A Better View 🌄

Fortune_Smiles

badmemory said:

Don't forget the contributions to pensions also.  You won't get the extra from tax in the pension but it will save paying tax on that money.

Definitely on our list of options BM.

savingholmes said:

Good that you are lovely employers

We are very lovely SH 😂😂😂

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

Flying High! ✈

But not in a good way.  My blood pressure was very high this morning.  It hasn't been great all week (hence the headache), however, it really spiked today.  I had it under control before Christmas - I'd lost weight, my diet was healthy, I was exercising, I felt amazing!  Then I took the brakes off over Christmas and now I'm paying the price.  I have to accept that I can't indulge in the way I used to without consequences.  So I'll be giving health a much bigger focus from now on.  I know I've said this every year I've had this diary and then let other things take priority.  But I feel this is a wake up call and I'm very fed up with feeling under par.

I've started tracking my weight and calories.  Although we're back to our largely healthy eating ways I think our protion sizes may have crept up again.  Mr F is helping me to drink more fluids - I'm a terror for drinking just half of the cup 🤭 Alcohol is off the menu - although I haven't really fancied it since Christmas anyway.  I've taken an aspirin this morning as it has been found to help some with high blood pressure.  I'll be going up for a hot bath soon and, if I feel ok later, will be doing some Tai Chi.  I know I need to track my readings for a week before seeing the Doctor so I've started that.  If there's no sign of improvement soon, I'll make an appointment to see her.  I hate the idea of taking more tablets but the risks of not doing so are too great.

I feel very old 👵  But then one has to be a certain age if one is to become a grandmother 😆

In better news, the boiler failed to ignite this morning but one push of the re-set button got it going again.  We are nursing it along now.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will see us through what remains of the winter so we can have the new one installed when the weather improves 🤞  I'm going to call the plumber tomorrow to come out and give us a quote.

Mr F has finished his lego project 👏  It looks amazing!  I'm going to look for a display case for it.  How am I going to keep him out of trouble now though?  Maybe another jigsaw 😆

Right off for that bath 🛀

Fortune x

redofromstart

Merry Christmas to you too!

I know what you mean, even things like paying for your mobile through the business are surprisingly complicated. In the end we just paid ourselves the flat rate for running a business from home, and business miles at 45p.  Saving the corporation tax on a computer isn't something you can justify that often either. There is some really useful information on the contractor forums. 

KajiKita

I had no idea that being self employed was so painfully complicated on the tax front. Puts me off even more! 😉😂
I hope Mr FS appreciates how lucky he is to have you help wrestle with all this! 

On a serious note, I hope the headache eases today and I am with you on the struggles to eat well / sensible portions. So hard at this time of year as well. Cheering you on with very small improvement to this. 

KK

beanielou

Feel better soon. 

savingholmes

Definitely tackle the blood pressure - not worth the risk of not doing. At least you know you can do it as you've made a difference before and stuck to it for extended periods. Feasting is part of the cycle of life - it's when it becomes prolonged it becomes an issue... Toddles back to her prawn salad and jacket spud - ignoring the fat in the mayonnaise and the other carp that will get eaten later... 

Fortune_Smiles

redofromstart said:

Merry Christmas to you too!

I know what you mean, even things like paying for your mobile through the business are surprisingly complicated. In the end we just paid ourselves the flat rate for running a business from home, and business miles at 45p.  Saving the corporation tax on a computer isn't something you can justify that often either. There is some really useful information on the contractor forums. 

I think we'll be going the flat rate route too Redo - much less complicated.  I have a good accountant and have managed to get my head round most things now.  It just seems very overwhelming at the start.

KajiKita said:

I had no idea that being self employed was so painfully complicated on the tax front. Puts me off even more! 😉😂
I hope Mr FS appreciates how lucky he is to have you help wrestle with all this! 

KK

I think it's simpler if you are self-employed KK, rather than a limited company as we are.  We didn't have any choice about that as our clients will only work with limiteds.  Things are getting easier now I'm actually working with the accounts rather than reading the theory.  And I have the accountant to help with anything particularly tricky.

Fortune x

Fortune_Smiles

KajiKita said:

On a serious note, I hope the headache eases today and I am with you on the struggles to eat well / sensible portions. So hard at this time of year as well. Cheering you on with very small improvement to this. 

KK

beanielou said:

Feel better soon. 

savingholmes said:

Definitely tackle the blood pressure - not worth the risk of not doing. At least you know you can do it as you've made a difference before and stuck to it for extended periods. Feasting is part of the cycle of life - it's when it becomes prolonged it becomes an issue... Toddles back to her prawn salad and jacket spud - ignoring the fat in the mayonnaise and the other carp that will get eaten later... 

Thanks guys.  The blood pressure is coming down (the hot bath seemed to help).  If I continue doing the 'right' things, I'm sure I'll be fit as a fiddle in no time.

Fortune x

Seasidegal58

What wonderful, generous employers you have!😁. Quite exciting news too about your first divi!

I think we're missing the big wind down here but my DD's OH said they're bracing themselves up in the Highlands. Their neighbours have been moving their vehicles in case the roof of their garage blows off!😳

Fortune_Smiles

Seasidegal58 said:

What wonderful, generous employers you have!😁. Quite exciting news too about your first divi!

I think we're missing the big wind down here but my DD's OH said they're bracing themselves up in the Highlands. Their neighbours have been moving their vehicles in case the roof of their garage blows off!😳

Yes - it's nice to be able to choose your own Seasidegal 😂

Blimey!  I remember the first year we moved here.  We weren't due to start renovating the barn until the December and Ex-Hurricane Ophelia came along in the October and ripped pieces of the (asbestos) roof off.  We had to collect them from the surrounding fields 😲  Fortunately we've re-roofed and re-clad since then and everything has remained in place so far.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for your neighbours 🤞

Fortune x