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

themadvix

Thanks Cheery! The sunshine reminds me that there’s more time to get things done when spring arrives and seems to supercharge me too- not too much longer until it means longer evenings 😊

I had a brainwave last night about contracting hr (although I think the person who I’ve dealt with in the past may have left…) about pay, so I’lldrop them an email later.

Greying_Pilgrim

Is everything ok? tmv. Haven't seen you around in a while……

Greying X

themadvix

Hey GP, thanks for checking! I'm OK, but absolutely snowed under with work - beyond ridiculous. I'm working 12 hour days and getting RSI from too much keyboard work, but financially it'll be worth it and the deadline is short, so the pressure won't last for too long. I am lurking, but haven't really got the energy to post (here or on your diary - which is one of the few I'm keeping up with currently!).

Greying_Pilgrim

Phew! Glad you're OK. Not so glad about the RSI tho ☹️Ta for popping on and filling us all in.

Greying X

TallGirl

Glad you are ok hope you can take some time off at some point to chill a bit after those long days.

themadvix

Morning all,

I've been drowning in work the past few weeks. I'm not complaining about the volume, but the poor communication from the US client (no deadline, then a sudden short deadline for a huge volume of work) was very frustrating. However, then a different deadline was communicated, which took some of the pressure off, and now I'm all caught up and waiting to hear about the next batch. I was doing all of that work around 9-5 work for main client who I also had a lot from. Things have been quieter with him the past week too though (we're waiting on others), but I've had a large Cambridge report to write (still no restructure update) and life to catch up on - washing, gardening, allotmenting. (First earlies, broad beans and red onions in, peas and more broad beans sown, plus some cabbages and tomatoes. Have renovated two raised beds on new plot and everything is ticking over.)

Today I'm off on my Scilly adventures - which has been a whole bundle of stress in itself. The forecast for tomorrow, when I'm meant to be travelling to the islands is pretty bad, so it's likely I won't get there tomorrow. It wasn't until late yesterday that my friend suggested pushing it back by a day - the forecast for Thursday is much better. And, after thinking about it, that's what is likely to happen. I can't change my plane and ferry booking until they decide the weather is too bad, but I can change my sleeper cabin up to tonight (by which time I'll pretty much know what the plan is for tomorrow) - so I am going down today and will likely stay an extra night (the YH seems to have space) and go to Scilly on Thursday. So still a bit of uncertainty, but a lot less than yesterday, when it was driving me mad! It will likely cost an extra £60 for the additional day and admin charges for changes, but for an extra day's holiday, it's not awful, especially including a private YH room.

MS things for my adventure: I earned a free hot drink on the train when booking with GWR and I've nabbed a free Greggs cuppa too thanks to 🐙, so I'm set for tea today. I've packed a lunch for today too. Think I'll probably eat dinner at the hostel tonight (they do evening meals). If I'm on the mainland tomorrow, I'll cook tomorrow night in the hostel. Have packed my NT membership card and an NT voucher, so if I am in Penzance tomorrow I can either walk to St Michael's Mount or go to Trengwainton Gardens (might depend on the weather).

The upshot of the extreme amounts of work is that once I get paid (the PO issue has finally been sorted), I am set for a few months (regardless of the expected large volumes of work from main client). This is likely to mean we'll be able to fund some of the niggly house things we want to get done this year - some new windows upstairs being priority no. 1, followed by replacement insulation where the asbestos was. We've also booked Le Shuttle for our summer holiday - to Denmark, which is exciting.

Right, I'd better go - leaving for my train in a few mins. But thought I'd better say hi as it's been a while!

Have a good day all!

rtandon27

Waves to Vix - good to hear you have been busy in a good way - Enjoy your jaunt to Scilly!

beanielou

Enjoy your trip.

Baileys_Babe

It is lovely to hear from you @themadvix enjoy your break, sounds like you need it 🤗

TallGirl

OMG did I just read this @themadvix

We've also booked Le Shuttle for our summer holiday - to Denmark, which is exciting.

If I can in anyway be of any help please please let me know. I live on Funen but grew up in Zealand and lived in Copenhagen so good knowledge all round. Obviously love my country too and would be happy to share what I know.