The Money Diaries // Pt. 2

I did one of these diaries about a year ago. My financial situation hasn't really improved since and I wanted to see again if there is anything I can cut back on (the extra glass of wine.... Sainsbury's Local...... UBER/Addison Lee).

My living situation is the same. I live in the same house share in London and my monthly outgoings in terms of bills are the same. Our landlady raised the rent by £200 (£50 each last April) and I cancelled by gym membership to cover it. I prefer running outside anyway and joined GoodGym as an alternative which combines running with good deeds and volunteering in the local area.

RENT: £591.50
COUNCIL TAX: £40.00
GAS AND ELECTRIC: £41.75
WATER: £10.45
PHONE INSURANCE: £8.49
MOBILE PHONE: £41.00
CONTACT LENS: £18.00
NETFLIX: £7.49
APPLE MUSIC: £9.99
SKY: £12.87
CLEANER: £26.00
GOODGYM: £9.95
ZONE 1-3 TRAVEL CARD: £148.70

TOTAL: £966.19

Monday 04th September
I had a bit of a hangover yesterday so lazed around a lot all day and then went for a run much later than usual. Instead of making a dinner that would also double up as today's lunch, I shoved a pizza in the oven. Ran to Sainsbury's local before work and picked up one of their My Goodness Butternut Squash Risotto ready meals for my lunch, also was a bit naughty and got a pack of Foxes Chunky Cookies as they were on offer for £1. For breakfast I make a tea and toast from stuff I already have at the office. My colleagues also have brought back a nice range of sweets from a business trip to Japan! Going to be an indulgent day!

Stay a bit later at work as it's been a busy day. End up finishing around 6:15pm. When I get home, there is no else in so I make the most of having the house to myself cooking a bacon and potato hash and watching Hollyoaks (guilty pleasure right there)!! All the ingredients are from a shop I did on Sunday for a hangover busting fry up.
Whilst mindlessly watching TV, I buy a Groupon for a Brazilian wax - £9

TOTAL: £12.20


Tuesday 05th September
Wake up feeling ridiculously tired and want to go back to sleep immediately. Head into work again on the tube. Tea and toast again at my desk for my breakfast. I made enough of the potato and bacon hash to bring for lunch today. I still head to Sainsbury's at lunch and buy a multipack of Walkers Max Paprika flavour crisps, a bag of Cadbury's Caramel Nibbles and a cinnamon and raisin bagel for £2.40.

Spend the afternoon doing work but also catching up the Hetty Douglas Twitter backlash and the Tinder date stuck in a window retrieving a poo story!

Head out that night for a cinema date with the guy I'm seeing. We have dinner at a chain Italian. We had starters, a main and a beer each. It wasn't great at all, very flavourless and a little bit like a microwave meal. We split the bill. My share is £26.27. We watch Logan Lucky which I definitely recommend and it's not only for the perv-fest on Channing Tatum and Adam Driver (although that is a plus)! He pays for cinema and snacks.

TOTAL: £28.67

Wednesday 06th September
I always sleep badly if I'm in anywhere but my own bed. Still, I get up at 6:20am... debate getting the bus back but decide that if I get my run out of the way this morning, I'll be able to be lazy this evening and that is more appealing! Run 5km home and it surprisingly makes me feel more awake. I had planned on getting a coffee from Pret before work to ensure my eyes stay open past 11am but a few bad connections on my commute mean I don't have time. I have coffee in my desk drawer at work though and have that with the bagel which I bought the day before.

Lunch was again the bacon and potato hash and snacks from desk/office that I have bought over the past two days.

I finally finish work at 6:15pm. I'm so tired from not having slept well the night before and head straight home. I catch up a little bit with one of my housemates, then make a tomato and mozzarella pasta salad for dinner (and Thursday's lunch) and pretty much head to bed and binge on some Top of The Lake and Gilmore Girls on Netflix.

TOTAL: £00.00

Thursday 07th September
Late for work because I get on a wrong train at Monument Station! In my defence it said Barking on the side and the announcement on the tube was that it was an east bound district line to Barking. However, it terminated at Tower Hill and turned back into a westbound train. Cool story bro ha!! Make toast and a drink at work for my breakfast. We still have some many Japanese snacks left so help myself to a few of those. I feel constantly hungry at the moment with the amount of mileage I am running.

After my lunch, I'm craving a chocolate fix so pop into Sainsbury's and pick up a Double Decker. I also grab a bottle of water and two 10p bags of Haribo Tangfastics for the run home. I finish work a little earlier at 3pm and run 12km home. I manage a time of 01:11:30 which I'm pretty pleased with as that also includes time spent waiting at traffic lights and slowing down to battle all the people of south London doing the school run. I have a quick shower and head back into central London to meet my friend. We share a bottle of wine and a cheese/charcuterie board and have a great time catching up and vow not to leave it as long making plans for one of our school night outs after my marathon is done. We split the bill each paying £30.01 (annoyingly 1p over the contactless limit)! We walk back to London Bridge for the train home.

TOTAL: £31.16

Friday 08th September
So so happy it's Friday today! The weather is miserable and I wear completely the wrong shoes (backless loafers do not offer much protection from the rain). Pop into Pret before work and get a heavenly coconut latte which is my favourite caffeine hit of the moment - £2.75.

As I was out for dinner last night, I didn't prepare any lunch for today, so head to Sainsbury's and our local to work branch has a hot food counter. The weather and slight grogginess from last nights wine is making crave comfort food. I get a Macaroni Cheese with broccoli and cauliflower. Wonder if I've eaten too much pasta this week but I have my BIG training run tomorrow of 32km so I use that to justify it. Also get a Dairy Milk Caramel. Beginning to see I have a bit of refined sugar addiction. - £4.40

I head to Tescos after work as I need to stock up on food and a few household bits and toiletries such as toilet roll and face wash. I need some energy gels for my run the following day and they're on offer in Tesco at 3 for 2. Total amount comes to £33.06

TOTAL: £40.20

Saturday 09th September
I have breakfast of porridge, banana and a coffee to prepare for my run. I really don't want to go out and do it and put it off for as long as possible before practically pushing myself out of the door. Running feels a bit harder than usual and I get stitch easily but power through. Almost cry at around 18/19 km in the middle of Battersea Park when Proud by Heather Small comes on my motivational playlist (loser!). I stop off at a corner shop in Balham and grab a Lucozade sport for £1. At 30km, it starts to rain and my legs are in pieces. I want to cry but Bruce Springsteen gets me through. Finally make it home, 32km and 3:23:52 hrs later.

Spend the rest of the evening, being lazy, eating all the carbs and watching trashy TV.

TOTAL: £1.00

Sunday 10th September
Still achey and tired from run on Saturday. I decide to take it easy and have a lie in and a general potter around day. I head to Sainsbury's Local and grab some bits for brunch, and make a homemade Sausage and Egg McMuffin. After that I pull out the slow cooker and put a chilli in there for my dinner and a few lunches for the week ahead. Do some chores and watch more crap TV. Perfect lazy Sunday.

TOTAL: £2.45


TOTAL AMOUNT FOR THE WEEK: £115.68

The Friday Five // 001

1. Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

I'd seen a few reviews of this book online and it was swiftly added to my Amazon Wishlist. However, it was a complete impulse purchase on a visit to the Shakespeare and Company bookshop in Paris two weeks ago along with Reni Eddo Lodge's Why I'm No Longer Talking To White People About Race (also added to my wish list after she was a guest on the brilliant The High Low podcast).
Eleanor Oliphant works in accounts for a design company. She's a bit of a loner and slight social misfit. Aware but seemingly unaffected by her colleagues sometimes cruel speculation of her life. She has her routine perfected, work all week, supermarket meal deal and the Telegraph crossword for lunch, pasta and pesto for dinner (except for Fridays which is a frozen pizza), two bottles of vodka to get through the weekend before Monday rolls around and the cycle starts over again. That is, until a chance encounter with a new work colleague breaks the monotony and what follows is a heart warming, slightly tragic story of kindness, human nature and loneliness. I dare anyone not to get a bit teary at the part Eleanor has her hair done at the salon and informs her hairdresser "You made me shiny!". Before starting this I was in a bit of reading rut but Eleanor and her story have made me fall in love with good storytelling again. Definitely my favourite book of the year so far!
I would also recommend a visit to The Shakespeare and Company too.... I could have come away with way more than two books if my luggage/bank balance had allowed! For EUR2.00 they also have small envelopes on the till with famous poems written out on a typewriter which make great souvenirs and will look great framed on a picture wall.

2. Love Island

I want to hate it..... I tried to hate it..... It was just too powerful for me to resist. The Internet is alive with gossip, memes, tweets, think-pieces... It's just impossible to avoid this absolute bonkfest. When discussing with my housemate last night about potential winning couples, she reminded me that we still have FOUR WEEKS left. Still too early to call my favourites but (and this might be a slightly controversial opinion), I cannot get on board with Camilla. She's a bit too whiny and I just need her to get out there and grow a pair so to speak.


3. Lidl Sunflowers

Lidl is the BEST for fresh flowers at budget prices (they have some prettttttyyy decent wines too) and I couldn't resist these sunflowers for £3 to brighten up our living room. Bargain.

4. Decluttering

I have lived in my house for five years now and the sheer amount of belongings I have is getting out of control. I guess it doesn't help being in a houseshare situation whereby I keep more in bedroom than I normally would. I'll never be minimalist but some kind of intervention was needed, maybe not as severe as Marie Kondo-ing but do I really need Boyzone programmes from a concert in 2010? And those collections of fancy dress tat?? I've started sending books and DVDs off to Ziffit, making piles for eBay and the charity shop, and I spent last Sunday building a new TV stand (FYI - an electric screwdriver is a game-changer). It's going to be an on going project that will take a good few months to get where I want but it will definitely be worth it.



5. GoodGym
I signed up to GoodGym back in February but have only managed to make 7 of the weekly group runs since then. I'm trying to get a bit better/regular but life gets in the way sometimes especially when we actually get some good weather here in the UK. I signed up for this weeks mission which was a 12km round run from the Brixton base to Streatham Common and back. Whilst on Streatham Common, we helped out in The Rookery Gardens with some weeding. The garden has had all it's funding cut and relies solely on volunteers to keep it in shape. It's also a protected site so they are not permitted to use any chemicals on the weeds so it has to be done manually which is where our green fingers came in. Despite living in Streatham for over five years now, I definitely don't take advantage of this common as much as I should. The Rookery is a gorgeous little garden and retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the busy city. They often host different events too - last weekend was a music festival Rookfest and this coming weekend, it's Shakespeare in the Rookery. The common itself and the neighbouring Norwood Grove offer some great views over London too.

Running Update

I've been feeling pretty uninspired with running lately. One of my intentions for this year was to run a half marathon in under two hours but for a while I've been feeling like that's not going to happen, at least not in an official race. I'm currently signed up to the Hackney Half on the 30th April, which is 05 weeks away. Still plenty of time to log some good runs, but previously I've been able to feel myself improving, getting faster, feeling fitter and it's just not happening this time around.

I don't think I'm helping myself much. I've missed runs due to being severely hungover, probably not eating as well as I should be or fuelling myself properly for runs, as well as having a few glasses of wine the nights before doing my long runs and wondering why I'm struggling and having to stop and walk. It's not going to get much better throughout April either with a hen do, wedding, Dad's 60th and a friend's birthday looming on the calendar...

One thing I have started doing is attending a weekly running group with Goodgym, which combines a short group run with helping out a local community project. This week it was clearing some rubbish for Bandstand Beds, a community food growing space. They have recently acquired some more land for the project on Clapham Common and we helped to move wooden crates, twigs and old clothes in order for the council to come and collect. This was followed by some fitness work before running back to base at Brixton. Doing the fitness work, planks, burpees, squats etc... has made me realise that I do need to focus on some kind of cross training. I am currently running three times a week with no other exercises included in my plan. I need improve my strength and all round fitness. As well as the group runs, Goodgym also offer training sessions incorporating drills and strength and conditioning exercises so I think it would be really beneficial for me to start attending a few of those too.

This morning I went out for an 8km "build up" run which I ran a lot easier and faster than I thought I would in 43:59, the first time I've managed to get 8km in under 45 mins in this training cycle, so I guess things are looking up a little bit. I'm going to attempt a longer run this weekend, aiming for 16km and see how that goes. Wish me luck.

I think I also need to remember that my main focus this year is actually running a full marathon and any other races that I do in the lead up to that are just added extras. Furthermore, if i run 13.1 miles in under 2 hours even if it's not part of an official race, it is still an achievement. It is just nicer to do it and get a medal for it ;)

Here's to 2017

So, it's a new year. Whooo... Gone is 2016, famed for being the annus horribilis for many people I know and for the world in general. On a personal level, there's been a few lows but equally as many highs too. I'm proud of running two half marathons, a hobby which is definitely following me into 2017, getting to know the new addition to our family, my nephew Oscar and being a bridesmaid for and watching my little sister marry the love of her life and childhood sweetheart.

You can make changes at any time of course, but there's something about the start of a new year, after the over indulgence and exuberance of Christmas and the general festive period, that makes it a good time to take stock of your life and realise what you want to achieve over the coming 12 months and beyond.

Rather than resolutions, I've set intentions for the year. It doesn't matter if I don't reach all of them, as long as I've made some progress and continue to work on them into the next years. After all, small progress is still progress right??

Anyway, here's my 2017 intentions...

1. Run a marathon and complete it, run a half under 2hrs and a 10km under 50mins.
I've already signed up to the Yorkshire Plus Net Marathon on the 08th October so I guess I've already committed to that one. I'll hopefully be able to succeed and achieve some half and 10km personal bests as part of my marathon training.

2. Start driving lessons and pass theory test
I've never been that bothered about driving or owning a car, with living in a city like London, you just don't need it. However, as I think about getting older and possibly relocating away from the city to be able to settle down and buy a house, you can't deny that being able to drive would open a lot more possibilities. I feel like this is one thing, I need to stop putting off and just stomach the time and costs and get on with it. Wish me luck, crossing a road terrifies me, never mind getting behind a wheel!!

3. Be more of a morning person
Every work day I press snooze on my alarm for as long as possible, then rush around using every single last second until I'm out of the door, rushing again to the tube station, getting stressed and frustrated at every time the tube stops unexpectedly, making it to my desk by the skin of my teeth. It sets the day off to a bad start. I want to be able to take my time a little bit more, make sure I look and feel calm and well put together when I arrive at my desk.

4. Learn to cook more dishes, plan meals better and food shop better to save money
I'm not a terrible cook but I fall back on the same tried and tested meals (sausage pasta) again and again. I want to learn a few more dishes and get better at cooking things from scratch with fresh ingredients. I need to get into my head that spending more on a supermarket shop will benefit me in the longer run and stop me spending more in Sainbury's local on top ups and in Pret when I haven't made breakfast at home.

5. Save more and chip away more at the credit card
Pretty self explanatory.

6. Read 52 books
I have this intention every year. One book a week. I fail almost every time by one or two books. This year I'm determined. I just need to select books that I can't put down and partake in a little less mindless internet scrolling. Currrently reading: Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche

7. Look after my health a little bit better
Make sure I keep my regular appointments for eye tests, smear tests, dentist etc.... Get a better skin care routine and drink less alcohol!
I'm guilty of burying my head in the sand when it comes to the above but I need to realise I'm not getting any younger and looking after myself will help me both look and feel better.


8. If you want to do something, just do it, even if it's by yourself
Ten years ago, I left Hamburg after 6 months of working as a language assistant in a school. I haven't been back since. I was browsing the Easyjet January sale and found flights for £45 return. I just thought f*** it and booked them. I didn't wait to check if anyone else would be interested or before the politics of where to stay and what to do. I just wanted to go and be able to suit myself. It's gonna be a little bit strange eating by myself but hopefully I'll enjoy this and possibly take a few more solo trips this year.


Fingers crossed for me !

Why I Run and Previous Endevours Into Sport

This year I've managed to complete two half marathons, a 10km and a 5km race. Not too bad for someone who balked at the mere idea of exercise let alone running for 13.1 miles less than three years ago. Anyway, enough of the humble bragging and onto how and why my mind set changed.

At school I loved sport. I wasn't always the best or even that good, but I definitely enjoyed the camaraderie and sense of healthy competition. I loved rounders and will never forget the summer term of 1997 at primary school practising tactics in order to win our town's annual primary school competition. The disappointment of not being able to put them into practice and take home the glory when the competition was rained off has not left me.... (just kidding, although I had pretty mean throw as backstop to first base to get people out!). I also had a brief encounters as a midfielder for a girls football team and representing my school at a North Yorkshire Schools athletic competition.  The less said about that those the better.... Although A* for effort!

My only sporting success was making it onto the A team of the school netball team. I was goal shooter, I wasn't too bad. I was fairly tall (I've been about 5"6' since I was 11 - early growth spurt) and had spent the summer before going to secondary school pretending I was Julie from Hang Time throwing a penny football through a basket ball hoop nailed to our shed! Those were the days....
I loved that time though, it was a chance to blow off some steam, meet people from other schools, flirt with the boys from the football team and especially the boys in the year above on the sports coach on the way home and have a laugh with your mates. You also got a pass to go first into the dinner hall if you had lunch time practice - the best pick of the food and the fresh chips!

After I left school though, my sporty days were behind me. I had much more important things to worry about, boys and drinking and going out. The uni netball teams were quite Mean Girls-esque and not very me. I was always too worried/intimidated that I wouldn't be good enough. I flirted briefly with home work outs (I thought if I bought the Ministry of Sound Dance work out, I'd have a body like the Call On Me dancers) and a one off jog after I put on a stone during my first year of uni but nothing that was a routine. I joined the gym in my final year but went about three times, the last time I was severely hung-over and almost vommed on the treadmill. Idiot.

Three years ago, I joined my local Virgin Active and whilst I wasn't there three times every single week. I did use my gym membership and got relatively fit. I could run 5km without walking some of it. I lifted weights. I even did one Body Pump class. It was never with any real motivation or vigour though. And in February 2015 I cancelled it because £62 a month is a hefty chunk of money. I made myself all the promises of running in the park and free work outs but I was seeing someone and I used my aforementioned gym time to eat pub dinners and chocolate feasts in front of the TV and I put on half a stone.

After not seeing someone any more though and having endless evenings feeling miserable, unfit and fatter not helped by just sitting in front of the TV eating family sized tubs of Celebrations/Miniature Heroes/Quality Streets, I re-joined the gym and signed up to a half marathon. I haven't looked back since. And these are the reasons why. Why, although I don't always love doing laps round the park, or running home from work in order to fit a workout in, I love running as a whole and how it makes me feel.

1. It gives me an appreciation for my body that isn't based on how I look. I still have cellulite, my bum wobbles and isn't as peachy as it could be and I bloat out to almost pregnancy levels the minute I eat. But, when I run, I don't think of any of that. I think about how strong my legs are to carry my body around 13 miles and how hard my lungs and heart are working to stop me getting completely out of breath. I appreciate how strong and fit I am rather than of any perceived flaws I have.

2. Carb loading. - pre-race night and the nights before long training runs - you have an excuse to eat all the carbs! What more could you want??

3. It's a great for de-stressing. Whenever I feel like everything's getting a little bit on top of me, a run really helps me gain a bit of perspective and to clear my head. Despite the perception that running by yourself can make you go too far into your own head and dwell on any negativity, I find the complete opposite. I'm so focused on the physical side that I am able to switch off all those little niggling doubts and negative voices in my head. It helps me to think clearly and release any built up adrenalin from stresses elsewhere in my life. Also, the release of endorphins from physical exercise is a well known mood enhancer.

4. It makes me feel proud of myself. Sometimes, I'm not quite where I want to be in life. I don't always want be poor, single and living in a house-share. Running makes me feel like I've set myself a new goal and challenge that I can realistically achieve rather than constantly worrying about a house deposit that needs a lottery win. Improving, beating my personal bests and building up my distances gives me a real sense of personal achievement. I've also helped raise some money for very worthy causes too which is an extra bonus.

There you go! I just need to remember these reasons when I'm trying to motivate myself to get out of bed on a cold, rainy, weekend morning when all I want to do is stay in bed.

Right, off to find my next race!

Money, Money, Money



£5 well spent on some spectacularly tacky sunglasses!

These kind of posts are doing the rounds at the moment so I thought I'd do my own, mainly to track where my money goes (too many trips to Sainsbury's Local) and see where I can definitely cut back and try to put more into my savings/paying off my credit card.

This will be a weekly diary so starting from 05th September until 11th September. My rent, utility bills and direct debits come out of my account after the 1st of every month so some will feature. I have a handy little 'note' on my iPhone to tick off when each one has been withdrawn from my account. Not the most adult of ways of doing it, pretty sure I should have a detailed spread-sheet. However, as long as I'm not burying my head in the sand and praying to Jesus, Mary and Joseph when I hand my card over that it doesn't get declined, then it's OK right??

I live in London in a houseshare with three other girls. We each pay our own rent to the landlady and utilities are organised by ourselves. I have the water, Sky & Broadband and TV License in my name. We pay council tax directly to Lambeth Council and my housemate takes care of the cleaner and gas and electric. I don't have a car and have a monthly zone 1-3 travel card at £146.00 a month to get around.

Monday 05th September
I had the day booked off work. I've had a few busy weekends and needed an admin/cleaning day.
My housemate bought a new vacuum cleaner for the house at the weekend as ours had broken quite a long time ago. My share was £8.25 so I transferred her the money for that.
Brunch was scrambled eggs on toast from food I already had in the house.
Later, I went for a walk to the shops and did a grocery shop and picked up a few other bits.
I spent as follows;
£3.00 in Poundland on a pair of headphones that went straight in the bin - I wanted a temporary pair to last til I get some for my birthday at the end of the month, a Tupperware box for the soup I was planning to make, and a bag of mini Double Deckers.
£18 combined in Lidl and Iceland on food for the week. I got a load of salad stuff, fresh vegetables to make a soup, stocked up on tinned tomatoes and vegetables for adding to soups and stews, some sausages, fish, chicken and a few other bits to make up lunches and dinners for the week. I make up a batch of vegetable soup which does 04 portions and then two portions of couscous and feta salad one to eat for dinner and one to take for lunch the following day.
I also put £5 into the kitty for household cleaning products and miscellaneous items that we need.

Total: £34.25


Tuesday 06th September
Back to work... Journey is already paid for with my monthly travel card.
Breakfast was overnight oats with honey which I prepared with food I already had in the house. 
Lunch is couscous and feta salad, again, prepared from food I already had at home. I bought a lot of breakfasts and lunches last week and am keener to be a bit more mindful in terms of money and what I am eating this week (even though I've got a multipack of Double Deckers in my drawer).  
When I get home I go for a run and then have a portion of the soup I made the previous night with some bread followed by Ben & Jerry's which I had in the freezer whilst watching TV with one of my housemates.
The water direct debit came out of my account today. My share was £10.74.

Total: £10.74


Wednesday 07th September
I had overnight oats again for breakfast at my desk.
I brought my own lunch again which is another portion of the vegetable soup which I batch made on Monday. I was in a rush though so forgot to pack in some bread and a banana as an afternoon snack so I stop off at Sainsbury's on the way into work and pick up both for 50p. We also have lots of cake and snacks in the office at the moment so I pick at those throughout the day.
I'm training for the Royal Parks Half Marathon on the 9th October. My training plan is a 12km run today which is pretty much the distance from the office to home, so I fit it into my day by running home.... not a great time, not helped by the heat and getting poo-ed on by a bird (crying face emoji).
When I get home, I make a tomato and mozzarella pasta with food I already had in and also finish off the last of the Ben and Jerry's (I earned it haha) whilst watching Ex On The Beach.
​
Total: 50p


Thursday 08th September
I finish off the last of the yoghurt I have with overnight oats again for breakfast.
My direct debit of £18 for contact lenses has come out of my bank account. I have a scheme through Specsavers. I probably could find a cheaper deal but I like the ease of this being delivered to my door and all the eye care such as check-ups, eye tests and free pair of glasses is included too so it's not all bad. I did use to pay £15 a month but eyes used to get so irritated and dry that I upgraded.
I'm really bad for falling prey to promotional emails and as I quickly check my mail before leaving work, I end up buying a Kindle download for 99p.
I need to pick up a few bits so call at Tesco on my way home. I only needed toilet paper and moisturiser but end up buying a skirt and another book too. Totally, it only came to £19.45 though so I don't feel too bad.
I made dinner again from food I already in - a cauliflower cheese bake with asparagus and potatoes. 

Total: £38.44


Friday 09th September
I had intended to get up early and have breakfast at home instead of the usual at my desk. However, I didn't sleep that great and ended up pressing snooze a couple of times. I popped into Pret on the way into work and picked up a coffee and a croissant for £3.45. Once a week, it's an OK treat I guess!
My lunch was the same tomato and mozzarella pasta that I made double of on Wednesday night so no money spent there.
I left work early at 15:15 as my mum and dad were in London for the weekend. I went over to their hotel in Canary Wharf to meet them for the evening.  We had a look round the shops and at the Cross Rail rood gardens. I had dinner and a few drinks with them there before heading home. My mum paid for my dinner and I bought one round of drinks for £11.80.

Total: £15.25


Saturday 10th September



PSL like the basic I am!

I met my parents in central London at lunch time after going for a morning run and having breakfast at home. We had a wander down Oxford Street but I didn't buy anything. We stopped for a coffee and sandwich in Starbucks which my mum again paid for.
As the weather was dreadful, we headed over to Kensington and visited the V&A museum. We looked round the main, free exhibitions so that didn't cost anything. We also paid a visit to Harrods so my mum could pick up souvenir teddies for my niece and nephew and to have a look at their Christmas World! I love looking at the decorations, even though I could never afford to decorate a tree solely in Harrods decorations!
I went back again with them to the hotel for dinner and a few drinks in the hotel bar. I paid for my self and a round of drinks this time which was £31.35.

Total: £31.35


Sunday 11th September

Southbank Roof Gardens

Drinks at Southbank Roof Gardens

I meet my mum and dad again up in East London for a morning round Brick Lane and Spitalfields markets. I buy a bottle of Lucozade and a packet of chewing gum before getting on the tube for £1.45. I was looking for some vintage Levi Mom Jeans but didn't see any that grabbed me. We stopped off for a coffee/tea at the Hip Hop Café which has brilliant Beyoncé slogan cups "I woke up like this". Mum paid for mine. In the markets I picked up a wooden coaster with a painted M on it for £3 and a pair of sunglasses for £5.
I also bought a birthday present for a friend. Her birthday isn't until November but it was a case of seeing something that was perfect and it doesn't hurt to be a bit prepared! I also pay 30p to use the toilets at Liverpool Street Station.... So glamorous!
After the markets we headed over to the southbank for some lunch and a wander. We get food from a street market stall. I pay £2 for some chips (they were £3 but I only had £2 in change so mum donated a £1). Afterwards, we head up to the South Bank Centre Roof Garden and have a drink. My dad gets this round and I get a round later at a pub near Westminster Abbey which was £13.00.
At around 5:30pm, we go our separate ways and I eat a pizza at home in between re-charging my phone and a quick shower and change of clothess. We meet back up later in Covent Garden for a stroll and a few more drinks, I get a round in at £17.15. 

Total: £59.90


TOTAL: £190.43

My parents visit rounded off a summer of fun things, a hen do in Marbs, various people visiting, birthdays, SW4 festival, a hen do in Yorkshire and many al-fresco drinks. I spent way more than I should've done but looking back, I've had a great summer and full of memories and experiences. Time now to hibernate a bit (well, after a couple more days of high 20s temperatures), save some money and knuckle down with trying to beat my PB in the Royal Parks Half Marathon. Roll on autumn.

Flashback Friday

Early adopter of the mirror selfie even with my Sony Ericsson

 

Blogging is absolutely huge these days and everyone and their nan is documenting their lives online for everyone to see in one way or another thanks to social media. I remember though, back in the day having an online diary at TeenOpenDiary (LOL - I still try wonder what happened to some of the people I followed religiously), before progressing to OpenDiary and then Livejournal. It was kind of embarrassing and a little bit geeky back in those days and I would have been mortified for anyone I knew IRL to discover it and read it. Kind of hard to imagine these days when the whole point is to gain as many followers and reach as many people as possible.

Anyway, it got me wondering.... I never actually deleted my Livejournal and after some scrambling around in my email archives to try and rediscover my username and password, I managed to login. I had a flick through the archives. It did make me laugh. Is it really 12 years ago since I got my A-Level results and was about to start uni? Ten years since I was having epic meltdowns about having to move to Germany?

Here's a few excerpts from the archives....

21 August 2004
guess who passed their a levels?! whhhooooo yeah, that's right me -lol- i got BBC. i was slightly disappointed in not getting a B in psychology but i'm over it now. i'm disappointed in people saying it's virtually impossible to fail etc and that a levels are getting easier etc but i'll save you my opinion on that. i got 410/600 for psychology altogether with all the modules added up which is 68%. in french i got 453/600 with all the modules together (76%) and in my written exam i got 83/90 which i'm really pleased about. in german i got 464/600. only 16 marks from an a. i think that is 77%. and i got 108/120 which is pretty amazing because of all the cases etc which are pretty difficult to grasp. anyway, i just wanted to get that out of the way. i'm sure you don't really care about my little breakdown and analysis -lol- anyway, to cut a long story short. i got into my first choice university, hull and i got my confirmation letter this morning so i'll be sending it off tomorrow.

we decided to got to hull. well i did. i kinda just wanted to see the university as that is where i'll be in three weeks. we ended up arguing lots whilst in the car over directions -lol- there was lots of swearing. once we were out of the car though, we were fine! i didn't buy much. just two tops. a green halterneck with blue polka dots (sounds nicer than it is) and a blue goldigga vest. i wasn't really in the mood for shopping i guess. i nearly did buy cowboy boots in topshop though. gonna definately go back for them. i felt kinda strange. i was feeling kinda blah. i dunno why, i'd just got great exam results and i'm about to go to university and start a new chapter of my life but instead of feeling excited i just felt like crying. i guess it hit me how much things are gonna change for me and it's terrified me. i told J how i was feeling and he took me to pizza hut for my tea to cheer me up which he did. we had a garlic bread starter, chicken feast pizza to share and then a chocolate fudge cake each. it was v. delicious.

I guess grammar and capital letters weren't my forte back in 2004. Also, gotta love the fashion of the noughties.... cowboy boots and golddigga vests! Quite funny how I was dreading leaving, yet loved uni almost straight away and dumped my at home bf for the boy in the next room in halls. What a cliché.

21 August 2006
i am starting to actually shit myself now. i fly out to germany in one weeks times. i'm trying to block it out. i haven't even started to get things ready for it yet. i need to pack, buy things, get my euros, speak to the my mentor over in hamburg. argh too much to think about. i don't even have anywhere to live :( i've seen a few places in the internet which i need to enquire about.

i've spent pretty much all this weekend with andrew - trying to spend as much time together as possible until i go. he came down on friday after i'd finished work. we just chilled out with a take-away and watched the big brother final which was a bit shit actually.

I was terrified of moving to Germany for my year abroad. Looking back though, it's one of the things I'm most proud of and I have the best memories of that time.

I don't think the girl who wrote those entries would have thought her life would turn out the way it has. Then again, who really does? It's hard to reconcile the girl who'd never really left Yorkshire and always had a long term boyfriend with the 30 year old eternally single Londoner. I still do struggle with change though and moving house/jobs and being pushed out of my comfort zones terrifies me. I am a lot more confident and independent though and I am so grateful for that.

I bet in ten years time forty year old me will be cringing at all the snapchat filtered selfies and artfully placed coffees, cocktails and meals that dominate my feed these days!