Simple living in the country - back to basics

Cheery_Daff

Morning MSE chums 😊

We had a nice trip out last night 😊 £15 spent from the join treats pot so all good. Had a lazy breakfast in bed this morning so only just getting going. 

Mr Cheery has a gig tonight. I think I'm going to go with him, drop him off early, and then head to MeadowHell on a final jacket/smart cardi mission 🙄 Not the most frugal decision, but I can't even remember the last time I bought a non-underwear, non-shoe item of clothing that wasn't from a charity shop, and YNAB tells me I spent around £89 on clothes in total last year (including underwear and shoes!) so it's not like this happens a lot 😂

In the meantime, I want a full draft of my presentation by the end of today, so tomorrow can be for tinkering and practicing.

Gig is in a pub, but I won't have anything other than soda water, and Mr Cheery won't have more than one drink I wouldn't think, so should be a fairly cheap night. 

Might try and get something into the hay box then freezer for a meal or two in the week, but job prep takes priority today.

Have a cheerful one all 😊

LadyWithAPlan

On the makeup I find loads of foundations even v expensive ones get cakey - of course this time of year our skin gets extra dry with heating on etc 
(I use Mac Face & Body - lasts for 6-9 months so  becomes a reasonable cost) 
but sounds like she didn’t prep your skin well if your normal stuff is fine 

if you like the eye makeup she did it’s always worth looking on YouTube for eye make up tutorials and colours they use - Bourjois that that only sells now in Superdrug is actually made in same factory as Chanel (basically the sake but different labels) and their (Chanel and bourjois) eyeshadows are amazing 

good luck ! 

Cheery_Daff

Thanks for the tips! 

Delighted to report that I now have my refund for those non-fitting boots, so that's £44 back in the account. I had to pay for postage, of course, which is fine. Still less messing than selling them onwards myself. 

Cheery_Daff

YAWN.

We just got in 😱 Well, I've got into my nightie and am waiting for the kettle to boil for the hot water bottle. What a long afternoon! 

Left 3.45, dropped Mr Cheery at pre-gig rehearsal and went to MeadowHell. 2.5 hours of walking back and forth and trying things on and I concluded that (a) the thing I was imagining doesn't exist, and (b) there's usually more variety in a bunch of charity shops (and far less walking) 🙄😂

I picked up one cardigan that I thought might do the trick - £198!! 😱😱 Obviously I swiftly put it back down again, I'm not that desperate.

Tried on a couple of jackets in quite a cheerful shop, they were interesting (and not giving bank uniform vibes like so many others), but just felt a bit bulky for what I wanted. 

Finally bought an emergency cardi for £20 in TK Maxx. Pretty smart, got kind of lapels and a vaguely jacket-y shape but floppy like a cardi. Not really what I was looking for, but actually looks better at home than in the changing room. 

Not a cheap trip. £20 cardi, about £30 on a stock up of various toiletries and some eyeshadow, £8 on food 🙄. Gig was cheerful, just soda water. I was charged £1.60 for the first, then I think they charged me £6 for 2 at the next round but it was too noisy and I just paid it 🙄

beanielou

£198 for a cardigan. Wow. 

I would be frightened to wear it 😹

rtandon27

Yikes at the price of that cardigan - for that price I'd be living in it 24/7/365 for a couple of years!

Cheery_Daff

Ha, yes, I thought both of those things! 😂😂 To be fair when you mostly buy from charity shops, £20 for a cardi seems like an extravagance 😂😂

So. Mr Cheery has gone to his dad's, so he's out til mid evening. I've cancelled going to band practice this evening, so I have the rest of the day to prepare. Need a bit of a plan, and I need to mix sitting down and standing up as I'm getting quite stiff 🙄 

Took myself to the cafe this morning for a change of scene, and now have a draft presentation and some more interview questions answered.

So, here's a plan.

2-3pm QUESTIONS
* finish draft answers to all questions
* make list of things that still need reading

3-3.30 FOOD
* make & eat food
* watch videos from panel members

3.30-4.30 PRESENTATION
* next draft of presentation
* write out script
* timed practice reading
* make adjustments 

4.30-5 CAR
* quick cleaning out of the car - got lots of stuff in from last night that I don't want to leave while it's parked in town

5-6pm READING
* skim read through all extra documents on list 
* changes to presentation/answers if necessary

6-6.30 FOOD
* make & eat something
* videos if necessary

6.30-8 FINAL PREP
* finish presentation slides
* timed practice
* bullet points written out for each answer (and printed?)
* print presentation (& script?)
* save everything on 2 memory sticks
* decide whether to take laptop just in case


8-9pm PRACTICALITIES
* make final decision about outfit
* find underwear
* clean shoes
* check weather 
* decide where I'm going to park
* decide where I'm going over lunchtime
* clean out bag and pack ready
* make breakfast for tomorrow

9pm RELAXING
* bath and wash hair
* possibly paint nails (maybe just clear though, I don't want to be fussing if I chip one 🙄)

I'd like to set off about 8am tomorrow - should get me parked up over 2 hours before I have to be there, so plenty of time to get stuck in traffic, park further away and walk, nosey around the building a bit first, and have a stabilising cuppa. 

Right, that's good - I can see where I've got to be at certain points and hopefully won't spend too long on each bit to the detriment of other bits. Have to remind myself I've done a LOT of preparation already, these are just the final touches. I do already feel like I know enough about the place that I already work there, which was my goal. 

Now my goals is to just not stand in my own way!

beanielou

Sending you so many positive vibes & energy for tomorrow xxx

badmemory

Have you tried lime & soda.  I find it more satisfying than just soda & once the bar I was in said it is free because it wasn't on the till/computers menu.

Cheery_Daff

Thanks Beanie 😊

I usually drink blackcurrant and soda badmemory 😊 and there's a real mix of charges for it - some places just charge for the blackcurrant, others charge far more! Last night was £1.60 for one drink and I think £3 for the other 🙄😂 I might have quibbled if it hadn't been so noisy and busy!