Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

What is it with days off, that I never get anything done in the morning? I couldn't even put the washer on today as the repair person doesn't come till tomorrow. I got a couple of loads done in the washer at Mum's so we aren't too badly off for clean clothes, bedding and towels but that will soon be history.

I had a good chat with DS2 when he got in from night shift but he's asleep now and has asked me not to put the heating any higher as his room houses the boiler and gets too hot for him to sleep. So it's a bit cold here!

I braved a look at the mortgage account and it will be a tight squeeze to pay it off this financial year though it may be possible. I put £150 towards it today on account, and the usual overpayment of £58.51 has just gone out. I know I have an extra hundred due on my December wages (after tax) so that will help considerably: there's about £600 left to pay.

I've picked up an extra sleep at work this month and will keep a look out for more. I'm realising that if I added the approx. £250 that I've saved from 10th coins, £2 coins and the like, it might actually bring me to a guaranteed end of the mortgage before DH retires at the end of March... what to do?! That would free up the money from April, to go towards some sort of pension, and my work pension is a good one but doesn't have a great deal in the way of contributions so I'm thinking to increase my contributions there but also have some sort of investment elsewhere.

It's a beautiful day out but cold. I ought to get out for some shopping and exercise and I can't be doing much about the house as DS2 needs to sleep. I did some garden work the other day and am 'in talks' with J and L about them using part of our garden to grow veg, but I'd like to do the same myself and need to do an inventory of seed packets - I have more than I can possibly use, many of which will be getting out of date, so a plan is needed.

Meanwhile I want to finish unpacking from our trip away.

Cherryfudge

The unpacking is largely done... okay so there are two bags of books and papers but I don't know what to do with those. DH and I got the remaining Christmas decorations into the loft and had a discussion about what constitutes 'too many' decorations. We both grew up in the 70s, that era of paper streamers all round the ceiling, but he feels we have too much without any streamers at all, whereas to me it's a bit odd and not quite what I would like. I think next Christmas it might help if I cut back on the mess of things that ended up 'decorating' the hearth. It's funny how different people see the exact same thing differently.

Dh has been to a new specialist today. He said it was like going for an audience with a French monarch. A series of waiting rooms before he was ushered into The Presence. However The Presence was very thorough, spent ages and did some tests and is going to liaise with DH's usual specialist to see if the results allow for DH to go onto the new meds regime. I can't help wishing they had left well alone 18 months ago, but the doctor wasn't happy with the level of control the long-term medication was achieving, which is why one of the new ones was tried. It worked well on his condition but had bad side effects so he had to come off it. After about half a year of him doing really well, his original condition flared up and they also found a new set of symptoms which are what they are investigating now. I suppose it could all have happened anyway even on the old faithful meds regime.

We are on the home run now with regard to DH retiring, and he's on the look out for a new post as it's really about getting away from his present post and doing something less taxing. One job application is due in soon but it's all an unknown.

I feel I've not made much of today at all. The weather is bitter, though no colder than a week or so ago. I did manage a few minutes in the garden and have scattered two bags of coffee grounds (freebie from St@rbucks) in the compost and round my bay tree. The seeds list is begun and isn't too scary yet but I know I have a drawer of seed packets from earlier times still to face.

I feel I should be finding a new course to start but I'm chickening out, I'm too edgy to settle to anything much. However, DD has visited DFiL and says she was able to have a short conversation with him, which is good, and tomorrow I'm going to the pictures with DS1 as we are both Star Wars fans!

I used some chicken and veg from the freezer in a curry for tea and we had the last of our (very big) Christmas pudding. (It was lush). There is actually a little bit of room in the freezer for once.

Spending
Housekeeping 2.32 (remaining housekeeping money = 2.20)
MS
10th coin savings 20p
Food from stores for tea
Spare portion of curry frozen
Decluttering
Lots of paper and plastic bags that had previously held decorations into recycling.

Tonight I'm thankful for Dh getting a thorough medical check and now going to have the weekend off. Also for a beautiful sunny day and DS2 getting home safely from working nights and also having a weekend off.

Honeysucklelou2

Always a pleasant task - planning what to grow and which seeds to go for!

in_need_of_direction

Cut yourself some slack on the course. It’s better to wait until you’re in the right frame of mind to tackle it

Cherryfudge

I think you are right, INOD. Courses will be there when present concerns have moved on.

Today... well. A had asked me if I wanted to go with him to see Star Wars, and he paid for my ticket which was an added bonus. DS2 came too and we all enjoyed it very much. I took a coffee in a travel cup but it was too hot to drink en route so I bought myself one as a treat, and I put a couple of pounds towards the parking, but other than that I haven't spent today. I was supposed to give the rest of the housekeeping to DH but I forgot and I think he's had to get more out anyway. The extra costs of time working on Mum's house have been a factor, I think. I will try to underspend this coming week to even it up.

DH couldn't come to the cinema as he was supervising washing machine repairs but at least it is repaired! £50 repair bill is a lot less than a new machine. Turns out the pump wasn't working properly. The repairman also found one of our door keys in the innards of the machine which I suppose saves us buying another at some point.

Work has been okay: I got quite a lot of admin done, the first time I've managed to make any real impact on my files in several months. I reminded the Team Leader on duty that I hadn't had a supervision in a while and we fitted one in on the spot. Neither of us had much to discuss so he updated a couple of competencies which looks good on the files and had a brief look at the rather worrying mount of annual leave I still have to take before the end of March.

I also heard that a colleague has handed in their notice which is sad; a really nice person and very popular. This doesn't help the leave situation as at least one colleague and I still have loads to take and there will be this other person's shifts to cover too. The plus side is that I might pick up a few extras. (Now Cherry, repeat after me: 'I must not overface myself').

Spending
Entertainment £4.75
MS
Picked up another sleep in at work for a few weeks' time.
10th coin saved = 2p.
Not going to add the change from housekeeping to savings this week as we've overspent. I'll use it as a buffer and try to get by on less next week - all £2.14 of it.
Part of the overspend this week has been buying washing powder, which usually goes out by DD and arrives in the post. However my delivery arrived very shortly after and my dishwasher tablets, which I buy by the same method, did too. I now have too many of both so I've postponed my next deliveries, which saves about £6.
Decluttering
Not today.

Things I'm thankful for today: finding fruit and nut chocolate in the cupboard and having a healthy tea. A milder day and a really nice time with both DSes this morning.

Cherryfudge

And rather randomly... I wonder if any recycling geniuses can suggest how I can reuse a couple of foil-type coffee bags? I brought a couple home from St@rbucks where they give them away filled with used coffee grounds to enrich compost. They have originally had a vacuum seal and are quite strong but even after washing they smell strongly of fresh coffee! They seem too good to bin, somehow.

NoOneAround

Just popping in to say hello Cherry
x
NOA

Cherryfudge

NoOneAround wrote: »

Just popping in to say hello Cherry
x
NOA

Hi NOA! :wave: Nice to see you.

Cherryfudge

All of £1 spent yesterday: I asked a colleague to get me some yogurt while she was out... that's exciting, isn't it?

I had an extra three hours at work this morning and I'm back there this afternoon then have a couple of days off. I feel like going to sleep right now as the house isn't warm and I was up early this morning, but I will brave the weather, which is a bit parky, and get something for tea instead.

L dropped in not long ago and has had a look through DH's job application for him. He used to work where DH is applying so an insider view is mega-useful.

Last week's food was about £20 overspent and I don't see myself clawing that back in one week so I'll see if I can manage with £20 a week for two weeks. It might not happen but then again, it won't if I don't try.

charlies_tribe

Hope your afternoon at work wasn't to busy.
My boys are still desperate to see star wars. We were supposed to be going before Christmas but never made it.
Enjoy your few days off.