Holding On and Letting Go 🎈

savingholmes

Sorry you are feeling out of sorts. 

Life feels turbulent the last few years. I really hope things settle for all of us soon. Need life to be within a more predictable range again... 

Fortune_Smiles

Moneyfordreams said:

Hi FS, another sugar addict here - and crisps  I'm so inconsistent and annoyed with myself. I'm too aiming to get a grip on a 15lb excess (the 5lb from before the summer and 10lb more).  
I often find those worrisome things make their own way to the top of the list which leaves me less to worry about- or that I'm well practiced in compartmentalising my life. 
Hoping Mr FS work situation doesn't impact negatively for you and your flux period settles soon.   
   

Hi there Money 🙂 Ditching the sugar has really helped me - all the cravings have disappeared.  Although I've been at home for most of the time so haven't had to face any real temptation yet.

Mr F doesn't think there's anything more to worry about just yet but you never know do you.  Better to be prepared.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

savingholmes said:

Sorry you are feeling out of sorts. 

Life feels turbulent the last few years. I really hope things settle for all of us soon. Need life to be within a more predictable range again... 

Yes SH - a little more predictability would be very welcome.  So hard to make decisions or budget at the moment.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Decisions Made

Mr F and I have made some decisions... although we've reserved the right to change them should circumstances change 😆

• our most urgent important decision is Mr F's company car.  He has to decide whether to order a new one or to take a car allowance instead in the next couple of months.  He's going to find out how much the lease company will want for his current car and what the car allowance amount is so we can discuss further
• the log burner is also a priority as we need to know we can use it safely.  Log Burner man is coming tomorrow so we'll know more then
• I have to make a decision on my main pension by the end of the year
• overpaying the mortgage is next on the list as we need to ensure we can manage the costs at the end of our fixed term
• solar panels have dropped to the bottom of the list for now as we can't take on another big expense in light of the above.

So we are both agreed on what our focus should be for now.  Phew 😅

Supper this evening was Pork, Fennel & Cider Meatballs using the penultimate fennel bulb and some red onions from the veg patch.  I'd intended to serve them with mashed potato but realised I didn't have enough old potatoes for that so we had roasted new potatoes instead.  I made a larger portion so there's enough left over for tomorrow and some for the freezer too.  If we want some potatoes for mash we'll need to dig some up! 👩‍🌾

It's been wild and windy here in the Shire today so I've decided to leave the heating on.  We have a room thermostat and also thermostats on each radiator in the house so the boiler will only kick in when it gets cold enough.  I've turned the temperature down half a degree on last year though and we'll see how we get on with that.  Mr F lit the possibly unsafe but has been used for the last 15 years without a problem log burner this evening so we're feeling very cosy.  The weather forecast looks a bit iffy for the weekend so I might get started on that painting I haven't got round to yet 😆

Happy Friday all

Fortune x

badmemory

I can't remember if I have said this before on here - but - any questions about pensions & whether or not to take them & when then pop along to the pensions bit of the forum.  There are some really helpful people over there.  They can sometimes be blunt & to the point but still very helpful.

Fortune_Smiles

badmemory said:

I can't remember if I have said this before on here - but - any questions about pensions & whether or not to take them & when then pop along to the pensions bit of the forum.  There are some really helpful people over there.  They can sometimes be blunt & to the point but still very helpful.

Thanks for the tip BM 😘

Fortune x

pinkypig

Hello
Coming out of lurkdom to say I love your diary 😊

So sorry you’re feeling out of sorts but I love your approach of taking joy in the little things.  My little things are going back to bed with a cup of coffee to read for an hour on non work days ( particularly enjoyable if you pop the electric blanket on for 10 minutes while you’re making coffee😀) and lighting tea lights or candles in the evening once the wood burner is on, it’s so cosy and requires no electricity!   I am also a fellow lover of watching a series from the bath !
I’m getting into the time of year where my dog walk after work is often wet and blustery so I’m going to do what I did last year to make it part of a nice evening routine.  I used to light the log burner before we went out so it was as toasty when we got back.  On our return I used to have healthy, low calorie HM soup as a snack followed by a bubble bath and an episode of something whilst enjoying a hm gingerbread or pumpkin spice coffee.  It was then pjs on, a late  dinner  and TV or reading in front of the fire.  Lovely!  Doggo loved  it too 😀
Good that you’ve made some decisions, I always find that eases my mind in turbulent times.  

Best of luck with all your plans  x

FlacosFloozie

Hi FS,

The world seems so uncertain right now, I think we're all struggling to make long term plans. I'm sorry about the uncertainty re Mr FS job but I'm glad you have a contingency plan. Hopefully, the restructure will work out okay for him.

I agree with you about the sugar. I've always been naturally skinny but perimenopause is definitely changing that. I cut out sugger and refined carbs for a few months and it really relped. We then had a stressful period and I fell off the wagon. Really need to make the effort again. I know it will pay off but right now its rainy out and I have a chocolate digestive and cup of tea so I'm not off to a good start

Fortune_Smiles

pinkypig said:

Hello
Coming out of lurkdom to say I love your diary 😊

So sorry you’re feeling out of sorts but I love your approach of taking joy in the little things.  My little things are going back to bed with a cup of coffee to read for an hour on non work days ( particularly enjoyable if you pop the electric blanket on for 10 minutes while you’re making coffee😀) and lighting tea lights or candles in the evening once the wood burner is on, it’s so cosy and requires no electricity!   I am also a fellow lover of watching a series from the bath !
I’m getting into the time of year where my dog walk after work is often wet and blustery so I’m going to do what I did last year to make it part of a nice evening routine.  I used to light the log burner before we went out so it was as toasty when we got back.  On our return I used to have healthy, low calorie HM soup as a snack followed by a bubble bath and an episode of something whilst enjoying a hm gingerbread or pumpkin spice coffee.  It was then pjs on, a late  dinner  and TV or reading in front of the fire.  Lovely!  Doggo loved  it too 😀
Good that you’ve made some decisions, I always find that eases my mind in turbulent times.  

Best of luck with all your plans  x

Aww thank you Pinky - it's lovely to 'meet' you.  Your dog walking routine sounds perfect!  I might pinch some of those ideas for myself 😆

I am feeling a little more settled now we've pinned down some things.  Although everything is changing so fast these days I'm trying not to get too comfy.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

FlacosFloozie said:

Hi FS,

The world seems so uncertain right now, I think we're all struggling to make long term plans. I'm sorry about the uncertainty re Mr FS job but I'm glad you have a contingency plan. Hopefully, the restructure will work out okay for him.

I agree with you about the sugar. I've always been naturally skinny but perimenopause is definitely changing that. I cut out sugger and refined carbs for a few months and it really relped. We then had a stressful period and I fell off the wagon. Really need to make the effort again. I know it will pay off but right now its rainy out and I have a chocolate digestive and cup of tea so I'm not off to a good start

Hi FF 🙂

there are times when you just have to do whatever it takes to get yourself through.  You can always climb right back on that wagon.  I'm dreadful with sugar.  Fine if I avoid it completely but once I start eating it, I can't stop 😲 I couldn't stop at one chocolate digestive - I'd have to finish the whole packet 😲  Better not to have such things in the Fortunate household 😆

(I had a little nose in your diary earlier 👃 - love that we both have a Mr F 😁)

Fortune x