NST June Challenge

Bobarella

Hi All

Nice to see the sun today. Less nice to see the healthy flea doing the olympics next to my fresh clean bed this morning...the bedroom doors are now closed to the carrier cat...

Todays flying will be shining and dusting in the front room and hall. And will hoover and mop too. Cry baby bunting did quite well in her bed last night so I actually feel a bit human for once.

Dizzy I dont know how you'd get much done with 4 kids around. So well done for all you have managed.

And Thrifty your kids wont remember a bit of dirt in the bathroom. They will remember a fun Mummy who took them out to the zoo though. Put that big stick down!

Hugs to anyone who wants one.

Bob

Calling14

Hi everyone, sorry haven't posted over weekend. Had lot of pain in my leg and was driving me nuts, anyway been to Dr turns out torn a ligament in my knee. Got some strong painkillers and physio this week. Done it a few weeks ago but this weekend my knee just filled with fluid. Need to give up drunk dancing at my age ;-)

Spent all weekend. Did M & S meal deal - got 2 in the end as wanted wine for a pressie. Also spend another 4 pounds on food there, not sure what they did wrong but put it this way I gained 3.50 woo hoo.

Sunday went and treated myself to sandals, parked nearby but somehow ended up getting 2 pairs. So like everyone else here this week will be claw back week. They will last for years decent make so not feeling guilty.

Will catch up later on all your posts, mega busy in work.

thriftylass

Thanks Bob, stick put down . I think there is actually an underlying issue, i.e. the fact that I can't just clean it when I want. Sorry hard to explain, but I had kids now for over 5 years and still struggle with the fact that I am not in control of most of my time anymore (used to be quite a single child/loner/hermit type person before) Sorry don't mean to sound egoistic, love my kids just don't do well with being with people, having to do stuff for people all the time now. Don't mean to rant either, just need to get a grip on reality again and change my attitude, make time etc. Which I know IS possible. Hence the overwhelmed-ness part of this months challenge.

Calling hope your knee heals soon.

Been to the gym this lunch time (major mood boost) and heard that we won't be having friend's daughter tonight. So will have some etcra time tonight to do things or chill.

WelshKitty85

Hi everyone!

Firstly, MASSIVE apologies for not posting lately. Life has been a bit up and down so I'll warn you now this may be a long post!

Some of you may recall my contract was extended in work and my hours increased. Everything was going great, increased income meant debt will be paid off in July and we had a bit left over for fun family days out. On top of that, we had an unexpected payment from tax credits. I know you will all be shouting that we should have paid it off the debt, but as things were going so well we used it to book a holiday for my birthday in October - something to look forward to.

Then out of the blue, we had a message from an old neighbour asking why our tenant had left. Well, this was news to us! As far as I was concerned she was still living in the house and happy. For anyone who doesn't know, we don't rent the house out to make money from it. We needed to move due to the age of our children, as with 1 boy and 1 girl they we at an age where it wasn't appropriate to share a room any more. The house was in negative equity, so we moved into a rental property and rent out our property until we are in a position to sell and buy another. Anyway, after ignoring my initial messages for days the tenant has finally confirmed she is leaving the house, hasn't given us the full notice period and has fallen behind on rent payments. I'm concerned about the condition of the house and the fact neighbours have told me it's already empty but she hasn't agreed to let me in before the notice period is up and as a landlord I have no rights!

On top of this, I haven't been paid for the overtime or election work I did over the last few months. The stress tipped me over the edge to the point I felt I was having a breakdown, so obviously my rational response was to go out and spend money I don't have! £200 on garden furniture for starters!

Anyway, I've somehow pulled myself back together, told myself there's no point worrying until we get in the house and see what condition it's in, and am now determined to get my finances back on track.

So...bring on June! Unfortunately it's a bit of a spendy month as we have already had a relatives big birthday and a lunch date with my mum (my treat as she does sooo much to help with the little ones) BUT I have managed 3 NSDs already and have no need to spend for the next few days. I have rejigged my budget planner. The cc dd has been altered to pay just above the min payment, with the usual overpayment going into a savings account for now. That way, if the house isn't in a suitable condition to be let straight away I have an emergency fund to pay the mortgage if needs be. And if it can be let then the money can go back towards the cc.

Feeling more positive already as I have a plan down in writing.

Calling14

Aww Welshkitty how annoying it makes no sense that landlords have no right to check on the property. Fingers crossed might not be too bad. Try to keep calm and not stress out.

Fmess

Fingers crossed welshkitty and well done for getting back on track.

Today was SFD number 2 I know I'm starting slowly but I'm determined to make it to 20.

Busy day at work so the day flew past and tomorrow will be more of the same plus tutoring tomorrow night.

Hope you've all had good days

apple_muncher

Hugs, welshkitty. And well done on getting a plan of action in place so quickly.

crazy_cat_lady

Oh that's a pain in the bum Welshkitty. I never cease to be amazed by the behaviour of some folk...
Quick check in with NSD 3 from me.
Made it to exercise class - now need to get on with my exam marking.

thriftylass

Oh welshkitty, I really hope you get it sorted and the damage/financial loss isn't too great. Well done on dealing with it so well and getting a plan of action in place. I just don't understand how people can behave like that.

Only had two rollies today as was in a fed up mood again tonight. But it is a reduction. It helped that DH has been great and helped with the kids more and did the dishes again. Got a second wind and did some non-essential ironing. Some nice tops to wear this work for the feel good factor.

So onwards and upwards and hope you all have a good day tomorrow

mothernerd

Dizzy_Imp wrote: »

Oh mothernerd, you sound like one of those poor people from Extreme Hoarders. Hope you get things sorted soon!

I don't think (fingers crossed) things are quite that bad. Before the builders started I put all the things I needed to keep safe or clean (embroidery supplies and material) under the stairs and all the tools and stored food is already in there. I put things I needed access to - paperwork/ pills/ filing/ clothes in my room. My intention was to 'sort' through all theses things when the builders were here as there is lots to be consolidated/ thrown. However that just isn't happening.

I should be ahead in the end as I only meant to do the painting and flooring later in the year which would have meant further upheaval and endless complaints from DS3. It is good to be making progress (I think most of the jobs have needed doing for between 5 and 8 years as that is when I ran out of money). But having the stuff in the room with me is getting a little 'overwhelming' - will try doing a bit each day.

Today the bathroom was supposed to come out so I started with jobs that needed water - filled the kettle, emptied and refilled the washing machine, had a bath and used the water to mop the room I painted yesterday (folded the tarpaulins and put them outside) and did the washing up. Spent money as I went to buy bottled water (6 litres) - was going to claim it as medicinal as it's necessary for life but spent on snacks as well:(.

The builders helped move the remaining stuff out of the way but have only taken out the bath today. The new stuff will not be delivered until tomorrow so taking the bath gave some space but they have left me with a sink and a toilet for tonight :j:j:j.

It also gave my the chance to paint the bathroom door frame and skirtings before they start putting the panels in - wanted to do this yesterday but just couldn't do more. I have also added a mirror to my requirements (builders added it to the list of things they were going to buy for tomorrow). My current mirror is about 20 years old and we got it out of a skip. I have moved it once - originally it was positioned so that my head was at the top and the boys could see themselves at the bottom, then later we changed it so they could see themselves at the top and I used the bottom bit.

Once again, it's funny how you put up with things for so long and don't even notice how shabby things are or how much more difficult you are making life for yourself everyday - DS2 took the mirror down when he painted the room battleship grey :eek: and filled in the holes. Couldn't face drilling after my op so the mirror has been sat in an out of the way corner of DS3's room. It's losing its 'silvering'.

I am going to start writing another list of minor jobs for the builders. I don't have any doors in the door frames. I do have 3 doors which I hate - my mother and her plasterer persuaded me to get rid of my old Victorian doors (again about 8 years ago). I didn't pick these ones, they are nasty and flimsy and the man who was supposed to fit them didn't do the things he should. He also interfered with things he shouldn't and caused endless problems. DS2 later put one of the doors on the bathroom - first time he had done it and it's a bit of a mess.

I think it's part of the Kon Marie philosophy of getting rid of things which hadn't applied to me before but the other day, I realised that I get cross every time I focus on one of these doors so they are going. I will pick something I like including a vestibule door (mine was missing when I bought the house. I hadn't put it on the builder's list as Mr builder is not good at woodwork and it shows but he now has a contact who does the woodwork 'bits' for him.

Builders phoned the roof man again - he said phoning me to make an appointment was on his list. Want to know how much that is going to be (it's an essential) so I know how much I have left to 'play' with for frivolous things like having doors on rooms, toilets that flush normally etc whilst still having an emergency fund I feel comfortable with (that makes me feel 'safe').

Today I have decluttered a further 11 things but one of them was a bath which I feel should be worth extra points (and at the moment it has only gone as far as the back yard but is leaving the premises tomorrow).

I am trying to combat 'overwhelmedness' by focusing on the task in hand - painting for the past few days whilst doing a few tasks (washing up, sorting clothes) as they come to hand. I remembered to get a wrap, cooked meat, breakfast supplies and a pork chop out of the freezer whilst cooking wedges and a piece of salmon for tea.

I have worked out how to do a repair - was a frog as no one would turn the item of furniture on it's side for me, but that is how DS3 has stored it and it shouldn't take long. Mended it will provide a bit more storage.

Today I am grateful for seeing a butterfly (forgot to say I saw one yesterday, the tiny red ones with black edging on the wings), that the ten minutes painting I did in the bathroom is all that is needed (the new paneling will cover the ceiling and walls and wrap into the window - having spent hours balancing on stools and planks in previous years as there was not room to put a set of ladders up, this is wonderful) and salmon - bought it because it's good for me but enjoyed it.