Prosperous & Creative Soul Year 4

savingholmes

Thanks KK, Jwil and AK

I went to bed at 2.30am and got up at 8am and was still nowhere near done by 1pm. I had done some food prep. My counsellor suggested I ask for help and amend the agenda...
 
I was upfront with people before they arrived that it was very messy. DS and his partner came a couple of hours earlier than most and DS in particular did loads despite a very lengthy drive. DD and her BF arrived about an hour later and also helped. By the time sis came it looked respectable. 

They ooh and ahed over the floor and outside work on drive, patio and raised beds. They liked my furniture and room layout. We fit 3 cars on my drive. We had to shift a lot of stuff into my garage but now downstairs looks so much better. Most of my art drawers are on wheels so we wheeled them out temporarily to make more room for people to sit.

We were able with help from BIL to manoeuvre the table and sit stand desk (on castors) to be one long table and so my back L shape finally came into its own. Both already had a matching black tempered glass top. One of my nephews helped set the table. He'd also made a cake. Ds's partner brought a gorgeous homemade creme brule.

KajiKita

DS especially deserves a 🥇 😊

Glad it went so well and there was ooh’ing and aah’ing 😊❤️👏

You can relax now?

KK

jwil

Glad it went well

SandyShores

Sounds like a lot of work, but that it all came together.  I like it when everyone gives a hand, and definitely a medal especially for DS.  Great that all your stuff can be wheeled out of the way, and then wheeled back again.  We used to have a dining room with a table so big it could only be a dining room and was hardly used - I eventually swapped the (beautiful) big table for a smaller round but extending pine table and it became a playroom for DD as well.  Hope you manage to have a good rest now.

beanielou

Glad all went smoothly. 

Well done to your DS.  

lucielle

Sounds like it went well and many helping hands made light work of it. 

L

savingholmes

Thanks KK, Jwil, Lucielle, Beanie and Sandy 

DS and his partner left around 4pm today so rested since then. Before that we took a trip over an aqueduct by canal boat so I was able to rest while we enjoyed the scenery.  DS drove.

I still need to sort through the stuff that got shifted into the garage in particular but I can do that gradually. A box / bag at a time.

Along the lines of SDC I gave DS a treasure from his paternal grandfather which made him happy. I also gave him one of my favourite creations. I am not seeing him for Xmas or his birthday so this was an early present exchange as he'll be abroad.  I gave him some other stuff as well. They are going to take me to see the HP & child play in the new year which I am looking forward to. I have previously given DD some jewellery in a similar way.

BIL reckons I can gradually fill the cracks left when the skirting was removed so doesn't see that as a big deal. Still need to shave the kitchen door as there were other priorities yesterday. I need a joiner and electrician in the new year. I have made hige progress on the house since buying it but it's cost £27.5k+ (excluding furniture etc) so quite painful spends!

Next jobs (not necessarily in this order)

Shave kitchen door and lounge door
Paint and arrange fitting of the architrave for the  utility area.
Get utility door fitted to reduce sound. Considering a rail as the space is tight but previous owner bought a narrow door already...
I may move the lounge door to the utility if I used a rail and then buy a door with tempered glass into front door area so it lets more light in and is less claustrophobic.
Get sockets in front room fixed.
Get new fuse box
Get electric into utility and garage
Get two outdoor lights fitted (I bought them earlier this year)
Get another plug socket fitted outside including power to the shed
Try and get a plug so ket on the upstairs landing
Look into electronic garage door....

All sounds expensive...

savingholmes

For now I've temporarily frozen another CC. I'm hoping to transition back to current accounts this month and stop the 'rot'. The only exceptions that I can see would be if I buy skirting board or equivalent house related items that are maintenance requirements rather than fritter spends. This is just to preserve my savings interest. 

My pensions are doing well currently which is great news. I'll update my signature - and hopefully see a steady improvement - at least until I get the next tranche of work done on the house.

skint_spice

It sounds expensive but it’s all in the spirit of improving your home for life not frivolous spending.

savingholmes

My AVC and SIPP pensions grew £3642 this year on top of my in year investment of £7054. Thrilled about that - as in my SIPP that represents 21.9% growth! Harder to get to the figure on my AVCs as I'm still actively investing in that.

It means I'm now 17.3% of the way to my mortgage neutral target of £127.5K by mid 2030.

I ended last year at 8% of my target so happy that I've gained and invested so much in a year. I appreciate there are likely to be stock market rollercoasters to come but for now it is good news. Hopefully when I come to re mortgage in a couple of years' time I will have a solid portfolio behind me that could also feed into the mix if needed. 

I need to get my health back on track and improve my eating habits so bought extra fruit and veg this week and veg soup in the hope that helps.

Hope all is well where you are.

I have to go into work tomorrow and have an early meeting which is a pain but will be lovely to see people. Hopefully I can pick up my £80 xmas voucher then too. Must remember to take any cards and gifts in with me. Must pack my bag tonight. I don't have a lot of concentration today - feel I used it all up over the weekend and am still in recovery mode.