2020++ - smiling and waving and looking so fine

mark55man

Thanks Alt  - Getting better. 

SH.   The mental and social stimulation of campaigning - if by that you mean getting told to !!!!!! off by someone's grandad in his pajamas at 2pm then YES!!!

savingholmes

Made me smile.

It must inspire you or you wouldn't be doing it. I'm sure you plan out what to say etc to try and win people over.

Where I lived before I only ever met 2-3 campaigners in about 20 years. I tend to admire those that bother - most don't.

mark55man

SH Its more the latter than the former - people very rarely change their minds on the doorstep.  But they do notice you made the effort.  Not often, but often enough, you will get someone saying thanks for coming round I wasn't going to vote but now I will.  That's a good moment

mark55man

Health and Weight targets

-----------------------------------

Weight : I am 246 having started the year at 257.  So slightly improved and a little down over last 2 weeks

Health: Blood Pressure - a but high but OK - measuring regularly and still high but static/decreasing 

Gym: Will try and do 2x30 minutes walking/running and 2x10 minutes rowing  - still not pulled the trigger - OH not well

Flexibility: Touch my toes - well how do you even start!!

Decluttering Targets

---------------------------

Trips to tip  (which will be greater than ...) - 0

Rooms decluttered (which will be slow going) - 0.5

savingholmes

Well done on the weight loss. 

Hope things improve for your OH.

On where to start with flexibility - have a look at videos / apps on yoga, body balance etc. I am very uncoordinated - but improved loads when I went to a class regularly.

Humdinger1

@mark55man I too am campaigning...spoiler alert not T*ry! I'm on the yellow ticket.  Not irrelevant @alt80 but it's a free country and you are entitled to your views. I look forward to an animated debate if you don't mind @mark55man Good luck with your plans love Humdinger 

mark55man

Welcome - We're all entitled to our views however misguided others may think them.

mark55man

So did some regular saver wrangling and pension juggling to finish off the tax year.  Have decided not to OP the mortgage - I wanted to, but 4.7% more interest on the money until this time next year was an offer I couldn't refuse.  £300 or so instead of *stubborn tax* + as SH says I am keeping my powder dry and near to me atm.

Youngest's partner has been moved up on her housing list application so although they are not moving in together fully will be over there more often - but benefit rules about live in partners make it difficult for them - following your heart would come at a significant cost that is maybe not yet worth it.  I'll need to do some research on that.  

savingholmes

I too am following the higher interest path (plus AVCs).

mark55man

So my last working day was 18th March before my paid leave then sabbatical - I kind of owed a few hours so I helped a colleague out one evening since then and that was fine.

My youngest's partner was given a weeks notice last Wednesday to move into new accommodation (she was on a priority list and had been for months) so that's exciting and will be a busy end of the week for them and possibly me as a senior stuff mover and furniture assembler.  It could be the beginning of complete empty nest

My hobby (red team) is going well, and have been able to help out a lot in some of the more time consuming activities.  I discovered the worst road for leafletting all the houses on the LHS were down a dozen steps and had ground level letter boxes and all the houses on the RHS had 200metre long driveways.  That's why I am on 13000 steps for today.

Have been not pushing myself too hard, just doing a little more around the house and doing it a little quicker so on balance its gone very well. Not quite made the progress in the garden I was hoping for 

Money isn't a problem as I am using my last months pay.  The challenge will be at the end of the month when there is no pay cheque.  My plan is just to pay myself the same amount from my savings and pretend it doesn't matter

I may struggle on my decision with when to go back but will be later rather than earlier