Sashybo - Back Again

beanielou

Hope this are sorted out for DS soon. 

sashybo

Thanks jwil & beanie, the good thing is that DS still seems mostly happy at school and isn't refusing to go or anything like that. The kids in his class know what he's like so don't take offence if he doesn't want to play and know he will join in when he feels like it.

Got the couches hoovered, stairs and upstairs hoovered and downstairs floors cleaned on Saturday along with a few washing loads as it was sunny. DH cut the grass before going to work, it was getting really long. We will need to sort the garden out for winter soon as we need to move the kids play tower with slide into a more sheltered position so the wind doesn't damage it and cover the garden furniture to protect it. We need to buy a new furniture cover as the one we had last year was wrecked in the wind. 

Yesterday we went for a walk with the kids up the braes but we were only out for half an hour as DD started whinging and crying within 5 mins and kept asking to be picked up. She's too heavy now to carry for long so we just gave up and headed back to the car. Poor DS was quite annoyed as he was enjoying his walk. DH said we should get DD a badge that says "This year I have ruined _ family trips" where we can change the number . 😂 Hopefully one day we can go out for more than half an hour without someone having a tantrum. 🙄 and I'm including the adults in that. 😂 

I made a ginger cake and a cheese and onion quiche then used up some carrots and made glazed carrots to go with dinner yesterday. I might try and make some soup today as have been quite bad at using up the veg in the fridge. DH is working early shift so is going for a swim after work, I'm going to go with him mid week as I'm working late shifts then.

I walked the kids down to school and nursery this morning (DD had a tantrum after breakfast and scratched me when I was trying to get her ready, she is really moody just now!) and back then did my core exercises which take about 5 mins before doing half an hour of yoga. I have stripped the kids beds and have the sheets in the wash but the weather is a bit dodgy so doubt they can be hung out. 

Need to do the big cat litter clean, empty the kitchen bin, clean the kitchen sinks and down the plug holes as it's smelling a bit then look at making some soup. My mum is picking the kids up today so that gives me a bit of extra time. I need to check the halloween decorations to see if we need anything replaced and also look at getting costumes sorted for the kids.

sashybo

So the garage conversion loan has been paid off, the last payment went out yesterday. 🎉 🥳 Hoping to use two thirds of the monthly payment of £155 towards the other debts. We have just went onto a standard variable rate for our energy so the DD is going up by at least £40 p/m. 😒 I'd like to use the extra money to pay off the smallest CC first but may opt for overpaying the smaller car loan as it has an interest rate. 🤔 May also put some of the money into holiday savings. 🤔 Will talk to DH about it. The main thing is we are one debt down - only another 5 to go. 😂 

I made leek and potato soup yesterday and did all the cleaning I needed to do but that was about it. DH took DS to his swimming lesson, my mum watched DD and I went shopping as needed more pull ups for DD (yes she's still refusing to use the toilet 🙄). I found a minecraft mug for £3.50 so bought it for DS's December box, I'll look out for a unicorn one for DD as she's very into them right now. 

I'm having a fight with myself because I want to re-buy the coat I took back to Mr A last week. 😂 I do have another blue coat now that I bought second hand but the Mr A coat is a nicer colour. 🤦‍♀️ 

Walked the kids down to school and nursery again this morning and back. Did more yoga and have one washing hung out and another in the machine. Feeling really wiped out and just want to sleep but have the shopping delivery arriving soon.

beanielou

Do you need two blue coats

Great news to be one debt down.

Sun_Addict

Great news about the garage loan being paid off 🥳

DancingInTheRain

We'll done on paying off the garage loan 🎉

I feel your pain with DD on outings, my DS2 is the same and could do with one of those badges - we call him out little fun hoover on most outings 🤣

jwil

Congrats on clearing the loan!

sashybo

Thanks all, it's nice to have one less debt. I have agreed with DH that we will pay £100 of the old loan money towards the smallest CC and that should get it cleared within 6 months as we will then be paying £120 pm, then we will overpay the smaller car loan. Hoping I can use some survey money as well and get rid of the smallest CC more quickly though.

 😂 beanie of course I don't need two blue coats, I just want them. 😂 Still telling myself no atm!

Dancing, fun hoover sounds about right 😂 my two were taking it in turns but it's definitely DD who is doing it all the time now. She had a bad afternoon at nursery yesterday and scratched 4 different kids within 90 mins. 🤦‍♀️ 😢 She is really grumpy and hard work right now, hoping she grows out of it soon. On the bright side 🤷‍♀️ she had no nappy on this morning and asked me for one as she knew she was going to pee, we just have to translate that into peeing in the toilet or potty rather than a nappy!

DH & I went swimming again this morning, I managed 36 lengths (obviously with breaks!) and was practising my backstroke as I was in a lane with DH so it didn't matter too much if I crashed into him. 😂 I'm not a great swimmer and still panic a bit in deep water or if the water gets in my eyes or face. I've just been giving myself a talking to so I don't panic and drown. 🤦‍♀️

I'm working late shift today and tomorrow so will need to get organised soon. Hopefully DD has a better day at nursery and behaves for DH at pick up.

DH & I have also booked a 4 night holiday for us with the kids in a cabin at a loch in a few weeks. It's only an hour away from us but looks lovely and it will be good just to get away from the daily grind. Our cabin has a log burner and a hot tub and BBQ so we will have a few things to do there plus forest walks and will possibly go on a wee loch cruise too. 😃 We can take the kids scooters as well, although no doubt we will end up carrying them. 😂 

We're really looking forward to it and even better we already had the money saved in our holiday fund. 🙌 So we'll just need a small amount of spending money as the food and fuel will likely be equivalent to our usual weekly spends. 😀 

The day we come back I'll be working late shift but that's fine as it saves me using up a lieu day and check out is at 10am anyway. It's also the day the outlaws descend 😒 so they will need to organise themselves getting to their hotel etc as DH will have both kids in their car seats so no room in the car and I'll be at work. No doubt the outlaws will moan about getting a taxi or try to get DH to make 2 trips. 😖 

Booking this wee holiday has meant that DH & I have had to move our overnight trip to Edinburgh from October to November but it's actually worked out better as we got the same room cheaper so were able to pay it outright. 👍 And we also have longer to save towards lunch, dinner and drinks whilst we're there. 

So feeling a bit more upbeat as we have a few things to look forward to and haven't used credit to pay for any of it. 🎉  We're hoping to have enough saved to go on another short break with the kids next spring/early summer too as we'll not be able to afford anything abroad until the debts are paid off.

jwil

Holiday sounds great!

sashybo

Thanks jwil, we're all looking forward to it. No doubt it will rain but as long as we're suitably dressed it won't be too bad as it's not cold yet.

Change of plans with the outlaws, they're no longer coming up due to the upcoming train strikes. They were going to go to Berwick & Edinburgh then come to our town for 3 nights to see DH & the kids. The train strikes have apparently upset their plans so they have cancelled the whole trip even though they had return flights booked from here plus hotel and could easily have flown up to at least see the kids. 😐 They have said they'll try to come up before the end of the year but good luck with that as due to DH's shift pattern he only has one weekend a month off and we have plans for most of them up to Christmas now.

I can't say I'm upset, DH is relieved and actually said to me that they would do this as soon as he saw the new strike dates. He is a bit annoyed though that they basically don't seem to care about seeing their grandchildren. 

Have been swimming again twice since my last post but not done so well with the lengths, only managed 24 each time as I was so tired after late shifts. I'm such a plodding swimmer, I feel really slow compared to everyone else, DH easily does double the amount of lengths I do. 😂 Have also been keeping up with the yoga and had my hip adjusted by the chiropractor which seems to have helped a bit. Weight has stayed the same, I always seem to stall at the same weight but will keep trying.

I went through DD's drawers and have a whole bin bag full of clothes that are too small or are summer clothes that will be too small next year. Also have a bag of shoes that are too wee for both DS & DD, I'm going to take them to one of the charity clothes bins. I have also moved the bag of toys I culled a few weeks ago into my car boot and will drop them off the next time I'm near a charity shop. The spare room is looking a lot tidier now apart from the clothes horses, it's basically a laundry room 90% of the time! Still need to sort out everything that has been shoved into the built in wardrobe but hey ho. 😆 

Need to swap my clothes around and put the summer stuff away and get the heavier clothes hung up. I can wear a lot of my current dresses with tights and boots so will see how much I can actually put away. 😱 Don't even know what is in the other bags apart from heavier jumpers and cardigans. 🤔  I have not re-bought the blue coat but am still pining for it. 😆 

I took DD for her flu vaccination at the weekend and she was so good, no drama at all. She obviously saves that for me as this morning she was crying because she didn't like the socks I'd chosen for her to wear. Told her fine pick your own aaaaand she chose the pair that I had got out. 🤷‍♀️ 😂 My mum is collecting the kids from school so I have a break from the school run today but need to take DS to his swimming lesson later.

DH's friend is coming up from Yorkshire for the weekend, I'm working early shifts Fri/Sat and the kids are off on a long weekend. It might get extended as there are support staff strikes in the schools next week as well. 😱 Hoping it will be resolved beforehand but not holding my breath. Kids will potentially be off for a week, back for one day then it's the weekend again and we're taking them out of school/nursery the following week for our short break. DS will be delighted at such a small amount of school time. 😂