Cherry takes the reins

Cherryfudge

Lovely evening yesterday: we took DSiL over to J and L's (they have a new house, an engagement and a puppy since she last saw them) and had dinner with them. Later we were joined by A and H, who had had to work late. So nice to have social time together!

Some big news which I've been keeping under my hat: H and A are expecting a Christmas baby! Very exciting, and all going well.  

So there's a lot to look forward to:

Niece 1 - about to complete on a house and newly engaged
Niece 2 - engaged (already got house/baby/dog)
H and A - baby and new job for H (already married and have a house)
J and L - new house, puppy, newly engaged, new job for J, Master's nearly complete for both, probably found their perfect wedding venue.

A and J are both runners with some big events this autumn, fundraising for charities (expensive for us ) so we went to the GNR for J the other week and will be cheering A on for his first marathon in a few weeks.

Today we need to chase up as things have gone quiet on the house sale and I'm wondering if their mortgage offer or survey have expired due to the delays caused by the estate agent.

I also need to clean out a few kitchen shelves and sort the summeriest of my summer clothes to store. I probably won't need shorts many more times this year. I also need to feed and water the houseplants and sort out work meals for over the weekend as I'm doing late shifts from Thursday to Sunday and a couple of sleep ins.

The weather forecast is really nice today: wall to wall sun and 20 degrees but out of the window I can see the weather hasn't got the message: it's all grey. I should try to fit in a run before it gets warm.

A small achievement yesterday: 13 pens went in the recycling at Rymans. 

Yesterday's spending:
Medical 1.39
Housekeeping 8.51
Gift £15.00
Toiletries £4.49

Cherryfudge

I'm having a slightly anxious day, can't settle or concentrate for too long. I can't make plans for next week, when we have a break in my rota that would enable us to do another trip to the old house, because I'm not sure how close we are to completion. DH rang the solicitor this morning and she is also wondering what the delay is, so she's ringing the buyer's solicitors for us. She thinks it may be that the reduction in price is sufficient to require a new mortgage offer.

If nothing's about to happen, I can have an overdue meeting with my friends on Tuesday - I hate having to keep cancelling on them though they know the situation - and a few days off. I know I keep having time off (holiday, visits to the old house) but they aren't relaxing. If the sale is imminent we could go over for the bedding and all the bits and pieces still left there.

DH and I have been looking at our pensions - to my dismay I hadn't put him down as the beneficiary if I die! It took about two minutes and I'm glad it's now in place. My actual work pension is far from enough to live off due to years of not having paid work followed by more years of low-paid work. I need at some point to do some number crunching to see what extra payments I can make. If I can get a regular payment taken out before my wages reach the bank, I gather I don't pay tax or NI on that, meaning that effectively I will be putting that money into my pension instead of the Government's coffers.

I've been cutting back on caffeine as I think that may have been behind the feelings of malaise recently. I usually have decaff but even that seems to be triggering vague feels of something, even the smell of it sets the feelings off. I'm not a tea drinker so it's been hot water, green tea or herbals teas, and I've even ventured into taking soft drinks in to work - that's extreme for me! The association between hot drinks and comfort is deeply embedded.  

Today I've been going through clothes so I can put stuff away for winter. I'm trying to make a few decisions to get rid of things. I know I'll never get round to Ebaying and I've not had a lot of success on the FB marketplace, so I need to ditch ideas about recouping money and just rejoice that I'll have a bit less stuff! I do find it hard to let go... even when I've not worn certain items for years! I must hold onto the Flylady saying about allowing things to bless others, which is a much more positive approach. Not sure if I'm feeling a 'need' to be in control or if it's sentiment, but it's adding to the unsettled feeling. I'm sure DH would be happy to look through the things and tell me what he thinks, and apparently the charity shop where he volunteers is needing donations.

We've done a couple of loads of laundry so far today as it's good drying weather. When the present load finishes I'll do anything left in the laundry bin so things are fresh when they go into storage and I don't have too many leftovers. Honestly, it's like packing away the decorations after Christmas: there are always things that gets left out.

Machine is beeping: time I went.

Sun_Addict

I’ve got to put my summer clothes away soon. I don’t have a lot of success with selling things, plus I hate all the faff. I just give things to charity shops as you’re giving someone else a chance of picking up a bargain plus the charity gets something too.  Hopefully it won’t be too much longer until the house completes.

Honeysucklelou2

That is such exciting news about A and H and the baby. CONGRATULATIONS!! To the parents to-be and the grandparents-to-be🥳

Cherryfudge

Thanks @Honeysucklelou2

Very much looking forward to the arrival!

It will be a quiet weekend on here for me: I did the late/sleep at work last night and will be doing the same again tonight. Haven't picked up any extras but have decided to have next week 'off': it was to have been a clearing visit at the old house but we still have no progress on the sale and I need to stop pushing us to do 'one more visit'. There will inevitably be at least one more but it doesn't have to be now: all that does is add a visit.

For a 'week off', it's actually just three days. A four day gap in rota is three as I picked up an extra shift a while back, at the end of the break.

Some grocery spending yesterday. I bought fish for lunch today (2 spare for another day) and some ready meals to take to work. Normally I take overnight oats (today's have banana, ginger jam and mixed seeds in the milk/oats/yogurt mix, and a topping of raspberry coulis). I just thought a few cooked meals will increase the interest and nutrition.

DH will be getting some Sunday lunch ingredients later: he's doing overtime today as they have a heavy workload.

Spending:
Housekeeping £7.00

Things I'm thankful for today: a good night's sleep, not getting DD's cold (!), still having warm weather, lovely holiday photos to look back on.

Cherryfudge

Days off! Proper ones too, with no mission to the old house.

DH rang the solicitor for a progress report this morning and we are going to suggest a completion date of 8th October. I have abut a 40/60 ratio of regret and relief about this but it's been hanging over me/us nearly five years so it's 'high time'. This allows for one more trip to take out the last bits and pieces, and if possible arrange for a charity to collect white goods. There is still some furniture and a lot of books but we've removed huge amounts and the buyers have said they are happy to do some clearing if that helps.

I'm now a bit on edge so I probably need to make lists and do some clearing here so I feel I have made progress and allowed space for last minute things. We are also going over to see J and L for dinner tonight and offer them a  contribution towards wedding costs so it could end up a very expensive day! We didn't give financially towards A and H's wedding but did help with the deposit for their first house so we feel it's fair to help at least that much with the others, possibly a bit more. I know they've said they aren't traditional about parents paying for their daughter's wedding (and I remember I paid for an aspect of my own rather than Mum footing the entire bill) but it would be good to help. They are also planning a small guest list and possibly a BBQ for the meal as that's more their style. (This is a couple who seriously look the part when going anywhere 'posh', so this was a surprise until I thought about it: they are informal and friendly and would rather have fun than show off).

Incidentally, there is a small cottage next to the old house which has just gone on the market so I had a look at the spec. It's out of my price range even when the old house is sold but seeing the inside, it's not to my taste: too open-plan. It's a good feeling not even to be tempted! If it had been half the price, I might have been as the area is lovely and it would have made an air B&B /holiday home, but that would have entailed all the management and travel, which is a big commitment.

Health-wise, I've been cutting back on coffee (caff and decaff) and having hot water or green tea in place of some of it. I feel a lot better for it: not getting the sick feeling I had while on holiday. I've also been able to get to bed earlier on a regular basis. I don't know why I'm so tired late in the evening but if it means a more normal bedtime, I'm not complaining. Last night was an exception as I bought a book on Kindle and ended up staying awake till stupid o'clock, reading.

Some small spends in the last few days:
Housekeeping £1.65
e-book £2.99 (voucher)

Things I'm thankful for: some things to leave the house (charity shop and a chair from the old house going to a friend). Seeing J and L tonight and having the funds to be able to help out. Being able to say 'not interested' about the property near the old house.

Cherryfudge

An eventful morning and a change of plans!

Firstly, last night we had a good evening with J and L, and they've set a wedding date! July next year, so they are booking everything today before the slot goes. Our 'contribution' comes a bit later.

This morning, the phone has been ringing. First was our solicitor to say the buyers want to complete on Thursday! After some discussion we've decided to to a one day drive tomorrow to pick up the rest of the stuff.

Almost immediately after came a call from my work to say they need cover at another facility at the end of the week. The situation is sufficiently severe that they are reducing our clients to free some of us to work there, so that's what I'll be doing this weekend. Not my usual client group but I did about a month in a related service last year and I've actually done all of one shift at this place a while back.

Then we managed to fit in a run between showers. It has a feeling of being 'all go'.

Sun_Addict

Wow completion Thursday. It really is all systems go for you, busy, busy. 

Cherryfudge

I've signed the papers and we're off tomorrow morning to cram all the rest of the stuff into the car!

I went to the supermarket and bought juice and biscuits for en route (small juices are almost completely gone off the shelves - the latest little ripple from the shortage of lorry drivers I think), and flowers for the lady who's minded the house for so long. I'll take her next month's cheque too, and once the money comes through, a 'thank you' payment. I also bought a couple of bottles of fizz and some nice biscuits to leave with a  card for the new family. (Two bottles as non-alcoholic for the children). None of these amounts to the 'perfect' gift but it's the thought that counts and when you only have an hour on a rainy day, perfect isn't going to happen.

I also popped into work for my PCR test and was met by a dismayed colleague who broke the news that another senior person has handed in their notice. I'm surprised it's happened at this point in one way but not surprised in another; things will be harder for them financially I think, but the colleague will be so much happier in their new job.

When I got home I texted the colleague who'd told me they were applying for the already-vacant senior post, and they've got it! Feeling of relief! I heard from another colleague that she's passed her latest exam for a professional post elsewhere which is brilliant for her but may eventually leave us a bit shorter even if she does relief. Ah, work!

Well, in half an hour I'm off to my friend's (through the rain, I think: maybe DH will give me a lift if he's back in time from hunting for diesel) for our first face-to-face meeting in weeks.

Spending:
Housekeeping £3.57
Gifts £20.35
Entertaining £0.99

Today I'm thankful we are nearly at an end of all this long-distance dreariness (though will miss the walks/runs and meals out). I'm thankful for all the help the lady gave Mum over years and the support she's been to me since then. For the nice neighbours and the beautiful area and all the 'treasures' I've found in the house. For a helpful and pleasant solicitor. For the sale going through (hopefully) in time for the buyers not to have to lose the benefit of reduced stamp duty. For my colleagues too - and the sign of hope as a post is filled.

in_need_of_direction

Lots there that you’ve grateful for but I’m sure it’s a weight off your mind especially as you’ve also dealt with things on behalf of your sister.  I’m always more worried about getting things wrong when I’m acting on behalf of others.  Hopefully you’ll get everything done that’s needed.  Take care though as there are bound to be emotions attached