Pippi’s pulling up her stripey-socks for the final sprint towards the Good-Life……………

Pippilongstocking

NorthernLas wrote: »

Ah hah, I've grown watercress, but in a planter. It's confusing as there are some sorts that don't need running water to do just fine

Bl**dy bad job when I have to put wellies on to fill the bird feeders, hmmph

Troglodyte :j to the watercress (think maybe the one without the stream is a kind of 'land' watercress, as if we weren't already confused! :rotfl::rotfl:

Um, I've always got wellies on - well almost always - so NOT feeding the birds with wellies would be more of an issue here Hope its not too bad!

You're not silly - easy to forget who's met/talked to who on here.

I'll PM you regarding my mini-campsite!

gallygirl wrote: »

Same here except mine is solid clay so goes from stuff Demi Moore could have used in Ghost to something you could build a house with overnight :mad:).

Ohhhh my love - my darling.............................(in a very croony voice)!



LT well done on a mention in the newsletter go you

Lot going on here today I'll attempt to put in a decent reply to most of it - thank you I've popped in once or twice today - and this chit chat has kept me sane and happy

A fair bit done today - no supervisors in - battling with reviewing comments - got one thing done for Monday - now for the epic one!

Off to quote and catch up

:j first off ARTICHOKE ALERT - ME pretty pretty please - I don't have any and I do want some!

Tea consisted of pork chops - random cabbage cut up before xmas which I forgot about on a board - in the fridge (cheey didn't eat clearly!:rotfl:) and we've had that with chopped up 2 potatoes and chopped up handful of wedges (like mini roasties) and gravey from the stew on Monday.

Cheery has gone and got the new hens to lay as well - upto 8 eggs a day here - with her good chicken management.:D

I'm hoping she'll give us a glowing reference for prospective b&b/camping/visiting/house-sitting folk

Pippilongstocking

EssexHebridean wrote: »

Quick thought on the subject of "vehicle rotation" - is it possible to combine SORN and 6 months road tax so that you use the car from, say October - march, then Darwin fir the other half the year? Only one set of running costs at a time, half the cost in Tax....also I take it you use a specialist firm for his insurance? My BiL's family have a Bongo and pay less for the insurance on that than their regular car!

Good idea - blew that this year by putting him (Darwin) back on the road in December - but its a good theory - OH and I were talkign about that today - car due MOT now - which is a bit pesky - but tax due in March - might sorn car for a bit and see if we can manage with the sulking one!

Can you insure a car for half the year? Or can you get insurance for both cars on one insurance? Thats a thought.

Petrol costs don't matter too much - well Darwin uses more but I'm hoping to be driving less each month.................

That way I can potentially keep both - although today I wa talking about getting rid of the berlingo and keeping Darwinium - maybe more viable when OH and I *eventually* get together

Pippilongstocking

Pips_Mum wrote: »

Goals look like good ones to me :-)

Hello you :j thanks - a bit ambitious but then again I never sit still - well I did when cheery was here for a bit - but I didn't shut up!

Karmacat wrote: »

And here's another one - I recognise that guilt thing too.

I've huge guilt about the whole thing (study) I really think its hard to not beat yourself up when things don't go swimmingly



Ooh! Now there's an idea. Done quietly with friends and friends of friends, otherwise you get into all sorts of regulations, I suspect.

:j:j:j:jvery good idea - very much worth pursuing - we've not got a lot but we've got a great view!:j:j:j:j

troglodyte wrote: »

Hi Pippi,
I know what you mean about the 'being unhappy when you ought not to be' situation. I was not enjoying life either; now I've bitten the bullet and left academia (which I never felt was right for me) I am much happier, although finances have taken a huge hit - not that they were that high-flying in the first place! Anyway so far I'm enjoying life again and managing to keep the wolf from the door (just about) and things seem to be getting busier so I have high hopes that I can make this work and I'm sure you will too.

Loved the 'stop procrastinating' goal - that should be mine too but I keep putting it off :rotfl:

Chilly here today but at the moment the sun is shining from a blue sky and I've optimistically hung some washing outside for the first time in about 2 months. Hope some bird doesn't poop on it!

Just found blackfly on my Schefflera plant - I had hoped that the freezing temperatures in the conservatory would have put paid to those.

By the way, anyone want any Jerusalem artichokes? I thought I'd try them because they are easy to grow, disease-resistant, have pretty flowers like sunflowers, make a good screen, produce lots of tubers... in fact there are all sorts of good things about them but sadly, after trying them roasted, boiled, steamed, fried, in soup and salads, I have to admit that I just don't like them

By the way, how about a tour of forum friends for an MSE holiday?

I like the idea of it all (academia) but not the politics nor the actual nitty gritty I think - I think alot of the need to have a phd was tied in with self worth issues which I'm beginning to deal with - I'm far happier when I'm plootering about in the mud - I like the idea of teaching and passing it on - something landed on my desk today about a 20 hour week job for 3 months - promoting green issues and engaging public (I emailed them today about the chance of more info and if they might consider the right person NEXT winter, when I'll need work - not now and not in the summer) - go me and my cheekyness. Glad its working out better for you - we'll manage until we're sorted - and then something will come up - it always does. Thank you!

Please to the artichokes and they make a great hedge/barrier - might be good at the lottie LT

I have wondered about a 'tour' I'd need to make sure someone was up here too -

Blackfly - bleurgh - the cold might well get rid of that!

MrsMoo2U

Lots to think about with the car there. I am on the hunt for a new car. Spent today looking at numerous websites to get an idea of prices. I am thinking a berlingo as it would be useful with Moo. What are your thoughts on the Berlingo re comfort/cost etc. How much do they cost to tax? I am completely green when buying a car. Only ever bought one and that was from my best friend (I just paid for all the others when I was married had no input to selection etc as I didnt drive them)

Lemon_Tree

looks like we'll be growing artichokes then. I'll PM my addy. Thank you.

Pippilongstocking

cherisong wrote: »

Happy New Year Pippi.

Just back from my hols (late last night) and catching up. Love your plans. I particularly like the learn one thing a day. It doesn't have to be big, or an effort. I find that by keeping a daily journal where I list three things I am grateful for in the day and what I have learned today then you soon realise that you are already learning something new every day. We just dont always recognise it or even remember it.

With regards to the feeling miserable. I can empathise with that totally. I realised after my accident that although the doctor thought I was depressed that I was in fact just plain miserable. Intend to change that in a big way. Had long talk with Mr C who is also feeling miserable and we realise it is because we are apart so much. We want to change this but need to make a plan. Good luck with it all. I look forward to seeing how you approach it.

Oh and another thing - I intend to get to Orkney someway, somehow, this year so it would be lovely to meet up.

I love learning I just need to get my head around the fact its OK to learn something without needing a qualification at the end of it :rotfl:

My homestead is your homestead (house sitting/spare room or whatever)! If we can help at all let me know - otherwise we can absolutely meet up for a cuppa :j

Glad you've both decided you want to be together more - and lovely ot have you back home!

Happy new year to you too xxxx

chevalier wrote: »

hi pippi
just imagine the thesis like debt.

in 4 months it will be gone.

so then you have to work out how many words you have to do a week to make that target.

then you have to assign time values to that amount of words and set hours in the day for doing them. And then do them LOL

Does this make sense. You are so good at debt busting, could you not use those strategies to good effect with the thesis?
chev

Now that is a very good way to think about it - thank you - really inspirational!!!! I'm thinking about that since I read it this morning - I'm up for that kind of a challenge - why can't I think about things like that ? Thank you!

NorthernLas wrote: »

Pippi - I have been off-line for a few days and I haven't had time to catch up on your thread, but I wanted to say that if you were interested in renting part of your garden for my tent (and your washing facilities and maybe providing some food), I would really be interested in coming to visit your lovely island! If I was able to borrow transport (for a fee of course), that would be even better.

Please PM me if you want to discuss further.

Thanks

NL x

I'll definitely PM you - what a lovely thought to be an 'impromptu campsite' we've often done it for friends anyway - we're lucky where we live its so beautiful - you'd be very welcome in whichever way we work it out!

Pippilongstocking

cherisong wrote: »

Lots to think about with the car there. I am on the hunt for a new car. Spent today looking at numerous websites to get an idea of prices. I am thinking a berlingo as it would be useful with Moo. What are your thoughts on the Berlingo re comfort/cost etc. How much do they cost to tax? I am completely green when buying a car. Only ever bought one and that was from my best friend (I just paid for all the others when I was married had no input to selection etc as I didnt drive them)

I love mine - we've had it from new - they are quite inexpensive - ours was £8k new - (long story about relatives leaving me money and we got it new) we couldn't find a second hand one when I wanted to buy one - they were quite new and hard to find - thesedays you'd get one second hand for not very much I suspect - but cheery would know better.

Mine is not cheap to tax - petrol engine 1.4 - tax I think just under 200?

Really comfy - lovely big windows and views out of it - in a 'normal car' I find them a bit claustrophobic - the other thing is that they are a bit 'bouncy in the wind' but that might not be an issue for you - high sided - can be a bit of a windy problem - but the sideways doors are perfect int he wind.

As for storage or getting away etc - we've had 3 bikes all the camping gear and the dog/kids etc and we've had tonnes of room - great for a big shop or getting bits from ikea too! I can't say how much I love this car!

Cheap to run though and cheap for parts - petrol wise - about 400 miles to a full tank maybe a bit more - insurance for fully comp mine is £120 (ish)

Perfect for a doggie like moo - huge boot - peedie can run around in ours and make himself dizzy.

Cheery has a deisel one (bigger engine) but same kind of thing.

Kangoo (Renult) might get my vote more - no carpets in it - much better with a woofy dog.

I'd highly recommend one - part of why I don't want to get rid of it is that I'm just in love with it.

We've already talked about a newer one if we do change it or get rid of it.

lucielle

Hi Stripes plans sound very plan like so thats good. Hope Darwin decides to behave and your car situation gets sorted.
L

vl2588

Pippilongstocking wrote: »

I like the idea of teaching and passing it on - something landed on my desk today about a 20 hour week job for 3 months - promoting green issues and engaging public (I emailed them today about the chance of more info and if they might consider the right person NEXT winter, when I'll need work - not now and not in the summer) - go me and my cheekyness.

That sounds :j and :T. Fingers crossed for you!

MrsMoo2U

Thanks Pippi, you just clarified all my thoughts. I have been looking today and have seen a couple of second hand ones and also seen some Kangoo ones. I love the idea of big windows. My fiesta was an X reg. I loved it. Great vision all around and very solid. Whenever I have to use a hire car for work I always compared it to the fiesta. I completely get loving the car and not wanting to get rid of it. If I hadnt had my hand forced I would not have parted with the fiesta ( I called her Xaffy.)