Seasidegal's Scrimpy Retirement Diary!

Sunshine_girl2

Did you get the bears in last night ? 

EssexHebridean

42years said:

Enjoying the posts, retired myself some years back. First time here

Welcome to MSE! 

Seasidegal58

Thank guys!😀. And welcome to @42years!  I hope you're enjoying your retirement as much as I am!👍
@Sun_Addict - I have read Ann Glenconner's autobiography - she's had an amazing, interesting life. Wonderful stories and some fantastic times - although a tragic family life with a husband who a great many called 'eccentric' but who reads to me like a complete madman - and not in a good way!  I have her second novel to read and have also downloaded her latest memoir. You've got to give it to her - 90 years old and still going strong!
@Sunshine_girl2  - Bear2 tends to be good in the evening and comes in when called. Bear1 - well he has a mind of his own!  He loves the cold weather - being a Canadian breed - and much prefers sometimes to sit outside till he's ready to come in. When there is a ground frost you will find him laying quite happily on top of the frost!🤣
The engineer and window guys didn't turn up on Wednesday, but did yesterday. The engineer was sick and - well not sure about the window guys. I've found it's a rather 'manana' concept up here in the Highlands - either that or they tend to overbook their jobs. 🤷‍♀️

I did write out my Christmas cards yesterday. The idea was to post them up here as I always send them out the beginning of December. However I forgot the stamps!  😩. So I'll post them when I get back. 

I've been on the daily walk with bears, neighbour and collie - weather is chillier, cloudy but no rain so far today. Later I'll feed the bears, read then watch some TV. 

MSE SCRIMPY THINGS
Yesterday I did my monthly financial shuffle putting my pension cash into various YNAB categories. I had the usual suspects on checking what I had overspent in November - it's invariably going out for coffee and meals and kindle downloads. I also had a slight overspend on clothes but that was because of the two party tops I bought. 

The usual 1st of month DDs went out yesterday - council tax, one of my two water bills, dental plan, Sky TV, phone and broadband, TV licence and electric.

Spends have been the Ann Glenconner book on kindle download and kitchen spray, kitchen roll and chocolate bar that I asked a neighbour to pick up for me when they were out shopping. 

I've also received a payment of £10 into my bank account from the DWP - no idea what that is for. 🤷‍♀️

Oh - and a nice surprise in that the interest rate on my First Direct savings account has just increased to 7%!🥳. So I'll get this for the remaining 6 months left on the deal. 👍

joedenise

The £10 from DWP is your OAP Christmas bonus!  It’s started years ago to help pensioners have a good meal on Christmas Day not that it goes far these days but every little helps!

Seasidegal58

Thanks for clarifying @joedenise. 👍😀. I seem to remember receiving £10 some months ago as well so it must have been this time last year!

beanielou

Yes, the £10 bonus.
SAdly it has never increased.

badmemory

Just shows how out of touch they are.  It used to pay for a christmas dinner & now it doesn't even pay for the turkey.

Seasidegal58

@beanielou and @badmemory - due to the inflated food prices, the £10 will run to a Christmas pud and mince pies if I'm lucky!😳
Today I decided to clean the fridge, microwave, coffee machine and gas hob and did some washing. Went for my daily bears walk - the weather definitely turned colder today - the skies were grey with wintry showers. The forecast is for snow in the Highlands on Wednesday but I'm coming home on Monday so hopefully it won't be snowing in Seasideville!🥶
Anyhow, at least it was a NSD today. 👍

Onebrokelady

Just caught up on your diary and I'm so sorry to read about all the bad news you have had😟 I've also enjoyed reading about all your outings too. Don't you go spending that £10 all at once now 😀

Seasidegal58

Thanks @Onebrokelady - I'll be very careful with that £10!🤣🤣🤣
Today was a beautiful sunny crisp day with blue skies but quite a bit colder than it has been since I got up here. I haven't been wearing a hat as it hasn't felt that cold to warrant one but I certainly felt it today on the bears walk!🥶
DD's OH is due home soon - I've made him a venison chili. Then there'll be carnage when he arrives home as the bears always go nuts when they see him!😀
Tomorrow I'm flying home - I'll be packing in the morning - quite nice as I've a late afternoon flight so don't have to rush and I'm being picked up at the other end at Gatwick.

MSE SCRIMPY THINGS
A NSD today. 

I also received an email from NS&I to tell me I've won on the monthly PB draw. Unfortunately my mobile signal is so bad I can't receive the text from them with the password to get into my account.  So I'll have to wait till tomorrow to find out whether I've won £25 or the jackpot!😳