The 9 year plan...hold onto your hats and here we go!

EssexHebridean

Hi Chev! Can't shed a lot of light on interest rates I'm afraid - ours is on a fixed rate (we went 5 year fixed in 2006) and I don't really keep up with what is going on with rates generally as we have two years yet until it will be a consideration. We talked about OP'ing for ages, but it was only last year that we got our backsides into gear and started actually doing it. We're hoping to be in a position come the new year to put another bit onto ours as well.....you do realise that tbhis conversation has just lead me to go off and have a play with my spreadsheet?!

EssexHebridean

EssexHebridean wrote: »

1) Tidy up the balcony at the front of the flat so if the workmen make a shocking mess it won't get all over everything that's out there.
2) [STRIKE]I've volunteered to send some old photography mags over to one of our photography forum members who is currently on a tour in Afganistan- the least I can do frankly considering he's risking his life. From what he says (and doesn't say, more to the point) it's more dangerous over there than is even being reported. I shall also try to get into Wilko's to get some face-wipes for the females they have out there. The basic stuff like that costs a fortune at the Naafi apparently, even when it can be got at all.[/STRIKE]
3) [STRIKE]I've got to go to the post office to sort out my Polish currency for the trip over there in a couple of weekends. I suspect they may well hold Zloty's in stock around here as we have a large Polish community. Will post Rob's parcel at the same time.[/STRIKE]
4) Remember to read the electric meter on Sunday morning - I need to get back into the habit of monitoring again as I've let it slip for the past months.
5) Depending on the weather might try to get out for a walk again - but preferably without getting lost like we did last week!
6) Meal-plan for next week. Need to come up with stuff for the weekend that will utilise some of the veg box stuff while it's still at its best, too.

A couple of bits crossed off. I ended up sending some old photo mags, couple of bars of imperial leather soap (apparently can't be got over there and it's popular!) two packs of face wipes and a couple of boxes of "lady goods" over to Afghanistan for Rob to distribute. The magazines really bump up the weight unfortunately so was only able to get three in - I'll do another parcel in a week or so though as I have two more bars of soap to send as well.

One of the stalls on the market was selling the little sample sachets of cleanser and moisturiser that you find in magazines - each having at least two, if not three, different sachets together - 20 lots for £1, so I got those and some Sanctuary Spa face masks (3 for £1) - the little sachets I use when travelling rather than having to carry bottles of stuff - and they will be ideal for Poland as will be better than having to take bottles through check in. (Can someone clarify for me that sachets of toiletry products don't cause a problem?) Also picked up a couple of large packs of Walkers Sensations crisps for 50p each, and got my Revitalift night moisturiser for £5 which is a good saving on the price in Boots! Done the Tesco shop too so there is a large FR chicken residing in my fridge waiting to be 'rubberised' tomorrow! Oh, and have made spiced apple muffins as I had a couple of elderly cooking apples to use up as well as an egg well past it's sellby date - in fact I did the float test on it to make sure it was OK! :rolleyes:

EssexHebridean

EssexHebridean wrote: »

1) [STRIKE]Tidy up the balcony at the front of the flat so if the workmen make a shocking mess it won't get all over everything that's out there.[/STRIKE]
2) [STRIKE]I've volunteered to send some old photography mags over to one of our photography forum members who is currently on a tour in Afganistan- the least I can do frankly considering he's risking his life. From what he says (and doesn't say, more to the point) it's more dangerous over there than is even being reported. I shall also try to get into Wilko's to get some face-wipes for the females they have out there. The basic stuff like that costs a fortune at the Naafi apparently, even when it can be got at all.[/STRIKE]
3) [STRIKE]I've got to go to the post office to sort out my Polish currency for the trip over there in a couple of weekends. I suspect they may well hold Zloty's in stock around here as we have a large Polish community. Will post Rob's parcel at the same time.[/STRIKE]
4) [STRIKE]Remember to read the electric meter on Sunday morning - I need to get back into the habit of monitoring again as I've let it slip for the past months.[/STRIKE]
5) [STRIKE]Depending on the weather might try to get out for a walk again - but preferably without getting lost like we did last week![/STRIKE] Sort of did this - MrEH decided he needed to go to the outlet shopping place so we walked right round there....twice! :rotfl:
6) [STRIKE]Meal-plan for next week. Need to come up with stuff for the weekend that will utilise some of the veg box stuff while it's still at its best, too.
[/STRIKE]

Result! Victory is mine! Have also got the veggies ready to make picallilli tomorrow and currently have a chicken in the oven for a late roast dinner tonight and then turning into assorted other things over the next few days.

EssexHebridean

Well the chicken has made a roast dinner for the pair of us yesterday, two bags frozen to do risotto or pizza topping, some set aside to make a chicken & mushroom lasagne tomorrow night, and a huge pot of chicken curry which I'm about to portion out ready to freeze.

The new savings account for car stuff has now been set up and the monthly transfer is in place. I've already adjusted the amount going into the other savings account too. I'll not be counting the car savings money into the amount in my signature as it's all "spoken for" money - the plus point of course is that we won't be raising the savings account when insurance etc is due.

On the subject of insurance, I had a row with Diamond yesterday. Having at their urging transferred my policy to an Admiral multicar one when we insured OH's new steed in August, I had been assured (and had checked several times) that I would be getting a full refund of the unused part of the policy. On ringing yesterday to chase this up I was initially told that as I'd had a claim, the premium was payable in full! Needless to say, the red mist descended and I just said "I think you'd better put me through to your supervisor" with ever increasing venom until the instruction was obeyed! Initially the supervisor held his ground, until he accidentally let slip that they had a note on file to confirm that yes, I had been assured a full refund of the balance would be forthcoming.....not a lot more he could say after that- so £126 will be heading back to my card in the next few days! Cheeky blighters though - talk about a crafty way of extracting cash from the unsuspecting, not least because they have documentation to prove that the crash in question was the other driver's fault - he has signed two bits of paper to say so! :rotfl:

Lemon_Tree

blimey that is just such obvious fraud lying to you like that. I don't know why it always amazes me when such things happen because it happens so much.

My mum does boxes for Afghanistan, i think through the British Legion, their section has done 140 so far this year and they are a pretty small group. Seeing what you added to the boxes has inspired me to go through my toiletries box as i have lots of new stuff that i don't use or can no longer use. Heaven know's why i didn't consider that there were female soldiers out there, just having a blank moment i guess.

EssexHebridean

Things that Rob said a lot of them use out there and that were in short supply LT were the ordinary imperial leather soap (the yellow "original" one) Baby wipes - not the enhanced with this oil and that fragrance ones, just the ordinary standard ones with good cleaning power, Mitchum deo - the 48 hour ones (last about 10 hours at best in the heat there apparently!) and other than that, anything that will raise the moral - reading material (hence the old photography mags as Rob is a photographer - in fact, he's responsible for many of the pics you see of the conflict in the dailies) and dvd's etc. It feels good to be able to help doesn't it - I would imagine that the girls out there would really appreciate nice smellies too - shower gels and shampoos in particular I would guess.

I can now add to my cooking tally with 5 jars of picallilli sitting coling on the side in the kitchen! :j Some will make presents for people at Christmas, I think - my Dad will probably appreciate one as will my mum-in law. She was a professional cook before she retired so loves getting foody bits - especially if it's something we have cooked ourselves.

Spent all day today up at our Bedford office software testing the new hire system which is due to be rolled out next year. Quite hard going as it's a case of just repeating the same actions again and again, with different bits of kit in different quantities etc so we can "catch it out" and see what doesn't work. Still, another 114 miles to claim back - must get my exp's claim in.

boredofbeingathome

Just catching up EH. Thanks for your lovely messages :Dand i have to say you are certainly a girl after my own heart; i too do the egg test and i love Picallilli..sluurrpp, just had some today with a ham sandwich.:drool:

Sorry about the scaffolding and cost, but hopefully you mat see an offset in the future with prices rising for flat.:o

Good news that Mr.EH has a car now.:D

Off to catch up with everyone else now.:D

Lemon_Tree

hi i have lots of smellies i've been given which i'm not able to use because of ezcema and lots of lady products which i'm sure will be gratefully received. I know they also put puzzle books and mags in but may suggest that they include dvd's or something.

Now if it's systems testing your doing you need me there. I told my manager when they were putting in the new accounts system to have me on the team because if there's a fault i'm sure to find it, would she believe me? no. and who has found all the faults so far in the system? found solutions, dealt with the software support folks??? moi! I think i have a knack of just discovering glitches, but maybe it's just cos i'm nosey and want to make sure everything is right with our work so challenge what my team and myself have done to make sure no one else can find fault.

EssexHebridean

LOL @ LT, I suspect the reason I have been asked is that my Area Manager knows full well I'm tenacious when it comes to anything like that - and wll fight my corner if I think something is wrong. I can out with two pages of notes yesterday so need to get those typed up and sent to him ready for when he's back from hols too.

Bob - the Piccallili seems to have come out rather well - we're meant to leave it for 4 - 6 weeks to mellow a bit but not sure it's going to make it!

MrEH's car seems to be going OK - it had a minor starting problem when we got it but we've been tipped off to use Shell or BP fuel rather than the supermarket stuff and it's starting at the first attempt most of the time now.

The online Tesco shop arrived tonight so we're overrun with stuff! Thought I ought to make the most of the £10 off code - total shop came to a "book value" without delivery cost of a little over £53 - which dropped to £42.18 by the time the discount code and a BOGOF were taken into account. Earnt us £1.57 in CC points too (Clubcard plus!) - otherwise known as £6 in deals - hurrah! We have washing powder, sunflower oil and water filter cartridges to last ages, not to mention three blocks of cheese, a load of the half price walkers 6-pack crisps, and 4kg of basmati rice! (And 2 bags of bombay mix which were on BOGOF - can't imagine how they got in there!) No question - this weeks shopping ought to be fresh stuff only - I have no excuse for buying anything else! The freezers need defrosting too so need to eat from there as much as possible.

boredofbeingathome

Oh now i really am hungry..Bombay mix as well..mmmmm