misscousinitt's MF Diary

misscousinitt

DH came home from work yesterday with a bad back - he had a twinge before Christmas and it's just gone on him. It threw my day though -wasn't expecting him home...

He's a bit better today, but probably going to take tomorrow off so he can be properly rested.

I forgot to mention that I won £25 on the Premium bonds - I was really excited until I realised that my tax bill over and above what the rent tax is is £38 (which I really don't understand as I was on PAYE). Give with one hand and take away with the other (and some). Really must pay our bills tomorrow then they will be out of the way.

Sold some packaging I was sent in error for £5 today - another chip off the business credit card bill. I have a few more bits like this that I need to get rid of.

Saw my cousin yesterday - was a good catch up - we sat in her new extension looking at the squirrel and birds (including a wren) in the garden having a good old chat and a cuppa! We are defiantly going to do that more often...

Had a nice dinner of fish pasta tonight with LO garlic bread - it was very welcome after starting to sort out my accounts for the 6 months I've done - 2 months down, 4 to go.

Off to see my friend who is on bed rest tomorrow - will get a few jobs done in the morning before popping to see her.

MCI

Karmacat

Surprises good and bad, but you're still making good things happen. Keep on going

misscousinitt

Tax bills are paid 😢 could have gone on holiday with that.

Three more months of accounts done - 1 to go then it can all get transferred to the spreadsheet (putting it in a book at the moment as I find it easier to have a written record and then data entry is so much quicker for number crunching). My desk job used to include a lot of data entry, so I am quite quick at that.

Had my nails done before Christmas (Shallac) and they have lasted really well. However, I am back to baking today so had to get removed yesterday (not as easy as normal nail polish). Anyhow, looked up how to do it on the Internet so saved myself £7 by doing it myself and not going to the salon.

My nearly 12 month old cheque that I paid in last week has cleared (thought it might as it was from a company - even though the bank said it wouldn't) so that's £7.60 in the bank I didn't have and a lot of hassle avoided trying to get a new cheque issued (I hate ringing eon).

As I said, back to baking this morning, got a market on Saturday - just waiting for the dishwasher to finish so I have a clear run at it. It's only a small market so not too much to do 4 hours today and probably the same tomorrow. Then I have to pop to the cake supply shop up the road (fortunately just a 10 min walk) and I need to clean my car out. Tomorrow I must get all my stuff ready in the afternoon after finishing baking so I can go to yoga tomorrow evening.

Had a good afternoon with my friend yesterday, she's in better spirits now things are going a little smoother for her - we are still tackling the washing pile, but it is going down now.

DH has gone back to work today, he was getting bored so it's good, but he must be careful.

Had slow cooked brisket for tea yesterday (we have some leftovers to go in the freezer). Plus I cooked a cottage pie for my friend so there are a couple of portions of that left to go in the freezer.

Tonight is Tuna steaks for tea with savoury rice.

Hope everyone is having a good week - I can't believe it's Friday tomorrow!

MCI

edinburgher

It must be funny paying your tax in 'lumps' through your tax return, one of the joys of PAYE is that it goes out in equal dribs and drabs and you never realise just how much they're stinging you for

Congratulations on avoiding contacting E0n, they are truly woeful (nearly 6 months to switch the FIT for our solar panels, another 3 months before they'd let me create an account to manage them online) :eek:

Dinner sounds lovely, I may need to nick your idea. We have some YS tuna steaks in the freezer and I picked up a collapsible insert for our 3 tier steamer for rice (the traditional sort, wonder if rice grains can fall through the holes) :think: Mrs E a big fan of microwave packets of rice, but I hate them with a vengeance :mad:

misscousinitt

Hi Ed

For 2016-17 I paid PAYE and a lump (due to rental income). Be the same next year, though I may not have to pay so much (if any) as there is no way my income is going to be above the threshold. It totally Un - nerves me paying a lump like that but at least it's been saved for.

I did cheat with the rice, it was packet but not a micro one - thai lemongrass, coconut and Chilli - it was very nice actually and went nice with lemon and herb marinated tuna - quick easy tea after baking most of the day.

---

Was quite proud of what i achieved yesterday, did 4 out of my 9 items for my market (the ones that keep well). Walked to the cake shop to get muffin cases (20 min round trip), got all my sundries together for the market - utensils, baskets, gloves, paper bags, display equipment etc..., did my SALE sign and cleaned all my blackboards.

Don't feel that we'll this morning, but got to get to it shortly. Dishwasher is on and surfaces are clean - just the griddle pan from last night's tuna to be washed (it's soaking at the moment). So I am going to get myself a little breakfast (and hope I feel better), get ready and get started. Hopefully should be finished baking by mid afternoon then I can clean the car out and settle down for a couple of hours before yoga knowing that everything is done for the morning.

Hope everyone has a lovely Friday and a great weekend.

MCI

Karmacat

I hope you're not coming down with You Know What (it shall remain unnamed ....). Salt gargles? The baking sounds great.

Goldiegirl

I love a bit of tuna, but Mr Goldie isn't keen so we don't have it that often. We have a few savory rice packs in the cupboard, which I picked up when they were on offer. I'm fairly sure I've got the lemongrass one, so I think it may be tuna time when I next do my menu plan

misscousinitt

Friday's activities took me about an hour longer than expected as I was on a bit of a go slow - also had to pop out to get some cream which was mildly annoying (hate it when I forget ingredients). I still got to yoga though.

Still feeling a little off...nothing too serious though (I hope).

Market wasn't too bad considering that the weather was absolutely awful. Had 70 through the door (which is their lowest figure ever!) I covered my costs and made a little bit so happy with that. Saw my friend too and he treated me to a lovely lunch (while we were trying to figure out what the snow was doing - it had calmed down a bit by the time we got out of the pub - it's quite a hilly area where this market it any you never know how it's going to go).

Was shattered when I got back and fell asleep, so not much achieved Saturday afternoon, though I did pop up to mum's for an hour after managing to rouse myself.

Lazy day yesterday. Went and bought some new saucepans. This was not an impulse buy, been waiting for some to be in the sale at Mr W. Had my old saucepans for over 20 years (I think they had a 10 year guarantee when I bought them, so haven't done too bad). The handles were starting to be dangerous and we threw one away last year...so had defiantly used to destruction! AND they will get donated to the scrap bin for our charity - we cash in old metal; which helps us to raise money.

Anyway, the saucepans had a third off and I paid for them using the voucher I was given when I left work (I still have £71 to spend). So a purchase that although was much needed and has got the right philosophy behind it still didn't cost me anything...phew...think I've gone on a bit there.

Today is paperwork and chores. Got some bills to pay, Stalls to book, receipts to sort and the usual tidying, washing and getting all the plastic boxes from market clean and ready for the next one. Planning to get that done, pop to Herr A and then go and have a coffee and some of my leftover cake with a friend of mine.

Tonight's tea is Lamb Burgers from the market on Saturday. I was given them! £5 worth (previously frozen and short date - another person who doesn't like waste). The lady that does the meat is lovely and her stuff is really nice and mostly home reared on her farm. I am very grateful for freebies this month due to not really earning any money. I know some lovely people and I get the best discounts and occasional freebies - I love it!

Here's to hoping everyone has a great week.

MCI

edinburgher

Happy new saucepans! :j

That reminds me, I have a carbon steel wok that I was given nearly 10 months ago and I haven't seasoned it yet

Are the markets you go to any good for minimal/no waste packaging etc.? I've been meaning to check out our local farmers market again, but from memory most sellers were pretty keen on polystyrene trays and shrinkwrap...

Karmacat

That's not going on about the saucepans! It's important to remember what layering offers can do: sale, plus vouchers, plus a charity gaining from scrap sales. Win win win. Do you add things up, the moneysaving achievements, I mean? There's a lot going on in that there post