2020++ - smiling and waving and looking so fine

mark55man

Enjoyed an unusually late start today, and not planning on doing a lot today, but some domestic chores and a run to the tip loom for me tomorrow.  Just back from a quick trip out to pick up some prescriptions and some milk and bread - it was very quiet, which was nice.

I've been slightly more disciplined with the diet, and been rewarded with another 2lbs off.  So that's hopefully something I can sustain.  It's very wet and cold round here, so I'm unlikely to venture out again (wimp!)

spent a bit of time spring cleaning OH laptop, which was becoming infuriatingly slow.  I think I may have sorted a couple of problems, but it will benefit from having the larger slower disk taken out and replaced with a Solid State drive (SSD), as the current one is a little too large (and too slow).  Even after 3 years its only 20% full - although part of that is because its not pleasant to use so a bit of balance required.  That's a challenge as I'm techie, but dismantling laptops is not in the day job!
 

savingholmes

Good luck with the laptop... It's part of DH's day job but he's reluctant to do it a home LOL

mark55man

Quiet weekend, didn't get to the tip but added to the rubbish pile.  I should manage to get out to do so on my lunchbreak tomorrow!  Sorted out DD2 room (now she's in London) that the new virgin box will be going in, so its now tidied and a functioning spare room/office, although it does need a coat of paint so I won't claim success yet.  

Done a few NSDs this week - if anything this month feels even cheaper than the first lock down, as the food supply is more stable.  That said we need a fairly major top up tomorrow as we are down to our last planned meal tonight - after that will be store cupboard and freezer (which usually means cheese omelette!)

savingholmes

You're making progress on the house. Celebrate the wins.

mark55man

Thanks SH

I have just found, and am reading, the Over 50s thread (only a few years late) - its much broader and not quite as technical in terms of pension discussions, but its always there in most of the conversations - its a bit more MSE and down to earth - and less tax advisory    

As a result of my reading, and in particular a thread on how much (how little !!) people needed to spend, I decided to more actively consider a retirement target rather than a vague aspiration and checking my pots.  So my (long) countdown clock is started and my guess is 1000 days from now but that is Fri 13th   (Oct 2023)  so I'll think again for a day or 2.  Lets say it will be 1000 days +/- 200.  That's sometime between March 2023 and May 2024 - (very large margin for error as this year has shown anything can happen - but I will be looking to shrink both those numbers as we get though 2021).  The end date is consistent with my mortgage repayment schedule

Don't worry - I'm not going to go all number crunching and bore you further, but it was always a part of this 5 year diary and now it feels much more real that it will happen in that 5 years.   

savingholmes

Sounds great. I have oodles of spreadsheets where I have crunched various scenarios too!

Sarahwithlove

It's great to have something to aim for!
Our tip you have to book in advance now and can only go once in a 7 day period and usually booked up for next 3 or 4 days very frustrating. 

mark55man

Thanks again SH - I know but I don't want to spend all my time in an XLS just 82.3%

Hi Sarah, I know we are very lucky.  Sometimes there is a queue at the tip, but generally its relatively quick.

doingitanyway

All sounding good here. Decluttering, tip, weight loss and retirement targets. I agree re the Over 50's section. It isn't as dull as the pensions and retirement thread...

mark55man

Well the Virgin man has been and gone.  Did a lovely job.  Very very odd having someone in the house, but he was being obviously very careful, as were we.  Hardly any mess and was done (inside, outside, Telly) in a couple of hours

DS1 is delighted he downloaded a game update in 8 seconds (previously minutes), and then downloaded a huge game (98GB in under an hour - 220Mb/s).  Also as we now have the hub on the first floor the wifi signal round the house is excellent

So a very happy internet bunny