Watty's Awakening

Suffolk_lass

I think I might have seemed like the boss who changed things for the sake of it after I took on a new role where one of the staff clearly thought I was less expert than them (I was, they were paid to be the subject matter expert) but after a while I explained that I was relying on their expertise but could not submit x or y without being absolutely certain that it was in line with policy, was grammatically correct and did not have statements that could not be supported by facts or the law. I suggested we were a team, with but complimentary skills. I reassured her that my boss would also change things, because many need to feel they are adding value, or maybe they have a different brief to hit that has not been shared with the likes of us. It was a bit more comfortable after that.

I have no idea what my father was cremated in, I just remember seeing him in an open casket at the undertakers and asking for a comb so that I could put the centre parting they had introduced, back to the side parting he always had. He looked a lot less like Herman Munster after that, but as I am sure I have posted before, having happy photos of him in his prime took away the recurring dream/nightmare of seeing him like that. He also said do as you wish, the funeral is for those left behind. I sort of agree but I'd like a particular piece of music that makes me cry, and I would like to think that there will be crying at my service of remembrance but not at the wake

Watty1

That is a beautiful piece of music @Suffolk_lass       The VNM and his daughter yesterday sorted photographs for the funeral and made a short list of music so they are now moving forwards. Phew.

Yesterday without power was lovely.  So peaceful.  I read, took Charming Cob out round the village, cleared the cupboard out under the stairs and worked on my goals. Inevitably there is a huge backlog of work to deal with today but yesterday was a joyful day, ending with a glass of wine in a lovely deep bubble bath. Glorious.

The cupboard under the stairs revealed 4 bags of dog food (good) 3 pairs of boots and 2 coats that needed to be thrown away, some old cushions that I don't want in the house but wondered if they would be useful on the garden benches if we have a lovely summer (so put in a barn) a multitude of bags for life (which clearly have been breeding) a bag of donations for the Charity shop and a bag of shredded paper.     This is only a small cupboard so you can get how stuffed it was!    Only the dog food and some tools like screwdrivers and the foot pump remain and all coats that are to be kept are neatly hung up and the hooks on the door can now be properly used for handbag and dog lead.

Watty1

A free day from work also gave me chance to set my goals for the year.  I  have gone for the "extraordinary life I want goals this year" , written them in my diary/planner and added stickers I found to decorate the page that read "make it happen" and "Just believe you can and you are halfway there".

Previous years have been about surviving and then last year 'getting straight'   This year, I am having  fun with my horses, my business is thriving and growing, I am healthy, slim, elegant and fit, my house is renovated, the garden is beautiful, I have no debts and a million pounds in my retirement pot.

Now, if you have read any of the previous pages you will know this is all a big stretch but I'm going to aim really high.  All are written in the present tense and are positive.   For the first time in years my goals for the year are fun, light hearted and happy goals.  If I don't make them well I can have fun along the way.

So I  started to think about how I would get to each part and what steps were needed to make it happen.   And that dear friends is where I will start.  The steps are tiny (book one fun session with a trainer each month, so this month I will do a working equitation session (sort of fun games)  with Most Handsome and next month we have a jumping session booked. To make it social and baby steps towards developing my social life, I have invited people to join me and have sessions too.  A couple have said yes, when the jumping trainer is here i will sort out once a month with her.

On the house front, all I have to do in January is declutter the kitchen and make a list of what needs doing for my office board.

Workwise I need to plan out the year, setting dates to teach the course and get my new person on board (first one did not show up so a great opportunity to rethink that)

Health wise I am committed to doing my physio exercises once daily as my knee is so bad I am struggling with stairs and the physio says the exercises will help and I have been tardy.  Bone scan on teeth rescheduled for Feb as a start for the implants.

As for the million in cash to retire on - well - I'm going to start by paying my tax bill and my accountant and moving some money into the pension pot from the company.  And I did open an ISA with £10 after all.  The steps are tiny

Cherryfudge

Judging by your progress last year, I think you may be reviewing these and adding still higher targets after a few months Watty!

What a nice idea to share the 'fun' training with friends. Not only is it sociable, it might seem easier if there are a few of you working together, and the horses might think the same.

badmemory

Tiny steps are good they lead to big strides.

Watch those bags for life, they may multiply but they biodegrade when you aren't looking & they leave a mess.

Alchemilla

Loving the vision over here. Aim high 🌟

ajmoney

Great goals Watty. I love the idea of aiming high although am not good at doing it myself. It helps move forward though and any progress is progress. You have your cheer squad here to keep you going @Watty1

Watty1

Cherryfudge said:

Judging by your progress last year, I think you may be reviewing these and adding still higher targets after a few months Watty!

I'm not so sure about that but I love your cheerleading confidence in me   Thank you

Watty1

Tiny steps towards goals, I have done my physio and also taken on board that the way I sit at my desk is not helping my damaged knee so i have found my foot rest and rolled up a towel to but between my knees to stop me rolling the damaged one inwards.  Physio exercises getting easier and it is also now possible to stand on the slant board and dry my hair.  Previously I could only stand on it whilst hanging to to something (it is an angled board to stretch the backs of my knees)

I have contact pension company and will pop some of the company's spare cash in my pension (will save corporation tax and hopefully boost pension as the fund picks up)

On the house:  I have done nothing but the VNM has worked out a storage system for the spare fencing rails I bought at the end of the year. I have a lot of spare fencing as I over estimated how much needed replacing and the chap that came did a lot of repair work rather than replace.   The spares are now neatly racked on the wall of the haybarn so I can get my hay in.  It took him all day yesterday but looks amazingly tidy and even has a security strip screwed in to stop any of it falling down.  It wasn't on the list of jobs to be done but he pointed out the way it was stacked was only held in place by my hay and as i used the hay it was going to be all over the floor so the next lot of hay couldn't go in. Really pleased with how it looks and how useful and efficient the system is.

greenbee

Sometimes you need to do stuff not on the list to get the stuff on the list done! VNM's work will pay off in the long run.