Hopefully cruising, with focus, towards retirement

in_need_of_direction

so pixie dust spreading continued at minimal cost while I benefited from items leaving the house and going to an appropriate home. In total, six things went one of which allowed for an area in the house to be cleared. I was also able to get an honest independent view of some things that had been troubling me for more than 30 years and that ex had used as a threat to control my behaviour. The worst thing was that I had carried the guilt for so long because I had been afraid to invite further criticism. I had never, until recently, considered the possibility that having the conversation may have resulted in a positive.
Another positive was that in advance of someone coming to the house, both the kitchen and bathroom got their weekend clean early and in making use of our rarely occupied sitting room, I could appreciate what a nice room it is. While the work that was done last year in that room was a variety of small scale jobs, it has given us one room that is completely sorted and easily maintained. I also did some spot cleaning of the inside of the car which was overdue. I deliberately did no work yesterday as opposed to cramming bits and pieces in.

On Thursday while driving past my credit union, I noticed a parking space so pulled in. I opened an account 9 years ago but then they closed the local to me premises so I hadn’t used it. There was £234 in the account and I lodged the £20 cash I had in my purse. This branch is on the same road where I pick up my monthly meds so the loose intention is to try and make a lodgement if I’m passing by within opening hours. Even if it’s just £5 it’s good to have a small pot accessible fairly locally.

Today we are experiencing a pleasant breeze and laundry is in the machine. Ironing may even be cleared up and there is definitely a visit to the diy store to pick up the paint base to cover the water damage caused by the leaky but now repaired room. The damage in the hall is slight so there’s no reason why that shouldn’t be addressed completely this weekend. I will also eye up some plants and need to buy some exterior spray paint from Lidl. Given that both stores are close to a sparks shop, I may also grab a multipack of their sparkling water which is normally good value.

Today I am grateful for

A great night’s sleep last night

An appreciation for a nice space

Being given a very relevant gift card

Rehoming things appropriately

jwil

How lovely to have a room that is completely done!

Nice to have some perspective on the troubling items as well. You've made so much progress.

teapot2

Lots of excellent positives in there, great to be free of the guilt you have carried for so long too. Well done 💪🏼👏🏼

in_need_of_direction

a weekend of more laundry including handwashing and more progress in the garden. Four shops were visited on Saturday and a variety of planned and reduced purchases made. 3 hours of my life wasted watching a crime based mini series still, that’ll save me from watching the other two series. Have woken with sinuses a bit blocked but trying to avoid taking anything for this as it would be such an easy habit to fall into.
today work motivation is high so I’m trying a new approach by zoning time for home, for work and for leisure. Home today will include a run to the dump to get rid of garden waste in excess of my two full bins to be collected on wed plus picking up dh’s dry cleaning. I’m going to trial this mon to thur and see how it goes.

Today I am grateful for

Achieving a no takeaway weekend

Considered purchases

Being able to provide positive feedback

satchmo1

Helloooo…. I don't know how I missed your new diary, but I'm so happy to read your mortgage/debt-freeness and especially the lifting of unnecessary guilt.

Happy new(ish) diary

in_need_of_direction

well, the story of my life, I’ve let time runaway from me. So what’s been happening? We’ve had 2 long weekends away, one duty and one pleasure. The highlight of the pleasure trip was seeing Paddington in the savoy theatre. The tickets were Christmas presents from the dc and it was magical. I would highly recommend as a special treat. We also took full advantage that weekend of the tfl only pay once a day bus promotion which was great.
The duty trip went off as well as it could so that was a relief. I was also able to catch up with ds.
moneywise, things haven’t been great as there are still unknown car bills to be addressed and I think I have been overly optimistic about what can be achieved. Ernie gifted me £25 this month and we recouped £1 from the lottery yesterday.

Work is demanding and overwhelming with clients not giving me the easy summer that I’m used to.
I’ve made a bit more effort with social connections and am continuing to tackle one nightmare part of the garden. Today mr wii confirmed that I am once again at 12st 2lb. With regard to my short term challenge, I now have 800 Canadian dollars and one gift sorted. I have m&s vouchers to address a few of the other gifts plus £11 sparks money.

I have remained on the lower dose of anti depressants which is a big positive that can hopefully continue. I’m disinclined to come right off them for a few months as we have Oct holidays and then full speed ahead to Christmas that I find can be very stressful. Small decluttering steps continue with 2 items to go in the post today and one largish item going to a neighbour yesterday. We also sold four items on vinted. Right, lots to get done today so need to make a start.

Today I am grateful for

A Sunday morning bacon butty

Yellow stickered items bought yesterday

Getting completely caught up with the ironing yesterday

jwil

Sounds like good progress being made despite work being challenging. Glad you had a nice break too.

in_need_of_direction

so much for being caught up on the ironing, it appears that there was one shirt that found its way onto a hanger without first being ironed.
yesterday was a bit of a lazy day to start with but gathered momentum when one home task was done, a home was identified for an item, work was done and an invoice was issued. Dinner was a combination of freezer stuff and reduced stuff and dh, prompted by me, did a reconciliation of monies owed by the treat pot to our general account. It’s at times like that when I realise why him withdrawing a set amount each month to his own account, works for us, I do think it’s an overly generous amount of spends but at least it leaves the joint account manageable and traceable.

today I have a client meeting in the morning, a call in the afternoon and stuff to get done in the meantime.

Today I am grateful for

The recycling being collected- it’s too easy to take this for granted

A quick chat with the offspring who are both in good form

A box having been emptied and a suitable home found for an item

in_need_of_direction

I’ve been having a bit of a flickering light bulb moment with regards to my health. I’ve had various ailments that are awaiting diagnosis but I’m fed up living like this. I have gone the private route and was able to get the two most sinister causes ruled out which was great. The light bulb came on fully on Friday when I remembered a dr Michael Moseley quote which was “you can’t outrun a bad diet”. I don’t even run and my diet has limited nutritional value. Today a line has been drawn. My bs is surprisingly within range, for me, at 9.1 with my weight at 12st 3lb.
Going forward, I’m taking a very simple approach. I’m aiming to up my protein, fruit and veg. I know fruit is high in sugar but it’s completely unprocessed and has to be better than overconsumption of chocolate, sweets and biscuits. It also tends to be cheaper. Nothing is being eradicated from my diet but I’m hoping that by being fuller from good things, there will be less capacity for the bad stuff. I’m not sure how this approach will impact numbers but it has to make me feel healthier. We will see. I’m also going to start the fast2 2 minute exercise plan to help with balance.

So, that’s the health stuff. Onto the short term money goal. Well the relative departed for Canada earlier than expected bringing the required number of gifts and dollars. I was able to use bonus vouchers from opening a new credit card earlier this year to go towards a lot. I also topped up my sparks a count by £10 with an offer that randomly started on Thursday when I grabbed last minute things. A few bits and pieces of unworn jewellery went too so some decluttering was done.

I’m unsure how finances currently stand, that’s a job for today but I have progressed some work and got a new task from an existing client. I picked up three holiday required items of clothing from an outlet that had bank holiday offers. Two items will leave the house, one is already in the charity bag while the other is currently destination unknown.
we head off on holiday in just under 5 weeks so I think a life lived by list will be required from now. DH will have a weekend with his parents over that period.
Now I’m off to see what others have been up to as this was my first mse stop today as I otherwise put off posting. Today I am grateful for

A new route to try to improve health

Having access to the funds that allowed for gift targets to be met(even if I robbed Peter to pay Paul)

Being able to share a relative’s big birthday

jwil

Good luck with the health and nice to know sinister things have been discounted.