Prosperous soul in the making

savingholmes

Thanks guys. I went in for a meeting at work today - turned into several meetings. Agreed reduced hours for the next 2 weeks and a day off a week and some working from home time - and see how it goes. I was even offered help getting to work which I said I would let them know on. Will then review what I need at the end of next week. I think the new medicine helped a bit during the day but gave me a bit of a dodgy stomach this evening. Tomorrow I up the dose again. Will then find out whether it does the trick. I have to go in tomorrow for a meeting but the following day I get to work from home and then I'm off for the day. My boss has agreed I need to accomplish certain tasks rather than 'time' orientated goals - which makes things easier.  I think work and the social contact of work is a good distraction so hoping to be able to manage at least part time hours. My boss has said no travel to sites for a while - people need to come to me or it needs to be done over the phone - which is a positive adjustment. Very hard to elevate my leg(s) in practice at work though.

DH worked from home today as he felt ill. At least he cooked tea. DS (third year uni student) had an interview for a job yesterday and has an interview for another role tomorrow. He has a £1700!!! overdraft that's due to go to 50% shortly. It's so wrong. Is there anything that can be done to fix the rate?  The bank rang him to say that as soon as he has a job they would be willing to offer him a consolidation loan at a much lower rate. Scary.

Our ex utility supplier is refunding us £5.33 - better than a bill! So at least that is positive. Me being at home more is using less fuel but DH has increased his mileage recently so not good. Budget has taken a hammering with too much eating out an hobby spends recently. Need to get back on track. Off to the land of nod (hopefully) now.

MovingForwards

Your company sound really nice and caring, like they do actually value you as an employee and want to do the right thing for you. Hopefully you will feel the benefits of your new routine and will find a way to balance work / health when your two weeks are up. Sadly, side effects are always the annoying part of them. It is good to have the escape to work, change of scenery, chatting to others etc.

DS Overdraft, sadly the only options are a loan or instalments to repay it. So many people are coming unstuck due to the new rules. From what I've seen on the boards not many are commenting about securing a loan, but that may be because they already have high credit commitments. Fingers crossed for some positive news from his interview.

Hopefully DH is feeling better today.

Bonus refund from bills is always good, especially during the winter period.

Hope you have a good day today.

Msmoneyspider

It is really good that you are working creatively, with your company, to find solutions.   Are they a 'Disability Confident' employee.  HMRC are promoting this heavily and I have been thinking or registering my company, at some point.  The government's access to work scheme is worth looking at too.

savingholmes

I think they may be a Disability Confident employer - and they have signed the MH pledge. As far as I know you can only claim access to work during your first 8 weeks in a role... I'm hoping that my leg will fix and not be a long term thing and that my MH also improves to normal levels for me. Today is the best I've felt painwise waking up for weeks. These new tablets target the nerves and seem to be actually doing something. Just having some porridge - then I will take some... 

Have a good day all

savingholmes

Well I nipped out to see a work pensions adviser. Really enlightening. DH would only get about a third of what I would if I pre-decease him. I was shocked - expected it to be at least half. DD might qualify for a pension indefinitely though - depending on how severe they saw her disability as being which was interesting. If I died while still in work - he would get 3x my pensionable pay - if I died after leaving work - he would get 5 x my forecast pension as a lump sum. The adviser reckoned I could pay into AVCs, get tax relief and get the whole lot tax free. I'm going to investigate that - it doesn't sound quite right. She said I could request a pack off the website. If I need an estimate for the IFA - it takes 10-12 week so I need to request it now too. I think this info strengthens my justification for doing a DB transfer once I turn 50 (into a sipp) - then if I died before age 75 - my beneficiaries could access the whole lot IHT and normal tax-free. If I died after 75 - they would get the lot but would be liable for tax.

Unfortunately - the stairs at the building and extra walking (even though I parked very close by) - increased my pain despite the fact I was able to work from home after it. I did also drop 3 bags at the charity shop (previously counted in my signature). I have a date to see a consultant - a week on Tuesday - I can't wait. If they don't do scans/tests there and then - will see if I can go private to speed thing up. DH is cooking tea - as after I eat I can take my next lot of tablets. I hate being so reliant on them.

While I was in town I found some metallic acrylic paint at a nearby pound shop that I am looking forward to trying out later. Will need to get changed first. I hung one of my paintings in my hall today. I love it - as does my cleaner and others who have seen it. I am tempted to try and take a professional photo of it - and see if I can sell prints at some point. It is definitely my best one so far. Peacock greens, blues and gold with a dash of white. Will try to do something similar again. The technique is called 'the kiss' where you pour two cups at the same time and they meet - I added a small extra swirl/circle - it almost looks like a flower full of seeds. I'm over-spending at the moment on paint and supplies but it is helping to keep me sane. 

DS feels his interview went well - he has a trial shift on Friday. He has borrowed £25 from me in the meantime - so he can buy a new shirt to wear at the trial - and then go to the cinema with his mates. Hopefully he will get the job and they won't take too long to pay him. 

savingholmes

The cheap metallic paint let me down. Will stick to decent quality. I did have decent quality gold and silver which came out well against the black I used.

Just today to work (from home) and then I get a break. I took a tablet last night around midnight and feel pretty good this morning. I also had a lie-in which is always nice. Going to start work shortly and see how I get on. One of my pairs of glasses is ready - so may go in a little while and pick them up. Don't want to become a shut-in.

No money news to report - I really need to submit my expenses at work - and reclaim the cost of my eye test. I also need to submit a claim to a health cash fund things for some money towards my glasses. Still not done the tax reclaim either... I bought too much food last week - so probably need to freeze some - need to check dates. Not eaten out this week so that's an improvement and suggests I'm doing better.

Looking forward to a day just to rest and sleep tomorrow.

Msmoneyspider

I really admire the way you are getting your head around pensions, I have ventured over on to the MSE pension boards, for a nosey and ran back over here ….. Glad that you have found something that is taking the edge off the pain too.

savingholmes

Had a much better day pain wise - and was able to work productively for over 6 hours - so really good. I also picked up my new glasses and got the named invoice I need to reclaim my glasses expenses. Work has booked me an OHU appointment. Not looking forward to that - but they have to agree their report with me so it should be fine. I've been more open with my boss anyway - I just don't want it written down.

I have a free day tomorrow which I am looking forward to. I want to try and do some more painting. I've hung 2 paintings I really like in my house so far - that I might in future try and turn into prints. Not applied varnish yet - as want to make sure that I get decent photos first and use the right stuff to do it. Apparently when you take pictures for art prints you are supposed to take them unvarnished. MF - hoping to post your picture to you tomorrow. I've just not been out much this week... I am hoping to do some painting using blues, greens, white, black and silver tomorrow. 

I need to update my excel spreadsheet with our recent spending (especially mine) and try and get back on track! I also need to follow up on the pensions thing - and try and make myself do the tax thing.

MovingForwards

I'm so pleased you have had a better pain day, it shows that there is life in you. Don't push yourself though, just because the meds are helping, they are only masking the pain and you can hurt yourself.

In theory, with the OHU apt, they can just put in a line eg you (meaning the employer) are aware SV has some personal issues which are affecting her, this was discussed with SH and we have made suggestions; with her work we feel X, Y and Z should be implemented for 3 months whilst these issues are being resolved.

Just make sure you are clear with OHU what you don't want written down / spelt out.

The paints are always done unvarnished due to the risk of reflection. Im pleased you are hanging some up.

I haven't been stalking the postie SH, as I know you are having a rough time. There is no rush to post it as I can't hang anything in this rental just double check where I am living if it gets to April.

Hope you have a wonder day today; rest, some art and time for you.

hugglemonster

Glad you had a better day SH, and work sounds like they're really supportive.

I can recommend Glasses Direct I've been using them for years and they are so reasonable, I have no guilty feelings after walking out of an opticians with my prescription rather than buying from there as they are so expensive.

Have a good weekend, H x