Redsquirrel's 'Striving For Better Days' Diary

skint_spice

The holiday sounded lovely - if exhausting! are you straight back to work on monday? The washing is always the worst bit on the return, maybe I should set up a service picking up peoples laundry from the airport so they can have the holiday feeling just a wee bit longer????

redsquirrel80

skint_spice wrote: »

The holiday sounded lovely - if exhausting! are you straight back to work on monday? The washing is always the worst bit on the return, maybe I should set up a service picking up peoples laundry from the airport so they can have the holiday feeling just a wee bit longer????

That sounds like a great idea! I was almost tempted to throw the lot away, especially after carrying my rucksack around for two weeks! :rotfl:

Yep, back to work on Monday I'm afraid :rolleyes:

Karmacat

:wave: :wave: :wave: Hi RS! Finished the first grocery challenge month at about £45, and then spent £49 at Tesco, but that was buying stocks that will last for almost 3 months on quite a few things. £25 a month is a hopeless target for me - I was probably spending about £60 - £75 or so, £25 is just too low at once!

I reckon £50 a month is doable - tho it will only even out by about the end of September, if I'm lucky. And this weekend I've spent a fair bit on snacks out. I'll hop over to my thread and do a proper update!

Your holiday sounds great.... I've never been to Poland yet.... what was your fave bit?

Herewegoagain

omg,haven't been here for ages, just not enough time, I really must catch up on posts:o

redsquirrel80

Hi HWGA, hope you're well! Karma, hmm I know what you mean, I was looking at how long it is till Christmas and it seems impossible.. but we shall see!

Favourite bit of holiday - that's a tough one.. I particularly enjoyed Sorrento because that was my friend's birthday weekend and we had a small group together, really nice having big meals out in the evening etc and such a beautiful place. Had been a while since I'd been near the sea and absolutely loved swimming in it. Liked the rest of Italy and want to go back but with more time, not rushing about with a big rucksack.

I liked the scenery/ buildings, food and slightly more laidback pace in Poland but quite a contrast from the 'expressive' Italians.. people seem a lot more reserved in general. Found it quite difficult to be dealing with a language that I didn't have a clue about (even the bits I thought I'd learned weren't pronounced anything like I thought they were!). I would definitely go back though, there are more things I'd like to see there.

Did I mention that I don't want to go back to work tomorrow? I even dreamt last night that I had got a new job!!

Karmacat

Ooh, swimming in the Med.... wonderful. I haven't been to Italy for years - found the north quite rushed, even then, but I loved Sicily - backpacked about all over the island on the trains. Some amazing experiences, I'll never forget it. Cos I was on my own, and no one spoke English, I came back speaking Italian, which was pretty cool as well at the time!

redsquirrel80

*Warning, moan ahead*

OK, I really really don't want to go back to work, been feeling cr*p about it all day. Had a look through the job ads but nothing's jumping out at me.. had a look at some careers advice sites but no huge flashes of inspiration.. although, one thing that came out of my holiday is wanting to revive the languages that I learned at school - I was quite good at French and Spanish (did both up to 6th year) but never used them - find I can still read both pretty well but speaking is a little rough until it comes back to me. Translating sort of appeals but I know it'd take a lot of work to get to that standard...

Also feeling a bit yucky cos my skin is horrible from being away, the combination of 'strange' water and sweatiness (sorry ) has left my face looking a bit like it did when I was a spotty teenager.. and it hurts Why couldn't I come back looking tanned and glowing?!

I've also unintentionally upset my mum by not speaking to her since I got back - she knows I got home safely and I sent her plenty of texts when I was away but as usual I'm a disappointment.. :rolleyes:

I do realise this is mostly post-holiday blues but blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.....

Karmacat

Oh yuck. Thats bad, between the job blues, the complexion and your mum. Languages.... there are plenty of jobs that use languages where you don't have to be of translator standard..... tour guide... multilingual office person.... liaison officer for an embassy or a council..... um, can't think of any others right now, but I *bet* they're out there. Teaching English as a second language? Fancy living in China? Okay, I'll stop now.

redsquirrel80

I've got to say I don't have a great desire to live in China! Few things to think about though.. of course the bloomin' money thing comes into it, would need to do more courses and they all cost. Have to admit to feeling fairly down about the money thing too, my friend who's birthday I went to while away (and her friends/ workmates who were there) all have really good jobs, and I felt positively poor in comparison, their concept of what were 'OK' prices for things is so far from mine (14 euro shampoo anyone?)... I know it doesn't make you happy but it would make it easier to do things I want to do... but that's pretty obvious, I know.

Right, going to make a cup of tea and try to phone the parent - back in a bit....

Karmacat

redsquirrel80 wrote: »

... I know it [money]doesn't make you happy but it would make it easier to do things I want to do... but that's pretty obvious, I know.

Oh yeah. Big time.

Right, going to make a cup of tea and try to phone the parent - back in a bit....

Best of luck with that, hope its gone okay.

I'm off for a cuppa tea and a (home made!) biscuit.