Prosperous & Creative Soul Year 4

savingholmes

Yesterday

• I bought some £8 sandals as another option from a more local outlet (reduced from £39). I now need to practice walking in them as they are quite high - and try to wear them in a little. Whether I'll end up taking them away with me or not I don't know - but I was so amazed to find something wearable in my size. I think the other sandals are more suitable for the trip...
• I also bought some dresses, a top and a fascinator from various charity shops. One of the dresses still had tags. £34 for about 6 items so not bad at all. 
• I also got some trainers £25 and a lightweight sparkling evening bag for £17 from TK.

I also did some weeding in the garden which brought me out in hives all over my arms which was painful - but all gone today. I took a hayfever med and applied sting type cream. I also bought more food.

Got up late again today. I thought I'd put my alarm on but obvs not. However I only got to sleep around 4.30am... I need to get back in a rhythm.

I haven't managed to book on life drawing this week - but I've booked for the following two. I need to do some of my online art course again - this would be the ideal time. My house still looks like I've been burgled though - so it's not very conducive to concentrating on anything. 

I put the washing away yesterday and started another load - which I now need to put away. I'll put another lot of washing on - including the charity shop items. One of the dresses I bought had pockets which always feels a fantastic win. Tomorrow I hope to make myself go to the beach. I need to get organised today ready for that - and it is a bit of a trip - but I always feel amazing when I am there so need to make the effort. 

The dates for the wedding trip are still not confirmed - but apparently a bucket list art museum is in the area - and it's likely I'll have the opportunity to go there while I am there. That is very exciting. It's an artist that I find fascinating. I never expected to go there in person.

doingitanyway

I'm with you with the pockets in a dress 
Lovely that the area has a gallery you have always wanted to visit

Blackcats

The wedding trip sounds like a fantastic opportunity.  

beanielou

Look at Popsy dresses.  All have pockets.

jwil

Great to have the opportunity to go to the museum as well

AgathaSquirrel

Firstly, an apology, I thought I had been posting in your diary but I now think I’ve been posting after you in other people’s diaries!

Secondly I was sorry to read about your dad. You may recall I lost mine 18 months ago in similar circumstances. 

Thirdly- yes to dresses with pockets. I have one that I assume every time I put it on that there are pockets but it turns out there aren’t. Infuriating.

Lastly, I’ve read the beginning of your diary and the end but not yet the middle so apologies if I’ve missed an update. How is your garden doing? Was the work worth it?

savingholmes

Thanks DIA, Agatha, Jwil, Beanie and Blackcats

Agatha I ammiles behind on all diaries. I've just been absorbed in therapeutic art recently. No real focus.

Garden work was good. I have an apple tree with apples that I planted, various things in flower. I need to do more weeding. Achilles cloth of gold in flower currently looking glorious plus agapanthus blue flowers and polonium purple flowers, yellow fennel??? Others.... I will see if I can take a photo and share it soon.

I am still worried about the tarmac... Will apply sealer at some point I think.

On the dresses I have bought a few at charity shops recently.  The £8 sandal strap isn't long enough so looking for a solution for that. Could possibly use ribbon. 

I saw a £120 ring I liked recently but it was gold plated silver and diamonique so left it but it has been calling to me.  

I go back to work next week. Hope it goes okay. My sleep pattern is terrible currently but hopefully the structure will help.

I have submitted a piece of life drawing art to an exhibition which runs for a month starting Friday which feels like a milestone.  My DD has agreed to go with me to the opening night.

The wedding trip is confirmed for DS. I met up with ex and his new wife this week for a meal as we are likely to be spending a week in the same house together! It went better than expected.  Flights were £750 not the £500 of the initial estimate but hopefully no accommodation costs. I still need to get a visa. No idea what food and excursion costs are likely to be.

mark55man

Enjoy the wedding - it could be the trip of a lifetime, you've shown again and again that you can get things back on track, so don't spoil the ship for a halfpenny worth of tar as they used to say.

Good luck going back to work

doingitanyway

Glad meeting ex and wife went well
Bravo for submitting your art for an exhibition

savingholmes

On money another £1020 went into AVCs. My AVCs have almost recovered after the tariffs and conflict impact.  My ISA is only down 1% currently. At one point they were down 15%. My SIPP has also recovered. 

I have taken £300 from savings towards flight costs. I got £7 in annual interest on that account. I get about £35 in interest a month on my cash ISA. 

Trying to rein in non wedding related spending. I need to update my finances and see where I am at in my current accounts. Trying to switch to cash rather than even 0% CCs. Hoping that helps me improve my overall net worth.

I haven't done any more of my online art course but I enjoyed the life drawing group this week. I am booked in this coming week and need to book more dates. It is my main social other than work. Hopefully ican do some 'proper' art tonight.

I may also buy a printer... unless I can get mine working. Nothing ihave tried so far has helped as it is a driver issue... I will give it one last try...