I was encouraged today by a friend, a best selling author, who wrote of the mundane in his Facebook post.
There is always something to say.
I spent two days both prepping and undergoing some pretty brutal hospital testing procedures, under partial sedation and with minor surgery, Grandgirl never left my side and I am still in awe at her courage, competence, determination and organizational skills, down to sitting in on the post-op consultation with my specialist and handing me my bagged post event safe snack. There are two cat scans yet to come, as some diagnostics were inconclusive and need further analysis. I could never in a million years have foreseen her in such a role and frankly, it moves me to tears.
I offer you a glimpse into a budget journal former husband and I maintained to track every single income and expenditure in 1969, no matter how small. We emigrated from Ireland in January 1967 and bought our 1st house near the Beaches in Toronto exactly 3 years later.
Hair bow and pack of gum $1.07
Lunch $0.70
Groceries $0.39
Present for Marion (?) $1.00
Cigarettes $1.45
K-Mart book & record $1.76
Booze for party $3.00
Outfit for Daughter $1.29
Bell Telephone $10.00
2 Theatre tickets $8.00
Baby sitter $3.00
Seems almost prehistoric, doesn't it?
Daughter is exploring her inner artist and I am the beneficiary of some of her work.
This is an exquisite rendition of a whale. She lives where the whales roll in every year much to the delight of so many tourists who come in from around the world to see the spectacle. The whales ride in very close to the shore as the sea drops dramatically there, affording an up close and personal look at the breeching and spouting.
Daughter's art exquisite.
ReplyDeleteGrandgirl's help immeasurable.
Thank her for me. I now how important what she is doing is!
What lovely words GP! I'll convey your gratitude.
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Glad grandgirl is giving you so much support with what sound like rather gruelling tests. Hopefully the tests will give you a clearer idea of what's going on.
ReplyDeleteJenny and I have always kept an account book with a record of all our day-to-day purchases. It's very interesting looking back on what we were buying decades ago!
Oddly Grandgirl and her partner du the same Nick. It's fascinating to see where the money went and also to see how inflation has exploded everything beyond the capacity of any 25 yo couple buying a house as easily as we did and affording a live in nanny for our babies.
DeleteIt boggles the head.
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Urgh sounds indeed gruelling. Grandgirl is a brave person, and so are you. I hope that you'll get some useful results in the end.
ReplyDeleteThe expence book looks like something out of an old movie.
Doesn't it Charlotte? Inflation has done us all in. Our pay cheques went a long way. And that first house we bought is worth a million today.
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It makes me so happy to read of your granddaughter by your side.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first divorced I made such a list, to be sure I paid every bill every month.
I look forward to the results of the new tests. We need you to be your best self.
I put all expenses on Visa which keeps track of my budget. Plus I get a cash kickback every November as a percentage of all I spent.
DeleteThanks for your good thoughts Joanne.
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Oh my goodness! Those prices! Groceries 39cents!
ReplyDeleteI keep a budget book too, with the bank balance at the top of the page and every single purchase and bill paid subtracted as I buy/pay it. Pension day payments are added and most recently a fair sized refund from pants I ordered that were waaay too big so I returned them. Each month I check it all off against the bank statement and usually things match up just fine, unless I've forgotten to note an ebay purchase. It really is the best way to keep track and live within your means.
Yes my bookkeeping is pretty rigorous too River. I rarely use cash but mark it on my agenda.
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(shame) forgot to mention grand girl and thanking her for being such a big help and her whale art is very frame worthy.
ReplyDeleteActually it's Daughter's art but I will convey your lovely gratitude to Grandgirl.
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Thank you Eve.
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Sounds like you are in good hands. Love her whale art. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI certainly am Gigi and I will relay your comment on her work.
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That bit of accounting is simply mind-blowing. We used to keep a ledger of sorts in the initial days of our marriage to get used to spending but, gave up after we became comfortable with each other's contributions to the domestic management efforts.
ReplyDeleteThe whale work is striking.
Inflation has been tremendous, the global markets have been disastrous on the economy and minimum wages and offshoring of manufacturing add to the poverty. Not to mention the transfer of wealth, Ramana.
DeleteI will relay your comments to Daughter. Thank you!
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Your daughter is talented and I am not surprised. Chip off the block. Congratulations to her and thanks to you for sharing. I keep a similar book and long for those prices...
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