Prosperous & Creative Soul & MFW Year 3

MovingForwards

@WelshmansDaughter yes, that's the one we have.

I agree with jwil about having a socket put in. I'm not sure you're supposed to run those appliances off and extension.

Take your time with P1P, do some each day and gather as much evidence as you can.

Please don't take this the wrong way - It seems you're forgetting how much the HM does for you that's technically outside the remit of a HM, eg moving furniture, all the little bits you can't do and recently been kind of a carer. He has effectively replaced your old cleaner as she also did a lot outside her remit. Personally, I'd be number crunching to see what can be reduced / removed, albeit on a temporary basis, to keep the HM, maybe limit hours per week or month, and as others said, having a look at the list and figuring out what is an actual priority. Honestly, his hourly rate is very good if he's used in the right way.

A new start gardener, semi-retired person or even mature teen may be cheaper for digging out plants, especially if you know which you don't want.

When things are settled, evaluate your position again.

savingholmes

KajiKita said:

Gorgeous trainers! They are so pretty I wouldn’t want to wear them and muck them up! 😂😉

KK

Thanks KK - I was gutted as the equivalent of the top pair I soaked in beach mud a few weeks ago. I need to put them in the wash really but was wary of doing anything to harm them but think it would help. I'm mostly an urban walker - and even wear them to work and if challenged say they are the most expensive footwear I own - to which people laugh and let me be!!

Thanks Beanie - the blue ones are the ones I already have a pair of... I just regretted with a previous red pair not buying a second set - as I loved them so much and have pretty much worn them through - so trying to learn that lesson and buying early while they are still available.

Thanks Jwil - I think you'd like them. On the socket - it's in the plan but my fuse box isn't very good according to the handyman so although there are spare slots he doesn't want to touch it. The plan was to resolve that when I do the garage conversion which is due in a few months time - so reluctant to pay for the work twice.

Thanks Lucielle and Skint. These trainers have great cushioning. One of the things I realised after the divorce is that I'd neglected my footwear - and I'm trying to get new before I need them rather than wearing them into the ground and hurting my knees and ankles.

MF - you are probably right on the handyman - it is just he costs double my previous one - and for jobs that require measuring - he gets lost in the detail and takes a very long time which is an issue when paying by the hour. He was brilliant at hoicking out the bamboo though. He doubled as a counsellor at one point today though and for that was cheaper than my counsellor. I'd have really struggled without him the last couple of months as he's been my main social outlet as well as practical help. For context though in three weeks I will have spent over £1K on him so it's a lot of £ and more than I'd put in my monthly budget so that is part of my stress.

It was nice drawing curtains in my dining area for the first time since I'd moved in tonight. He cut my gate down height wise this week and fitted it properly to the wall with a bolt. It was swollen shut when I first moved in - so he sliced a piece off a month or more ago - but since then it's been banging in the wind so it's nice to have that finally resolved. He had to cut down its height as otherwise no-one would be able to undo the bolt from the other side to reach the key safe. That has made it easier to take bins / crates out - as before I was using bricks to prop it shut so had to move them each time.

I returned stuff to R - but bought a paint for my banisters and some gardening stuff including some hand tools. I broke a trowel this week. I also bought a tool to hoick out weeds between the slabs. I still ended up with a good chunk refunded. I still need to do D's refund. I got some cash out to pay the cleaner - but was completely whacked and yawning by then so came home without going to D.

Tomorrow the cleaner is due at 9 so hoping that she can change my bedding - and put bedding on in the spare room now all that's been washed ready. I'll then get her to carry on with the windows. I'm due to start work at 10. She's only doing 2 hours from tomorrow.

TallGirl

Love the colour of those trainers. Sounds like the handyman is so much more but I agree with the others use him wisely. Gardening can wait until the priority jobs are done, gardeners are cheap to come by if all you need if for them to rip things out. 

Good luck with PIP I can imagine how scary it is but it sounds like you are on track to submit everything. One good thing is you get your renewal looked at before more changes are being made to make it even harder to get. 

Get that stuff returned and maybe hold off any shopping trips by just writing a list or keeping pictures of what you would like. Then once you know if you need it (ak blinds cannot go back up) then go and buy it. 

Take it easy with work they will soon have you back full time otherwise. 

savingholmes

Thanks TG

I got my prescription list from my old doctor's yesterday so that will help. Struggling to get my ADHD meds issued currently so trying to resolve that. 

I have had builder's quotes for parts of the work. Screeding the floors was as expected. The taking down the wall part was £800 more than the ball park he gave me when here - so 50% higher. His driveway quote was horrific and a lot more than other quotes I've received - close to double. He's said he'll send me the quote for the garage next week. I need more quotes.

jwil

Shame about the quotes.  Hope you can get better ones.

savingholmes

I took a risk last night and ate a bowl of Chinese food including a handful of chips. Thankfully I survived without major pain although I had the odd twinge - I wasn't entirely sure if that was real or my fear!! I have some left so will have some more later but either with jacket spud or oven chips and boiled rice.

I've completed my first week back at work and it went fine. So agreed to do 5 days next week at 4.5 hours per day. I have an OHU appointment mid week so can always review then if I need to. I could really see the difference in my view between what it was two months ago and how much greener it is now.

On the ADHD meds - in the end the surgery let me send proof of my conditions, reports, prescriptions etc by email. So they've now agreed to give me meds on Monday. Glad I didn't wait until I was closer to running out as it has taken a few days to resolve. I need to find whatever safe place I put my spare meds in as I'm not sure... 

The cleaner came. She put fresh bedding on in bed 1 and 2 and then put the surplus bedding and other items vacuum sealed in my new ottoman. She did a great job and the rooms look so much better. It doesn't feel like 2 hours is enough - but that's probably because I'm still using her to help get organised not just clean. She also did the stairs and swept and mopped the back L shape. She was happy I'd bought a new hoover. Her DH is also a builder so I've asked if he'd quote for the work I want doing as the recent quotes I got back were higher than expected. 

I need to empty a 6 drawer chest as DD wants to collect it and the spare wardrobe this weekend. The chest doesn't have oodles of stuff in but because of how close to the bed in Bedroom 2 it is - the drawers can't open very far.  Some may fit in the bed 2 wardrobe but I may not have enough spare hangers. Will see if any will fit in the chest in my bedroom or the shelves in bed 3.  

Yesterday I bought an apple tree for £6 bare rooted - orange pippin... At that price I can chuck it in a pot and have little to lose. I also bought some marigolds, busy lizzies and lobelia. Hopefully I'll get those planted this weekend and see what I can redistribute from my recent pot planting into my newly freed up borders in the back garden. Looking forward to that.

Just ordered a waterproofing spray for my new trainers. Still need to to return the surplus ones. Still need to do a return to D too.

Have a lovely weekend all.

doingitanyway

What lovely, colourful trainers 

Good luck to the apple tree

Merlin's_Beard

That's a great deal on the tree!

Love the trainers, they look a lot like my running shoes (but cleaner!)

beanielou

Have a lovely weekend.

savingholmes

Thanks Merlin, DIA and Beanie 

Easy for brand new shoes to be clean! Sprayed them with protector to keep them like that.

So far today I've done some planting and concrete panels painting. Mostly sat down.

I've just had a letter saying no operation unless I have repeat episodes. Huge relief.  Means I have to motivate self to continue weight loss though rather than having a deadline. Some fattier foods have crept in the last few days and my weight loss has stalled again. I have a telephone appointment mid June to check on how things are going.