The Illuminative Project.

Bobarella

Is your grandad on his own? It's a rotten time of year with the dark evenings coming so early. Maybe he is feeling a bit down?

Chandelier.

Hi Bob.

Yes he lives alone in a small flat, everything is in one room except the toilet. I went to see him today and he didn't sound too clever. As I visited he had just sat down with his tea. You could hear the crackles on his chest. He refused to let me check him over today so I've told him I'll be back tomorrow and if he is still the same then I'm calling the doctor for a home visit whether he likes it or not.

I've been to the doctors myself today. I have a new course of antibiotics (different ones) and another course of steroids. I've been told if I'm no better to go back on Friday and may look at an inhaler. The lovely nurse who saw me also gave me a blood glucose monitoring kit to check my blood sugars randomly. It saves me buying one.

Today didn't end up a NSD. I bought myself and the boy an annual pass to our local attractions. We did this last year and definitely got our money's worth. He's a little adrenaline junkie . This will give us many days out and memories over the next year again. I look forward to it.

Aside from this not much else has happened today. Tomorrow is a busy morning and I hope to get a few things done.

Fingers crossed.

Chandelier.

Afternoon!

I've had a busy morning. I had a visit from my nurse.. she's arranging for a further followup with consultant before my next ones due. Hopefully that will be next week. I then went to clinic for a dressing check up.

After I went to visit my grandad to find he wasn't in. So I had a quick nip to the shops around the area in search of him. Whilst there I spent a fiver in @ldi on 2x wholemeal bread, wraps, teacakes and some chicken fillets. I'm going to attempt to make buttermilk chicken for tomorrow night. I then nipped into Ic3land and bought some fish fingers and penguin bars (talk about random). Fish fingers were half price so only £2 spent there. I then nipped into C@rd factory and bought 10 cards for £1. Bargain. That's birthday cards sorted for people's upcoming birthdays. So today has not been a NSD, but everything has been needed. Can I just recommend @ldi wholemeal bread that's 42p. It's lovely and soft and freezes well. I prefer this to the big brands!

I then went back round to my grandads and found him back sat in his chair. He'd nipped to the shop for groceries on his scooter and didn't look too clever. I think he over did it. You could hear the rattle in his chest. I managed to convince him to let me ring doctors for him. Doctors came out pretty quick and checked him over. His o2 sats were lower then we'd like but got prescription for antibiotics so I'll pick them up later and drop them off for him. I've also stated I'll help him to further appointments he may have so he does not have to struggle. I mays well whilst I'm off. So that's him sorted for today. He's happy and seems grateful.

Now I'm cooking tea... I've decided to just wing it. We pulled some lamb and mint sausages out. I've chopped them up and fried them with onions and peppers. I've diced and par boiled some potatoes and added them to the pan. I've then covered with passata & chopped tomatoes and added some rosemary and it's simmering away. It will be more like a casserole and I've bulked it out. So should get around 5/6 portions and can freeze two. I've tried it and it tastes lovely.

I've made the effort today to eat breakfast and lunch. I had coco pops and a tuna sandwich followed by small pot of rice pudding for lunch. I'm aiming to eat three proper meals a day for the next few weeks (I really struggle with this usually and snack and pick late afternoon/early evening). I hope to lose around 4/5lb in January. I'm not going mental at the moment on concentrating of healthy eating, its more about me eating regular meals. I'll use myfitnesspal to loosely track my intake.

I've yet to find buttermilk in shops however I've not ventured too far. I've found an alternative recipe online to make your own. So I'll try that. I'll leave the chicken to soak overnight and prepare the other bits for tomorrow. I'm pretty excited for this. Surprisingly I do enjoy cooking but I have to be in the right mind frame. I've bought a 450g pack of chicken, I'll dice this up in order to feed four. I'm trying to use what's left in the cupboards/freezers. We've still quite a few potatoes and goodness knows what else left.

My loan payment has come out, still awaiting it to update the figures properly and take off interest. That should be in next day or two then I'll be able to see what I've actually saved through 0% money transfers.

What else is going on in my life... not much really. At the end of the month the boy is in a panto. I need to transfer money to his grandparents for my ticket. I also need to purchase my Christmas present from my mum. I stated I'd prefer her to buy me something me and the boy can use for days out.

I still have a big list to complete but I'm doing small bits at a time. I'm trying to be conscious of my spending and spreading costs out long term. I'm slowly getting organised.

That's pretty much it really from me. I'm waiting for everything to tick over so I can present a shiny new debt total and plan. I'm feeling optimistic though, this is the most important thing.

I'm grateful for getting this all out here.

Chandelier.

Good morning!

This is a positive update from me regarding debt and where I stand.

The whole reason for the loan I have was to pay off my car finance which saved me lots in interest (I'll find the figures at some point for that and work out the true saving). I managed to get a loan of £11600 with Zopa at 3.3% interest over four years (Total repayment £12395). Since September 2016 I'd managed to get the loan down to £8704.64 through throwing extra money at it, using some savings I had and the usual direct debit.

Just before Christmas I decided to try my luck at 0% money transfer cards to try and save even more money in regards to interest. So here is where I stand with it all.

Before Balance

Zopa: £8794.64

Current Balances
Zopa: £2178.32
Barclays: £2500
Virgin: £440
MBNA: £3370

Total: £8488.32


I don't think that's too bad. I need to work out the exact saving in regards to the interest rate/against money transfer fees but I've still saved quite a bit.

I will update properly afterwards. I need to go make the boys packed lunch!

Bobarella

I'm so glad your Grandad was able to see a doctor so fast, you hear so many bad stories about wait times, particularly at this time of year. I hope his chest improves.

Great work on your finances!

Chandelier.

Thanks Bob! I think we are very lucky with our doctors, they are brilliant and supportive. I wouldn't mind it is quite a big practice. I have been writing down little snippets, thoughts and feelings to pen into a letter of gratefulness to them in the future and hope that they acknowledge how amazing they really have been during times where the NHS is under massive pressure.

Today I have had a bit of a chill out day. I feel exhausted with everything going on and feeling under the weather. Alongside this chest infection, I seemed to have developed yet another cold (previously went away after couple days other week as went straight to chest).

This afternoon I am taking my granddad to one of his appointments. I have sourced a wheelchair to use as his mobility is very poor, but this appointment is in relation to some health issues. After running around yesterday and him seeing the doctor, I picked up his prescription and my mum dropped it off. He then decided to tell my mum he had other problems which are bothering him- I think possibly water infection. So I will seek advice today and try get him to do a urine sample. He is a funny little old man, he doesn't like to bother anyone. He is quite MSE in his own ways, for example he has paid off his funeral costs in advance but states that as we all have modes of transport he is not forking out for funeral cars haha! What a corker.

Yesterday I walked to the boys school to pick him up and walked back home. We got stuck in heavy downpour however had to nip to chemist for grandads prescription and by the time we got back out it had dried up. Whilst also waiting for prescription I saw one of my work colleagues and had a quick catch up with them. I haven't walked to school in ages, but it had me breathless due to chest infection and sharp cool winds. Today it is too windy to walk so will aim to do this more often another day. It was a pleasant walk back and gave me time to catch up with the boy and his day. He told me he had learnt about Florence Nightingale and the things he came out with were priceless- he shares facts with such enthusiasm.

Our tea last nice was lovely and filling. So it was a successful wing-it moment. Today I have prepared the buttermilk chicken recipe and the chicken is currently marinading in the buttermilk mixture. I made my own buttermilk from an alternative recipe online using what we already have. I have also made up the flour coating in advance so all I have to do later is chuck it in a pan with hot oil and accompany with some chips. I am hoping it tastes nice.

NSD hopefully here today. I have aligned all my bank accounts up with one another so they tally up. I have moved money around here there and everywhere. I am thinking about switching bank accounts to F1rst D1rect for their bonus and 5% account. I am just unsure of switching and whether all my accounts will be transferred through- I know the process is much more simple these days but it still makes me anxious. I could use the incentive bonus towards paying off further debt.

Decisions decisions.

MistyMountainTop

I'm just catching up with your diary and so much is going on! Your grandad is lucky to have you, I hope he is on the mend soon. I think a lot of the older generation don't want to bother people with their problems or make a fuss. I was talking to a Dr friend who said it saddens him - the amount of people that come to see him far too late to do anything because they didn't want to make a fuss. They come in with things like cancer, things that could have been treated had they come in earlier.

I've not been able to find buttermilk, either. I've seen the powder for sale online, but it's not cheap. I have occasionally made my own butter using yellow stickered double cream and saved the liquid but I'm not sure if this is actually the same thing. I used it to make scones and they did taste lovely. You'll have to let us know what the recipe is and how it turned out.

I haven't switched banks before to get the bonuses, it's something I should look into. When we were setting up my dd's bank account, the lady told me I could switch mine too and they would deal with all the transfers and switch direct debits, I wouldn't have to do anything but start using the new debit card.

I hope you're feeling better soon xx

Chandelier.

Misty,

Alot has definitely been going on! I sorted out my grandads appointments yesterday and will keep on top of things. Although I see vulnerable elderly people in my job alot it never occured to me how vulnerable my grandad was until one day a person/couple of people he knew took advantage. It was a big eye opener that no one knew about. He made me tear up yesterday. About 8 years ago we both went on a part world cruise for 27 days... it was amazing albeit we both did our own things. I was only 16 at the time and going off myself and doing things and exploring (places like Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia etc). But he sat there yesterday talking to the boy saying how he's too old to take him somewhere on holiday and how he's sorry he couldn't. It was just sweet. The boy behaved really well whilst we were in the appointment and makes me very proud. He's so polite and helpful.

The buttermilk chicken recipe turned out really well. I made the alternative buttermilk myself with 1 cup of milk/one tablespoon of lemon juice and added in all the spices/flavours. I'll find the recipe and post it later. When cooked the chicken was really juicy and soft. The boy thoroughly enjoyed it and even asked for more so it's definitely one to cook more often. I'll try attach a picture if I can somehow. We had it with chips and beans. Felt a bit like a takeaway.

I'm definitely going to look into the switching banks service. And I'll feed what savings I have into the fixed year account it has to make it worth it.

This morning I've been chilling out and done my hair and makeup. I'm feeling good about myself and my self esteem is pretty okay. I'm off to my friends shortly and we will go walk her dog. This gets me out the house and some exercise for the day lol.

In regards to exercise. I've been talking with a friend. We have a 24 hour gym here which is £12.99 a month and no contract. I'm actually thinking of joining so I have some "me" time and people keep telling me it will make me feel better. I'd probably most likely go in the evening and set aside the time with friend and have a catch up. It will also help with losing the inches.

I've also been pondering over traveling a bit. The boy & I are going away for two weeks in May. Since he's been born I've never been away on holiday without him. There is so much I want to do and see. I've been speaking with said friend about maybe doing some short city breaks (find bargain/use cashback websites) throughout year and other travel. The boys dad regularly goes away (6 times last year, so I figure why don't I?).

I think it would be beneficial to me in the long run. I could make this work. Although I'll still save/pay off car, I'm in no rush for anything such as buying my own place that's more long term (5 year goal).

I'm 24, single and independent. My only responsibility is the boy. All his needs are catered for and more. I need to concentrate on myself now too. I need to find my true happiness in myself.

I'm feeling pretty optimistic about life right at this moment.

Chandelier.

I'm not sure if this picture will work.

Chandelier.

http://tinypic.com/r/2rqlemc/9

Or maybe try this link. Hope it's allows. It's the buttermilk chicken I made.