Prosperous soul, mortgage neutrality & creativity Year 2

savingholmes

Thanks Beanie

I'm off to a slow start today. I only got to sleep around 4am and set my first alarm to 8.30am and made it out of bed for 9.15. The day before it was 6am and the night before I don't think I'd taken meds but didn't sleep at my sisters. Really hope the meds and my sleep settle down soon. Part of the problem could be that I am not active enough - but lack of sleep doesn't help with that.

DD rang to borrow money for the second month on the run. She's still sorting out her new place and it was for a planned purchase rather than an emergency but still... Worried how it will look to the mortgage company for me. Today I need to make myself post my form - need to photograph it first. I'm waiting for my LL savings account to mature and pay my interest - hopefully tomorrow - will then:

• Pay the mortgage port and survey fees £780 
• Pay searches and other disbursements £350
• Take out £200 to compensate for DD loan and to support DS visit home this weekend

That comes to £1330. I then want to:

• Move £200 to fund my 8% savings account
• Fund a new ISA with whatever remains which pre interest is £485 - not sure how much the interest will be
• When DD returns the money on payday I should be able to add it straight back into savings as hopefully that's the last of the moving costs until I get closer to the exchange point

I hate taking money out of savings - even if that is what they are there for. Post move I'll look again at bank switching opportunities or higher interest savings account. I should stop using my points CC as it isn't accruing enough points to be worth the hassle of moving £ although sometimes they give a little breathing room it would be better to break the habit. Sadly my 0% spend card stop being 0% mid November and while I usually pay it off in month - occasionally I don't so need to be more disciplined.

I need to have a shower and get ready for work. Thankfully my first meeting isn't until 11.

EssexHebridean

Maybe send an email to the cottage owner just for feedback letting her know that the towels/bedding weren't the most comfortable (in a sort of "I know you'd want to know, and of course you can't possibly be aware as you don't use them yourself, do you!" sort of way) and also flagging the issue with the wifi - assuming it was advertised as having wifi obviously. I mean you could for all she knows have booked it on the  basis of needing to be able to do some WFH time there in which case the wifi might have been vital. Then her reaction to the email could inform whether you leave a mediocre review or not. Also of course, there are also all sorts of ways of leaving a poor review by making it more about the things you don't say, than the things you do!

Baileys_Babe

EssexHebridean said:

Maybe send an email to the cottage owner just for feedback letting her know that the towels/bedding weren't the most comfortable (in a sort of "I know you'd want to know, and of course you can't possibly be aware as you don't use them yourself, do you!" sort of way) and also flagging the issue with the wifi - assuming it was advertised as having wifi obviously. I mean you could for all she knows have booked it on the  basis of needing to be able to do some WFH time there in which case the wifi might have been vital. Then her reaction to the email could inform whether you leave a mediocre review or not. Also of course, there are also all sorts of ways of leaving a poor review by making it more about the things you don't say, than the things you do!

When contacting the owner are there any positives you could add so it comes across as balanced?

jwil

Are there other reviews of the cottage where people have made similar comments?  The wifi and lamp are potentially quite significant, but the towels and bedding might be a bit more subjective.  Do you have sensory issues with things like that?  I personally prefer a towel that is a bit rough rather than soft and fluffy, so I wouldn't see that as a bad thing.  But if lots are saying the same, then it's definitely something that should be addressed.

I hope you have a better nights sleep tonight.

savingholmes

Thanks EH and @Baileys_Babe

The kitchen was well equipped and the cottage was reasonably spacious. The heating worked well. The views were mostly lovely. It was a quiet location. I will ponder. I have to say something about the key as it is a fire safety issue.

Yesterday I had another go at the bandstand painting - but I think it is different rather than necessarily better. I think I captured the inside better and the mottled leaves on the ground. I captured some of the leaves trailing over the bandstand as per @SuperSecretSquirrel 's suggestion. My angles and perspective is off on the bandstand and the trees. It may sound ridiculous - but I've bought a math's drawing set to help me get the angles better (only £4). I'd best actually use it! I think I will also print it as I think that will help where I've been trying to capture if using an on-screen image which was therefore also at a different angle.

The colours are more kid's book illustration than realistic - but there's value in that too. I'm reluctant to draw it out first - but I think I need to for this kind of image - and I'm making it unnecessarily hard for myself. I think I'll nip to the corner shop and get some chocolate and wipes and then have yet another go but draw it first and get the perspective right before committing paint to paper/canvas.

Well I managed to start work just before my meeting.  It's been a pretty full on day catching up but thankfully a lot of others were also off so not as much in my inbox as if it hadn't been half term. Similarly some of the people I'd otherwise have to catch up with are off so I could focus which was helpful. I've blanked out my calendar for the next two days in the hope I can catch up with urgent stuff and try and get back on top of things.

I have a hospital appointment this Thursday and then typically given I hardly ever go in have to dash into work. Needless to say I don't want to go to the appointment and haven't done most of what I should have done in the gap either. I then have counselling in the evening followed by my art class!! Definitely feels very busy! I've asked to book this Friday off as a swap for the previous one I didn't get to take. That should give me some recovery time. DS is hopefully coming this weekend. Need to ring him to finalise the arrangements.

I didn't get around to sending off my mortgage form - figure I'll wait and write on it tomorrow once I've paid and then send it off. Still need to photograph it. DD popped in briefly to take some washing and drop more off so we had a catch up. We've arranged to meet up properly for a meal after my next pay day. There's a carvery near her new place - I can then go back and see her home too.

beanielou

Take it your DD has no way to do her washing 😂

Merlin's_Beard

Sometimes I find it is worth dragging myself around a half hearted walk just to get the body moving and tire it out a little. They say that if you do it first thing in the morning the daylight helps to reset your body clock, but I've never really been consistent enough to notice that.

Sounds like you're making a lot of progress in trying different things with your bandstand - sometimes the most frustrating progress is the most worthwhile in the long run!

savingholmes

I got £45 in interest which was slightly disappointing. They've offered me a 6.25% rate for next year - so just opened that and moved £400.

I've sent the £200 to an account ready to move to savings but can't do it until next week as only allowed max £200 a month to that saver.

I've sent £200 to one of my main accounts as it was looking rather light. DS's train fare was just under £60 after his railcard.

Need to do today

• Pay the mortgage port and survey fees £780 
• Photograph application 
• Post application
• Pay searches and other disbursements £350 

Still need to find a good ISA and open it - very little left now to put in it - but feel I can breathe easier again now the funds are ready to distribute for moving and now that current account is more funded.

Now just need to log on and earn more money!!

savingholmes

beanielou said:

Take it your DD has no way to do her washing 😂

She has a washing machine but no drier.

Merlin's_Beard said:

Sometimes I find it is worth dragging myself around a half hearted walk just to get the body moving and tire it out a little. They say that if you do it first thing in the morning the daylight helps to reset your body clock, but I've never really been consistent enough to notice that.

Sounds like you're making a lot of progress in trying different things with your bandstand - sometimes the most frustrating progress is the most worthwhile in the long run!

I followed your advice and walked to the post box with my mortgage form. The sun was out so was a more positive experience than I expected. I've paid my mortgage related fees including the survey so things are progressing.

On the bandstand it's a challenge and yes I'm enjoying it.

I've booked Thursday and Friday off now as my important Thursday meeting was cancelled. DS arrives midday Friday and I am hoping that way I will be less exhausted.

beanielou

I don't have a drier either!