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Rolling Down the Green Hill Towards REtirement ππππ
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Well done on coping with the chemo. DH has just finished his eighth and (we hope) final session.
He found the same about the steroids and fatigue. Please rest and cope in whatever way suits you, and take help for your symptoms.Β
I don't know if you have it intravenously but he was so glad to lose the picc line.7 -
Well done you for still thinking about MS during this difficult period.Β You are better than me, I would be wallowing in self pity and spending on what I want now, rather than thinking of how to do whatever frugally.Β Hope everything goes ok with DH and his work, hope his stress levels diminish and that you get a nice selection of wigs!Β Not everyone can rock the Jada Pinkett Smith look!What I do not give, you must never take by force.
Mortgage outstanding - 30/12/22 - Β£25,900. 31/01/23 - Β£22,300. 28/02/23 - Β£20,500. 31/03/23 - Β£17,500. 30/04/23 - Β£15,800. 30/05/23 - Β£13,800. 31/06/23 - Β£11,300. 31/07/23 - Β£9,800. 31/08/23 - Β£8,300. 30/09/23 - Β£6,000. 31/10/23 - Β£3,000. 30/11/23 - Β£1,200. 06/12/23 - Β£00.00
God save us everyone, As we burn inside the fire of a thousand suns, For the sins of our hands, The sins of our tongues, The sins of our fathers, The sins of our young. Linkin Park8 -
Just sending you a big hug. Take care of you too. Your DH does not need to worry about work - he is able to take a different opportunity, or take some time out with you (or both) thanks to your frugality and savings over the years. Stay positive, you've got this.
No experience of wigs but I currently have a long scarf, about 30cm wide, wrapped as a headscarf from under my hairline at the nape of my neck up to the top, with just a tuft of fringe then tied in a single knot and bow - I have been experimenting with what I call the 1950s duster look ahead of a jubilee dress-up party. I can recommend it for a bit of decorative frippery that is not uncomfortable and DH says it is better than a hatSave Β£12k in 2025 #2 I am at Β£4863.32 out of Β£6000 after May (81.05%)
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I am at Β£1286.68/Β£3000 or 42.89% of my annual spend so far
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the Grow your own thread
My new diary is here8 -
Hey greent,Β Β thinking of you.
4/10/22One Year Mortgage Free Yay!
NSTurtle # 55 π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’π’π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ π’ No Turtle gets left behind.[/b]
******PROUD MEMBER OF THE TOFU EATING COALITION OF CHAOS !!!******8 -
Yeah, me too xx
NST March lion #8; NSD ; MFW9/3/23 Whoop Whoop!!!7 -
Me three ...2023: the year I get to buy a car6
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Waves at GreentAchieve FIRE/Mortgage Neutrality in 2030
1) MFW Nov 21 Β£202K now Β£174.8K Equity 32.77%
2) Β£3K Net savings after CCs 6/7/25
3) Mortgage neutral by 06/30 (AVC Β£22.5K + Lump Sums DB Β£4.6K + (25% of SIPP 1.1K) = 28.2/Β£127.5K target 22;12% updated 6/7
4) FI Age 60 income target Β£16.5/30K 55.1%
5) SIPP Β£4.6K updated 6/7/254 -
,,,,,slinks back in sheepishly...... waves at everyone and says hi and thanks for all the thoughts
x
No excuse for not posting on here other than mental fatigue - and some physical. I'm now 3 chemo sessions down (half way - whoop!) and have acquired the lovely accessory of a PICC line since just before session 3, as my veins were not liking one of the drugs (epirubicin - nasty stuff) - it's not too bad as far as sleep goes and if it stops my fine motor skills getting worse (slight trouble typing and doing things like pegs for laundry) I'm all for it!
Β Each session is seeing me more tired than the last - although #2 was horrible for side effects and then more side effects of drugs taken to combat side effects - and then the same again.... urgh! I've just gone for battling as many side effects without optional drugs as possible this time - has to be easier!
June is a pain in that I have a second session in just under 2 weeks - that's a change of chemo drugs, so I have no idea how that one is going to go. Anecdotal evidence is not a fun read... meh! (Neither is the official stuff from Macmillan etc)
I have lost maybe 75-80% of my hair - maybe 85? I clearly had a LOT of hair to begin with (fine, but masses of hair) - if you look at me straight on (and aren't taller than me) you can't tell at first - I just look like I have thin hair - but if you are taller than me or take a closer look you can see my crown just has a tiny bit of fuzz (by crown I mean the whole of the top of my head - not just the actual crown area...) and the bits above my ears are very patchy. However, I am keeping what I have got left without buzzing it off yet - it does help protect from the cold when cold capping - and cold capping helps protect from permanent hair loss (a possible side effect of the next chemo drug)
IN other news.... DH did not get the job in the reorganisation - urgh! He is gutted and his MH is really poor. I have felt far too rough this past week to do much other than (effectively) say 'there there' - we have savings, we have no mortgage or other debts - honestly, I can't get too excited by it all - I've been feeling far too poorly! It is a total pain, sure - but there are other priorities (likewise if we'd won the 184million lottery like the local couple did the other week it wouldn't change the chemo/ radiotherapy situation - even if I was getting chemo in the local Boopa hospital it wouldn't make it any better - I'd just probably have a dedicated nurse the whole time and a nice room to myself - and a nicer quality lunch! (NHS egg sandwiches are totally fine, though ) - and I could be doing that anyway - we have health cover with his job (although obviously not much longer! 
) ) - money can make life easier, but it doesn't solve everything - and we have enough ready money for a few years if necessary.... (eek at that thought!)
It does mean that I may get rid of my cleaner, though
I will be sad about this - but DH assures me that he will do it all..... I remain to be convinced....!
DS2 is more than half way through GCSEs - and they are going ok - I was very concerned about his MH at one point but we ended up with a tutor for 1 subject which has totally changed his way of thinking and made him happy - they just 'clicked' - well worth the Β£35/ week for her - it's a core subject and has helped with other subjects indirectly too. He finished with her last weekend, so that cost has also now finished (although I would have continued to pay it if not - it has helped him massively with exam confidence and overall MH - and worked better than the school counsellor for MH)
What other news....? Hmm.... DS1 comes home just before the month end. He will still be working on his dissertation until Sept/ Oct, but at least no more rent to pay! He may have to go back to his uni city a couple of times for some practical work over the Summer, but the local prem13r inn is cheap enough for the odd night. I'm going to try and persuade him to apply for a job at the local services (Gloucester Services - award winning - not your usual class of motorway services!) for over the Summer - they are looking for PT help until Sept/ Oct - which would fit perfectly - and have a free staff bus which runs along the main road (a 10 min walk from here) - it would fit in with his diss, get him some money - and get him some skills/ examples for CV/ job interviews - what's not to like? (the early morning starts, I suspect!)
My plan is to do a 6 month round up of 2022 achievements vs plan at the end of the month.... I don't expect to have ticked off much - I haven't even looked back at what I said in Dec/ Jan for 2022 yet. Life is what happens whilst you're busy making plans, after all...... (that is not said in a downbeat way at all - very tongue in cheek!)
Now to hang out the washing (3rd attempt today - it keeps raining, even though both weather apps said no!)ΒI am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soulRepaid mtge early (orig 11/25) 01/09 Β£124616 01/11 Β£89873 01/13 Β£52546 01/15 Β£12133 07/15 Β£NILNet sales 2024: Β£2017 -
I do tend to believe what is happening right outside my window, rather than what an App says!
Great to see you are still upbeat, although tired from the treatment.Β Fingers crossed it goes well in the end.
Shame about the cleaner, as long as DH does actually do the cleaning, a win-win situation.
You have achieved a lot in 2022, namely you are still here, you are still looking forward and you remain positive in the face of adversity.
Looking forward to what you see as your achievements.
TxWhat I do not give, you must never take by force.
Mortgage outstanding - 30/12/22 - Β£25,900. 31/01/23 - Β£22,300. 28/02/23 - Β£20,500. 31/03/23 - Β£17,500. 30/04/23 - Β£15,800. 30/05/23 - Β£13,800. 31/06/23 - Β£11,300. 31/07/23 - Β£9,800. 31/08/23 - Β£8,300. 30/09/23 - Β£6,000. 31/10/23 - Β£3,000. 30/11/23 - Β£1,200. 06/12/23 - Β£00.00
God save us everyone, As we burn inside the fire of a thousand suns, For the sins of our hands, The sins of our tongues, The sins of our fathers, The sins of our young. Linkin Park10 -
Don't worry if you don't fancy the full update. I'm sure most of us are happy to just know you are persevering with the vile treatments and working through it. I feel sure I speak for many of us when I say we are all in your corner, and wishing you well, even when our words and good wishes feel inadequate, they are well meant and sincere xSave Β£12k in 2025 #2 I am at Β£4863.32 out of Β£6000 after May (81.05%)
OS Grocery Challenge in 2025 I am at Β£1286.68/Β£3000 or 42.89% of my annual spend so far
I also Reverse Meal Plan on that thread and grow much of our own premium price fruit and veg, joining in on the Grow your own thread
My new diary is here11
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