Finally I have a mortgage I can start to pay off!

themadvix

Earthie - I agree that it's not all for me/us, but it is good and DH has embraced it, which is good (I signed him up for the emails too - he's less receptive when I tell him to do something than when he's had a chance to think about it himself :rotfl: It seems to be working )

Karma - it was all of the helicopters and yes, they are fascinating, especially the Chinooks. It was like something out of (and I may have completely the wrong film!) Apocalypse Now where they all rise up from behind the dunes - in our case, a hedgerow! We watched the TV coverage afterwards - it was excellent! (Hoping there may be a 'bad lip reading' of the royals, but maybe they only covered the wedding because of Meghan??)

themadvix

Sorry Busy Mee, didn't see you there!

I'm not sure we'll have 'missed' much tbh. It's more about reevaluating stuff than cutting things out. And this month isn't a great one for us to be cutting back a lot (although it will still be a relatively cheap one) as we've entertained, it's been my sister's birthday and we're going away for a weekend at the end of the month (plus many unscheduled trips to drive my Dad places!). DH has been considering breakfast options (his longstanding favourite is expensivo, not really his fault, but still pricey nonetheless), which may make a difference long term. The spending diary is good too and so far, I *think* I've kept up with it all.

You can sign up at any time and get the emails - it doesn't have to be July or January. And I think people do it more than once sometimes too, which I can see might help if things come at the wrong time.

themadvix

Afternoon all,

A somewhat frustrating day so far. I wanted to get my tax return done, as DH has helped me sort out some niggly bits on my accounts, but between Nationwide and TSB there's a conspiracy to stop me (don't they know I want to make my annual pension payment and the sooner I get it in there the more I can compound it?). Am now waiting for a certificate of interest from both - requested from Nw, but it looks as if TSB just send it... last year on 20 July, so here's hoping it will be soon.

I have got on with work and various other jobs and am about to go and make some bread and some biscuits to take to a friend at the weekend (for yet another BBQ!).

Looking at our bills account, it looks like we could swipe a chunk of the excess into savings from there - will discuss with DH later.

MS things:
* VB poll, MS rws, SBs
* NV and PA surveys
* PC survey (and fingers crossed a product trial - it's extremely rare they are something I want to try, but this was not wrapped in plastic!

Gratitudes:
* The attitudes of the media and general public towards the football team - they/we should be proud of what they've achieved, even if they didn't win (and it's so rare for the media not to castigate anyone who is less than perfect). :T
* Not having a penalty shoot-out.... I don't think my nerves could have taken that
* A pretty village on my detour home from taking Dad to work

Enjoy the sunshine this afternoon folks!

earthgirl

Argh hate banking admin type things hope it's sorted soon!
Love your gratitude lifts, always different.

themadvix

Afternoon all,

I've abandoned the banking admin stuff until I've got the paperwork - Nw did get back to me and are sending them out. Very friendly human people at the other end of their secure messaging :T

I used up the surfeit of milk yesterday by making ricotta with it. I've just finished putting together a spinach and ricotta cannelloni for dinner tonight (and for the freezer) using the spinach from the veg box and the cannelloni I won last year (the last of the won pasta). So I feel this has helped with clearing the cupboards and not wasting anything. I did have to buy a couple of bits for the dish, but only £1.45 for passata and mozzarella was exclusively for the dish - I'll use the other bits (eggs etc.) for other meals too.

I've also harvested the last of our redcurrants - I certainly can't complain about our 99p redcurrant bush (ebay several years ago, was meant to be blackcurrant but the lady had clearly got them mixed up!). I should think we've had nearly 3kg off it this year. Some have gone in muffins which I'll take down to friends (biscuits burnt, of course! We'll eat them instead ) and rest are ready for the freezer in weighed portions for more muffins. I froze the whey from the ricotta for bread making/pizza bases (also weighed out) too. Think I'm done on cooking for now! :rotfl:

Off to visit Nan shortly, but niece will be there, so surefire happy Nan today!

MS things:
* All the food saving/harvesting/cheese making/baking shenanigans!
* MS rw, SBs, VB poll
* 1P survey, YG survey, PA survey

Gratitudes:
* Having the time to do all the above - I really enjoy it
* Our redcurrant bush
* Having company to visit Nan - much safer and easier

Happy Friday everyone!

Karmacat

A 99p redcurrant bush :j that's a wonderful thing.

themadvix

It is indeed KC

themadvix

Afternoon all,

We had a good weekend - visiting friends and their new baby (another one!) for a BBQ on Saturday (muffins went down well) and then went for a walk yesterday morning followed by a lazy afternoon in the garden and impromptu BBQ for two in the evening. Very nice and excepting some fuel, all free.

UFM continues to make us think and the spending diary is going well (I think - I'm either not spending much or forgetting to write it down!). Looking forward to totting it up at the end of the month and seeing how we've done. I can see it becoming a regular thing (which, I hear you all say, it should have been for years!).

We had our annual statements for energy through and we seem to be doing fine on that front - back in credit now after the winter (3% interest paid on credit balances too ). I am trying to remember to turn a couple more things off at the wall when we're done with them (TV, stereo, PS3 and streaming thing on one switch - but will definitely save something as they have lights!).

Mum and niece have just been for lunch - that child never stops.... but she's incredibly cute!

MS things:
* Took packed lunch for our walk yesterday (NSD)
* MS rws, SBs, VB poll done
* 100 point MM survey done

MS things to do:
* List various bits on the Bay - to get rid as much as to make money
* Collect RM survey stuff (still not put through door )

Gratitudes:
* Lovely time on Saturday with old friends
* A quick wander round a very pretty little village or two (Sat and Sun)
* The self-satisfaction of being prepared and not having to spend on food when it's unnecessary

Have a good afternoon all

themadvix

Afternoon all!

Am now live on the RM survey - they ramp it up rather! I've got 5 things to post next week, 3 on the same day at different times/places! But I also have my stamp allocation and some L2S vouchers for posting a parcel (which are in excess of the cost of posting). Everything is processed and ready to go.

While I was out I bought some BBQ paint as ours is in need of some TLC. This was something I asked for on freegle, but failed to get. However, once it's painted I'm going to fashion a cover out of a broken suit bag (plasticky 'material') so it won't go rusty again. While I was in B&Q I rescued poor Pep the padron (a reduced chilli pepper plant). He's now looking much healthier in the veg bed and at 75p any chillis he produces will be saving us money

I didn't mention, but on Sunday evening I had a looooong conversation with a nearby neighbour - an older lady - we'd always been on 'hello' terms, but that was it until then. Yesterday, just before DH got in from work, I answered the door to find her standing there with a huge plate of stir fry which she'd made for us! It was delicious and so, so lovely of her! We devoured it when DH got home which was just as well as the leftover cannelloni wouldn't have gone very far (finished that too). So I've just finished making some naans for her (she mentioned she likes biriyani and I have a vague feeling she may be diabetic so cakes might not have worked). Naturally there were some extras to go in our freezer too. Unfortunately neighbour's house is up for sale, so it's unlikely that this newfound friendship will be long term

I also made another batch of yoghurt yesterday - it worked perfectly again and now I'm wondering why it took me so long to get around to doing it.

MS things:
* VB poll, MS rw and SBs done.
* 50 MM survey
* Yoghurty goodness - feeling very domestic goddess at the moment

Gratitudes:
* Another spring onion has appeared (that makes two :rotfl: )
* Delicious, delicious free dinner
* New friendship

Have a good afternoon all

Karmacat

That sounds wonderful, madvix! Just goes to show, taking those little social risks can create something really positive.