- No TV,
- No p.c.,
- No laptop,
- No tablet,
- No smartphone, in fact no phones at all.
- I prefer cool,
- my son needs warm as he doesn't sleep with covers; ever. Even when it is minus 12* outside and cold inside.
- invest in blackout blinds if necessary
Aiming to live a more happier, basic, frugalistic life. Big aims: - Mortgage free in 10 years time, by 2022. Little aims: - 10pm Bedtime Club.
I found a lumie in the amazon lightning sale and I got one. It was £100 down to £50. If it is any good I'll use my Tesco points and get Lyle the cheaper one I was looking at, but grudging to pay.
The rentals are getting karndean flooring and have extra, and offering to get it put in in my living room. For free.
I'm going to have a look at it tomorrow and decide.
Tonights plan is to get up the loft and get the Christmas tree down to decorate over the weekend.
And to be in bed for 11 at the latest!
Sorry, I have not forgot about here, I have just been super busy at work, which is where I normally post from.
So night 23; Tueaday. Long as normal what with karate and not getting home till half 8. I was in bed for not long after ten pm.
Last night, Wednesday I was beat. I'm struggling to get up in the morning, even though I'm getting around 8 hours sleep every night. I just can barely bring myself to get out of bed in the morning.
Tonight I've just watched an episode of greys anatomy and once I'm finished here, I'm off to bed.
I have looked into those sunrise type alarm clocks. Found 1 for £15, but the reviews are mixed. It's not a *real* one and the light doesn't come on gradual but its not too bright a light either.
The cheapest *real* one I've found is by lumie. Only bad things I have read about it is u need to set it every night, and it doesn't have back up batteries, so if their is a power cut, then it won't work in the morning.
Oh and its £60.
£60 for an alarm clock.
Such a big decision to make.
(I'll add in the links when at work).
Downloaded The White Papers to read. I *think* I'm voting yes, even though their is a lot of uncertainty. But anything's gotta be better than being ruled by Westminster (not being ruled by Brussels would be great too... And that is what I want clarified)
Went good , Saturday night film night, Lyle picked kick ass again. I folded and put away clothes then we both went to bed back of 10 and both got up abt half 9.
I really need to change it from DVD night to games night and start playing the board games we have.
Found inside last years advent calendar, some of our activities. Think I will add some of these to this years.
Today, we are going to see my sisters New house. Rather exciting! We are giving our 'spare' advent calendar to them. It was always intended to be for them anyways, even though I bought it years before Rio was born. At the time, I wanted to buy 3, but only 2 left. I will make one for Gary, when he has children, and that won't be for years yet, although I do hope that he doesn't end up like Gordon; mid 30's, no kids, still living at the parents with a real fear of commitment. One thing is for sure tho, he won't be dependent on the family for money like Gordon. Gary has always made sure he keeps his and is slowly working to become a millionaire. One day :)
It's crazy to think that I have already paid over £30,000 towards my house.
I'm a little shocked.
Nearly paid HALF my actual purchase price in just over 6 years, and yet I still have 13, yes thirteen long years left before I will own my house outright.
I am gobsmacked at this thought.
Another seven years to pay off the house and another six years of interest payments! Seventy-two months of having to work to pay back interest.
Another way to look at it is I have just spent a little over 6 years paying interest, and in a few weeks or months, I start to pay back the purchase price of my house. Every penny from now on goes towards me owning more and more sheets of timber.
It's a sobering thought.
It also makes me want to cry. Instead I will go to bed, for the first time this week, before 11pm.
Good night and sweet dreams Night 20.
Tuesday - didn't find it too hard to get out of bed, but it still was not a great prospect as I could hear others out de-icing their cars.
We had a small flurry of hail/slush and snow last night. yep 18th November and predicted snow weather has started.
I de-iced the car with a spray bottle 2/3rds full of vinegar and 1/3rd full of warm water. Ice came off really easy after spraying. some windows I didn't even need to push it off as it just melted away.
Today is long as Lyle has karate. I hope to be in bed for 10/11pm. My record is getting worse these days instead of better.
I finish this from my bed, after being unable to find a notebook to scribble down the window measurements. Their goes the no electronics after 9.
But it is befor 12.
Good night.
Stayed up for Under the Dome. If that was the last episode of the series, it wasn't a great ending, if that is the 'penultimate' episode, it was ok.
I also watched an episode of The Middle. I just love that program, and so does Lyle. I suppose its his 'Malcolm in the middle' .
Somehow when I set my alarms last night, it was coming up for midnight.
Gutted that I procrastinated to stay up later, for no reason at all. Nothing great on telly, wasn't reading anything, didn't do dishes or laundry or anything.
Kept ignoring the alarm in the morning. Heard Lyle run from the toilet to his room when the 1st alarm went.
He runs to stop Lightning getting in.
When I eventually forced myself awake abt quarter past, I called through to Lyle and in he came with his star wars build-a-bear teddy that he got a few Christmases ago, and all he wanted to do was come in for a snuggle. How could I refuse that request?
We made it to school, walking through the gates as the bell went.
Tonight I went for an interview with a local solicitors. Don't know if I want the job or not. It's 20 hours a week. Every Friday 9-4 and half days Mon - Thursday.
I've found it best to be open about being a single parent in interviews. I was also honest abt not starting 9ams. Although in this instance I said abt collecting mail in current job. I don't get much mail so don't need to. So I didn't lie, but wasn't wholesome with my reasons either.
Who knows, earlier nights might mean I'm early to school/work too.
Here is a pic of Lightning, as I just realised I have none on here.
Saturday night, me n Lyle watched HP and the Half Blood Prince. Gordon used to say, if you hadn't read the books, the films don't really make much sense.
It's not completely true, but not far from it either.
Having never really liked the films, before I had even seen them. To recently re-reading the books (can't find my Deathly Hallows, so currently spending 2 lunch hours a week in the library) its plain to see, that the films have the same outcomes, but the journeys are very different.
Film finished around 10 and we both went to bed.
Lyle came into my bed during the night, saying he had a bad dream. He doesn't like to talk abt bad dreams at night, so I moved over and gave him room for him and his two teddies.
Next day he told me that a bully was bullying his friend in our kitchen and his teacher was there and that our cat, Lightning was walking around. Not the worst dream, but he didn't like it. So came in for a cuddle.
Im unsure if I should let him watch the 7th and 8th films. They actually are not too bad, not as bad as the books, but then, I always feel that books are 'worse', you see every death, every bad bit and every good bit. The films only show what 1 person (script writers/directors/Warner Brothers) wants you to see.
And good still beats evil. Maybe give it a few weeks .
Woke up on Sunday feeling good. No alarms set, yet we both woke before 8.
Mega disaster. Bed for 10 to midnight :( was really disappointed this morning when I struggled to wake.
I've talked a lot of when I go to bed, but not when I am forced to get up. I set an alarm for 10 to 8. I struggled to get out for half 8. Last week when I was getting to sleep earlier getting up was easier.
This morning; it was a struggle. Forcing my eyes open, forcing myself to turn off the infernal racket that is my alarm. Forcing my feet out of bed and to make my way to the toilet... Get ready, get Lyle up, breakfast ready. Some days, add in shower for either or both of us.
Some days I have to make packed lunches, some days iron school clothes.
And we have to leave for school at 8.45am at the latest.
Some mornings are a real rush. Others, everything just falls into place.
Last week I don't remember it being hard or rushed, thus morning it wasn't either, but we did get to school just as the bell went. And I hate Lyle going in through the office. Although the office door is next door to his class, whereas the door he is to use is opposite side of school, means he is normally 1st in class if we use office door as opposed to being late from walking round and door closed and having to head back to office. We made that mistake many times last year.
Anyways, I am digressing. Last night I watched Revolution, thinking it was the last episode, then remembered that it is Under the Dome that is on the last episode of series 1. Looking forward to it tonight.
Then I hung up the washing, put away the roast chicken then bed.
Tonight I hope to be in bed at 11.
Really hope so. As I obviously need more than 8 hours sleep.
Oh yea, and I was craving chocolate. Time of month. Wonder if it makes much of a difference in ny sleep.
Night 5 went ok.
Lyle wanted to have a dress up night to watch a DVD. He wanted to be iron man, and I was to dress up as a baby, so I could just wear pyjamas haha.
We watched Kick Ass in my bed with toffee apple popcorn, some flavoured sparkling water and a lot of chatting. Film was finished for half 9 and lights out for 10!.
I awoke at some time in the early dark hours after hearing a crash of sorts, took me a good half hour to fully wake and realise why I had woken. I checked Lyle's room, checked the boiler, went for a wee then walked back into my room then I smelled it.
Something was cooking.
I ran downstairs and checked the cooker, all good, then I seen the slow cooker and the lid was askew. I forgot I had put bones on to cook to make beef stock/broth. I fixed the lid and put it on low. I was supposed to do that after the film but totally forgot I had even put it on.
Took me ages to get back to sleep. Lyle was in my bed and he is a figet sleeper, it was also roasting under the feather covers, and I couldn't get comfy.
But sleep I did and their wasn't a struggle to fully wake when the alarm went at 8am.
Yesterday Lyle got a new baby sister; Robyn. Scheduled c-section. From what Paul said today, the worst bit was the long wait in hospital to get taken. Alls good both mum n baby are fine. Lyle and his brother Max are away to see the baby today.