Tales from The Shire

Fortune_Smiles · 9 July 2021 at 9:48AM

badmemory said:

There does seem to be a bit of a thing about those wheelnut keys. A couple of years ago I got a flat tyre & called out the AA. I was quite pleasantly surprised when at the end he had me watch him replace the key & then had me sign to say he had done that. I had to change a tyre a couple of months ago & the guy doing it handed me the key with a comment about me knowing I still had it. Whoops it still isn't back in its correct home. My to do list is getting longer by the day!

I knew exactly where mine was BM - the garage asked us to find it and leave it in the cubby hole by the gear box. That was so they didn't have to root around and potentially contaminate areas if not necessary. When the car came back, we checked to see whether they had put it back and it wasn't anywhere to be found.

Best put yours back soon. You can guarantee you'll need it if you don't 😆

Fortune x

Cheery_Daff · 9 July 2021 at 10:23AM

Gosh, yes I quite get not wanting to be lied to! 😮Our new local garage seems pretty cheerful, which us handy, as they're only 2 miles away (which is what counts for walking distance round here - the nearest shop is 2 miles away). I've been a few times now and they've always seemed straightforward and cheerful - and always ring me to say when they've finished which is an improvement on the previous one, who just kept saying 'ring me back in an hour all afternoon 🙄😂

Hope the new place sorts you out!

savingholmes · 14 July 2021 at 6:07PM

Not great about the bad garage. Hopefully you can get it all resolved

Fortune_Smiles · 18 July 2021 at 2:27PM

A New Focus

We're having a very relaxed weekend on the Fortunate homestead and it's given us a chance to talk about the future...

...we've decided that Mr F will become self-employed after August next year 😲

The fixed rate on our mortgage ends August 2022 and we'll be able to OP everything we've saved by that date. That should bring the monthly repayments down significantly giving us a little more wriggle room. I've calculated that, to maintain our current standard of living, Mr F will have to work 3 days a month 😲 That's without making any mortgage OPs though. But, if he gets more than 3 days work a month we'll be able to continue to OP and put money aside for the big maintenance jobs on the house.

If he doesn't get any work we'll have just enough to meet our bare minimum financial commitments from our pensions. So, it doesn't feel like too big a risk. And, I can look for work myself if necessary. We'll probably continue to B&B but just for family and friends.

I'm very excited 😝 and a little bit scared too 😳

Obviously plans are Covid/other crises dependent so timescales may shift a little. But that's the goal. It will renew my focus on MS as I'd like us to be in the best position we can be by then. I feel some lists and spreadsheets coming on 😆

I'm sure this balmy weather has drawn us to the decision. Sunshine makes every outlook so much more positive don't you think.

I hope you're getting the chance to enjoy it.

Fortune x

beanielou · 18 July 2021 at 2:34PM

Great decision

teapot2 · 18 July 2021 at 3:21PM

Exciting news and great plans there. Best thing I did becoming self employed though for me it has had some ups and downs due to unforeseen life events but you are in as strong position for Mr F to take this step. Pleased for you

greent · 18 July 2021 at 4:36PM

Ooh - very exciting plans! 👏👏

Cheery_Daff · 18 July 2021 at 8:49PM

Ooh, that is indeed exciting Fortune!! So pleased for you both. What an excellent position to be in. Very much looking forward to hearing about all your adventures!

ruby_eskimo · 19 July 2021 at 9:11AM

I echo the exciting-ness of the news (not sure that's a proper word but you get the idea!). Giving yourselves the flexibility to do what you want is rather freeing I can imagine!