2020++ - smiling and waving and looking so fine

ohdearhowdidthathappen

365 is quite the landmark!  I find cats quite nonchalant about fireworks, mine just stay in and chill

mark55man

sadly that's working days not calendar days so not quite the landmark or rather 71% of it.  but I might not a few more off now and again to get there quicker

If I had a thought, it would be too retire in spring not in winter.  That said I have so much decluttering to do maybe a winter hiding away cracking on with that would be better

Yes - you know you cats well - no problems at all yesterday 

savingholmes

My cat hated the fireworks but so did we. There was a display nearby that went on for hours!!

On the retirement days - sounds exciting to be counting down the days - particularly knocking some off for LOLs. 

I'm slightly younger than you and the idea of working FT  for years to come is very daunting. No easy solutions although I am thinking of adding unpaid leave into the mix to reduce actual time at work!  I still wonder if you would miss it if you do a big bang approach. There is research that suggests a gradual glide path is healthier and easier to adjust to... 

ohdearhowdidthathappen

Doh... 365 had such a ring to it!  I'm not working out how many days I have until retirement.  I'm in my mid 40s and gov.uk has me retiring at 67 years and 9 months.  Yuck!
Glad your cats weren't fussed by the fireworks.
I LOVE fireworks, the primary school my kids go to always do a fabulous display and we go every year (not the last 2 though... thanks covid).  This year was FAB.
One of my neighbours is very into fireworks, they have them for diwali, new year, wedding celebrations etc.  They always put a polite note through our door apologising for any disturbance and I'm always 'no worries, excellent!'.  Kids outside wrapped in blankets, toasted marshmallows.  Evening entertainment sorted  

mark55man

busy week at work, but spent a long weekend with FIL - getting on, but doing well.  However, and OMG, older people like their houses hot!.  Luckily modern and well insulated (and he can afford the energy bills), but I was sweltering, especially as we have gone down to 17 degrees as the norm - but occasionally do a boost if we are feeling in need of a treat  

alt80

Ha re older people, my parents-in-law have their thermostat set to 22 degrees so I can empathise. Their house is also relatively modern and well insulated. Mine on the other hand is Victorian and very badly insulated, even still have single glazed windows. Over £550/m for the pleasure of gas and electricity now, not a !!!!!! chance we see 22 degrees for that either, we are used to wearing layers.

Re your reply to me, thank you my little family mean everything to me. I spent a month back in rehab earlier this year. No slips since after I came home I made some fundamental changes to give my recovery, family and business the chance they deserve. The first time I went I didn't last a month after and tbh after that I wasn't honest with myself about what a day clean was never mind honest with anyone else. Getting there now, not touched cocaine for just over 5 months, both my wife and I are in therapy and I'm determined to put it behind me for good. Hope to sort out my debts once and for all. Have a much quieter diary on here too ha.

mark55man

well done @alt80 - that's good to hear - first things first and be kind to yourself - although an occasional talking to yourself often helps!!

alt80

@mark55man thanks. Taken a long time for me to realise being kind to yourself is important, no one has ever judged me as harshly as I've judged myself I don't think. Equally, I know what you mean about giving yourself the occasional talking to at the right time for the right reasons. Life is tough for everyone in different ways, I worry about my boy's future a lot, he's doing well at school great set of friends but isn't that academic or talented at a particular sport and I don't think he'll be entrepreneurial. Likes coming to work with me so I hope he'll perhaps come into my business but I know that's not up to me to decide that. Rn he seems to think he's going to move to Greece to be a fisherman money spent on education right down the toilet there lol. 

mark55man

Lol - he will surprise you - may take a while but he will find his thing - and with your success as a model (and not just the ££££) to draw on he'll be fine - especially if you can help him avoid the naughty step

alt80

Thanks mate. Ha I hope I can help him avoid the naughty step fml lol. I jest about his education being wasted, foremost we want our son safe and happy. Some of the parents at his school are quite pushy with their kids, have really high expectations academically and for their futures easy to think we are the ones doing something wrong when my wife gets some snide comments from her peers. Not long ago one of the parents told my wife in a really awful way they wouldn't have been proud of a test result our son received that he had worked really hard to achieve so we were both really proud of. Whenever I read on here about how you are with your kids, there's a lot I admire, think you strike the right balance.