2016 - a year of change

lulabelle

thanks LG - yes I do have to listen to my body and boy am I paying for it now - not my legs but this stinking cold has hit me right between the eyes!!

I have not been able to do anything this afternoon and it's now 5pm. What a waste of a day. Plus I have stuffed in a load of chocolate - arghhh!!

Bit annoyed with the boy. One of his mates has organised some drinks for tomorrow night. The boy said a couple of days ago that he didn't want to go because he's not drinking at the moment. So I haven't organised anything with my friends for tomorrow night as thought would be spending it with the boy. Boy said at lunchtime he might want to go now, but only for a couple of hours (i.e. 730-930) - which has annoyed me because by the time he gets back we don't have an evening together (because 930 really means 10 or 1030) and then I've been sat here all day on my own (plus he's out with work on a lunch from 1 anyway). I don't mind him going out of course but I wish he'd tell me a bit earlier because then I could have organised to not be on my own!

Now he's saying he's not going - I'm trying to get him to go as don't want to be one of those women who get in a mood if their bloke goes out. I love him dearly but I do wish he would think sometimes. It's like with the food, he just took the rest to work without thinking I might quite like some.

I shouldn't complain. He is really good to me, just a bit thoughtless at times.

lulabelle

so, have been really hit by this cold! constant headache that painkillers not touching NOT what I need right now when I am trying to train!!

So far today I have dropped my ID docs into new job, got prescription, got milk, butter and raspberries. A raspberry and assam tea loaf is now baking in the oven. Will ice it once cooked and cooled.

Cannot wait to have a slice later!!

Other than that, nothing so far as feel so rubbish! Am hoping am better by sunday so I can do my long run.

Made an appointment with my mortgage broker. My fixed rate comes to an end end of April and I obv don't want to go to variable as increases repayments by about £200 a month. But need to know what options are as the boy and I are thinking about putting my house on the market and buying together later this year. Presuming they won't charge an early repayment fee if I port the mortgage but not sure if can port as the rates they are offering me now relate to 60% LTV as there is a decent amount of equity in this house but new house we will be more like 80 or 90% I imagine. So, need to be informed then we can make decisions - we may well just decide to stay here another 2 years (doubtful).

So that's mon 29th.

Not sure what I will do this pm. Want to do some reading for my writing but given head so bad think I may miss out on ideas I'd otherwise have.

Boy is out for posh lunch with work - lucky thing. He's not going tonight even though I suggested he did so looks like take away. Big shop tomorrow and I've done a plan and made a list so hoping we can actually spend much less this week. Plus have a voucher for £8 off if spend £40. There's not too much on the list but as we know from previous experience, that doesn't necessarily mean anything!!!

lulabelle

Hmmmm, so not a great weekend so far.

Went out to dinner with the boy on friday night. He ended up having to go back to work and miss out on most of his work lunch so he deserved a treat (plus he took me out for an expensive lunch on last day of our holiday). I paid. Was only £48 but still. We shared a starter, had a main each and I had 2 glasses of red wine (my guilty pleasure) and he had 1. It was nice though. Then we came home and watched bourne identity (which the boy had never seen) in bed.

Yesterday was a bit of a disaster. The car wouldn't start again so the boy walked to b&q to get a battery starter pack. Except we had to charge that all day so couldn't use the car. Got ripped off getting steaks from the butchers (they offered me the most expensive of their fillets) as boy is cooking our valentine's meal tonight. We went out for lunch so more expense and then I needed a camel pack and bladder for running and some more hair product so that was about £45 all in and we did a small shop for the lasagne I was making last night.

Boy tried to start the car with the battery pack this morning and no joy. He's had to get a lift to where he's running and text his brother-in-law to see if he can come and look at the car (he used to work on the same type of car as a job). But suspects battery has gone, again. They only replaced it in October or something - apparently a fault on this type of car. I knew I should've kept the mini!

Oh, and the issue with the drains is on private land, not the water co's problem. So a strategy is being drawn up and quotes obtained which will be split between 5 properties. I'm budgeting £2,000 (which thankfully I have given I saved up to take some time off but am going back to work earlier than I had planned) but why is it that when you give up your job, everything breaks?! I do wonder if it's just you notice it more as you worry about it more.

So, I will be going over budget this month, probably not by more than about £100 but still, I had thought I could save £3-400 this month given we were away for a week and that was already paid for.

I think if we didn't go out to dinner/lunch as much and I could control the boy a bit more on the old groceries then I wouldn't spend as much. But we do like our meals out. And I had saved enough to have 10 months off and will only really have had 3 (but call it 4 as I start mid-way through a month so won't get much pay for that and so need funds until get a "proper" pay-packet on 20 june.

Was supposed to run 10-12 miles this morning but, despite my iPod having been plugged in all night, it is not charged and there is no way I can force myself to run that far without tunes. The boy has band practice between 4 and 6 today so I might go then instead. Though how we are supposed to get to his mums without a car or how he is supposed to get to band practice I do not know! Hoping his brother-in-law can fix it (and apparently the mate who has just picked him up for his run used to be a mechanic so will have a quick look too) but suspect it needs to go into the garage.

So, I am not a happy bunny right now. Hopefully next week will be better!!

lulabelle

So, I ran the full 1 hour 45 mins the programme said to do yesterday. A bit disappointed as the goal distance on the plan was 10-12 miles but I managed only 8.6. The boy said not to beat myself up as it's time on my feet that counts and to aim for 2 hours and 10 miles next weekend (he ran 12.5 in 1hr 45 yesterday!). important thing is I went and my legs didn't give up on me like last week (though I did take a gel after an hour) and my legs are tired but not shot like last week. Must just keep plugging away and if someone had said at the start of Jan I'd be running 8.6 miles now I couldn't have imagined it. Just should have started my training earlier!

Boy and the ex mechanic got car started using jump leads and I have to call garage anyway today as they have a part for the airbag they need to fit so they may well be able to charge or replace the battery at the same time. So we got petrol yesterday - £20 worth but cost £18.09 as we had a discount voucher and about £7 in shop on bits for dinner.

We are eating from freezer this week as it is jam packed and want to clear some space but it will also save cash. I have a lunch out tomorrow for someone's birthday which can't miss so that will be about £15.

Today am going to be doing some more reading and that's about it. Don't need to go out so won't as means will avoid buying anything!

lulabelle

yesterday I ran 3.55 miles (40 mins). Didn't want to go but the boy convinced me I should as it's now only 9 weeks until the marathon. My legs are just so horribly tired all the time and it was so hard but did it.

Had a girlie lunch for friend's birthday yesterday. Was a bit annoyed as I got stung on the bill as even though mine came to about £13 I ended up paying £17.50 and some of the others only £15. Anyway, I guess it all comes out in the wash.

Then spent about £10 on food as making a ragu thing today for tea tonight.

Going up to the boy's mums this pm to help out with his nephew and niece. Then have to drop car into garage for the battery to be re-charged. They are having to fit a part for the airbag anyway (which they were doing free of charge as they didn't have it when I bought it in july and it's only just arrived!) so hoping they don't charge for charging the battery!

Co came to jet the drains yesterday so hopefully it's not going to be too much split between 5.

lulabelle

made us a ragu for tea yesterday as had some mince to use and only needed to buy a few other cheap ingredients. So morning was spent doing that.

Had a lovely afternoon at the boy's mums with his niece and nephew then dropped car into garage and picked up courtesy car so will need to pick up my car today when they call.

Got to run this morning and dreading it as is tempo run interspersed with walking. This marathon is just too much effort!!!

Then seeing the boy's cousin for a coffee at 2 and may make a cake. Boston cream pie.

Really do need to motivate self to write but just can't. Now only have 2.5 months left off which is no time at all really. I really really must make a proper start next week or I'll still be banging on about this book in 10 years' time!

Popped into my old work on tues just to pick up my last payslip which they forgot to give to me and to drop in some files I'd found at home. That girl who got the 5 figure pay rise and who I couldn't stand had apparently still not done the task I gave her like 6 weeks ago and which is now due in a week's time. And someone said she is still going round chatting all the time so they are clearly not making her work for her 5 figure pay rise - unbelievable!!!!!

lulabelle

Did my run yesterday. It was a 10 min "easy run" (though I find nothing easy about it!) followed by 1 min tempo, 2 mins walking x 10 then another 10 min easy run. I must've been going some on the tempo parts as I did 4.27 miles in 50 mins! Did feel pretty good and the tempo part, though hard, was actually a nice change. However, I had got an evil blister from sunday's run and despite compeed, managed to make it even worse - was really hurting and massive so had to lance it last night - yuk! Hoping that is healed by sunday when I have to run 10 miles.

Met the boy's cousin for coffee and she paid so even better (I will pay next time) - was good to catch up and we got some other dates in the diary for getting together.

Then just came home and pootled about really. Got some supplies on way home to make a boston cream pie later. Didn't make it yesterday as was expecting the garage to call and say come pick up car so didn't want to be halfway through it. Annoyingly they rang at 5 to say that the battery wasn't charged (they hadn't put it on overnight weds as had been promised - useless!) so I now have to pick it up this morning instead. Not sure if there will be a charge - hoping if so not too much.

Today is going to be a quiet one - after picked up car need to make cake. And do a bit of cleaning/tidying. Boy and I are going to go out for a curry tonight but only a main each and share a rice and naan instead of our usual effort!

Am currently under budget for the month but given poss charge for car, tonight, big shop tomorrow and out for friend's birthday tomorrow night I think I will be over. I am hoping by no more than £100

LondonGirl252

Hello!


Your bf sounds exactly like mine! He drives me up the wall sometimes, i know what you mean about they don't think about how it affects us! If I make plans I want him to be with me at I have to remind him constantly otherwise he'll forget and then bail on me!


Well done on your running you are doing really well hope the blister heals, that sounds really sore! Good luck for Sunday!


xx

lulabelle

Not posted for a while. Had written a long post last week then stupid internet connection failed, I lost it and couldn't face writing it all again!

Ended up the end of last month around £90 over budget which wasn't too bad.

This month not going great MSE wise so far. Went shopping fri night and had a list. We really (in my eyes) didn't need much as we were going to eat from freezer this week having spent a whopping £158(!) the week before. That shop had resulted in lots of nice frozen portions made so was do-able. But the boy is out of control and we ended up with an £85 shop!!!!!!!!!! He gets expensive cereal and nuts to take to work and they are £5ish a piece. It is rather annoying but I don't want him not to have what he wants.

Then I had to pay fee for a new passport as mine expires end of this month. Also, we took his mum out for mother's day yesterday with the rest of his family. That was £46 a person. £10 towards a gift for her and £20 transferred to my brother for a gift for my mum. Went out for dinner fri night £25 each then had my nails done friday £40 - i have to have this done or I pick my skin red raw.

This week likely to be expensive as cat needs more food and he's on specialist stuff as he's too fat so thats over £30. Then will be another big shop at weekend.

And we've now had a quote for the drains - £1500 a person (so really that's £2,000 as they always go over budget). I have it in the money I saved for my time off as given I'm starting work in 10 weeks I don't need it but it's annoying as I had wanted to save the residue in case I don't like this job and need to leave.

Not a fun time!!!

Though on a positive note, managed 12 miles sunday!

lulabelle

Did my 40 min run today - 3.65miles. Absolute killer as my legs are still so sore and tired from sunday. But did it.

Need to nip to shop to get some jacket pots for tea, milk and some cordial. Will try to avoid putting anything else in the basket and that should be relatively cheap.

Today I am going to read some of my bookclub book then try and do some more research for my book later. I made some really great advances with my book last week and I now have a firm idea of structure and where I want it to go. Just need to get it written now!

Fully expecting it to be a pile of c**p. Seeing a friend of mine in may who used to work for the same publisher who did harry potter (and she used to work in children's fiction too) so going to give her what I've done by then to get her view. If it really is a pile of c**p then at least I'll know not to bother further but if she thinks theres something there and it's a question of re-working, editing or whatever, then that's cool.

Really need to reign in the spending - the frustrating thing is that it's not as if it's on clothes, bags or shoes - it's on food! Which comes out the other end of you! !!!!!!??!!!!