Progress is...

Watty1

dawnybabes said:

Another top tip is to always have get well cards out, you can explain how you’re getting over ‘insert choice here - covid, flu, broken leg 🤣🤣🤣’ so you’ve not had chance to ‘insert choice here, dress, cook, clean’ 

or a big dog barking? I find WattyDog barking and leaping is enough to keep most unexpected visitors on the doorstep

rtandon27

@Cheery_Daff - thank-you hun - it was a bad case of hayfeveresque symptoms - who knows what brought it on - perhaps just the thought of venturing out in the cold! - I've been trying to get dressed within the first hour of getting up, if only just in yoga/exercise gear as it means I unconciously start tackling the chores which can only be a good thing!

@Humdinger1 - have you ever seen that episode of the Big 'Exploding' Theory where Amy gets a tiara?  I think a tiara would make a wonderful accessory, especially when doing the dishes or running the hoover round!

@dawnybabes - we still have our wedding cards out along with our Xmas cards - looks like we have an extrodinary amount of friends when in reality it's the same ones - lol - in fact one silly goose sent the wedding card late and the xmas card early in the same envelope - that put a huge grin on my face for days!

@Watty1 - the family frineds I lived with in university had a very large tri-colour collie who decided she was mine - I trained her (unconsiously) to growl at the JW's who would come to the door with tracts in hand.  The lovely dog only ever growled at cats so that was quite a feat!  When they came to the door she'd put herself between them and me, which was hilarious as she was scared of puppies 1/4 of her size and would hide behind my legs if we came by them while out on her constitutional!

rtandon27

Yesterday's ta-da list was a feat unto itself...
✅ got up, got dressed, got to OH's treatment - six hours later came home and had a nap
😏😉

Today has been a gentle one, resting with purpose...
✅ got up and dressed within an hour of waking
✅ had breakfast on time so OH could take his meds
✅ plotting and planning (part 1)
✅ took delivery of some clothing bargains & tried on - lots to return as usual - how can the same size fit so differently???
✅ took delivery of a couple of big river purchases including a new bath mat and an olive oil + balsamic dispenser
✅ had lunch on time (again for meds)
✅ in the process of folding and putting away laundry
✅ rare treat of an addictive online game throughout the day!

Humdinger1

@rtandon27 no haven't seen or even heard of it! Am I in for a treat? Onwards and upwards love Humdinger xx 

rtandon27

@Humdinger1 - I've been loosing posts regularly, so now am doing them in two goes - a placeholder followed by the actualy post!

Merlin's_Beard

The mystery of how the same size can in fact be many many different sizes is one I've never really understood

Baileys_Babe

rtandon27 said:

@Humdinger1 - have you ever seen that episode of the Big 'Exploding' Theory where Amy gets a tiara?  I think a tiara would make a wonderful accessory, especially when doing the dishes or running the hoover round!

We enjoyed that show, my Dad often quotes that episode ☺️

rtandon27

Merlin's_Beard said:

The mystery of how the same size can in fact be many many different sizes is one I've never really understood

@Merlin's_Beard - haha that really did give me a chuckle - I don't understand it either, especially when it's all the same brand and fits so differently!

Baileys_Babe said:

rtandon27 said:

@Humdinger1 - have you ever seen that episode of the Big 'Exploding' Theory where Amy gets a tiara?  I think a tiara would make a wonderful accessory, especially when doing the dishes or running the hoover round!

We enjoyed that show, my Dad often quotes that episode ☺️

@b@Baileys_Babe - Just looked it up & the episode is called 'The Shiny Trinket Maneuver' - my own OH has used the tactic many times over the years, hence my collection of bracelet charms!🤣🤣🤣

rtandon27

Today will be another day of small wins...

so far...

✅ got up and dressed within an hour of waking (after sleeping in!)
✅ OH managed to deal with his own breakfast which meant a glorious extra hour on bed!
✅ took delivery of reduced Shoestore bargains - winter moisturizer, lip balm, b-day presents for my favorite 1 year old & a cleaner for my orthodontics! - all on the list and checked off at a fraction of the price
✅ recycling sorted and put out, bin is delayed until Friday but is already full
✅ rubbish put into bin & fresh bags in our waste bing
✅ brunch for me was a weird take on poutine - leftover chips from our dinner last night, with katsu curry & melted cheese - with the remaining coleslaw - surprisingly morish!
✅ OH has said he will self-cater again - one of the meds makes him feel energetic so we are going with the 4 days on the up before the big crash
✅ more folding and putting away laundry
✅ another load sorted and in the washing machine & hanging up to dry

TBC - on the cards for the rest of the day is more of the adictive game and more plotting and planning & a chicken pot pie

rtandon27

New Year's 2026 Mortgage Thoughts

As of 31 December 2025
Original End Date - September 2041
Current End Date - December 2039
Desired End Date - May 2036

In 2025, with huge over payments, the mortgage was reduced by 21 months to December 2039.  This year, as things currently stand, I won't be able to make any large overpayments.  I'd like to have the mortgage end by the end of May 2036 so that I can retire by my birthday in June of 2036 with no debt.  At that point, I'll have a healthy personal pension that can tide me over until the state pension arrives a few years later.  Financially that means I need to find 294GBP per month to throw at the mortgage going forward. So creatively, I need to reduce other outgoings in order to channel this amount to the mortgage each month.

Currently, I've juggled the budget so that everything, including the needed overpayment is covered for January and February, but not March.  It feels quite unsettling not to have 3 months of expenses covered so we'll see how long it stays this way, keeping in mind that I have the equivalent of a mortgage payment owed to me by work which will leave things looking a bit better in the budget once it's back in my account.

At some point in the future I will inherit an asset from OH that will eventually be sold off and can then be split between a personal pension and the mortgage, but currently I view this as counting chickens before they have hatched so am doing a worst case scenario which is continuing to survive on my own salary until retirement with no influx from outside sources.