Cherry takes the reins

Update for 22/4/17:

NSD and went for a run.

I've been going through this diary, both lots of online banking and our probate file to track down what the estate owes us. So far it's something over £1,200! Now that I'm in a position to start paying things that are owed I'll get DH to have a check through, I'll settle the mahoosive leccy bill and I'll email my sister with a copy of the spreadsheet. Then I might just pay us back what we've spent, and later spends can go through the Executors' Account. Well, they can when I can find the card for it :eek: I put it in a safe place. However DH has one too as he's also an Executor & signatory, so all is not lost.

BTW I haven't suddenly developed an ability to do spreadsheets. DH set it up for me and we still have to get one of the DSes to put a formula in. I remember a kind person on here offered to do me an Idiot's Guide: maybe I need to take them up on it.

It's going to be a busy few days: work tomorrow and Monday, then Tuesday is that frenetic thing, a regular day off and from Weds to Fri I'm hoping to do more on Mum's house.

MS stuff:
re-reading my diary is giving me a fresh burst of enthusiasm
Put my name down for an extra shift tomorrow
Found the percentage paid by the savings account I'm considering and yes, it's better than we're on at present so now I need to choose the time to speak to DH, as it's joint money we're talking about.
Free cake at work courtesy of the birthday girl (Extra good as I left the house in a hurry and didn't take much food).

So it's looking as though my plans for the next few days will have to change and I'm going to make the most of it.

Last 2 days have been NSDs, though no exercise either. I ought to add that my job means I'm reasonably active so I have a slight unfair disadvantage, but that's no excuse for not looking after myself (though sometimes it's a reason).

I've removed the food/housekeeping budget from my signature for the remainder of the month as those two internet shops threw it all into such confusion and I never caught up. My sister has paid me her share and the store cupboard at Mum's old house is now stocked for a while, so I'm going to draw a line under it and start again. For this week I'm having my usual £40 budget and I'll try to be accountable here.

Yesterday I cleaned and inventoried the freezer big time so I'm making a chicken casserole tonight as I attempt to use up older stuff. I also hope to do the fridge in depth today. That's MS because I want to use stuff not chuck it or buy double through not knowing what I have in.

I also need to check my work emails because I've finally sent off to register for the pensions part of the work website. Maybe then I can find the pone number to enquire about pension overpayment!

Found the email from the Pensions Department (had sent it to my private email as I'd requested - yet another admin lapse traceable to very late night working).

My pensions documents make interesting reading, like many people I won't be retiring young if I get any option! However, I did notice that the two increases in hours I had in my first couple of years in my present post aren't reflected in the records. Previous employment also seems only to refer to one of two contracts I had, though I think it was the more substantial one. No point in ringing them at this time of night but I need to go back in with pen and paper sometime soon, try to understand it better and make a list of questions. I've also neglected to nominate DH to receive the death payment if I predecease him so I'd better do that too.

It's a bit of a grey day at he moment and I am noticeably not using my time off to best advantage, so am posting and have updated my signature to keep myself accountable.

Provided I can avoid spending for the rest of today, I'll have 10 out of 10 NSDs this month.
I've also been for a run, making 10/15 exercise days. I'm not going to hit that target am I?! I'll do what I can and see if I can beat it next month.

I need to havea look in the freezer for tonight's tea - there are some anonymous items in batter that need to be used up so tea should be interesting if nothing else!

I also want to list a few more bits on 3Bay... there is just so much clutter around! I just came across a bag that a friend gave me a few years ago. It's hand crocheted by the look of it, and absolutely gorgeous colours but I don't think I've used it even once as the colours are wrong for me. Then underneath it is another bag from the same friend, similarly unused! This morning I wandered into the magazines section of 3bay - and out again as it directed me to the less salubrious ones! - and in again on gardening and crafts. Now I'm wondering about getting rid of some very old ones that keep reappearing around the house. They might be treasure for someone or they might not.

The first of my listings go up tonight.

The pension stuff is still waiting to be looked at. I'll need a pen and paper... I could also apply for the new savings account. So why do I feel more in the mood to play games on the computer?

I may be back with more later, see how it goes.

And what a nice day today has been!

Firstly I had coffee with a friend... okay, coffee and cake. £9.50 I think (my turn to treat).

Then DH and I had a scrumptious lunch in town. He paid but I put a £ in the basket for tips. I also photographed my meal and the menu details because I think I could recreate it and it was absolutely delicious (as was the company ).

On the way home I bought the Gardener's World magazine which has the voucher for buy-one-get-one-free for various gardens. I also bought a magazine that I particularly like and buy most months (and now share with DD, and she says it's been round most of her colleagues! ). This after telling my friend this morning that I avoid buying magazines because I can't get rid of them. :rotfl: Know thyself...? :eek:

After that it was a quick visit to a couple more shops for items on my list and some fruit tea which wasn't on the list but was only 75p, then work which went okay.

I've been looking (not for the first time) at the leaflet that comes with my magazine and offers an introductory rate and an 18% saving on further issues. As I probably buy 10 out of 12 issues a year and I can afford it as things stand, maybe that would be a good thing to subscribe to? Yes, I would gradually get more magazines (and I look back on them, I'm not tough enough am I?) but I think that's going to happen anyway. apart from the treat element, it's a treat for DD too (and her work colleagues by the sound of it) and it's vaguely connected to my job - so while I could cope without it if I need to, it's actually MS to be proactive and sign up sooner rather than later.

That's my excuse, anyway. ;)

No interest in my 3baying yet but I remember nothing usually happens till the last day of the listing.

No progress on my pension but - and I can't remember if I mentioned this before? - I saw a genius idea on these boards a few days ago. Someone said that when they get a pay increase, they use it to overpay their pension. How cool is that? Given that currently my only debt is the mortgage and at the moment we have a surplus of income; and my pension forecast is, to the best of my understanding, pretty dire; that really makes good sense. I get an increment this year and will be due a 1% pay increase.

MS stuff:
Got the voucher to get cheaper days out in gardens
Bought supermarket bath oil not leading brand.
Doubled back to get sponge scourers and hayfever tablets in cheaper shop
Bought DS2 his favoured toothpaste on offer

Spends:
Coffees / cakes / tip 10.50
Magazines 8.15
Medical 2.30
Toiletries 1.75
Housekeeping 7.05

Housekeeping this week 27.51/40.00