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

Karmacat

My word, if FTBs are supposed to get a 20% deposit now, no wonder the market is quieting down  

I can understand about dreaming about a patch of land - from what I hear, building on it is very unlikely, but you could plant all sorts of trees ... trees!  Nut trees, all sorts.  Though it would be humongously expensive just for that and a month or so's camping ...

Anyway, have a lovely weekend, it's still got its own glamour .

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Thanks for popping by CR, SL, Karma. Re asparagus, I wasn't going to plant it here because 'we were only going to be here 2/3 years', then 5, now 8.... So it was 'never going to be worth it'. Where's that rollseyes emoji?! Thanks for reinforcing that it's definitely a good crop to have. If we do stay put, I might investigate the allotment idea - if there was a half plot. They are just down the road from us (next to 'my woods'), so really convenient. And I guess I don't have to plant lots of annual veg, soft fruits and perennials could take up most of the space.

Re the kitchen, it wouldn't be permitted development SL, as it's at the front of the property, which I don't think you can extend without pp? But actually all that would be needed is to knock through into the dining room. But this isn't the sticking point for everyone, there apparently are lots of issues! (or just one for each person, that means no luck).

Karma - buying some land to plant trees on (or some woodland) would be DH's idea of heaven! Unfortunately, even that, around here seems to be quite expensive. If we went down the self-build option, it would be an eco house of outstanding efficiency (there's a particular certification) and planning can grant exceptions for such properties, so we'd hope to find a patch that we could build something like that on.

Anyway... this morning (and last night, after spending all day visiting the in-laws and then my mum) I have a cough! So eventually I managed to book a test for this afternoon in Greenwich! It took me most of the morning, with constant refreshing. We'll be heading off shortly. It's almost certainly not COVID, but you have to do the right thing. I really hope it's not as then we won't be able to go away next weekend, and I'm really looking forward to that!

Had a bit of a naughty day yesterday - we went to the in-laws to work on the mini and I bought us lunch from the bakery (£11) and then in the evening on the way back (after collecting our TGTG bag), we called in at mum's and ended up staying for takeaway (£15 for our contribtion)! We did bring the leftovers home and have just had them for lunch. We have plenty of food in, one way and another, so should be fine if we're confined to quarters.

MS things:
* DH found mini parts to sell to contribute to the costs of the other mini's restoration - not entirely *our* money we're saving, but it all helps (and there's definite satisfaction in refurbing parts and making do)
* Plans for the weekend (did we have any?) have been cancelled! 

Gratitudes:
* Lovely times with family yesterday, but I do hope I've not infected them
* BIL is going to get us some milk when he goes shopping later
* I managed to get a test and it wasn't 100s of miles away

Have a good day all!

Jessy103

Fingers crossed you're covid free, vix! x

newgirly

Hope hope you get the all clear Vix x 

Suffolk_lass

My friend in the Village has her daughter and children in Southend and they were offered Newport in Wales for testing. She rang the helpline and they said the computer refreshes at mid-day so try just after that. It might be a top tip! But of course you have booked yours already. I don't regret our veg garden at all, but there is just a period at the beginning of August when I become a slave to picking and processing. More perennials. And especially products you pay a premium for in the shops. Definitely! While homegrown carrots taste fantastic, they are so cheap and such good quality from the SM or market. My fingers are crossed for you.

Cheery_Daff

Urgh, fingers crossed the worst you have is a tiresome trip to the testing centre Vix, an nothing serious x

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Thanks for the well wishes. I really have just a minorly pesky cough and am a bit tired (which could be entirely unrelated!). So it's probably nothing. SL, that is utterly ridiculous for your friend. However, the system seemed to refresh a couple of times, but it was just a case of persevering until I got a test centre showing. Wise words about the veg garden - and I'd have to consider storage here too - no room for a chest freezer and the cupboards are generally full anyway (plus I use some under-bed storage space too). But it's definitely got me thinking...

This morning I've been round the accounts and scooped up the excess in the bills account. I have also adjusted spreadsheet to reflect what I actually need to put in there - I'm confident enough of my income now/that we have the money elsewhere if necessary, that I don't need to do 'enforced' savings into the bills account to build up a buffer there - there always is one anyway and there's only so many buffers you need! What's more, the money isn't earning anything at all in there, so 1.05% in Marcus is a better option. The result of the scooping is ~£425 more into savings and less to put into bills (~£80? I'm not sure of this), ergo a higher monthly actual savings rate.

We've seen a house that we might go and view (depending on test result). It's a bit further than I'd like to be (5 miles or so, not massively), but does have what we're looking for (long garden, garage, rural outlook, village location blah blah) and, best of all, is on for what we're trying to sell our house for! So we'd be able to move, have our cake and pay that mortgage off! Odds are it'll go very quickly, so we may miss out (but would be able to offer our house for less and take the hit comfortably). A bit more research is needed (local plan etc.) before we book a viewing anyway.

This morning I've also done some tidying in the garden, pulled some rhubarb, and picked some chillis and green toms (currently sunning themselves in the garden, hoping they'll change colour). Two loads of washing done and a third to go on, but just having a cuppa and a sit down - taking it gently. It's such a lovely day here that we're going to have a BBQ for dinner (on our own of course!). Have got the bits out of the freezer and just need to find some sort of hot runner bean/rice salad type recipe to go with it (some of the Riverford runner beans this week were a foot long! And I can't freeze them as freezer is full of *our* runners!).

MS things:
*£475 to savings
* 'Saved' myself £80/month
* NV survey
* Rhubarb (dessert is sorted then), chillis, toms and squash from garden

Gratitudes:
* Could feel a whole lot worse!
* Glorious September sunshine I love the light at this time of year
* BBQ-for-two to enjoy this evening

Have a lovely sunny Sunday afternoon!

the_cross_rabbit

Hi, hope you don’t mind me giving advice or you may see it as sticking my oar. I wouldn’t take any more rhubarb after today as this is the time when it replenish its energy reserves before going into hibernation. If you already knew this please ignore and I’ll paddle in the other direction.
CRx

themadvix

No offence taken CR - I know this and probably won’t take anymore this year, but our plant is insane and triffid-like, so it just keeps going no matter what! It probably will be the last time, but it’s been needed to be pulled for a couple of weeks now.

themadvix

This is it after I’ve pulled some!