misscousinitt's MF Diary

misscousinitt

Thanks KK...

Just popping in to say a quick Hi. Hope to update at the weekend. It's busy at the moment. Bit stressed due to current weather conditions and uncertainty regarding this week's market - but ticking along okay.

Hope everyone is well.

MCI

misscousinitt

Today's market was cancelled yesterday. I am relieved - it really is grim out there.

I hadn't made too much and so with a few sales to friends I will at least pay for my ingredients. At least I am warm inside today (so far, got to go out later - will be going on foot as I don't want to risk the car).

I was thinking about a homeless guy that always comes and has a chat while I'm on the market that would have been on today - I really hope he is somewhere warm and someone is looking after him today. He never asks for anything, just chats away - I think he is lonely as much as anything.

In other news. We are having some issues with the rent from the rental thus month (sudden repair bill!) DH has taken various points up with the people we lease it to as something really don't add up - but we have not received any rent for Feb and so will not be making our OP until the matter is settled. It's not that we don't expect repairs, but when you have a £900 bill drop on your doorstep for work that was carried out in August! And there are a number of discrepancies it can bring you down a lot and DH has struggled with the anxiety attached to this. Hoping he can get a meeting with them soon and we will get it all resolved and the OP done in due course. I am really glad that we are not relying on the money to pay this mortgage or we would be stuffed.

We have booked a few days away as we feel we need something to look forward to...4 nights in a self catering cottage on a farm half way between Whitby & Scarborough. It's 2 minutes from the sea and 10 minutes walk to the pub - not a lot else round there...but that sounds absolutely ideal. We are going the last week of June, so some time off yet, but really looking forward to it.

Meal plan for March completed and nothing is going to stop us going to the pub tonight for happy hour and our buy one get one free burgers...simple pleasures that we have been looking forward to for the last couple of weeks and we are not going to let a little matter of some snow stop us!

Still got stuff in the freezer, done another online shop and got it delivered for £1! And got the bulk of what we needed at Herr A all sewn up in one shop. Couple of yellow stickered purchases for Mr W and I think we pretty much have March sorted out.

Suppose I better get on and get something constructive done today. Packing shortbread, Chutney preparations and some chores on the agenda.

Happy Friday all.

MCI

Karmacat

Glad to think of you at home today, and not out too much in the cold ... it really isn't pleasant out there, is it!

The cottage sounds good - I always think that the views round there are spectacular, and if its quiet as well - absolute heaven.

Goldiegirl

Sounds like a nice break you have booked, something to look forward to. Warm summer days seem almost unimaginable at the moment!

misscousinitt

Hi everyone...I really have been AWOL for a while.

It's been a tough March and not such a good start to April. 2 markets cancelled because of snow...and bad weather generally keeping numbers to markets down and people not really buying. But hopefully on to better days when the weather starts to improve.

No news on the disagreement with the lease people about our rental, we haven't had any rent for 2 months now so no OPs!!! I am hoping that we might get some sort of repose soon so we can make an OP at the beginning of May - it's no fun when the figures art going down as fast as they have been.

I'm not earning a a lot at the moment but the meal plan is done for April and I did an online shop last week. Had a slight mishap with a couple of the drawers of the freezer where stuff had defrosted and I had to throw stuff away - it really made me angry and upset at the same time (I hate waste).

On the bright side I've got a very well booked few months ahead on the market front - some big ones too, so fingers crossed I can make up for the lower earnings in Feb/Mar.

I do hope that everyone is well. I hope to do some catching up at some point in the not too distant future.

MCI x

misscousinitt

DH is still trying to make in roads into resolving the rental issues. Coming up to 3 months without rent. I am so glad that we arnt relying on this money to live; but it is highly annoying that there have been no OPs being done. We are still just above £90k.

Last weekend went fairly well on the market front and I'm looking forward to this weekend...first big special event of the season on Sunday along with a regular market on Saturday. Hoping to be in a position where I don't have to take any money out of the savings this month...but we will see.

Paperwork for the week completed yesterday and today it's back to prepping in the kitchen (trying to make my life slightly easier on baking days). Few errands to do first then going for it this afternoon.

Cat has settled herself on my lap. Going to give her 10 mins then I must get on.

MCI

Karmacat

Good to hear you're keeping going - must be so tough in the sort of weather we've had, when you're relying on people to come out. And I hope the rental sorts itself out soon too!

I have a slight case of cat-on-the-knee envy

misscousinitt

Thanks KC I am glad to say that the weather forecast is a little better for the weekend - so keeping my fingers crossed.

DH was a little miffed last night as he still hasn't had a reply about the rental - he says that the way he feels at the moment it wouldn't really be a good idea to go and see then (he has to be careful as he works for them - local authority...). 5 hey could have at least returned his email or given him a quick call - it'd really bad customer service - if they are treating someone who works for them like this God only knows how they are treating the it other rental clients - very bad....I hope it gets sorted soon as I am sure it's not doing DHs head any good - he hasn't been sleeping very well. I can't get involved really as he wants to deal with it (and I don't want to undermine him either).

In other news, the prep is going ok for the weekend - getting ahead with making pastry and Brownies in advance (both keep really well). Be starting on the second lot of Brownies shortly - time for a cup of tea first.

MCI

misscousinitt

Hello there....

A combination of no rent (so now OP) and being extremely busy, has meant I haven't had time (or energy) to come on here. I do hope you are all keeping well.

We have finally made another OP of £500. At the end of last month they refunded us most of the money we are owed. It's still a mess and so as not to stress DH out and so he can't be accused of conflict of interest, I am now taking over the managing of the the rental. I think it's best all round now. The paperwork provided is quite frankly rubbish - they really don't explain what charges they have deducted from your money...I will try my best to remedy this. I need it to be clear cut from a tax point of view - especially now I am self employed.

On the self employment front it's been very up and down...have been working incredibly hard and last month I earned a reasonable amount of money. But this month (even though there was a good start) hasn't been so good and so I am juggling finances and trying the make as much profit as possible.

Our holiday is just round the corner (we go on Monday) and I can not wait. (Money or no money!). Going shopping later for some goodies as we are going self catering and we have banked all our change for spends and have ourselves a tidy sum of £130...a bit more to come out of the joint savings to top it up and we are all set..........

I just need to get packed, housework done, finish a cake, shopping, deliver a cake, move plants, have a shower and cook tea today. Then I've got to bake tomorrow and Friday, market Saturday, visit a friend on Sunday and then DH and I have 5 whole days together.

I really hope everyone is well and I hope to catch up on a few diaries soon.

Going to update my signature now...we have 18 years and 4 months left on the mortgage according to the last letter; we would have been under 18 now if we hadn't had the trouble!!! But I have to take comfort in the fact that we have knocked 5 years off in 3 years and the momentum will start to build now as we make more OPs. I'll be doing another one next month and another August and then we should be up to date and back on track.

Must get on.

MCI

Officially under £90k!!! :j

Karmacat

Hope you're having a lovely holiday MCI, and stress free time with your OH.