Prosperous soul embraces creativity & mortgage neutrality

savingholmes

Thanks GAP

Sea Holly. Definitely great for pollinators. I have pink roses in bloom too.

Well I took the rings to the post office at lunch. I did one lot of washing and hung it out. Got another load in now.

I upped my energy direct debits by 39£ to reduce the level of shock in October.

elantan

sea holly is lovely 

Orangetoes

Beautiful! Loving the sound of your bedroom. 

savingholmes

Thanks elantan and @Orangetoes

My room is improving - although the only thing I've done in there today is continue to remove stuff. I've booked part of tomorrow off so my cleaner and I can tackle some of the clutter so it doesn't go back in there. Painting still needs finishing but that will probably wait until the weekend now. 

Had a lovely time with my friends (ex-neighbours). I'd not seen them since Xmas but we caught up on all our goings on - sad and happy times on both sides and agreed to meet up again in a few weeks. They are trying to do SW too - so they'll potentially prepare a main and I'll bring a desert!

I need to nip out tomorrow and buy some bin bags. They all seem to have disappeared. DD denies all knowledge but TBF I can't remember when I last bought any. Sure we can make do with some charity bags in the meantime!

girlatplay

I love that you are catching up with old friends.  It feels good to do that, I find.

elantan

catching up with friends is an amazing way to spend a day, hope you spent the day laughing 

savingholmes

Thanks GAP and El

Yes it was lovely to catch up with friends.

I've been feeling whacked this week - so must have over-done it last weekend. I used some annual leave to cushion my flexi - and had intended to still work 6 hours today but I gave up after 4.5. Just too tired. Don't know whether it's post covid fatigue, whether it's my on-going issues or whether I just over did it - but wiped. Body battery shows 7% which reflects how I feel. Unfortunately that means I still owe time. May just book another 0.5 day and have done.

I spent 90 mins this am decluttering with my cleaner - but was mostly sat down. We got rid of about a bin bag - and we filled my chest of drawers and my wardrobe with my clothes. The wire basket thing is now empty and will go in the garage (once I make space for it). I also went for a medical appt at lunchtime that I only booked this morning. Trying to practice more self-care - but it derailed today's plan a bit.

I have to go in work tomorrow for a meeting. It's not far - but it's all extra effort and energy and organisation skills. I have my counselling appt later in the day so hopefully won't spend the whole day at the office. I'm looking forward to seeing my boss for a bit - but could do with not feeling so tired!

I will go and lie down upstairs and see if I can reset. I had more energy towards the back end of last week - and I think I just got carried away... plus when I'm focused on something - I just want it done and tend to push myself too hard...

Hope your days were better than mine! Mine wasn't bad - other than my energy levels.

LadyWithAPlan

Just caught up with your diary, so much going on! Well done on the weight loss, the art, your regrade getting your life really focused forward and also getting your PIP sorted. 
Plus loving all the flower pics.

I will say re your son in London, and I know you know all this actually having dealt with all your battles and won I am saying this partly cos you are being a fabulous mother to both your kids but you don't need to take the pressure of his decisions onto yourself including financially.
You need to look after yourself first.

I am not saying don't help him but honestly my parents never helped me financially past uni and even then it was negligible help in the 3rd year, I paid them back  and more within 3 years as they needed a short term loan  and I bear them no ill will  

I have lived in London since I moved here for uni except when I worked abroad and one has to just accept  and really acknowledge the reality that its always much much more expensive here - rent, houses, bars, food, entertainment and you have to live dealing with that for a lifetime.  He has chosen this as well.

I am a HR tax payer with 0 debt it is still not easy. I also MB for extra cash and work for a few different companies.  I rarely go out to dinner, I shop at lidl,  I love festivals, gigs and art but don't go as much as I would like, my holidays are normally work related, Its the reality of living in London.  When I don't watch my budget its easy to spend a fortune just going out a couple of times a week.

Not to say that is a reason to not leave - I am still here and finally trying to buy a flat - but a monthly budget is almost de-rigeur here and a need to really keep on top of savings and lots of extra side jobs. So a bar job at night/weekends on top of his day job might short term get his debts down etc and then he can re-look. 

Guardian properties are great - I suggest he contacts all of the companies and keeps doing so as their properties change all the time and sometimes moving areas in London or further out - the bus and tubes are fantastic - can really help your budget. 

Sacrifices do have to be made for living in the one of the greatest (and most expensive) cities in the world, you choose one thing so you can't have another ; distance from your friends vs size of room vs cost vs spare time.  There are some areas I loved living in eg Soho I simply cant afford to buy in and definitely don't want to pay that much rent any more.

Not that you could have told me this when I was young ) However facing the issue head on I find has been helpful to me.

Your son sounds like an amazing support for you and sounds lovely and kind.  However please don't worry or feel you should be doing more for him as he is now a grown up especially on the money side. He has made his choice on where to live. You give so much to both your kids, all these 100 miles drives etc and you need time to be you, support yourself as well

girlatplay

Make sure you are getting plenty of rest, you have been doing a lot, and also enough vitamins.  I think you're on SW so should be enough in that but no harm in a few extra.  Every doctor I see is trying to shove vitamins down my throat but then I probably need them to be fair.

elantan

ever heard of Dana White A slob comes clean ? 

when I was off with covid I watched her a lot, she has a great way of helping you organise cupboards and spaces. 

I watched loads of videos and really got into Swedish death cleaning 

I thought I was a ladybird but i think it turned out I'm ladybird/cricket ... ( that's minimalist mum I think) I like everything put away where they cant be seen but labelled and I like all things matching ... that'so me ...just not what I have or can afford sadly