Hazelnutty's New Start

South_coast

Great work 😀

Hazelnutty

@Sistergold Thanks for stopping by! It's always lovely to have visitors

Hazelnutty

@South_coast Thank you for checking in! I definitely got into an 'oh sod it' frame of mind during the main part of the lockdown. The food budget went through the roof, partly as we were all at home all the time and partly it was the only outlet really and treats became necessities! So it's been a conscious decision to try to get back into good financial habits (admittedly with the odd slip )

Karmacat

I didn't budget for food at all during the lockdown - if it was there, I bought it.  I know I paid double per kilo for flour at one time - but as it was, I nearly ran out of gluten free pasta one time (no way I'm making my own pasta!).  Sometimes a budget doesn't serve us, and thats what its really about

Hazelnutty

You're absolutely right, Karma. Budgeting didn't make any sense in that context and trying to stick to it would only have added stress to an already stressful situation. 

Hazelnutty

We're visiting friends this weekend and they've suggested as a safe communal activity going out to mess around on the local river (seems ideal as we literally cannot be in the same boat as them!) I love kayaking so thought I'd check out, casual-like, how much the inflatable kayaks were going for these days. The number of people on FB, EB & GT reselling new Al-dee kayaks (RRP £39.99) for upwards of £80 and similar markups on the cheapest brands Given how many are BNIB I reckon these people saw the opportunity and bought up a whole load when they were in the stores knowing they could resell for a profit once stocks ran out grrrr!

Hazelnutty

Hello everyone!

Had a lovely first swim in the local lido this morning It took me quite a while to acclimatise to the cold water (some people were in wetsuits which on reflection was way more sensible than my tankini...) but I huffed and puffed my way up and down for half an hour and it felt like such a treat. Now things like that are opening I've restarted the budget line for sports activities, nerd that I am. There are just so many things in New City to do that we never had access to in Old Town so it's great that finally we can start to enjoy our new home and justify all the stress and disruption!

Karmacat

You sound really happy to have done that lovely stuff.

Hazelnutty

I am I'm not a great swimmer but being in the water and outside is a lovely break from the world. I've now booked for DD and me to do a family swim at an indoor pool - there haven't been many mum/daughter activity opportunities (for obvious reasons) so will be great but exhausting - we always end up putting together complicated routines and having various competitions. Much harder work than lane swimming

In other news, my German creative writing efforts on Pr0lific were accepted Feeling proud. Only one other survey has come through since then though and I was too slow. Seems like it's going to take a while to get an OP together but hey ho.

South_coast

Prolific is really quiet at the moment, it goes through fits and starts so don't get disheartened. Well done on the swimming, there are loads of people swimming in the sea when I go for a walk in the mornings and not one in a wetsuit 😮😮😮! Definitely braver than me!