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

themadvix

Thanks Karma - I am feeling pretty positive at the moment - feeling much better, lots of social stuff coming up (but with people I can truly relax and be myself with, so enjoyable rather than stressful), and then there's my Niece

And feeling totally smug at the moment - just had elevenses of homemade marmalade (last year's) on homemade toast

I'm beginning to have mixed feelings about not getting a daily digest - it so much easier to keep popping on and see what's happened - but this is reducing my productivity! :rotfl: (still miss this though!)

Jessy103

Great post and love the weird meals! 

South_coast

OMG, Why Bird - I've just travelled back in time 30 years 😂 I used to hate that thing! 

On a more sensible note, do the Leisure Vouchers come as vouchers or on a gift card? I've been thinking about claiming some, but the places they're accepted seem to be different depending on whether they're paper or plastic

themadvix

😂 So glad someone got the Whybird reference! The leisure vouchers come as paper from S&S, which among other things is why we have them - I’ve been avoiding plastic for a long time! And, yes, it does seem that where you can use them varies, but the paper ones give us a few  options, so we can usually find somewhere to eat. DH likes to hide when I get the various different types of voucher out of my bag to confuse the waiting staff!

South_coast

Thanks Vix, will have a look at the list again. My BF would be the same, but thinking they could come in handy for a solo trip I'm doing in a few months. 

P.S. We may have inspired a flurry of Googling!

themadvix

Morning all,

SC - generally DH is fine, but it's when I get out a 241/50% off voucher, then Leisure Vouchers (no change given) and then a Pizza Express gift card (earned through MS rewards, and a balance can stay on there) and stipulate the order in which they are to be used that he draws the line! Or if it goes wrong for whatever reason.... I take the attitude that I've earned the vouchers, so it's not my fault if it's complicated for them! And I always leave a tip for the full amount when they've accommodated my MSE ways! 

Yesterday afternoon I whizzed around town (had a list that involved going in 4 different directions, really irritating) and got loads done, so today I'm hoping to not have to leave the house (except possibly for a walk). It's wet and windy again here today, with a forecast of hail later! I have lots (and lots) of work to keep me occupied - I can't complain!

Tonight we're having oven-baked dhal with cod, which a friend has recommended and looks lovely. Decided that one piece of fish would probably be enough between two of us (influenced by the cost of it!). We only have one bit of salmon in a risotto and it seems like plenty, so this should be fine too. Will serve it with hm naans, and must freeze some yoghurt as starter when I open the pot.

MS things:
* NV survey
* Clicks

Gratitudes:
* It's definitely not been as cold the last few days - the house stays warm for longer after the heating has gone off
* We're not affected by the flooding here. It looks awful and I have huge sympathy for those affected.
* Larry Tesler.... who died yesterday, creator of cut, copy and paste.... my working life would be so much more difficult without these simple tools!

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

I love it when you can tier mse savings though I might not cope in a restaurant, actually.  My loss!

I really like the look of that lentil dhal - I could use chopped hard boiled eggs instead of fish ... so many good ideas around at the moment!

CathT

Hi madvix, have worked my waythrough your diary this week. An enjoyable read and I love your gratitude lists, reminds you there's good to be found in most things.

themadvix

Oh Karma, good call on the boiled eggs! My friend doesn’t like fish, so he actually just did the dhal and said it was good too. But will definitely try with eggs if we like it!

Hi Cath! I read through your diary, but quite a long time ago now... must come over and catch up and say hi (I don’t think I ever did! 🥴 I love my gratitudes, it does help me see the positive in every day.

themadvix

Just spoken to our energy supplier as because of the EV charging point we're due to have installed, we've got to have UK Power Networks come and check the main fuse (which helpfully has lost its label) and potentially upgrade it to a 100A one. But we can't have a 100A fuse unless the meter tails (the cables between the fuse, the meter and the consumer unit) are the right size. When we had the consumer unit installed (with the new kitchen) the ones between the meter and unit were upgraded, so that's fine. But the ones between the fuse and meter are not big enough. Still with me? I'm not sure I am! These meter tails are the responsibility of our supplier - hence the call to them. Because of the car, we're on the list to have a smart meter installed so that we can move onto their EV car tariff (Octopus Go) and charge overnight when its cheap. The original wait was going to be six weeks, but because they're sending people to do the meter tails, the meter will get done at the same time (on Tuesday - good service, or what?) - upshot is we'll be on the new tariff and saving money sooner

And, the smart meter and tails and visit from UKPN are all free