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

EssexOstrich

After 5 weeks I've finally discovered how to subscribe  I reckon half the reason you're an inspiration is because you've fallen off the wagon so many times. Getting back on it is the tough bit and you've done it, and seem to be in a great place and still so motivated. Well done

Seasidegal58

@doingitanyway - apologies!  I realised I didn't answer your Times query!  I never had the actual paper delivered to my home as I leave for work quite early I the morning before the post arrives. The Times sends you a book of daily vouchers (three monthly I think) which you can then exchange in your newsagent/supermarket for a copy. I would pick one up on my way to the station. You can also have 'holiday' breaks from the vouchers so you don't miss out financially if you go away.   The Times normally gives a discount for some months for new subscribers as well. 

@HairyHandofDartmoor and @beanielou - it's a shame - I was looking forward to all the family having a break together. ☹️  Mind you I understand that the winds have been biblical up there at the moment!💨💨💨💨😱

@moving_forward - I hadn't seen the Waitrose bag and so I had to google it - I see what you mean about Toad!😀

@EssexOstrich - thank you - that's really nice of you to say so. 😘

So yesterday on my day off I ended up doing absolutely nothing!  I was going to get the Waitrose shop but after the busy time at work I've had it was so nice just to relax. I did pop up to the local Co-op in the afternoon as I had run out of fizzy water And also pick up some FB bits - just three in front in the queue. There seemed more people about though and a longish queue at the waffle bar which has opened again (though some didn't appear to be socially distancing very well). Still quite a bit of decorating and refurbishment going on in some of the shops and bars so they are obviously looking positively at the outcome of opening at some stage.  

I found a great series on Netflix - it's called The Last Dance and it's about the Chicago Bulls basketball team and their star player Michael Jordan who was the greatest ever basketball player.  I'm not a great sports fan and certainly I've never bothered watching basketball (Although some of the close ups of these guys playing is unbelievable) but it's more about the characters and the machinations that goes on. I'm finding it totally engrossing and highly recommend it.👍

I had some M&S vouchers worth £20 from their Priority Club. I've bought a new grey chenille throw for my sofa as the current one is getting tatty. Also some kilner jars to house my grains and flours. So I ended up paying £34.50 instead of £51. 

I've done the housework - I'm definitely off to Waitrose this afternoon!  And finally jump back into the Cleaning Project!

Sun_Addict

I’ve noticed quite a few local businesses cleaning their premises ready for the green light to reopen. Some have been enterprising and reinvented themselves to get round the rules. Don’t blame them, must be a worrying time. Mr SA has discovered Friday Night Dinner on Netflix and loves it. I’ve been enjoying White Lines, mainly because I love Ibiza, although some of it is filmed in Majorca and Almeria. I’m a bit late to the party with Netflix but so pleased I finally subscribed.

Hope you enjoy the long weekend xx

beanielou

The wind up here is dire as is the driving rain. A day to stay in. 

Doris17

Will have a look for the Netflix series as I do like to watch a game of basketball.

milann

Good to see you SSG - I hope they get your working fro home expenses sorted for you. It’s not right that you should be out of pocket.
The housework and everything will all get  back on track....enjoy your long weekend. Not quite the same as a weekend in Scotland but enjoy the trip to Waitrose.

EssexOstrich

Adding The Last Dance to my list! Ozark is good if you've not watched that. It took me a while to get in to it but I lost a day and a half to season 1 and am on to season 2. White Lines, Dead to Me and Unorthodox have also kept me busy

Sun_Addict

Hope you are ok @Seasidegal58, I know you’ve posted on other diaries but not your own recently xx

Seasidegal58

Thanks for posting guys!😀

Well, the days have rolled  by – I can't believe it's been nearly a fortnight since I last posted.  The days seem to be rolling into each other – it feels like Groundhog Day all round.

WORK 

Doesn't seem to let up – one thing gets finished and another pops up – but it's Friday now and I can forget about it for two days.

In the end, I was refused the extra funding for the outlay on the equipment I needed to work from home.  I'm not happy about it, but it's a directive from high so not much I can do. 

The firm is looking to re-open the office sometime in July, but want to carry out a phased return of only 20% of the workforce to begin with.  HR has asked the team heads to find out each teams' appetite for returning to work.  They have stressed that nobody has to return yet unless they want to, but need to work out a plan in case the total exceeds 20%.  Well – oh what a surprise - nobody on our team wants to return – we're all quite happy working from home and I personally can carry out my job quite easily here!  It will be interesting to see who does want to return – probably quite a few men who have been at home all day with the children! 

SCRIMPY MSE THINGS 

The usual supermarket shop, FB, toiletries, Itunes, film downloads, etc.  Plus: 

• I've opened an Income Bond account with NS&I and transferred across nearly all my savings, including the emergency fund, from the Santander 123 account, where the interest is going down to a paltry 0.8% in August.  The NS&I account is only 1.16%, but it's about the best easy access around.  I'll be looking for a new current account as I'm paying £5 monthly fee for the Santander.  Still hoping that First Direct will open to new customers soon.
• I've also topped up my workplace pension when I got paid last week, which I shall continue to do until I start my retirement plans early next year.
• I bought some diffusers online that I needed from Valentte, which sells candles, room mist and bath products.  I've bought these in the past at the Christmas Show I attend in November.  I love their White Neroli & Lemon, which is in my living room, and bought the Lemon & Grapefruit diffuser for my bathroom - together with the accompanying room mists as well so the flat at least smells lush at the moment!🌺
•  I bought a peony bouquet online from M&S to be delivered to a good friend tomorrow as it's her 70th.  She would have had a party and I think once all this disruption is over, we're going to have a really good night out to celebrate all our the birthdays that have been missed since the lockdown.  I said she could have it on her birthday next year – that's what a woman has done who had booked her 40th party this month where DSis works – she said wasn't going to miss out on her big Four O so has rebooked it for the same time next year!
• £25 cashed out yesterday on Opinium and £21 M&S loyalty vouchers arrived as well. 😀

HOME

My family have been having regular weekly Zoom sessions to catch up and I've also been speaking regularly to all on the phone.  Missing everyone terribly though – especially DD – it feels like I'll never get to see her. ☹️

 Cleaning Project and exercise has gone AWOL again I'm afraid!

 Hope everyone out there has a good weekend.  I'll be catching up on the diaries.

x

beanielou

Good to see you  x