Weekend in the capital, south bank moochings, a pukey oblivion and an sprinting four year old....

It was free ticket time again .. Biggles gets a number of free train tickets being a frequent rail traveller.
Weeny and I trotted off to the big smoke.

We spend Friday just mooching around Clapham  and munching happy meals. They are a treat for £2.49.  Yes more expensive in the capital! She scored for a really funky 2nd hand black sun dress with colourful embroidery which she refused to take off once she tried it on and a bracelet.

Saturday we took a stroll form Waterloo down the river along the South bank to the Tate Gallery.  There is a kiddies interactive bit and some drawing stuff to do as well as piles of bricks to look at.  I am a philistine when it comes to mondern art. Lots of the exhibitions looked like poo. Her words not mine lol.  The Kandinsky, Dali and Picasso's were cool. We didn't pay for the Munch or Hirst exhibitions. At £15 each I thought not!!! All free other than the obligatory ice cream and the carousel ride. Fantastic old fashioned horse carousel and she is big enough to ride her own horse now which she loved!

There is a rainbow sand play space and skateboarders to watch as well as other arty things going on and a big wooden climbing play frame near the London Eye.  We saw the Shard. You can't miss it.

Sunday we ate late again ( Eggy bread) then mooched around Wandsworth common and fed ducks. There are two play parks which keep Madam busy. Oh and I mad the mistake of sitting on the mini roundabout to be spun into a pukey oblivion while shouting ''Biggles you arse!'' A few looks from the nappy valley brigade.. Whoops. I had to lay down after that.  Sometimes he is just not funny!

On the way to the train we said goodbye to Biggles ...which she doesn't like. Its not too bad when we say farewell at home as we often go to the park immediately afterwards or have things to look forward to straightaway. She was upset. I carried her away giving cuddles then had to put my heaving  four year old down. She is heavy, She promptly done an about turn and shot off back to where Biggles was waving. Crying lots. Proper tears.  Ouch. Am sure Mr Officer had glassy eyes as well.  You can't come to the train to say farewell at Kings Cross as its all ticketed access now.

We managed to get on the  train and sat in the carriage where we had had reserved seats which turned out to have a problem with its heating. It would not turn off. A sweat box on tracks and was intolerable. We are the last stop before Edinburgh. It was a long journey till we moved to first class at the train guards suggestion.  Free Wi fi-  Yeah!!

Back to the grind and no further forward with decisions.

Biggles not keen on his name anymore. He occasionally drops by apparently.  ( Obligatory Rimmer salute given ala Red Dwarf!)  Hence will now take suggestions for an alternative! Answers in the comments box below!


XX

Duke of Bloody Edinburgh!

The award that it not the old chap!

This it the bit that is pulling me in.

We are startng as a directly licenced cetre offereing D of E and I am manager for my sins. IE at the heart of setting this up.

I want to as its fun and I like D of E ... if it wasn't for D of E then I woudl be off like a bat out of hell.

Its good for the college and good for the yoof I work with and I like da yoof!

Hmmm ahhh bugger maybe I need to defer!

Should I stay or should I go...... this indecisions bugging me...

Reasons to go!

Opportuity for a new career!
Moving to a cheaper area  for rent, house prices - though am not in a position to purchase at all!
Good time for Weeny to change schools
Takes three years to train  needs to be done sooner rather than later
Better prospects
To be employed is to be at risk to be employable is to be secure


Reasons to stay!

Money - I can save money here and pay my bills
No risks - roof over my head - life is ok
Job is ok -
Paying a pension
Will be working part time
Some suppport locally from friends in the area and further afield though no one particularly close or family


To buy a house in this area I will need to save 10k at least.

I could save this money for weeny for the future. Chuck it in an ISA or something

In three years assuming that I get a job straight away I will be on the same salary as I am now.

Its a risk and hard work.............. indecision indecision......

Of Monies.....

I am saving the change. The bank suggested it. You save pennies. Basically you set up a save the change account and they round up to the nearest £1 when you spend on your card and then transfer it to a savings account. Since starting the account I am on the grand total of £24! Every little helps like I said.

I am also  saving my survey vouchers for Weeny's christmas. Thats what save the change is for as well.  Easily have over £50 by September if not more and thats a start.

I need to Ebay some clothes and maybe fit in a car boot.  Some toys can be removed now - Albeit surreptitiously..... ;-)

I am down one credit card. Yeah!!!
Two to go - they are both non interest types and have not a great deal on them. > 350. 

Biggles is very understanding. He is happy with his miniscule amount. Which will increase when others are gone. I have a finite amount of time to pay before interest kicks in. Not from Biggles but the CC companies.

I am saving as well for potential moving fees. Doing ok on this point.

I have started buying weeny's school uniform for next year and new underwear.  5-6!!!!! Eeek!!
I try to spread the cost of her clothes. I also purchased wellies £5 one size too big as wellies need socks.

She also got a treat of pink baseball boots. Asda types. She is chuffed. Her trainers are getting tight.

School shoes I shall purchase from Ebay after having her feet measured by Clarks.

I have barely been in a chazza shop and do not do the rounds anymore due to the saving thang so no bargains so far on the kiddy clothes front.

I need to get the timing belt changed on the car, a new wheel trim ( grrrr bugger) and pay for tax. ( !!!!)

The big shop is done. I have withdrawn money to last till the end of the month.


We need haircuts. My hair gets lank and greasy and having fine hair but lots of it I end up getting elf ear! Weeny too. They can wait however.

Hmm I am still debating whether or not I take a chance/risk of retraining for three years or start saving.... I can save more while working and paying a pension however it is not much and I have no hope in hell of buyng a house in these ere parts ever again.  I would need 10k minimum and then paying the mortgage repayments would be impossible. Decisions decisions.....

Other stuffs!

I hope to arrange some school viewing soon. I will be in Durham on 16th July with Weeny.

We were stranded at the weekend due to some skanky bastard in London knocking over Biggles bike and doing shit loads of damage to it.  It was stationary at the time and parked. They shot off.  It will cost buckets to fix. At least a couple of grand. Also meant Biggles spend all day Friday trying to sort it out and then have it transported back to Northumberland. He left London at 3pm and arrived home 4am Saturday morning. Armed forces day he spent sleeping on the sofa then in bed. Woke up for food then back to bed again.

A pox on the person in a silver mini ( there was a witness but no reg taken) who knocked the bike over.

Thi swas his Afghanistan money - he earn't it and also for turning 40. its his prode and joy and the first new bike he has ever owned. A real treat to himself. I think working for 24hours straight at times doing a more stressful job that we can ever imagine.

Arseholes. They must have whacked it - brakes knwackerd lots of cosmetic and some other tec damage. Sorry to be a gender traitor but a twee silver mini..... hmmmm stinks of female pants driver to me who can't reverse or judge distances.

Pay day tomorrow...

And so we make it to another pay day. Shopping.

Weeny and I have eaten very cheaply since our mini roast  on Sunday.

Eggy Bread!!!
Ham Ggg and chips with left over salad bits for me Chicken and chips with salad bits for weeny
Pizza and Crudites - cucumber and carrot to dip in mayo!!

I always make sure Weeny has at least a piece of fruit before she indulges in simple puddings - choc biscuits or ice cream with sauce.


Thursday and  I need to fill up on some basics as well as weekend food. Should come in under £30.
Thursday will be something quick and easy adn prob yellow stickered!

Friday - Spicy sausage and bean casserole with baked spuds.
Saturday - my curry with veg. using makway curry paste tastes just like chinese takeaway curry.
Sunday - Chicken and bacon parcels with mash and veg


Weeny is away this weekend. Sniff. We don't liek it but we need to put up with it.

Biggles and I will attempt to get to Durham again.

I met some lovely podiatrists on Monday. I am really enjoying my job but I know it goes no where. I am worried though... of hte unknown and failure!

I may feel better once I have seen houses and schools.


I shall keep an open mind. I have a telephone appointment with the Welfare officer on Tuesday of next week.


The local podiatrist was very positive. As was the newly qualified podiatrist that was with her. Also positive about work prospects if you are willing to move for jobs and other opportunities.

I shall keep in touch and ask for a placement there I think. its a long way from Durham but useful fo rthe future I think. Alot of travelling but who knows....I can alwasy get a child minder for a short period or even take Weeny out of school. Some home ed stuff from a chum may not hurt.

Real Food Works!!!

Local enterpise trying to get folk to eat healthily specialising in quick easy cheap nutritious microwave recipes.

Some of them are bloody lovely! Using cheap ingredients usually no more than 6 ingredients, simple instructions and take no longer than `15 mins. Quite ingenious some of them!

The enterprise will do demos locally as long as they have access to an electricity source and hot water!

Starters, soups, mains loads of stuff!!!

http://www.realfoodworks.co.uk/recipes.html

All plans cancelled due to virus. nothing to report bar sore throat and general aches and ferling rubbish. Also the house I wanted to look at was taken so will venture to deepest darkest Durham another time. I have to take documents to the college on person so will kill two birds.