Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

doingitanyway

Wishing you better.

Alchemilla

How are things?

EssexHebridean

Must have been a night for odd dreams - I had one too! Hope the test comes back negative.

As for mortgage into the £1's - woo-hoo! 

jwil

Hope you are feeling better today.  Yay for being under £200k though, that's a great result in a short period of time!

savingholmes

Thanks MF, Lucielle, @try_harder , @skint_spice @WelshKitty85 , DIA, Jwil, EH and Alchemilla

Sorry my radio silence today just meant I went back to work. It was a struggle at times, coughing, foggy brain but made it through. PCR was clear which is something at least. Counsellor listening to me coughing and bunged up on the phone was glad she wasn't at risk of catching my illness! Temperature is back to 'normal' although still high for me by half a degree. I've got several urgent deadlines so it wasn't feasible to be off longer without risking them!!

I've booked a holiday!!! In a cottage for c£350 for a week in April so happy with that. I now need to work out what to do about the cat - whether my neighbour will be around to feed her or whether I need to search for a cattery. It's complicated by the fact we don't have a cat flap. DD should be home at least a few of the days. I've told her she'll need to sort out any of her lifts. (Progress for me. I pre-warned her rather than asking for permission.) Really hoping I avoid the cost of a cattery. I've put the cost on my points CC - but plan to pay off in full when I get my backpay next month.

I may book the last 2 weeks of April off - as that would give me all the way from Good Friday through to the May bank holiday off - 18 days off but only using up 9 A/L however if I don't manage to buy more holidays later in the year that's a huge chunk to lose. But I love long breaks - and there's a good chance that either my regrade or my PIP will come through or possibly both in which case I'll be able to afford to buy some extra annual leave later in the year.

DD's job is going well. They are sorting out all her lifts for the rest of this month which really takes pressure off me and my fuel costs which is positive. Her new formal base is sorted and is closer to home so that's a huge improvement. They are happy to provide lifts when she's at site until she gets her own van - including if she shifts to living with Ex. She seems to have well and truly landed on her feet. 

One of my sister's rang me today to check I was on a fixed rate mortgage as she reckons they are about to rocket upwards. (I am until Dec 26). I suggested she look at her own. I'm glad my mortgage is fixed as just energy alone never mind fuel is scary enough. I'm also grateful that I live close enough to work that even if I have to go in a few times a week it has limited impact. Once I'm not paying fuel for DD at all it will really help too. 

boxofpaws

That’s some all round good news. Glad you’re feeling better.

holiday cottage - you must share some details so we can get excited with you!

Great news about the lifts. Maybe they’ll find a way if making it a long term thing? 

And the fixed rate til 2026 is also good. I rang my mortgage advisor last week as my fix is nearly up and he was quite reassuring about interest rates, he said that wars generally suppressed them…it remains to be seen. My mortgage ends end of June which means I can lock in a new deal from 1st April which I’m going to do for 5 years, because I agree with you, I’d rather have one less variable.

savingholmes

I can't sleep which is very frustrating! May be due to eating hazelnut choc just before bed!! Really thirsty too which may be due to the meds. I am also worrying about a financial frog - and I'm unsure what the right solution is - so sitting on it a while longer. Annoyingly I have to take DD to the train station tomorrow so need to be up early!! Like in just over 3 hours!!

Thanks @boxofpaws Good luck with your mortgage. I think on interest rates it really depends how much the govt intervenes... DD will be training for a while yet so likely to travel with someone else for some time. 

It's lovely to have a couple of things to look forward to. 

The cottage is in beautiful countryside where there may be more than a fair share of lakes. It's near some of my fave places so looking forward to it. If I'd gone the week before it would have cost £200 more! You can see pretty views from the cottage itself. It is 2 bedroomed - so I could let 1 or both of my young adult kids come if I wanted but it's unlikely! I am hoping to use my break  to write, make art and hopefully get some (gentle) walking in in beautiful scenery. May dig out my walking boots and wear them in a bit more - although I don't expect to go off any beaten tracks - but it will keep my trainers looking pretty rather than muddy and help with grip   .

I've also booked the P Inn for my HP weekend in May so it was famous last words on the CC for this month - however that portion should be cleared next month. I am debating whether to have longer away then too and booking at least one other night somewhere but not made any decision as yet.

I invested an extra £50 into my pension while I still have room in my budget. My private pension value has dropped - erasing my recent payments in (£200 + £50 tax rebate) and it's currently about £100 less than when I started my diary. I'm seeking to 'buy the dip' and hope it works out in the longer term. Just slow and steady - if I lose it - it's the equivalent of eating out a few times rather than anything more substantial. This month's mortgage payment included my £20 OP too. 

Hope you are all keeping well and finding ways to keep your spirits up.

lucielle

I can’t sleep as well. Cottage sounds lovely!!  An excellent place to recharge your batteries. 

L

Chrystal

I'm also still up!  Body  clock totally caput for months now.
 
The cottage sounds lovely SH.  Beautiful surroundings and total peace sounds like paradise.... I'll keep dreaming
Is it not possible for DD to get a taxi to the train station?  (((hugs))) XX

Sunshine_girl2

Ooh SH you are going to my happy place for your cottage break, very envious . I am sometimes up at daft o'clock as well but recently have been sleeping well. Hope you aren't to tired today .