From debt to freedom...

crazy_cat_lady

I am thinking that sounds a lot like science for your dd HSL. Hope it gets sorted out and she gets onto the course she wants to do at college. I'm a bit deflated about the whole exam thing to be honest. It feels as though nothing was going to be right no matter what happened...
It is awful that BTEC delayed the results - they wanted to regrade because they thought that the BTEC lot would be unfairly disadvantaged because the GCSE results were so much higher than expected. I keep telling dd that she needs to remember this next time there's a general election, because she will be old enough to vote.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Flipflopflo, DAL, SH & CCL.

CCL - you are spot on! The HOD was brilliant and investigated quickly and got in touch with the college prior to DD3’s phone appointment so DD3 is all set to start her A level choices next week.

The day after results day, I had an email to say I could get the reduced transport for DD3’s college bus which was a relief. I’ve got £100 reduction, which is a significant reduction and will help greatly 🙂.

On Saturday I did get out for a picnic with the younger children. We ventured to a NT property across the county which was lovely. My parents met us there so it was good to lose ourselves in the joys of the outdoors for a day. At one part there was an orchard with lots of windfall apples, which DS3 enjoyed collecting and using them to make a shape on the ground. Shame we couldn’t collect a few and have a donation box as a means of “purchase” but there wasn’t so the apple shape remains on the ground!

Saturday night wasn’t so good as tough time with DS1. Yesterday was spent scrubbing the car out in preparation for the MOT. I don’t know if there is a protocol in these Covid -19 days but I scrubbed anything that could be scrubbed with pine disinfectant and gave it a good wash. The roads on which I drive are usually plastered in mud and cow pats so I always feel it’s a futile waste of time to wash but al least at MOT time, it stays gleaming for a couple of days!

The good news is that the car has passed the MOT. I was stunned but very thankful. Perhaps the problem with the battery earlier in the year ( which led to me borrowing and driving my dad’s car ) coupled with less driving through lockdown has meant less wear and tear? I am very thankful that it has passed, especially after the unexpected vet’s bill last week.

This week I’m trying to get as much done as I can before I go back to work fully next week.
I’ve got a couple of half days I need to go in for this week but hoping that around that I can get a couple of house jobs done and spend some more time with the children. We have the last bits to get ready for school, mainly wellies ( younger 2 for outdoor learning) and waterproofs. Most of the uniform I sorted at the beginning of August to try and spread the cost. 

Allotment wise, the winds have taken a toll. I had 10 sunflowers standing like sentries  around the veg beds. Of those 2 have completely fallen, 3 are standing at 45 degree angles so only 5 still standing tall. The lupins have been potted on ready to overwinter in the greenhouse.  The rhubarb seedlings are now looking good and ready to plant out in the beds, so hoping to get that done this week.

Have a good day!

Cherryfudge

Great to hear the car has passed, DD3 gets to start her A levels & reduced transport and you've had the time with your parents. That sounds like a lovely day.
I hope things have smoothed over with DS1.
We had one tiny, accidental sunflower and the wind marmalised it. Every year I think I should grow some and every year I forget till too late to get a decent size. I'm hoping the bird food will plant some for me next time around.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Cherryfudge.  Good idea re the bird food - a lady in the village had the most marvellous display of sunflowers one year and it was due to seeds falling from her bird feeders.

On Tuesday I met up with an old friend at a NT property. Now that I’ve worked out the booking system, it’s been great to access these places. Dare I say it, it’s actually been lovely to walk around the NT gardens with less people around. Normally at this time of year, there are massive queues to get into the NT places, find a parking space and get through admissions but with the coronavirus rules, the queues are gone and everywhere feels much calmer.

Today has been more of a spendy day. I took the youngest DD for her eye test this morning. Unfortunately she needs adult size glasses , so I did get the NHS voucher , but it meant that I had to pay £45 towards the total cost. Still can’t quite work out how it came to that price other than to think that the adult glasses are more expensive than the child glasses. We went early so the older DDs looked after DS3, which gave me time with the youngest DD, so I treated her to a drink and cake from C*sta, which thankfully as half price, thanks to Rishi.  I think all children value individual time with their parent (s) but I think having  a large family, makes it doubly important so that each one feels cherished. I try to squeeze these times in as and when I can.

This afternoon, I loaded up the car and took DS3 and his bike, to a public walking / cycling track.  This was a whole new experience for DS3 and by the end of our time  there, he was  getting quite speedy!

It’s been good to have time to get out and have some outdoor fun. Trying to ignore the work dreads and the increasing worry re mediation. The ex has now kept to a meeting with the mediator so I now have to get several pieces of financial paperwork ready to go. I know it’s a step in the right direction but had a knot in my stomach type feeling about dealing with it all. I have a folder at the ready to collate the necessary statements, so will tackle that tomorrow?

We made it to the beach, with the elderly lurcher, for an evening stroll. It was so good to see him animated about going for a walk 🙂. It was still fairly busy near the shops but thankfully quieter on the sand! We stayed and watched the sunset - surprising how much earlier it is now- before heading home. The sunset included  wispy purple clouds across the sky with a beautiful pinky orange cloud closest to the sun with the very top edges of the cloud tinged with bright vivid orange. I do relish the evenings of being able to relax - when term starts, it will be quite different.

savingholmes

Glad you've been able to get out and about. I also agree that 'date' with the kids where you give them 1:1 time are invaluable.

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you SH.

Its been very wet here for most of the day 😕.  I did intend to start the collation of various financial statements and had just got started when the ex turned up, so I ended up hurriedly putting it all away and cracking on with work tasks instead. The ex stayed for hours for  no apparent reason. He wasn’t interacting with the children, simply fiddled with his phone for a while, then proceeded to snooze. I had asked if he had work to go to, but apparently the weather was too bad. When the weather dried up late afternoon, I got out with DS3 and 2 of the DDs, just to be able to get out and be. 

We walked through the fields including a maize field. Unfortunately where the path had become compacted under people's feet, the rain on top had made it rather slippery, which wasn’t so good for the elderly lurcher. His back legs were quite tottery and he slipped a couple of times whereupon we retraced our steps and came home. I don’t need any more vet bills! DS3 loved the maize field, especially as the public footpath weaves across the middle of the field giving you the impression that you are in a jungle of maize. Must be even more amazing when you are DS’s age and height! 

The older DDs have all been working hard and are in various states of tiredness so a chilled evening has been had.  I made pasties for tea which I must make more often. It’s the one meal that they all eat without complaints.

I had a letter from the electricity company to say that they are putting up my direct debit again.  It’s an extra £18 on top of the £207 a month I’m currently paying. I don’t think we are that wasteful with electricity but am wondering how we can get this down.

janb5

Hi HSL....maybe look for a quote from another company?  Find your annual consumotion and use that for quotes from other companies.
I've just moved from Bulb to Octopus mainky because Bulb started to have poor customer service. Also my bill reduced from £130 to £119 (4 bedroomed house)   
I also do monthly meter readings to keep an eye on the account.  I dont want a smart meter as I had a lot of problems when I changed suppliers before and the meter wasnt compatible.
Perhaps see if any friends can send you a link if they're happy with their utility company so you can both benefit from the switch.
Boo to ex outstaying his welcome!

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Janb5- I hadn’t thought about using consumption figures to shop around. Taking meter readings would be a useful discipline. I’d been so careful to avoid all use of the tumble dryer, it’s been disappointing to see the direct debit go up again.

Pay day today so I have sent £9 to savings, and adjusted the amount going to the mortgage account, releasing £50 to make an overpayment on the window loan. The direct debits won’t come out until Tuesday so I will be trying to keep any spends as low as possible. The only items I have left to get for school are wellies for the youngest 2.

I’m off to work soon, to do some more prep and hope it will be enough for me to have the bank holiday weekend off.

janb5

Hi...have a look on FB/ NCT groups to see if any wellies on there?
Have a look at 2nd hand Lak*land heated airers aa they are great for drying clothes particularly with the volume of clothes I'm gurssing you have.
Also  you've done so well in reducing your debt while working + with a big family + being a keen gardener....
I'm in awe!

Honeysucklelou2

Thank you Janb5 for your kind words.

It has been an odd weekend. The younger DDs have had a weekend with my parents - it seems that both generations have had a fun time 😄. The older DDs have been working so it’s been just the DSs around. The ex has been here to see the DSs and has been odd. For years, parts of the garden have resembled a builders yard with the Ex’s  stuff but suddenly this weekend, he has started chopping up old lengths of wood and has started to repair a vehicle that has been sat rotting for years. I’m wondering if his meeting with the mediator has made him realise that things may change. I’m certainly glad to see some of the materials sorted out.

Over the weekend I’ve been able to sort out wellies and PE shorts. I’m not looking forward to the start of term. It is looking to be a logistical nightmare! Some of my children start on Thursday 3rd whereas others go back on Monday 7th. I have to start at a different time to usual to allow for staggered starts which means I have less time in the mornings to get my own children to their respective schools...just thinking about daunts me. I’m sure after a week or so we’ll be used to it !

I’ve enjoyed an evening stroll with DD1 and DS3 this evening. It was cool with that Autumnal fragrance in the air.  We picked a pound of blackberries as we meandered along the lane. As we came back we saw the bats flitting around above us. I do love this time of year.