Three months into 2026 ………


……and a very little longer on this blog, the primary purpose of which is keeping track of my attempts to work towards what I need/want to be in place to retire while getting through the daily grind and trying to have some fun on route.


The tally so far:


Decluttering


eBay sales  £119 - 6 items,  4 of which have been out of my wardrobe and 2 general clutter from S, the principal sales fund contributor being Transit roof bars we no longer needed after the 2023 kitchen project.


My wardrobe - After much faffing I have finally worked out (more or less/I hope) what I need to do to get this working towards the life I actually have now and going forward.  It isn’t going to be quick, not least, as I would like to try and sell a fair bit - eBay algorithm obliging - but I now have some firmer parameters in place as to what keeps a spot and what does not.  Comfort and ease of wear, for the most part, taking precedence.


As an adjunct to my wardrobe and possibly curtains and soft furnishings I have the Overlocker I had long term plans for.  I just have to start using it!


Kitchen - Nope, still have loads of duplicate utensils that I have no intention of getting rid of (they will break at some point and are the product of combining two houses in 2022).  I am still telling myself that the slow cooker (possibly the most useless item I have ever given house room to) might be good for making yoghurt.  The food side is still full to bursting though the grocery bill has started to come down a little.  Given   the current concerns re petrol/diesel I’m not sure now is quite the time to cut back to any extent that might involve us having to go out more than absolutely necessary in the car.  Note the way I justified all that stuff crammed into cupboards!


Personal Paperwork - Curiously all in order.  That is bound not to last but is definitely a positive.


The Shed/S’s Garage - Not even started but it has only been 3 months.


House works


Bath Room - replacement radiator/heated towel rail and extractor fan in place.


Windows - a quote is in and hopefully within another 3 months they will be installed and I have new bedroom curtains waiting for when they go in (and any remedial decorating is done).


Garden - The vegetable garden is underway for the year.  Some way to go but work in the garden will never be completely done.  For starters that cutting garden is going to have to wait until another year.  S has got the Greenhouse in good shape though I expect we are going to have to find the time to paint it at some stage this year.  


Hopefully Dad’s robot mower mowing zones will be all mapped out by the end of Easter.


Holidays and Social


One week’s skiing - Yay!  Two would be better but it can’t be fitted in right now and when finally more time is available, knees permitting, the ski budget will need to stretch.  Our preferred ski in, ski out, half board hotel is unlikely to feature, with something a little more economical being called into play.  Like everything else the cost seems to be going up rather dramatically over the last few years.


Two other holidays booked for France - This should be all positive and something to look forward to.  They both, however, involve a fair amount of driving which may or may not become an issue as the weeks go on.  Not the driving so much as the getting fuel.  


We shall see what happens.  My sister had to swap a trip to China and Japan via Qatar for a week in Norfolk during March so I am probably not going to get much sympathy from that direction.


Shows/theatre/museums/concerts - Absolutely none.   I really must try harder and on that note others have stepped in and the MiL is taking us to the Ballet (La Fille Mal Gardee) in a couple of months.  I say she is taking us, technically, we will be taking her but she has bought the tickets.  A friend has booked us to see Duran Duran at Hyde Park in July and S and I have tickets for RHS Sandringham also in July.  I was trying to work out whether that is something of an eclectic mix but reached the conclusion they individually and collectively scream 60ish female. 


In conclusion


It seems things are moving in the right direction.   I would like to have got a bit more ticked off various lists especially our joint ‘to do’ for the year but given it can sometimes be a stretch just to get the washing and ironing done of a weekend that might have been a little unrealistic.  




 

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