Mortgage Free now aiming for FIRE

SuzieSue

Thanks TG.  Well, the new Queen didn't look too comfortable when he tried to kiss her yesterday, but perhaps everyone is reading too much in to her reaction.

Yes, I heard that they had their royal titles removed, but I though it was all his kids, not just the ones with his new wife.

Could you please let me know what they say about the solar panels as I also have an east facing garden.

savingholmes

Good luck with your long list of jobs. Must be a relief that DG will soon be paid.

TallGirl

Morning 
DG has gone off to play golf with the team so I am on my own all day. I have lots of meetings so won't be bored at all. It is so good she is off doing her own things with golf and it is such a lovely group of ladies so I am sure she will enjoy it. 

Did get to the gym induction last night and was really impressed the machines are so clever and all brand new. It is quite small until they can open the next section up but I think it will be really good. We both came away feeling really inspired to actually work out in the gym not just do the classes. We have a class at 7pm tonight (the one we could not get to for traffic last week) so I will leave early and do the new gym programme and then DG will join me for 7pm as she can go straight from the golf. 

Saw friend and he completed her passport stuff so she just has to post it now. I also posted my Vinted parcel. 

I got an email last night about a free together pass for the trains. It all worked fine entering the code and adding photos sadly I could not check out. I think because my card had expired. I tried again when I got back and had my physical card but still would not work. So so annoying as I have been thinking of getting one and it was free so £30 saved. There was only 20K up for grabs so maybe it had gone when I tried again.

My meeting starts in a minute I better check it is working my audio set up as my speakers are charging (forgot to do it last night).

Updated to do list. 

Investigate how much coving will be for the whole house (hide cracks) 
Empty and refill hot tub - done and it was a cold horrid job just need to balance the chemicals now. ALL DONE
Book flights for Ireland & hotel - can now be booked
Book hotel for Faro (Ibis by Faro Airport) this will also count towards our Hotels.com free nights. 
Photos for DG - done and she has applied for the Irish passport   
DGs Premium Bonds
Return timer to Ama***
Paint the front door surround
Order hot tub cover cleaner
Get cleaner for hot tub cover and fit new over cover won at Xmas.  
Post Vinted parcel. DONE


My current wishlist:
Less expensive New yoga pants (has to be Long Tall Sally or make myself so not cheap) 
Golf bag and electric trolley - very expensive 

savingholmes

Sounds like you are still making good progress overall. Great news that DG went golfing without you.

TallGirl

Thanks Savingholmes sometimes I think I make her sound like some kind of weirdo lol. She did enjoy herself a lot and did play quite well for a new course. I think we are making great strides with the anxiety and the golf. That counselling has definitely paid off. 

I did go to the fancy new gym there was only 1 other person in there and I did my programme (well 40 min of it) and then I went to the Combat Class. There was only 2 other people in there and happily it was an instructor I know from the scruffy gym who is excellent so that was a massive plus. She does loads of classes over there and she is well impressed and was asking if we were even staying with the other gym. We have been offered a free session with the PT who did our induction so thinking of seeing if he would do us a 6 week programme get fit for golf before Spain. There is no reason we cannot work out in the gym we just tend to do classes when we have no PT.

I managed to get the Irish trip priced up yesterday it is about £1400 for the 3 of us without spending money for 4 nights. The flights to Ireland are really cheap and we can fly locally which is really cool. I am still waiting for DGs relation to check out when the local pub has the music practice on as that is a must. So far we have 1 night in Dublin and 3 nights in Thurles going around by bus and train. 

Today is another busy day with meetings etc. My work is quite steady but I should really take another project however it is a really scary one so holding off. The new people are not ready but it the level they should be taking on when they can. 

Finally I am going to leave you with another dilemma re the Civil Partnership. 

Now we are only doing the Civil Partnership so DG can get into Denmark. We do want to get married but it would be over there in our own gardens so we can have a big party in a tent and invite people from here and there. However needs must for a Civil Partnership beforehand. 

We wanted to ask our friends (male and female) who I have known 25 years and DG and I lived with him in London. They do not know we are going to ask them. Then at the weekend my two female friends (who used to be a couple) and we have both know for 9 years said if you need witnesses then we are happy to do it. Then there is Dgs really good friends who lives 2 1/2 hours away who she has known since her teens one. They both have mental health issues so are not always the most reliable when it comes to coming down here. One of them is like a sister to DG (who is an only child) so Dg feels like she must have her there. She also has 4 grown up children with upteen grandchildren but she is not planning on having any of them come down. 

The idea for us was have the ceremony in our local town and then go out for lunch afterwards. We do not want a big thing. DG hates being the centre of attention and when I last got married it was on a beach and then we had a party here for the English friends and then we had a full on blessing in church in Denmark with a big party. This is why as I am not going to tell my family which I am ok about.

So what would you do? We do need two witnesses but do you invite all 6 but ask two to sign? In which case who? Do you just invite two. It is terrible how messy things can become when you least expect it. The two friends 2 1/2 hours away do not know about the Civil Partnership as DG has not told them we want to move to Denmark. She is worried it will freak one of them out. The other 4 know. 

Watty1

That is a dilemma.  Options seem to be invite all 6 although which to pick as witnesses is a big thing, or stick with plan and just go with 2 and explain it is really a civil partnership as a formality for legal reasons and one day you will eventually plan a big marriage and party but for now this is just a simple quick fix.  I know someone who did the civil partnership and just told all her friends it was happening but it was for legal and tax reasons and they just didn't want a fuss or party and she just invited 6 friends and that was it.  I don't think they even went for lunch afterwards just back to their house for a coffee.

LadyWithAPlan

I would invite all 6 but how you choose the actual witnesses? Maybe have them all round, explain it’s largely for paperwork and publically  toss a dice saying you love them all so fate will decide the actual official witnesses ( I may have been watching too much good omens) 
if you get 3 duplicates then they toss again 
or play a board game and the winning 2 get to sign .. 

Your knitting subscription sounds fun 
on flowers online Freddie’s Flow*** do very good flowers (yes they do annoying subscription) but you can often get an offer but the quality and presentation of the flowers are really amazing - they turn up in bud so take a couple days to open- I had a sub last for over a year 

lululemo@ do great yoga wear - I nearly bought some in the States but so expensive even there - but they last and look great 

savingholmes

I'd invite all 6 and only confirm the witnesses on the day and have a witness from 'your side' and one from 'hers'.

daisy_1571

I'since you ask:

d invite all 6 as they sound like close friends.   If you had 15 close friends,  different story but 6 seems a great amount.  Agree that you could explain all of them are very dear friends and you will have to leave it to chance as you can't pick between them.  Everyone has great ideas, the fact there is 6 of them and it matches to a dice seems like a good plan. 

Even though it is being done for pragmatic reasons,  there's nothing wrong with making it a special day.  Plus you never know,  one or more of these friends may be unable to attend your bigger day in Denmark.   Not everyone wants or can afford to travel abroad for weddings no matter how close a friend.

Daisy xxx

TallGirl

Thanks for all the suggestions that is a good idea 6 is not a bad number I just do not want it to be big as I am not inviting any of my family. If I was to chose out of the 6 it would be my male friend as I have known him the longest and then as you say DG could chose her close friend who may or may not turn up (as something always happens on the day lol). So good idea to tell them on the day who is going to be the witnesses. I really do not want this to get out of hand and also the cost will mount up. 

Did make the gym last night but only 1 class as the instructor was off sick the stand in decided to make it 1 hour so with having done 2 on Tues I had enough. Got up early this morning ready for CORE but it was cancelled so we did a bit of SPIN and then did combat. That is 5 classes and a 40 min gym session done this week I feel very smug with myself. 

We also found out there is another instructor who has got in at the posh golf club gym so that is nice for us. However someone had asked for the prices and it is £99 joining fee and £89 a month for membership of the gym only. WOW this cheap gym is £180 a year so certainly not changing if the gym becomes standalone from the golf membership is just too much. We also had the quote for the personal trainer at the posh gym. It is more expensive than we paid in London at £31 per person for a joint session. Luckily we do not need as we have the classes and we have the programme they set up as part of the induction. There are also pre-programmed ones on the app. 

Got paid my £86 for the headset reviews so that was a nice well come boost to the credit card already paid off. It is now a lot more manageable. Also got the £8 for the dress I sold on Vinted now have £13 in the post. Sadly @LadyWithAPlan I am 36inches inside leg measure so I have not found 1 brand that is long enough for me. I hate hate having them too short so Long Tall Sally it usually is. I dont mind 3/4 they are fine as they come to just under my knee but that is too cold at the moment as the gym is freezing (cheap one that is). 

Got a load of stuff I need to do for work so best get on with it. 

Updated to do list. 
Investigate how much coving will be for the whole house (hide cracks) 
Book flights for Ireland & hotel - waiting to find out when a certain event takes place then I can book
Book hotel for Faro (Ibis by Faro Airport) this will also count towards our Hotels.com free nights. Chase friends if they want to come or not
DGs Premium Bonds
Return timer to Ama***
Paint the front door surround
Order hot tub cover cleaner
Get cleaner for hot tub cover and fit new over cover won at Xmas.  
Get more clothes listed on Vinted
Start decluttering the loft (I know of several pictures that can go.