Far and Away

Well done @Zoe7 for achieving so much yesterday ... fantastic effort. I hope you are now able to relax to some extent, and enjoy your Christmas day with your family. Hoping you were able to get some sound sleep overnight, and awoke feeling rested and well prepared for today. I actually had about a 3-hour stretch of sleep last night, best in a very long time. And I awoke to the sound of rain ... very grateful and relieved about that. I will be thinking of you throughout the day Zoe and am sending love and christmas wishes your way.

@Faith-and-Hope I am not sure if it is Christmas day yet in your (current) part of the world ... No matter ... I am sending you Christmas wishes for a safe return to Oz and a much improved year ahead for you.

Waves to @Maggie @Snowie @Shaz51 @BlueBay @outlander

Sherry 🎅🎄💕

@Former-Member Sending you much love and some squishy hugs on this thread also 💜💙🧡💛💚

@Faith-and-Hope Christmas is not quite the same without you being around Hon - but you are always in my heart and I think about you every day. I hope you are having a great day, your kids and you are well and you are looking forward to coming home soon. Miss you every day my angel and am so looking forward to the time we have you back with us here. Love, hugs and christmas blessings to you 🎄💕

@Faith-and-Hope Hoping you have a very peacocky christmas Hon...

@Faith-and-Hope Spent the morning with my Mum. My sister turned up closer to lunch time and I left soon after. They were both heading out for lunch when I left. I had Toby with me and was extremely tired so did not want to go to lunch myself. Home now and going to peg out the washing then lay down to watch the cricket - if I fall asleep so be it - very weary and achy today and think I have a cold coming on (which doesn't surprise me - often get sick when I can wind down and rest a little after a long term).

Made an appointment enquiry with my bank today - should hear something tomorrow - if not will go into the closest branch myself and see if I can see someone. I can't keep up with everything and Christmas has certainly added to the financial pressures. If I can increase my credit card limit a little then I can cover all my bills and mortgage for the next couple of months. After that I will be working full time again so will be able to get back on track after a further month or two.

Mortgage due next week but also have some bills to pay - don't like paying things late but it may be necessary this coming month Food, baby food and petrol is all sorted for a couple of weeks so no need to have money for them but certainly have nothing left for anything else because of Christmas - spent more than I wanted to but it was worth it to see everyone have a good day. I know I can ask my sister and Mum to help out but honestly don't want to have to continue to do that as I don't feel at all good about it. If I can get my credit card increased a little it will cover everything and I can pay it off pretty quickly once I go back to work.

Tobes is sound asleep on the floor and Cat is outside in the sun - so both fur babies are happy. No doubt Toby will get up and follow me outside when I go then will sleep above me on the couch. He slept all the way home today after running around outside for a while then getting lots of cuddles from my mum and sister. He is so spoilt and always looking for attention - which he gets from my sister

Going to pack up the christmas stuff today or tomorrow also - they have served their purpose for yesterday and oce I put everything away I will have a little more space to begin working on the rest int he spare room. Once I start that job there will be things everywhere again - so need a few days to get through it all. I still have to clean up the mess I made in the garage in the last week of school - then I can make room to store some of the boxes in there. So much to do but having it all done will be a great result - and I will finally be able to relax for a while before I begin getting ready for next year.

I hope you have had a lovely Christmas and that life is being kind to you. Miss you more than words can say Hon - every day without you around leaves a hole in my life. So much looking forward to your return. Much love and many hugs from me and the fur babies

@Zoe7 @Faith-and-Hope

Thank you @outlander

@Faith-and-Hope I have been looking on one of my teacher sites for themed packs to start the new year with next year and you would not believe what they have ...a peacock pack - gave me a huge smile 😁 There are also butterflies, owls, elephants among many others. I was going to go with owls this year because I still have a couple of resources and posters (that I had at home and weren't thrown out at that previous school - grrr) and made some more resources last week with owls but now I am torn ...I might mix it up a bit - have some owls, some butterflies and some peacocks ...decisions, decisions lol - too much to think about right now though so have dowloaded all those packs and will decide in a couple of weeks when I start getting things together.

Have finally done most of the washing up from yesterday - still a few things to go but no room left on the sink to dry so will leave those until tomorrow. I have done all the plates etc. that need to be packed back into the back of the cupboard so that can all be done easily in the morning. Mostly roasting pans, some cutlery and my good glasses to go tomorrow. I have also finished all the washing and hung it out - trying to keep on top of the housework so I don't have to spend days doing it again. I was going to pack the christmas stuff up tonight too but I have decided to leave that for a few days - it actually gives me a smile looking at it all so holding onto that for a bit longer.

I have decided to head to the bank as soon as it opens in the morning to try to see someone - at least be able to make an appointment tomorrow or early next week. I have just over a week until my mortgage is due but with the new year also in between there I am hoping to see someone before then to sort out what I can do, I am not stressing about it just yet but if I can't extend my credit limit then I will have to talk to my Mum and sister - and I really do not want to have to do that.

Your niece has been giving me lots of snuggles and hugs today - she won't come near me on the couch - mostly because Toby is always there too - but when I am in the kitchen Tobes goes outside so Cat comes in and keeps me company ...she is such a sweetheart 😺

Watching cricket at the moment - not much else on to watch My team is not playing but it is something to have on. Going to head to bed as early as I can tonight ...waiting for meds to kick in and don't think it will take long tonight because I am so tired still. Yesterday was certainly a long and tiring day - could feel my eyes closing when I was driving back from seeing Mum today Had a couple of naps this afternoon but didn't help at all - felt worse afterwards

I so wish your were able to post Hon. Counting down the days until you return and very much hoping you are okay and are having a wonderful break from your own life back here. Love ya heaps and miss you every day

@Faith-and-Hope @Former-Member @Sans911 @Snowie @Maggie and all others...

I have an appointment this morning at the bank - I was super lucky to get one so soon. It is a branch a bit further away but that is no issue. I don't know if they will increase my limit but I can only try - it would certainly help me out over the next couple of months until I have more money coming in again. My pay over the next 6 weeks will only be my part time hours as I didn't work long enough on the increased hours to continue getting paid at that amount - so very much hoping this increase will be able to be achieved at the bank and then I can relax a bit knowing everything will be covered for the next 2 months.

Tired still today after not a lot of sleep - enough to get by today but really need to hope for more tonight. Going to mow the lawn and do a little work in the garage today also (left a mess when I upended some boxes looking for pieces to make a birdhouse for one of the kids in the last week of term). Then I am going to finish all the washing up and if I have any energy left begin in the spare room (that one might need to wait until tomorrow).

Will update everyone on how it goes at the bank - fingers (and everything) crossed that they can increase my limit 🤞

Thanks @Sans911 Not overly confident that they will increase it but no harm in trying.

Got everything crossed for you @Zoe7 . Costs nothing to ask. 💜