I’m taking control of my life, now.

boxofpaws

@Suffolk_lass - tell me about it. I can barely breathe when I put my winter coat on.
@EssexHebridean - this is why I want to log the food so I can look back for inspiration. 
@MissRikkiC I’m not really meal planning beyond knowing what meat or fish we’ll base the meal on. I buy generic salad and veg that can be used for anything unless I have something REALLY specific in mind, which is rare, it’s too much like committing to a plan for me. I just cook stuff in the order it looks like it needs using.

Not really a lot of news from me but I’m trying to get into the habit of posting so here we go

Good things

Have cancelled one of the postcode lottery direct debits

Have cancelled my National Trust membership from the 31st of August so it won’t automatically renew

Spends are reasonably in control

First payment made off the 0% credit card

Good results for the company that I work for. Which is good news for bonuses

Had a big leak in my car. After panicking that the £1300 repair that we had done recently was all for nothing, I took it straight up to the garage. Luckily it was a different leak which on the face of it sounds very alarming, but it was a very small repair and the garage did it for free!

Had a nice night round friends together on Saturday and a lovely meal out with friends just me this week so my socialisation battery is sufficiently topped up.

Bad Things

I’m all bursting out my clothes

Drawingaline

Love those kind of car fixes. I remember I had an oil leak, panicked, ended up needing a new oil cap 🤷 also a water leak that only needed a screw tightening on one of the hose clasps. 

savingholmes

Sorry about the clothes. Time for new ones. Be kind to yourself... 

Great news that the car problem was easily fixed.

EssexHebridean

Definitely the best sort of car fix. You must have breathed a BIG sigh of relief! 

boxofpaws

Last weeks food
Monday biryani with chicken thigh
Tuesday - I was out, mr p has leftover bolognese
Wednesday I had leftover byriani and he had leftover Bolognese (it went far!) 
Thursday - Mr P bought takeaway! 

Friday - duck breast 
Saturday - pub meal at lunch so just scraps for tea 
Sunday - the picnic I made for Saturday when we had the pub meal

I don’t feel like we ate well last week! 

This week
Monday - smoked salmon pasta 
Tuesday - fish and chip van night for Mr P, salmon stir fry for me
Wednesday- roast chicken
Thursday - bolognese 
Friday - duck breast

Tonight we will have the leftover roast chicken, salad and chips 
Tomorrow leftover bolognese  

boxofpaws

@EssexHebridean, @savingholmes and @Drawingaline - thank you. But I’ve been avoiding the diary because I quickly realised the car isn’t fixed after all and am trying not to face the facts. I can see another big bill coming my way.

boxofpaws

In other news

Good things

• First salary payment into my own account successful complete. This feels better, like I have some autonomy. I really did feel like what was his was his and what was mine was ours. This levels things. 

• I have contacted the local authority for perhaps some counselling. I have a sneaking suspicion that I may have some form of PTSD. A friend told me that she is getting counselling for stress at work on a self referral and I had a light bulb moment. Since the last 18 months with my Dad and my husband, work never stresses me out, it just feels insignificant in comparison. This is not to dismiss my friend’s stress, which is very real, it’s more that it put it in perspective that I might need some help too. Anyway, I feel like this is a positive step forward for me
• Good news for Mr P at work too, he can finally drive which makes his job a lot easier. He’s even been able to pick up a couple of overtime shifts

Bad thing

• Blooming car

savingholmes

Sorry about car

Glad you feel like you have more autonomy in managing your £

Great news he had licence back

Drawingaline

Boo to ongoing car issues. It is so draining when you know you can't deal with it yourself and need to get it sorted.

I hope the counselling helps 

EssexHebridean

It sounds like the counselling could be a good way of working through the stuff in your head and the fallout from the last couple of years. Remember you've been dealing with the stuff you have on top of everything else that's been going on around you with the pandemic too - and let's be honest, that in itself has been stressful enough without factoring in other - really significant - stuff on top! 

Hurrah for MrP being able to drive again - but boo for more car issues. 

Oh - and that meal listing from last week? Sounds like you ate extremely well to me - yum!