Prosperous soul in the making

MovingForwards

Photos look great and show how much you enjoyed it.
Why not recreate the painting, or your interpretation of it? You've got canvas, acrylic and a couple of brushes won't cost much. It's what I'm doing with a similar one for my home.

doingitanyway

I love that station. So glad you had a lovely, creative, relaxing trip. I also like the idea of the sound exhibition. 

EssexHebridean

Glad to hear the trip went well SH - and well done on your great budgeting too! 

savingholmes

Thanks Grogged, MF, DIA and EH
It was good to have been. DS's new place looks great. Hopefully he will settle in quickly. 

Both my sisters were very generous towards me. The latter had ordered me some colouring pens and a book (posh ones) that arrived literally as I was leaving so that worked out well. While I was away I got BIL to help me pump up my tyres at a garage and show me what to do. They were dangerously low and a warning light had come on... At least I know what to do next time. I filled up on fuel while I was away but it would have got me home so it's just a contribution for next month.

Despite having today and Friday off it has been a full on weekend and I am exhausted. As you can probably appreciate there was a lot of emotional / heavy talking too - but they now do understand why I'm doing what I am doing and hopefully know better how to support me in that. Maybe it can be two-way too. They were at pains to stress how much they appreciate, value and love me which was uplifting to hear. Families can often be the last to say it...

I only spent on fuel and food on the journey to and from. On the way back I stopped off at a pub on a canal and ate and coloured for quite a while before continuing the journey. For tea I ate some chilli from the freezer with jacket spud so thank you to past self for making and saving that! I think given I am so tired - I will see if there is any way to finish early this week. I do have a lot of pending deadlines though so it may not be possible to take a whole day but I'll try. Seeing my counsellor Friday. Looking forward to that. I have a lot to say!!

Divorce finances still not quite sorted and no mortgage offer yet... Really hope there's no unnecessary delays. I want this over with well before Xmas...

DD is staying away this weekend so I won't have to drive her 50 miles next Monday which is fab!! I will hopefully also not be as tired next week - as getting up before 6am to take her the weeks it's my turn when my natural body clock is more like 9 is a big deal!

savingholmes

MovingForwards said:

Photos look great and show how much you enjoyed it.
Why not recreate the painting, or your interpretation of it? You've got canvas, acrylic and a couple of brushes won't cost much. It's what I'm doing with a similar one for my home.

I could do a layered acrylic pour version - that would give texture which I like and I could potentially get natural circles if my canvas is reasonably level... I'll give that a go at some point... I have the supplies so it's more about perhaps waiting for the weekend as I get paint everywhere including on me - and it's a faff to get off!!

savingholmes

Just been on Mark's diary and it reminded me of the FROG eating I am still to do

1. Finalise divorce and finances - aiming for around mid November ideally
2. Sort new will
3. Amend 3 x pension expression of wish forms
4. Get mortgage offer!
5. Save towards paying off Ex and building EF
6. Debt repayment

Sis willing to gift me £ so hopefully I will soon wipe out debt and have a starter EF. Maybe if I come into some £ later in life (e.g if I get to withdraw a pension lump sum) I can return the favour but she says she can manage without it. So for once I am trying to be a cheerful receiver not just a giver. She gave various examples of how I had helped her out earlier in life which made it easier to accept her generosity. I just need to follow the right timing so it doesn't mess up number 1 on my list...

mark55man

Well done for your weekend in London - there is a lot to see and you made the most of it.

I'm glad my ponderings inspired you to some action - always good to have a list, and you just reminded me of a couple I needed to do !!

Honeysucklelou2

Glad you were able to have enjoy the time away with your sisters.

MovingForwards

It will all work out, stay positive. You've shown finances are going to be different in a few months and money management is an art you have a natural flare for.

Perhaps start earlier, or later, to get the deadline work done, hopefully that will free up an hour or two. Work to your timing strengths.

savingholmes

Thanks Mark, HSL and MF
Now updated 2 out of 3 expression of wish type forms for pensions. Just one left to do - I have it - just need to complete, sign and return it.

Next on the list is the will... I'm planning to tackle that Friday.

Just got my updated payslip without the extra holidays but my pension contribution has gone up since April (not voluntary - it's pay scale related) so getting £57 net less than expected... which is a blow. Shouldn't affect mortgage. Makes me doubly glad of sis's gift... I think I will use it to clear CC and then the remainder for EF in a few weeks time.