Trying to get back to living my best life

Betharooni

@joedenise due to my role in the team, I doubt they will let me work from home beyond what’s already been agreed. Sadly masks aren’t mandatory on Southeastern trains, although they are on the London Underground. I’m probably going to ask for some flexibility regarding start and finishing times, hopefully starting and finishing earlier so I can avoid the worst of the busyness on the trains, which I have a greater likelihood of being agreed.

I received a very cool email today from Nationwide, who I hold my bank account and most of my savings accounts with. I hold an account called a Start to Save account, which I have to put between £50 and £100 each month and I then get entered into a prize draw every quarter. I won £100 in this quarter’s draw 🥳🥳 So that makes £125 I’ve won this month, between this and my Premium Bonds. What a result!

B x

joedenise

Good idea about asking to do shorter hours so you can avoid the rush hours, at least that way the trains should be less busy.  I also used to use South Eastern when I was working and used to catch a train around 6.30am which got me into the office for about 8am and I left about 3.30 to catch the train home about 3.50pm so it meant I avoided the worst of the rush hour.

Well done on your winnings this month.

savingholmes

Great news on your winnings. Good luck with your return to work plans. Are they offering you a phased return?

AntoMac

I wouldn’t be surprised if we were strongly encouraged to work from home again very soon, the way the cases are going. I went into the office last week and it was I would say over 50 per cent wearing masks. The train wasn’t too busy but could get interesting if there’s more people returning to work in the office. I always picture it as trains being generally busier your side of the country @Betharooni but pre-lockdown we had regular ‘sardine can’ journeys pre lockdown. Sometimes it was absolutely crazy how we were all packed in,

Betharooni

Thanks joedenise, savingholmes and AntoMac for your comments.

@savingholmes no, they have not offered me a phased return.

@AntoMac I wouldn’t be surprised if we get told to work from home again within the next couple of weeks, the figures just seem to be getting silly again. I used to get the 6am train to Victoria and even that was jam-packed full by the time it got to London, even though we got there at 7ish. I went in super early because it was still quieter than going on any of the later trains. I’ll probably still get the same train now.

I’ve had a quite spendy weekend. My mum & I went to a re-opened knitting and sewing shop in my local town on Saturday, we should now have enough wool to keep us occupied for the rest of the year at least 😂 Then we went for lunch on Sunday and I popped into Boots for some fresh make-up and to M&S for some clothing.

My plans for this week are to go through my clothes in my wardrobe and sort out what I can wear for work next week and what stuff is too small for me at the moment. I have loads of items to photograph and advertise for sale, which I have been putting off 😕 One of my nieces has asked me to make a cardigan for her so I would like to get as much of it done this week as I can. The back and most of one front are done, the other front, sleeves and button band to do. I have more knitting to do once that is complete. There’s plenty of stuff to watch on Sky+ or DVD (have been watching Elementary season 1 recently). Tomorrow I need to bring our brown garden waste bin round to the front of the house so that can be emptied and I can get refilling it. Plenty to do for free at home…I have no plans to spend anything until Friday this week, when I have another osteopath appointment. I get paid Friday and will be getting a little extra pay as I sold a week’s worth of holiday. I’m also hoping to get an account closed at a local building society (Kent Reliance Building Society) as I have accounts with better interest elsewhere.

B x

Betharooni

Hey

Sorry for not posting for ages, exhausting few weeks.

I was correct that it wouldn’t be long before we were back to working from home - I was in the office for 2 days before the figures in my office went too high and have been back at home for almost two weeks. They’re making a decision tomorrow about whether we’re back this week or not. 

Have done a load of decluttering over the last week. Have got rid of three big boxes that are no longer usable and are smothered in tape, a bag of small electrical items, an old strip light, two bags of non-recyclable waste (would have been too heavy to put out for normal waste collection), a small bag of batteries and a rusty metal stand that we used to have in our kitchen all to the tip. Dropped a box of knitted boobs at local hospital for their maternity unit. Have collected together a bag and mini case of stuff for charity shop that will need to be dropped off next weekend now, have a bag full of blankets to give to local homeless shelter on way home from dropping brother at work during the week, and a box of traffic light hats knitted for another local-ish hospital that needs to be posted. A massive pile of unwanted paperwork shredded and shredding put in garden waste bin. House still looks a tip, but it’s a start.

I’ve been planning some excursions with family over the next few months. I’ve arranged a whole family trip to a local Xmas market next month, it’s difficult to get everyone together as my nephew has a lot of health and sensory issues so am really looking forward to it. We’re also planning a day out with my brother, SIL and two nieces to London in January and a trip with them to watch The Lion King in February or March. All the while they want to spend time with me, I want to take advantage of it, as I know it won’t be long before it won’t be cool to spend time with their auntie. 

I have a minimum of one day in the office this week, I have plenty of knitting to keep me busy (and not spending), and will have a good go at cleaning and tidying as much as I can.

B x

Betharooni

Hi

Sorry for not posting in what seems like forever. I’ve been feeling really rough for the last few weeks and have been so run down that I’ve not really achieved anything much anyway, so not really had enough to say.

Ive been off sick again for the last couple of weeks with my head again, my sleep has been gradually getting worse and I got to the point that I couldn’t really function anymore. I was achieving very little either in or out of work time and just couldn’t keep going anymore. I had some bloods taken last week so need to make a docs appt to discuss them (and hopefully they might explain why I’m so run down) and want to have a general chat about my migraines and the effect they’re currently having on my mental health. I’m getting to a point where I can’t cope so I think I now need some extra help. I’m hoping to sort out an appointment tomorrow.

As I say, I haven’t really achieved much of anything over the last few weeks, although I did get out in our garden and did a tiny bit of gardening this afternoon and have had brief flashes of energy over the last couple of days, so I am hopefully on the road to feeling better and a bit more like my old self again.

I promise I won’t leave it so long before posting, will aim to post in the next few days again.

B x

AntoMac

Sometimes just getting through difficult days is an achievement @Betharooni so don’t be too hard on yourself.  Reaching out for extra help is the right thing to do. 

Betharooni

Hi

Got blood test results at beginning of the week - extremely low iron and vitamin d levels, so am on medication to bring those up for next 6 weeks and have to go for another blood test 4 weeks after I’ve finished those. Thyroid hormone level a little elevated too, so that will be checked again in that blood test too. I also asked for some mental health help and have been referred for counselling, the first session of which I’ll be having on Monday. I was offered anti-depressants as well but would rather start with the counselling and see if that helps, I can have the anti-depressants further down the line if I need them.

I’m signed off work for the next four weeks so am gonna make some plans of bits to do during that time. Will be very gentle with myself and ensure I have plenty of rest but it might be a good opportunity to get some stuff done while I don’t have the additional mental baggage of work.

I’ve had a couple of magic bags from a local cafe, some yummy sandwiches and rolls in there. Will definitely try and get more magic bags, pretty good deals.

Am sitting watching Christmas films and having a quiet day today, I drove my brother to visit one of his friends yesterday and am going to pick him up tomorrow.

B x

Betharooni

Merry Christmas to anyone reading this and to everyone on all the pages that I read along with.

Just checking in but will do a proper update over the next few days.

B x