Moving forward and upwards

MovingForwards

Thanks SH

As before it was compliments, rip everything apart (which shows how bad their 'training' was as I'm doing exactly what I was told) and more compliments to smooth things over; managed to hold my laughter in til it was over and had my workmates words of 'ignore them' in my head while being talked at.

The knee is tender and I'm grateful it was my 'good one' as a knock to my 'bad one' would immobilise me.

I'll pick my studies up on my non-working days as I've enough of those to more than make up for losing a couple of hours on my working days. It also means I'm getting some form of 'mental', 'screen' and 'body' rest, which might free up a bit of energy to convert into pottering about time. 

doingitanyway

Excited for you that you are planning P/T going forward. 
Soups sound good.
Good energy for the studying 

Skint_yet_Again

Ouch 😣 Hope your knee is better soon. Just the thought of it made me cringe in sympathy with you. Sorry to hear still going through stress with the job. Hope you can tell them to stuff their job soon 

MovingForwards

Thanks DIA and Skinty

I possibly caught a nerve when I did my knee, it's no better or worse today.

I'm a lot happier doing my vastly reduced hours and had been ignored until 'the talk'. Also had loads of work dumped on me which is hilarious as I'm the least experienced yet have the most to do and I have the lowest hours out of everyone.
- I've quickly reached the stage of reminding them of my background, the work I've done and how far I climbed the ladder 🤭

Had a good chat with B2, no more hours unless we have an influx of work and if I want to do more days with shorter hours I can. Told me to grab another PT role if one pops up and I want more money; it's 'allowed' as not many people apply for them. They don't expect me to do the full FTC and believe I'll be moving further in / up to another role, also knows I'll chase higher level roles again. I've touched on what depts I'd move to, held off saying the career dept but mentioned a specific role.
- I talk more generically about my background when we chat and more of the management side.

I ended up doing nearly 2 hours extra today and it irked me as I won't get the time back.

I know I occasionally come across like an arrogant little turd in my posts, but it's only because I know I can get better positions than what I've had!

Made £2.75 in survey points today 😀

Had lentil and veg soup for tea, watched L0RDS of the R1ngs tonight, hopefully we'll have the second part tomorrow.

MovingForwards

Just got 4 pages to check and tweak from the old book, then I'm on to filling in the gaps. Hopefully I'll get that side finished tomorrow and can cross-reference against the tutor classes / syllabus the weekend.

I've had a potter in the garden, harvested the last of my beans, did a little weeding and filled my belly with strawberries. Garden centre called and I'll visit tomorrow to get garlic.
- It's going to be raining for the next week and I won't be able to risk planting the onions and garlic until there's a couple of dry days.

Moved my money in ready for the November bills, paid more off the CC. 

Made £5.75 in survey points today 😀

Got my feet up, had veg soup for tea and I'm watching the next LotR film.

MovingForwards

The day has turned out quite nice, a bit of rain, some sun and blue sky.

Payrise has been sorted out. Bumps my take-home pay up by about £800py and a nice backpay 'bonus' in time for the holidays; I'll have to rework my budget and expect my tax to be all over the place for a few months with deducting it, refunding etc.

I'm slotting in survey's throughout the day and made £2.25 so far. I've also got one ongoing for a week which will give me upto $10.

Between the surveys, payrise, 'bonus' and self-sufficiency I'm definitely going to be fine 🤗 and would be ok just on the new salary 🤗🤗 

I popped to the garden centre first thing and got garlic, spent under £24. 

Went to T afterwards, got fruit, veg, treats, pop, fruit juice, soups etc, spent just over £30.

Paid more off my CC, only a little bit left to go.

TomBo has planted half of the onion sets for me as he thought I'd struggle to get them in, he'll get the rest in another day. I've planted all the garlic and tulips.
- should be enough to cover our 2023 needs.

He's even said I can grow spuds in the ground, rather than mainly bags, next year as he's seen I can get those up myself.

It's only been a week, but life feels like it's definitely going in the direction I want it to.

We had leftover veg soup for lunch, TomBo is insisting on chippy night for tea.

savingholmes

You are sounding much happier and less stressed which is positive. Made up for you over the backdated pay rise.

MovingForwards

Thanks SH

I feel like a new woman and it's made me see how little free time I had to do the things I want to do eg garden, drives to the garden centre, doing shopping, studying, rest etc compared to working and being permanently exhausted.

I know I'm financially lucky being able to drop over half my hours and still afford my lifestyle, for that reason I'm going to make the most of it.

I'm hoping to get the last few pages rewritten today, make a start on cross-referencing the syllabus and classes as I've got to start my revision by next weekend. 

I also need to change my printer ink and get the pension forms printed, completed and posted.

For the moment I've got my feet up, but I'll start my day at 11 as it gives me time to have a coffee, let my eyes focus and have meds do something.

savingholmes

Hi MF

While I agree your are fortunate - I also think you have made lifestyle choices in recent years that have kept your bills low. You then are frugal thereafter too. Showing how important the two are to each other. So pleased you will build up  a DB pension in this role too.

If you get P1p equivalent too - then that will help make up the shortfall / improve your quality of life further.

MovingForwards

Thanks SH

My lifestyle choice is to avoid ever being in the situation I was before I started over. I'll get the SDP sorted, just need a bit more time with studies and then I can start it.

I've printed off the forms needed for enquiring into moving some DC into the DB. I'll fill them in tomorrow and post them Monday.  I'm leaving the SIPP as an early retirement blanket.

I finished updating the old book notes from the new book and am about a third of the way through filling in the gaps, should have that finished tomorrow and Monday I'll cross-reference the syllabus and classes.

I also had a little walk round the village.

Got my feet up watching films, drinking apple and grape fruit juice.

Edit - it's actually apple, pear and grape ☺️