Watty's Awakening

LadyWithAPlan

ajmoney said:

Watty1 said:

I find after all the drama with PPH I have no need to put myself in the line of fire.  

Please re-read this bit. It is great to read that know what you need and recognise things like this.

Very wise. 

Sorry to hear about the situation, it sounds like you are being as supportive as possible which must be a great comfort to VNM

Your country life sounds lovely as does that brazil alcohol infused cake! 

beanielou

So very sorry. Hope things are as peaceful as possible. 

KajiKita

I recognise that useless, bystander feeling Watty from when my FiL was dying. After a time I realised that holding space for listening to Mr KK and then have things be normal around him with things like chores to do, cats to talk about, food to be eaten, washing up to be done, other things to talk about, actually supported Mr KK who could then in turn support his mum. 

KK

maggiem

It’s a difficult time for you Watty, and even more so for VNM and family. Hope it’s peaceful and family are with her.

Watty1

Whilst the VNM and his daughter were visiting his mum I cooked a big pot of chilli using the soya mince.  Not sure what that will be like but it will do a few days and uses up some stuff in the cupboard.  Also made a pot of lentil and red pepper soup for lunches over the next few days and the much loved bread-maker is doing "its thing"   Neither of us feel like cooking because of his mum, but, we need to eat these seemed easy wins.

Then settled down to review my year.  Much of it is in this diary but I found it helpful to do a review then think about what is working and what is not and make some goals for January.  All done    Lets see how that goes (I'm aware things could be derailed given the VNM family situation but I want to start somewhere.   

Goals for Jan include specific areas to declutter (the kitchen) financial (see below, need a meeting with my accountant, to move some money into my pension and sort a couple of accounts out) work goals include to teach the course 3 times next year so January goals are to work out a year plan and get new person on board (starts 6th)  Renovation goals are to continue with the work the estate agent suggested but leave some of my other ideas as I think the money would be better saved to a solid financial future.   Horses have a section too!  The Charming Cob will continue with his work plan to the end of January then be seen by a specialist vet. I'm sure he still has some pain somewhere and this visit is sort out where and why so a plan can be made for him to continue with rehab or to retire him to a life of gently pottering around the lane with me.   Most Handsome is going to step up his work in the following year, starting with a plan for January to do a little extra fun things.  I've started to enter this into my planner I'm going to use for 2025   Health wise I would like to lose the rest of the weight I gained when at my most stressed with PPH - I'm halfway there - the rest should go but first I need to sort out my teeth, make sure I take supplements and hormones properly and do my physio exercises again as knee so bad I'm struggling to do stairs so that is my January focus.  

I realised last year I had big goals and didn't break them down enough so I didn't get where I wanted to.  This year I have big goals again but I've made much smaller ones for January and they are just things I can do which I can then build on.

Financial review.  I last wrote one in my journal in October 2023.   The situation is a lot better now!    On the liabilities side I  need to sort out how much I owe for corporation tax, personal tax and clear my credit card that I started to overuse when my current account card "froze"    On the plus side I close this year with savings, real savings.  I started heavily in debt on my CC but I've paid off everything to do with PPH and the house and I've found enough money to do a lot of renovations.  

PennysIntoPounds

Fantastic achievements and very productive yet doable goals, especially smart to plan taking the time to break them down into manageable chunks and seeing where you're at on a monthly basis.

I hope you're proper proud and excited about this:
'I close this year with savings, real savings.  I started heavily in debt on my CC but I've paid off everything to do with PPH and the house and I've found enough money to do a lot of renovations'

That, is bloody brilliant 👏 

Cherryfudge

You've come an amazingly long way @Watty1. Be proud of yourself!

It's a good idea to have some meals you can just dip into without having to feel in the mood to eat or cook. I hope the VNM's mother is comfortable.

Watty1

PennysIntoPounds said:

I hope you're proper proud and excited about this:
'I close this year with savings, real savings.  I started heavily in debt on my CC but I've paid off everything to do with PPH and the house and I've found enough money to do a lot of renovations'

That, is bloody brilliant 👏 

Thank you.  I am properly pleased with this.  A mixture of frugality and sheer hard work.    

As important, on reflection, there were very very few unnecessary spends too which I am proud of too.

Watty1

Cherryfudge said:

You've come an amazingly long way @Watty1. Be proud of yourself!

It's a good idea to have some meals you can just dip into without having to feel in the mood to eat or cook. I hope the VNM's mother is comfortable.

She is as comfortable as she can be and seems very unaware of her surroundings now.  She watches TV or sleeps.  The meals were prompted by @k@KajiKita comment about holding space.  Today I will do a beef in black bean sauce adaption in the slow cooker.  Again, using stuff in the cupboard and using up and tomorrow a lamb curry in the slow cooker.  Each meal will feed us both with left overs to freeze for when the inevitable comes.

LadyWithAPlan

All the slow home cooked comfort food sounds perfect to help VNM and keep you both healthy and warm 

your review sounds fabulous - glad you can look back at 2024 with satisfaction and no more PPH drama