What a Year.....Climbing Back on the Wagon

mumblingtaff

Well yesterday was quite probably one of the most exhausting days I've ever had in work. But, year 11 have finally finished all exams and left! Hurrah!!!
Was absolutely shattered by the time I got home.
A good day though because it was payday and they did unexpectedly pay my extra expenses so I had more than anticipated.
Spent an hour sorting the finances - I managed to finish the month without using any credit cards or being overdrawn so had a clean slate to distribute this month's salary.
I've budgeted £300 general spending money, £150 for groceries, £70 for the course of puppy training classes that start just before the next pay day, money for hair appointments, petrol and £200 for the abroad trip with work (hopefully I'll be able to claim back most of what I spend and all meals etc are catered for).
I've also paid all of the bills and put some fairly nice chunks into the holiday, house and garden and Xmas saving accounts. There's a £100 contingency put aside but I also hope to not use that and transfer it into savings at the end of the month.

I also cleaned the house right through so it was all nice and tidy to get up to on the weekend, did some washing and took the dog for another shortish walk around the local streets.
We've been to the park for the first proper explore this morning - after a hesitant start he soon got into it and loved it - a big brave boy! We met another pup of a similar age and they became firm friends in seconds, and a couple of lovely old big dogs that were very gentle and calm with him, so all in all a successful trip
I'll take him to a different park later this afternoon to have another try in a different environment - I want him to have as many experiences as possible in the early days so he doesn't become a neurotic scaredy cat. Doing well so far though. He's worn out and fast asleep now though....

I have a hair appointment this morning - will be a relief to get it done, it needs a good sorting out, will make me feel better, looking a bit ragged around the edges and need sprucing up.
Will do a small supermarket shop whilst I'm out - it's only two weeks until I go away so I'll try to use up some bits from the freezer and the ends of bottles of toiletries before buying more.
If it stays dry (not looking hopeful though) I also need to cut the grass later.

I'd like to pick up a gift for my neighbour too - she's been brilliant at letting the dogs out and playing with them but won't take any money for it. She really enjoys it but I don't want her to think I'm not grateful or taking advantage. Maybe some flowers and a bottle of wine if sainsburys sells vegan wine (saw some in the off licence so it does exist!).

Right, better have a quick shower and get going.....

mumblingtaff

Happy Father's Day to all dads.
Rang mine this morning and had his present and card delivered in the week.

Had a quiet evening in with OH and the dogs but was up very early as his pup needed a wee and there was no hope of getting back to sleep then.
Have taken them both to the park this morning and met lots of new dogs - my mini woofer is getting really confident now and isn't scared of them and tries to play with even old massive Labradors! The other pup is less sure but he'll get there.

Have done a few errands and chores this morning - went to get a couple of spare keys cut - £10 for two which I didn't think was too bad. The dog walker is coming round later to collect her key and go through arrangements again before starting properly tomorrow now she's back from her holidays.
Popped into the new Lidl for a look and was pleasantly surprised by what was there, especially the bakery and fresh produce. It's right next door to tesco so may well shop there for every other shop when I don't need things like toiletries and more specialist things. Spent £6 on a few trial items but that came out of the cash in my purse rather than the grocery budget. Speaking of which, I spent £40 after using some nectar points at sainsburys yesterday but that did include some nice towels that were reduced to clear.
So that's £110 of the grocery budget left.

Also have cut the front and back lawns between downpours - the weather is just dire.... Getting very fed up of it now.
Put £80 worth of petrol in and the car is now full to the brim, £20 of the petrol budget left in case I need more towards the very end of the month.

I had my hair done yesterday and it's a million times better - the rest of me, however, is a mess. I feel fat, bloated, pale and unhealthy. I'm too old to get away with not looking after myself now - need to make much more of an effort. My eating is the first issue and drinking unneeded wine is the second....
So I'm making a little goal for myself - there's 2 weeks until I go away and therefore 14 days that I'm not going to drink at all, exercise at least three times a week and not eat rubbish. There's about a glass of wine left in the fridge so I'll have that with tea then buy no more, and I'll use up the fajita filling leftover in the fridge and then meal plan for the rest of the week - realistic food that I can make quickly after work.
I caught sight of myself in the mirror today and almost didn't recognise myself - it really hit home and made me stop and think...... I also look exhausted - don't want to look even older than I am so something has to give.... Drastic action must be taken.

mumblingtaff

Been to the park and reached 10000 steps for the day.
Poured the dregs of the wine down the drain - no need for it and temptation removed.
Have also sorted the dog insurance - the free months cover from the vet expires at the end of the week and life is so hectic during the working week so thought it best to do it whilst I was thinking about it. Not too bad price wise - £12 a month for lifetime cover.

Going to watch an episode of Killing Eve and get things ready for work - clothes and food - then sort my eyebrows, do a face mask and make tea. Trying to have an early night tonight - need the sleep.

mumblingtaff

A long busy day at work but no major dramas...
Since being home I've walked the dogs and got absolutely soaked in a cloud burst that happened when we were the furthest point away from home - never mind, I actually quite enjoyed taking them out, rain or not.
Then have cleaned right through downstairs, made a yummy tea of a Higgledy Piggeldy goats cheese quiche thing with salad and new potatoes and then cleaned the kitchen, made tomorrow's packed lunch and tidied round.

I was hoping to go for a run this evening but it's now a total monsoon outside so that's gone out of the window....
Going to watch Corrie, have a bath and get clothes ready for tomorrow and maybe watch another episode of Killing Eve - just 2 left to go now. It's very good.
On the looking after myself better front, I've eaten well today, taken my vitamins, not had any rubbish snacks or wine and done 11500 steps so far today. Will do a deep cleanse and moisturise after my bath and try to go to bed fairly early.

Nothing to report on the financial side - haven't spent a penny today, makes a change...

mumblingtaff

Not overly pleased with the Kray twin puppies today - they’ve chewed through the internet cable..... no broadband, Netflix etc
Have ordered a new one to arrive tomorrow- hopefully that will fix it.
Busy day at work (as always) but since being home I’ve taken the dog to the park, had a nice healthy tea and cleaned the kitchen, de-dogged downstairs, had a bath, cleaned the bathrooms, changed the bed, done a load of washing, tried and failed to fix the internet and made a packed lunch for tomorrow.
It’s just starting to rain again - at least it was dry and warm to take the dog out earlier.
My plan of watching the last two Killing Eves has been thwarted by the little monsters so will maybe give the prime minister debate a go for a while before bed.
Another early night planned - the no booze and good food regime is going ok so far - but it is only day 3!

mumblingtaff

The cable has arrived and the Internet is back up and running - hurrah!
Since work, I have walked the dog, done a nice tagliatelle based tea and cleaned the kitchen and done a load of washing.
Quite tired today, woke up at 4.30 and couldn't get to back to sleep - I get up at 5ish anyway but the car alarm going off in the street at 2.30 didn't help either. Never mind - these things are sent to try us.

I'm meeting with my new boss at his current school tomorrow- not sure what that will entail but he seems quite nice, we'll see. Hopefully I'll be a bit more rested than today.

Just a quiet night in store - might finally get round to watching some catch up telly......

mumblingtaff

Just been reviewing the finances in light of having to pay the dog walker - need to make some economies somewhere.

The obvious one is giving up the naughty secret smoking habit I have - it's not that extreme but it's definitely not needed and, apart from all of the obvious related issues, I'm embarrassed about it and the price is extortionate now. Easier said than done but I really need to try.
Another area could be the grocery shopping - having been pleasantly surprised by the new local Lidl and with an Aldi very close by I really don't have an excuse not to do at least every other shop in either of the smaller shops. I could also cut back on the number of hair appointments I have - maybe dyeing it myself when the roots need doing in between cut and colours.
There's not a lot I can do about the utilities - I've just submitted some meter readings and will wait to see what the bill looks like before I investigate a swap.
I'm not sure how long is left on my mobile contract - I'm currently in a live chat queue with Vodafone to find out.
I could have a look at Sky but I think I'm on the cheapest contract with them.
Will have a think about what else could be cut back on without too much pain.....

joeyjimbles

I would never have you down as a smoker MT, you just seem so healthy and active. I think you know what to do there, but I also agree it's easier said than done (took OH a good 12 months to properly be done), so I'll leave it with you.

And I think Aldi and Lidl are great but food everywhere is getting a little dearer, and some of the things in both stores are still luxury items so I quite often have to make myself return to proper menu planning and not 'ooh, San Marzano tomatoes and in Lidl so they must be a bargain' when perfectly normal tomatoes would do.

mumblingtaff

Thanks Joey - I know what you mean about luxury items, you can always come home with some random items that you're never sure what do with.

Had a busy end to the week - met with my new boss, seems really nice and not at all scary with regards to his vision for me and the school. In fact, it felt quite positive so good news there. Finally finished the exam season, year 10 mocks all done now bar the absentees and GCSEs a thing of the past. 4 weeks to go before the summer holidays....
I'm off abroad next Saturday for a week and need to spend a bit of time tomorrow getting stuff together for the trip. Clothes, toiletries etc. I'll have to have an ironing session as most of us has been rammed in a wardrobe since the last time I went away and I think I need to buy a few cheap bits of exercise wear as its a training camp and I'm expected to join in for some of it..... Wasn't looking forward to going at all but am trying to see it as a mini sun holiday with 30 kids in tow.... the weather recently has fed my enthusiasm for it - sun and sea air will be good, with plenty of exercise (wanted or not!) thrown in. Will do me good ....
After that there's just two weeks left then and they'll whizz by as they're so busy with things going on.

Stayed in last night with the pup - OH doesn't seem to want to spend much time together other than dropping off his dog, not sure what to make of that. I'm not going to stress over it though, I can amuse myself and will see what happens. Saying that, he's just asked if I'd like to go for a walk this afternoon. Will see how it goes.

I've already taken the dog to the park early on and then tidied round a bit and been for a 5km run - not run all week so it actually felt good to get out in the sunshine and work up a sweat.
Popped to the local shop for drain unblocker and it seems to have worked so £3.50 well spent.
Have also had a good soak in the bath, done a bit of preening, so I look a bit more presentable, and a load of washing - did some cleaning last night so there's not much to do today in the house.

Going to have some lunch from the leftovers in the fridge and then go for the walk.
I'll do a mini shop tomorrow - going to try to use up what's in this week so the fridge is empty to go away, won't hurt with the economising either

mumblingtaff

Morning all!
Went for the walk yesterday and OH invited me over for tea - went but came home to sleep, he's just so grumpy lately. Can't be doing with it.

Anyway, the walk was great for the dogs, they saw deer and ducks and geese and thoroughly enjoyed themselves and went straight to sleep when we called in a country pub on the way home.
I've walked the mini hound this morning, been to tesco for a few bits and all the toiletries etc for the week away and extra food and bits for the pups week with his nana. I won't be shopping again now before I go. Also needed antihistamines and hay fever nasal spray - the pollen count is rampant at the moment and I'm struggling with it a bit. Spent £40 in total but that's it for the next two weeks. There's £70 left in the grocery budget and one week of shopping needed before the next pay day so I'll come in well under budget - hopefully! I'll try to keep the next shop to £30 so there's £40 left towards the dog walker for the last week of the month.
There's lots of toiletries that are half used up so this week I'm finishing those off before starting anything new and main meals are coming out of the fridge and freezer left overs.

Whilst out I picked up £200 worth of euros to take away - I'm hoping that any large spends can be reclaimed. Better had do! I don't like the idea of having to spend money to go to work even if it is in a different country.

Not heard from OH despite texting him so I'm doing my own thing today. Going to give the house a good clean (pup makes plenty of mess as his favourite place is the garden and he's in and out constantly), go for a run, take him to the park later on and get stuff ready for the trip (finding things, any laundry needed and ironing etc).

Off to start pottering about ......