Dilemma, Dilemma, Dilemma

Queen_of_the_Hive

Today is another day on the rails / sitting on a coach. Love having the kids come to stay at home but its such a short time we get and we have a full day of travel to get back to their dads. Mum keeps reminding me that it won't be long till they can do the journey on their own. The eldest is 13 this year so still a way to go, plus I do enjoy it to a degree. It might not be the kind of quality time together I wish for, it is time together nether the less. 

Lucikly we have some leftovers from yesterdays BBQ which will do perfectly for meals today. Have some beef slices to make beef sandwiches for lunch and some leftover salad which with some tinned tuna will make a perfect dinner. Kings Cross is closed again today for signalling system upgrades so getting return train part way from St Pancras and staying over at a budget hotel tonight followed by an early morning train tomorrow morning to get back before the start of working week tomorrow morning. Basically a very long, tiring day!  

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Friday, 

Hope everyone is managing to keep cool. Living by the coast, this below was todays morning walk and felt very much like being on holiday. 

Brain is sleeping so cannot do a proper post but just had to share this beauty. 

KajiKita

That’s beautiful 😊❤️🌞

KK

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Saturday, 

So me and OH were meant to be up to watch the solstice sunrise over the sea, we checked online the times and we must have had the WRONG site because when the alarm went this morning it was already light which was a bit of a bummer! I think tonight we should be a bit more organised and try again tomorrow morning. 

Well I am getting pretty frustrated with Prolific, I can't do anything, my screen is frozen with a request for me to submit my 'place of birth'... helpdesk tickets submitted but not hearing anything back, tried to contact them on Reddit and it keeps bouncing back. Its awful as I can see studies pop up to do just can't get to the page. Please folks keep your fingers crossed that it is resolved as I have loved being with them. 

This weekend is all about trying to make headway with my partners tax return. Mine was completed yesterday bar a couple of questions. But my partners is behind and i'd lost a lot of heart with it. Anyway having a bit of a push on it. 

Food

We went food shopping yesterday (without meal plan), spent just shy of £40 and this should last us into mid week. We have a lot of food in the freezer which I'd prefer to use before buying more. Am also enjoying having more salads. We stopped on salads for a bit as OH was on a special diet and was trying to get him to eat veg. Anyway we are back to salads and fruit and loving it. We bought some chunky chilli spiced hot dogs to cook on the fire. So we are going to make use of the lovely weather and have hot dogs for dinner with salad and fruit. May cook extra so we can have tomorrow. I need to write my next two weeks meal plan to get back on track.

Travel

Also trying to get myself a bit more ahead of my city trips and going to buy one or two train tickets for September as they are the lowest they are going to be. I don't have too much free cash but something is better than nothing. 

I have one train ticket I need to check how the refund is processing - this was frustrating, was fora train which was then cancelled because the train company was striking so had to buy a second ticket at more cost . Such a faf to get a refund. Also need to put in for my expenses for the day in the office last month. 

Reading

Totally making opportunity to do some reading this summer. But I have some bad habits. Not sure if others do the same but I keep starting a new book before finishing the current one. My current one was a cute young adult fiction about a rabbit doll and the adventures he went on. However this morning as was awake early I started my next chosen book which is totally different type of story. This is a hardback, doorstopper about the history of railways (inner geek!). Anyway must finish this, this weekend! 

Money 

One more week on part time money and then back to full time wage till the end of the year...! Soooo need this extra income. Sorry... have dug myself into a debt pit and not through being lavish. Far from it. Just circumstances. 

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Sunday, 

Yesterday was fairly productive. Managed to make a bit of a dent in cutting the grass but was stopped by the rain... ironically the rain stopped grass cutting a couple of weeks ago too! With an expected (but did not materialise) downpour we bought & installed a waterbutt. Its now proudly sitting on its base but is not plumbed in to the drainpipe yet. Will ask stepdad for a bit of help on this one as he may have installed one before. 

Yesterday was also good as much as I was fed up I made a some progress on my partners self assessment prep work. Still a lot to do but a glad to get off to a good start. This morning have also emailed myself at work the expenses reciepts I need to claim for the day in the office. 

We are going to take a walk to the big orange DIY shop to buy some of their famous orange buckets. I used to have some in my old home and would collect the bit of cold water from the shower as it heats up, so going to re-instate this for some very obvious benefits! Going to purchase a gift card via sprive to pay for this. It'll just be pence but a bit of something to add to the mortgage at the end of the year. 

This morning we had a surprise call from my partners family in Aus. This was a late fathers day call and was a super surprise because we'd forgotten and its always a pleasure to speak to them. My partners son is training for the Aus police. Def not a job I could do but I did find it inspiring and making me think a bit more of whether I want to do some training, change jobs etc. I haven't really got a clue what I would even like to do and I don't have the spare money to do anything at the moment. So inspired and clueless pretty much sums it up! 

I have partially started making a meal plan, we have a reasoable sized chest freezer thats full but had no idea what we had inside so have taken everything out and listed it on the meal planner and will come up with a 2 week meal planner later today. 

This week is payday so will be in and out in a flash to its allotted bill or pot. 

PS - Finished the rabbit book and read a bit more of the railway book. 

Baileys_Babe

Hey, @Queen_of_the_Hive I've just read a post of yours on the prolific thread about soup. Did you mean to post it here? 🤔

Queen_of_the_Hive

Baileys_Babe said:

Hey, @Queen_of_the_Hive I've just read a post of yours on the prolific thread about soup. Did you mean to post it here? 🤔

Hello @Baileys_Babe thank you for letting me know. How embarrasing! Nope def not meant for there althought the soup was nice. 

How are you? 

Baileys_Babe

Queen_of_the_Hive said:

Baileys_Babe said:

Hey, @Queen_of_the_Hive I've just read a post of yours on the prolific thread about soup. Did you mean to post it here? 🤔

Hello @Baileys_Babe thank you for letting me know. How embarrasing! Nope def not meant for there althought the soup was nice. 

How are you? 

No harm done, I just didn't want you confused when you went looking for your post. I'm glad you enjoyed the soup.

I'm not doing to badly, I'm trying to reclaim the house, the usual decluttering, finding a home for things ... It is slow going but recently OH commented that the house is looking better and thanking me for all the work I'm doing to give us a lovelier home, so progress is definitely being made and I need to stay focused.

Queen_of_the_Hive

@Baileys_Babe wow, thats brilliant. Its amazing what a difference a good clear out can make and mentally its good too. When we moved last year I had no interest in having a sort out but as life is starting to be a bit calmer I should have a go too! Our loft is bulging! 

Really pleased your good efforts were noticed by your OH

Queen_of_the_Hive

Hello Wednesday, 

Am up wayyy to early to crack on to work. Have lots to do and it was bothering me

However by getting up early I switched on to GMB and learned that Council tax is the one bill you don't want to miss. Miss a payment by 6 weeks and it automatically triggers a fine, potential bailfis at my door and need to pay full year in full. Wow. I have been a bit slow to set up a standing order for this years monthly payments but this has pushed me up the bum to set it up. 

Yesterday's check on my S&S was looking a bit brighter too. This evening is next trip on the rails back to the city. Sadly my usual budget accomodation was full so staying at a new alternative so a bit apprehensive as I've got comfortable there. Its only for one night as Thurs night is different accomodation. 

Right better crack on!