A Ditherer's Diary (again)

CRANKY40

If you have one of the recent type passports it's so much easier than it used to be. My best friend has lost his old passport (which was from about 1997 anyway so no good) and needs another for ID for house buying purposes. He has had to have his photo signed (by me) as the only other passport he can find is from 1960 something and has both of his parents on it with him as a child. He actually wanted to send it off to the passport office with his current application form but I wouldn't let him 😂

Naomim

I tried to book the day off for next Friday. It's all automated and came up saying I had the week off already.  So I have two weeks booked off instead of the one I thought I had for the second week of August 🤦‍♀️  I have now made an appointment with my doctors to see about getting some HRT.  My memory, hot flushes, lack of sleep to name but a few of my symptoms.   

Asked 11yo what she wanted to do with my unexpected week off. She has said swimming and Science Museum. Cheap and free so I'm not complaining! I might look at going to London Zoo if I can book with my clubcard vouchers or see what's on at the cinema too.

Last night I took her and her friend to our local bowling alley but to play in the arcade.  I took my earphones and sat with a coffee listening to The Archers whilst they played. We ended up having dinner there as it wasn't too expensive.

I still need to review the finances and transfer over the money from my pots for the days out we've had so far.  I got paid last Friday but trying not to touch it until the month actually starts.  Also still need to start shuffling the Barclaycard.

Naomim

CRANKY40

If she can swim well and the weather is good then the outdoor pool near Covent Garden is lovely. 

https://www.better.org.uk/leisure-centre/london/camden/oasis-sports-centre

It mentions membership but you can just pay for a one off swim 

Naomim

Thanks @CRANKY40 sadly not a confident swimmer despite a couple of years of lessons. She forgets to breathe so sticks her legs down whilst gasping for air. I always go in with her to boost her confidence.  16yo is like a bloody fish. He's tall and broad shouldered like a swimmers build. He's always been confident in the water. They really are chalk an cheese my two.

Naomim

16yo came home from his friends yesterday with a big gash under his chin. He'd got out their hot tub then slipped over. A trip to A&E, glue and steri strips 🤦‍♀️ He has to be careful for 10 days, I think he's more concerned there's no kissing his girlfriend! 🤣

We also had another torrential downpour so more water in the kitchen 😥

And now I know I have two weeks off work I'm having to work like a mad woman to try and get as much cleared up as possible. 

WinterWarrior

Oh I hate that about holidays….you do twice as much before you go and then it’s still all piled up waiting for you when you get back! 

Naomim

Hi All,

Back from my two weeks off and already feeling like I haven't had a break.

We spent 3 days at Alton Towers and spent an absolute fortune. I had kind of budgeted but didn't really keep an eye on what we spent. The day before we went I banked what was in our penny jar and we had £98.47 so that was lovely to add in.

16yo had his GCSE results - fair to middling but we weren't expecting high grades. He's not hugely academic but has enough to get into college for the hospitality and catering course he wants to do and will re-sit his maths.  He was enrolled at college yesterday so just waiting for the start date now.  He's also been and had his first Covid jab as there was a walk-in centre in our local town. I received many messages from him complaining about the queue! 😂

Also been buying up school uniform for 11yo as she's moving up to secondary school.  Blazer, tie & PE stuff came to £120 and then it's the trial of trying to get shirts and trousers that fit.  Everywhere seems to sell skinny fit trousers at the moment. 🤦‍♀️  I went to Mr T's and bought some shirts and trousers which seem to be the best fit I've found so far and the cheapest!  

I completely forgot to transfer the balance on my Barclaycard so got charged interest 🤦‍♀️  I've now done it and shuffled to my Tesco CC which had enough available credit and a balance transfer option until October 2022. I played with a couple of other cards and the Tesco one also had to lowest transfer fee.  My next 0% deal to run out is MBNA which finishes October this year so fingers crossed Barclaycard will offer me a 0% deal that I can transfer that to.

I've definitely lost the budgeting mojo so I've decided to see this month out then jump back on the bandwagon from September. 

I'm in the office tomorrow.  First time since 13th March 2020.  It's only because they are giving up the lease on our current office to move to newer, bigger ones and we have to clear out our desks.  Don't have to be there until 10am so I'm glad I don't have to be caught up in the rush hour.    

Hope everyone is keeping safe and well.

Naomim

WinterWarrior

Welcome back 🌸

Naomim

I really enjoyed my day back in the office. I still think I'm only going to be in once a week as I had a word with my senior manager and as my team are all in the Netherlands, all my contact is via teams anyway. 

Had an email from 16yo's college. All enrolled and now need to get £400 to buy the stuff he needs by 31st August.  Chefs whites, front of house uniform and chef's knives. Apparently a list of students is given to local police so if they are stopped at all and have the knives with them it saves a lot of hassle.  Not that 16yo has ever had any interaction with the police but you never know.  I can get the £400 from my EF but I can imagine some people will struggle to find that much at short notice. 

I still need to get 11yo's school shoes so hoping to do that today once she's had a bath and washed her hair. She looks like Einstein has had an electric shock, been turned upside down and shaken...in ginger! 🤣  she had lovely long curly hair but hated it so cut it short. Now it's bloody awful. I can't wait till she's older and looks back at pictures of now.

Financially, had a letter from MBNA and Halifax increasing my credit limits. Halifax was we'll increase if you get in touch. I didn't but MBNA was we're increasing.  Obviously I'm not using the cards apart from money shuffling but thought at least my ratio of debt to credit available will look better 🤔

WinterWarrior

Crikey £400 is a lot to find if people aren’t expecting it.
I love the 11 yr olds hair description 🤣 I tend to leave mine to dry, but was in a rush this morning and gave it a blast…now your description matches my head apart from long with my growing out witches stripes rather than lovely ginger 😬 A bit like a wrong colour Crystal Tips!