Cheery's path to fulfilment - finishing the DIY, looking after myself, appreciating the garden 🌻

Cheery_Daff

What's the purpose of tracking PAYE etc separately in YNAB? Genuinely asking - I can't imagine what purpose it would serve except making you annoyed! (Which might be what you're going for, of course, but I suspect there's another reason too 😂)

Nothing much to report here. Mr C has, against my advice, taken the big car for an experimental/daredevil trip to town. I'm not getting involved - he has the number for the breakdown people and if he needs to ring them he can decide what to do with it and figure out to get home from the garage.

I'm very happy to be confined to barracks for a few days, but he goes stir crazy VERY quickly. Definitely need a courtesy car next time (do they come with breakdown cover, or insurance?? I don't think I've ever known anyone who's had one!) 😂

Remember I had a daunting meeting with someone at another organisation, where I'd applied for a job but not been shortlisted? They requested an updated CV, and have now informed me they have a meeting to discuss it with the senior folk in a few weeks. Now, nothing AT ALL may come of this, I'm well aware. But it's quite nice to have something burbling away in the background like that when things are so uncertain. All fingers crossed.

In the meantime, the best I can do is get on with the work activities that are most likely to enhance my cv (rather than the ones most likely to be changed or squashed over the next few weeks...)

KajiKita

Typically I find courtesy cars come as an option on insurance policies not breakdowns. But because that covers accidents rather than breakdowns I don't think that would help Mr C much ...

Oooh, 'citing times on the possibility of a new role ... I have my fingers crossed here for you I suspect you have a reasonable 'in' as they have approached you, rather than you applying to them iyswim.

KK

Cheery_Daff

Thanks @KajiKita 😊 I did apply to them initially - they could have just refused me, so yes, this approach has come from them 😊 The dept chose me, but had to put me forward to the wider organisation and they went with some other people. I did have a conversation about applying initially with a previous mentor who shifted organisations who has been very encouraging and who is involved in this conversation too. So we'll see. 

In other, more predictable news, the car has not fared well 😬 Mr C only got ten mins up the road and there was a massive clunk(in addition to the existing rattle). He's availing himself of the local cafe facilities, then will attempt to limp the short distance home.

The advantage (if you can call it that) is that it clearly wouldn't have survived the 30 mile trip to the garage, so I would have been left waiting for breakdown people on the roadside on a work day. At least this way we're at home (or nearly) and Mr C can deal with them if necessary. 

So, gritted my teeth and looked at hire cars 😬 And in fact, we got a bargain - a 2 seater small van for 4 days for £80 😂 Picking it up tomorrow, so we will have to do our faffy trip to town on the bus first thing, but then we'll have a van - and may even be able to finally take an ancient mattress from the shed to the tip 😂 (will have to check tip policies but they're usually pretty relaxed). Mr C will be able to go to his gig, and if they've fixed one car by Monday we'll even be able to go and pick that up in it. 

Exciting - I've never actually hired a car 😂😂 Technically I've not hired this one - it was an extra £16 a day for a second driver so we've just stuck Mr C (he's got a gig at the weekend, and is more likely to go out on his own than me). 

Is it lunchtime yet?? 🤯

themadvix

I hope Mr C gets back ok. That was a very good deal for the van!

Cheery_Daff

Mr C is back safely, but it took a long time and the car definitely needs someone else to take it to the garage 😬 They're on their way 😬

Spoke to the garage - the other car is currently on the ramp, and they're hoping we can have it back tomorrow! Which will be very convenient because then we can take the hire car to fetch it. 

What a blinking palaver! 

As ever, grateful for breakdown cover, a nice garage, the ability to pay for a hire car (and for fixing the other cars!)

beanielou

Eek to the cars. 

Positive vibes for the conversations to be had. 

sarah_diamond

KajiKita said:

Typically I find courtesy cars come as an option on insurance policies not breakdowns. But because that covers accidents rather than breakdowns I don't think that would help Mr C much ...

Oooh, 'citing times on the possibility of a new role ... I have my fingers crossed here for you I suspect you have a reasonable 'in' as they have approached you, rather than you applying to them iyswim.

KK

The only thing I will say, having worked for an insurance company 10 years ago - hire cars are usually provided in the event of an accident *and* if your car is written off - normally, you're provided a courtesy car if the car is being repaired. but that can be a small run around so if you have anything bigger than a ford focus for a reason, (you've mentioned hiring a van) then it won't be like-for-like. As we're on MSE, I'd say check Ts & Cs things may have changed but as it's a cost thing, I doubt it!

I have a colleague who currently has her car in the garage, it's a 19 plate so obviously newer - she paid for the service agreement coverage and has just been told today a wheel bearing has gone on her car. The garage aren't sure how soon they can get the part as it's out of stock so they've said she can have a hire car - I'm assuming that's covered by the same servicing agreement.

In the meantime, good luck with both cars! Fingers crossed for low/reasonable garage bills

Cheery_Daff

Thanks beanie 😊

Car number 2 is now being transported to the garage 🙄 Made a heck of a racket about it too, and it took several attempts to drive it onto the van as the wheel kept locking. 

Hoping both will be an easy fix! 

Cheery_Daff

Morning chums! 

We were up bright and early enough to get a free coffee from the Octoppds this morning 😁

Left the house at 7am to walk almost 2 miles to the nearest bus stop - fortunately it's a nice mild,still morning, and we saw a deer on the way, as well as some lovely art in the bus shelter 😊

Now availing ourselves of our free coffee as we are 1.5 hours early for our appointment (it was that or 1.5 hours late - got to love a rural bus service 😂)

Cheery_Daff

Oh, and I meant to say, our regular saver matured today so that's a free £113.63 😊

That tips us over the £1k 'free money' mark this year - £1030.59. Won't make as much as last year (we had lots of bank switches) but it's still good to have!