The Final Furlong

savingholmes

Glad your pension money came through and your private work continues

savingholmes

Well done in being debt free ☺️

Seasidegal58

Belated congratulations on becoming debt free!😀

Sun_Addict

Just caught up with you and also adding my belated congratulations on retiring and becoming debt free, you must be so pleased. Fabulous 😁

Dottles1

thanks everyone for the congratulations.  Yes it does feel good but is taking a little while to sink in after spending a huge chunk of my life in debt.  It is good to go into this next stage with a clean slate though and I know that I won't be doing that again as I have learned so many new skills such as meal planning, savings pots and budgeting.  Many of those were learned from reading other peoples diaries and what has worked for them and tips from the debt free challenges.  I regularly join the monthly NSD challange run by Cathybird as I find that this focuses me on whether I really need to spend or can I manage with what I have in.  It's surprising how competitive I can become with myself.
I didn't go to visit my daughter on Saturday as her friends child has been attending nursery where there has been a positive case, and has has been in a bubble with them.  It will most likely amount to nothing but she didn't want me to take the risk.  I was disappointed but hopefully the restrictions will lift soon in Manchester and I will be able to go and stay for a weekend.  Still, I'm keeping busy.  I had DS, DIL & GD4 over to christen the new barbecue on Sunday.  After a cloudy start the sun came out and a jolly time was had by all.  We played board games later and drank the prosecco left from my birthday.
Yesterday I made a round trip to Chester to drop off an important package for my grandson followed by dealing with some annoying and persistent mare's tail in the gravel of friend D's front garden.  She has a disability that prevents her bending so we spent a couple of hours, her an a stool and me on my keeling pad, pulling it up and chatting in the sun.  It was very satisfying to see it cleared.
I have a list of admin jobs to complete today so I'll crack on this morning and find some time to sit out with my book and a coffee this afternoon.  I've been approached to deliver some training to staff of a local charity so will be looking into that as well as getting together everything needed for my tax return, I MUST stop putting it off !!
Well have a lovely day all whatever you are doing, I might pop in later with an update.
Dottles x

savingholmes

Frustrating about the restrictions but better to be safe. Good about the new work offer

Chrystal

Great that  you've been enjoying your time and good news about the new work offer.  

My front garden is full of mares tail from when my previous next door neighbour brought some 'manure' from the stables near her daughter!  I've no clue how to get rid of it as the roots seem to be under every part of the garden, and even gone under the drive and coming out the other side!  Tried the systemic stuff (having scraped off some of the outer layer) but even that hasn't worked. It's driving me nuts.  If anyone has any idea how to get rid of it please tell me  

Dottles1

Chrystal I listened to a gardening show the other week that said the only way to deal with it is to keep pulling it ot and use weedkiller.  This should weaken the roots in time but you're right, you just think you're getting somewhere and it springs up in a new location   very frustrating.

Dottles1

Moring all
I'm trying to get myself a bit more organised so have been making lists.  I have several admin jobs t do this morning before I take Tilly out, not that she is bothered as she has gone back to bed.  It looks like the forecast rain may be on it's way but thankfully we don't have any flood warnings lie some areas of the country.  I also have some bits that I want to put on FB to sell as attempting to get back to decluttering by tackling one small area at at time and then organising the storage better.  It's not that I am overwhelmed with stuff, just that I have things that seem to get moved around the house without actually being used.  Last week I took a box of shoes to the charity shop and a carrier of books to my DIL who was going to share it with her mum and her friend.  I have a dinner service/tea set to get rid of which though it is a good make, isn't very fashionable so I may give it a couple of days and then take to the chazza.  That would free up a lot of space in the dresser for storage.
There are a few smallish gardening jobs that I would like to get done if possible today and I have an hour of private work this evening so plenty to keep me out of mischief.  Friend A is coming over tomorrow for a coffee in the garden and bringing some allotment produce with her.  It's a bit like having a very large lucky bag (anyone remember them?) as I don't know what will be in it until she arrives but I'm guessing tomatoes and cucumber will be included.  That may save me a visit to the farm shop this week.
I had to go out to buy a birthday card for friend L yesterday so had a mooch in one of the charity shops.   I bought a pretty floral cup and saucer which took my eye for £1.99.  I have one my daughter bought me several years ago that I use for a "treat coffee or tea" but I tend not to use it when friends come over as I then have to give them a mug. Now I have one for each of us, afternoon tea anyone?
All budgets are going well so far this month and I'm plodding along with PA surveys (£36+ in the pot so far)  I am also nearing £10 with Receipt Hog but not sure I will bother with that again as it has taken months to get here.  Still I suppose it is free money.  
Ok, it's no good sitting here talking about it, time to get a move on.
Happy Wednesday all
Dottles x

beanielou

I loved lucky bags 
Will be round for afternoon tea soon