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

db2016

money side is looking good!



always worth reassessing what can be cut completely. smoking being one. theres not many smokers who do 10k steps! so i'm also surprised.


the secret smoking habit did make me smile though, i'd have thought it's impossible to hide, smell etc.


you could use the motivator calculator tool on the main site,

how much it costs over time etc, and that would put it into perpsective
best of luck.

mumblingtaff

Thank you db - I live alone and am paranoid about smelling of smoke so it's always outside, and only a few a day.... Not good though....

Another busy day at work but no meeting tonight so home fairly early.
Managed to take the dogs for a good walk and then give the house a good de-dogging. I have another little house guest for the night - OH is working away early tomorrow so it makes sense for the pup to stay over tonight.

Going to hopefully gave an early night and get some sleep - we'll see with the two woofers....

Honeysucklelou2

I do enjoy reading about your puppies. We have a brother / sister pair...always entertaining, if a little bonkers. It's the chewy stage that I've found the trickiest, they seem to egg each other on somehow.

mumblingtaff

You're not wrong there Honeysuckle!! They're like partners in crime! When one settles the other one pounces on him and it starts all over again! They are lovely though. They're both now off the lead in the park and will come back when called - really good for their age. Although it's gone very quiet in the garden now so they're probably digging a new hole - good job I'm not bothered about gardening!

Had a really frustrating day at work - nobody seems to have the same urgency or interest as I do with regards to things that have got to be done to a deadline - fed up of listening to anecdotes when things need doing.,,,,

But a trip to the park with pup cheered me up no end....
Popped to the local pets at home for more puppy food. They seem to be getting through it at a rate of knots lately - they're growing boys though.
£15 spent - will probably take it out of the grocery budget.

Have cleaned through downstairs and put a load of washing on - all dog beds , blankets and dirty soft toys - ready for my pup's holiday to his nana while I'm away with work.
I'm having pup no 2 overnight tonight too as OH has a work thing until very late so it's more sensible to leave him here. He's being dropped off soon.
Cue mad running round the garden for 2 hours before collapsing in a heap.

I need to try to do some ironing if they'll settle for long enough and investigate ordering a swimsuit on line for the school trip - bikinis won't be modest enough.....
I also have a huge pile of end of year tests to mark - my favourite ....not. But they need doing unfortunately - and by tomorrow....

Will have some tea, sort the hounds and then get started - Rock and roll!

Starmummy

I hope the school trip went well MT.

I'm not on much these days but I always love catching up on your posts.

Take care

SM

mumblingtaff

Thank you Starmummy.
The trip went well - the kids thoroughly enjoyed it but it was a long slog - 7 days and nights and two flights looking after someone else's children is hard work. I was absolutely shattered when I eventually got home in the early hours of Saturday morning then had to drive to Wales to collect the pup who'd had a lovely holiday with his nan and grandad 6 hours of driving on very little sleep was difficult. He's grown loads in a week!
Sunday consisted of catching up on chores, shopping, a run and sorting the garden etc - no rest for the wicked !

Back to work yesterday and was very happy to see the end of the day - had two very excited pups until nearly 9pm then OH picked up his and me and my little one had an early night. Got lots done in work today - I'm away at a meeting tomorrow and have finally got the prep work done and feel fairly organised.
Just 8 more working days to go now before the big summer holiday and I'm counting the days and hours....
I don't have any big plans for the weekend - hoping to catch up on some sleep and spend some time at home with the mini woofer. OH is distant and avoiding me I think - not sure where things are going, not looking great at the moment. I'm pretty much on my own most of the time now so not sure what kind of relationship we have apart from me being a dog sitter....
Just getting on doing my own thing these days but things have to come to a head soon.

On the money front - I brought approx 100 euros back with me and changed it back and have used it for grocery shopping, a taxi home from the airport and general spending money for the week. It's pay day on Monday so I'm hoping to spend a minimal amount between now and then.
I've just arranged a Next return to send back things I bought for the trip but didn't need or use - all the labels are still attached and I kept them in the delivery bags so that's a credit to the account waiting to happen. I also returned a pair of exercise leggings to tesco on the weekend that I didn't need and the refund has been credited to my account. I'm getting better at taking things back rather than letting them sit in the bedroom until it's too late!

Have taken the dog for a big walk now it's finally stopped raining and cleaned through downstairs - watched the prime minister debate (BJ is a complete twonk) and am now knackered - off to bed soon. Busy day tomorrow - work first thing then setting off for an hour and a half drive to my meeting then home later on. Need a kip!

Honeysucklelou2

Glad your trip went well. I find day trips exhausting enough so a huge achievement tonhave a week long trip.

Moneywhizz

I am a regular reader of your diary and always find your posts enjoyable to read. The way you manage your finances, work and all the daily tasks you accomplish is amazing and you are clearly a confident, capable and intelligent person. It seems to me that you are accepting far less than you deserve in terms of a relationship. Your OH apparently blows hot and cold and just expects you to always be there when he decides he wants some company. I know it is no one else's business and entirely your choice but you deserve to be with someone who appreciates you and treats you well. It definitely seems like he is using you as a dog sitter at the moment and you are right, it needs to be sorted sooner, rather than later. Of course we cannot see the whole picture but from your comments it sounds like it is time to make some changes. Good luck with whatever way it works out.

Starmummy

I find you so inspiring MT. You just do your own thing, the things you enjoy. A real independent classy lady.

I have built up this image of you in my head like a character in a favourite book. The way you talk about self care, exercise, your lovely house and the puppy. I wish I knew you in real life. Can I be like you when I grow up please?

mumblingtaff

Oh my god!! You've just all made me well up!!
Thank you for all of your lovely comments - after a very long hard couple of weeks (including today) it's very much appreciated.
Wasn't going to check in here tonight but I'm so glad I did now - you've all made my day.

Avoidance tactics from OH are continuing- dropping the dog off when he knows I've had to leave for work and picking him up when I'm not back (the dog walker and my very kind neighbour sort them and walk them when I'm at work). That happened yesterday and he's away at a conference today and tomorrow so he's dropped him off this morning when I'd gone to work, leaving him with me overnight and picking him up late tomorrow evening.
I'm doggie day care...... I love having him because he makes my dog happy and is a lovely little thing but am I being taken advantage of? It feels like it. Will address it on the weekend come what may.....

Went to Leeds today for a meeting and am knackered but took the woofers for an hour long walk to the river when I got home to try to tire them out (unsuccessfully!)
Tomorrow I'm staying in school looking after the naughties while the rest of the school goes to Blackpool on a reward trip - glad I'm staying behind, don't think I could cope with another away day. At least I'll get home at a respectable time.

Need to do an expenses claim tomorrow for the abroad trip and today's meeting before I forget what I've spent and need back.
Managed to resist the huge urge to order a takeaway tonight and eat from the fridge instead - it's was touch and go for a while though

Going to watch a bit of telly for a while and then go to bed - 5 hours sleep last night and feeling it .....