Struggling on...

Struggling through a VAT return. Not difficult, but I'm just not interested.

So far have taken adverts to the village shop for a bike and roller skates that the kids have outgrown, logged all my food on weightwatchers, and read through the forums on GreenMetropolis (book-selling website). One of the cats has to go to the vet at 3 o'clock. Hope I can find her!

CPD course in the morning. Blahhh!

Weekend break

Had a lovely weekend away with hubby, at some friends' in Norfolk. Lunch in Swaffham on the way down & Kings Lynn on the way back. Weather was gorgeous.

So why am I not raring to go on the work front now I am back?

Very excited that I got a letter published in Good Housekeeping this month! The start of my writing career, perhaps?

Still fed up!

Why? The sun is shining, it's spring. I can't get going on this work. I just want to do something else! Suppose I could go and pull weeds from the vegetable patch.

Bought some books on ebay hoping to resell at a profit. They should arrive next week.

Tomorrow I'm off to see Calendar Girls in Manchester as a birthday treat from 2 friends. Should be fun!

Don't feel like work today

I can't seem to get motivated at the moment. It would be great to take a week or 2 off to do something else, but it isn't possible as there are payroll year ends looming and VAT returns to be done, as well as Limited Company accounts to be filed. Also I am currently the main breadwinner in the house and the bills need to be paid.

On the book selling front I have managed to sell 2 more this week, including one for about £10. I'll never make a fortune at that. I was very excited to pick up 3 almost pristine Ladybird science books at the school fair for £1. They go for at least £5 each on Amazon.

The weather has stayed fine so the building work is still progressing well. And the sun has been out so the solar power generation is doing well.

Beware...

...the Ides of March!  The only thing I remember from Latin at school.

Thankfully 17 year old son has decided that completing his A levels is the best option. He is hoping to get into motorsport engineering, and university is the best route for this.

Took some books and accounts back to a client this morning, and came back with a cheque. Yay! Banked it on the way home.

Called in Lidl for milk, and made more tea for the builders. Work is progressing well and it isn't raining. Engineer came to look at our solar panels yesterday, and apparently we had a loose connection. Will have to see if generation improves over the next few days.

Teenagers!!!

Whilst I was at Zumba last night, 17 year old told his dad he didn't want to stay in school. He is about to sit AS level exams. As a result I was awake most of the night. Not had a chance to speak to him yet. Parents evening tomorrow so need to sort it out before then.

Managed to finish the accounts which I was doing, now to start another set which have to be filed by the end of March. I hate deadlines!

Started to bake bread this morning. Will put in the oven after I've been to help my friend with her VAT. After that, need to feed chickens for my other friend, and go to the post office to bank some cheques.

Builder's mate!

The building work still goes on at the back of the house.  In between working I am baking cakes, making toast and brewing lots of cups of tea to keep them going. The weather forecast has given dry and warm for a few days, so progress should be able to be made.

I didn't finish the accounts which were almost done last week, so will get them done today, & hopefully see the client later in the week. Have a VAT return to help with tomorrow, & a client to see on Wednesday morning.  Son's parents' evening on Wednesday also.

Must crack on - Zumba this evening to look forward to!

Mud and more mud!

The part of the house referred to as the "spare office" has now been demolished. That is where I used to work before I moved into our dining room. I'm hoping to move back into it before the summer is out, all being well. It will be great not to be able to see my pile of work every time I go to the kitchen. Maybe we will even get a dining table!

The garden is currently churned up and muddy, and home to a large digger and dumper truck. Hubby tells me that he will be ready for the concrete base by Tuesday, weather permitting.

Working on a Friday?

Don't usually work on a Friday, but I have some stuff to finish off. Can't go out as I'm on tea making duty for hubby & assistant with digger out the back!

Son is going to pay for his own driving lessons so he can start now. I let him drive me back from school last night, & think he needs some proper tuition before he gets too many bad habits.

Teenagers - who needs 'em!

17 year old passed his driving theory test 2 days after his birthday! Just wish he was as good at school exams. He isn't allowed to start lessons yet, as just came out with a C in his Maths exam. Don't know what to do with him.

Coffee with Chris next door, who has just started up on his own. He qualified a couple of years ago. Not many clients yet, so will be able to do some work for me.

Slowed down yesterday by a bug in the wages program. Fixed this morning. Now a little charity audit to do, then try to finish of the accounts which have been on my desk since Monday.


Follow this link to try Kashflow. Similar code layout to sage.http://www.kashflow.com/?code=AFF2103333

Working hard

Quite a productive day yesterday. Did a full set of accounts, several paye runs, and a big wages summary. I can finish that job in the next day or so. Even got paid from a client who has been dragging his feet since Christmas.

Today I have a hospital appointment, so won't get much done this morning. Son is taking his driving theory test this afternoon. Dad is taking him so I don't need to take time off.

One of my occasional helpers has packed in his job and gone self employed, so may be able to use him a bit more often until he builds up his client base.

And even better, the sun is shining again today. Yesterday our solar panels generated 18 KWh - best since they were installed at the beginning of October!

I have just started using this new book-keeping and accounting software,Kashflow. Dead easy to use and can be accessed online by the accountant and the client. The client can be barred from certain transactions so as not to mess it up! Follow the link.
http://www.kashflow.com/?code=AFF2103333

Scary!!

My 17 year old (birthday today)  has just gone out for a drive on the roads with his Dad for the first time! Very scary!

Busy baking cake for later.

Need to work hard next week as I seem to have another load of deadlines looming ...

Busy day

Picked up my little Seat car yesterday morning. It only has a 998 cc engine so will be noticeably slower than the 1600 cc mini I have been used to driving! And it's petrol not diesel so a bit different.

Went to see a lovely new client next, then to Tesco for a few groceries. Pottered in the house in the afternoon, sorting out car insurance for the teenagers. No too bad - only £1260 extra to pay.

Today I am going to B & Q to buy paint for the kitchen, then hoping to pick up a cheque from a client. In between times doing a bit of baking.