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Get a grip woman!
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Working from home today so just having a quick catch up with a coffee on here before I hit the other computer. I have actually bought a SM imitation moleskin book and started to make lovely lists. Loads of people on here are really good and diligent with their lists and really the only one I have is my shopping one, oh and the camping checklists (weekend and longer), oh and the Christmas cards, oh yes, the.... anyway, you get the idea. It is checking off against them that I am rubbish at. They serve me as my "get it out of my brain" list that makes room for other bits, tool of choice.
So I now have a "potential retirement things to do" list. These say things like paperwork, rationalise clothing, sell possessions we don't need, garden and community contribution and I hope to increase my physical activity levels (I do 14-16 hours out at the moment, and use this as an excuse to keep it too low). If feels like a start but a pretty slow one. I will gradually unpack each area over time. For example garden has removal of some trees and shrubs, replanting of one area and the relocation of our fruit trees (may have to keep 1 or 2 where they are) which will let me look at acquiring the greenhouse I covet, the polytunnel that will support more self-grown produce and the simplification of some maintenance as we get older (poor DH spent the whole of half-term slashing and chain-sawing in the garden - winter pruning, as we call it!). It is clear this level of input is not what he aspires to so a bit of reworking is planned.
In other news we have rats. Definitely. Along with our neighbours. Nearly all of them. We have the man coming Friday and I was chatting to the Farm Manager at the Social Club on Sunday as he has (ahem) access to some really effective chemicals. Normally I am quite calm and rational but, wasps, rats and flies (in the kitchen and house) are my pet hates (no pun intended). I want them dead and gone. They like first our garden and outbuildings, then they go for the house. I have heard scrabbling in or around the walls of the old part (17th century) and we have had them in the roof before. So put simply, I want them dead!
With a new young family next door, it is also my responsibility to address this - let alone the impact on our house and wiring - I will have to get the electrician to do the complete house check again after they have gone. And I remember the smell. Horrible. Ugh. It makes me feel ashamed and dirty, for no rational reason. Ugh! :eek::eek:Save £12k in 2025 #2 I am at £4863.32 out of £6000 after May (81.05%)
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I am at £1286.68/£3000 or 42.89% of my annual spend so far
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the Grow your own thread
My new diary is here1 -
enthusiasticsaver wrote: »Lol. Norwegian cruises are popular this year. We went on P and O's Britannia early September. Beautiful scenery and the experience of climbing up to a glacier was wonderful. Clean crisp air and vast lakes and mountains. So peaceful sat on the balcony sailing along the Fjords. Quite mild as well considering Norway is not known for its warmth or sunshine. My BIL is on one at the moment but they are hoping to see the Northern lights. We went too early for that.
We have ruled out cruises until now for a number of reasons, mostly other people but I do love the idea of a cruise to or around Norway and would like DH to see some of Iceland (a bit like Sutherland in Scotland, only a little more extreme). I have not been for over ten years, and Norway and Talinn in Estonia are on my list for short breaks. I wonder if there is the equivalent of a flotilla holiday instead of a cruise ship, I will look into this.
My last Glacier was either summer skiing in Europe, so more than 15 years ago, (I don't think there is enough left in Europe to do this any more) or Mount Aspiring to Milford Sound in New Zealand South Island (but flying over, not actively engaging with). Although I took a boat trip around Milford Sound, it is lower than the Norwegian Fjords and surrounding areas and it was truly beautifulSave £12k in 2025 #2 I am at £4863.32 out of £6000 after May (81.05%)
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I am at £1286.68/£3000 or 42.89% of my annual spend so far
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the Grow your own thread
My new diary is here1 -
Rats I totally understand your feelings, SL - yes, shameful, but its not! I had them a few years ago, thats never, ever happened to me, and the man I hired said he knew why I had them - my neighbours through the party wall are a family of 3 - 7 at any one time, really noisy in some ways, and my side is much quieter
they'd come over to me once they were in. And they're bound to be around - I live less than 50 yards away from a minimally managed nature reserve maintained like that because of a stream that floods regularly, there must be hundreds of rats in there.
Retirement I also get the "clearing the decks" thing when you first retire. It might look odd, but the reality is that you're living in your house in a completely different way. It doesn't need to support you in your outside professional life any more - it needs to support you in following your interests, whatever they are, and in doing it at minimal cost, as your income goes down.
Norway I'd never have believed it if you said I'd go on a cruise, never - exactly as you say, because of the people, the number and the very fact of their existence :rotfl: but while I was ill, it was the only holiday I could cope with where I could both see things and travel, because the hotel room was obliging enough to move for me :rotfl:
There are some places I don't quite trust to go on a land holiday any more - Egypt and North Africa in general - and some places where there'd otherwise be a lot of driving or other personal issues - Iceland, Sri Lanka - I'd still need a cruise. Otherwise, I'm starting to think of low key independent travel again :j:j:j which I'm thrilled about.2023: the year I get to buy a car1 -
I feel for you. Really.I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.1 -
Audible groan! TtC (Tids the cat) made a dirty protest on DH's place on his leather sofa this afternoon. I know it was then as I opened the sitting room door so that it would warm up with the heat from the range in the dining room as I confess we haven't turned the heating on yet :whistle:
DH has been home with a bad cold all week (the kind where he had flu-like sweating and shivering) so between feeling awful and sitting around, the mean part of me thinks he should have paid attention to the litter tray. He didn't and she protested by crapping where he sits. I am not laughing. I am not laughing oops :rotfl: I am such a mean old bag!Save £12k in 2025 #2 I am at £4863.32 out of £6000 after May (81.05%)
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I am at £1286.68/£3000 or 42.89% of my annual spend so far
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the Grow your own thread
My new diary is here1 -
Suffolk_lass wrote: »Audible groan! TtC (Tids the cat) made a dirty protest on DH's place on his leather sofa this afternoon. I know it was then as I opened the sitting room door so that it would warm up with the heat from the range in the dining room as I confess we haven't turned the heating on yet :whistle:
DH has been home with a bad cold all week (the kind where he had flu-like sweating and shivering) so between feeling awful and sitting around, the mean part of me thinks he should have paid attention to the litter tray. He didn't and she protested by crapping where he sits. I am not laughing. I am not laughing oops :rotfl: I am such a mean old bag!
:rotfl::rotfl: Sorry.I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.1 -
Suffolk_lass wrote: »Audible groan! TtC (Tids the cat) made a dirty protest on DH's place on his leather sofa this afternoon. I know it was then as I opened the sitting room door so that it would warm up with the heat from the range in the dining room as I confess we haven't turned the heating on yet :whistle:
DH has been home with a bad cold all week (the kind where he had flu-like sweating and shivering) so between feeling awful and sitting around, the mean part of me thinks he should have paid attention to the litter tray. He didn't and she protested by crapping where he sits. I am not laughing. I am not laughing oops :rotfl: I am such a mean old bag!
I can't believe I chose such a crappy moment to join the thread0 -
edinburgher wrote: »I can't believe I chose such a crappy moment to join the thread
:rotfl::rotfl:I am a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on Mortgage Free Wannabe & Local Money Saving Scotland & Disability Money Matters. If you need any help on those boards, do let me know.Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any post you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button , or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com. All views are my own & not the official line of Money Saving Expert.
Lou~ Debt free Wanabe No 55 DF 03/14.**Credit card debt free 30/06/10~** MFW. Finally mortgage free O2/ 2021****
"A large income is the best recipe for happiness I ever heard of" Jane Austen in Mansfield Park.
***Fall down seven times,stand up eight*** ~~Japanese proverb. ***Keep plodding*** Out of debt, out of danger. ***Be the difference.***
One debt remaining. Home improvement loan.1 -
What can I say? Sorry mostly. Especially you Ed. First time you've posted here and it's all vermin and excrement! I promise it isn't always like that. I suppose we all have ups and downs and they are not all financial.
On the positive side, the rat man is a gardener and walking round with him he is quite knowledgeable about the plants. He charges £240 a day so I could not afford him regularly but a couple or three days in the new year to help me get a grip (pun intended) in the garden, really appeals. I will talk to the guy in the village too re taking a couple of old trees down so I can plan the garden remodelling a bit.
On financial matters most of my expense claims have been approved and say paid so I might be tidying that into the cash saver ready to pay another little lump off the mortgage. I didn't check the accounts yesterday so need to check later. I've got about £2,850 to clear by 24th January if I am to hit my target of £60k by the end of MFiT4. I recommend it as a way of incentivising over payments of the mortgage.Save £12k in 2025 #2 I am at £4863.32 out of £6000 after May (81.05%)
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I am at £1286.68/£3000 or 42.89% of my annual spend so far
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the Grow your own thread
My new diary is here1 -
£240 a day?!! We have just discovered an enthusiastic (I'm guessing unskilled) gardener who will do a full day of weeding for £40... I am so tempted, Lord knows why they're willing to charge below minimum wage tho, must be cash in hand? :think:0
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