Watty's Awakening

Watty1

Think I scared myself getting this far with "the course".  Putting myself out there is a big thing for me.  CPD application sent of this morning to another professional body so fingers crossed they come through.

Now need to catch up on a lot of work, car has an MOT, Charming Cob has the second part of the jab for the feather mites at lunchtime.  Shopping has been delivered and I have to say it seems a lot more expensive getting it from Ocad0 than morries but now breakfast and lunches for the week sorted and the drive to continue using bits from the freezer and stores continues.    Chicken curry and rice for tonight as quick and easy needed with a lentil dahl and flat breads for tomorrow.  Might swap those around if the VNM is here for dinner though as he often likes to cook and prefers cooking vegan meals.   The dahl and flat breads are from the charity shop cook book I found earlier in the year.  

Now on with the day and work catch up

Watty1

The car passed its MOT and the Charming Cob was an angel for the vet.  Totally charmed her, she was a new to us vet and had not had the pleasure of meeting him before and she now understands why the practice adores him as does everyone who meets him.  He was the perfect gentleman for his injection and hopefully now that is the end of the little mites in his feathers.

Work has been so busy I am wondering if I need to employ help.  I'm tired and still have a lot to do.  My virtual PA is wonderful but there are some things like packing orders and so on that maybe help in the office could do. I'm thinking about this.  I've employed two people in the past, the first ended badly especially when I worked out how much extra work I needed to take on to pay her.  The second was wonderful and really helped.   I'm wondering if I do need a secretary or admin person part time?

Watty1

Just having a break from work and a catch up on here.   Just read my last post and it was a bit of wow moment for me.  For years I thought I could not cope with supporting myself and yet for the last 4 years I have done just that. I have invested and grown the business to the point I am struggling with getting the work done. I started at 7.10 this morning..

I'm not sure I entirely trust my accounting software but I realise it is not so much that I am making a lot more but that i want to buy back some time.  The sun is shining and I'm resenting being in the office.

KajiKita

Maybe you have got to a point that you should be charging more for your time ….?
My hairdresser got to a point a few years ago where he was ramming in cuts for people in all hours and was getting exhausted. His accountant suggested that he increased his prices a bit so he could work less - he realised that he was significantly undercharging for men’s cuts and a little too little on ladies. Adjusted both price types and some of the men’s cuts dropped off, giving him back some time with his family but earning him a little more than before when working all hours. 

You have been established a while now and have a strong customer base, so consider charging a bit more? Or consider when you last updated prices in line with inflation?

KK

daisy_1571

Watty its easy to assume that everyone wants full time work but would maybe a term time worker be good for you?  Its so hard to find jobs to fit in with school hours and school holidays that it might suit you and them?  Not too many hours for you so you still get alone time to get on but some suitable hours for a parent?   Maybe hang around your local primary school gates ?    Just a thought 

Watty1

thanks @KajiKita and @daisy_1571

I think you both make some good points.   I'm going to put prices up from 1st May, not a lot, but a start and sort office out so that there would be space for someone part time.as I don't think I can continue like this indefinitely. 

Watty1

General unhappiness with how little time I have to myself and the horses led me to call the planning consultant that I  am going to use for the plans here.   The much awaited change in the law has not happened (this would allow the conversion of non-agricultural barns to houses with the minimum of fuss).   He admitted that eventually the firm is going to have to "get off the fence on this one" and make a call but suggested I wait until April.  He also said that my local council is being "very difficult" at the moment and turning down a lot that the firm thinks should go through so anything I do with that barn might be a struggle.

We also talked about the plans the council has just had approved by the planning inspectorate for a new town right in the little rural hamlet I live in.    He suggested that my long term plans in say 10-15 years should be to sell the land, barn and house for development which had occurred to me and that in the short term if I really want to change things to go for a holiday let on the barn which is the most likely to be approved option. He did say the problem might be the council are well aware now that "holiday lets" are being applied for then rented out as short term lets and this is making approvals difficult.

I feel a little better. I have a plan now for work (from May onwards find a part time person and put prices up) and I have at least spoken again with the consultant about the barn.  The barn is my best chance of retirement with a good income I think and also my best chance of recouping the monies lost on the ex.

The builder has also suggested the decorator can start next week, a lot quicker than I anticipated but one more step in making the house mine.     She was due to start tomorrow but I've put that off until next week to give me a chance to decide what to do with the stairs so that is on the list for today.

Breakfast and catch up here over. Now to work.

LadyWithAPlan

Just back from my long weekend away and trying to catch up 
lots of activity and great realisations over here 
 This forum really is a fountain of wisdom and support 

you have a lot on - in my brief sojourn of looking after 6 dogs 6 horses 4 cats and some fish for family members - my SE work was practically non existent 
so a school or college student could be ideal - packing and office admin - is there a local school or college ? Maybe contact them 
or ask your friends if any have a teenager who wants money and learn some vital skills - there are also grants for this -when you are a small business  we had a apprentice person once and it worked out great for them and us - you get most their wage paid and they can claim
Universal  credits etc as well plus they get their first Job 
look at govt website for apprenticeship the govt will pay up to 95% of the cost of your apprenticeship plus up to an additional £1k https://www.allaboutschoolleavers.co.uk/employer-advice/funding/what-funding-is-available-for-apprenticeships

savingholmes

Some great thoughts on getting help in. Best of luck with whatever you decide.

Sound like a win on the decorator being able to start early too.

Watty1

Blowing a gale here:  Just been walking around the area collecting up paper rubbish as my recycling bin blew over.  How I do any work seems a mystery to me somedays.  Wattydog decided to bark at wind. I may be hearing impaired for ever. Am exhausted. I know I have plans but this is a "running away live in a caravan with the horses" sort of day.