Crazy Cat Lady Chapter 3 - A New Beginning

crazy_cat_lady

Remembered my cauliflower cheese :j served with sprouts and bacon that were left over. All leftovers are now boxed up and frozen, and I have started getting my kitchen back a little bit... There are still loads of boxes of chocolate and biscuits etc out there, but we're working through it bit by bit. Shouldn't need to buy any sweets or treats for the foreseeable future.
Although I feel as though I've had a quiet and lazy day I've actually gotten quite a bit done.
I've gotten the rubbish out, done all the washing up (in the short term) and a couple of loads of washing.
Spent a bit of time doing some financial planning to get ahead for next year. I've been through my budget again and found a couple of small areas I can cut back on (again). I'm loathe to do it but the sooner I get out of debt the sooner I can get back to having these little luxuries in my life. I've listed out my debts and come up with a plan of attack. I've printed out a 100 square and divided my smallest debt (fridge) into 1% chunks. Using my savings account to PAD to and I will start to squirrel the money away to pay it off. I always feel better knowing I'm doing something to try and get on track when I have the time - just need to stick with it when I haven't got the time.
I have a broken door handle on my living room door as well. I've repaired it three times previously but this time it's well and truly broken. It's bodged at the moment but I will need to sort it out sooner rather than later... onto the list of frogs no doubt. But I have a plan to deal with my frogs over the next few weeks. One at a time.

juliejim

Hi CCL

I've been MIA over the last couple of months so sorry I haven't been around when you've had all the crap going on.
Pleased to hear you've had a good Christmas though ans things are hopefully on the up.

Jue

foxgloves

You've had a productive day there, CCL - you've achieved way more than me today. I've been out shopping, inc groceries, & when I got home, I decided to abandon my job list & sit by the fire reading!
You are sounding really 'together' - practical & positive. The divorce must be stressful many ways, but I think what is coming over from your posts, without you even saying as much, is that apart from looking after your children, you are now only responsible for yourself & your own moods and ups & down and that has removed a layer of stress & negativity that was outside your control. It's great hearing that you are getting 'free' meals in the freezer, doing a fridge-payment chart etc. I envy the crochet though. I have had to stop knitting my jumper because the tendonitis in my right hand has been awful - really painful - but I received 2 knitting book for Christmas & some fab yarn so I am longing to get started again.
F xx

crazy_cat_lady

Aw thanks for that Foxgloves. I do feel so much better. I think I did my grieving for our relationship years ago, and I really do feel as though the weight of the world has been lifted off my shoulders. Obviously I still have the occasional stress situation which catapults me back to feeling rotten again but overall I am a whole lot better than I was. I think it's been a case of my not realising how down I was about the whole situation until I was actually out of it. I was scared of what might happen if I made changes, but so far things have been overwhelmingly positive. I would just really like some closure on the whole event now, which can only be done with the divorce itself which is almost here, and the financial settlement which is not (unfortunately). It is the single most stressful thing going on at the moment but I'm just plodding on. Someone at work told me on the last day of term that I seemed to have gotten my bounce back, which means an awful lot to me. I do feel like a new woman - ready for the fight if I need to and not taking any rubbish from anyone any more.
With regards to your tendonitis, does a splint or support not help? I can't crochet with my wrist support on unfortunately but I'd be devastated if I couldn't get any done

crazy_cat_lady

Hello :wave:
I was going to say good morning but it's already after 1200. I have no idea where this morning has gone to - but it feels a bit unproductive so far.
I woke up stupidly early and couldn't get back to sleep (4.15) so gave up and came downstairs. Went back to sleep sometime around 6ish and slept until half eight but I've woken up with a really fuzzy head - blaming my mulled wine last night for that - but I cannot be bothered with anything. We've just had sandwiches for lunch and I'm toying with the idea of having a nap now.
However, I have done a couple of things. Got up early and went to collect a new door handle for my living room door. It was about 5mm too big so I had to get the drill out :D Took me over an hour and it's far from perfect but the door opens and closes again so I am happy. Also have washed dishes, put another load of washing in and run the hoover round.
Then have spent a good couple of hours on here, setting up the January NST challenge and looking for another couple of challenges to join in - keep me motivated. I'm going for 1 debt vs 100 days to pay the fridge off, and pay all my debt off by Xmas next year. It's not all my debt - just the stuff I've had to put on the credit card short term. Who knows how much money I'll owe by the time the divorce is settled, but at least I will feel as though I'm doing something to make a dent in it.

beanielou

The 100 day challange is just fab.

crazy_cat_lady

I'm not very well
Had a niggling headache most of yesterday, which I assumed was a hangover, and decided to go to bed early last night and sleep it off. I woke up at 3am with my head pounding so got up and had a couple of paracetamol. Woke up again at half past five and it was no better so I have taken some ibuprofen. I think it might be a migraine, which is the first I've had in months so it's a bit of a shock - bearing in mind that I used to get 2 or 3 a week. On the plus side, I don't have to go to work today so I can just sleep if I need to or at very least relax. I can't believe I can even be marginally positive about having a migraine these days - how times have changed :rotfl: If it gets to 9am and I'm still struggling I'll break out the big guns and get the migraine medication out. Time for a cuppa first though.
Plans for today are minimal. The car is due for its annual service (paid for monthly) and luckily enough the garage are going to pick it up and drop it off later for me. I have everything firmly crossed that there will be no hidden expenses there. So I'll be without my car and with a migraine. Sounds like the perfect opportunity to get a blanket out and lie on the sofa all day Hopefully the kids will be self sufficient for most of the day and just leave me to it.

DawnW

Hope you feel better soon

beanielou

Wishing you a happy & healthy 2019 filled with good fortune

Hope you feel better soon.

crazy_cat_lady

Hello! _party_
Well the headache has cleared but I did have to give into the heavy duty medication. That, coupled with me not napping after all during the day means I am more than ready to sleep tonight. Seriously unlikely I'll be awake to see the New Year in, although dd wants me to try.
Car was delivered back to me by 1pm - all good, with just a couple of advisories about chips on the bumper. I knew about these and whilst they are a bit annoying they aren't urgent as the bumper is plastic.
I did try to nap for a bit but my brain was quite busy - I've spent a bit of time reflecting on the ups and downs of 2018m and overall the ups far outweigh the downs. As usual though, I tend to focus on the negatives and worry about them. 2018 has certainly been life changing for me, and undoubtedly for the better. I've found a strength I didn't know that I had and am finding my own happiness and starting new traditions with my family.
New Year will start with another new tradition as well. In past years we have always gone to my friend's house for New Year, stayed in a hotel and had a big day of eating on New Year's Day. I had already cancelled the hotel due to lack of funds, but we have also cancelled tomorrow as well. My friend has been quite unwell this year and we have agreed that it's a bit too much to expect her to host me and the kids as usual. I did invite her to come to us, but we're going to get together at the end of the week instead.
So, I decided to face my fears and invited my sister round for dinner tomorrow. Not that I'm scared of having her round, just things are very new again between us and I don't want to push things. She said yes, then I had a small panic about the fact that I can't cook and didn't want to serve her up a load of leftovers... :rotfl: So I popped to the butchers and bought a joint of pork to do pulled pork. Then off to Mr M to buy buns and bits to serve with them. I have possibly overdone the bits but we won't be short of food, and you all know I'm not afraid of leftovers... I also have plenty of gin in the house so it should be merry.
Decided that as I was on a roll I would swallow a couple of frogs and make some phone calls that I've been putting off for ages. Have booked naughty tortie in at the vet for her annual vaccinations and check up, phoned and cancelled a magazine subscription for the greater good in the short term. I also have arranged a joint celebration day out with my sister (her birthday, my divorce) - we have decided to have afternoon tea locally with our families, our mam and our besties. I decided I didn't have the stamina to do a night out - so I've booked the table for that as well.
So quite a productive end to the year - I'm really starting to look forward now. Just hoping that the ex doesn't get drunk and decide he can get away with turning up here again. I think that this would be the night he would try. I'd like to say he wouldn't do that but I honestly don't know what he'll do any more. However, the door is locked and the police are just a call away. I'm going to enjoy food and relaxation with the kids and look forward to a brilliant 2019.
Happy New Year to everyone reading this. Thank you for all of your advice, love and support over the year and for always being there when I need it. I wish you all health, wealth and happiness. :beer: