Life is a minestrone as the song says - my new diary

teapot2

beanielou wrote: »

Driverless buses to go over the Forth from next year :eek:

I saw that, apparently they will have a driver on them too. Not sure how I'd feel about being in a driverless vehicle :eek::eek:

teapot2

Still here, not much to report - been busy at work. Its strange but it feels to me like time has really slowed down in the last few weeks as it gets nearer to OH's anniversary. Just over a week to go now.

Money wise its all quiet, the CCs are paid, had an online food shop delivered with a £12 off £50 voucher which was good as stocked up on tins with that. Been doing surveys when I can and cashed out £10 from Prolific towards a CC during the week.

One of the tiny humans has a birthday today, I haven't seen them much lately as both have been spotty and poorly one after the other. Going round later today bearing gifts though and hoping to remain lurgy free. On that subject have booked a flu jab for the coming week. As I'm self employed it feel like money well spent - can't afford to be off sick and emergency fund looks very poorly too

Very dull and wet here and getting quite dark already feels like a duvet day would be in order but better get on. Need to put a washing on as a sock monster seems to have eaten all my socks and I've run out of clean ones .

beanielou

Enjoy your visit:)

Karmacat

Money bits and bobs sound excellent - especially that supermarket money off Have a good afternoon out for the birthday that's lovely. Erm, do you use First Defence? Its very good for anti-lurgy shenanigans.



As for the underlying stuff ... thinking of you, is all. I can understand that time feels like its slowing down. See you next time xx

beanielou

Missing your posts.
Hope you are plodding on.
Take care xx

teapot2

:hello: think I am finally emerging from under various clouds. I have really missed OH very acutely these last few months but I know its still relatively early days so have been taking it a day at a time.

I'm off work for 2 weeks which is not ideal financially and December was dire income-wise, I only earned about a third of what I'd bring in during a 'normal' month. The agencies I work with are all closed for 2 weeks and the people I work with individually are also off so didn't have a choice really. Still it gives me time to do my tax return and also do some decluttering.

Have also been thinking a lot about what I'd like to achieve in the coming year and decade. Not written it down yet but I will and get some plans in place.

Got family coming round tomorrow and will cook something for them to take for tea as their mum is not feeling 100%. Am hoping to get back into keeping this diary going as its helpful and keeps me on track

Karmacat

Teapot :wave: I'm glad to see you again. Christmas must have been very difficult, as you say especially because its so early.

December sounds like it was bad financially too, botheration but its a good idea to use the time for something productive, or rather something that has to be done, like the tax return, grrr.

As far as what to do next year on here, I'm blathering to all and sundry about the 2020 Challenge, which started as one person's idea for themselves playing on the "20" ness of next year, but it rang a bell with so many people, its become a challenge proper https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6077948

Sparking joy is a big thing :beer:
I'm glad you've got company tomorrow (and the cookery work that comes with company!). See you soon.

teapot2

Thanks KC, yes not a great financial end to the year but I'll cope and have unexpectedly had a few online sales including quite a decent one yesterday which I posted this morning it all helps.

I also finally reached payout on Ugov just before Christmas. I looked back and it has taken me 14 months to get to 5000 points :eek: However I was pleased that after I cashed out late one evening, the £50 was in my account the next day :j:j. The speed of payout soothed the grindingly slow progress somewhat . I also cashed out on 1Poll which will arrive in January at some point.

I've seen the 20 in 2020 challenge but might have to do something like 7 x 20 things in 2020 as there are quite few other individual things I need to do as well and don't want to set myself up to fail

teapot2

Family visited yesterday and luckily I had a CS purchase of a DVD of a certain porcine family to entertain the tiny humans. This gave their dad some peace to mend my living room door which I had to break in through a few months ago after it jammed shut. New bits cost £17+ but worth it as was fed up trying to wedge the door shut to stop draughts. Also had to wrestle BOFB back in when he insisted each time on seeing if the online delivery was all for him. I was worried he'd be trod on by mistake and he's all skin and bone these days.

So, most of the J@ffa cakes and satsumas scoffed and family went off with mac cheese for their tea. Older TH only eats mac cheese with NO ADDITIONS :rotfl:and my plan was to make the sauce, put some aside for them and put a tin of tuna and some tomatoes through the rest for the others. However I forgot and had the tuna draining in the sieve which I needed to use to drain the mac so I lobbed the tuna into the sauce without thinking it through :eek: Had to make another small amount of sauce just for them :A.

Today I headed out early to post my online sale as the PO will be shut for 2 days over the BHs. Very frosty and cold first thing but the sun did come out later and I went with a friend to the woods to leave some flowers. We then went for lunch and had a good blether over a bowl of soup.

Have now listed some more items online and answered a few emails. Am considering veggie haggis, roast veg and mash for tea. I impulse bought the haggis before Chrimbo when I saw it in the veg shop . They also had veggie black pud but left that where it was .

Going out tomorrow affy with various family members to a music event so not sure if I'll make to midnight. Have @ldi B@ileys type drink in the fridge so will partake of that later.

Happy Hogmanay everyone :beer:

Karmacat

Happy Hogmanay to you too, teapot. Enjoy the veggie haggis and the music event too