Paid off the £31,000! BUT - still scrimping!

in_need_of_direction

at least you know what caused the gain. have a look at hurtigruten for the norway cruise.

Seasidegal58

The wine and three course dinner probably had something to do with it as well inod!:o

It's funny that you mentioned that particular cruise line - I did some prior research and that was the one that kept coming up with the best reviews for the Scandinavian and Arctic type cruises - they look fab!

Seasidegal58

I forgot to mention last night that included in the amount that caused the Ad Hoc deficit last week was my £20 contribution to the Cheltenham Racing Festival competition that we hold in work each year. You basically have to pick a horse in each race of the meeting this week. You get points for 1st, 2nd and 3rd placings and at the end of the week the person who has picked the most placed horses with the longest odds wins £700– there's also cash prizes for the runners-up till 6th place.
　
START OF SCRIMPY WEEK 3 – MARCH

After taking into account last week's deficit, Ad Hoc spends for this and next week is £53.52.

I'm off to see Brit Floyd tomorrow night with DD – tickets are all paid for though. The gig is local so just taxi fares there and back plus perhaps a drink (I'll be on water) while we're there.

Nail appointment on Thursday evening but budgeted for.

I've also booked the cinema tickets today for "Fisherman's Friends" on Sunday - £10.25. Plus I had coffees with my friend earlier today (this was because we didn't have time to have them yesterday) - £5.10.

Nothing else much to report today apart from the DSis is talking about organising a girls' Ascot day out later this year…………..;)

Seasidegal58

I'm off work today!:j So a luverly three day weekend to look forward to!:D

DD wants to come with me on the Norwegian cruise. However it will be taking place next February owing to the particular cruise we want, DD's other commitments etc. She has taken it over in best DD fashion and is going to book it this weekend. I'm really excited - it looks cracking!

Brit Floyd was fab! DD and I both thought it was one of their best performances. They played a lot more from 'The Wall' this time as it is the album's 40th anniversary! That makes me feel old but not as old as I'll feel in four years time when it'll be both DD's 50th and 'Dark Side of the Moon's' 50th anniversary!:eek:

I paid for the taxis there and back - which totalled £15.

The boss treated me to lunch yesterday. We went to a Chinese restaurant just the other side of London Bridge near Borough Market. Walking over the bridge it's sad to see the big concrete and steel bollards the have been erected on the pavements as you go on and come off the bridge due to the horrific events a few years ago.:(

The restaurant is housed in what used to be a church and the food was very good. We had the special set lunch which was a choice of three dim sums each to start and a choice of one main dish plus rice each (boss ordered extra dim sum though!). It wasn't that expensive - £24 a head - considering it is based in a 'trendy' area, but we couldn't say the same for the wine which was horrendously expensive! Boss managed to find quite a nice wine that didn't need him to take out another mortgage but still...... He did express his views on the pricing to the sommelier though in best Boss fashion!

I'm off to lunch later with a friend. Her daughter has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. The prognosis is good, but naturally she's still very worried. Her daughter lives in the US so it's not as if she's near her. Luckily her other daughter had already booked a holiday out there to visit her sister so was with her when she got the diagnosis and her referral so was able to lend support.

This afternoon I'll get my fruit and veg and also pop up to Aldi to save a trip this weekend.

Apart from that and the cinema on Sunday I'll have a nice pottering weekend - I might even finally get around to sorting out the Glory Hole!:D

Sun_Addict

Your DD is never 50 in 4 years, am I reading this his wrong :eek: You must've been so young when you had her if so!!

You're very lucky to have so many friends/family to do all these amazing trips/experiences with.

Sad re the bollards, I noticed the same thing in Birmingham, a very sad sign of the times Why can't everyone just flippin' behave themselves

Good luck with the Glory Hole

System

What a great time you have had this week with the theatre and everything. The Norwegian Fiord cruise sounds really good and DD accompanying you is even better . Your weight loss is going well for you , am sure you must be a couple of sizes smaller now. How nice of your boss to take you out , the food sounded very nice,. It's very sad to have our cities so well guarded , the thing that gets to me is seeing armed police officers on patrol.

Enjoy your film SSG tomorrow with your friend . Thank you for dropping by my diary much appreciated.

milann

Talking of signs of the times when we were in big shopping mall last weekend on the other side of the Pennines - there were armed police patrolling - it was quite unnerving - sign of these sad times....
Sounds like you’ve had some lovely outings recently - as have I - like you said I loved the Motown story. Worth every penny
Ooh enjoy the cruise - hope you get to see The Northern Lights :beer:

Seasidegal58

Thanks everyone. Yes heightened security everywhere you go is a sad indictment of the times we occupy. . Occasionally we have a fully armed police presence at the rail station on the London end of my commute. You always wonder why and whether they have been tipped off about anything......:(

SA - DD will actually be 50 in roughly 4 1/2 years if I'm being exact - but yes I did have her when I was young - 18. Seems a lifetime away now. It's nice though because as time has passed it feels that the age gap has narrowed quite a bit and that's why we get on so well and have so much in common - well maybe not so much on politics, but quite a bit of everything else. . Also, there is only an 11 year age gap between her and DSis so there has always been more of a sisterly connection here rather than aunt/niece.

Hi Cumbria - good to see you posting! The holiday will be a winter sea coastal cruise rather then hitting the fjords. It's odd - I think I posted on milann's diary that I'd never been on a cruise before, but I have - a few years ago I took a holiday where part of it was where I went up the Nile on a boat! Because it was on a river I didn't really think of it as a cruise, but of course it was!

And DD has sprung into action and booked the cruise already! She has also booked some excursions - I had to chuckle - she has booked herself on a couple of hikes - they would be a bit out of my fitness remit by the sound of it though. Not to worry, says she airily, I've booked you on a couple of nice coach trips while I'm doing these - I feel like Miss Marple in 'Nemisis!':rotfl:

I've winged over my share of the deposit to her- I've had to take it from the Ad Hoc Savings pot though as I don't get my bonus paid until my April wage packet, but will replace it then.

I had a nice lunch with my friend on Friday. I treated her to lunch as she was feeling low about her daughter's news - £28.05.

Yesterday I ordered flowers for my friend who is recuperating to be delivered next week. Flying Flowers were offering a 20% discount through topcasback so I've sent here a lovely pot of scented hyacinths in a pretty white and black French country style jug - plus I got free delivery. The cost has come from the Gifts pot.

I also downloaded a Joy Division track from iTunes 99p.

Money in included £12.20 from the dress agency which clears my card with them for winter clothing. Next will be spring/summer input when I sort out this season's clothing.

I also got a £5 survey from PA - amazing as I haven't had much from them lately!:j

I'm finally getting round to the Glory Hole this afternoon! Then off to the cinema later on.

HairyHandofDartmoor

The Norwegian cruise sounds fantastic, but it made me laugh to compare you with Miss Marple on the coach trips :rotfl:. Hopefully none of the other holidaymakers will get murdered :rotfl:.

The hyacinths in the pot sound lovely and I'm sure your friend will love them

It also made me smile to think of your boss telling off the sommelier because of the overpriced wine :rotfl:. I've certainly saved a fortune since I've temporarily given up alcohol.

redofromstart

The hyacinths sounds lovely. I would be very pleased to receive those.

I thought of Miss Marple too, and Poirot when you mentioned cruising on the Nile.