Squeaky spreadsheet diary

Mornings are definitely not working for me this week. After yesterday's oversleeping, found just as I was going out that the bathroom roof leaks and all the toiletries on the windowsill are soaked. Had to shove a bowl under the leak and head off for work, only to find that the front door has swollen or dropped on its hinges and can't be locked. Aargh - remind me again why we bought an older house? DH reckons it's going to cost £150 to fix with expanding foam/sealant and new fascia boards, so bums to that.

Anyway, made an executive decision to bog off home when everyone else went for their Xmas lunch. Time enough to hold the fort on my own next week when I have to, not when I don't have to. My boss was practically kicking me out the door to go home, bless her - she's so lovely. Definitely pleased about the debt reduction milestone though, and had some interesting conversations with colleagues about their own share-dealing, completely out of the blue.

Food to be taken in tomorrow has to start with Ch, so I'm thinking cheese and crackers; cheap enough to pick up at Mr T on my way to the station. Someone else can bring the champagne; we're off out for a small team lunch tomorrow anyway. Last year the theme was chilli and ginger so I took devilled eggs which were snarfed up very quickly. Actually I'm wondering if I can return to the Seventies and do cheesy-pineapple sticks - that'll be even cheaper They'd have to pry the plate out of my unwilling hands though - love cheese and pineapple.

I've 'bought' my fantasy portfolio via The Share Centre. Going for individual companies I know, a general tracker fund to give me an overview of the market, a fund of funds, a sector-specific fund which is higher risk, and a fixed income fund based on UK bonds + preference shares which should offer dividends and some capital gains. Now I have to sit back and watch and learn. Opening value of holdings is £13,816.42, with £1050 left to play with in case something else catches my eye.