Moving on with things

katsu

Thank you for the lovely reply @alt80. I also contributed to the lend with care stove replacement grants this month. I too like to feel that I'm making a difference and helping people change their lives.  I'm really glad you enjoy it like we do. 

I like thinking of "my" entrepreneurs and the impact of their businesses and projects. 

Happy Easter! 

alt80

Thank you all. We had a largely technology free Easter and my wife’s birthday hence me not being around on here. Didn’t really go anywhere, spent some time working on the garden again, cooking, lots of dog walks, tennis and football with wife and son. Been a long time since I’ve clocked up that kind of number steps in my health app. They kept me busy and taken my mind off business mostly and the negative things. Sister and her family came up here on Easter Sunday. Wife’s birthday went well today, I took the day off and we went to Lincoln, had lunch there and I cooked dinner at home this evening. She had a nice time and it wasn’t me buying her something expensive to ‘make up’ for not being present. Idk not a lot spent but a really nice day. Her parents are coming over tomorrow evening to take us out for dinner. 

 

We let our son pick his preferred break so we are going to Paris and Disneyland at the start of the summer holiday more or less straight after centre parcs before the majority of schools break up. We’ve also booked last minute break to Barcelona, going over the May day bank holiday, try to get a bit of sun. We also came very close to booking a boating holiday on the Norfolk broads for next summer and think we will over the weekend. 

 

Tbh been a !!!!!! expensive week and I will have to pull an additional dividend from my business for this, wife said what is it for if not for us to be able to enjoy our time together as a family. I know she’s right but I find it increasingly difficult to spend money. I know all the long termers on here will be wondering who the !!!!!! has taken over my account now ha. They are both happy with our holiday plans, I know they are going to enjoy it and people on here are right, it is nice to have something to look forward to. Just difficult to deal with the spending aspect for me rn. Idk think I spent too many years of my life being driven by my own ego even my investments in property were 100% ego driven and not by a nod towards long term security.

 

@lucielle well we managed to book two ha. Thank you, hope you had a nice Easter too.

 

@enthusiasticsaver we actually booked Barcelona after son chose Paris in the hope we’ll see some sun before we go to Greece at the end of May. The weather has been and continues to be awful up here too. I can’t imagine the Cornish coast is particularly pleasant when the weather is as it has been; probably quite treacherous in places too? Here’s hoping it will improve and you can get out a little more soon. 

 

@RelievedSheff it’s been really good to spend this time with my family.

 

I hadn’t until you mentioned it, taken it for granted tbh but your post has made me look at my garden in a different light today thank you.

 

Almost be away as much as you at this rate ha.

 

@warby68 thank you, I am getting there, a lot better than I was have bad days but generally things are on the right trajectory. I know switching off from work more than I ordinarily do is generally good for me but it’s probably the biggest struggle. 

 

@Iamouttheotherside Had another day off today too, so I’ve no !!!!!! idea who I am rn ha. Hope you and your family had a nice Easter break. Friday tomorrow so another weekend almost upon us, have a good one. 

 

@joeyjimbles thank you, I’m starting to look forward to it, planning some things to do keeps me off the work at night. I hope we are going to have a nice time, we are all really looking forward to it.

 

@NeverendingDMP I have thank you. Having this little break has been good for me; I know I struggle with not being able to switch off from work; it’s not really heathy.

 

@katsu It’s amazing what a difference such a comparatively low amount of money can make to some people’s lives and businesses. I like thinking of them too. Helping others in some small way is good for me as well as them.

Sun_Addict

So nice to hear you sounding like a completely different person. Really pleased for you, all sounding really positive. What a complete turnaround from the old days, you’ve done so well 👏 What have you done with the old alt 😆

strawb_shortcake

Great news on booking the trip Alt! We did a family boating holiday when I was about 15 and it remains one of the most talked about holidays! 

I tried taking my own advice and getting a trip booked for our 20th Wedding anniversary this year. I had hoped for a short break abroad but not sure my Husband is really well enough for that so looking for something closer to home now... 

enthusiasticsaver

Great that you had a nice Easter and have booked some trips away.  They all sound lovely.  My DGD would love to do the Paris Disneyland but youngest is autistic so not sure she would be as keen given she hates busy and noisy places.  I am sure you will have a lovely time at Barcelona too.  Better weather than here anyway.  

I did manage a lovely walk on the Cornwall coast path near us on Good Friday in glorious sunshine and am hoping to do a South Devon coastal walk on Saturday as weather looks better then. 

I am pleased your wife had a nice birthday too.  What a difference in how you sound now compared to a year or two ago. Well done. 

lucielle

Wonderful to come on and read that you've booked time away but also managed to have some down time as well.  Who is this person?  Really, very well done!
L

RelievedSheff

Sounds like you have some lovely trips planned. Make some amazing memories with your family.

Iamouttheotherside

@alt80
Wow!!! Just Wow!!!  I am sure the long term readers of your story, will totally agree what a transformation, for the first time I genuinely think you are going to beat all your demons. In the past, I knew you wouldn't (sorry but I felt you and your wife were not a team and working together), but now I know you will.  Your post brought a big smile to my face this morning.

Amazing mix of breaks you have there.  I love that you have also given your son his choice, what an amazing memory he will have.  You are truly becoming an amazing family man.  You haven't spoken much about your wife lately, I hope she is still along the right path too.

I just want to highlight what you said. "I will have to pull an additional dividend from my business for this", this is another turn around for you, you are realising its your business, your money, 6 months ago, you were obsessed with leaving the money in the business for growth, you are realising now, there has to be balance.  Like your wife said - no point in working hard if you can't enjoy the benefits.

Remembering all your old diary, its a shame it cannot be kept for your son to read later, my husband talks very openly to our children about his addiction, he answers all their questions very candidly and honestly.  The reason I am saying this is that in private schools the children are given a lot more money and my eldest first came across hard drugs in year 9, luckily we had talked about my husbands addiction in year 7, at first she didn't believe it, he told her how he lost everything, and had to move away, then met me and I genuinely believe its his story that has kept my children away from drugs - my kids have never even vaped and trust me that is an absolute rarity for anyone over 13 these days!.  My children when offered drugs or vapes have always said they have tried it before and it made them instantly violently sick - no kids want to clean up vomit, it works every time, there is no more pressure on them.

For the record I have friends whose children go to state schools, who also have been exposed to drugs in school, but in private schools, its seen as "more glamorous" - just something to remember when it comes to educating your son about drugs.  Don't be ashamed of your past, it could be one of the best life lessons your son will ever have.

So Friday is upon us, have a good weekend and remember to get out and about.

MatyMoo

Lovely trips away booked, both fabulous cities but very different. 

I like doing the whole of the open top tour bus in new places & then decide what I’m going back to see. 

In Barcelona it is worth doing La Sagrada Familia fairly early in the day when the queues are less. In Paris the Batobus (river bus) is fun to do.

I’m loving the new improved Alt 😃

Iamouttheotherside

@MatyMoo
@alt80

Seconded here for the open top bus, hop on and hop off all day amazing way to get around.