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

newgirly

You got in just in time to visit a NT property then Vix! If anyone does work out how to look good in a video call I’d like to know please, they seem to age me by 20 years 😆 

themadvix

Can’t be as bad as the frozen shot we got of my FIL with a double chin the size of Wales! And he’s certainly not double-chinned normally! 

Suffolk_lass

I blame the vari-focal spectacles - they require the person to tilt their head up to focus on the screen so the chin becomes the bit the camera focuses on>

Karmacat

I loathe video calls, I won't make them.  Though even that may need to change, argh

Love the quality of the food you made, madvix, sounds really good.

themadvix

Morning all (probably afternoon by the time I post),

SL, that may be the case for normal people, but my FIL just seemed determined to sit at a weird angle! Karma - I would use the term loathe too - but needs must I think. I did make DH set it up so we could see them on the TV screen and used the laptop for the camera, so it wasn't massive faces right in the screen, which I hate. Glad you liked the sound of the food - I'd be truly miserable if I couldn't cook.

This morning I have ventured out. Went for a walk in the woods on my own first thing - it was bliss. In human terms I had the woods to myself and it was wonderful. Have borrowed my mum's battery lawnmower to see if we should invest in one for our front garden - the cable situation is a PITA and we may well tend to the garden better if it wasn't so tricky (we've never bought a lawnmower either - we inherited one with the house!). We were very careful to keep a long way from each other and I only popped into the garden not the house. Will return the mower later and take my own cuppa so we can have a drink in the garden!

Also went to Morrisons for a few bits we need - chaos in there! Half the people seemed to be ignoring any social distancing or just doing their usual wandering around oblivious - two people (related) were stood by the sliced bread for ages - I nearly told them to move! Sourced some eggs from a local village shop as we were nearly out (and eat  a lot) - they'd come from Covent Garden as the restaurants don't need them. But no egg boxes, so I had to use a paper bag!

MS things:
* Clicks etc.
* Tiny bit of work

Gratitudes:
* Wonderful walk this morning
* Eggs!
* Sunshine and a drive in my car - it felt like freedom, even if it wasn't!

Take care all, stay safe

Jessy103

I can't see it being long before we go into lockdown, people seem to think that they are immune and the reason we are told to stay 2m apart is just for a laugh!

Very jealous of your walk in the woods, any chance you could film your walks on your phone and put them on Youtube so that people like me, that are stuck in an office all day can immerse ourselves!

Cheery_Daff

I had to talk my mum through how to not look too dreadful on a video call yesterday  The trick is to put the phone/tablet/whatever further away and prop it up on something - have it facing AT you, not from underneath (otherwise the screen mostly fills with chins ). Does mean you get more background though! I'm doing it quite a bit from work now so I've tidied one corner of my study and place the tablet at a strategic angle and sit well back

Karmacat

I've been wondering about very early morning - glad to hear it worked for you.

themadvix

Morning all,

Jess, lovely though your idea of wood videos is, you've not seen my camera skills! I might give it a try, but imagine it won't be worth putting online. I've not been out first thing today though (as it's rationed and I have letters to write before I go, will combine the trips later), so will try tomorrow. Karma - it was very early, before 8 am. No idea if it was busier today though, knowing people can only go out once, things may have changed. Cheery - that's it precisely - you've got to stay away from the screen - no one wants to see your moles up close or up your nose!!

So, it's an even stranger new world today.... In good news though, I have an actual, decent amount of work for today. And there's even hope that self-employed people might get some help. We all have (if we're sensible) savings to back us up, but a) they weren't intended for this and we don't know how long the situation will continue, and b) if the government is helping everyone else out drastically (so they don't have to call on *all* their savings), it seems very unfair that we do. I find it especially frustrating (and this a longstanding rankle) that as someone who directly brings money into the economy from abroad, I'm treated as a second-class citizen so often when it comes to govt help (see Maternity Allowance!). Sorry, rant over. We'll see what they say. I'm OK for the next month,  maybe two, so it's not dire. But who knows what the future will bring.

MS things:
* Work!
* £7.50 cashed out from TCB - for my mum's referral, years ago (I've never really expected it as I know she is entirely unconvinced about the benefits of cashback sites as she once didn't get a big payout) - will be transferred to OP savings
* Clicks etc.
* TCB earned on a T&M order of strawberry plants and tomato plants. My existing strawbs needed replacing (well past their expected life span and crop significantly down last year). I've order 12 (minimum) but only have space for 6 really, so will have to be inventive with where the rest go (hanging baskets maybe)! 3 tom plants will have to go in the mini greenhouse and not grow too much until it's time to be planted out!
* Spring onions planted. Aim to plant some beans and peas today.  Will also try some squash seeds that have a plant before date of 2013!

Gratitudes:
* The sun is shining
* I don't need to go anywhere except for a walk (and the postbox)
* Work - immensely grateful for this at the moment

Have a good day all, stay safe and at home!

themadvix

Just cashed out £22 on PA