Simple living in the country - back to basics

Karmacat

Good grief, Cheery, that *is* hard work to get to bed!  I really hope you can catch up on your sleep, both of you, one way or another.

edinburgher

Glad to hear Mr Cheery is home, a stay in hospital is never fun these days (not that it ever was).

themadvix

That was quite a dramatic (and drawn out) end to the day. I think I'd have been leaving the mouse there (either in the trap or running around) overnight! I hope you've both managed to catch up on sleep now and Mr Cheery is beginning to feel better. I'm sure a trip to the cafe will help!

Cheery_Daff

Thanks all 😊

Today we have both been quite drained, so it's been rather a lazy one. Cafe, and a bimble round a different town (we are plonked in the middle of several little towns so plenty to choose from). Walked round the park and along the river too.

Been quite wiped out this evening, so we've curled up on sofas in different rooms watching our own version of rubbish TV 😂 Mr Cheery had a bath, then discovered we'd caught the mouse we could hear last night after we evicted the last one 🙄 He was all damp after the bath, so I did the lay-by trip on my own, and of course it was p*ssing down 😂

Bit of flute playing (starting to prepare for Christmas concert 😱) and now I'm whacked and need to go back to bed.

I'd like to try and get back into a bit of a routine tomorrow. We're off to stay overnight with some friends, but not til after lunch, so I'd like to have a bit of a list for the morning.

* exercise video
* washing up
* clear dining table
* clothes out of bathroom
* clean washing from upstairs away
* hoover downstairs
* banks/YNAB
* check if Mr Cheery's Prolific money has arrived, and allocate to relevant pot
* make list of things to investigate/people to sound out re new job
* clean out both cars (especially the one that's had a mouse in it and is going for an MOT on Wednesday 🙄😂)

That'll probably do. Friends are a couple of hours away and working in the day, but we'll likely head down lunchtime ish for a bimble around their neck of the woods before heading to their house at tea time.

Cheery_Daff

Doing lots of pondering about this job. I think I said I saw one the other week and dismissed it - that was basically the same job as now, same pay, but full time and an extra hour each way commute (so 2 hours each way). 

This one is different. Same distance commute as now, a definite (but manageable) step up, full time, but slightly different duties which would likely mean slightly more flexible. I could still work at home a lot, and potentially more appropriate for compressed hours. 

I'd definitely miss my precious Fridays off... BUT (and this is a BIG but) - with the step up in role, and the step up to full time, it's about an extra £1k a month take home 😱 Which is, of course, rather a lot of money... 

Starting to create a list of things to do

* online investigations - department, institution, individual people's linkedin/other online presence/publications etc

* contacting people I know at that institution (I don't know anyone in the department sadly, but I bet someone I know does)

* I'd have to write a five year plan as part of the application, so some wider investigations to do round that too

* figuring out the online application system - had a quick look earlier, there doesn't seem to be a way to download the whole form at once, so I need to go through and check what exactly they want in each format

* need to check notice period at current job, and how that tallies with various ongoing projects.

Right now thinking I'll definitely apply and see how far I get. Deadline's not for a little while, I'd likely find out before Christmas, and if offered it, start Feb/March time depending on notice.

Of course, it's an attractive job, and likely to be VERY competitive... so I probably won't even get an interview, but I certainly won't get one if I don't apply, so...

Expect more ramblings as I mull things over...

LadyWithAPlan

So glad Mr C is home and hopefully will recover fully soon.

 I am seeing an entire 18-30 Club Mice on the local Moor ... maybe the smoke alarm was one of the mice dj-Ing and setting it off wondering where his friends had all gone too. I hate to suggest it  but if you are getting overrun could you otherwise borrow someone's cat for a long weekend - like a bouncer? I think the smell of the cat after keeps them away..
Loving the Mice study   

On the new job idea sounds great! I am sure with all your focused prep you will get an interview...

KajiKita

I would go for the job. If you get it the extra £1K per month could pay for a cleaner, which would offset some of the time lost on the Fridays. Also, how much more quickly would you get to mortgage free / pension-ready with that extra pay?

Also loving the idea of ‘Mouse Club’ and think a cat holiday at yours would help a lot! 😊

KK

beanielou

Sends one of the cats on their holidays. 

beanielou

Definitely go for the job. 

themadvix

You beat me to it Beanie, although I’d send B&W cat as he woke us up at 6 this morning even though we’ve both got the day off… and knowing that the Cheeries are owls not larks, I didn’t think that would be appreciated! 😂 Beautiful puss cat 😻