From debt to freedom...

Cherryfudge

Only half your usual day off - crickey! Are they trying to exhaust you? I know in the 'old days' people were used to half days but nowadays when we all seem to run round catching up on days off, all time off is precious.

Honeysucklelou2

Yes, sadly so, for the next 2 weeks, I only have a half day as meetings have fallen on my day off .

Sleep is evading me again, so I've made a cup of tea and gone through bank transactions and updated the spending tracker app. I had been concerned that my credit card direct debit payment hadn't gone through on the usual 6th of the month, so logged onto the credit card website. Getting logged in was a whole fiasco in itself! The cc company has been bought/merged/ acquired by a bank, so all the log in process is slightly different and, it would appear, the payment dates changed. I have requested a 1 st if the month date but this payment is the last under the old dating system. The reason I couldn't find the payment is because they are not collecting it until Monday.

I've paid £150 towards school trips. This means that DD3's trip us now fully paid for. I have £365 to go on DD4's trip and I haven't fully checked but about £150 to go on DD5's trip. At least I'm past the half way point on this but I'll be glad when they are all cleared. I've also paid £100 nursery fees. I need to set a bit more aside as due to the half days of meetings this week and next week, I'll need to pay for extra sessions for DS3.

I was given some duck eggs on Wednesday, so set about making a sponge with them last night. I haven't used duck eggs much so looking forward to sampling later...strictly for quality control purposes of course

crazy_cat_lady

I would take whatever help you get offered at work HSL. Occupational health are pretty good at my place - they are impartial and confidential, and I got counselling through them within a fortnight rather than the long nhs waiting times. Plus I was allowed time out of work to go because it was organised through them.
How was the cake?

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you CCL. I didn't know if they were confidential or not. The pressure I'm under at work has increased since December and my confidence is on the floor. I'll wait to see what transpires.

The cake was lovely and light, thank you. I made some salted caramel butter icing to sandwich the 2 parts together. It is delicious but very rich. Hopefully it will last for more than a day!

Lots to do today. I'm hoping I can get all work stuff out of the way today so that I can have tomorrow to try to relax with the children. I need to get into the garden as the sweet pea seedlings are looking a little leggy. Tomatoes are looking great and could probably do with potting on next weekend. The seed leaves are put, just waiting for a pair of true leaves, then I'll pot on.

Cherryfudge

The cake sounds lush! We used to have duck eggs when I was a child but I can't remember if they got baked or they all went into my brother's beloved boiled eggs. I do remember being scared of the duck - she was vicious!

Lots of sympathy over the meetings on your days off - almost exactly the same is happening to me a few times in the next few weeks. Why do meetings and training seem magnetically attracted to weekday days off? Yet when we are rota'd a weekend off, it's thankfully sacrosanct. I suppose I can see how it comes about but it's wearing. I can claim for the extra time so I hope you can too.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge. I went out today and 4/5 of the cake was there. I got back and a few crumbs were loitering in the tin. Half of the children complained they hadn't had any! I think we have a couple of gannets somewhere!

Spent 4 hours at work today, trying to be as ready as possible for next week. Sleep is evading me again :mad::(. It used to be the nights before work that sleep was erratic but I used to sleep well on the night before a day off but now every night seems disturbed:(.

Received some unexpected information about DS2 today. He is quite quiet but now am very aware I need to be watching him more. I am thankful that we are so rural, that at least when we are at home, he's not able to go anywhere unless DD2 or I drive. My worry is not only for him but also that the ex will use it as ammunition to blame me for causing it by seeking a separation.

On a plus side DS2 seemed to enjoy making chocolate brownies with me. We had no vanilla essence so substituted it for salted caramel flavouring. It has made a unique and delicious twist to the recipe.

Another positive for today...on checking the greenhouse at the allotment, two of the disturbed trays are showing signs of germinated seedlings. It would appear to be just the cornflower seeds that were chomped. I suspect the rabbit population is also on the rise judging by the nibbled tulip leaves. Why don't they eat the weeds?!

Honeysucklelou2

It's been a day of all types of weather. We've had strong winds, glorious sunshine, hail showers, rain...everything bar snow!

Today has been a birthday in the family, so we have been out for a meal, which was lovely. There was no cost element for me so a double treat. The children and I have spent the evening watching The Good Life and enjoying the comedy.

Just battling the work dreads now.
A NSD for me making 3/10 for March.

Cherryfudge

Sounds like a lovely birthday - I think The Good Life is brilliant. Margo and the Christmas that wasn't delivered... :rotfl::rotfl:

We had snow. It only lasted a few minutes and was accompanied by strong winds, then the whole thing was gone and we are left with a moonlit night.

Honeysucklelou2

Surviving the working week, day by day. The wind was gloriously wild today...with the knock on effect in the classroom!

Yesterday was a NSD but today I've had a couple of direct debits come out and a grocery top up. Sleep is still in short supply

Honeysucklelou2

Got through work today. I ended up rushing out as DS3 wasn't very well and the nursery had to call me. He's sleeping peacefully now, hoping he'll be better for tomorrow.

I went to a meeting about DD's forthcoming school trip. It's come round really quickly. I need to factor in spending money, both UK currency and Euros. The 2 oldest DDs have been on this trip in the past and they found it brought aspects of their GCSE course to life. I still find it worrying when they go abroad without family members, although I know that DD3 is pretty good at texting updates generally.

Half day off tomorrow, lots to do, including the potting up of lots of tomato plants.