Posted: Fri 29 March, 2013 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Bankruptcy, Driving, Travel, Work-related |
It’s taken some time, but I’m now well settled with driving the Saab. The last two weeks have been the proving points, as I’ve done some significant mileage in that time.
Last week involved a trip to Manchester, and this week has involved another Devon run, so in the last couple of weeks I’ve done the best part of a thousand miles.
It’s handled it all fine, I’m pleased to say. No issues at all, and at a decent rate of fuel consumption. Not as decent as Mondeo used to get, but that’s petrol vs. diesel for you.
Indeed the only downside I’ve found – and it’s a tiny one – is that the Saab doesn’t have cruise control. I rarely use it, but on occasion it’s good to be able to engage it and stretch/exercise my leg, rather than holding it in one position throughout the drive. I particularly noticed it yesterday, having covered the whole 420 miles in one day, and the massive majority all at one speed. (That particular run is 99% motorway driving – out of 210 miles, I think I’m non-motorway for six of them)
But that’s – so far – the only minor downside. All told, not a bad purchase.
Posted: Tue 26 February, 2013 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Bankruptcy, Customer Services, Domestic, Finances, Getting Organised |
Today I’m working from home, waiting for Anglian Water to come and fix things.
It’s nothing major – well, it is, but it’s not like a water leak or anything. Basically, whoever installed the little grey boxes to ‘read’ the water meters (for whatever reason, this house has two) fucked it up – or the boxes are faulty – and have been reporting roughly three times the actual water use. Which, of course, I was getting billed for.
The last bill came in, and I queried the figures. Anglian had screwed up something else as well, just for chuckles, so the entire thing was nearly four times what the corrected bill is. Which is, needless to say, impressive.
Anyway, today they’re replacing both readers, and providing Anglian with correct ‘start-up’ figures, so hopefully from here things will be a lot more stable.
Needless to say, I’ll be keeping a close eye for a while on both the readers and the meters, making sure they match. And waiting for a significant refund.
Posted: Sat 2 February, 2013 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Bankruptcy, Domestic, Work-related |
[This is the first of a number of one-year-on thoughts that are running through this year. Live with it]
I only just realised, I’ve now been in my current job – well, working with my current company – for a year. (A year last Friday, to be exact)
Of course, within that year I’ve started off as a contractor, then been paid as a direct contractor, and then taken on full-time, so it’s kind of been three jobs all told, but all with the same place.
It’s quite surprising really – that time has flown by, I’m still enjoying the work and the new challenges, so I’ll stick it out for a while longer. The plan is to be there ’til at least August, and probably for this year, but we’ll see how things go.
Posted: Thu 24 January, 2013 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Animals, Bankruptcy, Domestic, Finances |
It’s taken a long time, but I’ve now finally got the cats insured.
It’s been a worry for a while, knowing that I live by a busy road, and that they can all be little arseholes who would run across in front of a car or whatever. With my current financial situation, something like heavy vet’s bills would absolutely cripple me, so the insurance is a good plan.
I’ve ended up using PetPlan, who offered a good deal, plus multi-animal discount, and a further discount due to having the latest one microchipped and registered.
We’ll see how it goes – and lord knows, I hope I never have to use it. But I’m happier with it in place, just in case I do need it sometime.
Posted: Tue 8 January, 2013 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Bankruptcy, Business, Domestic, Own Business, Travel, Web Development, Work-related |
Usually around this time, I’d be looking at hitting the Spring Fair at the NEC in Birmingham, which kicks off at the start of February.
I’ve gone a few times over the years, usually building up some contacts for building websites etc. Sometimes I made use of them afterwards, most of the time I didn’t. (to be honest) It’s always an interesting trip, what with one thing and another.
This year, I’m not planning to go. Partly it’s on a week that is already madly busy, but also I’ve got enough on my plate for the moment without adding to it.
2014 may be a different matter, but 2013 is one where I definitely won’t be going.
Posted: Fri 9 November, 2012 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Bankruptcy, Domestic |
Amazingly, I’m already three months into the first phase of this bankruptcy process already.
It’s not been an easy process at all, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. But – and really I guess this is the thing – it’s definitely having a positive effect on my life.
There’s a long way to go yet – the second phase lasts ’til October 1st 2015, and the final phase completes on August 8th 2018 – but at least the first months are done and dealt with. The rest of the time is more about dealing with the aftermath.
Posted: Sat 20 October, 2012 | Author: Lyle | Filed under: Bankruptcy, Domestic, Finances, Travel, Work-related |
Amazingly, I’ve already been in the new house six months. (Well, in two weeks’ time, anyway)
It’s been an eventful six months by anyone’s standards, but it’s all settling down now – even with the new cat as well – and it’s beginning to feel like a home.
So bearing in mind everything else that’s going on, I’ve now signed up for a 12-month tenancy here.
It’s a good thing, being a bit settled. And this area’s a good one – if I do change jobs in the next twelve months, the location here gives me plenty of location alternatives within an easy commute.
All told, it’s good to have options as well as a bit of stability – and this place gives me both of those things.