Two busy weeks

Spent five days in Holland week before last; planning for 2014; it came as no surprise that some of the projects that had been planned won’t start as the business made a huge loss and some that started during past few months will stop.  It’s a disappointment but that happens with innovation; if the business isn’t making money then we are one of the first in the firing line for cuts.

On a lighter note; I had no trouble taking this Christmas cake with me on the plane – I was glad when I got the office with it;  It was a little cumbersome carrying it around. It went down really well - not a glitter ball was left.

My flight on the Monday was delayed due to technical issues which very sadly meant I didn't get to the Rijksmuseum and then even more annoying its not open late; all the museums close at 5pm every day.  I was hopeful that on the Thursday they would be open till 8pm and we could get to see some lovely artwork – I am sure there will be a next time.

This last week was spent catching up – stupid hours have been worked but hopefully that’s it now for this year – no time for any me time.

Today, DaddyHen and I went to Borough Market at London Bridge; it was packed, we think its lost its charm - its way too touristy

Some delicious looking food - we resisted.  The only things we bought were a ham hock, some mushrooms and a pawpaw.  My mum and I used to have pawpaw for breakfast when we lived in Africa - yum yum with lime juice and a sprinkling of sugar. 

We didn't spend long - ahhh why do people just stop dead in front of you for no reason. Too many people for out liking - back on the train to Kent.

Tomorrow is the opening of my sealed tin – can’t wait…

MummyHen X

Gifts, awards and cakes

Busy busy at work – but then as we near year end there is always heaps to do.  I received a lovely box of expensive chocolates – to be honest I would have preferred something else I’m not really a chocy person; don’t get me wrong I really enjoy a chocolate desert but not into eating chocolates – boy I sound ungrateful – I’m not; they have been put in the Christmas box and I’m sure we will all enjoy them at Christmas, That was on Tuesday then on Friday I received a recognition award – formal company recognition award from one of the General Managers – Dinner for Two.  I’m really pleased.  I do work hard (DH says too hard), I get paid well so receiving this is lovely.

Question is now where do we go – no value has been mentioned - I need to ask as I don’t want to be extravagant but on the other hand don’t want to spend £50 and for them to say ah you could have spent £100.  I was told to choose a ‘nice’ restaurant – what does that mean?!

A colleague knows that I always make Christmas cakes and recommended Nigel Slaters Christmas cake – not tried that one before – it came out looking really good; I had trouble getting ground almonds; perhaps there's a shortage both Mr T and Mr S had none, DH ground some for me - I had whole almonds in the cupboard.

I will be away in Holland all this coming week – and I decided to take a Christmas Cake with me 

it sounded like a good idea at the time but carrying a cake in hand luggage – umm maybe not such a great idea; I did check with the airline and the airport and both said it was ok.

MummyHen X

Office with a view

Most of the week I work from home – which I have done for many years.  I changed my job about 2 years ago, same organisation just different role, in February we relocated from central London to Canary Wharf which meant more space and 85% of the team are now in one place. As the crow flies its much nearer home but with no direct trains, driving is an option but those of you who know of the Blackwall tunnel, one of only two tunnels that is open to traffic that cross the Thames, will know that it takes hours to get through during the rush hour.

Sometimes I get the train and the DLR (Dockland Light Railway).

 

This is the view I have – I actually really like it.

 

Thames Clipper ferry 

Thames barrier

The dome, the O2 Arena - not sure of what its officially called

 

It’s not pretty in a flowery sense, it’s not the side of the building that looks west towards central London, north just faces another of the many towers in Canary Wharf, south has partial views, but east, my view, has the dome, Thames barrier, views over south London towards Kent, a little bit of river.

Ferries passing up and down, naval vessels, helicopters, window cleaners – I’ve seen them all from the window.

HMS Richmond arrived this week

Tall ship Tenacious

Thames Sailing Barge

 

What’s the view like from your office window or work place?

 

MummyHen X

 

Thanks

for all the lovely comments from yesterday.
We had a very lazy day - spent at home just pottering, taking photos, sitting, reading - just relaxing.

 

MummyHen X

It's been a while

But I am still here, albeit tired and battered after working much too much – I shouldn’t complain as I have a good job. Hopefully we can get away for a few days to recharge the batteries.

The winner of my giveaway – I hadn’t forgotten is Gill from Gloucester - new follower.

Mail me your details so I can get your prize in the post thiftymummyhen(at)gmail.com

Lots of things happening – money saving is going well.  Managed to get £293 back from insurance company on SonnyHens van insurance; they had not applied his 4 years no claims discount, it a lot to lose when you are a male driver under 25 and driving a van.  After a few phone calls, a mention of the ombudsman the NCD was applied and the refund was back in my account.  Payments to CCs are still on track.

Finally, after many months our dining room is being decorated –things happen pole pole (very slowly in Swahili) in this house.  We decided to change from a pale creamy/yellow to a pale lilac/grey & deep purple; a bold move which was not universally welcomed at first, but its growing on the dissenters. The walls are painted , the new floor is down, new architrave is in place, and most of the skirting is down – one length on order; will be so happy all the furniture is back in its place; it’s all a bit discombobulated at the moment.

 

Flowers and veg in the garden are coming on a treat.  We have a number of different calistamans  (bottle brush) red, purple, white and yellow.  The yellow is flowering for the first time this year – bees just love it. 

 

Strawberries are looking plump - just waiting for some sun to ripen.

 

Hanging baskets are looking lovely

 

 

 MummyHen X

 

Back now – been VERY busy

Hello!

Did you miss my ramblings?

The past month has flown by; work work and more work and very little play. We had a massive increase in staff since January with 24 arriving in the last four weeks. 

 

I did find a few hours play each week where mainly spent away from the computer – I felt that I had already spent more than 12hours at my desk each day to then spend time bogging or researching was just too much.  I have started a quilt style granny square crochet blanket – can’t say too much until the reveal as it’s for my Mum and she reads this blog – waves to mummy.  I also have plans for a tiny granny square blanket - the squares are made but need to decide on the colour placements.

 

Updates

Little Cat – is back to normal.  He had is final operation a couple of weeks ago to remove the wire in his jaw.  Final cost £2,830. We have now setup a DD to a Cat Account so we are putting away £30 each month to help if there are any future accidents.  As both cats are over 10 years old the insurance was VERY expensive. 

The only downside to Little Cats accident was that I couldn’t pay the extra £1,000 to my CC that I had planned, I am hoping to make it up over the next four months by paying an extra £250 over plan; still on track to pay off by August. They tried tempting me by increasing my credit limit – but NO I stood firm.  DaddyHen has paid off half his BarclayCard and they offered him 0% interest on balance transfers so he is looking at transferring a smaller balance on another card to the B’Card, snowballing, getting rid of the card.  This would mean he has only one card, albeit with a £10k+ balance but this would paid off by February 2014. The other card has a higher monthly interest than the B’card so would be prudent to transfer the balance. He needs to do the sums to make sure that we’d benefit.

Haven’t been spending much cash so the Tin hasn’t been getting fed with many £2 or £5 just the odd bit of change at the end of each week.

 

MummyHen X

Back in my own bed

After a week of sleep deprivation in the Netherlands I had the best night sleep last night ever and I do mean EVER.  This is the photo of the bathroom that I couldn’t post the other day – it’s not a great but you can see there’s no roof and the glass ‘walls’.

I do enjoy going away especially for holidays but on business it’s different – it's jolly hard work, it’s always good to connected with colleagues that you only hear their voice.  But is nice to be home; except the jobs I had hoped that would complete are still far from complete – well a start has been made but not much else.  DH informed me that money would be needed as:

1.    The lights had gone in the kitchen

2.    The boiler is leaking

3.    The door on the dishwasher is hanging off

4.    The washing machines sounds like a cement mixer

5.    Cooker hood is blowing not sucking

And there’s me eager to not spend anything, other than household bills, from January until end of March – I want to get back on track with paying down our debts.

The week before I went away I received my annual statement for the car loan – the monthly credit amount didn’t look right, it was £12 lower than the amount that was leaving my bank each month.  I phoned to query and was reminded that I took out a ‘return to invoice’ insurance but now that there are only 10 more payments left of the loan and the car value is far higher than the amount owing I cancelled this insurance.  I remember us deliberating if we needed the insurance when we bought the car.  Which was the best thing as six months after we had the car we were burgled, and the car was taken – after nearly four weeks the insurance company was on the verge of paying-out when the car was found in a container at Felixstowe ready to be shipped to Mombasa.  Now, if the car had not been found there would have been a difference between the amount the insurance company paid out and the amount remaining of the car loan.  Anyway, this £12 will go towards paying off a credit card.

We’ve not used our credit cards at all since beginning of July – everything has been debit card or cash – and we are seeing a difference.  The first card is nearly paid off – should will be gone by end December it will be tight we will have to keep close eye on spending over Christmas.

All of the Christmas shopping is done – just food shopping to do and we are NOT going to go mad – why does the population think that a famine is coming and clear the shelves; The shops are only closed for 1 day.

MummyHen X