It's not a lot, but it's enough

joeyjimbles

That's fabulous news about the flat, and that you got to take your mum so she can picture where you'll be. As a mum of a child who's living elsewhere, DS1 is at uni, I find it helps both of us that I know where he's talking about when he mentions a coffee place, bar, or even just where the supermarket is - makes us feel more connected.
And the joy of social media means that we message on and off during the day even if we don't talk for a day or so.
Plus if you book 12 weeks in advance you can get really good deals on advance train fares both ways. You can even set a reminder on the trainline or virgin apps - but it's worth putting it in your calendar too as the reminder sometimes comes in later in the day.

louby40

Great news about your flat. Manchester is great and you'll be there when the Christmas markets begin too (although you probably have them in Glasgow)

So are you packing up your stuff? Is your new flat furnished?

Exciting

SpekySquarehead

joeyjimbles wrote: »

That's fabulous news about the flat, and that you got to take your mum so she can picture where you'll be. As a mum of a child who's living elsewhere, DS1 is at uni, I find it helps both of us that I know where he's talking about when he mentions a coffee place, bar, or even just where the supermarket is - makes us feel more connected.
And the joy of social media means that we message on and off during the day even if we don't talk for a day or so.
Plus if you book 12 weeks in advance you can get really good deals on advance train fares both ways. You can even set a reminder on the trainline or virgin apps - but it's worth putting it in your calendar too as the reminder sometimes comes in later in the day.

Yeah well I am really quite close with my Mum and we share similair tastes, so it was nice to spend some time with her and at the same time, as you mention, give her some peace of mind that I'm not going to somewhere that resembles Baghdad.

Oh, that's a really good idea on the train tickets actually and very MSE - thank you.

louby40 wrote: »

Great news about your flat. Manchester is great and you'll be there when the Christmas markets begin too (although you probably have them in Glasgow)

So are you packing up your stuff? Is your new flat furnished?

Exciting

I've heard a few people talk about the Christmas markets in Manchester. We do have them in Glasgow but they're not all that great. I'll be starting to pack up soon, I suppose. I've got boxes put aside so I'll start soon and make it easier so I'm not rushing about. It's all happened so fast.

Good morning and Happy Halloween too!! Living in a block of flats, I don't get kids coming to do my door unfortunately. I like the fun it brings to a lot of kids.

Yesterday after work I had a meeting in my flat with my letting agent. Nice woman and everything seems to be in order. My new tenants will be moving in on the 19th and the transition should be smooth and painless. I won't get keys to my flat till the 19th also, but I start on the 12th, so I think my new work will be putting me up in a hotel for the first week.

I'm working late again tonight and my last late shift here. Doubt it will be emotional or anything like that but I hope it's all plain sailing.

My gran is almost back to full fitness. I think her confidence has taken a knock and she is thinking of giving up her car which is a huge part of her independence. She's now back in her own house, so it's just about recuperating at her own pace

I doubt I'll be on here tomorrow as I'll be down in London most of the day on business. Hope everyone stays warm and well!

SpekySquarehead

2nd Nov 18, 9:03 AM
Morning everyone,

Cold and frosty morning with nothing but blue skies.

Yesterday was my business trip to London. Arrived 5 minutes before my meeting and left immediately after. Literally popped in an out of London. So most of my day was spent in Heathrow airport in all honesty. Came home and was shattered so had an early night.

Tonight after work is my leaving dinner with my best mates. I see them all often but we rarely get the chance to get together at once. It'll actually be the first time since one of their weddings last year!

Tomorrow I have brunch with my cousins, again as a kind of leaving do type thing. It was the only time that everyone was available and I think we're trying some new German restaurant in Glasgow.

Sunday my mate and I are driving down to see my new flat in Manchester. The purpose is to primarily take measurements and after that we're going to watch the Wigan vs Leeds game. Should be home for 8 or 9pm.

A busy weekend ahead. Hope everyone has a nice one

SpekySquarehead

Good morning everyone,

I hope you all had a nice weekend.

My Saturday was lazy and deliberately so given that I won't have another lazy day for weeks. Yesterday in contrast was busy, as I left Glasgow at 8am to make for Manchester to see my new flat. Got there in plenty of time, took measurements, spoke with the landlord and soon my friend and I left to go and watch the Wigan vs Leeds match. Drove home afterwards and was in for circa 7pm and shattered.

I've a busy week ahead, what with it being my last in Scotland. Friday is my last day at work which will turn into my leaving drinks at a pub in the city centre. No time for a hangover as I'm up for an early brunch with cousins (which I thought was last weekend!) followed by a night out with all my mates. Then need to drive down to Manchester on the Sunday to my hotel which I'm staying in for the first week.

For today, I've a busy one in work and I'm playing football back to back again tonight. And damn, I just realised I forgot to defrost some dinner!

crazy_cat_lady

Wow - I can't believe how busy you are Speky and how fast this has all moved.
Enjoy your last week in Scotland.

SpekySquarehead

crazy_cat_lady wrote: »

Wow - I can't believe how busy you are Speky and how fast this has all moved.
Enjoy your last week in Scotland.

I'm hardly busy in comparison to you!! :rotfl:


Yesterday, as planned, I played football back to back. The first with work mates the second with my mates from home. It was quite an idyllic scene as the fireworks were going off throughout both matches and all the boys were wishing me well. Chances are that I'll never see some of them again! Anyway, I still had a couple of things to do so I didn't get to sleep till 11ish.

Been to the gym this morning and I've tweaked something in my neck so I called it early. Thankfully I have co-codamol here at work so I've popped a couple of those. Tonight is date night with my gran, our first since her heart attack. She's not feeling up to cooking, so I've to go to M&S and buy a meal deal on the way to hers. I'm looking forward to it more than ever because this will also be a our last ever 'date night'. It's those sort of things which make me question my decision.

Need to get a coffee to counter the drowsiness of these cocodamol!!

SpekySquarehead

Good morning one and all,

Last night's date night was lovely. Great to spend some good quality time with my Gran again, in the comfort of her own home. We bought a £10 meal deal from Tesco which was bang average but it wasn't about the food. As we usually do, we sat and nattered away for a while. She wrote me a good luck card, with a little hand written message and £50 to help (which has just came in handy as I've got a text this morning so say I'm in my overdraft!).

I've a super busy day in work today, including an exit interview with the head of HR. I've deliberately kept tonight clear so I can start to pack and clean the flat. Need to start to get my affairs in order before I depart on Sunday.

Damn! Just remembered I've forgotten to take something out the freezer again. I'll need to do it when I get in, so a late dinner it is then!

SpekySquarehead

Good morning everyone,

Yesterday was a busy busy day in work, which ended in an offsite meeting in Dunfermline. Rush hour traffic meant I didn't get back to the office till 6pm to then drop off my colleague, turn around and then head home. Very frustrating.

Also was angry with myself because I forgot to take stuff out the freezer for my dinner. So i called my mum and asked if she had anything whilst I pop over. Thankfully she did, so I offloaded my frustrations whilst eating a nice homemade curry. Plus I need to borrow from the bank of mum. I don't know what I would do without her.

Here is my current spend so far;
Changing my mortgage from residential to buy-to-let - £299 and £199 annually thereafter
Registering as a landlord - £55
Admin fee to rent a new property - £235
Visiting Manchester to view properties costs (hotel, fuel. food etc) - £99
Management Fee for letting my Scotland flat - £120
Deposit for Manchester flat - £850
1 months rent - £750
Rent from date of moving in until end of Nov - £369.86
Inventory contribution - £60
Boiler Insurance (now a monthly cost) - £15.49

Total - £2,853.35

It's worth remembering that my new job are giving me a £2k relocation package, which I receive after 1 months service. So as soon as I receive it, I'll be giving it to my mum. I also owe her some money from earlier in the year but this new job should allow me to save it and pay it back quickly which I'm really looking forward to.

Long story but tonight some of my colleagues and I are heading out to have dinner and drinks with a colleague who was 'released of their duties' very suddenly last week. He was much senior than us and came as a shock but we all maintain he's being made a scapegoat. Anyway, I won't stay long as I need to start packing tonight.

crazy_cat_lady

That's great news on the relocation package Speky - it will certainly make life a bit easier.
Emjoy your dinner tonight, and good luck getting the packing done...