Watty's Awakening

Watty1

Love the image of my kitchen - it is nothing like that - but I'll save it for the vision board (smile) as it is a lovely one for the new place!

I have no idea about the "interesting" button, but I did think Davis was probably the snooker player to whom Daisy refers and was pleased to see I got that one right as I read through the posts!

Watty1

London was lovely, met up with 5 friends from University so it was really special.   Slightly stressful as I got lots of hugs and wasn't sure hair would stay in place (it did).  Best friend from days gone by kept stroking it and saying how gorgeous and think my hair was so finally I said if you keep stroking it you will realise it is not all mine   and is out of a box      It was fine to admit that.  After all someone else asked me if I was wearing boots or ankle boots. Wearing hair is probably no different.  I just need to get used to that.

As always meeting university friends makes me reflective on life.  I always come away feeling I've failed somewhat at this life game, but sitting here this morning reflecting on that I realise that one chap said he didn't have a pension so would work for as long as possible, another said he lived in a house that was not his own due to a divorce mess, another is no longer with us having died last year, another has lived a simple but happy life (she gets full marks there) and so on. Bestie from uni days scored very highly and it was so lovely to see her.   She kept congratulating me on the VNM and finally "getting that bit right"    Maybe I'm doing ok at this life lark.  

Humdinger1

'Maybe doing OK'?! You're doing utterly magnificently @Watty1! Please believe us all on here as it's difficult to see from the inside sometimes.   Love Humdinger xx 

TallGirl

There is nothing like meeting old friends and comparing your life to theirs. I have been there myself many times. I think career wise it is particularly hard because you just cannot help compare yourself. By the sound of it living a simple but fulfilling life was rated highly for you so that is a good sign. I also think your friend you said you were finally winning with the VNM is totally right. Your MSE cheerleader definitely agree on that one!

Watty1

Bless you both. That is very kind of you to say so.  I also think I could have been more honest about my time with PPH and I will think over that one for the next time I meet up with people who knew me years before PPH, after all there is a lot of honesty that flies around the table and we have all know each other through many ups and downs.

Today is about delivering a session of the course.  I am grateful to the me of 2 years ago who really put the effort into designing this course.  I tried to do when with PPH but finally mastered it on my own.  Hmmm.  So he was not quite the support he told me he was so often.  I also need to do some work catch up as there are some bits that I am behind on and on a personal life level get a  boiler service and chimney sweep booked in.   

Cherryfudge

That's a lovely reflection on your day with your friends @Watty1. So sad that one of your number has gone and not everyone is in a good place, but great that you can meet up and the friendship is still strong. I expect the others enjoyed it too!

Watty1

The windows my work computer uses is no longer supported and will not update as my computer too full (?) according to tech support company I have for the business.   Luckily I put myself on a support contract after deciding I needed to employ someone to help at work and realising that meant buying a new computer and getting said item to work.  Sometimes I feel the tech side of life all a bit much!  Anyway G from tech support company is going to sort this out today.    Am grateful for that although it does mean no work can get done whilst she does the "sorting out"     

Have had an email from planning department to say they cannot meet their three week deadline for written follow up.  Apparently the letter is done but needs "checking" by colleagues.   Am rather wishing I had recorded phone calls when they agreed it was a possibility to convert the barn and also the meeting we had as I have a feeling this written letter may not be so agreeable given the email however, fingers crossed for a positive outcome. 

Finally checked credit card.  Ahem.  I have been using that as a float whilst doing "stuff" here and working on my list for the end of the year and it has spiralled so I need to come up with a plan.

As usual in Watty World seems to be a lot going on that requires input

PennysIntoPounds

Fingers crossed for the right outcome and the tech being sorted soon🤞

Looking forward to hearing your plan for the credit card

Watty1

PennysIntoPounds said:

Looking forward to hearing your plan for the credit card

The first thing was to go through the card carefully and work out why there was so much on there.   A few food shops had been put there and forgotten, then i had of course paid out for my dental work, new bras, hair and blood test and appointment to discuss.

The way I feel about myself was on my list for this year but I had not budgeted correctly just assumed the money would appear    In a way it can because the really hard work in the business means I can pay myself an extra sum to cover those but it was a bit of a lesson in deciding (a) what I want and then (b) thinking through how to pay for it.

Another thing that struck me reviewing it was that whilst the biggish jobs on the house were planned what really surprised me was how much the "extra stuff" added up to.  As one job was done another seemed to need attention and whilst the bits for that in themselves seemed small they have really added up.   One of the stable floors had mats which had lifted, glue to repair came in at over £200, the bench I pulled out of the orchard and decided to restore needed wood filler and paint.  Not expensive in itself but then I also pulled out some old bits of metal which I intend to spray black and attached to a wooden fence to support climbers.  More paint purchased. The parts for the poop hoover because I want to use that in orchard clear up so it needed fixing.  

So we have stuff needed for smaller renovation projects which is good but it was important for me to see where this money had gone so I can be more mindful.    A lot of these spends are part of "project restoration" and each seemed small but they have really added up over the last month.

I still have a list of jobs to do in this final quarter of the year but I think to avoid another "sticker shock" moment I will be more focused and put the jobs in order of importance.

Watty1

Oh my! Letter following pre app arrived and they are "minded to support the development".   It then went on to say was lots in the application they would not support, they don't want it to look modern, a warning that members take wildlife very seriously so I must update bat survey etc but so far so good and finally a get out of jail that this contravenes their policy but they take my point about the site being developed by them so they will respond appropriately.  (The wildlife comment is laughable given they are building A LOT of houses on the doorstep but hey ho)

Next week I will look for a professional to collaborate on the project.  Two calls in and call backs expected Monday (Negative Nelly who I spoke to recently dumped on basis if he is negative at the out start he will not get it over the line).

This was on my vision board for 2025 - so maybe I will get there???