Living the Good Life - mortgage free and living in line with our values

themadvix

May well take you up on that RT! At the moment, we’ve no idea and tbh, it’s likely that we’d take the opportunity to go Japan-way in the next few months - longer flights paid for by Mr MV’s work, but if timing doesn’t work, but it would for Canada, then it’s a possibility. Canada seems far less intimidating to do at short notice - a combination of less culture shock/language barrier and people we know having been there (plus main client also hails from that part of the world, so I’d all him for tips too - although he’s from the far wilds, so I don’t think we’d be going there!). I’ve got guidebooks from the library for Japan, Canada and Sweden (another possibility, as is France, but both of them are far less overwhelming to consider planning at short notice!).

themadvix

Hmm... Octopus not here yet... normally here about 8.30 am. And no comms either. Have rung manager, but only left a message. 🙄 Why do I feel this is not going to happen today.

It is throwing it down here currently, mind you, so I wouldn't want to be them working outside.

US client's platform finally started working properly yesterday evening, so I got that work finished off. Today is clear currently for Cambridge work and I have been doing some report work already. Have got to the bit that involves brain power now though and I need more caffeine before I start that (and some surety about today's activities). If they don't turn up, I'll leave here early for mum's this evening and we might pop to a garden centre first (need seed potatoes).... Who knows at this point!

greenbee

I've had a landscaper sitting outside in his truck for most of the morning drinking coffee and smoking. As he only lives a couple of hundred yards down the road I'm not quite sure why he doesn't stay at home until he decides the weather is OK for working. Luckily I pay him for the job, not the time (he's a talker too). But it's annoying when people don't let you know when/whether they are going to turn up. I think they assume we have nothing better to do all day than hang around waiting for them.

Glad you managed to get the US client stuff sorted. Sorry work feels so precarious at the moment. Sadly it seems to be like that in a lot of places right now. 

EssexHebridean

themadvix said:

badmemory said:

You can't pay HMRC early (faints with shock horror), I'm sure it is against the law & if it isn't it should be!!!!!!

I have paid my January bill - I hate to leave it to the last minute, especially with it being the return deadline too.

I can never understand why people leave tax returns to the last minute, allowing that they can be done from mid April of the relevant year! When I was on SA I used to get mine done as soon as it was available to me, pretty much - less time to forget relevant information/lose receipts etc! 

Your poor niece - she really is going through it isn't she. Having had tonsilitus with flu some years ago I have a huge sympathy for anyone trying to tackle it alongside something else, that's two weeks of my life I never want repeated! 

themadvix

Thanks Greenbee. Still not arrived nor had any comms. I am in the hugely conflicted - disappointed but don't want to be cross - space at the moment. I am hoping for a proper apology (i.e. in the realm of flowers/hamper etc. - something that recognises the inconvenience to me) - moving furniture every time they come and then them not turning up is not fun. Although at this point, I'd just like some contact!

Have just had a meeting with Cambridge colleagues that was thoroughly depressing - everyone is so fed up. You're right about it not just being where I work. I am so fortunate that for the majority of the time, I don't have office politics or other people's egos to deal with.

themadvix

EssexHebridean said:

I can never understand why people leave tax returns to the last minute, allowing that they can be done from mid April of the relevant year! When I was on SA I used to get mine done as soon as it was available to me, pretty much - less time to forget relevant information/lose receipts etc! 

Your poor niece - she really is going through it isn't she. Having had tonsilitus with flu some years ago I have a huge sympathy for anyone trying to tackle it alongside something else, that's two weeks of my life I never want repeated! 

Nor me. Mine is done as soon as I have a chance after I've received a P60 and bank interest statements. 

Thanks EH - she really is having a rough time at the moment. I can't begin to imagine what tonsillitis and flu together must have been like - eurgh!

badmemory

What always amuses me is the number of people that leave their SA until the evening of 31 Jan & then get really mad at HMRC because the site has crashed.  I used to do SA but now they do simple assessment, you would think they could have come up with something with an abbreviation.  It used to come in July for payment in Jan as usual.  Last year it didn't come until Jan after 3 calls asking for it & not payable until April.  This year it came in Dec for payment in March, not Jan.  Very MSE, 5 extra months in my savings account.  I think that is one Martin has missed!  I think they are prioritising new payers which is good because that will allow them longer to prepare for a Jan payment.  This is going to get worse every year now though so it is a serious concern.

themadvix

badmemory said:

What always amuses me is the number of people that leave their SA until the evening of 31 Jan & then get really mad at HMRC because the site has crashed.  I used to do SA but now they do simple assessment, you would think they could have come up with something with an abbreviation.  It used to come in July for payment in Jan as usual.  Last year it didn't come until Jan after 3 calls asking for it & not payable until April.  This year it came in Dec for payment in March, not Jan.  Very MSE, 5 extra months in my savings account.  I think that is one Martin has missed!  I think they are prioritising new payers which is good because that will allow them longer to prepare for a Jan payment.  This is going to get worse every year now though so it is a serious concern.

Think they might need to change the name for a different abbreviation - Sim A$$ probably isn't going to go down well! 😆 I love the fact that I get to earn interest/play the PBs with the tax man's money. Yes, I pay on account, but if I was PAYE all that money would go straight to him, so it's a small win!

themadvix

Morning all,

Well I gave up on work after meeting with Cambridge boss/friend (she was remarkably chipper considering everything that's going on) and went to the garden centre I buy my seed potatoes from (loose, in a paper bag - a fill it up job). Bought all three crops in varying quantities - I got Charlotte, Maris Bard (I think, I have written it down) and King Edwards. Also nabbed a pack of coriander seeds - I only have some very old seed and I really want to succeed at coriander as I did with basil last year! After that, I went to Mum's town centre and got her a birthday card, popped to the library and had a browse in Waterstones (no purchasing though - I don't want to waste my gift card). I also picked up a TGTG bag from the local chain bakery. Last time I got a TGTG bag from a bakery, it was rather lacking in substance - about 4 items - but I thought if nothing else, it would provide dessert for mum and I after our dinner out. I ended up with a huuuge bag full! Two sandwich loaves, 8 baps (4 crusty, 4 soft), 8 large hot x buns, two danishes, a cheese and tomato croissant, an almond croissant and the remaining tasters of granola they had on the side. Mum had a loaf and kept the danishes (which we didn't actually want for dessert); I've had the almond croissant (or most of it - can't stand the marzipan flavour, but I like almonds) and bits of granola for breakfast; cheese croissant will be lunch; other loaf, soft baps and half the hxb are in the freezer. It's not our usual organic, homemade stuff, so I won't be making a habit of it, but it was an interesting experiment and restored my faith a bit in TGTG (as I said, they'd been a bit paltry the last few times).

Mum and I went for dinner at the chain pub around the corner from her - they had a 50% off mains offer on, so dinner with two soft drinks (including a/f beer) was £20.20! And it was very nice too. Had a lovely chat and then back to hers for a cuppa (no danish) before heading home.

I got up this morning, half expecting 🐙 to turn up, but they haven't. I have had an acknowledgement from the coordinator to say she'll try to find out what was going on... but nothing yet. In good news though, I've made enormous progress with a report - nearly done - which will put me nicely ahead with Cambridge work and, of course, is topping up the coffers. And I've just seen an email from main client about some work arriving, so that's even better.

Have a good day all!

EssexHebridean

That is a decent sounding bag! I'm holding off on getting anything at the moment due to lack of freezer space, but once I've cleared the decks I will start keeping an eye out. Might also have another look at Olio as it appears that at some stage in the last few weeks our local supermarkets have started sending stuff there! Most exciting!