So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

Karmacat

That Premier mattress has such good feedback!  Your experience sounds utterly dire.  I have no suggestions though - I spent £650 on a mattress 10 years ago from a local chain, it was awful, and when the technician came along .... long story, we had a breakdown in communication, and no one would talk to me after that.  Which is apparently okay with the ombudsman.  I literally had it taken to the tip, it felt wrong to sell it, and bought one for £350.  Much better.  

Such a shame about yours, though - as I say (implied) above, I went to the ombudsman, and I was surprised they were no help.  Weights and Measures?  Name and shame on fb or twitter?  Guardian?  The question you ask, about why this specific fault isn't mentioned in literature pre-sale, is entirely reasonable!

Very different from your Riverford experience!  Wow, in a good way.


PS sorry about your back, especially since treatment made it worse  

themadvix

Thanks Karma - some good suggestions there and I didn't even know there was an ombudsman that would cover this area. I'll look into that first, although from your experience, it may not work. I'll see what the retailer says first though - even a partial refund would be something, although I doubt we'll get that.

Yes, Riverford customer service, in comparison, is like night and day. They are always brilliant.

The back thing is irritating-  especially as that wasn't what I went to him about mainly (although I think partly it is). But it's a work in progress and he's aware of the fact it's now become an issue. Mainly I need to take up pilates, but it's finding the time to get me added to Mr MV's gym membership (better value like that) and then get down there. And the minor issue of not really wanting to exercise in a group environment!

savingholmes

Hope your back improves soon.

QueenJess

themadvix said:

Thanks Karma - some good suggestions there and I didn't even know there was an ombudsman that would cover this area. I'll look into that first, although from your experience, it may not work. I'll see what the retailer says first though - even a partial refund would be something, although I doubt we'll get that.

Yes, Riverford customer service, in comparison, is like night and day. They are always brilliant.

The back thing is irritating-  especially as that wasn't what I went to him about mainly (although I think partly it is). But it's a work in progress and he's aware of the fact it's now become an issue. Mainly I need to take up pilates, but it's finding the time to get me added to Mr MV's gym membership (better value like that) and then get down there. And the minor issue of not really wanting to exercise in a group environment!

I am not a fan of exercise classes, but I used to love my weekly pilates class. It’s not quite the same as other classes. Definitely do it though because there are loads of people who were at my class due to back problems and they were so much better for it.

I need to go back, although zero time to do it at the moment. I don’t have any back problems right now, but I’d rather not develop any. If I don’t exercise, my lower back just gets ridiculously flexible and without some stomach muscle support, that won’t end well!

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Queen Jess, that sounds good. That is exactly the reason I need to go to pilates - compressed discs and a lack of core to support my back.

Having a productive day so far. Ended up feeling very out of sorts yesterday late afternoon - shivery and miserable as well as in discomfort from back. Was tempted to abandon planned meal (home-made breaded fish, with hg potato wedges and Olio-free mushy peas), but pulled myself together, made a cup of tea to warm myself up and got on with it. Having the oven on helped (as did the couple of glasses of wine, I'm sure). We are having stir fry tonight to use up various bits (apparently this concept had briefly completely deserted me and I was worrying about what to do with wilting veg!). Lunch will be ryvita crackers with emmental (leftover from last week) and cucumber (also from last week).

This morning I've applied for Cambridge pension - 5% employer contribution not to be sniffed at; sorted what I'm doing with my tax rebate (£500 to VG pension, the rest for useful spending/mortgage saving); initated withdrawal of PB money for last year's pension contributions (now tax return done); and posted on the pensions board about my query re transferring out of Nest.

Have also written up cat sitting notes/agreement and sent to friend and client. 

Shortage of 'my' work today, but I've got some Cambridge stuff to do for the new project, so I'll crack on with that (meeting with them soon). Also need to sort cat sitting insurance.

Scaffolders are here, and the house is slowly getting lighter Had an update from laptop co. and have chased this - making sure they send new one, not the same one back! It did have a scratch (of their causing) so I'll be able to check.

Re the mortgage. Our fix ends in June next year when we'll have less than £20k remaining. Currently targeting it ending within 17 months of that based on Mr MV's regular OPs once we're on SVR. Of course, we don't know how much I'll be able to contribute, but that will be the main focus of savings between now and June (aside from pots and the occasional mini target - but I need to focus on mortgage not fun stuff for a bit!)- it would be great to be in a position to make a big overpayment as soon as we come off the fix.

MS things:
* PA surveys - between all the skipping between laptops, this has slipped this month, but I'm getting back into it
* 1P - had also slipped but trying to be a bit more motivated
* YouGov safe - need to ask Mr MV for permission to use his log ins for Disney and Netflix - that would be more money and it's what I watch
* HW and clicks done - small win on HW today, at last!

Gratitudes:
* New series of Taskmaster was highly entertaining (the wine may have helped)
* The scaffolding is going - hooray! 
* Meeting has been cancelled

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Asked my question on the pensions board and blimey that kicked off (not at me - people were very helpful re my question). What a funny bunch, much safer here!

Time sheet submitted for this week (look forward to the 'surprise' pay next week! 😂). Card found for Dad's fiancee (birthday Sunday) and GFK TV survey vouchers lined up for Amazon purchase for her birthday present (it's a Kindle cover, so not easy to get elsewhere) - will save £4. Just waiting on a reply from Dad to confirm info. Need to make a card for a friend, but waiting for opinion from Mr MV who is on a call. Will then stick that in post box for this afternoon's walk (pension application was this morning's). 

Lunchtime now, I think!

badmemory

They may be a funny bunch but they are certainly the ones to ask aren't they?  How many extra questions did they ask you?  Sometimes it is an absolute load of them.  If you go on there regularly, which I used to do, not so often now, you get to know how they "talk".

badmemory

I've just had a look - yes nothing unusual there.  They do like to have the conversation!  Dunston by the way is very long serving even if making some assumptions like only a small pot.  Which with nest is usually correct.

Karmacat

Yep, I just had a look too.  Yikes 😁

savingholmes

Love your gratitudes and how close to MF you are.