Cheery's country living adventure

Cheery_Daff

I reckon both of us are in for a win this year BB!! 😁

Karmacat

Putting my hat into the ring for the premium bond win though I can't compete with the ages of the bonds.  I *think* I had some very early ones, but the oldest I still hold are ones I bought in 2000 - such a newcomer    at the moment, my total is £11,700.

Cheery_Daff

Excellent stuff KC - gosh an MSE premium bonds win would be super, wouldn't it? 😁 I spend a lot of time daydreaming about what I'd do with a million pounds 😁 And I spent considerable time yesterday worrying about the practicalities of being visited by Agent Million (which is apparently how they let you know about a jackpot win) during the pandemic and when our house is so difficult to find 😮😂😂 Stopped me worrying about everything else for a while at least! 😂 

Struggling to get going today, might need some more tea. It's wild and windy out there, and I'm pleased to report Chimney Sheep is doing an EXCELLENT job. I'm a bit fretty and anxious today 🙄 Not surprising really - the last few weeks have been extremely stressful and we're having to slowly start to unwind a bit from that. I'm worried about all kinds of things today, big and small,  sensible and ludicrous.

For a start - money. Usually I don't worry about that any more, but with the prospect of spending £15k on the house (or more, because these things often do go over budget), plus having the stable block roof replaced, all eats considerably into our savings. Nowhere near destitute, but I'd like to start doing something to start building the stash back up a little. Might consider a return to matched betting for a while. In the extreme I can stop overpaying the mortgage, but not at that stage yet.

Builder etc - gosh I hate this process of trying to find someone 😕 Been in touch with five now, one visited but hasn't sent a quote yet, one sent a quote but hasn't visited, and the rest are either booked for months or haven't replied. Also trying to find a heating engineer which is going in a similar fashion.

Mr Cheery - health isn't the disaster we feared but there are ongoing residual worries, and he's not having a great time right now, which means I'm largely not having a great time either. Gosh I can't wait for a restorative cafe trip, or even a walk with friends 🙄 we're all being thrown so much on our own resources, and right now my resources are rather depleted 😕

House - aside from the kitchen etc, everything has got into SUCH a muddle. Only to be expected really with several rooms out of action and our focus being elsewhere, but the prospect of sorting it all out is filling me with dread. 

And all the usual things. Dry stone walls to fix, fields turning into swamps, seeds to plant, poor chickens still bored in lockdown (will that never end either?!) Too podgy to fit in a lot of my clothes so should probably do something about that. Need to ring various family members but don't particularly want to explain what's being going on so feel like I can't until I've cheered up a bit.

Gosh, what a litany of woe!! Sorry!! I'm fine really, just having a gloomy morning (well, year 😕😂 ). More tea, and I might set a timer and try to work in small chunks rather than feeling like it's stretching out endlessly in front of me...

Karmacat

Yep, daydreaming about Agent Million is a *lot* better than having to deal with all of that the biggest, whether long term or short term, is Mr Cheery's health, of course, for you both - Yes, you know it's not terminal now, but we were so eager to celebrate that with you, we kind of forgot that there are after-effects of a "scare" like that, and now there are actual effects of the thing that's a problem.  Which are considerable, from the sound of it  

I'm wondering what on earth to blather about that might help you ... you've sat with the chickens a fair bit, does that feel like more pressure because of they're bored in their own private little lockdown (!) or is it still nice sometimes?  Treats-while-you-re-feeling-podgy?  On these cruises I've been on, I discovered I absolutely love melon and watermelon - expensive in this country, I should imagine, and a horrendous amount of food miles, but could be good?  Or something like.  And I've discovered I like the pure fruit juice that Asda do, £1.20 now I think for a litre, of orange juice and mango.

I know you're not asking for advice or even input, sorry ... and you're right, tea is really the best thing

Baileys_Babe

After each small chunk of work could you spend some positive time with Mr Cheery if his health allows, chatting, playing cards, enjoying the view out of the window - it is blowing a hooley here I can't imagine it is any better where you are. Or doing something by yourself like playing a game, knitting/crochet, reading, dreaming of Agent Million. 🤗

South_coast

You have my sympathies with the tradesmen Cheery. Dealing with them is a large proportion of my job, and sadly they are all like that 🙁

Cheery_Daff

Thank you all for your kind input, I really do appreciate you taking the time to think of me xxx

We did go and sit with the chickens this afternoon (it does always help!) and in fact I remembered that either today or tomorrow is our two year anniversary of getting the older ladies! Goodness. Obviously we had the original ones before that, but they've all gone now. So I think they'll have to have an extra special treat tomorrow. 

Had another reply from the builder, giving a price for upstairs. Looks like with everything in, materials, kitchen, 15% for extra travel, plus 10% for contingencies we might be looking at close to £19k 😮 Part of me thinks it'll be well worth it to get everything over and done with in about 3 weeks (even if we do have to wait til July). I definitely want to get another couple of quotes though - I might go back to the more local guy who said he was busy til July since I clearly can't get anyone before that anyway. This latest bloke has offered to visit on Wednesday, so he might change his estimation when he sees it in person...

Anyway. Time for a walk now I think, and a bit of pizza. A quick finances list to remind me for tomorrow: 
*ring and pay for freezer door seal
* reply to email about reducing internet contract
* log in to old matched betting email and start making a list of who I have accounts with etc - kind of lost track of everything and it's putting me off starting again (and I also put off cancelling my subscriptions to Oddsmonkey etc so I'm still paying for those, gah!)

Karmacat

Ooh, pizza.  And clucky chickens that enjoy being around you both  

Bargainhunter30

Sorry you're having a bad time Cheery. Try to think about how amazing everything will be once the building work is done. I've been listening to podcasts about 'manifesting' recently, which is worth a listen and can help the positive outlook and get rid of the woe is me thoughts. I think the spend will definitely be worth it in terms of happiness and mental health and although it's hard to get rid of savings, that is what they're there for.

In terms of builders, I'd be wary of going with anyone free before July, all the best ones are always booked well in advance. It is a nightmare to arrange though and an massive relief once finished.

Cheery_Daff

Thanks Bargain Hunter. Definitely trying to manifest a new kitchen and a premium bonds win right now! 😂😂

I've had an all day training course today, something I was interested in (and paid for) so it was nice to put my out of office on for a while and not thing about the other work stuff.

Emailed to switch internet to a cheaper version of the same package - reduced £14 a month which is great. Also rang and paid for freezer door seal so hopefully that will arrive eventually. Oh and started edging back towards MB, made £5 before work this morning. Not bad.

And the sun is shining! Not all cheerful round here 🙄 but at least the sun is shining!