2020++ - smiling and waving and looking so fine

mark55man

so just about to start WFH (Work from Home) week #2.  its not an absolute mandate, and I will have to go into the office mid week for a few days, but its all about reducing the social contact chain and the technology is really up to it.  Just in case anyone is interested I gave this advice to a friend who was struggling with WFH (there are plenty of articles full of more insight) - There are the following main stresses in WFH - all get better with time.
1, Being at home so all those temptations, you will get used to it.
2. The new technology, so basically treat ZOOM (my personal favorite) like a telephone / conference call - more advanced features such as screen sharing are basically simple (but be careful what personal apps/webpages on your desktop). the main challenge is the etiquette of how and when to be forceful and when to shut up. You will get used to it.
3. How to structure your day at work when normally it would be structured by routine meetings/business/habit. Target setting (realistic) and structure are your friend.
4. Don't feel guilty about putting a wash on or doing some chores - its the WFH equivalent of a water cooler moment, without the actual annoyance of colleagues. Keep calm, relax - and oh PS turn the video off no zoom type call really needs to see you

savingholmes

I agree no video calling required! I agree about the odd jobs. They have done studies and most of us do our best thinking about work while doing something else - so no guilt - as long as you do still get the main things done and prioritise.

mark55man

so last week was half WFH and half work from office, as there were things that needed physical attention.  I was a bit nervous, but it was so empty that I felt OK.  Everyone at least 2m apart.

Looking like we are going to have to cancel our weekend away that we had booked for just after Easter as a Christmas present, so I will be seeing if we can can get refunded on insurance or vouchers from the venue - that's my frog for today unless the hotel is awkward, in which case I will wait and it will inevitably get completely banned as things get worse (which they will, before they get better)

payday yesterday - got a little extra as allowances have changed (not related to virus) - so my overdraft was a little higher than I wanted as we had a couple of expenses (dishwasher and work) that weren't planned, and although next month is looking good as I will get the work money back - should probably have used the CC but am trying to avoid that as well

diet is still going OK, hovering just over 240lbs - I am sure if I keep going I will shed the next few lbs over the next week or two and when I hit 237 that will be 16st 13 the first time I have been under 17st for a few years, but still I would like to see 15st x within a few months and 14st 4lbs (200lbs) by this time next year - ahead of schedule

I am keeping up with most of my targets, more or less, but obviously lockdown makes it awkward to do the community stuff I had chosen so am now just offering tech help and advice to friends and family which is a bit inward looking, but there you go

I have decided to use a little bit of next months extra money getting the neighbours gardener to do a bit for me, after they had lost some local work and were scrambling to make up the short fall.  It will come to under £200 and will make the front lawn look so much better so I think I can justify that, and maybe next month as well.

what's annoying me is we are all at home, with lots of time to declutter, but the local Tip is closed, so have nowhere to junk and most of the usual charity shops are closed as well.  Our local food bank is closed.  So we will have to declutter into the garage and play catch up when we get the all clear.  Safety first, but that would have been sweet 

OK stay safe, and well and stay home wherever you can

doingitanyway

Great news with the diet.
The gardener sounds like a good move.
I think when this is over I will be looking for some volunteer work too. Only a few hours a week, but something.
I hope you are having a good day.

savingholmes

We've been wondering about getting a skip but not sure I want to look at if for months on end if the rules tighten.

mark55man

my not quite next door neighbour used to drive a skip lorry - so I asked him about cost once - he said they are very expensive and almost always get filled up by others if you are not quick.  he really didn't recommend them except for full on building works 

mark55man

just checking in - pretty sure today was a family NSD - I didn't spend anything and no one else left the house although with the internet you never quite know.

Amazon is getting a lot of business this month, as needs must, and it is reliable although a lot of delivery dates have gone way out.  I did manage to get some stuff from ebay but I don't trust that as much for some stuff.

will be looking at my numbers at the weekend, generally OK, with a lot of things under budget and under average, but as above a few unexpected spends took the edge off

savingholmes

I haven't had a problem with people filling our skip where we live but I've pause it for now as I don't want to end up with one stuck on my drive if the lockdown tightens.

mark55man

Budget Report Back 004

Quite a spendy month and the OD made a reappearance, however some savings kicking in from the lockdown.

CAR - Well under budget - significant WFH didn't hurt and this number included MOT and 2 tyres!!

CASH - Doing well on no cash, as no opportunity to spend, but I did panic buy £100 from the machine just in case

CLOTHES - Just a little summer top up for OH 

COFFEE - Significantly under budget, but did get some in early in the month.  Predicting 0 for April  

CRAFTS - A bit over budget - there are some big projects being planned for the next few months !!

ENTERTAINMENT - Significantly under budget, but did get one nice meal out early in the month.  Predicting 0 for April

GROCERY - Wow.  As we are now back to 6 adults in the house and have to some extent been just doing what it takes in the supermarkets this was a bad month over double last month (although that was particuarly cheap) and we did have big shops on 1st and 31st!  Not panic buying but just making sure we weren't low on anything - eg buying replacements earlier than normal.  Have been eating well and healthy, but not cheap

HOLIDAY - Nothing spent, possibly trying for refund on trip away at end of April

KIDS - Kids were bit high this month - help on rent for DD2 mainly  & final costs associated with DS1 Van sale

LIFE - Just focusing on making do with what we have seems to be working, and meant a couple of big spends (dishwasher and garden makeover) didn't do too much damage

AMAZON - Using Amazon more but still not going wild

mark55man

Report Back 007 - for 04/04/20
Been a strange month, busy at work but trying to WFH as much as possible and then work being a ghost down when it is essential that I go in.  House is coping OK with 6 adults, but some tensions emerging but we will just have to be nice

Fitness & Health:  Now at 241lbs  - but have been a bit stuck for a couple of weeks.  However stil very happy with progress.  Exercise is definitely lower - but will try and get out for a walk today as the weather looks a lot better

Budget & Financial:  On target with regular debt payments, but no overpayments yet. Overdraft creeping back in, as highlighted in budget report.  Will have to keep on trying especially now the rates have gone way up

Environment & Green:  Decided to get a little help to kick start the front garden, and had a socially distant but very polite gardener round on the recommendation of a neighbour, and he has spruced the front up and cleared something away (chainsaws were involved) that would have taken me all year to get done.  So I think that will be enough, and I'll do the back myself when I am properly WFH next month and not half and half

Community & Volunteering:  Not really doing a lot at the moment.  Being supportive to friends and family and community, but not a lot happening

Organisation & Household: Decluttering is ongoing, but the tip is shut so we are now building up a pile of clutter in the garage - but its all dry stuff so will just need to wait until things open.  Things are half looking tidier because of the declutter, but half looking messier as we have started on a lot of rationalisation!