1) Watch one old film each month.
2) List five items on Ebay each month.
3) Have a date night with Mick each month.
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I chose The Big Sleep with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall as my film to watch for November. It's fast paced so it keeps you watching, otherwise you're likely to miss an important part of the quite complicated plot. It's a good film but it won't rank in the top half of the films I've watched this year, I've seen better.
I'll be glad when I've finished my Ebay challenge. I'm enjoying watching the bidding on my auctions but not the actual listing of the items. I'm only listing five items each month, yet it's so time consuming, and Ebay are now charging a final value fee on postage, which I think is absolutely ridiculous. I'm wondering what else they'll find to add a fee to, afterall, there's already a fee to list, a fee on the final value of the item, then there's a Paypal fee and now a final value fee on postage. All these fees certainly cut in to any profits.
My date night with Mick this month was in a recently refurbished local pub. I noticed an offer on Groupon for two two-course meals for £12, which I thought was good value, especially as the main courses here are usually in the region of this price for one. It's many years since we've been to this particular pub so it made a change, though I have to say that the atmosphere left a lot to be desired. We were seated at one of only four tables in use, there were another two couples and a table of four, though there were plenty of unoccupied tables, yet when we rang to make the booking, we were told that they were quite busy and we may have to wait. I'd hate to see them if they had a rush on. As it happened, the food was delicious and the staff couldn't have been more friendly, so that made up for the lack of ambience.
We've got a quiet house for a couple of days now. Eleanor's headed off this morning on a school trip to London and won't be home until tomorrow night. It's a trip which has been organised for her GCSE Music class. It's really so that they can attend some workshops with the London Symphony Orchestra, but there's lots of fun things going on too, such as a meal at the Rainforest Cafe before a visit to the big budget production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the West End tonight. They're also going for a tour of London with a flight on the London Eye. I wish she'd had room in her suitcase for me.
I haven't seen that film in many years and can't actually remember much about it. Ebay doesn't appear to be the easiest way to sell items anymore like all these things they become too big and corporate. Sounds like you and Mick had a nice evening even if the decor was a little in need of some TLC. Lucky Eleanor going to London and having such a lot on the itinerary. I went to see Wicked earlier in the year and it was wonderful and well worth seeing when it goes on tour.
ReplyDeleteWe've got tickets to see Wicked next year in Leeds. We bought them as soon as they were released, over a year in advance. It's not a show that I'd particularly want to see, but Eleanor's keen, though saying that, they're usually the shows that I enjoy the most.
DeleteI think it's great that you managed 5 things a month on ebay, it's not one of my favourite ways to sell something. Lucky Eleanor, I saw the programme about musicals when it was about Charlie and the Chocolate factory, it looked amazing :) xx
ReplyDeleteIt's quite tiresome selling on Ebay these days, I'm glad that I've kept the challenge up though. I saw the same programme, it looks really good so I'm sure she'll have a brilliant time.
DeleteYou've done so well to keep up with selling on ebay Jo. I haven't listed anything since the postal prices increased in April, and the fact that they're now taking a cut of the postage price isn't increasing my enthusiasm for listing anything! Eleanor's trip sounds like great fun. Enjoy your time alone with Mick. xx
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how they can take a cut of the postage charge, this is what it costs to send the item. I add on 10 or 15 pence for postage materials, but the majority of this charge is swallowed up in the cost to actually post the item and no profits are being made. It's amazing how they get away with it. Eleanor's sent me a text to say they were late arriving because of a traffic jam, but they were en route to the London Eye. It will be funny just the two of us in the house, I can't remember the last time we were alone overnight.
DeleteYou're doing so well with your goals for 2013, Jo. Not long to go before it's all done and dusted! Eeeek!
ReplyDeleteIt's not long now, is it? I'm starting to think of some challenges for 2014. I want them to be fun challenges again, things I'll enjoy.
DeleteWell done on all of your challenges Jo, you have done really well with them. I hope that Eleanor has a lovely time in London and especially at her LSO workshops. Hope that you are able to enjoy not having her there - I mean that in a nice way! I think that ebay charging you a fee based on your postage cost is crazy, it isn't as if they have to do anything to do with the postage!! xx
ReplyDeleteThe workshops with the London Symphony Orchestra sound exciting, it's a great opportunity for her and I'm sure she'll really enjoy the experience. That's exactly my way of thinking about Ebay, it just seems that they'll put a fee on anything to get more money out of sellers.
DeleteIt sounds like you're doing very well with your challenges. I've never seen that movie but I've heard good things. I'm sure Eleanor will have a great time, that sounds like a very fun trip for the kids. Have a nice quiet weekend. :)
ReplyDeleteIt does get good reviews, and the story keeps you interested, but I do prefer the storylines of some of the other films I've watched this year. I think Eleanor will have a great time in London.
DeleteKeeping your challenges going is..... some going actually! I wish school trips had been so good in my time! The best I ever did was the RSC 1984 Hamlet with a very young Ken Branagh as Laertes. Make the most of your free time. ... What are you doing on on the Internet? Go on, get out?!?!
ReplyDeleteThey're fun challenges so quite easy to keep up with. I remember going to see Hamlet in Stratford with school, I fell asleep, ooops. No, I resisted the internet last night and we spent the whole evening together, just the two of us.
DeleteI started off well with Ebay at the beginning of the year but you're correct in saying it's very time consuming and I had some irritating issues with buyers too which didn't help. Maybe I'll get into another selling round next year but it will only be for about 2 items a month.
ReplyDeleteLove from Mum
xx
I've been quite lucky with buyers, so far. I had one issue earlier on in the year, but that was easily sorted out.
DeleteI'm amazed you kept up with ebaying Jo. I found it one big hassle and especially if they now take a cut of the postage as well. Are you saving it all up or spending as you go?
ReplyDeleteMy Ebay challenge would have been the one I gave up, if any. It has got tiresome on occasions, and it's so annoying how they keep taking more and more money from you in fees. I'm saving it all up, but I dont know how much I've made yet, I'll tot it all up at the end of the challenge.
DeletePity about ebay putting on more fees. I went to use them once many years ago and wouldn't because of the one fee, but there are other sites I believe with no fees. The meal and service sound good. Hope Eleanor has an amazing time in London and the workshops go well. The Eye is great, even in the rain.
ReplyDeleteTake care and enjoy the quiet time.
There must be cheaper ways of selling unwanted items, but Ebay is so popular that I just use it without shopping around really. It was quite a nice day here yesterday, so I hope they're getting the same weather in London. No rain was forecast anyway, that makes a change.
DeleteYou have done so well with your challenges, I have never put anything, or even bought anything on eBay. Every time I walk into our garage I think most of it could go and live elsewhere but I'll tackle that another day. Hope Eleanor enjoys London, and the show!
ReplyDeleteThere's always someone willing to buy what you have to sell on Ebay. It's a great idea, it's just so annoying that there's so many fees associated with now. I'm sure Eleanor will be having a great time on her trip, she's due home tonight.
DeleteI'm quite shocked at all the charges to sell on e-bay......I've never sold on there myself as we have a local car boot group on facebook and we use this if we need to sell anything.......no charges to post and local pick up, so no postage costs either.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pity you couldn't sneak into Elenor's suitcasse somehow, sounds like she'll be having a fabulous time in London.
Your local car boot group sounds great. I think Ebay is a great idea, but they're having a laugh with all their fees. I would have loved to sneak in to Eleanor's suitcase, I'd love to see that show.
DeleteAs you say The Big Sleep does have a complicated plot.
ReplyDeleteI've never used Ebay and probably never will.
Thank goodness the meal was okay, otherwise it would have been an evening to remember for all the wrong reasons.
It sounds like Eleanor is going to have a good time. Flighty xx
It was quite hard to keep track of who was who at the start but I managed in the end. I've got some good bargains from Ebay in the past and I've managed to sell quite a few things too. It's a good site if you don't mind paying the fees. I couldn't fault the meal, so that was something in its favour, I just think they need to employ a chef who is up to cooking for more than eight people. I'm looking forward to hearing all about Eleanor's trip, I'm sure she'll have had a ball.
DeleteI think Eleanor's trip is possibly the best school trip ever!
ReplyDeleteWell done for the ebaying especially if it's become such a chore, although the money must be nice!
Another film I haven't seen, I have enjoyed this part of your challenge.
Lisa x
Eleanor had a wonderful time, she thoroughly enjoyed it. I haven't worked out how much I've made from Ebay yet, though I'm not selling high value items so it won't be much, but it's better than nothing. There's so many old films I haven't seen, there's still more I want to watch.
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