517 Days before I turn 50

AuctionFever

Dear Diary, 

I really really want to 'turn my life around' by the time I hit the bit five-zero in 517 Days.

I want to wake up on that milestone feeling good about myself !!  That hasn't been the case for quite a while now.  Moving forward though, with baby steps, I'd like to tackle debt, rebuild my ebay business, get to a fighting weight and start looking after myself with respect and happiness, declutter, get shuffling on some side-hustles, tick off my stale to do lists that weigh so heavily upon me at times, and basically stop feeling bloody awful.

Going to start with some gentle achievable goals for today and begin to move along the road to positivity.  Let's start with getting the house in basic order, walking at least 7500 steps, and drawing up a 1% challenge money making chart for £ 500.  They say habits can be changed in 7 weeks.  Go!  

AuctionFever

I think starting this diary really helped... I enjoyed my designated exercise very much and only had a few negativity thought wobbles in my head.  Steps done, kitchen / floors sorted and washing on.  Remembered that so many others are experiencing fears at this time and said a little prayer of solidarity.  My fears at this time aren't particularly covid related, but fear is fear and I think it helps to feel not alone in the battle if that makes sense.  Two things on my to-do list I'd like to cross off are filling out a prescription fee form for my OH and finding a nice postcard to drop into our neighbour who has a cat, offering to help with feline food / litter if she needs, as well as giving her our phone number.  We've only moved in here recently and don't know her well yet, but she does seem a little frail and could well be self-isolating.  Once I've done that I'm going to work on sorting out some of my old large stamp collection for ebaying.  It is a time consuming but perfect task during lockdown, and actually quite relaxing...a bit like colouring-in: a 'mindfullness' activity for me.  Having had a year off ebay selling (not by choice but circumstances), I need to build up some working capital for re-starting my business, and want to use what I can de-clutter from the house for that.  As far as I understand it, I don't have to  re-register with hmrc until I am back to buying to resell, and I have loads to get rid of.  Okay, load of washing has beeped at me, so off to do these next few tasks and keep the ball rolling.  Go!

savingholmes

Have fun on your journey. You seem to have a good plan. Go for it!

Applewood1

Sounds very positive and exciting!  fabulous at 50 here you come!

AuctionFever

Thank you lovely people
Good morning dear diary,
How much better to wake up to a day where I've not sabotaged myself the day before... just need to string together another 516 more of those!  Looks to be a gorgeous day outside, difficult for everyone to be cooped up.  I did a weigh-in yesterday... 15 stone 2 pounds (am 5ft 7.5).  I think I'll set my weight goal at 13st 13lb, a bit higher than when I was doing zumba (which I absolutely loved but hip / shoulder problems stopping me argh!)  so that is one stone 3 pounds to lose.  My downfalls are buttery toast, greek yoghurt, halva, cheese and red wine!
Today I will make progress on more ebay stamps... I've separated out British Commonwealth West Indies countries and will try each group individually at a 9.99 start on auction and see how they go.  Might just be scheduling the listings for now, as still in doubt about posting during lockdown, feel a bit unsure about whether it is alright or not.  Have to have a bit of a think about the best way to go about it.
Have made a few pennies from surveys... will tote up later this week and start crossing off those 1% squares.
Off to have some brekkie... stewing some rhubarb and apple and will have a little cream on top (half what I'd usually have though!)  Go!

AuctionFever

Dear Diary, so yesterday was a little lower energy and I'm beating myself up a bit.  I think the best answer is to ramp it up today and push through it... have had battles with fatigue of late, have just started on an iron tonic ..will see if that helps.  In the past I'd kind of 'give up' and 'start again tomorrow', but want to get out of that pattern as I've been in it most of my adult life.  Must remember the things I did accomplish.  For some positivity, I'll list of 5 things I'm grateful for... a roof over my head, fresh air, potential, my small family, and the opportunities of the internet.  Okay, feeling a little better... need to get going!  Today we have to take back a car battery that was supposed to arrive 4 weeks ago... we had to get one elsewhere in the end, drop into OH's work, and as we're driving for that purpose anyhow, plan to perhaps stop off at a different country park on the way back for our exercise.  The woods are so beautiful this time of year here on the Kent coast... hope to spy some bluebells.  Going to get the house clean first... hubby made bacon and it got very messy somehow!  More stamps and surveys later on.  Go!

AuctionFever

Dear Diary, well yesterday chugged along but went to plan really.  Ate too much but got all the things done.  OH makes an amazing roast chicken dinner... will need to work hard today and walk until I hit the 10K steps!   Drive to work went well, but euro parts are not accepting returns until mid May!  Even with lockdown, to take money for an item promising next day delivery, not having anyone answer queries, sending over 4 weeks later, causing us to have to buy the battery elsewhere, and then we take it to them and they won't process a return?  I don't think that is right tbh.  I'm pretty sure I'd not get away with that without negative feedback on ebay!  Anyway, we did find a country park walk en route which was truly lovely and I did indeed spy some bluebells!  Also a white duck flew over us, saw a beautiful heron and got some much needed vitamin D.  Will stick to close to home walking today.  A little more about the last year: We were going to move to Dubai, but my OH had some horrendous experiences working there and cut his contract short.  He nearly died and in hospital they took his credit card for transfusions and treatment, employer had changed insurance mid-contract to not cover it, and the debt caused us to need to sell our flat to get him out of the country safely.  I was living here trying to pull it together, I've not had so much stress crunched into a space of time like that before... don't  want to dwell on it just move forward... we then tried to buy a flat within distance of his job he lined up back here, and after 8 months it fell through costing us thousands in fees, temporary accommodation, and more stress for sure.  We moved 8 times in 8 months.  I am so proud of our 15 yo boy for how he has coped... way better than me!  Anyway, we've ended up in something that though it has a short lease, is a lot smaller, a bit ugly on the outside and is quite remote, is actually so much nicer to live in than what we'd been trying to buy... it has helped me have faith in the Universe for things to work out for the best through all the adversity.  Our net worth may be down (never that high anyway... going to work on it though lol), but we now have lower overheads, better insulation, a sunny aspect, and oh my goodness a view second to none of the sea!  It helps my depression so much and my hubby's mental health too... and I've fallen in love with bird watching... we are within short distances of three bird sanctuary areas and even just outside our windows we see brent geese, black faced gulls soaring, pheasants, grouse, ducks, water fowl, and two white swans swam past the other week.  At one point I thought we'd have to move into a caravan just to have a roof over our heads, but this place though surrounded by caravan parks is fully residential and we get a full delivery / postal service which is essential for running a home business and I am very grateful for that.  It is so quiet here at night.. we used to have a view of the channel, a view being my first thing on a where to live checklist, but there was an A road betwixt us and the water and it was only peaceful in the wee hours of the night.  So I do have much to be glad about... just have to slay this debt... and then think about the future with a clear slate.  Sounds so simple!  Aiming to photograph the stamps I've prepped so far when the afternoon light comes round to the windows, and walk walk walk those roasties off.  Go!