The Mental Debt Struggle...

Keedie

I've been a bit on the quiet side as I've been pondering life (as you do) and catching up on other people's diaries and spending some quality 'me time' with me, myself and I and had a great movie night with my son last night.

Does anyone remember the film Face/Off with Nicholas Cage and John Travolta? Well, didn't I feel old when I realised that it released in the UK in November 1997 and I was in Year 10! My son thought that was hilarious and at first refused to watch it, as "I'm not really looking to watch an olden days film", but I told him to give it 15 minutes and if he hates it, we'll switch but I was very confident that he'd see why it was in my Top Ten of films. Needless to say I was right and he loved it and I even got a fist bump at the end after we'd demolished our popcorn and sweets. He'd had a bad few days as his dad had let him down over Christmas, and my son went out with his friends and wasn't in the mood, and so he came home early, a little emotionally wounded and I suggested a movie night and take away. I only barely grimaced as I used my Christmas money to get us chinese, some popcorn and sweets, instead of putting it towards some headphones I wanted on Amazon. But seeing how excited he was to be home and hanging out with me like old times, well that was a much better way to spend my gift.

We even watched some short film on YouTube about Messi's football career in his room afterward our movie night, whilst we were having a gossip and it was really nice. He's decided that he wants to go to football college with his cousin and do a BTEC in Sports and Coaching Development and pick up with Business at uni or at a later stage. So he has to work really hard for upcoming football trials and I'm hoping that the focus now will help spur him on with his studies as he needs the grades. I quizzed him on the periodic table the other day (at his insistence), so I think he's finally ready to knuckle down properly. I realised that he doesn't really know how to revise or create study plans, so I will be spending the next few weeks helping him to get into a routine and to get on track. Hopefully that will improve his confidence and motivation as well... 🤞🏾.

I've paid all my direct debits for December 2022 and paid an extra £4.58 towards Barclaycard as that gives a rounded balance, as it was bothering me that it wasn't even, yes I know I have problems but I'm happy to have them 😂. As I'm not focussing on this balance until I clear MBNA, I'll feel better knowing that the balance is going down in equal amounts! I've also paid £69.27 to MBNA and that takes my overall balance to a rounded £15,500 to go into 2023. 

As we're off to Butlins tomorrow and will be busy for the next few days, I'll sit down later tonight after I've packed and do my financial summary for this month.

beanielou

Enjoy your wee trip 

LittleMissDetermined

Have a great time at Butlins!

Sun_Addict

Talking about John Travolta films (albeit many years before Face/Off), my DS was the same with Saturday Night Fever, he laughed at how I queued round the block to see it at the cinema when I was a teen, but when he reluctantly watched it (aged 15) he loved it, although shocked that I would’ve watched something with so much swearing in it 🤣

I’m glad your DS has a plan for his study and found something he wants to do and is interested in. 

Lastly, have a fabulous time at Butlins woo hoo 🥳

Keedie

Thanks @beanielou and @LittleMissDetermined! I've not packed yet but I've done the laundry so proud of my adulting nonetheless 🤗. I'm looking forward to seeing the end of 2022, and I'm excited for 2023. And Butlins has a big fireworks display, so looking forward to that 🎆.

Keedie

We're just boring non-entities to our children aren't we @Sun_Addict? 😂 I remember thinking my mum was mad for getting excited about Saturday Night Fever and Grease, but when I watched them I ate humble pie lol. I don't think I've quite turned him into a Travolta fan, but I hinted that we should have movie nights more often and I think he'll be gracing me with his presence 🤗.

I'm hoping that things are definitely moving in the right direction, as he's just been studying before he runs off to Westfield to pick up some Crocs from Foot Asylum he got with his Christmas money. Apparently, if "you ain't croccing, you ain't rocking'. I don't even know what that means. But he's super excited to go to Butlins tomorrow and wants to be comfortable for the journey, despite not being interested in going there and being a little put out that this was the New Year's plan 🙄. Typical teenagers him and my nephew, now secretly counting the sleeps until we go and super excited.

Makingabobor2

Have a great time at Butlins? Which one are you going to? Not been to one for years. Used to love Minehead the best.  Think maybe I'm getting too old for Butlins now, unless I take the GKs. Think maybe Warners adult only is more my style now...lol

Sallyforth

Have a fabulous time at Butlins - I hope it's magical for you and your family.  Just dropping by to let you know I read your diary from Day 1 whilst I was down with a bug the other week and found it absolutely riveting.  I've subscribed and plan to be more active on MSE next year but just wanted to say "hello" and come out from lurkdom.

Sally

Keedie

We're off to Bognor Regis Butlins @Makingabobor2. I must admit I've never been to another one, as that's the one I grew up going to, but I'm very excited to get out of London and have a nice break. There's 7 of us going, with me and my son, my South London Sister and her two boys, my mum and my Older Autistic Sister. I think OAS is probably more excited than the kids though, if that's possible 😂. I think we're never too old for Butlins, but it does need the wonder of kids to be able to fully enjoy it as you see the experience through their eyes and how much fun they're having. 

Thanks for subscribing @sallyforth, I really appreciate that, and I'm glad you weren't bored to tears if you read it all the way from the start! I hope your bug's gone and you're feeling much better, and yay to being more active on MSE, it's really kept me going at times when I just wanted to give up. It's made a big difference to being held accountable with my plan and challenges too, and you'll find that people are so helpful and insightful in a way that you can't see for yourself, so it's like a little gold dust community really 🤗.

Right, I'm off to pack (and yes that includes 2 bottles of rose wine 🍷!), and to work out where I put my swimming costume. I can only find one half of a tankini I've no intention on wearing, and this really does show that I should do something about pile of clean clothes that needs to be put away... 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️ lol.

I'll be back later for my finance update and spending summary...

AntoMac

That’s a lovely way to end the year Keedie. Minehead was my Butlin’s of choice but it’s a long time since I’ve been. You’re lucky that your son is still excited about holidaying with you. Our teenage daughter did come to Mallorca with us for a few nights but that was very much an exception these days!
Have a brilliant time and keep trying to educate him about proper films when you can