Hazelnutty's New Start

pinkypig

Hope you're having a fabulous time Nutty

Hazelnutty

Thank you all for your good wishes! We had a great time!

XH have us recommendations for pastel de nata so we left early to make the bakery's opening times (I just LOVE those things but good ones are hard to find in the UK) We made it just in time then had a charity shop peruse with some success. I got some lovely jeans (which I had been in the market for new, but spent £4.50 in Scope instead, which is a great cause). OH got a long-sleeve top (it was colder and wetter than we'd expected!) and a couple of other bits. We were most proud of a 1930 girls' annual, with a dedication from Mummy and Daddy to their daughter, 1929. It's full of stories of jolly japes illustrated with engravings. Lovely quality book although a little worse for wear at almost 90 years old ) Going to give that to DD for Christmas (£2.50)

Dinner was disappointing for me - who serves fish n fries grrrr (and fish was all dry ugh) although OH's burger was lovely. Then they tried to add a compulsory service charge :mad: OH was brilliant and stepped in as I was feeling too tired to fight lol. That was the only annoying thing. I don't mind spending money on nice food if it's worth it, and this definitely wasn't and wasn't cheap.

The all-dayer was just fab. Saw our top 3 bands before bailing as I was too tired lol. Only managed 3 half pints The music and the venue were great. Just really chilled and inclusive and welcoming. They had a vegan food truck outside too so we had a little snack before the taxi came. Hotel, dinner and a couple of drinks were covered from our stash pot for trips so all good. Just the best breakfast this morning at another of XH's recommended places. Collected DD, did the food shopping (first big shop since 26th - £84 :eek: but should last min 2 weeks bar milk, bread etc - big batch cooking sesh for OH tomorrow), bought kittens' first collars then home. It was the first night on their own bless them, although a good friend checked in on them twice. I even left a light on timer for them

Since then it's been tea (now wine) and chill out. OH and I currently watching the FWW series on 5 and DD is doing homework.

I've given up on most of my outstanding FB sales. They've been up for a while and it's time to call time (plus I get sick of timewasters and all the people who enquire and then never get back to you, like all they're doing is fishing around ). Only now selling some DS games and some good quality outdoor stuff. Have offered DD's old bed to Emmaus and will take everything else to the local hospice shop, which is a charity I support anyway. We're still a way from my target of getting the storage room turned into a functional room by Christmas though

A busy week ahead and another 2 long days in London. Just hope it doesn't set my recovery back.

Hope you've all had a good weekend

newgirly

Sounds like a great weekend, I hope your Dd likes the annual

Karmacat

What an amazing weekend you had! On so many levels ... pastel de nata, very yum ... and kitten collars! How were they, on leaving them alone for a little bit? Hope you get a bit of catchup sleep tonight

Hazelnutty

Thanks NG and Karma!

The boy cat is slightly smaller and even with the collar at its smallest he can get it off. We found him collarless this morning (collar was in the kitchen cupboard thing where he apparently sleeps!) The girl cat is clearly unimpressed, probably because her sneak attacks on her brother are less likely to come off. We've had some stink eye from her but she's kept it on nonetheless.

OH has switched out the coffee machines and we now have the amazing proper espresso machine out ( a birthday present a few years back from XH). I am currently enjoying my second cappuccino of the morning, which is going down well. We are going through milk like nobody's business (2 pints down in the 6-pinter bought yesterday afternoon). Still, better than coffee shops and filter coffee, to my mind anyway.

Should be a quiet NS day bar cleaner coming, postponed from last week, cash all ready and netball match fees later. All budgeted so no sweat . Just checked and I'm £154/£280 on food budget spends so far with 16 days to go, so I think that'll be fine. £73/£125 on Ents budget and £73/£150 on fuel.

Right, better get cracking work-wise. Catch you all later

themadvix

Hey Hazelnutty, just caught up with your diary from the beginning. It sounds like you're doing really well. Don't worry about only being able to make small overpayments: a) these all add up and b) you never know what's around the corner. DH and I couldn't afford to make more than token payments to start with but as we've finished doing stuff to the house (which you've mentioned you want to do to yours), our OPs have become much bigger.

The kittens sound adorable - reminds me of when our boys were little. However, they're exhausting too, aren't they?! Always in the places they're not meant to be! (Or was that just our pair?!)

Hazelnutty

Thanks, Vix!

Yes, that's exactly what they're like! Current battle is against nibbling all the plants. When they were smaller they could wriggle in the gap between the running board and the dishwasher door, which was a total pain. Luckily they're too big for that now.

Hazelnutty

Hi all
It feels like a while as everything moves on so quickly in forumland!
I had my 2 long days in London this week so haven't had the time to post. 2.5 hrs each way travelling ugh. I was so tired I fell asleep about 8.30 on the first day. XH phoned at 9.30 to see how DD was and I was so fast asleep that I was convinced it was already morning Still, I got another 8 hours in!
First lot of expenses came in today, so I've transferred them off the CC. Just waiting for payment and expenses for my annual job for another uni (comes in on 25th), and have just put in over £100 expenses for the 2 London days. I'm really hoping that with all that paid off the CC will come in under target. That way I know I'll have OP and leeway for xmas spends.
I've also been approached by a university abroad about reviewing some applications for a professorship. I plucked up the courage to ask if it was paid, so let's see. I would never have dared before. Academia runs on free labour and good will a lot of the time which is why most of us are such overworkers.
I bought Jack Monroe's Bootstrap Cook btw and OH is loving it. She made this amazing broccoli and barley soup from stuff we had in anyway and it was gorgeous. I definitely recommend it so far.
Anyway, gotta jet and do the swimming run. Catch up with you all soon

Hazelnutty

Hi all!

I don't know how I've done it but I've brought this month's CC in just over £100 under budget :j Just waiting for around £170 of expenses to come in, which they should do by the end of the month. This means for the first time since my new start I have some money to stash in addition to squirreling into the various virtual pots :A

I think I'll put some into Chartered Savings, but also boost the Ents budget for this month. DD will be off for a while with us over Christmas and it'd be nice to do some things with her without worrying about the cost. OH and I have promised ourselves a hamper of goodies (largely cheese tbh ) as our present to ourselves, so am very much looking forward to going down to the independent deli in town to pick out some good 'uns. Obvs the food and drink budget will need to be a little bit more generous too

I'll report in formally on payday with performances against budget and plans for December, but fingers crossed, touch wood etc it's looking pretty positive. I'll probably increase my £50 OP a little but tbh a good Christmas (our first as a new little family unit) is higher on my priority list I generally find it hard to treat myself, as my priorities are always home and family, but just maybe I'll squeeze in a massage and facial for myself.

Happy Saturday evening everyone! Mum's down so it's Strictly for us, but whatever you're doing, I hope it's good.

Hazelnutty

Hi all! Just a quick check in. Got a few extra small xmas bits from Am@zon so very gradually developing a present store. Ashamed to admit I have also splurged on myself in a weak moment (a watch in the Black Friday sales, also had a 15% first order discount code - watches, stationery and Converse are notable weaknesses of mine!). I will get some extra money at the end of the month so I will put some of that towards it.

Still haven't food-shopped again but we will need to in the next day or so as the fridge is bare (although freezer is full of batch-cooking). I think we'll get to payday having done only 1 big shop, 1 medium and a few small top-ups. Succumbed to takeaway tonight with OH but we will also get lunch out of our £20 spend as we didn't make much of an inroad into our meal for two from the local Chinese.

Will have to take boy kitten into the vet soon for the chip n snip. I'm not sure how much this will cost but I have a virtual cat pot so all ok

Night all!