How did the next viewing go Tracey? Hope you've had a nice weekend
x
Thanks hun, you're so sweet to ask. It went good but the next one went even BETTER. Read below
Well hello Everyone,
I've been very quiet the last couple of days because I have been so busy. Between apartment viewings, buying things for said apartment, and general work and having to eat and shower I haven't had a minute really. January is normally a slow month for people but so far for me it's been go, go, go
We wen't to see an apartment on Friday night which was lovely. It had two double rooms, a black leather suite of furniture, wooden floors, new modern kitchen, and a nice balcony.
The negatives? OH seemed to find quite a few which was sort of bursting my bubble, but as my mam said to me I am an impulsive person in those ways and I want everything NOW. Oh thought the blinds on the windows were filthy, there was no curtain rails, there were shoes under the bed and the toilet was dirty, and most importantly it was seriously lacking in storage. We would need to buy drawers for clothes, storage units, book shelves etc.
That was the second apartment we viewed. So I went to bed that night feeling deflated and I was worried we wouldn't get the apartment and what if we didn't find something better etc. We had another viewing booked for Saturday morning at 9am and I was not looking forward to it. It was a two bedroom but was based in an apartment complex we had viewed already and didn't like. It looks kind of old and run down and I didn't like the look of the worn-down carpet. On friday night when we were going to bed OH said to me ' do you want to just cancel it and go with the other one?' I was tempted but I knew it wasn't morally fair to just cancel at midnight the night before a Saturday am viewing. So we got up early on Saturday morning, begrudgingly on me end, and off we went to the viewing. I couldn't believe what I saw.
When we walked in I quickly realised that this was not the apartment in the pictures. Or so I thought! The first thing I seen was the bedroom which were two doubles, and the pictures online showed a double room and a single room. Secondly, the suite of furniture. It was completely different and very modern looking! I spoke to the letting agent who explained that the people who lived there before left it in a really bad state so the landlord had to sort everything from scratch more or less. New carpet, new kitchen, new beds and what appears to be a new suite of furniture though now that I think about it it may have been covered in new fabric or something. Either way it's lovely! So we had a look around and the first thing that we both noticed was storage. The main bedroom has two wardrobes on either side of the bed with loads of hanging space,shelves for clothes, and a big set of drawers! The other double room has a little walk-in-storage area with shelves etc also which would be great for clothes and general storage! In the hall there is a boiler room with where you could store the hoover (which comes with the place), ironing board etc) and there is also ANOTHER room that is like a hotpress with shelves for bedding and towels and the likes. The kitchen is lovely too. Not huge but perfect for two people. New modern washing washing/tumble drier, microwave, modern looking cooker. It doesn't have a dishwasher but the more I talk to people I realise that really isn't a necessity for two people! So we left and more or less decided immediately that we loved it. I called the letting agent and explained and he told me that once a deposit is paid it's off the market. So on Sunday morning we dont a bank transfer and paid the deposit. OH's parents actually paid it for us as a gift, how amazing. They had told us months ago that they would and they followed through. So that's it, it's OURS!!!!!
We don't have the keys yet because the landlord has to do one or two things like clean the ensuite bathroom which was not in good condition and also put in some lightbulbs etc. We sent off all our documents yesterday - ID, bank statement, reference from employer etc, and that has to be verified in their office today or tomorrow depending on when it gets there. At that point we will be organising to meet with the letting agenet, sign the contract, and get the keys. YIPEEE!! It is so exciting.
We spent all weekend buying things for it. Aldi were doing a special deal and on Sunday were selling duvets and pillows etc for next to nothing so we got two double duvets, 8 pillows, and 2 matress protectors for €60 which was brilliant! We then went to town and bought bed-clothes, a few kitchen things, bathroom accessories such as shower curtain, mat for the floor, and candles. We also bought a TV last weekend which was our big purchase and a bargain on sale for €250 for a 32" flat screen.
So the plan? We hope to have the keys by Friday evening when we can start moving things in. I hope to then spend Saturday moving more things in and doing some organising and sorting out of things with my sister because OH will be at football. Then Sunday we plan to do a bit more shopping and get a few bits such as kettle, iron and more kitchen things in a lovely shop we found in town. Then we are pretty much ready to go. We hope to be actually sleeping there come Tuesday/Wednesday night even if it's just for one night. We'll be coming home to my house on Friday night to stay over (next Friday) as we're going to Birmingham on the Saturday morning at 4.30am with my siblings for my stepdad's 50th birthday party. So we want to have everything sorted by then so that when we get home on the Monday afternoon we have a ready-made-home to return to. I cannot wait!
there are a few things which we won't be able to afford immediately but we have more or less everything we need. I know I'm going to be one of those people who gets more excited about homebase now than clothes shopping. I already am, lol. I have LOADS of photos of various things we have done together, leaflets from shows we have been to, plane tickets and memories and I want to make a few nifty scrapbooks out of them which I'm really looking forward to doing. I want to get some nice frames so that we can have photos of our families and of ourselves around the apartment. We already have some candles but I want MORE. haha. I love candles! Other bits and bobs like cute pillows to put on our bed and blankets etc will bought as time goes on but right now we have most of what we need to be happy! It's such a lovely place and I just can't wait to put out own stamp on it and make it our own! This is such an exciting time
I have had a few little tears because at the end of the day I'm fleeing the nest and I am from a big family where I am the oldest of 5 siblings so it's sad to be leaving. Everyone is so happy for us and we have so much support so I am so lucky! Me and my mam had a good chat last night and she said she's sad too but so happy for us and she loves OH. She said it just 'is' sad and no matter what age I was it would be. But she said it feels 'so right' and she loves OH and we both have full-time jobs etc so she knows we will be OK. She said she is being strong for the both of us because she knows what I'm like, lol. No doubt there will be many more tears, but I just have to feel how I feel and be honest with myself. At the end of the day it's a positive thing and I am only going to be living 5 minutes drive away so i will see lots of my family, but it is a big change and I will miss being part of my big crazy lovely family! I can't wait to have them all over though
that's the brilliant thing about having the other double room. makes such a difference!
So that's my BIG news!
In terms of food this week. Well, I would say that I was 70% good for the week. I was having superfree and sticking to the plan more or less but at the weekend I met friends for dinner and I ordered burger and chips. It was literally all I fancied. The menu wasn't great and I didn't fancy Spagetti Bollognaisse so I just went with what i fancied. It was a very small burger and a very small portion of chips so I knew it wouldn't completely sabotage me if I was careful. However, after several glasses of wine later I went back to OH's house where his parents were having a dinner party, and that's where I spotted it.... the CHEESE BOARD:wave_cry: I ate SO much cheese. All different types and it was SO good. We had it with crackers and grapes! I was way too relaxed because I was well-oiled from the wine. I also had some baguette now that I think of it... disaster!
So that was Saturday. Sunday was 90% good. We had scrammbled eggs of WM toast for breakfast and I snacked on fruit. While we were shopping I had a packet of popcorn and then we went for dinner in town to a place called Mongolian BBQ which is VERY slimming world friendly. It's such a cool place. It's basically a cold raw buffet of vegatables and meat. So you get your bowl, put whatever veg and meat you want in it, and noodles if you like. You then go to their herb and spice section and add whatever you want to it including freshly chopped coriander. You then move on to the sauce section and add whatever sauce you like - so anything from thai green surry to soy sauce was there. You then bring your bowl of raw stir fry up to the massive round griddle where the chef cooks it in front of you and it takes literally minutes to cook because it's SO hot. It is the coolest place ever! I will post pictures later. The best part? it's all you can eat so you can go up as many times as you like. It's also SO healthy. I ate so many vegetables and he didn't use any oil to cook mine. First time I went up I had thinly sliced beef with mushrooms, courgette, broccoli and peppers, with spicy herbs and blackbean sauce. OMG it's so good. They also give you a bowl of steamed rice and some sweetchilli sauce and soy sauce on the table. It is like a custom made slimming world ideal restaurant! So I felt good after that despite us getting a not-so-healthy starter of Duck Springrolls (They were amazing!!) and having some jellies afterwards from the old school sweet shop in Temple Bar!
Yesterday was Monday and weigh-in day. I had no good expectations and pretty much knew I was going to have a gain. I had a pretty bad weekend apart from Sundays dinner and also time was not my friend as the last two weigh-ins have been at 10am in the morning before I've eaten anything and last nights weigh-in would be at 8pm having had breakfast and lunch that day, albeit light ones. So I went anyway, I figured I'd have to pay the following week regardless. I knew I wasn't staying for the meeting because OH wasn't there due to football so I didn't have my partner in crime and I also had a million things to do at home.
The result...
I LOST 1.5 pounds!!!!!! What the???? How??? I have NO idea how! It must have been the copious amounts of superfree in Sundays dinner and also eating pretty light yesterday (Special k bar and pear for breakfast, carrot sticks/philly and a bowl of WW soup for lunch and about a litre of water). I was SO SO SO happy. I am basically now only 1 pound heavier than I was when I weighed in on the 17th December! To only be a pound up a week and a half after Christmas is seriously good news. I have never been in this position. I am chuffed to pieces
This will be a busy week between packing and organising things for the apartment so I know I won't be an angel, but I am going to be as good as I can be. Some of the meals will be a bit off-plan but I'll make as good of a choice as I can in each situation! I won't be doing anything too crazy. I am very broke at the moment (the law of attraction would say I shouldnt be focusing on that or it will get worse... whoops) so the next 3 weeks before payday will be very skimpy in terms of food-purchases. I can't afford to do a big food shop so i'm just getting what i can so no major recipes will be tried out for the next couple of weeks, just old favourites really and conveniencey things. I'll be making sure I eat plenty of superfree though, and I won't waste my eating on stuff like chocolate and crisps unless I reeeally fancy something in a small amount! So yes, hopefully another loss next week shall ensue. A nice 2+ pounds would be lovely as Birmingham will be a splurge though I am determined to not go insane over there either because it won't be worth it when i get back and have to weigh in that very day.
So there we are, lots of good news and positives at the moment. 2013 is shaping up to be really great so far
Quick question, does anyone have any advice in terms of moving in with your partner? Ive never lived with anyone before and we both have only lived at home so any tips, suggestion, funny stories etc would be great! Also, what is your average food bill? do you do a weekly shop? Do you go to different places such as butcher, fish shop, veg shop or shop in discount stores? What would be your average weekly shopping bill for two people? or for how many people you shop for? Again, all info and tips and help is greatly appreciated. I want to be prepared!
