Seasidegal's Scrimpy Retirement Diary!

redofromstart

I noticed today that DB pension 2 for mr redo had gone up in January as well, small increase but useful. 

Sun_Addict

I think I’ve got that cleaning book. Not sure if I’ve ever made it much beyond day 2 or 3 though 😆 Still it’s a great idea - in theory 🤣

milann

The cleaning book sounds interesting. I am determined to keep on top of things this year instead of leaving it to mount up and having to have a massive clean up. I did my usual pre Christmas blitz and so far have managed to do something most days…..in fact I keep pinching myself to see if it really is me keeping up with things 😂😂😂😂 

amber03

Thanks, just read that about “Vera”, pleased as it’s one of the few programmes that I watch. X

EssexHebridean

That clean & organised home thing sounds interesting - although no plan that suggests you vacuum daily will ever be likely to get me on board! I did shiny my kitchen sink yesterday evening though so maybe I will yet get back into flylady to a degree! 

They kept Morse going in much the same way as Taggart didn't they? With the offshoot character Lewis? (Always made us laugh - when Morse and Lewis were seen in pubs they were always pictured with Morse drinking real ales, and Lewis drinking lager - when in real life John Thaw was the lager drinker and Kevin Whately allegedly couldn't stand the stuff!

doingitanyway

I am lucky in that I have been TV-less (homeless) for so long I can now look forward to bingeing on past episodes of Vera.

Your cleaning routine is sounding good. Has it been easy to keep to?

peb

I'm a bit late but if there's a few of you feeling the same way you could consider acquiring the freehold so you could appoint a managing agent of your choice or look into the Right to Manage - the latter does seem quite difficult to acquire 

Seasidegal58

(Creeps back onto diary after over three months absence.............🫣)

@redofromstart - yes every little helps pension wise. I got part of my annual State Pension increase as well last month - this month's payment which should be hitting my account soon will be the full amount. 

@Sun_Addict - 😂 I managed to finish it - apart from sorting out my clothes which is still ongoing!  

@milann - I'm away at DD's at the moment for a couple of weeks and meant to do a blitz on the flat for Spring before I went but I didn't, so I'll have that to look forward to along with lots of accumulated dust when I get back!😳
@amber03 - I'm really pleased about 'Vera' as well. One of my favourite programmes - nothing better than settling down on the sofa on a Sunday evening watching Vera!
@EssexHebridean - I hope you've kept up with your shiny sink!😀. Tbh my flat is quite small and I have a light Shark upright cordless vacuum so I can whizz around the high traffic areas very quickly. 

Re. Morse - yes you're right about the beer and lager. What I found interesting as well was that Morse was a very cynical, curmudgeonly character whilst Lewis was very happy go-lucky. When the Lewis series began Lewis then appeared to have a complete personality change and turned into the Morse character!  It was supposed to have been due to Lewis's wife dying unexpectedly but I think they just wanted a proper Morse replacement!
@doingitanyway - I do find with the cleaning routine that some days are easier than others as the book is based around a house with utility, dining and extra bedrooms - none of which I have so I can miss those bits that deals with these!
@peb - thank you for the suggestion. The acquirement of the freehold of my block of flats was mooted a few years ago but basically there wasn't enough interest. Half of the flats are now rented out and there appears no appetite. I don't even know any of the owners of these anymore as they have changed hands over the years. 

I'll be back to update later on...... ( famous last words!)

Seasidegal58

I did a few things whilst I've been off the boards - back up to the Highlands to Bear-sit at the end of January for a week whilst DD and OH were away, my Côte d'Azure art holiday in March (that was wonderful)m plus April was particularly busy as I had two days in Bath with a friend, two days in the North-West staying with a RL MSE friend (and met up with another at the same time which was great!), and then DD treated me to a gorgeous weekend in Dubrovnik for my birthday. Dubrovnik is beautiful but oh!  So many stairs and steps!  My knees were shredded!😖

And now I'm back in the Highlands staying with DD and OH. I've been here just over a week now - was going back on Sunday with DD who has to go south for work, but there is a possibility that her OH may have to go off for work for a couple of days next week so I've offered to stay and Bear-sit.   Nothing has been finalised yet though.  

The weather up here was wonderful last week - their friends came up to stay for the week at the nearby holiday cottage so we had a great time taking them round as they've never been to this part of the world before. 

We covered quite a lot of ground during the week. Amongst the trips we did the Mellon Udrigle beach then on to the waterfall at Corrieshalloch Gorge and ended up for lunch at the well-known Seafood Shack at Ullapool. The Bears were very much admired and coo'd over. 🐻. Another day we had afternoon tea at the picturesque hotel at Loch Torridon and also did the wonderfully scenic drive over to Applecross. 

Their friends were absolutely entranced with everything and said they were definitely coming back next year - hopefully if they do they won't get the typically very wet Highlands weather!😂

Anyway today I did an half hour Pilates zoom class this morning. I tried Pilates a few years ago but didn't really get on with it but DD has talked me into taking a class with her and OH's teacher as I'm stiffening up all over these days and am so inflexible!  I've been keeping up with my half hour twice weekly gym sessions at home when I can but really need to do something to loosen me up. This has been my third Pilates session and I'm quite enjoying it so far. I think just having a half hour instead of an hour session at this stage helps.

Getting down on my hands and knees is painful these days but I can lie down on my back so can do pelvic tilts and leg swings and also chair and standing exercises with a ball and long band.

MSE SCRIMPY THINGS
Only spend today was £20 for my Pilates session. 

I also received £6.18 into my current account from Topcashback which will go into the Holiday category of my budget. 

beanielou

Sounds sounds like you have been having a most fantastic time. 🤗😍