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

themadvix

Thanks Karma. As I mentioned though, they're rerouting the footpath away from the safari park. You could be cynical and think its to stop people seeing the animals for 'free', but actually the path goes between the elephants' day quarters and night quarters, meaning they don't have access to their big outdoor space overnight (and also that you could potentially enjoy close-up encounters with elephants if you arrive on the path at the right time of day!). The plan is mainly to benefit the elephants by allowing them to roam more freely between the two. So while a lovely opportunity at the moment, probably not one that'll be there for much longer sadly.

Ugh, just discovered they've put our water bill up to £17 again (from £15). Really annoying as entirely caused by the refilling of the pond and excessive watering in of turf during the hottest part of the summer - but they won't renegotiate it again for another year, when we'll have built up loads of credit. Hey ho.

themadvix

Morning all,

Early start today as I have lots of work, have taken car for its MOT and am meeting Brownie friends for lunch (we were meant to be walking and taking a picnic, but the weather did not think this was a good idea). Garage will call me when car is done - I don't know whether to be hopeful or not about it passing!

Mum and Niece and I went for a walk in the park yesterday afternoon, which was lovely in the sunshine, but a bit chilly in the shade. In the evening (to make the most of the oven being on for dinner), I baked polenta biscuits (recipe from Weezl's thread) which have turned out to be vile and banana loaf (using up nanas from the freezer) which I forgot to put sugar in.... so that was a success! Both will be eaten (mainly by me, I suspect). The banana cake isn't too bad because of the three super-ripe bananas, but would have been better if I'd used milk chocolate instead of super dark stuff. Oh well.

I did do a freezer inventory yesterday before finalising the supermarket order, so have made intelligent choices there. Added in some soya mince to see if we can substitute it for expensive Quorn (not that we eat huge amounts anyway, but it's an easy option sometimes).

Work is not good for DH at the moment - he is becoming increasingly frustrated with it. I don't want to go into details here, just in case, but he may start looking for another job (probably within the company, but then he won't be doing what he loves - it's the management in his department that's the issue). This could change our plans, obviously. But we'll see. Things may change (unlikely), and/or in the short term things may improve and we'll carry on for a bit longer. 

MS things:
* 1P surveys
* Baking???
* Clicks
* Lots of work

Gratitudes:
* Lots of work
* The ability to choose - if DH has to change job we're in a good place financially for him to do so (better than if we'd just taken on a massive mortgage too)
* Fresh air and playtime with niece yesterday

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Evening all,

Car failed its MOT on four fronts. Have asked the garage to price up doing the work (or at least some of it) - hoping it won't be too much. DH is not keen on working on it in the current weather. They've given us good prices for work before and it shouldn't take too long, so fingers crossed.

Does anyone have any experience with Checkatrade etc. type tradesmen review sites? Didn't have any luck with my request on FB (just concerned messages from FIL and DH's godfather - both of whom spend half their lives on FB!). Not had to use any before - any tips?

Had lovely lunch with friends and called in to see Mum afterwards. I should have been working, but definitely felt in need of a chat. Back at my computer now though for some catching up.

Fortune_Smiles

Hi Madvix

I've had mixed results with ChEckatradE but if you can find someone who has also got a Faceb00k page it gives you another source of reviews.  I also G00gle reviews and complaints for the company to see what comes up.

Fortune x

Suffolk_lass

I ask my neighbours and our Village FB page. If someone asks for a recommendation and I want to advise of bad service I always send this by messenger, rather than posting in public. After the people that I used to use to service our boiler messed up big time (lost all their long-serving engineers and took to taking newly qualified guys who wanted to get the work done and away) I used this method and we are so pleased with our new chap. Asking your neighbours or local friends is the best way in our experience.

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks both. Will definitely check out the FB and google reviews too Fortune - good point. SL, we're kind of limited here with neighbours - while we know the immediate ones either side well, one is a council tenant and the others have moved in since us and not had any of that sort of work done (I usually give them the tradesmen's contact details!). Beyond that, there are people in flats and the new neighbours who we're really not on speaking terms with as they're so inconsiderate (although they have had roofing work done recently, but as the guy doing it had to move the scaffold truck and didn't shut the back first, nearly losing the contents, I'm not sure I'd fancy them!). Otherwise we don't really know anyone else in the area - my friend who usually has trade contacts has come up blank for a builder. That's why I'm having to go with some more 'out there'!

MS things:
* Clicks
* Bread proving
* Lots of work
* PA survey
* YG survey
* Dinner (mainly for DH) last night was mac and cheese; tonight is thai prawn curry

Gratitudes:
* Lovely lunch yesterday - was great to see Brownie friends
* Decompression time at Mum's yesterday afternoon
* Lovely sunshine here today!

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

I'm just about to give my fencer a wonderful checkatrade review - everybody seems to get 9 or 9.5 on there, but he gets 10, and I can see why also his mum is his business partner, which I like But in general, I don't trust checkatrade any more - the reviews are written before problems become apparent, in general.  Can you *ask* on fb for recommendations?  Good luck!  If you find a method that works, let me know

Heffalumps

Suffolk_lass

Lots of people ask for recommendations in our closed village group. I only reply to the post if I have a positive recommendation (and message them privately if I have a negative comment about someone, never knowing who knows whom or is related etc)

themadvix

Morning all,

It's been a few days as I found I needed a break from the forums - have been reading but had no inspiration to post. Other things going on too that have required my full attention. The usual MS activities have continued, although I have ordered a new jumper and we ate out twice this weekend - once with friends and then yesterday as DH had had an email offering a free bottle of prosecco for his birthday at Pizza Express (his birthday is end of November) - so we thought we'd better make the most of it and get in quick. Can't say I'm relishing the thought of another lockdown, but I'm appreciative of our good fortune - plenty of work, ability to work from home, and a warm and safe place to live with food on the table. So many are struggling to have these things at the moment. I'll be making a point of shopping locally and continuing with my foodbank donations via the supermarket delivery. Not saying this for recognition - I just think it's so important to help each other at the moment.

I contacted three roofers with excellent scores on Check-a-trade (and other good reviews). Only one has got back to me and is coming to take a look later today (he's also the one who offered free meals for qualifying schoolkids during half term from his own pocket). Will see what he says, but I'd like a couple of quotes at least. Need to ring garage as still haven't had a quote from them for the work on the car - and not only is time running out for a free retest, but I'm not sure what happens when we go back into lockdown. (*ETA: Just spoken to garage and they're struggling to source parts because of age of car. Have offered to supply them ourselves as we know where to get them, but she'll have to check with the boss tomorrow - they're still part furloughed or something??)

In positive news, I've been for the first two of the Couch to 5K runs. I've never thought of myself as a runner (in fact I was consistently the slowest throughout my school career) and have resisted the idea for a long time. But DH persuaded me to give it a try as he'd like some running company and I've really enjoyed the first two! This is going to be my challenge for November (and beyond).

Once I've got my work out of the way today I need to go to the zero-waste shop for my monthly shop. Also need a variety of other bits, which I'll either get today or tomorrow (when I visit Mum and Sis for the last time) - among others, I need some new knickers!

MS things:
* clicks done
* bought the thread needed to repair a jumper
* it's been so warm we've not had the heating on at all since yesterday morning... weird weather!

Gratitudes:
* food
* work
* home

Have a good day all! At least the sun is out!

Busy_Mee

Lovely update Madvix. You are always so conscious about the way you live your life.

I am evangelical about C25K. I have never been a runner and started age 51. The programme is so good, I never experienced any aches and pains or injuries and built up to Park Run. Nice free and convenient form of exercise x