Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE

TallGirl

Finally the weekend I am so glad and it is sunny so I have been out in the garden to tidy up a bit plus report the little real Christmas tree be bought before Christmas. I know they only last a few years unless you put it in the garden but a few pennies saved for next year and it was cheap from Lidl's.

I have also emptied the dishwasher and sorted the kitchen out with stuff that needs to go back in the loft. DG had a disaster in the pool bar. Our very old fridge had a bottle of 7up in it and it got too cold so froze and then exploded which opened the door and broke the fridge shelf. Most annoying but luckily I came over there early and I do not think it had long happened so at least the freezer part did not defrost. 

Messaged DGs family in Ireland and just waiting for some dates to avoid they will know next week. No booked Portugal hotel yet but there is no rush. 

Well done on your cutting sugar about @LadyWithAPlan I did have 5 pieces if liquorice yesterday and it was too sweet so it is clearly working. It did feel good going back to the gym and I can now go 3 x 6 classes next week plus the classes will be up and running at the golf club gym. 

I am going to look under the bed and find some old handbags I never use and get them listed on Vinted. Would be great to get rid of them. DG is having a nap so I can do myself some chicken soup for lunch and then we will have salmon burgers before we pop over to our friends with the sweets and scratch card. They are on a diet too so no drinking or snacks.

 

TallGirl

No spend yesterday and today so that is a good result. Did play golf which was lovely but cold. Then went to see the new gym at the club and OMG is it really nice with state of the art machines that adjust to your settings. INduction booked for 15th Jan I think it would be ideal to use the running machine for Couch to 5K instead of our hilly roads. The classes looks good too so will definitely try those there is even one specifically for golf. 

Got two handbags on Vinted had an offer for £2 less for 1 but it has been favorited several times and it is only up for £5 so have declined. 

Went to see our friends in the end DG did not go she was still feeling rough and had slept most of the day. It was lovely seeing them briefly and we had a good chat. They are also on a diet and getting back in the gym. He is looking to start C25K as well. They lost a friend at 60 just before Christmas so I think that shook him up he has put a lot of weight on around the belly. I am glad we did not do anything about the other present and the Civil Partnership that can definitely wait. We were due to get the photos done by DG is not happy about her hair today so that will wait. It is fine just be cool to get it before we go to Portugal. 

Went to Lidls last night after seeing my friends. Spent the £10 plus £17 then had to go back in as I forgot DGs drink. That meant I could get the free bakery item. That then meant foodwise not so good last night there was a slice of bread plus brie and crackers because that is what DG wanted. I did buy some raisins and nuts plus dark chocolate but still ate the other stuff. That was my first bread since New years eve and I did have a second slice this morning but that is it. Got HM cottage pie this evening so right now I need something to tie me over until then.  

I am going to do some sewing this afternoon or start my knitting not quite sure which one.

savingholmes

What are you sewing 🪡🧵 or knitting?

TallGirl

Morning Happy Monday everyone one. 

Had a lovely time yesterday afternoon getting stuck into my knitting kit my friend gave me for Christmas. Well she gave me the crochet one but my niece had already given me one so I swapped it for a knitting one. I did a test patch and I could actually remember how to knit so went straight to doing a stripy beanie hat. It is really fun and much easier than crochet.You can also watch telly whilst doing it. I do want to sew again seen a little project from scrap fabrics to make a cable tie for your handbag and they are so cute and practical. 

DG worked and was not in a good mood really but we did watch some telly together later on and signed up for Combat on Tuesday at the new gym as the ladies started a whatsapp group and I think we got inspired looking at all the posts of what people are doing. 

I am only doing 1 class this morning but it will be the LBT as we have not done that for a while and two back to back is just too much. With the Combat class it will make it up to 6 anyway this week.

Sold the handbag on Vinted glad I did not agree the price of £3. Hopefully the other one will sell I did price it quite high but happy to haggle on that one. It was part of a 3 for 2 offer and I have never used it but it is Samsonite and full leather so quite nice. 

I prefer rucksacks so do not sure them at all unless it is a small evening back on the rate occasion I actually go out like that. 

Did not get stuff up in the loft we are now tripping over it but DG was in a mood as I said. Not done the photos either but that can be done this week. 

My friend won £6 on the scratch advent calendar from my mum. That is the second year in a row he has won. 

NSD yesterday as DG used her card to buy the drinks (we got £75 earlier in the year from the club to compensate for not having a club house)

I have a late meeting this afternoon and then I am going to see DGs aunt. It will actually be nice to go out and see people in person for a change. Glad I am not going to London Weds with the tube strike. 

So to crack on with work then off to gym, breakfast then meetings before lunch and then off out out. Have a lovely Monday everyone.  

To do list:
Buy new cover for firepit it flew off NYE
Get new door handle for back door and fit it 
Take decorations up into the loft - DG just spilled her drink on it so will need new snow next year 
Investigate how much coving will be for the whole house (hide cracks) 
Empty and refill hot tub
Buy chemicals for hot tub. done 
Book flights for Ireland & hotel - waiting for family to confirm
Book hotel for Faro (Ibis by Faro Airport) this will also count towards our Hotels.com free nights. 
Photos for DG

savingholmes

Nice win on the sale and on the knitting. 

Hope you manage to sell the more expensive brand... 

LadyWithAPlan

Tube strike is now off  Wed which is good as i am doing a xmas get together with friends .. I often host but this year a fabulous friend is so I can just enjoy being well fed and seeing fabulous people

Your training is going well - I somehow went to the gym this eve to do a class - was well impressed with myself.... or horrified by my small belly arriving Xmas and not moving.. despite a v healthy week of food
Lots of fat around the waist freaks me out health wise... cos as you said with your friend its so bad for ones heart and organs

TallGirl

Thanks @LadyWithAPlan I had not seen that but sadly we had already cancelled so too late. So annoying but good for you that you get to go and it is obviously good there will be no disruption. Well done on the gym I am doing Combat at the new gym tonight. 

Late meeting last night but it was so good to get out of the office for a change and also got to see DGs aunt again which has been months. She was looking well and is moving nearer her daughter soon.

Made a clerical error on a form but that has been spotted so no harm done. Just annoying as it should not happen but I just cannot see things like that it was a swap between two titles and names. To anyone that knew about the organisations it was clear it was an error but still annoying. 

Got our first meeting with the new team members in a min incl the one I helped recruit. I am so glad she has actually started.

No spend yesterday as well as I can claim back parking from work so does not count. Foodwise I was not be best yesterday there was biscuits at the meeting and I had some popcorn when I got back. I did have healthy meals otherwise. 

It is so cold here even a bit of snow on the ground. I hope my plants are ok in the garden they have a nice thick layer of mulch on them so that should help protect them. I would hate to lose my dahlias and other nice flowers. 

Right best dial in for this meeting catch up later. 

TallGirl

Right I cannot get into work even if I have lots to do. 

Had breakfast and met the new team members which was nice (on screen only). 

Our egg timer broke it is a nice Danish one but they do no make them anymore and the one I really like is £40 which is insane. I have bought one that is very similar to what we had for £10 from Amazon bought with the joint account. I have someone I saw on the local facebook group come out to check our back door handle. We could have fixed it ourselves but what if we buy the wrong handle so better to get someone in. Hopefully not be too expensive. We really need a maintenance fund again I think DG is going to top it up when she gets some money so I will be using our joint account as I think it should be cheap. You can see I am desperately trying not to spend money lol. 

The guy is here so that is a welcome distraction from work at least. 

savingholmes

Hope he fixed the handle for you. 

TallGirl

Yes the handle got fixed he went and got the part and it was £50 all in which was fine but I paid it out of my cash for DGs counsellor so now I need more when she rebooks she is going today so I have paid that. 

Also spent/wasted £4.48 because DG wanted a cream egg so had to make it up to £3 to use my card in the corner shop. Most  annoyingly of all of that was that we left with 20 min to spare to go to the new gym class and the traffic was the worst ever. It is only 1 mile but no way would we get there so had to turn around. This was all because they are putting in a bus lane for an empty bus that comes once an hour. So so frustrating did not think at 6.30pm there would still be an issue. Still gym tonight and DG has a meeting so she will not make it or might make second class. I am staying motivated and being good with food so trying to ignore what she is up to. 

Should have been in London today but I am not due to the tube strike that never was. At least I can catch up today with work. Spoke to a colleague yesterday from my old team. They are worried about the cuts coming but I think my team will be ok and I agree they should be worried. We did talk about working abroad and someone could because they have no access to sensitive data but not long term and another got a flat no (has a house in France). I do not think I have access to anything sensitive but it is unlikely I would get a permanent yes to working from Denmark. Maybe for a while if I said I had caring responsibilities. Shame but we can always take a sabbatical which would help.

Weekend is now sorted for having dinner with friends Saturday and staying over so no taxi's etc which is fab. We are playing golf Saturday in the comp and then I think they all want to play Sunday but I am not fussed. I could do with some time at home. There are 6 of us and two only work part time as they are close to retirement lucky them. 

Did pay for the Spanish trip also for DG so we shall see if she can pay me back or if I need to take it gradually out of the joint. Hopefully the two cases that are close to settling will come in soon so she gets some money. 

Freezing cold so heating on but I need breakfast so best get on with it before I get too stuck into work.