

Been another long spell.  Enjoying the "stay at home" and getting along with projects.  Wool arrived so have been
busy knitting and crocheting small hearts for the hospital, they have had a project for a while, since no one is 
allowed to visit (there is exemptions) they ask if they would like to participate, where a heart is given to the patient
and the other is given to the relative.  (you knit them exact same in pairs).

Other news - I have a leak above my front door porch - went to phone the factors and seems they are only taking
telephone emergency repairs.  Wish I had known - might be the mean scottish coming out in me - but - no service, 
what am I paying for ?? 

Been listing odds and sods on the bay, and have a box of trinkets, glasswear etc that came from my friends dad''s
house, she picked what she wanted to keep then asked me to clear the rest. Some lovely old. old stuff. (Just read
this over and looks like I'm listing them on the bay - not so).

Another project is to eventually enter the room of doom - only because I am now looking for a huge box of 
embellishments I have - but no idea where it is - unlike me - I can usually put my finger on anything I have.  I may
in a moment of madness put to loft, as I had went off crafting for a good while.

Work continues to be very busy as expected.  Big debate in my head about whether to take vaccine or not, heard
so many stories it was messing with my head.
In the end, took it.  I was fine but a fair few weren't.  We have now been offered self testing twice a week for 14 weeks.
Let's see how that goes. 

We have been very lucky with the weather here, we didn't seem to get the storm, snow or floods that have been
sweeping the country.  Hope everyone is safe and not had too much damage.  Last time it snowed here was probably
around 3 weeks ago, and only rained the other day after a dry spell, although we have had a fair few frosty mornings.

Have been looking at property for a while now - I am tempted !!!

Hope everyone is well and keeping safe.