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

Suffolk_lass

We found the starlings - a big crowd on the Charity field, flying and squawking around when we went to collect the surplus leek seedlings a neighbour has grown and kindly offered us. I need to get stuff planted and other things dug up today and tomorrow. We have a huge agapanthus in the gravel outside the kitchen extension that adjoins the patio - it is about 1.5m across and it has to be done and divided! Monty Don showed how on Friday so we are ready

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks NG, it was good to see her. And I caught up with Dad on Friday too for a walk near his house (in the fields, it was lovely, apart from the hayfever!). Glad you found the starlings SL and very envious of your agapanthus, they so remind me of my friend's wedding on Scilly. 

Not a lot to report. DH had a good eBay sale day yesterday and has made ~£100, which will fund some more mini stuff (it coming from mini part sales. We went for another bike ride on Saturday and after much research, I've ordered a secondhand saddle from ebay that should be much more comfortable. I'll take my bike down to the local bike shop in a couple of days to get them to look at the gears - I did a reasonable service of it at the weekend, but I can't work the gears out and they need tweaking.

We went for a walk with DH's parents yesterday - one of us with each parent and we swapped partway through. The rules don't seem to make a lot of sense, but we try to stick to them as much as possible. It was lovely to see them and the first time MIL had been out of the house since the week after lockdown began (her own choice, not medically required).

I've done the small amount of work I'd received over the weekend. I need to take some parcels to the PO, post a card for SIL and make DH's mask (finally finished mine) and finish the bread I'm making.  With work clearly lacking, I need to focus on (Prolific) surveys as a way to top up my income. Have done a couple already this morning.

MS things:
* Clicks
* Bid on an ebay item (and relisted others)
* Potted up tomato, pepper and chilli plants and planted out runners
* Coriander and basil seedlings showing their heads
* Serviced bike myself (ish)
* 2nd-hand saddle will hopefully save me £25+
* S&S
* TV survey
* RM CD survey

Gratitudes:
* Lovely bike ride on Saturday
* Ability to enjoy unlimited exercise!
* In-laws are well and a change of scene for our walk

Have a good day all!

Cheery_Daff

That's seriously cheap diesel! I just drove past our local place & thought it was cheap at 108.9 🙄 

Had to go into an outbuilding earlier to plug in an electric fence and two swallows flew out! Most exciting

themadvix

Petrol not diesel... but DH is buying diesel for work for less than £1/l (inc vat). It’s mad! I did hear it was more expensive up your way - a family friend had to pay £1.30/l on her way back from a funeral in Sunderland (Herts to Sunderland and back in a day is 😳 - but no other option).

 How lovely to have swallows - the sight of them is always a joy! Summer must be here!

Jessy103

Congrats on the eBay sales and glad you had a nice walk with the in-laws x

themadvix

Thanks Jessy!

Spent 40 mins in the queue for the PO to get proofs of postage for DH's ebay parcels... what joy! Have almost finished his mask too though, which went much more smoothly than mine. Just need to add the elastic (which was entirely the problem with mine!). Dinner tonight is going to be southern fried chicken fillet for DH, bean burger for me and roasted new potatoes and courgette fritters as we have a glut of both potatoes and courgettes.

themadvix

Morning all,

Have dropped my bike off at the local shop this morning, hoping that they'll be able to sort the gears out. He said it would be £10 for just a gear adjustment, which seems very reasonable. I've been wanting to be fit enough to cycle into town (and further?) for a while, so this seems like a good investment (especially as it'll open up the uphill gears - who knew, I'd been making life difficult for myself all this time!)

Have placed an order with the zero-waste shop, so should be able to collect that tomorrow. At the moment, I'm boiling some soapnuts to make liquid, with the intention of starting to gently handwash the embroidered table cloths etc. from Nan's before I turn them into bunting. Hopefully will have a walk with mum this afternoon too. DH sold another item or two on Ebay yesterday, so I need to go back to the dreaded PO at some point (maybe while the soapnut liquid is cooling).

I'm not sure if I ever actually told you that the window box did eventually go up - and it's got seeds sprouting in it now! Everything else is looking happy in the garden too, which is great.

MS things:
* Govt money has arrived in my business account. I'll use this to top up my earnings over the next few months, which is when I'm going to feel the effects of the recession. It's very novel to me to have govt assistance.
* Clicks etc. done
* PA survey
* Courgette fritters were quite nice. Had misread the recipe - it actually made enough for a main, so we have some mix leftover (and still two courgettes in the fridge!)
* 'Dave' is coming to collect my broken FP today to hopefully fix it. I'm feeling very virtuous with all this supporting of local businesses - not that I don't normally, but often there is a balance between local, independents and vouchers/cheaper prices for chains. Long may the independents win out!
* Used up the last of some dark rum in a caramelised fruit salad last night (used up some past it bananas and satsumas too)

Gratitudes:
* More birds visiting - in the front garden this time. I think the lack of air pollution/absence of humans has had a hugely positive impact on our wildlife.
* Friendly and helpful cycle man
* Lovely chat with sister on walk back from cycle shop

Have a good day all!

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, lovely idea to make bunting from embroidered tablecloths! I have several and never know what to do with them. Mind you I already have rather a lot of bunting, so... 😂

Suffolk_lass

Yes what a great idea - I have a box of embroidered table linen from my God-mother - some of which is still in its cellophane or paper packaging. I shall investigate in due course. Lots of outdoor things today before a storm is expected tomorrow.

Speaking of storms, my friend who is a regular visitor to India (and has paid to educate hundreds of poor children) posted a picture of the extreme cyclone in the Bay of Bengal - Kolkata is in its' path. By comparison I expect a bit of rain

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Thanks Cheery and SL - it was a Pinterest idea. We found loads of embroidered table cloths, pillow cases and tea trays, and frankly we (Mum, Sis, cousins etc.) don't have a use for them - in my case, cats make such things unusable, in my house anyway. This way, the hard work of my Nan, great-grandmother and great aunt can be preserved in a way that is both easier to store and more usable. They were far too beautiful to throw away. I am very nervous about undertaking this project though, but am taking guidance from my experienced friend (virtually the last social visit before lockdown!). Now waiting until Mum has been to Waitrose to get me some spray starch for the next stage.

Thanks for the reminder about the cyclone SL - it's worrying how little reporting we're getting (on the BBC anyway) of things in the wider world that aren't coronavirus-related. I hope they managed to get most people to safety before the worst of the storm hit.

Today I've posted an ebay sale, done some tying up in the garden, had a walk with mum (she came up here this time), collected my zero-waste order (and managed to add on the crisps I'd forgotten) and gone with DH to Halfords to collect his cycle helmet (we only had one, but as we're getting more adventurous, he needs one too). It's hot out there.... I may have had a brief siesta this afternoon...

Unfortunately I've had the estimate for the fixing of my food processor back - nearly £50 and a 4-6 week wait for the part! So sadly I'm going to leave it and buy a new one - have actually found the same (newer model) for £45 from Argoose and can use S&S/MS rewards vouchers to buy it.

MS things:
* Clicks
* YG survey
* Small amount of work
* Ebay sale

Gratitudes:
* Lovely walk with mum, if a little warm
* A drive to collect my shopping
* Nice calls with Sister and Dad and Sister and Mum (Niece was not interested in talking to us - I think she's thoroughly fed up with only seeing us through screens - I don't blame her!)

Have a good evening!