greent's mfw journey

greent

Very glad it's the weekend - am just so tired! Not sure why - I'm sleeping a decent amount each night. 

Slightly gloomy day here - grey and has been raining - I think I'll make people go for a walk later, though - we could do with getting out after a few days of rough weather

Did 2 shops yesterday (Icyland (mainly for bake at Home Gr3ggs products and cheap branded fizzy drinks!)  and Sains - took over 2 hours to do both (they are a 2 min drive from one another) and I still couldn't get quite a lot from my list (including basics such as milk and eggs) - I do find shopping at the mo exhausting - you start with a wish list and then have to change it on the hoof - which then means you may have to go backwards in the  to get the alternative... not always possible  - and I still find that getting enough of an item can be an issue at times (can you tell I'm having a moany day?!)

Enough of that! Did anything exciting happen money-wise in April? No.., not really - the mortgage reduced by just over £500, which is good - and we kept back some of the money we'd usually OP, just in case. S&S ISA took a massive hit to a large negative return - but is back at a small positive. We each had our new V'nguard pensions be opened and the balances from ole N3st pensions arrive in them - they've actually had a decent return in April, too (thankfully we were in the dead' transfer time for a lot of the initial downward movement in transfer value - we took a small hit, but literally a couple of hundred £) Spent nothing on fuel (me) and £70 (DH) Spent a fortune on food (as did most people, it would seem!) and not a lot else (I think the only online purchases related to DS1's bday) Both car insurances were up for renewal - can't remember exact prices, but under £1k for both, I think - which as mine has DD and DS1 on is good (and DH has an accident and a SP30 12 months ago on his) - my renewal quote was just under £1k, so it was good Oh, and April also saw me submit my SA tax return - with a resulting bill of a few £ under £650. Will get DH's done this month

Dropped some excess courgette and tomato plants off at my mum's house yesterday as a surprise - she was pleased as she didn't get any seeds and her tomato plants haven't arrived in the post yet (she only ordered 2 anyway) Still have some to take to my Nan's later this month - will also sow a line or 2 of carrot seeds in the greenhouse - bit late, but carrots are nice pulled small, anyway (imo) The bank accounts should hopefully be closed this week (next at the latest, I believe) and funds sent out to the 5 siblings. Still awaiting an update from the EA about the purchasers, but (again) am hopeful of that happening this week. If the sale falls through I think the executors can deal with it themselves going forward - I don't think my involvement will be required (thankfully!!) I must admit, I am looking forward to passing on/ shredding the large box of paperwork I have in relation to it all - although I have also managed to acquire several birth/ death/ marriage certs as a result, so I shall take copies of those before passing those on - one day I shall get back to the family trees!

What will May bring...? Well, I guess another full month of lockdown. Can't believe they are looking at getting primary schools back after that - it seems like such a far-off possibility right now. May also sees DS3's 11th birthday & my mum's 70th birthday. And 2 Bank Holidays Hopefully we might even be able to get some fence panels at some point!

greent

After a meh-feeling day yesterday, today was more productive I spent a lot of it in the garden - moved around 2 dozen or so strawberry plants from the 'cottage garden-esque' corner bed to the strawberry bed, potted up another 10 for my mum - and there are still some hiding in amongst some bulbs - and I noticed a line had crept along the garden edge into the lawn... ooops. Also moved 6 tomato plants on into their final big pots (they're tumbling types), weeded the strawberry bed and dug over most of the cottage-garden-y bed, removing an awful lot of Alchemilla plants, a few wildflower plants which I've decided I don't want any more (crazy self seeding over the years) and some dandelions   I sowed more carrot seeds, as none of the first lot have made an appearance, trimmed the neighbour's tree which overhangs our decking, and planted out the 20 sunflower seedlings I also watered everything

We're planning a full-on afternoon tea for VE day - but not for eating in the front garden! Nor are we decorating the house - although I may get DS3 to do red(pink), white and blue decorations on the drive with chalks  

Quite like the using-things-up we're doing in lockdown - mainly lots of toiletries (esp hotel ones), hotel marmalades (will use the mini jars of jam in jam tarts at some point) and random food items. Our food waste is always low, anyway - although I did have to do some rescuing today of carrots and peppers which had been hanging around in the fridge too long... ended up being chopped and frozen - will use in something at some point.....

Oh - and the best bit..... my (youngest) cousin who got married last year, gave birth last night to a lovely baby boy - he has masses of hair and big chubby cheeks

[Deleted User]

Your updates always make me smile greent, so thank you 😊 
I understand the meh feeling, I think we're all having days like that ATM. Take care love xx

newgirly

Morning greet, we have a bluetit nest In the back of the house by the loft and you can hear them tapping away, it took a while to work out what it was as it was so noisy I thought next door where having building work done 😁

kaycastle

I haven't been around for a while and it was really nice to read your updates Sounds like the gardening is going really well! Sunflowers are well exciting to grow - they make me feel like a kid again

greent

Ahhh - how lovely, ng!! 

I've got some pink sunflowers in the mix this year, kaycastle - will be interesting to see what they're like  

Debating cleaning the caravan and sorting the bathroom in there today - would like the pesky thing gone and occasionally people are looking for them on fbook as isolation rooms for family.... could be a way to sell it in the current climate  

Suffolk_lass

I have a packet of Russian Giant Sunflower seeds and have started 6. Never grown them before. I think I will offer two to my next door neighbour who has two girls under five.

greent

Having just retrieved the packet, I see mine are these: https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/sunflower-harlequin-f1-hybrid/4257TM - not what I really call sunflowers, but I remember the choice at the GC was very limited on all seeds (just before lockdown) They look rather cheerful, though - and I have 20 of them now planted out

More garden time yesterday - weeding involving proper digging with a spade (looks so much better though!) and have finally planted out all the remaining courgettes and pumpkins (save the ones reserved for my Nan's) Remaining seedlings now are night scented stocks (outside) (will plant en masse in 'cottage garden' border but also give a tray to my mum) and then inside on the family room windowsill some tiny/ late tomatoes (doubt they'll do anything, but shall give them a chance), basil, chives, possibly curly parsley coming up - and nothing happening at all with the coriander - I may re-sow, as I have more (old) seeds left. If nothing else, this year has seen me have a good sort out of the seed collection, one way or another. Absolutely none of the very old 2 packs of poppies came up (sow before 2009/2010) (shame, as 1 pack included some lovely looking purple ones) and only a very few of the Californian poppies came up - they are planted outside now, but still under cover, as the neighbourhood cats like where they are planted (meh!)

Today's plan is a supermarket sweep (firstly L1dl for basics and 1 specific thing in the middle aisle which we've needed for almost a year) and then Tesc0 for the rest.  I have quite a long list - the only veg we have in is half a cucumber, around a kilo of potatoes, a few onions and half a head of celery. Fruit is also dire - a couple of over ripe nectarines and an apple. I also need basics such as ham, eggs (fingers crossed), flour (haven't seen any on the shops since before lockdown - can get some expensive stuff from local baker's if I get desperate (have plenty of bread flour)), bacon, cheese, cream, milk, juice, crisps...… It's a never ending feeding frenzy here!   Also needed (as always) is some housework and I may have a look at finances and DH's tax return if I feel the need to sit at a laptop (ie: be next to DS2 when he's doing schoolwork - his focus is appalling_ ) Will try and persuade DS1 to mow the lawns as all he is doing is sitting at his laptop or PS4 gaming - sometimes until the very early hours, which is bloomin' annoying if he's talking to fellow gamers - he talks quietly but his voice really carries even at super low volumes.

Have seen some more pics of my cousin's baby - so sweet Looking forward to hopefully seeing him in the Summer (maybe!) 

Suppose I should get my b*m into gear now.... x

greent

Forgot the other updates:

1.   sold the caravan the other day to someone who wanted it as an isolation base for a family member - yippee!!! 
2.  We've made the decision not to worry about holding money back for the BTL - should the tenant have an issue our monthly (IO) required payment is <£85 at current rates, so we figure we could cover that on an ongoing basis if needed, so OPs are back under way. Balance on large account (due to be repaid first) is now under £41K - I'm trying to jiggle things to make sure I get that under £40K next month - that will be sooo good! (small balance is just under £5k but has a further 5 years to run after large one - why we never tied them into same length I'm not sure!)
   

[Deleted User]

Fab news on the caravan sale! Good luck braving the shops, I have found it really stressful going, but there are no delivery slots to be had so needs must...

Your garden sounds like it's coming along beautifully, this weather really does lend itself to us being outside so much more doesn't it. Take care love x