Dilemma, Dilemma, Dilemma

Queen_of_the_Hive · 29 May at 5:36PM

Hello Thursday,

Its been a quiet week in the hive. Not been sleeping well at all, maybe hormones, maybe stress, probably both. Today turned out to be a lazy day except for a long beach walk this morning to collect some sea glass on the way.

Haven't spent any money which is something to be greatful for so 'cards down' challenge is going well. I need to book hotel for next visit to the city and pay for remainder on flight on summer holiday. The flight was budgeted for the hotel not as such but its a good price. Its youngest bee's birthday coming up so need to get gifts sorted for him.

Tuesday was pay day and monies have all been allotted. Have run out of the bit of annual money I have saved in a regular saver. I did expect this so the second half of the year is going to be a bit harder but still manageable.

A local charity shop is having a book sale this week, books are 50p each. May take a nosy. Could be dangerous

LadyWithAPlan · 29 May at 10:50PM

Great news you can start claiming the team day expenses.

Hopefully the sun was out for your beach walk

Queen_of_the_Hive · 30 May at 10:30PM

LadyWithAPlan said:

Great news you can start claiming the team day expenses.

Hopefully the sun was out for your beach walk

Hey LaPlan!

There has been some beautiful beach walks and actually I do quite like the bleaker days too. Adds to the drama!

Occasionally there are dolphins which is nature at its best

Queen_of_the_Hive · 31 May at 10:55AM

Hello Sunny Saturday,

Last night I had a wonderful and a bit unsettled night... a bit strange eh? So I was in a cosy mood, popped on my pjs early, got the lights down low in the living room which tbh is "my room" when the kids are out of town and sat down at the laptop like I am doing now and enjoyed catching up with some of the diaries I follow. They were inspirational, thought provoking and enlightening. Then later in the evening as I was heading to bed my partner asks me if the cat is inside? He wasn't he was out exploring. Well, he just didn't show up which was very unlike him and could I settle? Of course not, then heading to 1am someone starts ringing the doorbell (this never happens!). Well I thought it was bad news about the cat. Anyway turns out it was a drunk bloke looking for his mate - was apologietic when realising it was wrong house and low and behold the beast in fur turns up! No idea where he's been but he was happy as larry (whoever is larry?) and proceeds to the food bowl

Yours truly then sleeps through but poor OH, the man at the door completely woke OH up and he was bolt awake most of the night. OH can be a terrible sleeper at times so no big surprises there but he's sleeping soundly now.

Having tucked into breakfast i've had to spend a bit of £ on birthday gifts for the littlest. He wrote me a long list a few weeks ago which was helpful. I do feel bad to a degree that I don't have a lot of £ to spend this year. Am feeling the pinch. I should set up pots for birthdays for the kids but haven't got around to it as yet. Also could do with a pot for the cat and a gardening one too. Maybe something to look into this month. I think I may have struck a bit of gold in ideas for him for a bit of an unexpected item - he would love to have a pet at his dads house but his dad is anti this idea. So its not quite the same but have ordered a photo print cushion in the shape of the photo of our furbaby. He can keep this with him in his dads house. Whatever gift he gets I know he will love, he's a gorgeous happy go lucky lad. Am so lucky!

For the 'not so' little one's birthday I have decided to bake some colourful rainbow muffin cakes for his home with us and going for a cat themed muffin toppers, balloons and table decor when he comes to visit in a couple of weeks. We are going out for a family meal (as he requested) so that will be fun. His dad and step mum are having a little bbq get together with a small number of school friends. I've usually been the one to be organising some kind of party but am actually happy to hand the baton over to dad for this year. I'd say all in all, sounds like a pretty fab birthday he's going to have.

Well I must say I haven't missed the feeling of anxiety that comes with booking trips to the city. Yesterday I spent a good portion of the day researching some upcoming trips. It looks like am going to have problems for the next visit. Kings Cross is going to be closed again, so it'll mean a stay in the city and travel back on Monday after work which brings a lot of stress & added expense. Luckily only a couple more trips until the summer break and then the summer holidays, time with the kids is shared. The back end of the holidays will give us another chance for "cards down". I could do with picking up some temporary work but no idea where to start with this and tbh the thought is daunting!

I have so many plans for this weekend, most of which won't get done. I just know myself "too well"!

Ooops forgot to mention - two major events for little ole me! Earlier in the week went to an early morning beach yoga session and it was wonderful. It also meant getting the bicycle back up and running to get us there! Brilliant!

Go me...! but I've wrote meal plans for the next two weeks! Haven't done this in years but feel glad to have made the start. This was one of the tasks I wanted to action from the healthy eating course am following at the moment. It was a bit tricky at first as I couldn't think of anything but became much easier once got into it. Its written on excel and thinking for us it makes sense to have it two weeks in advance due to the travelling & OHs hospital appointments which are still pretty frequent.

Def getting in a walk and trying to continue to not spend unnecessarily.

Right better move my butt otherwise it'll be a day of writing a diary entry and not much else!

Queen_of_the_Hive · 31 May at 10:06PM

So this afternoon wasn't too productive which I am feeling a bit guilty for now. However we did go food shopping which including using 3x vouchers for free lidl items that were expring today.

This afternoon just myself and OH we had a super cool time. We have a pub with large pub garden which is very close to us and they were playing live music outside. So as OH was feeling good today we had a mini glasto experience in our garden. We enjoyed a cheeky cocktail or two in my case

and enjoyed the atmosphere. It was truly lush!

Didn't do much this evening, just a bit of tv and somehow its got to 10pm but it was a good day.

Humdinger1 · 1 June at 9:00AM

@Queen_of_the_Hive no guilt please! You're juggling an enormous amount. We are building you a podium to stand on, to receive your gold medal. Love Humdinger xx

Queen_of_the_Hive · 10 June at 1:38PM

Hello Sunny Tuesday,

Oooops! Haven't updated since June 1st. Have just been chugging along...!

This week I've had a major money wobble... had a big stressor about all my travels and the cost. Haven taken a break from it I think its just hit me a bit harder and something am working through in my mind.

On the flip side of the coin I may have picked up some extra hours at work. My line manager has been trying to hire some extra resource for our team to support upcoming projects. I'm the sort that will freek out before being rational, but 'got over myself' and had a little chat with the boss with my idea. It was warmly welcomed and is being considered but not confirmed. Should hear later this week. It sounds silly but am feeling a bit better already.

debtfreewannabe321 · 10 June at 4:22PM

Haha I am also the sort that freaks out then stops to think about things and be a grown up and rationalise things 😅 (eventually).
Well done on the (hopefully) extra hours!

Queen_of_the_Hive · 15 June at 6:17AM

Hello Sunday,

Wow its been hot these past few days. Its so hot its been hitting my sleep. Just not getting enough and constantly feeling tired!

So lets start with some good news! On Wednesday it was confirmed from my boss at work that the extra hours were approved! Which is fantastic as I really have hit a low point in my debt ex mortgage. I won't benefit as such from extra cash to do things but see this as a starting point to tackle this debt.

Quite a bit of the week was in the city in a mixture of work, play and time with the kids and I must say I LOVED IT! Caught up with friends at a rare for me drinks in the pub, 1 beer which was £7.20 eeek!! I've also tried something new. My job is pretty much fully remote which I am very greatful for. I booked myself into one of those co-working spaces as it was in a convenient location, etc. It was really good, it was a bit noisy but tbh after working from home with just the radio on for company it was a good iritation and definately had a feel of novelty factor. Friday was meant to be a health related appointment for the younger one but it was cancelled last minute, much to his dissapointment and meant I had an unexpected free day. So I heard good things about the newly opened V&A Storehouse and paid a visit inc a lovely long walk around the Olympic park. Total steps for the day 21k!!! This photo below blows my mind, we are in the middle of a busy city and you just wouldn't think it at all. Have to admit I quite fancied living around here, had the obligatory look on Rightmove, to soon discover you don't get much change from 700k for a 1 bed so maybe not

Image: https://us-noi.v-cdn.net/6031891/uploads/editor/p2/jhtj03r5fxqd.jpg

Yesterday we were back at home for a short weekend and had a small simple family BBQ to celebrate the not so little one's birthday. It was his actual birthday last weekend where he celebrated with his dad and some friends. But I'd say yesterday was a success. Our BBQ is pretty new. We bought last year, its a fire pit type, but only managed one cooking session on it before now. it worked out well. Kept it simple with sausages and chicken kebabs.Definately do another one over the summer holidays while the kids are here. Fingers crossed for good weather.

Finances wise, as I said earlier in the diary. The next couple of months feel stressful. Am in quite a pickle and need to up the income and work on a debt repayment plan. Kinda know what to do, just need to work out how to do it. Haven't had time lately to look at side hustles but def something to try to do.

Diet was going well, but being away its gone haywire so this week will get back on it.