Overdue Update

As usual. But I've Done Some Things. First I submitted Little X's citizenship application ($400 and a lot of messing about) and the I discovered, to my disgust, that she doesn't get an automatic bridging visa 😒 meaning she needed a full 12-month tourist visa ($500 more) and a temporary bridging visa (free, thank dog). Neither application has processed, weeks later. 😒

Fighting Medicare yet again. Seriously! Vaccinations on hold until they (again) believe she's allowed to have them. 💉 You know, just in case she has ceased to be a British citizen at some point in the past 7 weeks. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I am still cash stuffing ☺️ and still filming it ☺️ and while I'd never consider it YouTube Star material, it keeps me on track. I also gave home delivery a try for my groceries and while I do love the ease and the service, I'm blowing the food budget non-stop. 😭 It's just so easy to buy things I wouldn't lug home on the bus. 😭 So this week I am trying to eat from the freezer. 

The flat sale drags on. I bought a printer because of all the places needing paper forms... It's a bit ridiculous in 2026 to say the least. It isn't cheaper, but it's certainly easier than dragging Little X to the library or office shop. 

I've fought myself mentally over and over on what I'll do once I have the flat sold. Realistically the standard "buy a house" dream isn't likely to be within reach, so I'm currently weighing up the logistics of getting a caravan. The current options are tiny vs bigger, and stay put vs travel, and whether I also buy cheap land (can't camp on it long term anyway). Decisions, decisions. 

Stop Press: Medicare finally approved, but no sign of the card after weeks of waiting. We've both had a cold, anyway, so at least the missing Medicare card wasn't the reason for her next jab being delayed. 

Happy Happy Joy Joy

Got my bed.

🕺🛏️ 

Incredibly pleased to have it finally, and very happy with the bed itself. I double checked the finances and I didn't need to dip into any of my bill reserves, either. My flat is looking good now.

My aunty drove us to the shops today and she entertained Little X while I got a hair cut. Very short, totally different, and exactly what I wanted. Paid out of my tidy little "personal" envelope, too. It's nice to feel slightly in control of finances, for the first time in ages. 

I've been filming myself stuffing my envelopes each week - it is a bit cathartic to put $5 away for this, $10 away for that, and to get to the end and think I'll be OK for another week. Of the 10 creditors in the UK from which I requested paperwork, only 4 supplied it. Another sent me a payment offer this week of about 60% of the debt. That's nice, quite a big discount, except you haven't supplied the docs mate, so the debt is unenforceable. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 

Must get myself together and re-write to non-senders on why I've stopped paying them £2 a month, because some are sending "gentle reminders" that their £2 hasn't been received. 😂

Silence from flat buyer. Two weeks of me asking the solicitor for updates, and them saying "we're chasing it". 😒 

Mood: heatwaves 🔥 

Catch up

I've been lackadaisical as usual here. I turned a big birthday 😑 and got lovely gifts from some people, but treated like used toilet paper by one person. And in a way that you wouldn't believe, even if I explained. So I look back on that week now as a valuable life lesson on who and what matters in my life.

Christmas was nice. 🎄 Little X had a grand old time kicking balloons about and tearing paper, and scored big-time on gifts. I hosted, it was a day without fuss or fanciness, and I thoroughly recommend a Basic Christmas Lunch. I think what I appreciate most is that people said they had a nice day. ♥️

I ordered my bed before Christmas, it was on sale and had a delivery window running until the beginning of February. But I've just discovered the company cancelled it without telling me, weeks ago. Idiots. How have I managed to deal with so many idiots in seven short weeks? 😂 Anyway, I am still missing so many bits and pieces for the home, that I've done a new order from a different shop. It has completely wiped out my bank account, and I even had to borrow from my bills account. But sleeping on the floor, without a quilt, enough is enough.

It isn't even everything I need, but I'm hoping to get other items from charity shops over the next few weeks.

Spendy McSpenderson: a new skirt, $30, and out of my allocated clothing budget, so it wasn't even very naughty. It is the only nice piece of clothing I own.