Simple living in the country - back to basics

KajiKita · 6 January 2022 at 3:08PM

Hello Cheery,

I'm a relative Newby on these boards but I am loving your posts and your level headed and determined approach to life smile:

I'm aiming to get my financial house in better order this year (spendthrift? Me?? Ah well .... yes, maybe .... Ahem!

) and your posts have already given me some really useful ideas - thank you.

Can I ask what the Money Wheel is?

Hope Mr Cheery Snr is reunited with his dog soon, for all your sakes

and do keep going with all the posts

KK

Chiglepig · 6 January 2022 at 3:48PM

badmemory said:

I wish more people were like you & were sensible/faced reality about pet ownership. All those people who bought pets during the first lockdown & are now abandoning them like they are nothing make me want to scream at them.

I totally agree with this - as a dog owner. Do not be guilted into adopting the dog if it ever comes to it. It has to be a positive for you.

(edited because only half of the post was showing

!)

pinkypig · 6 January 2022 at 10:09PM

Awww sorry you’ve had a touch of the glums Cherry, the broken sleep won’t be helping. Everything feels overwhelming when you’re tired. Get yourself in that bath!!!
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your new diary. I’m in awe of your match betting,
Take care

PP xx

Cheery_Daff · 6 January 2022 at 10:29PM

KajiKita said:

Hello Cheery,

I'm a relative Newby on these boards but I am loving your posts and your level headed and determined approach to life smile:

I'm aiming to get my financial house in better order this year (spendthrift? Me?? Ah well .... yes, maybe .... Ahem! ) and your posts have already given me some really useful ideas - thank you.

Can I ask what the Money Wheel is?

Hope Mr Cheery Snr is reunited with his dog soon, for all your sakes and do keep going with all the posts

KK

Hi KK, and welcome to MSE! Do you have your own thread we can all come and nosey at?

The Happy Wheel is how I often refer to Matched Betting. This is basically taking advantage of the promotional offers given by gambling sites to make a bit of extra dosh - this website is a good introduction:

https://www.teamprofit.com/

Not for everyone - certainly not if you're disorganised or tempted to gamble. It's a lot less lucrative than it used to be apparently, but I'm late to the party! I did make about £5k a couple of years ago though, and since then it's been a bit haphazard as I've been busy with other stuff. Looking to build it back up again now though. I mostly do casino offers now (rather than sports) - this is NOT guaranteed money in the same way though so it does fluctuate (and I absolutely don't recommend starting with casino). I refer to it as the Happy Wheel as one of the offers was called that and it just stuck.

Anyway, speaking of the Happy Wheel, had a good win this evening, and total for January now stands at £101!

Chiglepig said:
I totally agree with this - as a dog owner. Do not be guilted into adopting the dog if it ever comes to it. It has to be a positive for you.

I definitely won't be guilt tripped into adopting the dog - not after the number of times he's weed in the kitchen today

I've taken him outside SO many times, we've walked up the road a couple of times, and round the garden many more, and I was still in the middle of an important meeting earlier when I turned round and saw him weeing up a dining chair. Grrr.

Not sure whether he's missing Mr Cheery, doesn't want to go outside because it's cold, thinks I've been ignoring him all day (I've been working - he's been on the sofa in the same room), or is just getting used to living here so thinks he can wee everywhere. Definitely going back on Sunday!

pinkypig said:

Awww sorry you’ve had a touch of the glums Cherry, the broken sleep won’t be helping. Everything feels overwhelming when you’re tired. Get yourself in that bath!!!
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed your new diary. I’m in awe of your match betting,
Take care
PP xx

Thanks PP. I'm very much enjoying your renewed diary too! I'm trying to be consistent with the MB stuff - it's paying off so far this month but I know it can go in the opposite direction with casino stuff!

Cheery_Daff · 6 January 2022 at 10:39PM

Funny old day here. Freezing cold, and we've had snow too - it's melted on the drive, but we're due a heavier bout tomorrow morning.

Mr Cheery went to visit his dad again this morning - I spoke to him at tea time and he was extremely grumpy and was planning to stay over (sleeping in the car) so he could crack on tomorrow too. So I've been on dog and chicken duties as well as work - and I was very pleased when I even managed to take the recycling out as well! (I know that's ridiculous, but I forget SO often with no organised neighbours to spy on - and yes I do have an alarm set! Sometimes I just can't be bothered, as it's a long way to the top of the drive...)

Had the last of the frittata for lunch, and fried the last of the curry and rice with an egg for tea. Also munched my way through some Christmas cake and chocolate biscuits - I really shouldn't be left unsupervised.

We have run out of dog food now - he only has what's left in his bowl. Most vexing - Mr Cheery refused to get some yesterday, saying he'd go on Friday morning, but of course now he's 100 miles away and there's snow forecast. Dog is used to eating all manner of rubbish that Mr Cheery's dad eats (sausages, sandwiches, cream buns etc) but being a vegetarian who eats a high proportion of veg and pulses I don't think my diet will tempt him

He's only shown enthusiasm for cheese so far, but obviously I don't want to give him too much. He did have a mouthful of frittata at lunchtime, and I made him some scrambled egg with cheese and a bit of plain rice at tea time to spin out the last of the food - he's eaten some of that at least.

Looks like he'll be having an omelette for breakfast, and then I'll walk to the village shop if I can't get the car out in the snow. Bit far for the dog sadly.

Tree surgeon postponed til tomorrow because of the snow, and the plumber is meant to be coming tomorrow to fit the electric heater, although I suspect that might be postponed as well...

Me and the dog are curled up on the sofa now - I think we'll sleep here rather than the sofa bed - there's less room but it's a lot firmer and more comfortable.

Quite enjoying staying at home though. It occurred to me earlier that I've only been away from the homestead once this year - a five minute drive to the village shop for dog food on Tuesday. We normally end up running around quite a bit so I'm enjoying staying in one place!

savingholmes · 6 January 2022 at 10:55PM

Sorry the dog is misbehaving. Hopefully not your concern for much longer. I don't envy Mr Cheery sleeping in his car in this weather. Is that wise?

Cheery_Daff · 6 January 2022 at 11:00PM

savingholmes said:

Sorry the dog is misbehaving. Hopefully not your concern for much longer. I don't envy Mr Cheery sleeping in his car in this weather. Is that wise?

Probably not, but my sensible suggestions were rebuffed, so I figured he's old enough to make his own stupid decisions and if he ends up cold, maybe he'll listen to me next time...