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

Suffolk_lass

If you want to consider electric bikes in due course, you could do worse than research on hollandbikes - we have been researching. Our conclusions are that we like the Dutch style sit up and beg bikes, (good position for people in their sixties) with a frame based engine, with the higher powered battery - we are looking at 1or 2 pannier bags rather than the basket I originally wanted, although a handbag storage point in my line of sight is still my preference. We want the enclosed gearing system and really good gel grips because I already have problems with one hand from repetitive use on a computer.

Our main objective is to use them obviously locally for exercise but also for taking away on the van, so we don't have to take a 6m van shopping while away. Currently it is a bit academic as everything I like is out of stock, but as I can't go anywhere either, it is all academic and our old bikes could be liberated from the garage.

themadvix

Ooh, thanks SL, some good things to consider there. I'm a novice in the world of cycling - so much to learn about options! I think I'm leaning toward sit-up-and-beg style, much better for the back! And gel-grips on the handlebars would be great - I nearly developed a blister from our ride the other day (I think I cling on for dear life!). Hadn't considered the handbag issue either - we've been using a rucksack, which is fine for a day out, but less so for shopping trips/places where you don't want to look like a cyclist the whole time!

themadvix

Morning all,

Still no sign of the promised larger piece of work... And an abysmally small amount done this morning. DH has gone off to visit a site for the first time since lockdown began, so he's likely to be out most of the day. He fed the cats, made lunch (for both of us) and emptied the dishwasher before he went though - so lovely! (I had another really bad night's sleep ). I'm going to pop down to see Mum for a walk and cuppa shortly - she's got a Zoom call at 12, so I can either sit alone in the garden for 40 mins or head back. Will take a book (and my lunch) and make a decision while I'm there. The weather looks OK today before 3, but then getting wetter for the rest of the week, so trying to make the most of it. This afternoon I may embark on turning the next piece of cloth into bunting - will see how the day pans out.

MS things:
* Clicks done
* SB survey yesterday - tipped me over the daily goal
* PA survey - £19.10 now
* Made a birthday card for an 8-year-old. Really didn't fancy going out and buying one and out of anything suitable. I have a good pile of lovely holographic card and an unused scrapbook - so created something! It's nothing fancy, but he's an 8-year-old boy, should be impressed by anything homemade, right? And I can always blame lockdown! Just need to check the envelope (a freebie from when we were sourcing wedding invite stuff *ahem* 8 years' ago) isn't too big for standard postage - if it is, I'm ashamed to say I'll cut it down and reseal! Dear me!

Gratitudes:
* Dishwasher and cats being done before I got up
* Sunshine this morning  - necessary for socialising
* It's currently wonderfully quiet - I really like having DH around more, but he's often on the phone and currently the neighbours aren't playing loud music, doing DIY or generally making any noise (which is rare!)

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Afternoon,

Have just cashed out £19.11 on PA - was bored of waiting for it to tip over to £20!

Am currently reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki via library on Borrowbox (not tried before, but not too bad - would prefer a proper book, but don't want to buy, so needs must (we'll gloss over the pile of other actual books I'm not currently reading!)). It's interesting - early days yet, but has got me thinking. I know it's a well thought of book in the FIRE community (the only one I could find on Borrowbox!). I fear Rich Dad would not approve of piddling around doing surveys (or OPing for that matter), but until I can think of a form of passive income other than from investments, I need something to generate the capital for investments. (*note to self, check out SC's list of FI books to read.)

Have persuaded my evening class friends to give a Zoom lesson a go - they were all adamant it wasn't for them, but I said I'd try, then another said she'd try and then the last two capitulated! Rather pleased to have started the trend and it'll be good to 'see' them (and do something with my brain). We start next Tuesday. We've all got unused credit from last term, so it'll cost us nothing (probably until the end of term).

Had a nice time at Mum's: we had a cuppa, went for a walk, she had a zoom call with a friend while I read in the garden, we had lunch and then I headed home. Haven't done any stitching... Will go and make naans now to go with last night's leftover curry to ring the changes for tonight's dinner.

Have a good evening all!

South_coast

Ooh, thanks for the mention of dinner - it was the prompt i needed to take the salad out of the fridge to acclimatise (can't bear it icy cold,  much to BF's annoyance). Only thought about it three times before actually doing it 🙄!

themadvix

Morning all,

Struggling today after the third or fourth night of not sleeping well. Have done small amount of work - projects from two clients at least. Have an uninspiring list of things to do today, but I know getting something achieved will make me feel better.

Have just worked out my tax payments on account and set up the withdrawal of my pension money from my PB account. It's a nice chunk - 24% of my gross income! This means I'm at least catching up with my peers who started with matched company pensions straight out of uni (and makes me feel a bit better at how much DH manages to save, after pensions, each month). Have yet to decide whether I'll put it all into pension or put some in my LISA - probably the latter to spread it about and with the hope of earlier access. Have deferred withdrawal until after next draw - who knows, maybe this time next month I'll be a millionaire (Rodney)!

Have agreed to bubble with Dad as his GF has a new grandson and a DIL on her own as son works abroad. He's remarkably accepting of this, which is good. Am looking forward to giving him a hug! Have invited him for Fathers' Day brunch on Sunday and if the weather's nice Sis and family will call into garden for a bit. After the fun times last week, we've invited the in-laws for takeaway and a solstice fire (loving that this new marking of the solstice seems to always involve fire! ) on Saturday night to see DH's dad for FD. We have Uber eats vouchers we can use to reduce cost of takeway - prepared to pay for everyone's but would hope we might get some of it paid for. Of course, couldn't combine the two families as then we'd be 7 and that would be criminal (literally!)! Strange times!

Really not sure what we're going to eat today - think it might be a make it up as you go along sort of day. R'ford delivery due tomorrow (and I managed to get a summer fruits bag after they'd been OOS all week! ), so things are looking a bit low in the fridge. Stir fry maybe? We have loads of milk, so did cancel that on R'ford order. 

MS things:
* Pension contribution sorted!
* Clicks done
* 2 x PA surveys
* 1P survey
* YG survey

Gratitudes:
* Good quiz with DH's family last night - and his godparents joined in too, nice to 'see' them
* Morning yoga - makes such a difference to how I feel each day (Yoga with Kassandra - clear instructions and a bit less wishy-washy than Adrienne!)
* Tea

Have a good day all!

the_cross_rabbit

We would love a fire but they are banned in our area, enjoy those dad hugs. 
CRx

Suffolk_lass

Bit worrying about not sleeping. I was wondering if you know what is interrupting your sleep?

If it is getting to sleep, do you have a routine before bed? I like to shower after finishing in the garden, but if I leave it too long it totally wakes me up at night. So do hot drinks (other than hot chocolate in winter or mint "tea", not too hot before 9pm with Moroccan mint from the garden). And I try to stop using any electronic device before bed - so generally watch tv for that last hour until my eyelids are struggling. I also do a deep breathing thing; good for asthma, before sleep (in bed) and sometimes, if stuff is in my head, I try "one moment meditation" to empty and reset (also in bed). This all helps me.

If stressed or worried I wake after the exhaustion sleep has done and my brain filing has finished (so "just" the rejuvenation missing, hence feel knackered). I now know I won't get back to sleep immediately so deploy getting up at generally after 2am if I am awake (do some admin, drink water, go back to bed, oversleep). I wake in the middle of the night when stuff is in my head, and get up at 04.30 or later if it wakes me up then (do washing, tidying, housework in silence) and sit down mid afternoon for a sleep in the chair.

What are we like?

themadvix

Morning all,

CR, sorry to hear you're not allowed fires - is that a permanent thing or temporary, pandemic-related? I've been known to rant and rave about the fact that neighbours have had them at inconsiderate times before (washing on the line, middle of a weekday!), so I'm well versed in local rules! 

SL - the sleep thing is an issue that comes and goes for me. It's never getting off to sleep - don't have a problem with that ever! But as you say, once my brain has done its filing and then I wake up to go to the loo, brain decides it's happy to be awake. Sometimes it's just that I can't get comfortable too. I probably should get up but I know I'd wake DH (I'm loud and clumsy, even when I'm trying not to be!) and I'd definitely wake the cats, who'd then decide it was time for breakfast, especially at this time of year when it's so light so early. I slept better last night though - max I can usually go without a decent night's sleep is 3-4 nights, so at least I know when I'll actually crash and sleep through. It's difficult because when I was younger I just slept a solid 8 hours, no issues whatsoever, but I've learnt to cope on much less than that - my record was an hour and a half at Disneyland Paris with the Brownies. We got caught in bad traffic, didn't arrive and get into our beds until 5.30 am on the Saturday (having left at 4 on the Friday) - I didn't sleep on the coach because I was worried about the driver falling asleep! - and had to be up at 7 to make the most of the day in the park. I was not the most energetic that day, but I don't think the girls noticed. 

So work is done for the day, I've baked bread, unpacked the Riverford delivery, nibbled the samphire (ooh, delicious!) and made carrot top pesto, which is now nestled in the freezer in portion-sized lumps. The carrot tops will soon come to an end, so making the most of them for now and filling the freezer - it's good to use the tops for something and a cheap meal later in the year. However, I have got rather a lot of carrots now! I've been eating them raw and we put them in stir fry, but don't tend to eat them as a plain accompaniment much. Will do some masala carrots and lentils again soon, but DH did discourage me from making it again the other day, so perhaps not too often. Have ordered some walnuts from zero-waste shop, so carrot cake will use some up.

Have just received an invoice for my food processor repair! That means it should be back with me soon. I've missed it! My Dad's FD present should arrive today (smoked salmony selection from Inverawe) and hoping my zero-waste order will be ready for collection too. Need to bake some biscuits and do some housework. 

MS things:
* Clicks done
* 1P surveys
* CT pesto made (got to make the most of the R'ford food)
* Handful of raspberries from garden for dessert last night (with less MSE, but on offer, Ben and Jerry's)

Gratitudes:
* Delicious deliveries
* Fruit from my garden (the rhubarb needs picking again too)
* Smoked salmon trimmings for us coming with Dad's present - looking forward to enjoying some of them in risotto with samphire tonight

Have a good day all!

South_coast

Ooh, the smoked salmon and samphire risotto sounds delicious 😍

I can totally sympathise on the sleep thing, I can be dreadful at times. I've also gone from getting up for the loo once to usually 3 times during the course of the night - I thought that happened to men in their 60's, not women in their 30's 😐 I try to never look at the time (otherwise I'll be like that advert where they're saying they'll get x amount of sleep, but only if they get to sleep RIGHT NOW), and I repeat "do not think about work" (as that's what I'm usually thinking about) to myself over and over in my head, in the hope that it will take over any space in my head for random thoughts to pop in. It actually works, although I do still get up and write notes to myself sometimes (in the dark) when my brain remembers something for me which was actually quite important 😂!