Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE

TallGirl

Still no spending which is really good for me that is but I had spent a lot the previous weeks indeed. Did not get to the gym last night was just too tired but still no sugar and good small portions. About to go down and make some boiled eggs with toast to eat before I see the physio (obviously will have cost of physio today). We then plan to just have burgers no cheese with parsnip fries later before golf but we also need to go and see the neighbours about dog sitting from Sunday. DG is going away for work overnight Tues to Weds so I will be doing it on my own but at least it gets me back out there walking which is good hopefully they like a fast walk. They are Scottie dogs and only 2 years old. I have lost 2.5 kilo since 1st August so very happy with that. 

The estate agent for the style of house we really liked emailed me as the price had been reduced by £17K I did explain we are not in position of buy right now but would like to view in December if it is still around. She does not think it will be but the previous estate agent had it up for a year. It is not one of those houses you buy from a catalogue so to speak it is designed by an architects but it is so over priced compared to everything else literally double.  Anyway it was just so we could look at styles we like and what we can get for our money. Far too early to look anyway but will do some looking at areas when we go over at Christmas I should think. It is a beautiful part of the country where my sister lives but I really do not know it well. 

Work is fine found out the two senior roles have been filled by existing people which is well deserved as they are both super helpful. However the one who was off sick has not applied so there are two spare spots and two "juniors" in the team now. I suspect if the one off sick does not come back and they cannot recruit anyone super experienced it will not be that long until I can have a go at that role. I am still have not to take it on now it is not worth it with my level of experience. 

Right need to go and cook some breakfast. 

TallGirl

That weekend went really quickly I think because we have had such busy weekends for all of the Summer. DG had to work for most of it which was really sad but she lost 2 hours of work due to a PC fault and then someone else let her down so she had to redo the work and start on the other piece herself. 

Dog sitting started yesterday morning they are sweet but very demanding in terms of having no dogs to suddenly having 3. We do need to go down there all the time as it is not fair otherwise but it is hard to spend the evening down there as it is nicer to be here. Still it is nice to do the walks 3 times a day and they are funny. The old Westie is particularly cute. They really miss their owners. 

Pool is still not being used we could have yesterday but as DG was working and it was just me it just wasn't any fun plus it needs cleaning. 1st world problems I know. 

On the money side I am being paid on Wednesday and my pay packet has £400 more of back pay so that was nice. Not a lot in the scheme of things but I am paying more in pensions so that would have come out too. Still very nice to be paid more indeed.

Did not make gym this morning but walked the dogs for 30 min. Will do again this evening plus all the walking back and forth to their house. Diet is still doing super well no sweets which is a best for me for years. No alcohol and very small portions. Only sweet stuff allowed is a hot chocolate each night made with water. Do not even crave it which is nice. I really feel motivated and ready to smash this but we are out for a golf day tomorrow with 2 course lunch so will have to be good. 

We are then away at the weekend with friends which involves a curry out but I am taking breakfast with me to cook for everyone. There are lots of supermarkets just off site so we should be able to buy stuff and cook it without having to go out for dinner all the time. Would help with money and diet obviously. 

Need to crack on with some work. 
 

TallGirl

Morning, golf day was really good Tuesday there was 75 ladies all playing a 18 hole par three course. We were both good with dinner and sweet and I only had 1.5 pint of shandy. Was lovely and sunny and well worth taking a day off for. 

Not been too busy as work which is just as well as has had boiler serviced and they came back today but basically if you have "fancy" radiators they are covered under your home service policy however you will only get standards ones fitted if they break. Not much use as ours are colum ones so the pipes would not fit standard ones. A bit useless will see how it goes at renewal see if it actually worth having it. 

DG then went away with work overnight so I have been looking after the neighbours 3 dogs on my own. Took all 3 out once but then kept it as just two and then 1. Takes longer but safe as they two scotties do pull. Their daddies are home today so only need to pop down around lunchtime that is it. 

Been to the gym this morning it was hard but at least that is 3 classes this week. Should really go to body balance tonight but I am off early tomorrow for a team lesson and then we are leaving for our weekend away about 4.30pm so need to pack tonight. Still got washing to do but looks like it has stopped raining so will go and get it out. 

badmemory

I love those upright radiators & have had one in my kitchen for a while.  I am hoping that I can find a suitable one for my living room when I get round to the whole replace the carpet & redecorate thing.  The ones under the window seem to be so "not right" these days.

TallGirl

I agree Badmemory they do look a lot better and I do not find them that slow to heat up. The engineer was really negative about them. They were a compromise as I wanted underfloor heating which I will get in my next house. 

Been up early as have a golf lesson today and then hope to leave early to meet up with friends for the weekend. We are staying in a caravan on a beachside resort not far from here and they are bringing their campervan. I am really looking forward to it. We are back Sunday and then I am off to Cornwall to visit my friends back Thursday and then golf Friday so nice little break and actually nice to be away from DG for the second part. I think we need it. 

Her work has now pretty much been resolved they are even paying for some of the leave she lost out on by having to work while my family was here. She is still working silly hours but hopefully next week she can catch up and then back to more normal. She is even going to try and take some time off during the week to play with the ladies so that is positive. Hopefully work will continue to come in and we can work towards pulling the trigger in just 4 years. 

Hopefully this weekend wont be too expensive. We are out for a curry tonight but going to share dishes as we dont want to ruin the diet after bootcamp. We are  also not planning on drinking loads taking vodka and lime and soda. I might take some low alcohol beers too but would rather not and I do hate hangovers. I am taking breakfast so that will help plus there are supermarkets really nearby and maybe my friend will cook on the Saturday night. It is near the beach and we have a beach hut on the Saturday something I have never tried so look forward to that. Hope weather stays nice no rain forecast but not warm either. Our pool has been such a waste of time this July and August. 

Neighbours were so grateful for us looking after their dogs they gave us gifts and will look after our cats anytime which is really handy. Especially at Christmas if they are around. 

Anyway best continue crack on with some work that was the whole reason for getting up so early this morning. 

TallGirl

So to have been missing for so long been a very busy time. 

Weekend away was lovely mobile home so nice even if dated. 10 min walk to bars and restaurants and 20 min to the beach but there was a bus too. Beach hut cute but weather not the best. Still super relaxing and nice to spend time with friends and played golf too. Diet not too bad either as we shared food and cooked in the mobile home. 

Then I set off to Cornwall on the Bank holiday which was fine as no traffic. Had a fab time with my friend and saw my other friend and her family too which was lovely. She’s the one that cat sat for us but emptied the pool bar. She’s a lot better and so is the partner he’s actually not as irritating as he was lol. 

My friend and I had a really good catch up and I loved staying in her amazing house. She retired aged 55 when they went to Oman. She means a lot to me and I’m glad I went. She will come to Denmark when we move she’s been before and know my family. Her husband is also a dear friend so lovely seeing them both so happy and settled in the lovely cornwall. 

They have an amazing camper van with all mod cons. I could happily camp in that but they cannot so much as they have a cat which came over from Oman. Anyway just a lovely trip. 

Got back Thursday evening to DG not feeling well. I had Friday off too and dg worked. We had a golf practise at 3pm which dg was not really up to doing but did. Saturday we saw Barbie at the pictures let’s just say glad I only paid £3 as part of National Cinema day. 

Sunday I played golf with another lady as dg pulled out as she felt too ill. Sunday evening I started feeling the same. Tested Monday morning and it was COVID. So annoying full on flu and with added brain fog so you just cannot do anything. I’m still off work but going back tomorrow. So the hottest week of the year I’ve felt crap. The pool is 25 degrees and perfect so will try to see if I feel up to going in later. 

Dg is better but still tired. She’s worked everyday whereas I’ve been able to do nothing. Really not fun if they offer the vaccine I’ll take it again over this. 

Anyway not spent too much money. Actually found out the Joules order I placed was a scam. monzo refunded the money but the retailer had 60 days to claim it back. It really looked so genuine and I do not normally get taken in. Only found out when it said I had missed delivery and chatted to the actual Joules help. Scary how real it looked. 

TallGirl

So I am back at work not feeling to bad and it is not too hot either which is good. Got a meeting with the manager not spoken to her for 2 weeks so will be good to catch up. 

Went with DG so she could hit some golf balls yesterday while I watched (I did not feel like doing anything but wanted to leave the house) and she had yet another meltdown. I am actually getting tired of these now. She has played for 4 years so should be better. She got her driver working fine and fixed the issue with her irons. The chipping was hit and miss but she got so angry she threw her club several times and had a total meltdown screaming and shouting at me. She has pulled out of the team we were both in for the club which she was asked to join. She wants to give up again again as she is convinced she cannot play. I have suggested going back to the pro or just accepting she is not going to get every shot right. She is having none of it. I know she will come good again when she realises it is her anxiety that is taking over and she is imagining the worst. Because she does this when she actually comes to play she is so negative and consumed with thoughts of failure she cannot play. I am not sure she will play Thursday but we shall see. It is just a fun ladies day and we have the day off to attend all paid for etc. Sorry enough moaning about golf and relationships. 

In more positive news DG has now been offered some ideal adhoc work with another organisation which is great news. It could be a lot but it might not but she should be able to fit it in easily when she can and it could make a nice steady income which will help. 

I have decided I have enjoyed buying the extra weeks leave I am going to do the same next year but buy two. With DG self employed she can take adhoc days off (hopefully for golf) so we can enjoy the time together. If not I can always visit friends and obviously go home to Denmark. The lovely house we like is still for sale. It has been on or off for the last 3 years so it is obviously overpriced or just too different. I think I just need a bit of mojo back after my illness and looking at lovely properties does it for me. There was even a small plot of land for sale (1100M2 that is about 20 by 50 m for get this £23K. How crazy it that. Not the best plot just someone selling off half their own garden but still plenty big enough to build a small house. 

Anyway must get back to work as that meeting with the manager is looming. 

TallGirl

That weekend really flew by. We were going to a birthday party at a neighbours on Saturday but didnt really feel like it. He then asked if we had some ice so nice chat when he came over and then we did go down there for about 1 hour before the outdoor cinema. It was a lovely evening and you cannot beat Dirty Dancing just the best film ever. The couple we went with he had not seen it before but as he said he did not hate it and the music was good. Saw their new orangerie it was very nice and cuddled cats and dogs. Sunday I played in the golf championships (I was the driver on Sunday so no drinking). It was 36 holes so the whole day and I had not planned to play in all of it but after 18 I felt so good and had played well so I carried on. Second 18 was not good though need to sort out bunker play for sure. I paid for some lessons last year so no cost at least.

DG is playing in the fun game Thursday lets just hope it is fun. I am no longer in the team as I played well on Sunday which is a shame but it does mean I can at least play to my handicap. We are also getting a lesson from our old pro on Sunday but my mum paid for that as part of DGs birthday present. 

Work will be busy and I really need to crack on with it. I am struggling to get back into the swing of things but this is only a 4 day week as I am for Thursday to play golf.

Sorry this diary has gone so off track with money saving I will get back on track soon. Thinking of setting myself a challenge say to fill up my premium bonds by a certain year and keep track on % in the meantime or add up what I am saving or something. Need some motivation for sure. 

Going to make myself a nice latte in the kitchen and then do some actual work. 

TallGirl

Managed to book our flights for christmas as they are only going to go up rather than down. Could not get the date back we wanted but got a late on so should work out fine. Spending just over 1 week there and we have cat sitters so all sorted there. Strangely enough EasyJet was £10 dearer than Norwegian and I prefer N anytime as you get wifi and it is not a massive long walk at the terminal. 

Still need to sort home insurance but that can be done a bit later today actually might do it now cannot keep delaying it. My Credit hard is now up to £1000 but it is from flights just now and lasts months which I can easily pay off. 

We have a joint savings account for holidays with Santander paying some rubbish rate so just applied for the 5.2% one before it gets withdrawn (according to this site.) There wont be a lot in it but any little helps plus it is for 1 year. 

Going to play a few holes after work but DG has just taken a call so do not know if we will get away this client talks a lot. 

Right let me stop here and go and sort that insurance out. 

TallGirl

Some money saving news for me to share.

New Santa savings account opened but nothing to put in it right now. Also looked at my renewal quote for home insurance and it was £30 more than last year. Did the comparisons and not a lot of save however I realised we have home emergency cover which we do not need now we have BG cover for the boiler and having used an emergency cover in the past to get a roofer which they refused I was happy to cancel it. Their website kept saving call up for changes so had to queue for 15 min got it done and saved £35 which was nice. Apparently their online portal is broken.

Plan is gym tonight and then day off tomorrow for fun golf day so just got get through today lol. Work is not bad I am just so unmotivated and I have 2 meetings with my manager. 

Still doing well both of us with our Duolingo. Have let two friends have access via the family plan one is doing well too. DG has learnt about 500 Danish Words and I must be the same for Spanish. It is starting to click and I enjoy doing about 1 hour in bed in the mornings rather than waste time on a stupid game. Watched Bargain loving Brits abroad again we really think that lifestyle will suit us well obviously in the Winter when Denmark is freezing. 

Right back to work I go no point dreaming of FIRE if I do not have job to go to for the next 4 years.