Diary no 3 - Still MumblingTaff's Ramblings.....

mumblingtaff

Nice surprise at the hair dresser - it cost £32 rather than the £60 budgeted.
House cleaned and a few errands done too - spending the evening at OHs so will have to get up early to be on the road in time to meet mum to swap the dog in the morning.

mumblingtaff

Just back from taking the dog to mums - almost 6 hours of driving, really stiff now.
Going to have a little rest and stretch out and then get organised with packing etc.
The house already feels quiet without the woofer.....

mumblingtaff

Thinking about things that need doing and I'm always better when there's a list involved ......

Tidy out fridge- done
Ironing - done
Packing - done
Put dry washing away - done
Clean bathrooms - done
Run - done
Nails - done
Eyebrows - done
Clean inside of kitchen window - done

Might need to add to it as I think of things....

Just checked the banking and how much I'll have to spend when I get back from holidays up until the next pay day. If I allow £200 that leaves a good buffer in the bank and the contingency untouched. I'll need more petrol to collect the dog, groceries for 10 days and some spending money so there should be more than enough with £200, barring any mishaps.
I have another £65 in my purse to cover taxis, things at the airport etc so there's no need to dip in to the £200.
Trying to decide whether to go to OHs tonight - would be happy flopped in front of the telly at home but don't want to offend him....hmmmmmm.......

mumblingtaff

Just thinking about jobs that need doing around the house over the next few weeks/months

Change study light switch
Change living room light fittings
Fix strimmer
Change kitchen light bulbs
Paint downstairs loo
Investigate new shed - done
Paint hall
Clean skirtings in hall and kitchen - done
Fix en suite toilet flush
Tidy out wardrobe
Get quote for bedroom decoration
Clean out kitchen cupboards
Declutter office/study
Reseal shower
Take stuff to the tip
Get quote for front door lock change - done, appointment booked

mumblingtaff

Morning all - had an early night with my book after the Athletics and slept well until about 7am, really good for me, I was tired yesterday though.
Going to do a run and then get the packing sorted so it's out of the way - it's a very early start tomorrow for a 6am flight so need to be ready in plenty of time and with the opportunity to remember anything I've forgotten.

I investigated a handyman last night and think I've found one to do little jobs like change light fittings and a couple of other small jobs around the house. Will contact him later today to try to arrange a day after the holiday before I go back to work. He seems to have reasonable rates and I'm sure I've used him before (years ago) to put a blind up.
The chap next door (who has a bit of a man with a van business) has also said that he'll have a look for a shed for me (2nd hand plastic half size one) and when he finds one will help me clear out the rubbish in the current one and take it all to the tip, including the dilapidated current one.

I've written a shopping list for when I come back from Ibiza, I've run down stocks in the cupboards and freezer and the fridge is empty so I need quite a bit but I've tried to meal plan main meals so I don't just buy stuff willy nilly, like I have a tendency to do.

Think I'm seeing OH after lunch so better get on with things, starting with a run ( not looking forward to it but need to force myself.....)

mumblingtaff

Been for a run - felt quite good today and am definitely improving. Have also packed the case and written a list of last minute things to add, trying desperately to keep within the weight limit
Going out for Sunday lunch with OH, he's picking me up at 1.30 (11am now) so I have an hour or two to potter about and get ready. Will stay at his for the afternoon but come back this evening for an early night - will have to get up at daft o'clock to get to the airport in time. Will put everything ready so it's just a matter of a shower and getting dressed first thing.

I'm taking 550 euros with me but we're half board so I'm hoping that I don't spend all of it. Whatever I don't use I'll change back into sterling and fund some of the house little jobs that need doing with it.

Right, off for a soak in the bath, legs are aching already .....

mumblingtaff

Went for lunch with OH, then spent the afternoon with him. Since coming home I've finished packing up bits and am ready to go now. Taxi is booked for an ungodly hour
Since being home I've managed to clean the bathrooms and the urge took me to clean the skirting boards and paintwork downstairs and up the stairs - don't know what came over me but they've been washed down and dried and look lovely and clean now, like new

I've also contacted the female locksmith I've used before and she's coming to change the front door lock which is decidedly dodgy these days. The appointment is booked for Tuesday 28th and will cost £50 all in. She's very good, reliable and a nice lady so I'd rather give her the business as I've used her before when the conservatory lock broke.
My next door neighbour has also found me a decent second hand plastic storage shed for the garden and is picking it up for me whilst I'm away and emptying the rubbish from the old shed and taking the whole lot to the tip for me - £70 for the shed and labour so not bad at all and more importantly will be done when I'm on holiday
I have the money for the locks and shed in the house and garden savings account so no worries there.

So a fairly productive day that will be the last for a while as I'll be flat out on a lounger for the next week. I'll try to post while away but if not see you in a week !

redofromstart

Have a lovely break mumblingtaff

mumblingtaff

I'm back! Had a lovely time basically doing not very much apart from sunbathing, eating and drinking
I've now ploughed my way through 6 books this summer break and will start no 7 tonight, have enjoyed most of them especially the last one I read called The Couple Next Door - can definitely see it being made into a movie.

I managed to bring 200 euros back with me and changed them back at the supermarket yesterday and got £165 cash. I used £50 of this to pay for the grocery shopping and spent £10 rejoining slimming world, needless to say my summer holidays have taken their toll so I bit the bullet last night and went to the meeting and was appalled at the weigh in. It's made me really determined to do something about it so I'm back on the bandwagon. It's day 2 of the diet and going ok so far .....early days
So I have £100 of the holiday leftover money left and am going to use it to change the front door lock (£50) and buy some paint to do the downstairs loo and do a few other little bits and pieces round the house.

I've been to collect the dog from mums this morning - really good to have him back, it was too quiet without him last night. I've really missed him and he's very happy to be home.
I put petrol in yesterday to cover the trip and the tank is still half full so that should last through to the next pay day.

Have looked at the banking situation and have sufficient cash to last through to pay day if I'm not too extravagant and won't need to dip into the contingency fund. I will need to go suit shopping for work next week but have money put aside for that in a different account. Will hopefully have lost a bit of the bloat by then....
I'm working tomorrow and Thursday - the gcse results are released to senior leaders at schools tomorrow and then students get them the day after. I'll be in work doing a load of analysis tomorrow - really don't have any idea of how well we've done with all of the changes this year. Fingers crossed but not overly hopeful......
Will need to do a bit of work to catch up on things a bit later today - feel a bit out of touch after being away but I suspect that not a lot has happened and all hell will break loose tomorrow.

My neighbour has got me a second hand plastic storage shed that's plonked in the back garden for now and will take the old one and the rubbish to the tip either today or tomorrow. I paid him before I went away so it's just a matter of sorting things out.

Think that's all of the news (my life isn't very exciting ) - will take the dog to the park, have a run myself and do a bit of work and then make a big vat of leek and potato soup or a bean chilli (slimming world approved ) and brace myself for the next couple of days at work.....

mumblingtaff

Have been for a run and can conclude that I am still made from at least 50% wine and chips
Much harder work today than the last time - can tell I've had a week off any exercise at all apart from walking to the bar
Have also walked the dog and popped to the shop for potatoes for soup, forgot to get them with the main shop yesterday. Last load of holiday shopping also done and now drying on the airer. Trying to force myself to get the laptop out......