CPW, offers, anticipating.

I suddenly decided recently that I might stop using my CPW app. I've used it faithfully for a year, and I don't think I'm getting anything out of it anymore. I've got some good data from 12 months, and it's had a good influence on my decision making process when I'm considering a purchase. Just stopping when I'm caught up in a vision of my future cool self and actually calculating how many times I need to where it to get a CPW of $4 is a good step to take. That's a good thing that I'm in the habit of considering. But it's starting to feel futile. Instead, i want to focus on reducing my wardrobe to only useful and loved things. 

I got a couple of things at just jeans for only $6 each on the weekend, which brought back teenaged memories. I felt a bit bad because I didn't need them, but I just made myself look in my drawers and remove two things to the PJs and Jillian drawer. From that drawer I occasionally chuck things out because they don't last long once I'm using them for workouts.

House hunting is going slow. I made an offer on a unit last Friday, the most expensive unit in maitland (in the prettiest street) and I offered $13k higher than my preferred price bracket just to get into the game because it is within my reach, and didn't hear back yet, so my offer clearly wasn't wowing anyone :) I am hoping something else comes up soon. It takes me a while to adjust to the idea of living in a place before I get to the point of making an offer. But now I've made two offers on different places I'm getting the hang of it and one of these days I'll get the place God wants me to have. 

I am looking forward to having my own place partly because buying and moving house is the next big logistical thing on the horizon and it's just sitting there looming. Also, I'm looking forward to unpacking cos it kind of feels a bit temporary here. Anticipation. I am pretty much organised with my finances though, my FHSA is done (praise God!) and my term deposit is mature and I've got pre approval on a home loan so as soon as I decide I like something in my price range i can swoop in.

I'm heading into a busy month in August. There is a church weekend away, hunter twist workshop, engage, and since my old flat is ending we need to go down at some point and get the rest of my stuff. So there won't be time to do any house hunting for pretty much the whole month.

Once August is done, I'm going to plan a trip to armidale for a few days. 

I've been able to share my thoughts and limited experiences of online dating in a helpful way with some girls at church. One has decided to give it a burl and I think it was great that she brought it out into the open rather than doing it in embarrassment and secrecy. And having dipped my toe in, I was in a great position to talk about it with her. 

Prayer.

This weekend I had a lot of rest. I also did the prayer at church and since I haven't got much to post, and I wanted to have a digital copy of this for future reference, thought I'd blog my prayer.

Actually I do have news from last week, I have a pre approved home loan, and I've made an offer on a unit. If I don't get this place, which Is pretty likely, I have about 3 months to get something before it expires. 

Heavenly Father

You are the almighty king of creation. We have come here tonight to praise you and read your word, and we are reminded of your goodness and love. Your power, your faithfulness, your plan for the world and each one of us.

Oh let the nations rejoice and be glad for you will judge the peoples righteously and govern the nations upon the earth. Let the peoples praise you o God, let all the peoples praise you.

Because of your love, not our good works, while we were still sinners, Jesus died for us. The death of your only son brings us from darkness to life, from death and eternal separation to life for eternity. 

Please help us to remember Christs death, remember that we are forgiven through it, and remember that we are not slaves to sin anymore. Help us to trust in Jesus, obey him, give our whole lives to him, and love him. Help us also to love others. Help us to put others first, to be generous, to be forgiving, and to love like Jesus loved us.

We pray for the church in the world. Please help all Christians to know your word the Bible and submit to it. We pray for Christians who are persecuted for following Jesus, whether it is in the form of bullying at school or work, the real threat to life that many Christians in other countries face; in Indonesia, Nigeria, Iran, the Sudan, where churches are attacked or Christians are thrown in prison. Give our brothers and sisters courage to persevere. Protect them from harm and grow their faith through these trials. 

We also pray for people in the conflicts of this world, which seem to never end and bring tragedy after tragedy. We know they will end one day, when Jesus returns and all wars will cease, and every knee will bow before him. Bring on the day, we pray.

Father thankyou that we live in a peaceful and secure country. We thankyou for the resources that feed us and make us rich. We pray that our politicians will be wise and generous, and remember that the blessing we enjoy are given by God and are not ours to hoard selfishly.

Now we pray for our church. Thankyou for those who teach us your word here at church and in our home groups during the week. Thankyou for the many ways people serve you and each other in both public and hidden ways. Protect this church from Satans attacks, from false teachers, and from the temptations of this world. Keep us standing firm in the gospel, in unity and in love.

We pray for your Holy Spirit to work in us for your purposes. Change our hearts by the power of your word so that our lives are changed and we shine like stars in this dark world. Help us to get to know each other over dinner so that we can encourage each other. Be in every word that we speak, to bring you glory.

In Jesus name we pray all these things, amen.

Adobe, busy but going nowhere, Kurtosh.

I've felt very busy and tired for a bit. Probably time of year, time of month, etc etc. don't feel like I'm doing a LOT, but just the daily grind is wearing me down. I only just HAD a holiday too! Yay for a flexi day.

I came down to Sydney this week for an adobe roadshow event to see all the things my software does that I don't know about. It was a fun day because I spent it with Bec, and Elsie came for lunch, the food was good and most of the presenters interesting, although there was some waffle about being artists etc which was a bit of a waste of time. I don't think many people there really think of ourselves as artists, because design is, while creative, dictated by a lot of commercial pressures and client wishes. I think creatives is a better word than artists. Art is way more self indulgent. 

Also lovely, I stayed with a family from wild st, and their cute little daughter is my favourite kid in the world. She is always excited when I come which is pretty special for me as well. I hung out there this morning helping with getting dressed and stuff. Now I'm eating sugared bread and a hot chocolate at my favourite randwick cafe, Kurtosh. 

Bec said the east still feels like home to her two years after she moved out. I guess I've spent such formative, fun years here that is will always be special. I have enjoyed my visit and the catching a bus to the city, walking around, going to a cafe. Just a taster of my old life.

I've been dipping my toe into house buying, making offers but not very competitive ones! I'll get a place one day, I'm not worried. I am a bit impatient, because I want to shop for a house but there's not much going on. I am going to get my loan approval organised today I hope, when I get back to maitland.

I organised dinner with friends in maitland this Saturday night, but I just rang the place to book a table and they are booked out. Fail. But anyway I've got the people booked, we'll find something to do. It's a girl from school, girl from Uni, girl from work, and hopefully jk. Got to build a social life.

Very thankful for flexi days. I needed this day. I shall pop in and see another friend before I drive back to maitland.

Holiday, house hunting, being boring.

Time for another update.

Anna visited Maitland last weekend. It coincided with the Olive Tree Markets, which I enjoyed going back to. See my haul! Mostly edible.

I went to the Central Coast with a houseful of nice girls for a week. Right on the beach near Toukley.

Then there was a week where my parents went on holiday so I lived alone. Had a girl from church over for dinner and also went to some ppls house for dinner.

The other thing I'm still doing is house hunting. Things are slow. I made an offer on a place this week, but since it was LOWER than a previous offer I'm not expecting it to be accepted! Playing by my own rules and trusting God.

House hunting.

I wrote this a few weekends ago, it got delayed.

E came up for a visit, which was lovely! There were no markets on or anything exciting like the weekend before. But we went house hunting which was useful and interesting. 5 houses. Also the farmers markets. But mainly open houses. The day was quite useful because I've realised I'm still clarifying my needs. I love old characterful houses, but not cold dark houses; light and warmth are a priority so in the end a newer house is better built for that. What to do. Also for being low maintenance because I'm not the person who actually wants to renovate. But newish houses are kind if sterile and samey. All grey and puce inside. I've got more style than that. Does that matter? I don't know.

I've got a bit of a list

• Location (one preferred suburb)
• Aspect (lots of north for light and warmth)
• Size (small for easy Maintenence and also minimalism)
• Price (I want a really manageable mortgage, not a stressful debt)
• Ready (in good condition so I don't have to spend money fixing)
• Garage (I have pretty car).

There are things I am optional on. Brick or wood. Backyard or not (I would like avocado trees but I don't like mowing, so it's ok either way). House or unit. Fancy kitchen or old one, fancy bathroom or old one, etc.

Courtyard or garden:

Charming or functional:

Recently I did some training at work in procurement, which is basically protocols for spending money. I found the framework quite helpful: VALUE FOR MONEY has two parts: FIT FOR PURPOSE and WHOLE OF LIFE Cost. Also a section about really evaluating your requirements. So it's quite helpful for clarifying things when house shopping.

There are two sides to my personality. The side that is frugal and wants to make a wise decision, based purely on economics, risk minimisation, analysing all potential benefits. And the side that dreams of just living in a place that's exactly what I want. Smallish, oldly characterful but also modernised and up to date, a good place to own a piano and do creative things home, my green wing backed lounge chairs look good in it, I can grow some things but not own a lawnmower, and I can walk to the shops. Probably has French windows. Hahahahaha. I wonder what are the chances that the perfect place exists. So it then becomes about trade offs, which takes me back to economics. 

The nice thing is the market is going nowhere. There isn't that panicky depressed feeling when you can't find something and meanwhile everything is being sold and getting more expensive and it's all dog eat dog. Things just sit there and the price drops a bit. I can just wait.

Obviously I really need to process stuff! Also, I'm trying to keep it in perspective and not get overly obsessed or worried about it.

In other news, I have a new hobby: weaving. When E was here we watched Person of Interrst and mum and I set up a loom and E curled my hair. Such fun!

Also I cooked some amazing porridge, like at the kasbah cafe. It has banana and coconut and cinnamon and honey and brown sugar. Quite wonderful.