Progress is...

rtandon27

@badmemory - thank-you for confirming!

Such a shame that they didn't take the time or trouble to advise of this change via e-mail, prior to having a pop-up on my screen that could not be snoozed!  I honestly only did it as a bit of fun.  Given the number of data breaches that these side-line hustles have had of late, I for one will choose not to have them store this information about me!  My employer & bank & hmrc can have that level of personal detail, but for the pennies I earn from them each month, it's not worth the risk!  If they want to behave like an employer then the payment per hour would have to match my going rate!  At least taking them off my list of Sunday chores will free up time to devote other things!  Who knows, I might yet win that all inclusive paid holiday!

badmemory

The problem will be that an awful lot of them will not really be geared up for this sort of thing so people who could benefit without needing to pay tax will lose out.

rtandon27

@badmemory - I completely agree with your take on that!

While I can choose not to share my information with very little effect on my personal finances, my OH who is retired and does not pay tax, will need to figure out for himself if he wishes to enter the employer/employee relationship with them if perchance, in a given year, his very decent earnings from them tips him into the tax paying bracket. Does he really want to waste his time (and by default mine) with the paperwork required for a few extra bob in his pocket?

rtandon27

Phew end of another week!  I spent half of it battling a remarkably harsh summer cold & the other half Ms MM - we all know the cold was the lesser evil!  

Start of another weekend and a list to keep me accountable for the most important bits!

looming tasks...
❗ renew passports - one is expired - the other will expire soon - this is the next big frog that needs chomping
✅ blue badge - ANOTHER photo needs uploading - sigh - my taxes pay for this circus & I may have compose a letter to tell them how unacceptable they are
💡 do bus pass application - once blue badge is on it's way
🔱 check date for home insurance renewal (Aug 16th) & diarize optimal price date (This week! starting July 19th! - thanks to past me for setting up an auto-reminder)
🔆 neverending paperwork filing!
🔆 my savings need juggling - OH's done

routine tasks...
✅ YNAB juggling
✅ third Saturday of the month so pay off credit cards
✅ grocery order
✅ meal plan (last week's plan & this week's plan for reference!)
✅ supplements
✅ Weekly surveys & contests - I'll only be doing p!necone & e-rewards going forward as they are both points based which can be traded for vouchers so will not have to provide personal details.  Pr0lific was good while it lasted, but I'm not the least bit interested in their new set-up!
✅ laundry - one very large load needs doing

not routine...
🔱 set up digital planner - WIP
🔱 check when current energy fix ends (Oct 3rd) & diarize 49 days for switch (Aug 15)

medical follow-ups...
🔱 follow-up on OT recommendations for work assessment
🔱 follow-up on eye specialist (forgot about this one!) - where is the dang referral?
🔱 have a look at nutritionist through healthcare - during the week sometime

never ending garden things...
❗ get gutters cleaned - may have to tackle this one ourselves, window cleaner is on his hols - today's downpour has proven that this needs to be ASAP
✅ rain has finally come down in copious amounts - plants are looking better for it! - but very little gardening will happen today!
✅ another two pounds of blackberries picked and rinsed and in the freezer to flash freeze before bagging - up to 4 pounds now
✅ lots of pruning and general garden tidying in between the showers!
✅ hibiscus is in flower a whole month early which means cleaning up dropped buds!
🔆 finish taming climbing jasmine & add more supports for it to grown on - mostly tamed - but not supported - needs to be pruned again first!
🔱 new trellis needs to go up for the climbing rose in the front - OH has acquired the hardware!
🔱 trim down and rehome butterfly bush - sigh - after it stops flowering! - could have a go tomorrow when our town carnival is on and roads are blocked
* once lavendar is dry from rain make lavendar bundles for drying - a whole month early!!! - next weekend 
* find solution to counteract Mr Plastic grass dumping his spent soil behind my shed - this will involve a solid barrier! (OH has suggested it involve a fist in his face - I'm not prone to disagree in spirit!)
* start getting quotes for new felt for flat roof & summer house & shed (needs doing in autumn)
* transplant baby trees into their new pots
* transplant sale plants into the vacated medium pots
* order some cactus & succulent soil for indoor plants - these get neglected for years on end and thrive!

badmemory

Have you tried dealing with your GP via NHS online for things like repeat prescriptions.  That was definitely not fun & then it took 13 days to reject me.  I assume it was because my passport photo obviously has me without glasses & I cannot work one of those pads (which I hate) without glasses on.  But they do not tell you why.

rtandon27

@badmemory - oh no, so sorry to hear you've had issues with your GP! - I routinely use the NHS app to get my repeats, but tbh have never had an issue, it's quicker than dealing with the very unprofessional staff and goes straight to my GP for approval which usually happens within 24 - 36 hours.

I have however had very disturbing interactions with the rotweillers who staff the front desk who let the little power they have go straight to their heads! (with the exception of my down the street lovely neighbour who is a gem)  I'd have let several of them go a long time ago if I'd was running the practice!

badmemory

I have no problems with the receptionists at the GPs that is not the problem.  It is ringing up for the repeats for me & DS to be told there are more than 30 in the queue & call back later.  At least if I could do it online I could do it as soon as I remember.  I used to be able to ring & leave a message on a dedicated line & often rang near midnight but they stopped that when all 6 local surgeries got bought out. I don't even have a clue how to make an appointment now.

dizzydonkey2

I am sure that you will know this already but for the passport which has not expired you can renew online. When you get to the photo it lets you take it on your photo or laptop and will tell you straight away if acceptable or not. If you have a driving license it can also pick up your photo from the one they hold. Good luck with the blue badge.

rtandon27

@badmemory - wow your GP sounds unecessarily beurocratic!  Would it be worth having a read through their web-site for other ways to contact them?  We have 3 different ways to request repeats that don't have to involve the phone or indeed a live person! ...but... the only way I found out about these options was to have a good read through their website!  It may be different in your part of the country, but many of the chemists down our way will set up the repeat & do the request for you!  I think the problem is that it is expected that we all self-serve now with less guidance, so the blasted staff do less and less actual work! (I say this as someone who worked in a medical office during uni!)

@dizzydonkey2 - thank-you so much for your suggestion, this is exactly what we did for the OH's passport.  Unfortunately for me as a dual national, with two passports, I have more hoops to jump through for each which is part of why I've been putting it off!  I'm 95% sure my blue badge is ready to go barring the exact image they want for it i.e. a mug shot!  It's just not been an easy process to cope with and is disheartening for those of us who really need one, though I realize the process is designed to put off the folks who are taking the proveribial when applying!

On a completely unrelated note - OH & I tried something called a limelon - absolutely exquisite in flavour - think of the freshest & most refreshing homemade lemonade on a hot day & that's the flavour of the beast!  Much like a honeydew melon in texture but completely different in taste!

rtandon27

Thought I might move my reverse planned weekly meal plan here for the week while SL is off on her holibobs!

Last week's plan saw our cauli cheese last for three whole meals, as an accompaniment rather than the main.  We ended up getting take-away on Monday as OH was still to ill to cook, which put paid to us actually following the plan.  We did however eat most of what was planned over the course of the week!

So this week's plan...

Monday - Veggie Day - Peirogies from the freezer & broccoli 🥦 from the fridge

Tuesday - Fish Day - Battered Haddock & tuna fishcake & potato 🥔 wedges &spinach

Wednesday - Chicken Day - Chicken 🐔 fajitas with peppers & onions 🌰 with pickled pink onions & corn 🌽 salsa

Thursday - Meat Day - Italian sausage ragu with sofrito on pasta with salad 🥗 

Friday - Fakeaway Day - Pizza 🍕 with anti-pasti & assorted dips

Saturday - Easy Eating Day - Brunch avo 🥑 & bacon 🥓 & poached eggs 🥚 - Dinner southern fried chicken & wedges

Sunday -  Roast - Asado Roast Pork & steamed veg & roasties 

Next Monday - Veggie Day - possibly pasta with veggie sausage from the freezer

Lunches - Mon - lunch in the city with a collegue, Tues - meal deal with points, Thurs - Pizza &salad with a coupon!  Wed & Fri wfh & eat from home!