La Dolce Vita - 2025

helensbiggestfan

Quick update.   

Went to chiro.  Neck still bothering me but slightly easier.  

Currently ploughing my way through stuff from the solicitor, packing boxes, decluttering. 

I am a work in progress.😁

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning Lovely Friends.  

Well what a week.  I think this house is telling me it's time to leave.  This week the oven door seal has died, one of the sliding doors on the wardrobe has come off its runners and I now have a front lawn covered in several piles of dog poo.  I don't have a dog!!!!!   

Have ordered one of those sonic scarer thingies and some granules to scatter.  I would prefer the shotgun solution (for the owner, lol - not blaming the dog). 

But yeah. Definitely time to go, the sooner the better.  

Surveys all done on the new house.  Nothing nasty.  A couple of Amber flags, just minor maintenance type issues. The house is only 6 years old and appears well cared for so I'm happy with the surveys.    Pre contract enquires done, local searches back.  So hopefully we're on track for end of March.  🤞.  I've been steadily packing boxes. Today I'm going to make a start start on the garage,  

The good news is my car passed its MOT - with flying colours. 💃🥂.

Each year I think she's going to fail but she's a game old bird, 2006 vintage and still going strong.  However, she is definitely a diva.  She hates the cold weather.  I have to take her for a spin every day or she sulks and refuses to start.  

She definitely takes after her owner in that respect. Lol. My old bones are not liking this cold damp weather.  My husband was convinced I must have some lizard DNA in my genetic make up, in that I can't seem to get going until the temperatures rise and I do love to bask in the sun. I could with a Caribbean cruise right now but that's not going to happen. The new house must  come first.  

It's currently around 2C, damp, foggy, grey and pretty miserable.  Too cloudy to see the 6 planets in alignment last night (4 to the naked eye). We get another chance tonight so maybe I'll get lucky, although I'm doubtful.  

Hope you are all well and finding ways to enjoy a few champagne moments, without breaking the bank. My finances are ok although I had a letter from HMRC telling me I owe them money.  I can pay it one lump sum or they will allow me to spread the payments.  

Bet you can't guess which option I am going for....😉

Wednesday2000

I think I will have a holiday this time next year as I find this time of year so depressing in the UK. It is Blue Monday coming up as well. I heard a woman on the train say she was going on a cruise to the Caribbean for 6 weeks after xmas. I think that would be far too long, but I bet she is having a nice time now.

Floss

I've just arrived home this evening from a week in Malta - it was 17° when I left at 4pm! I've had 3 holidays at this time as it suits me - not too hot, not too costly, some sunshine & vitamin D and a break from the dullness of January.

Wednesday2000

It is a good idea. I talked to a man in my class yesterday who said he spent some of the winter in Spain. 

helensbiggestfan

Good Morning my Lovely Friends. 

Sorry I've been awol.  Nothing major going on but I have been struggling a bit with a couple of minor health niggles. 

Today would have been my 42nd wedding anniversary and I "celebrated" by seeing my gynaecologist this morning.  Not a nice way to spend any morning, let alone a wedding anniversary. Oh well, it can't be helped and there was some good news.  I was nervous I might need surgery but thankfully no.  

My other good news is that I spoke to my solicitor yesterday and she assures me that "we are almost there" so hopefully it won't be long now.  I am soooo looking forward to getting settled into my new home.  I am due to go on a short holiday in the Peak District on April 4th so it would be nice if I could get moved in by then so I can relax and enjoy the holiday.  

I am feeling in desperate need of some r&r. Ideally I would love to bask on a sunny beach but time in the Derbyshire countryside will be fine. The house we are renting is in a beautiful village and the house itself looks lovely....two log burners so we should still be nice and cosy even if the weather is bad.  

So glad that January is done and dusted. I think I too will be looking at a sunshine winter break next January.....and at least I should be well settled in my new home by then.

Hope you are all well.  It feels much warmer today, almost spring like.  

Wednesday2000

Nice to see you back.xxx I hope the moving goes well when it happens. It did feel quite warm here today and then it turned a bit chilly! I can't wait for Spring. I'm not so fond of the hot summer weather.

helensbiggestfan

Buena Sera Everyone 

How is your Dolce Vita lifestyle coming along.  All is good here, except I have been informed by HRMC that I owe them money😱 so they are taking it out of my private pension over the next few months.  I knew it was coming so I'm not too upset.  

Render Under to Caesar all that is Caesars and all that.  Ha ha. 

Still no moving date yet.  Gawd but it's dragging on.  I know everything has to be checked, checked and checked again but I just wished it would happen soon. Very frustrating.  And don't talk to me about the fees.......honestly it seems like a licence to print money.  Everyone wants their pound of flesh (and more). 

And let's not talk about food prices.......😱

I sat down and did a rough budget yesterday for after I have moved. It's going to be rather tight for a while.  Oh well I will just have to go "Scorched Earth" so I can rebuild my savings.  I have decided I need to keep a much tighter rein on my food budget and anyway it's probably a good idea to start running down the freezer in readiness for the move.  

So for now.....no new clothes, not even chazza shop bargains, I am using up toiletries and cleaning materials and working my way through the food stocks.  

I remain determined to continue to live well and enjoy the finer things in life, even if I'm going to be boracic lint for a while. I will be like a Jane Austen heroine, living in genteel poverty ha ha.  

I was listening to a podcast from an American guy I follow who was talking about how the fast food industry in America is having a hard time.  Apparently even the mighty MacDonalds are feeling the pinch so much so that they are slashing prices to win back customers. I checked out their prices in the U.K.  A standard basic cheeseburger and small portion of French fries comes in at £3.99. I never touch MacDonald's food. Not only do I find it revolting but I don't even find it satisfies me, I always feel hungry afterwards.  

It occurred to me that for £3.99 I can treat myself to a good sized ribeye steak from Aldi.  I have that with half a pack of mushrooms and some salad.  So for around £5 I can have a healthy restaurant quality meal, packed full of protein and all the good stuff.  And it's probably quicker than getting in the car and driving to my nearest MacDonalds..

Aldis sirloin steak is even cheaper, this week £3.65. 

I have been watching some gardening you tube videos this week, can't wait to get started on my new garden.  It's already quite established, all the expensive hard landscaping and fencing is done,  but I want to create something really pretty. I am also going to try my hand at growing fruit and vegetables as well as flowers.  I've got one of those portable greenhouses sat in my eBay basket, ready to go.  

It occurred to me that I will probably be making a few largeish purchases when I move so I have resurrected my Topcashback account. Pity I didn't think to do that when I bought my fridge freezer really.  That was silly of me.  Hey ho, no ones perfect. 

Hope you are all well.  

Soon be Valentines Day. 💕💕

helensbiggestfan

Happy Valentine's Day 💕

Wednesday2000

Happy Valentine's Day. I really rate Aldi and Lidl. We just went to a local cafe for brunch. We got two homemade treats from the cafe to bring home and we went into Lidl and found some chocolate cookies from there too.