La Dolce Vita - 2024

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning Lovely. Friends 

How are you all.  Are you all loving your Dolce Vitas.   All is good here.  

Had a fabulous bank holiday weekend. It was my youngest sons birthday on the 26th so we had a celebratory family gathering.  Lovely to have them here all together. 

When I got pregnant with son no 2 and was given my due date.....a week before the late spring bank holiday - I said to my husband "this one will be born on Bank Holiday Monday".  And sure enough he was.  Lol.  

Have been busy, some decluttering and also in the middle of a financial review.  Everything ok.  Managing to hold my own despite inflationary pressures.  Living simply is certainly paying dividends.   Currently shifting savings around to get the best interest rates.  Octopus have lowered my energy bill and I managed to get a loyalty discount on my PHI renewal. No major expenses due now till my car tax and insurance renewals in October so hoping to bump up the savings over the summer.   

Did treat myself to a new sun lounger and shade parasol, so blame me for the rain. 😂.  

Still not found my dream house......  no worries.  

Stay well and happy. 💕

FreetodoasIlike

Well done with your weight loss! I agree, you need to be in the right frame of mind. Unfortunately, I’m not in it! (Yet). How much weight do you want to lose? I need to lose 1 1/2 stone. Not a HUGE amount, but a lot for me and would make a huge difference to feeling comfortable in my clothes. 

helensbiggestfan

Alas I have stumbled with the weight loss.  One step forward, two back.  Ideally I need to lose at least two stones, 😟 just need to keep trying.......

In general though life is pretty good. Things are running smoothly at the moment.  Nothing especially exciting or earth shattering but that's ok.  At least no dramas. 😂

Had a bit of an adventure on Saturday. Went shopping and then when it was time to come home my car wouldn't start.  Flat battery.  Luckily I always carry jump leads with me.  Within a couple of minutes 6 people were helping me ... people are so kind aren't they.  

I sometimes hear people complain that nowadays people don't offer help or assistance to others but I have never found that to be the case. Maybe it's different in other parts of the country but I have always found my fellow citizens to be kind, considerate and helpful.  

Anyway the problem was quickly sorted and I went for a spin to recharge the battery.  Car was fine yesterday but I decided to go for a longer drive to top up the battery. It's my own fault it happened, not been driving enough so I will have to make sure I get out and about more.  

Busy day planned today.....laundry, house cleaning, maybe a bit of gardening if I have any energy left.  😂.  

Have a great day 💕

SandyShores

I'm the same with the weight loss Helen.  I'm trying not to get down about it as that makes me worse and I'm doing my best to keep my exercise up. Little by little we'll get there.  

helensbiggestfan

Sandy.  Hearing you say that really helps......I guess there is comfort in knowing it's not just me.  I put myself on the scales on Wednesday and was horrified. It's really quite soul destroying.  Ah well.  Just need to keep trying.  

Anyhoo...... 

Hello my lovely friends.  How are we all.  Apart from weight issues and the usual aches and pains I'm actually good.  I am keeping busy.  I have been really looking after my finances and it's starting to pay off. Living simply and being mindful of my spending is paying dividends.   I made my last payment for my implants this month,  wahoo. 

 I am struggling to do certain tasks, cleaning my car, mowing my lawns, cleaning windows etc but I want to keep doing them myself for as long as possible and use the money for other purposes.    I am determined to replenish my savings and build up a war chest again.  .  

Car cleaning is a particular bug bear, probably my least favourite job. Yesterday I decided to bite the bullet and cleaned the outside of the car. My neighbour asked if it was my cars birthday!!   Yes it was that bad. 😂. It hadn't been cleaned in months.  Took me ages and when I had finished I had no energy left to do the inside, so I shall finish the job today.  

Same with the grass cutting.  My odd job man couldn't fit me in last week so I set to and did it myself.  I did both lawns in one day and it nearly wiped me out, so I used some of the money I saved to reward myself with a nice dress.  (Preloved eBay £18, RRP £189).  

I suppose I could argue that cleaning the car and  grass cutting could be viewed as exercise. Certainly cheaper than a gym.  😂. 

Picked up some good chazzer bargains too.  The rails were loaded with heavily discounted spring/summer wear. I guess the weather has been so disappointing that people haven't been tempted to buy summer clothes.  I also managed to pick up some yellow stickered items in Aldi yesterday.That is so rare.  Our Aldi  hardly ever have any reductions. I wonder if more people are just having to really cut back their spending to the bone to cope with the cost of living.  

Right time for breakfast,  I am bathed and fragrant, time to eat and start the day,  

Have a lovely weekend, 💕.  

Wednesday2000

Helen - I have been talking to my husband about maintenance needed when we are older. My husband is retiring in a few weeks and our next house will hopefully be the last one we buy. I really don't want a big garden as we never use the one we have now except to hang out the washing and I don't want the ongoing expense of hiring someone to mow the lawn etc... The bungalows we have looked at online have big gardens and they look quite old-fashioned like they would need a lot of altering to suit us. One of my grandmothers stayed very active until she died and my other Grandmother needed full time care for about 15 years before she died. Both lived well into their 80's. My Mother is practically housebound and can only use downstairs and she is not even 70 yet. It is hard to picture the future as I'm only 48 and my husband is 53! I still remember how ill I was with fibromyalgia a few years ago and I keep thinking that might happen again.

FreetodoasIlike

@Wednesday2000. No-one knows what life will be in retirement, or as we age. It’s an element of living well (good eating and exercise) and just plain good luck. My mum is 102 and until recently was quite well, so I guess longevity runs in the family. Having said that, my father was only 56 when he died, so you just don’t know.

I agree that doing jobs yourself keeps you fit (and helps financially) but I also agree that out-sourcing jobs you dislike helps your well-being too. We have a local guy who cuts our (small) lawns as we don’t like doing it and I have a monthly Ocado shop. I know M&S are expensive but since they closed my local one, I would have to travel about 10 miles to the nearest one. I only buy their fish/meat and other things I like, so it’s not too expensive. Also, once a month I get my Tesco delivery for the usual stuff, and top-up at my local convenience store. I find it so less stressful and it’s worth it to me (horses for courses, I guess). 

My car is a disgrace! My partner usually cleans it (occasionally) when he feels like it, but I noticed my nearby neighbour had a mobile valeting service recently, and her car is gleaming. I guess it was worth it to her. Alternatively, I could clean it myself - but just can’t be bothered! I don’t mind cleaning my house, as I like it pristine (ish!) but if I hated it, I would outsource the work and get a cleaner. Our bungalow is only small so it’s not that difficult! Of course, if you’re ill and can’t do the work yourself, it’s completely different. A colleague with whom I worked with had fibromyalgia and she eventually had to retire early. I hope yours doesn’t flare up as I know how hard it was for her and how much she struggled just to the basic things. Good luck with your husband’s retirement. Are you planning to retire early too?

Wednesday2000

Free - I don't work anymore so his retirement is mine too. We have been saving up for years since he had cancer back in 2013. You are right about keeping healthy. That is why we bought a treadmill, although I find it so boring it pushes me outside to walk instead to avoid using it.

helensbiggestfan

Well I've just woken up.  Sat down to have some lunch and then crashed out for 2 hrs on the sofa.  This seems to be a regular occurrence.  Not every day, but too often for my liking.  I can cope with the joint and muscle pain most of the time, it's the tiredness and lack of energy I find so frustrating.  

I try not to worry about the future but I have to confess there are times when I do wonder what lies ahead.  I think I worry more because I live alone. I don't mind living solo as such but it has its drawbacks, especially when one is ill or tired.  There's no one to share the load with.  Even something as mundane as changing the duvet cover can be a struggle.  😂.   

Free.  I think I will take a look at Ocado.  Thanks for the idea.  None of our M&S outlets are particularly easy to get to.  I noticed one of my neighbours has an Ocado delivery.  I think once a month would be ideal. 

As and when I do move I shall definitely need to think carefully about forward planning. I really do need to stop procrastinating and find a house soon but I just can't seem to summon up any enthusiasm.  

Oh dear I sound such a Moaning Minnie today.......need to buck up my ideas.  

crazybunnylady4

helensbiggestfan said:

Well I've just woken up.  Sat down to have some lunch and then crashed out for 2 hrs on the sofa.  This seems to be a regular occurrence.  Not every day, but too often for my liking.  I can cope with the joint and muscle pain most of the time, it's the tiredness and lack of energy I find so frustrating.

Have you been to your Dr for a blood test? I was the same as you, went to my dr 3 years ago and they did the test and said my iron was low. 
The pharmacy was able to recommend Spatone..found it really nice as I can't swallow tablets, you just dissolve it in a glass of water. 

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