2020++ - smiling and waving and looking so fine

Humboldt

@mark55man glad that you enjoyed your mini break.  DH and I are going to view the festive displays in the big city next month.  Not been for a long time, so very much looking forward to it. Well done on the step count.  

alt80

London is a great city at Christmas time, really miss what used to be practically a family tradition of a long weekend in London in December.

mark55man

Thanks Alt and Humboldt

We had fun - and we came across a number of xmas displays and markets that were fun to wonder around.  A day trip is a bit limiting but a long weekend could be fun!!

savingholmes

Well done on the steps. 

I hope the return to work plan is not too hard on you.

mark55man

Thanks SH - it was in at the deep end, but I am determined to work hard even though I am exhausted. 

Although things have been difficult nationally, I genuinely see lots of promise ahead as we get closer to Europe and the USA isolationism forces us to be self reliant so lots of opportunity.  I will work through the winter then reconsider over Easter probably going half time part time for 12 months or so, while my OH finishes at her council work. 

So maybe I've kicked the can down the road 18 months but following OH FIL passing away we will be getting a lump sum in the middle of next year and that means I don't need to take a lump sum from my pension.  In which case leaving taking it a bit later will be optimal for my plans - will possibly take out some insurance to cover the first 10 years to help cover OH should the worst happen, but that depends on T&C and cost.

I've decided I'm going to keep this diary going until I'm done with work.  So kind of 5years +1 and maybe +1 more.  I don't think I have enough news to justify a new one.  I will do some 5 years analysis over the xmas break and then see if I need to reset any objectives now that financial ones are mainly sorted.  Expect more dieting and more steps!!

savingholmes

I think children and settling in to semi retirement once you're ready - will generate enough fodder for a diary. We remain interested at any rate.

alt80

Always good to hear from you mate. I don't trust myself (or my wife for that matter) to go to London and not spend big so we will be leaving that one for another year ha. Things are definitely more uncertain globally, it's easy to let the negative news spiral but as you say there will be opportunities too.

mark55man

very true alt - lots of opportunities for example in social housing although those projects tend to be at a huge scale.  IMHO the main difference between the parties is that the Blues would take £1bn and spend it benefitting the top 1% and the Reds would spend that same £1.5bn trying to help those in need. 

I think there will be some pain but also some money on the table for those who help the many who have been left behind a bit in the last 10 years.  By which I mean most people under 30 and those who mainly through no lack of trying are just not cutting it in the current (skewed!!) version of capitalism

mark55man

been back at work for nearly a month now.  Wow how did that happen.  

Has christmas party last week, caught up with lots of old colleagues which was, mainly, nice

Good to be earning money - and because this year I will be earning 6 month less, I'm paying proportionately  less tax so my Nov pay cheque had a nice bonus from HMRC and you don't get to say that very often.

Sadly I haven't earned a lot of holiday so I will be working through the winter with only a week off at XMAS - all the family should be with us for the first time in a while - which is absolutely fabulous.

been a bit under the weather / knack_ered so I haven't increased my steps goal, but it appears I was equally lazy last year so my rolling 1 year total is staying static at just over 1.5m/year

used a bit of the November cash to have our handyman do some garden clearance - not his main thing but was happy with the work - ended up with 3 estate loads of junk for the tip and everything is much tidier

f0xh0les

You have an exit strategy. That should alleviate a lot of the stresses I would expect, but a great big Boo! to only having a week off at Christmas. 
Glad you are mostly enjoying your work and the sociability bit must be nice.
At least you didn't sit in the car park and think  " Oh God do I really have to keep on doing this until I am 70'.