La Dolce Vita - 2024

helensbiggestfan

 Good Morning Lovely Ladies. 

Well reducing caffeine is doing something.  I have just slept for 8 hrs straight. I can't  remember when i I last slept like that.  A couple more days and then I will reduce again.  Aiming to be caffeine free by the end of January.  First quitting sugar and then caffeine,,,,,I am going to be soooo healthy.  Lol. Now all I need to do is lose some weight.  

Nothing exciting today, just deep cleaning lounge and nipping to the chazza to drop off some bits.  

I read something yesterday, someone saying that January is like a month of Mondays.  Thankfully now I'm retired life is more like one extended holiday. 😂. Total Freedom!!!  

Katiehound

Sadly my 16 year old car had to go, and it did last month. I've only had the new-to-me one for 3 weeks but it is like sitting in a spaceship with all the fancy bits!

The problem with my Fiat, altho' it passed MOT was it had a blip in the 'brain' (Don't we all!!) The garage couldn't fix it, they tried everything, so it needed a new ECU- if you could get the part, then have it fitted, then have it reprogrammed. Seriously not worth it on a car with 110,000 on the clock. Really miss 'old faithful' but I kept the old registration as it was a tad funny (and easily remembered.)

A friend pointed out that if we had had a newer car in the last 15 or so years we wouldn't be quite so stunned with all the new technology.

Enjoy your old car.
 I had intended to run mine into the ground- but fate took over.

helensbiggestfan

Ah thats a shame Katie.   We do get attached to our old faithfuls don't we.  Anyway, enjoy your new spaceship. 

Talking about running things until they die. My electronic back massager (one of those that just slips over a chair) died a few weeks ago.  I didn't replace it, but this morning  I have killer backache, so I just thought sod it and ordered a replacement.  It should arrive tomorrow.  

I know i said no spending this month but I think of it as more of an investment than a frivolous spend. Electronic diy massagers are never as good as a full on Swedish massage delivered by a real human being but I do find them useful to help me manage my pain and stiffness, especially as this house only has a shower and no bath.  I find if I use it regularly I can go longer between human massages so it does actually save a bit of money in the long run.  

Well that's my justification for breaking my no spend pledge.  😂

Christianne1957

My car is 8 years old bottom of the range, no-frills VW Polo - it is a ex forecourt demonstrator and only had 17 miles on the clock when I bought it at a year old. Apparently too 'basic' to attract much interest at the dealers so I got a real bargain! It gets me from A to B, low cost to run & reliable - I have no intention of upgrading to anything bigger or more sophisticated and hope it keeps going for many more years
First week of retirement this week and feeling strangely unsettled 

helensbiggestfan

Hello Everyone. 

Congratulations of your retirement. Christianne.  May it be a long and happy one.    I am sure you will soon get in the swing of things,  it's bound to feel strange at first.  Spring is coming and the weather will be more welcoming, more conducive to getting out and about.  

Your car sounds like a gem.  I'm the same, whilst I lust after a Mercedes convertible I am perfectly happy with a little runabout.  I don't drive long distances anymore, I prefer the train. My little Fiesta meets my needs.  

Well ladies I have been looking at cruises.  So far I have managed to resist temptation,  😂.  Took a lot of willpower.  Need to be sensible and concentrate on moving house first.  Then see about exotic holidays.  

Not much news, except I have lost 2lbs this week, quitting sugar is working.  Slow but steady.  Have upped my skin care.  Oh and my new massager gizmo arrived. Very pleased, it does help release the knots and tight muscles.  

Grey and miserable again but at least it was wasnt quite so Arctic when I went shopping.  Spent a small fortune but I did stock up on a big pack of Andrex loo rolls. On offer at £9.50. Outrageous.  I also stocked up on a couple of bottles of wine, some meat and fish and I did buy a couple of books for my grandsons. Even so I nearly fainted at the checkout. 😱  That's it now, need to try and avoid the shops and have some no spend days. 

 Official inflation figures may be coming down but it sure doesn't feel like it.  

Christianne1957

It seems that a lot of prices got hiked up during Covid & have stayed high - Heinz salad cream & soups were always slightly dearer than own brand but now there is a sizeable price difference and I'm not convinced that the quality is worth the extra

Trying to start de-cluttering the house as its full of "stuff" inherited from dearly beloved but long dead relatives - I feel so bogged down by guilty at the thought of selling/donating their treasures! Seems so disrespectful somehow. I really need get myself over this hump!

Its getting noticeably lighter at teatime now we are past the shortest day - Spring will be welcome after such a wet winter  

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning Lovely Ladies. 

Christianne. It can be very difficult to part with a loved ones possessions. You have to be ready.  But the truth is we can't keep everything. We just don't usually have the space.  Perhaps you could use any money you make to buy something special to remember them by.  A nice piece of jewellery or maybe something for your home like a painting or mirror, a beautiful lamp. 

Have a great weekend everyone.  💕

Wednesday2000

I wish I had a car every time it gets cold in the UK! It has been hideously chilly the past couple of days. We went to see a film and have a meal on Thursday in Southend city centre and I was very glad to get home and put the heating on. The sea breeze and the temps meant that it was bitterly cold. I couldn't be bothered to see a film again yesterday so we just ate at a local restaurant last night as we had our dog at the kennel so I wanted to do something. I've been feeling tired and I think it might be too do with these HRT patches. I was in bed by 10 pm the past three nights. This is the 13th day of using them. It is easy to remember as I started on the first of January!

I haven't got much planned for the rest of the month so I need to have some NSD's as we just booked a hotel for the Taylor Swift concert in June, booked another hotel for a family party in London next month and then booked a bargain £99 room at a local seaside hotel in April. I was just looking at our monthly budget and we need to be more frugal this month now.

My friend is having a birthday meal in London at the start of February, but it is the same night as the family party which is a shame. It is almost at the same time and in the same area of London, but I said I would go to the family thing first. I haven't seen most of my family in 25 years!

I am getting my eyebrows shaped and coloured on Monday and we have the gutters and windows to be cleaned, but I already got out cash for that. I think I will just hunker down at home next week and maybe cook more instead of eating out. We have a subscription that I am going to cancel so we might watch everything we want from there while we still have it.

I was just saying on here I finally saw some YS items at Coop last night, they must mark it down after 7pm.

annieb64

We are in east Kent and it's very cold here too. Went to a restaurant in Deal earluer in the week and the front door was locked as it faces the sea. We had to go in by a side door. Yesterday we had an appointment in Margate- was very glad to get home in the warm.

Wednesday2000

annieb64 said:

We are in east Kent and it's very cold here too. Went to a restaurant in Deal earluer in the week and the front door was locked as it faces the sea. We had to go in by a side door. Yesterday we had an appointment in Margate- was very glad to get home in the warm.

I really notice how much colder it is by the sea rather than being in London. I'm going to Broadstairs for a few days for my birthday in March and I'm hoping it might have warmed up by then!