Finally Debt Free After 34 Years, But Still Need to Live Frugally

[Deleted User]

Nicnak wrote: »

I love Autumn. It is my favourite season...….

October is my birthday so love it x

Another October birthday girl here:j. When's yours?

My birthday is at the end of the month and usually coincided with half-term from school:j. When I was really young the annual funfair came that week to the town where I grew up. I was sleepless with excitement, in the way that only a small child can be:rotfl:, for most of October.

When we were chatting before about going back to happier times, I'd definitely go back to my early childhood:j

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

A walk among nature always makes me feel better.

A shame you don't have any near you Carboot.

I agree. We love to visit any NT properties if we come across them when we're on holiday but even then they're few and far between. Better for us to pay as we go so to speak. I envy you having such a variety at a convenient distance, HH. Long may you and your family enjoy them:beer:

Willowtree222

carbootcrazy wrote: »

Another October birthday girl here:j. When's yours?

My birthday is at the end of the month and usually coincided with half-term from school:j. When I was really young the annual fair came that week to the town where I grew up. I was sleepless with excitement, in the way that only a small child can be:rotfl:, for most of October.

When we were chatting before about going back to happier times, I'd definitely go back to my early childhood:j

yep half term here! 22nd for me x

HairyHandofDartmoor

Nicnak wrote: »

I love Autumn. It is my favourite season, or was until I started teaching!

October is my birthday so love it x

carbootcrazy wrote: »

Another October birthday girl here:j. When's yours?

My birthday is at the end of the month and usually coincided with half-term from school:j. When I was really young the annual fair came that week to the town where I grew up. I was sleepless with excitement, in the way that only a small child can be:rotfl:, for most of October.

When we were chatting before about going back to happier times, I'd definitely go back to my early childhood:j

Are your birthdays on the same day?

I've always liked autumn too as I love the leaves turning colour and used to enjoying collecting conkers and acorns on country walks as a child. Plus I enjoyed bonfire night and the build up to Christmas.

This autumn will be tricky for me as my mum's birthday was in early November and it will be my first Christmas without her . So I won't enjoy it in the way I normally do. But hopefully in time I will be able to.

HairyHandofDartmoor

I found I slept badly last night because I couldn't stop thinking about my mum, so I felt miserable when I woke up this morning. So I decided to go for a walk by the sea and have a coffee in a cafe there. I'm not sure this helped much as I still felt miserable when I got back, but tired and miserable .

But in the early evening I went to Pilates with my friend and that did cheer me up more. Maybe it's the social contact that helps.

I am worried about money at the moment though. The £300 bill was paid last week but we're still waiting for the £500 one to be paid . Anyway we've just got enough for food on Wednesday if I only spend £50 and fingers crossed they pay soon. I should sleep well tonight anyway because I feel shattered.

I've done 14,089 steps, 6.34 miles, 45 floors and 57 active minutes so far today! That's a few targets reached.

Willowtree222

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

Are your birthdays on the same day?

I've always liked autumn too as I love the leaves turning colour and used to enjoying collecting conkers and acorns on country walks as a child. Plus I enjoyed bonfire night and the build up to Christmas.

This autumn will be tricky for me as my mum's birthday was in early November and it will be my first Christmas without her . So I won't enjoy it in the way I normally do. But hopefully in time I will be able to.

Hopefully you will enjoy it again soon.

That's some steps today! I walked a few rounds around the trafford centre today and got up to about 8k! I'm currently on 9.9k so will make sure I hit the 10k before bed.

x

HairyHandofDartmoor

Nicnak wrote: »

Hopefully you will enjoy it again soon.

That's some steps today! I walked a few rounds around the trafford centre today and got up to about 8k! I'm currently on 9.9k so will make sure I hit the 10k before bed.

x

I'll probably be hobbling around tomorrow . I definitely need to improve my fitness. You have a good excuse as you've been ill.

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

Are your birthdays on the same day?

No, mine's 27th.

[Deleted User]

HairyHandofDartmoor wrote: »

This autumn will be tricky for me as my mum's birthday was in early November and it will be my first Christmas without her . So I won't enjoy it in the way I normally do. But hopefully in time I will be able to.

I can understand why you feel that way, HH. My heart goes out to you:kisses3:. My Dad passed away (suddenly and unexpectedly and it was such a massive shock to us all) one Christmas Eve and then 7 years later my Mum passed away on New Year's Eve, again unexpectedly. Neither had been ill although Mum was 87 so I suppose it wasn't so unexpected in her case. None of us live forever do we?
.

The whole Christmas and New Year period with the endless run-up to it on TV and in the shops has just been so miserable for me especially those first years. It got a bit easier each year that passed but they're the times when everyone is enjoying themselves and having fun and I couldn't. Time, as they say, is a great healer, and in time we all come to terms with even the most upsetting events. Be patient. You still have a lovely family who love you and need you..

HairyHandofDartmoor

Thank you Carboot. I always used to love the lead up to Christmas and autumn and so did my mum.

I know my mum wouldn't want me to be miserable and for the sake of DH and the children we need to celebrate it. We will have to find some new traditions.

My stepdad is going to my stepsister in Wales for Christmas, as he can't bear to be at home without my mum. He said he thinks she's going to invite us. But I don't think DS2 or DS3 will want to go. So it looks like we'll be spending Christmas just the five of us at home, for the first time ever. It will be very strange.

Also my stepdad is going to visit my sister in Scotland for new year. My sister only has a tiny house so we can't go too, even if we could afford the plane fares. So we will spend new year just the five of us too. We've seen my mum and stepdad at Christmas and new year for 53 years so it will feel very odd .

I've suggested to DH that we go for a walk on Christmas day and Boxing day. We never used to do that with my mum and stepdad in recent years because my mum couldn't walk very far. That would give a different dynamic to those days. I don't suppose NT places would be open on Christmas day, but there's always Dartmoor or a footpath if we wrap up warm.

We could go out for a walk on new year's day too, perhaps? The start of a new year without my mum will be very difficult, worse than Christmas I think, so I need to plan a way of spending it that will keep us busy. Perhaps we should invite someone around on new year's eve? We won't be able to afford to go out on new year's eve and I'm not a fan of crowds at the best of times .

I can see that I have a lot of thinking and planning to do.