Prosperous & Creative Soul & MFW Year 3

KajiKita

Following along again 😊

KK

savingholmes

Thanks KK, Jwil, Blackcats, EH and CW

My seller's EA got me to chase my survey on that property yesterday and it's now booked in for a week's time. It may take a further week for me to get the report and they'll ring me so I can ask any questions. So definitely not moving this side of Xmas given that despite chasing I've not heard anything from my buyer about a survey.

I still need to get some forms printed and signed and sent to my solicitor but they are the transfer type docs rather than anything that would hold things up at this point.

I went out shopping Wednesday and fritter spent more than planned (including on me) - but on the positive side now have most people's gifts sorted. Just my parents left to buy and I've got bits for them that could make up a mini hamper if they don't give me any ideas.  I now have piles of gifts ready to wrap all over the lounge - so need to resolve that this weekend. I also have a bag of books and garden items I've decluttered that I plan to give my parents so not concerned.I need to look around my house for for any wrap ups aka decluttering opportunities!

I took half a tablet at 2.30pm yesterday and that was enough to keep me awake until gone 3am! So definitely need to stick to 2 tablets for now rather than the 4 they recommended.

Art class was interesting last night. We did a clothed figure - 4 drawings of 3-5 minutes each and 2 of 25 mins each - and actually the quick drawings while really challenging were probably more accurate that the ones I took longer over. In person there's a huge distortion effect depending on the angle from which you draw too. It was also much harder than doing it from a photo.

I've been doing pen and pencil sketches from photos this week of family members that I intend to make into Xmas presents this week. Just 4x6 size. I've been doing them in my journal - but need to do them into a little watercolour postcard book I have to make them easier to transfer into a frame etc. Looking forward to that.

I'd best get off and do my day job

LadyWithAPlan

Ah lovely to see your opening post looking  backwards, present day and forwards . 

Maybe when I buy I will start again a new post but got to get there first! 

You have a really stable financial situation with your pensions etc - yes I think a long fix given you might do creative stuff as mortgage brokers really don’t like that! But great you have 3 years to run 

I love having personalised gifts so I am sure your art will be a great success 

savingholmes

Thanks KK and LWAP

I think most of us have untapped art potential. We didn't sit there as kids and think we can't do art - comparison said that and perhaps discouraging adults or bullies - but most of us can increase our skill and apparent talent level with practice. I think the hand drawn / coloured / painted items will go down well - although if they are particularly good - I may photograph them and make prints although that could defeat the purpose. I'll see how I go on. 

I've had an art spending spree on Am**** £142 focusing mostly on BF deals on things I'd like anyway including some pre-mixed acrylic pouring paints and irridescent paint and plus some pre-mixed flesh tones in the hope that it improves some of my portrait paintings. I'm hoping the colours will be closer to what I'm looking for even if I still blend them a little. It includes a few gift items. I can't use the £100 voucher I'm getting from work on art supplies - not the right kind of shops - so will probably use that for food or future white goods or even furniture when I get it and therefore balance out the spends that way.

Do I need it? No - but I'm getting a lot of backpay next month and I'm working on the basis I'm not moving until January at the earliest now - and the art supplies will bring me pleasure. The pre-mixed stuff will also reduce the mess and let me play more often! I'm planning to have a dedicated room just for art at the new place and could create a temporary one now if the surveyor would hurry up! Once the survey is done I plan to let go of the surplus beds and that will release what would have been my art room here again. 

I'm also buying an 8 cube unit off FBMP for £30 - ready assembled and I'm planning to put that in the garage and slot some of my moving cubes into it. It will be handy post move anyway. I'll pick that up later today. The owner is going to help get it in my car - and then I'll figure something out this end later.

This weekend I must take photos of DD's bikes and the Fridge Freezer and list them.

I saw my handyman for the first time since the summer yesterday as he was at my neighbour's house. He said he would be willing to help at my new place if I paid him his travel time etc. So that feels positive. He charges £100 a day here and he is a really hard worker so even if I also give him some money towards fuel it shouldn't be too excessive.  I'll give him a call when I know my moving date and then plan some time in. I may get him to help dismantle and move stuff. Will see how things go. I really like him - but I wouldn't want to trust my whole move to him as I worry he could fail to show on the day or could have a van breakdown.

Really struggling to motivate myself for work today!! Not helped by lack of sleep overnight. It feels like it should be Xmas already and I should be on leave. I probably should book some more time off but don't really want to because of the move. I'm trying to hold on to my remaining leave as I don't know how much I'll need. I also feel like I have too much to do for work even though with my current meds not being as good as the previous ones (supply issue) I'm struggling to motivate myself.

Baileys_Babe

That is very good news regarding your handy man being willing to come and work at your new house.

TallGirl

Good news about the handy man if you have professionals move you then you could get him to help you put things in order afterwards like reassemble or assemble furniture and move things around. There might also be stuff you want doing immediately to make the garden safer. 

Spending on stuff you want and then using the voucher for food makes sense. You've earned with hard work so do spend it. I’ve only ever got a voucher once and I spent it on some golf clubs that I still use. It always reminds me. 

skint_spice

Happy new diary!

beanielou

I challenge you to get the fridge freezer and the bike up for sale before the end of the month!! 

lucielle

Ooh good one @beanielou   Fab news on the handyman. Enjoy your new art products. 

L

savingholmes

Baileys_Babe said:

That is very good news regarding your handy man being willing to come and work at your new house.

Thanks I was relieved. I will probably ask him to come asap and change the locks as well as help get curtains up etc. Failing that I have asked my cleaner if she can help on moving day. It should make things less daunting.

TallGirl said:

Good news about the handy man if you have professionals move you then you could get him to help you put things in order afterwards like reassemble or assemble furniture and move things around. There might also be stuff you want doing immediately to make the garden safer. 

Spending on stuff you want and then using the voucher for food makes sense. You've earned with hard work so do spend it. I’ve only ever got a voucher once and I spent it on some golf clubs that I still use. It always reminds me. 

Thanks TG. Yes I could get him to do something with the terracing as I'm not sure it's secure. Help moving stuff around as you say would also be fab.

Thanks for the vote for guilt free spends. I struggle not to beat myself up even though I will meet big savings goals this month and next.