Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

savingholmes

Thanks @try_harder @beanielou @Tahlullah.H @doingitanyway @happihorse @Crystal @MovingForwards

You really cheer me up when you all post. Thanks for taking the time to follow, read and post. Waves at lurkers! I have some cat litter in the garage.

I am feeling happier. A weight has been lifted with the debt gone. It's been lovely buying things that have felt a pain for a while but I've lived with - like getting an extension cable with surge protection, a new ergonomic mouse, underwear etc. It's been lovely having time off and doing more and to have future things in the diary too that I am looking forward to. The weather has been kind although its watering my garden right now. I got about 3600 steps in at lunchtime in the sun going to and from a local park and part way around a lake. I sat and journalled for a while so it was really peaceful. Spoke to a couple of passersby.

A work meeting I was dreading on one level went better than expected, on another I've discovered I need consent for something I was hoping to just do - so that's potentially added months of delay. I need to break the news to the wider team tomorrow.

Had my second meal from the TGTG carvery today. Definitely enough for 2 more meals - just need to add some meat. Really filling too. Strongly recommend TGTG. My cleaner is loving the Starbks one and C0st@ - she normally gets about 6 things so divides them among the family and feels they've had a real treat for £3-5. 

Looking forward to SW - loving that its free for a while. Hopefully it can get me back into better habits. My weight has stabilised but not dropped.

I'd quite like a wearable 'tracker' but I need an extra large wristband. I note @EssexHebridean calls her last one a Sh*tb*t and moved to G@m*n but Ex had one and it looked quite 'long' on the wrist and clunky. I've tried a cheapo version and it was useless. Not sure whether to try again or not and if so what? I did exercise more when I had one tho - of the F variety - altho - on mine the wrist strap went at a time when you couldn't get replacements for that version so I ended up quite disillusioned too.

savingholmes

I had other good news today. I need it in writing but my payrise is being backdated to December. I will then get a second increment towards the end of 2022 and a nice chunk of backpay in July. I will buy extra annual leave but may end up paying for that Oct-Mar. Then next April I can buy 10 days leave over 12 months instead of 6 which will be kinder on my budget. While it would be lovely to have the extra pay - extra holidays help me keep my job and give me more flexibility.

I plan to keep building my EF - although AVCs are also calling me. I want to enjoy life now and save for my future. It's a difficult balance.

skint_spice

I have a g@rm*n and find mine difficult to get new straps for but I changed from the f!tb!t as I wanted something with GPS for running.  I really liked the charge model as I could change straps easily but can't do this with current watch without a screwdriver.  Still happy enough just saying...I gave my charge to someone who never uses it!

DancingInTheRain

All sounding positive, great news on getting your pay sorted. Hope they don't take too long to get it all in writing for you, well done on all the effort you put in to making this happen. Fingers crossed you get your PIP agreed soon too x

EssexHebridean

G@min now do easy change straps, I’ve got a gorgeous iridescent “Milanese” strap on mine but can easily switch it back to the original silicon one. I wouldn’t throw more money at Sh*tB*t if I had it to burn, quite honestly. They only have any commitment to supporting the newest models - but continue to sell the older ones regardless. My last one failed twice inside 6 months and all they’d do was offer me yet another replacement.  The G@rain I have is a Vivoactive 4S - it’s round so looks less “chunky” on my wrist than the Charge 3 did, and it’s really comfy to wear too.I’ve got tiny wrists as well so if it doesn’t look chunky on me it won’t on anyway! 😂 I tried a friend’s Charge 4 on out of interest and it stuck out each side of my wrist! 🤣

MovingForwards

Congratulations on the back pay!

beanielou

Woohoo on the back pay.

hugglemonster

Wow I forget how quickly your diary moves!

Absolutely fantastic news about the job grade and the backdated pay, also good news on the water bill.

You definitely sounds like a different person and are enjoying life, good on you!

H x

Humdinger1

Wonderful to see things going so well for you @savingholmes; you truly deserve it.  It will be interesting to see how stress removal boosts your creative life.  Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx

Mickyh-s

Great news regarding the back pay! x