Flying solo

twiggy86

He is doing ok-ish @Sarahwithlove - keeps having little moments where the cracks show. This weekend will be difficult as we are going to start clearing out his dad's house (and will be staying there) and collect his ashes (they didn't have a funeral). They told his mum yesterday which was difficult, especially as she can't talk and so properly express herself. 

Last night we went for a walk down the beach with the pooch which was lovely. It was quite quiet too which made it nicer. So had a little walk and a paddle and then came home for dinner. £4 spent on parking. Also transferred bf some money as he took one of the TV's from his mum's (as she won't be going home again and has the other TV at the care home with her) but we needed a TV bracket. So we now have a TV in the bedroom - less excited about having a TV than I am having the cables that have been hanging out the wall for the last 11 years covered up! 

I'm working from home today which has given me more time this morning to be productive! So I have popped a load of washing on, done the washing up and plunged the sink (which was emptying slowly) as well as having a cuppa in the garden and washing my hair! I also intend to sort out the Vinted pile (didn't touch it last night!) and sort out my knitting - dropped some stitches yesterday so need to try fix that! Tonight is acro which is always fun - me and bf will each sort out our own dinners. 

I also made a £10 CC payment this morning as that meant I could colour in another 1% box in my spreadsheet! Now paid 53% off the total - 10% of that being paid this year! 

Today's list...

• Load of washing on 30 degree wash
• Plunge sink and put some bleach down 
• Make CC payment 
• Update spreadsheet 
• Put tortoises in the garden to save electric as don't need their light on 
• Hang washing on airer 
• Sort out POA forms that I printed yesterday 
• Sort out knitting and make some progress
• Maybe pull out some weeds - as green bin is being collected tomorrow and has some space left!  
• Meals from stores

twiggy86

Quick afternoon update as I'm feeling productive today and have actually ticked things off my list! 

Knitting is fixed! I dropped a couple of stitches in the ribbing and wasn't sure I knew how to fix, however it was fairly straightforward with a crochet hook! I'm now at the point of having under 10grams of the wool left - which may mean the ribbing is slightly longer than I had planned - I would have done a few more rounds on the body as I need the length so will just have extra ribbing potentially! I've pushed up my deadline slightly - hoping to get the knitting done before we go away for the weekend, as this means that I can block on Friday then leave to dry over the weekend - then just have the ends to sew in next week and maybe re-do the binding off on the neckline if it's still too tight! Speaking of tight - that's a tight deadline! 

Just sorted through the Vinted pile - taken out a few things to put in a clothes bank. The rest is in good condition but not all seasonal! There are some very thick jumpers in there so not sure if it's worth listing, as ideally don't want it all hanging around for ages! I have listed one thing on there so far, with another 12 things to list. May do another couple this afternoon. 

I have been out in the garden and pulled out a few more weeds! The front is a mess but at least some of the taller weeds are gone now! The green bin is now pretty much full but is being collected tomorrow. I may then try get out there for at least 10 minutes per day to pull up a few more weeds, so that should help keep it somewhat under control! 

Also messaged my friend and I'm going to pop the POA forms (and have a quick natter!) in on my way to acro. I had missed ticking a box on one page, but decided it's worth giving them to him to check if there's any other mistakes and get signed and then I can re-insert that page at the end as there's no signatures on that page anyway!  

twiggy86

Another productive morning from me! 

The one thing I'd listed on Vinted sold within hours for the grand total of £2.25! So me and pooch used our morning walk to drop that at the parcel box. I've also stripped the spare bed and that is now in the machine. Managed a row of ribbing on my top. Done the washing up and hung up the washing I did yesterday! Not a lot by some people's standards but good for me! 

I dropped the POA forms off at my friends and stopped for an hour for a chat before heading off for a fun acro class - paid lowest amount and managed to snaffle a punnet of strawberries! 

Today's bits and bobs (and yes I am re-listing the things I've already said above!)... 

• Walk pooch to drop off parcel 
• Put out green bin to be collected 
• Washing on 30 degree quick cycle
• Pop tortoises in the garden 
• Hang washing on airer/ banister 
• Update spreadsheet
• Consider making a £25 CC payment as means I can colour in a square (for my yearly goal as would take me to 30%) 
• List at least 5 things on Vinted 
• Work on knitted top 
• Meals from stores - might make sausage sarnies for lunch as got some sausages that need using (or freezing, but sausage sarnie sounds like the better option!) 
• Park for free at netball

Baileys_Babe

Sausage sarnie sounds good, I was tempted but remembered we don't have any bread, and I don't have time to make any 

As it is good enough weather for the tortoises to go outside, could you not dry the washing outside as well?

How would you fund the £25 CC payment? Do you have money already put aside for this? Have you made some extra money? Or would you be robbing other budget categories? Sorry for all the questions, I just don't want you to make a payment now if it leaves you in difficulties further down the line.

twiggy86

Thanks @Baileys_Babe - I budget a certain amount for debt-busting but tend to pay it off in little bits over the month, so it's already allocated to that don't worry! I do it this way as it helps me feel like I'm making progress during the month, rather than making one big payment and then having to wait a whole month to make the next! It also means that I have funds available should anything crop up, i.e. I can divert that money elsewhere rather than send to CC. Does that make sense? 

Also I don't have an outside line otherwise the washing would be out there! It does seem like it's drying quickly though as I'd like to get the bed re-made this afternoon. (Bf isn't great at sleeping so often ends up in there rather than disturbing me).  

Baileys_Babe

If you have the funds for the CC payment, I would pay and reach the next goal. Yes, it makes sense to me.

That is a shame you don't have an outside line, I always think the washing smells fresher if it is dried outside. In the past, when we lived somewhere without an outside line, I used to use the airer outside.

Floss

I was thinking about your plans for improvement work on your home... I have a "planned work" tab in my finance spreadsheet which lists the things I want to do, with an estimated cost. I also have a projected savings tab, which has various works planned in. Maybe something like that would work for your short term & longer term plans, so you have a bit of flex while saving for them? 

Also, think about a "!!!!!! happens" pot that is hidden, holding £250 or so, to cover things like your speeding ticket 😉

twiggy86

Thanks for the suggestions @Floss - I do have a "buffer" of £100 and a "misc" which are kind of like "£$% happens! I have thought about having a DIY sheet with costing, but it seems a bit far away with everything that keeps cropping up in between at the moment! But I will get there - especially with the pay rise, which I keep forgetting has an annual bonus! 

Lat night I managed to "finish" the top! As in all the knitting is finished but I'm going to block it before sewing in the ends. Hoping the blocking stretches out the cast off on the neck line as that is currently very tight and only just squishes over my face! If not, I will have to work out how to unpick and re-do it looser. I also got an extra netball game for free as the team after us were a player down so asked if I would play - however very achy this morning! I did meet bf and a friend at the pub for a drink before hand so spent £11 there though! 

I sold the other thing I had listed on Vinted last night too... for one whole pound! However, I made the decision not to list anything else until next week as we are away this weekend and I like to post promptly! So I have walked pooch to post of the other parcel this morning. Today I am working from home as we are heading off early to drive 5-6 hours to bf's dad's to start the process of clearing.  

My office chair turned up yesterday and desk should be here today, but that will be a job for next week to build them. Another job for next week is to get bf to glue a paid of my sandals where part seems to be coming away - hoping glue will work as they're super comfy! 

Today's bits and bobs before we head off.. 

• Walk pooch to post parcel
• Update spreadsheet 
• Wash and block top 
• Pop tortoises in the garden for a few hours 
• Lunch from stores - but will grab something for dinner on the way 
• Pack up bag for the weekend - I don't have a small knitting/ crochet project to take with me but may take the crochet blanket as there is no internet/ TV (although I'm sure we'll be busy most of the time)   

Baileys_Babe

You can get glue especially for shoes, which is both flexible and strong.

I think this weekend will be tiring, emotionally draining and physically hard work, I think taking some crochet to have something to allow you to unwind is a good idea.

What are your meal plans whilst away?

twiggy86

There is an Asda down the road from the house so I believe the intention will be to grab something for breakfasts and lunch, but go out for dinner (cheap pub) on Saturday night. We'll the be heading back mid-morning on Sunday. However, I am "standing back" re plans, budget etc and just going to go with the flow. This will be a particularly emotional visit for bf and his sister, as also collecting their dad's ashes whilst we're there. So I need to be flexible and just be guided by what is happening - if that makes sense.