Moving on

rtandon27

@Cherryfudge - I just had a little research session for BT - turns out they have a dedicated team for POAs and also reccomend that the bill come out of my account even if it is in his name. That way the transition will be seamless down the line - all they will need to do is change it to my name - they don't allow two names on an account even though I'm already account manager for it!

Cherryfudge

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82112947#Comment_82112947

That's worth knowing. Interesting they don't allow two names on an account.

Cherryfudge

Since the coffee, I haven't got a huge amount done. Most of the morning was spent trying to sort admin things for Sunday mornings: at least I can now add team members without bothering admin staff. Incidentally, that's the job I went for a couple of years ago and which is now coming up again but this time I'm not applying. I have the email through confirming the 15 hour contract for what was a relief job and need to check a detail before signing. I had a minor hassle getting back into my work laptop, but that's sorted now. I will just have to get used to logging on more often as my password has expired.

In the afternoon I put a couple more items onto V1nted and have also bought two - a tin for crackers so they stay crisp and don't shed crumbs, and some ankle boots (preparation for trudging through winter weather to the above-mentioned job). Those both came out of the float in the account.

L1dl gave me £5 off a £40 spend so I did this in the afternoon. I was short of time so I grabbed the receipts for the last two similar shops, which I'd pinned on the board for reference, and used those to inspire a shopping list. I'd kept them to save having to work out how to spend £40 on things we'd use and which would keep and aren't too heavy to carry. Thanks, historic me.

I've done another three hours at work this evening and since then I've mostly been catching up on work emails.

Spent:

Housekeeping £40.64

Cherryfudge

Childcare started about 8 this morning, a bit before normal as DS1 had to be at a meeting some distance away (he wasn't looking forward to it but came back more cheerful, saying he'd heard one of the older people present complaining that they'd sent someone so young!)

The girls were generally lovely: no fights between them and me today, though I suspect some of the 'fights' are due to them scaring me, and others are just their age and inability to regulate emotions. We went to the swings where DGD1 made a friend, which bodes well as she'll soon be at school. New friend then went off to play with other children but DGD hung back - she doesn't like playing with boys! She told me later that when she's at school she's going to play with certain children she already knows, one of whom is a boy, but that doesn't seem to count. 😁

We didn't do the library trip today: they usually enjoy it but they just wanted the swings. We called in at the supermarket for snacks on the way home which was a hassle as I had to go back from the checkout to scan a few things that didn't have barcodes, but at least they had healthy snacks on the way home and no one fell asleep (except DH later).

In the afternoon, DGD1 saw a craft idea in her favourite programme and asked to make it and for a wonder, we were able to assemble a nearly correct version of the ingredients. She spent a long time working patiently and came up with a very pretty result. I enjoyed it too! And there can only be a very limited window in one's life where one folds a piece of paper in half, cuts out a shape along the fold and the recipient is puzzled till one unfolds the cut out and it's a heart. That will probably never look clever to her again, so I'll take it while I can!

Meanwhile DH took DGD2 out on her scooter, which is a lot less of a snail's pace than it used to be, so I think they both enjoyed themselves, too.

We were pretty well exhausted when we got home. DH cooked salmon for tea then he had a meeting. I was quite relieved that my friends weren't up for meeting tonight, as I needed a rest. One of them has invited us over next week, though, so I'll look forward to that.

Spends:

ebook £2.99

Housekeeping £5.48

Sun_Addict

That’s a good idea keeping the receipt for future reference on the £40 spend.

Cherryfudge

A few MS things happening this morning - first my pharmacy appointment to check my statins, which isn't MS at all but it's been agreed that now that I'm running again, I'll have a three-month review to see if I'm winning the battle. The increased dose has had some effect but not quite reached target. I suspect creeping lifestyle changes that I've not really been aware of, but running works for me as long as the foot problems allow (and running doesn't seem to cause any foot problems in itself).

Meanwhile there's a chap stringing wires across the road for our new broadband/landline deal, so the internet may go off at any moment.

DH is busy researching second hand EVs as our current car could cost around £300 to keep going. It's driveable but takes more driving and is it worth paying for a repair if we are headed towards an EV anyway.

And (drumroll please) I've finally emailed to ask for a quote for solar. The company was recommended through a contact on MSE and obviously I need to show due diligence, but it was due diligence that stopped me agreeing to previous quotes a few months ago.

rtandon27

Woohoo - well done on eating that frog!

Cherryfudge

Thanks @rtandon27 .

Wednesday went on to be an MS day. I did the fifth C25K run, having had to miss it on Tuesday due to it being a long day looking after the children. When I got back, the new internet was up and running and it does seem to be faster, even on DH's computer. However, it's dropped the connection a number of times, though briefly.

In the afternoon we went for our 'free' garden centre hot drink (I've decided the berry tea is the best drink they do, but DH has now gone off their English Breakfast tea as well as their Earl Grey. It's a popular place so perhaps we are just atypical! But still, we get the drinks free with our subscription… I did get free coffee grounds for the garden and a largeish plant pot from their recycling point, so those were more MS things.

In the evening I had three hours at work.

Today I got the train to DD's, only to discover the station is being extended and I struggled to find the correct exit. However, DD came to collect me, which made things much easier. I've spent a lovely day looking after DGD3, who is now 16 months and starting to talk. She's very energetic but a lovely sunny soul. We played with the toy watering can she's been given from my niece. It's been to Africa and back and is now watering English shoes - and plants. After lunch we had a long walk, firstly to the playground where some local children included her in their games on the slide and I saw for myself that DGD has her own way of coping with that: she turns on her tummy and goes down backwards, and that seems to work very well. Afterwards we went to the little local library, where DGD delighted in selecting books that took her fancy and I had to spirit them back to the right place as soon as she lost interest. A member of staff was very tickled that one of her first selections was a paperback on the architecture of Britain and when we left, said she was sure she would do well as an architect.

DGD eventually got tired but wouldn't sleep. I got her some naan bread to keep her going, then some plain biscuits but the only thing that eventually settled her was watching a music video on my phone. Where was this wonderful thing when my children were little?! I have to take care not to use it as a default.

DD finished work soon after we got back and we went out to the local shops to try to get DGD to sleep. At long last she nodded off and the rain finally started. It became quite heavy after we arrived home. DH came for tea (which was salmon in a sauce of cherry tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, basil, sour cream and I'm not sure what else, but it was very nice) then we drove back. The car is drivable but the garage has today confirmed that they can't fix the steering, and it's still very heavy to turn in tight spaces, so the search for an EV has become quite urgent. I've explained to DD that we haven't won the lottery, it's just that these big expenses have happened concurrently!

Sun_Addict

I think the equivalent of watching music on a phone when mine were young were the wind up TVs that played music while the screen moved. How technology has moved on 😆

Sun_Addict

Here you go. I wonder what DGD would make of this 🤣