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

themadvix

Aw bless you ladies, thanks. Feeling much better today! Thanks for the additional gratitude SC - you're right, that's a good thing

I decided the term 'cutting the flour' sounded much cooler (in a dodgy and very unlike-me way) than 'mixed' - we all need some excitement in our life right now!

the_cross_rabbit

Glad your feeling better today, sending virtual hugs incase you need them later.
CRx

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks CR - fortunately not needed though. Did have a good chat with DH about something that had been niggling me and have made a change that will make me feel a bit better as a result. All good now.

Today is fence painting day! Just waiting for the tea to brew, then I'm out to transform the front garden. DH has taken my car to a friend for some welding attention - hoping to barter his time for it (he's provided the sheet metal and done all the prep, so hopefully it won't take long/be too 'expensive'). If we have to give him cash, it's not an issue - just prefer to barter (and DH is more than happy to spend time fiddling with cars)

The mystery of where our oil-filled radiator went has been solved - turns out my sister *did* have it after all. She should be dropping it round today or tomorrow. Still managing on heating first thing for a 1/2 hour boost and then not needing it the rest of the day - gets a bit chilly in the evening prior to cooking, but then it warms up again and we sit under a blanket (which tends to attract cats!) for the evening. I take wheat sheep up to bed with me. It's not yet felt too cold - a sign of the climate-changing times

MS things:
* Dinner last night could loosely be termed veggie bolognese - used up various bits too (DH cooked)
* Lentil pate on hm toast for lunch
* Dinner tonight will be hash as I have potatoes and savoy cabbage as well as the apples and cider (which I usually forget I need)

Gratitudes:
* DH being largely able to fix our car (and know people to help)
* Cosy cat cuddles
* Work

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

Awww, you had a rough day there ... glad its all sorted - a fun tv progeamme and a good talk will do that and yay to clients who think so highly of you!  Good luck with that fence.

newgirly

Hi Vix, I remember weezls thread, how was the lentil pate? I’m looking for a Xmas dinner veggie starter 😬 

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Karma! NG, tbh, I've no idea how her lentil pate is as I haven't looked at the recipe! I made my own earlier in the year - onion, garlic, veggie stock and lentils and it came out so well I just made some more of that - no idea if that's the same thing. Mine went down well with meat eaters - it was offered alongside meat pates (duck and rabbit, I think, so maybe that was a factor), and it was definitely the favourite. I was lazy this time and just chopped the onion and garlic so finely that I didn't need to blitz at the end. I'd say go for it for a cheap Christmas lunch starter - if they don't like it there's plenty more to eat in the next course!

It took the whole weekend and was more transformative than I thought (colour was lighter!), but the fence in the front garden is now painted! We have two sides of solid panels and then a long stretch across (house is wider than it is deep) of picket fencing which took forever. Really pleased with the result though and like the colour too. It's really cheered the front garden up! DH spent the weekend getting my car ready for its MOT (holes needed filling etc.) and popping to B&Q for more paint for me. We did have takeaway on Saturday night, but feel this was deserved! Yesterday we had a JO tikka masala, which was lovely (if rather hot - our hg chillis are potent!) - leftovers for lunch today.

Not a lot happening on the MS front as whole weekend was spent painting. All the little jobs I've done on the new work platform have now been approved though, so on my way to reaching payout. Project for main client continues today and a few bits for the Americans too.

MS things:
* Cat sitting over weekend
* PA survey
* *I* kept some pizza from Saturday for lunch on Sunday (others may have eaten the whole thing and regretted it!)
* Easy dinner from stores last night (and leftovers for today)
* Frozen the lentil pate, leftover coconut milk from curry etc.
* Clicks

Gratitudes
* DH for his trips to B&Q - it makes such a difference to just be able to carry on
* Family Zoom call - saw my aunt and uncle who I've not seen in ages!
* Little conversations with random (neighbours?) walking past while I was painting

Have a good day all!

Suffolk_lass

You are not the only one to have a moment last week. I have been welling up at the slightest thing. I think it is the "appear normal while increasingly concerned" thing for me. Ironically I am really missing the reflections that a local minister was posting until the Church reopened. He has been in the forces and has worked on mental health training and seemed to anticipate just when people were starting to feel anxious or sad. Strangely, the fact that you felt like that too has reassured me a bit. Take care.

themadvix

By the looks of it, it's not just you and me either - CathT had a wobble too. It is reassuring - like you say, it's the 'carrying on as if everything is normal, even though it's not' thing. It's hard. And small things seem to be magnified into massive problems (for me, anyway) - then it turns out that they're not that big and terrible, just need to get them out in the open!

The minister's reflections sound great!

I've not looked at the news for more than 30 seconds per day since Thursday - I think that's helping. I'm aware enough of anything important, but don't read enough to dwell on it.

the_cross_rabbit

I just scan the headlines these days in order to try and stay more positive.
CRx

themadvix

Morning all,

Yes, CR, that's my approach too. Although I did spend a little bit longer looking this morning - allowed myself to read the clearly positive stories - about the NASA probe 'high-fiving' the asteroid, among others.

Another piece of work from main client arrived just as I finished the last, so I've got something to keep me occupied today. Bread is proving for lunch and I have got some pate out of the freezer to have with it - much cheaper than eggs, which we've been going through at a rate of knots! Need to bake some biccies while I've got the oven on  (much quicker now I've got two shelves ) as the last of Herman will be eaten today. Managed to snag a TGTG bag to collect tonight (now wondering why I've baked a loaf... I think there's some space in the freezer!).

MS things:
* DH found us a super-cheap but legit copy of MS Office 2019 - saved a fortune on a 365 subscription or even a standard priced 2019 copy (£40 instead of ~£140) - from an IT shop in Bexley? 
*Bread and biccies
* TGTG bag
* Dinner was Jamie's mac and cheese, using up the last of the tomatoes. Tonight *will* be hash (whether DH likes it or not, not his favourite!).
* PA survey, which will tip me over £20 - I think I've decided I'll just invoice monthly though, so will leave it in there until month end.
* Clicks done
* Must post hm card for friend's boy's birthday today
* Have arranged dinner at the pub with BIL and fiancee for Thursday - using the apology voucher from GK and the unused gift cards

Gratitudes:
* Niece had yet another Covid test yesterday (temperature) - came back negative (which is what I'm grateful for!). Poor thing was sick in the night, hope she's feeling better today.
* Beautiful leaves on tree I can see from my office window
* Cuddly cats - definitely more so now it's colder!

Have a good day all!