2016 - a year of change

System

Drink loads and loads of water, I recently thought I was going to catch the same cold as everyone else but genuinely think I managed to avoid it by effectively flushing out my system with 2-3 litres of water a day whilst I felt a bit under the weather!

Happy Anniversary! xxx

lulabelle

we spent a bit more than couple of quid yesterday as they had those lime and coriander poppadum crisps on at BOGOF and the boy wanted lemsip. Plus we got toffees so was just under £13/2.

I also ordered him 2 books for xmas today and my mum and dad a case of wine, plus bought him a robe for anniversary tomorrow (he's always nicking mine) and a salad for lunch.

I should hopefully not go tooooooo far over this month's budget but maybe slightly. To be fair though, if it wasn't for fact I was having to order presents early as we are going away I wouldn't be over, so I'm not going to stress (or try not to).

In other news - WE GOT AN OFFER ON THE HOUSE TONIGHT!!!!!! WOO HOO!!!!! It's not as much as I'd like but a good start so going to go back with a counter offer tomorrow and hope we can get an agreement! Bad timing though as we go away friday so don't really want to have surveyors etc plodding round here so will have to see if that can be done in new year.

Then we need to find somewhere to live!!! I do like that house we saw sat, could make it really nice but it is just a standard house. But within budget if we can get them to take an offer

Seasidegal58

Congratulations on the house offer! As you say it's a good start!

lulabelle

So, we have now agreed a price for the house!!!! After 3 days of negotiations, got them up by 10k. It's 15k less than asking price but where we are the market is bad and so we are likely to be able to get a whack of price of next house!

So we are completing end of feb - massively scary and now we need to find somewhere to live. Have a second viewing on the one we saw sat but not until 30 dec as we are away (its been on market since feb with no offers so am not too worried about it going).

Have gone a bit over budget this month and likely to go further as need some more make up tomorrow. But I am not going to stress.

We ended up staying in for anniversary as the boy is poorly (man flu and given it to me!) so we got take away pizzas - £20 instead of what could've been much more in a restaurant so not that bothered as we are in nyc from sat so eating out loads there!

Tonight is j.pots, chilli cheese and beans from stores then tomorrow I have manicure and hair done and a bit of shopping and packing.

I am now off work for 12 days too - woo hoo! (doesn't seem long enough at all!)

lulabelle

happy new year everyone!

The 12 days off work went far too quickly and even though I was only back in for 2 days before 4 days off (now only 2 left with today and tomorrow) I hated every moment. It's so hard as I just hate the law and lawyers but I don't have any other options at present, especially as we are buying a new house/starting a family so we now need the money. I have resolved to finish my book in 2017 in the (very unlikely) hope that might be my way out. In the interim, just have to keep chanting mantra its only 4 days a week, 9-5 and I can change my working hours when we have kids/work from home 1 day a week (not many jobs you can do that in).

So, house completing (subject to survey) on 23 february. We have nowhere to go! Went back to see the one we liked for a second viewing on friday but have realised for a number of reasons its not the house for us. So we've walked. Nothing else on we haven't seen/want to see so having to hang on for new year in hope market will have an influx of new properties. Not that bothered we have nowhere to go as would be able to stay with friends but it's a problem with the cat. Hoping we can just get a short let where we can have the cat for a few weeks.

NYC was fun but expensive! As was xmas! Hoping now we can rein it in a bit in january as really need to save for new house/maternity leave.

lulabelle

didn't spend a penny yesterday. boy's mum had a nyd bash at her house and everyone had to bring a dish. I made a butternut risotto from what we bought at the weekend. And my last day of drinking yesterday. Now not drinking until 28th jan when we are to the Hand and Flowers for my birthday meal.

And boy and I decided last night I am coming off the pill! Took my last one last thursday so now just waiting to get cycle back to normal before we start trying - eek!!!!

Today will be spending. Need to get food for the week but we are trying to be healthy so getting fish and vegetables for evenings (and will cook them various different ways) then salad and butternut for lunches. Am really going to try now to get healthy to give self best chance poss of getting pregnant.

Still dreading work tomorrow. I just hate it. Not as much as I hated the last job but it's law. I absolutely hate the law and judges and lawyers and all that goes with it!!!

Poor_Single_lady

Glad to see you back Lulabelle.

Have you been to recruiters. There are loads of finance organisations that need law skills and experience and it might suit you better than where you are now. Although I can see that it might be necessary to stay wheee you are with your plans! Congratulations on the baby plans. Lots of change right now. Xx

Buffythedebtslayer

So lovely to read that 2016 really has been a year of change for you

Well done Lulabelle you were brave and it paid off!

Good luck for everything in 2017

XXXXX

Seasidegal58

PSL is right - perhaps a Legal/Compliance type role in a financial institution? We always seem to be recruiting for these type of jobs at our firm! It's all due to the red tape and bureaucracy these days!

Best of luck with coming off the pill!

lulabelle

thanks psl, bufster and SSG!

Yeah, the boy's cousin is in recruitment and been to see her before. I'd prob have to do a course for compliance but could then easily get a job but tbh I think I'd be bored out my brain and some of those roles can be quite stressful as you are sometimes on the hook if there are mess ups. Plus at present I am only 4 days per week.

just wish I'd gone down a different route completely!!!

We were supposed to be starting healthy diet today but supermarket literally had nothing so we made a spanish omelette for lunch and are making a roast for tea. Got some of the stuff we need for the week but not all and it was still £42!!! Plus we have salad and salmon and other fish still to buy.

Got to get some folic acid/supplements when shops properly open tomorrow. It's good but scary and of course worried that at 38 and not in best of health I'll struggle to conceive.

Also got to stop applying the steroid cream to my head for my alopecia. Thankfully I've been really rubbish at doing it since october as it potentially causes problems in pregnancy so good job I've not really been doing it a while.