Steps in the right direction

Philip Island MotoGP next weekend - fond feral fun kid-free 06  

Excluding the car...

Damn piece of metal has definitely stopped running.  Oh so close to getting a real service, not that we could afford it but this maintenance was so much more than mandatory! We really do try to make sure all the oils, fluids, waters, lights, plugs and pipes are maintained, stretching each service a little longer than the last and in the end the poor machine fails to turn off a light to indicate another problem exist the same day you schedule a service - old cars don't like this treatment repetitively. Alas the budget had made it so.

Let's see what the day has in-store according to the horoscope.  It is rather lovely outside, although I think rain is expected. Tomorrow might be windy. That's the weather forecast - on to the prediction - oh this looks promising as well:

For the first time since 1982 Mercury and Saturn, the planets of communication and conviction, are aligned in a very intuitive part of your chart, giving your intuition and your imagination a voice and the ability to turn these into plans or strategies that can be committed to. This gives you a chance to put your thinking cap on in a very smart, intuitive and creative way, looking and thinking outside the square, while remaining mentally focused and sharp.

In anticipation of some moneys outstanding received (gratefully too), I have put some money against the drastic plastic credit card - so little, so understated, so dangerous. The mortgage is also covered in arrears and advance, because it really needs to be on track, not struggling the way it is.  Boy are we glad we didn't borrow more than $195k for the house, semi wishing the line of credit was never there as a cash flow point however it made sense then, still makes sense in having all moneys in the one place - it seems to move in and out of the account so fast! 

 Tonight's dinner is as yet unconfirmed.  It is planned to be a warming one pot wonder - however if there is still sour cream left after last nights big baked stuffed potato meal, I wouldn't mind pasta carbonara.  Popping a few pies from the oven in for lunch - chicken and leek.  Absolutely bargain these pies - $1.88 - lovely crusty pastry, reasonably tasty filling (SmallBoy commented store pies never have big chunks like mine do. *cheers* Best thing the 'mother cook' could hear.  

If MudGuts arrives to help poor Husband push the car home as he has promised, I'll grab him a left over piece of surprise pie.  Not sure which one - another surprise from these make-do pies *grins*  Might pop the oven on and get into the spare room while it heats up ~ or I might get out the money box (with built in counter) to start adding the loose change into one place. Or I'll actually get around to doing the October Budget in a Box - our visually basic budget system.

Bit later...

So the Budget in a Box papers are printed, last months together - let the writing out begin.  Still waiting for MudGuts - he decided he'd wait to eat lunch before leaving, requiring a 2-hour wait. *grrr* What do you do? It is now over 6hrs past his advised arrival time - still no word and now not answering his phone. Rude child. *sighs*  Never mind - the spare room sort is in full swing. We've made huge in-roads into the spare room - more rearranging for the garage before we can move several boxes out.  The contents are sorted, folded, listed and labelled - too good. *grins*  Husband has really got into the hard yakka and I put every sleeping bag into its carry bag or a pillow case. 

There is sour cream - I still feel like carbonara.  Guess that's dinner.  The lamb shanks will come out of the freezer now for dinner tomorrow. If you having roast, or a meat - pop it into the fridge now, take it out to see how far it has to go and the days' forecast before decided if and how to speed up the process. I usually wait until about 2pm, then bag it up to pop in hot water. 

With the budget written out for a second month - it is blindingly clear we can save $200 a month on the disability and carers' pensions as needed, if there was none of the scary debt mentioned in Mands On A Mission to also pay. Today I tried to determine which shoots were what type of lettuce, basil or weed in one of the pots. Didn't dare to pull any out just yet - but I have my suspicions the weeds are currently up in greater abundance. If it is wheat grass, perhaps I could pull enough out, 1-by-1, each day to add benefit to my green smoothies!

Still doing the drinks although more fruit based than going the avocado smoothie.  Guacamole and face-packs will be sufficient for the moment. I do use celery, mixed lettuce, baby spinach and will be making a tomato, capsicum, onion type savoury chilled soup with fresh herbs. The main goal is to get good healthy food in my mouth - regularly and repeatedly. Actually, I wouldn't mind some nuts, fruit and cheese to fill this 'hole'.  Possibly a wee snooze, but I am considering going through until 10pm-11pm and sleeping until 9am-10am tomorrow. *serious* As always, pushed it - adrenalin kicked in when the Mission was launched - so many ideas, thoughts and fears jumped up and went 'bleerrgghhh' at me.

There is a problem - all the chatter about the food, the snack, made me feel as though I had got up and got myself something to snack on and in trying to remember what it was, I realised I hadn't.  I have a headache now and might just walk away this time and get some nibbles. Did get the money box earlier and it's another photograph in the taking. *groans* I did mention my headache.

A half-hearted attempt was just made to catch one of the Isa/Reds and give her left flight feathers a clip.  Usually this chook wanders in via any open door or window left ajar - she comes right up beside you and is reasonably easy to get a hold. Not today me-dears. I think she knew something suss was up, keeping a few steps back and ready to turn heel on a dime. But like a chicken does. *grins*  Hindsight says that's lucky because it would be better to take photos and even easier at night to pick them up if they are roosting. You can even put them back in the spot you took them from if one felt so inclined. 

Nothing more shall be happening today, tonight ~ it's all over until tomorrow. I would have liked to get more photos up of some of the Mission's achievements however it looks so clutter heavy at the moment. It would be good to also have a few showing today's mighty effort. Well done team - a great family effort.

Now tomorrow...

*chuckles*

Time waits for no one

Another glorious sunset viewed at the back fence 

Time flies...

Things seem to be going so fast and suddenly it is the end of the first school week back from holiday, daylight savings has begun along joined by warmer Spring-appropriate weather. From being eight months to Powderfinger's concert - it is now 8 days away.  Setting up to be a very fun weekend, but the house is still a shambles.  Boy am I glad we have the accommodation available!  Here and elsewhere because there's no room left at this inn!!

The weekend has a few key required actions - and which bits will depend on the weather.  Regardless, there is a school wash to do, a spare room to sort and pack down, a few emails to send (sorry - three friends/family waiting for me to send messages and jokes - you will have by COB - promise) plus MandsMission goes out there on its own blog so Husband and I can work on it together and have the house de-cluttering (happening), record the progress (embarrassing), see the improvement (*grins*), remove the clutter by eBay (under-way), garage sale (end Nov), budget smart (on paper), shop smarter (already trying), pay extra on the overdue stuff, get debt paid down (help - greatly appreciated, welcomed, accepted!)

Once the links are on the RSS and NetWorked Blog feed, you'll see the link in the side menu.  All will be there - tell your friends if you think they'll understand it, you can even send enemies if you think it will help us.  Not fussy really!  Have I piqued your interest...?

SmallBoy's 'passion project' is finished and at school for presentation.  Not bad and he even made some intelligent learning experiences out of it.  One is regarding backups and the other is to finish one section before the next so it is not a race to get the last bit on everything to have even one component fully completed without the panic!  Too funny.  Bit like Husband on the time management and motivation - once in there is was great guns, just took a while to get 'there'.

The presentation went well and SmallBoy was able to explain how he was still able to complete his assignment, even when six weeks of the work done on the computer was lost.  Using the saved information and making models of the rooms he had designed on the interior, having part of the walk-through but not the original floor plans, he could still explain the planning and designing of a dream home.  I thought the models were much better for use in the talk.  MrC seemed impressed and has asked for the models to be used for display.  Good going SmallBoy.

Bit of necessary money movement and spending today.   We needed wood for the heater, wood man is away, so 1mt from the sand/soil place $110; paid the mortgage $1080; paid bills $abit; got petrol and oil $55; 30c in the parking meter so we could attend an appointment about $1718 of the debt repayments, because we are struggling with those repayments now the income is benefits only. *gulp* 

Plus I expanded some of the rules or boundaries in place for the no-spending regime - we had hoped we could set up a little before the start of 2011 and run this for a year.  We are starting now, with what we have got and add to it has some of the savings grow.  If that happens - or from eBay.  Yes - I will add more items and work out how to put the link here. It might even appear somewhere as the post meanders on...

All things No-Spend

In an earlier post, Riding a Wave, there is a bit of background into the No Spend 2011.  It's about necessary spending, reducing some of the outgoings, using what is at hand more efficiently and effectively. Our year of no-spending will not include, or allow in the budget at all or will be changed to home-made, freecycle or op shop the following: 

• Magazines - will save about $20pm 
• Take-away - could save $120pm 
• Cafe Coffee - *sobs* 
• Using the dryer - no problem 
• Cleaners - save $10pm and the environment with home made 
• NO - cds, dvds, movie rentals, books, computer add-ons, iPhone add-ons, add-ons.. 
• NO - bought biscuits, yoghurt, custard, full-price meat, full-price dairy 
• No haircuts - do them myself already :D 
• No new clothes - sort this bomb-site, wardrobes first. Consider op-shop for 'special' events 
• Presents - make them 
• Wrapping paper - make it, use what's here

There will be needs like school uniform (shoes); garden items, veg while the garden is not producing, but the aim is to pay lower or nothing for some needs - trade or barter where possible, make it ourselves with what we have at hand. We have eggs - boy do we have eggs! Actually, must look up in the blackberries again - only 3 eggs today, 4 yesterday - I calculate 6-7 eggs are 'somewhere'.

Ideally we start this on New Years Day, making the most of these next three months to work within the current budget, trim the phone costs further, less power with more daylight hours, reducing and minimising the 'stuff' in the house for sale to build up a buffer so (say) the fortnightly shop is stretched for a week with a $21 challenge and the next shop has an extra $100 to buy 10kg of rice, not 2-5kg, buy 30 tins of cat food when next on special, go fresh market shopping, stockpile tinned tomato, have a side of meat cut and freeze in bulk.  However, I think we are about to lose our lead time and hit the floor running this week - or walking, taking the bus, riding bikes (hahaha - maybe not).

Been finding lots of 'things' in the cupboards - so putting excess (new) Tupperware, clothes, shoes, kitchen stuff on eBay. Only one item up so far - its a work in progress *grins*  I am still deciding whether to ask for .99c plus postage or $8 and free postage for some items. If I want $10, I can list like that - but it is for some of the smaller items, dinky stuff.  And I cant see if that little picture for the listing on eBays search result pages costs extra...

Not Great - SO Not Great

Car has carked it - totally died.  Not moving, but thankfully only up the road not halfway between here and Melbourne or something.  Thus the Mission has begun.  Very nervous, still not all set but if we were to wait for all of this to be 'ready' to begin - it will never happen.  So find out more about Mands On A Mission - and know it is not just my mission, also my dear Husband's with the support and agreement from SmallBoy.  If nothing else, we will have ourselves. Feel free to spread the word - hopefully an interesting, funny and learning experience that enables the reduction of our debt and savings on our piddling little income...

And obviously saving for a new (second hand) reliable working car will be one of the first things we are saving for - not some posh new model wheels, although I do like the Kia Cerato! *grins*  Seriously, we'll probably be looking around the $3000 mark - or depends what the tax refund is, which it should be as we overestimated the amounts for this year, and last year. Appointment being booked next week to get this in order.

For the next three weeks, the plan is all about order.  The Mission has its goals, commitment, follow-up and reporting requirements.  The de-cluttering and selling on eBay will be a concurrent sort, sell need and only a few items a day.  I'll try out a few different ways people offer things for sale to get into the swing.  I've assigned $50 over to eBay for fees and stuff until eBay sales replace this and then the cash goes into the Bank. 

By next week, it would be great to see the spare room, kitchen-dining and our room in order. SmallBoy can make in-roads on his - although this weekend is chill-out following the enormous effort put into his school 'passion' project. I'd like that kitchen he designed!

Must get some emails sent.

Done - and look at the time!  Thank goodness for Saturday.  Husband has fallen asleep, in front of the television while watching the Commonwealth Games.  He and SmallBoy watched a movie, then SmallBoy finished reading Angels and Demons.  I know he is ten, but he does read well and take the information in. Harry Potter was finished in Grade 3, the Eragon and Shararah series have all been read - he enjoyed the DaVinci Code as well. He wants to see the movie but I am not sure yet.  Interpreting a book yourself is one thing - watching another's interpretation with creative license and advanced imagery is another.

But I have no idea what to get him reading next as he is not a 'twilight' fan, speeds through books that don't have substance - not saying twilight doesn't as I've really not followed it myself either by book or movie.  Not sure - I see it as an advance on Buffy only more 'growned up' and presented as the wished ideal of an older young adult ilk.  I would probably really enjoy Twilight, I am so glad I do not have teenage daughters!

Must plan the weeks' meals - get those goals around the house achieved. More items for eBay - mandsmission - see if you want anything or can offer some helpful tips on how you sell successfully. Read about our Mission - with the no spending, bill paying, saving methods we undertake each day. 

I still plan to write verses - one day some famous singer, producer, musically inclined notable may stumble across my works and, just like a model being 'discovered' at her check-out job, there will be songs recorded, music composed professionally and royalties paid.  Happy to throw that one out to the powers that be and take the dream of hearing the words in song in search of fruition!

Time for sleeping - might load another few things on eBay. 

~ People Can Fly ~

Have you ever be so positive you could fly

Or made a wish, seen it so moments later

Taken a chance and found you didn't die

Intervened, without incident, dangers gone

Let go your breath 

Reach out and pray

If its the worst of the worst

You're climbing up today

Can you communicate and make it heard

Sometimes what is said is meant other ways

Political correctness, fear of being interred

Creates such vagueness, worse is assumption

Thinking before we speak

Avoid hitting a raw nerve

No more with open friendships

Hold secrets in reserve

Taking a risk, its not looking before you leap

Accept there's a chance it might not go well

Seeking the positive in everyone you meet

Opens opportunity with every moment

Life's just too short

To set your aims to high

Plan successes, not failures

Challenging you to fly

With the ebbs and flows...

Designed to help make eBay easy ~ easier to note inoperable on Chrome

Appointment postponed.

But that's not too greater an issue, just need to transfer from the overdue bill account for the mortgage and pay it back when all sorted.  A meeting with the accountant is also in order.  And calling to haggle a hold on the credit card or something. But first I really must start a load of washing and get this eBay account set up!

Washing down ~ mowing almost done and guess what ~ ~ rain clouds coming. Big black fat clouds and a huge gusty wind with it.  eBay account is slowly coming along - how to add pictures... Looks like Chrome does not 'play well' with eBay - lets get a FireFox window up...

Yes - spent some money - more than I'd hoped but the lawns look very nice and after a whip around the edges wiht the snipper it will look tops.  Friends coming up next weekend and with the amount of rain had and forecast, it had to be mowed - looks good, but cost $90 for half a day.  Its the slasher shown yesterday.  

So many things done, we've moved into the witching hour and barely updated a thing.  Wonder what tomorrow's horoscopes are predicting ~ ideally that it is time to unleash the Mission madness to the world at large. I did get the first (and currently only) item up on eBay. 

The user name is mandsmission and I think that's how you find the items - too late and brain strained to find a link widget thing tonight.  Now - horoscope

At the same time that Venus is slowing down and Mars continues to move ahead, with your Mars return giving you a lot more confidence and a real need to start making things happen, you have a very strong and astute sense of personal conviction. With the Sun, Mercury and Saturn already in an intuitive and internally focused part of your chart, the Moon moves in ahead of tomorrow’s New Moon, sharpening your intuition even further.

Taking that on board as being positive and as guidance to believe in myself, our Mission and to stay on this path.  It's going to be rather confronting and this is all building a better, stronger, self-assured and happier me.  One thousand items could equate to $10,000 - or $1000, but ideally somewhere in between steering higher rather than lower. *grins*  There is more than 1000 things to move on - more like 1000 items each!  

Putting a call out for some love and healing for my ma ~ she's had a wee bingle in her car, no fault with the other driver accepting full liability.  I think she might be a bit of a sore ma at the moment - little brokened and most probably bruising.  If those with Angels and abilities could splash a little care her way I would be most appreciative. *blessings*

Alright - this one is too haphazard.  A pic of me setting up the eBay account.  More items will go on tomorrow, well today just after sleep and probably after dinner.  

Things to do, people to talk to, Missions to accomplish *chuckles*  I catch up when my brain is awake.

Night y'all... *yawns*