NST Amazing August

Fmess

Hi mothernerd and Apple, thanks for the welcome back.
Since I left (because finances were out of control due to house renovations), I have had an extension, a new kitchen and utility and new drive and then moved out during lockdown. I waited for 10 years for my perfect kitchen but at Christmas I reconnected with my ex from when we were teenagers and I have moved in with him. I hope to sell my renovated house in the next 12 months (it’s a bit of an insurance policy for me atm!) and be debt free when I do Our long term aim is to be mortgage free within 3 years, fingers crossed.
Unfortunately I lost all my examining income this year, which usually covers my summer holiday days out etc and helps make a dint in the debt but I am fortunate to be in a main job that is unaffected financially by Covid 19.
Has anyone on here been to The Company Shop? I’m probably late to the game but it’s a membership supermarket with very cheap prices and you qualify if you work in certain jobs or receive certain benefits I believe.

Toni'sfriend

Nice to hear from you Fmess. 

How lovely that you've got together with your ex. 

I've never heard of the Company Shop. I doubt that it would apply to me but sounds really interesting.

Fmess

Toni'sfriend said:

Nice to hear from you Fmess. 

How lovely that you've got together with your ex. 

I've never heard of the Company Shop. I doubt that it would apply to me but sounds really interesting.

Hi Toni’s friend 
Hope you are well?
I’m looking forward to catching up with everyone over the next month and see how you’re all getting on!

Toni'sfriend

We're fine, Fmess. Being ultra careful and looking forward to our holiday at the end of September (hopefully). It's been a very strange six months. I was where we're going next month when they announced the lockdown and was in tears phoning my son to come and get me  because I was so scared I wouldn't be able to get home. I was only in Northumberland!!!!. Feel a bit silly now that I see people going all over the place but it was probably a natural reaction at the time.

It's a shame about your examining income but you're right I am so glad that we're retired and our income is assured.

crazy_cat_lady

Hello
Apologies for my absence - it's a very long and boring story of me being stressed out about exams and the battering that teachers get no matter what we do, combined with being hormonal and also being annoyed at how much effing gloss painting I've done over the past week and how much I absolutely detest it. That and an all day hangover yesterday that completely wiped me out.
Anyway, long story short is that after 3 coats of gloss over 3 days I finally managed to get the first coat of emulsion on the stairs today. It's definitely going to need 2 coats and probably 3 on the walls but is infinitely more straightforward than the gloss painting so I am less chewed up about doing it. On top of that my money has run out for the month and I still need things, and I have been busy spending time with good friends whilst wondering why I need to wear a mask while shopping but not while teaching teenagers, lol.
So good to see you back Fmess - what a massive change you've been through over the past year. So pleased that you're so happy I suspect you must work for the exam board that decided to pay their examiners precisely nothing this year - no goodwill payment or anything? They're not my main exam board but I normally mark one paper a year from them - needless to say I've marked my last paper for them after the way they've treated their examiners. I have no interest in working for them ever again.
Toni'sfriend and ditty - sorry to hear that things are a bit tough at the moment. Sending lots of love to both of you.
And you too mothernerd, hang on in there - I think mothers are programmed to have no filter. My mother came round last week after being quite ill for almost a fortnight and sat down and just judged for the whole time she was there. I have too many blankets in the sitting room for her liking, and too many cats (as always), and am a pushover who lets my kids get away with murder etc.
Just remember turtles, we can only control our own behaviour and not that of the others around us - only how we respond to it. There's absolutely nothing wrong with indulging in a bacon butty, or hiding in your room, or enjoying a large g&t, or a movie night in front of the telly, or not hoovering, or not washing the dishes. In fact, just do one thing now that you think you shouldn't be doing because you feel guilty taking time for yourself. I am going to read some chapters of my book.

lcc86

Evening all,

Not a NSD here today. Bought some blinds for the living room and spare bedroom. We moved in almost 4 years ago and I bought blinds for our bedroom but told myself I'd do the rest 'soon'. Working from home for so long and I've finally done it as I'm fed up of the sun constantly shining on my screen no matter which room I'm in! Technically haven't paid for them yet as got them on buy now pay in 12 months (interest free) but will have them paid in a couple of months. Thought I'd count it as a spend day as it's added to my debt until they're paid off.

Went horse riding this morning, then have just done a few chores at home, changing bedsheets, hoovering, washing up etc. Had home made red thai curry for dinner, normally have green but decided to do a red one and it was really bland for some reason. Have the same tomorrow as well! Not looking forward to that... no idea what happened... on the plus side have yummy home made apple crumble in the oven which should make up for it! 

Enjoy what's left of the weekend turtles.

apple_muncher

Oooh, fmess, juicy news indeed. Sooo pleased for you! But I'll admit that when I read the phrase 'I reconnected with my ex...', then my heartrate shot up until I read the rest of the sentence. You got me all worried that it was the ex!

Fmess

Toni’s friend it has been such an odd 6 months. Pre lockdown I spent all day convincing the kids at school that the pandemic was nothing to worry about and it’ll all be over before their exams...and I had to eat my words!

apple  you made me laugh so much, I’d forgotten just how much we know about each other’s lives and have never met. Definitely not that ex! This one is lovely and we reckon we were just too young the first time round to appreciate what we had. How are dh and dd?

ccl you sound as busy as ever! Hope ds and dd are enjoying their summer with you. Yes it was that exam board. I was so cross especially as another teacher works for a different one and was furloughed so got 80% and didn’t have to mark. Hope you got treated well by your main one!

crazy_cat_lady

I did Fmess - I wasn't furloughed. We were given a payment equivalent to a percentage of my earnings from last summer. Kept me available to work on other things with the exam board this year, and  they weren't using the government scheme. I was actually very impressed with what they did for us - feel valued by them (unlike the others).

Fmess

crazy_cat_lady said:

I did Fmess - I wasn't furloughed. We were given a payment equivalent to a percentage of my earnings from last summer. Kept me available to work on other things with the exam board this year, and  they weren't using the government scheme. I was actually very impressed with what they did for us - feel valued by them (unlike the others).

That sounds really fair! Glad they did that, it makes so much more sense!