Seasidegal's Scrimpy Retirement Diary!

beanielou

The wonders of technology! 

milann

Don’t wear yourself out….I’m tired reading what you’ve been doing 😂

Seasidegal58

Technology is indeed wondrous @beanielou!  When DD and I were in Paris earlier this year we were handed an iPad when checking in at the hotel which we had to use for everything in our room. If we wanted the curtains opened or closed or turn up the aircon, we had to do it via the tablet. I'm so pleased that DD was with me as left to my own devices, I would still be standing outside a locked hotel room door!😆

I'm taking it quite easy @milann - I'm just doing a few bits per day. I'm up quite early with the dogs so have a long day ahead and pottering around the house keeps me occupied. 

Yesterday the weather turned and we had a bright sunny day with some wind, so ideal for hanging out the washing. I went out with one of the neighbours for a drive to a cafe at one of the nearby villages which is on a really lovely route. There is a beautiful view too from the cafe's big windows down over the sea loch. On our way home we stopped at our village bus stop to pick up another neighbour who had been shopping in a nearby town. I hadn't met her before so it was nice to put a face to a name. In the afternoon we took the dogs out for a walk. 

Another sunny day today so jobs are washing and hanging out towels and giving the living room a good going over. I need to clean the windows in there too, especially the patio doors as the dogs tend to mark these by breathing all over them whilst looking out (never ending task!). 

I won't be out with the dogs as my dog walking neighbour is working today - so it will be throwing the frisbee for them in the croft instead. 

I've been checking how the flights from Inverness to Gatwick have been what with the air traffic control debacle that has been going on. Luckily these seem to be ok so fingers crossed for next week when I go home. 

MSE SCRIMPY THINGS
Yesterday's spends were coffees and quiche at the cafe, plus I bought some cheese scones to take away. Also a birthday card for a friend (must post that today - luckily we have a post box outside the house), a loaf and some really scrumptious marmalade made with whisky that I fell in love with in my last trip here! 😋. Today will be another NSD. 

I did my end of month YNAB reccie this morning. The usual culprit category was in debit, i.e. Entertainment- Meals and Coffees Out'😳. So I made it up with a donation from the 'Gym' category as I haven't been there whilst I've been away. 

Debsnewbudget

Love that its your gym money paying for your cakes.
I knew you were my type of person 😄😄

Seasidegal58

🤣🤣🤣 - @Debsnewbudget - I never even thought of that!  I am definitely beyond redemption!  Oh dear!😂

Pinch punch, first day of the month!

The Bears managed to get me up extra early this morning. Bear2 was rather agitated last night. Just before bed time she was fast asleep next to me then her head shot up, she rushed to the patio doors and started barking then ran to the front door and started pawing it!  Bear1 didn't seem too bothered but joined in with a couple of complementary barks!  I decided to let her out and she shot off round the croft like a mad thing. She eventually came back in when I called her in via the patio doors!  No idea what that was about!  There is a deer fence round the croft so not much can get in and it's too early for the rutting season. She also started barking at about 3am but quietened down after a bit. I'm putting it down to another invasion of the Invisible Predator.....👹

Another lovely day today and it feels very warm out at the moment. Today I'm cleaning the bathrooms - main bathroom, two en suites and the Little Loo room.
 

This afternoon I'm out for a dog walk with the neighbour. 

MSE SCRIMPY THINGS
New start to the month so I updated and funded all my YNAB categories. Once I had done that I entered all the DD payments that went out today; council tax, electric etc. 

I also bought the tickets for the annual shopping Christmas Show in November - I'm on the mailing list that sends you details of the Early Bird tickets. If you buy now you get a 30% discount. We're down to three participants this year - me, DSis and DD. DD doesn't usually come as there is an annual industry conference she has to attend and it normally clashes with the show, but this year it's being held at a different time so she can join us. They'll both pay me for their tickets. 

milann

The Christmas Show sounds lovely although I can’t think about the C word yet 😵‍💫😳😂

Seasidegal58

I know what you mean @milann!  I usually start feeling the beginning of the countdown to Christmas when the new series of Strictly starts!  Don't know why!!!😳

beanielou

The weather here today is lovely. 

I bought some c cards today but only because of the closing down sale. 

Seasidegal58

That's the MSE way of buying cards @beanielou - I always try and get my Christmas cards in the sales straight after Christmas!

DD and OH arrived back from their holiday on Saturday evening. Yesterday morning we had a drive out to a coastal town north of here for brunch. Unfortunately when we got there it was closed due to staff shortages.  There was a little deli open so we had toasties and coffee outside. Gorgeous weather - hot with a lovely breeze. The harbour looked so pretty with the blue sea and little boats bobbing up and down. 

I bought some waterproof outdoor weather gloves there in the outdoor shop which I will need for this winter as I can't find my current pair anywhere - either here or at home. 

We popped in to see one of the neighbours when we got home - she gave us some beautiful mushrooms that had been foraged - DD made a really tasty pasta dish with them for dinner. 

It's my last day here - I've washed some of the clothes that I've been wearing and keep up here and have hung them out. DD and OH are currently working upstairs so I'm diarying and having a coffee. Bear2 is lying down beside me at the moment having a nap. Tonight DD and I are going out on a 'girls night' dinner to a local place with one of the neighbours which will be nice. 

MSE SCRIMPY THINGS
Only spends were on the gloves yesterday - which came out of the 'Clothing' YNAB category.  Funds will be needed for dinner tonight. 

My State Pension hit my current account today so that has been allocated in the 'Ready To Be Assigned' category in YNAB for October's outgoings  
On the credit side I won £200 this month on the PBs and £5 from Saturday night's lotto as I had 2 numbers come up for a Lucky Dip, but as it was a rollover I won an extra £5.  Both have been allocated to 'Ad Hoc Savings' YNAB category. 

doingitanyway

Your DD is lucky with her neighbours. Not the first time I've thought how nice they are.
£200 on PBs is great