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

try_harder

Happy Birthday

Suffolk_lass

And from me, have a happy birthday

Fortune_Smiles

A very, happy birthday to yoooooooou 🤗

Fortune x

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes!

Have had a lovely day so far, doing very little, but chatting to various people by phone and text. The good thing about a lockdown birthday is people have time for a catch up. Have also done a little bit of work too. My Instant Pot arrived and it's unpacked and I've done a test run as the instructions tell you to. I can see why - it's nerve-wracking having never used a pressure cooker before! I'm not sure it'll get any more use today as we'll have takeaway this evening (DH has a discount code and we've exchanged some S&S vouchers for Uber eats). Looking forward to trying lots of different recipes out with it and cooking some beans too.

Will head out for my exercise (walk) shortly and pop an RM survey item in the post box while I'm at in. DH has loads of meetings today, which is a pity as he's not going to get outside during daylight. 

MS things:
* Work
* clicks done
* Olio'd croissants for luxurious birthday breakfast and Olio'd rolls for lunch - splashing out on my birthday
* Had forgotten to do money shuffles and received a text telling me I'd gone overdrawn this morning because money had transferred to a regular saver (but hadn't been charged) - so money shuffles done!
* Switch to Starling for my bills account has completed so I've allocated the money to the right pots (need to work out how to sort automation for this on a monthly basis - job for another day though)

Gratitudes:
* A lovely call from my Great Aunt, who hadn't sent a card (as she can't get out shopping at the moment) - much rather have a chat anyway!
* Lovely texts and conversations with friends
* Helpful people on the Instant Pot facebook group - I can see me having a lot of questions!
* You lovely people and all your birthday wishes!

Have a good afternoon!

Karmacat

What a lovely day, even at this early mid-afternoon hour  

greent

Happy birthday, Vix! 🎂🎉 x

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Greent! Discovered rather late in the day that my preferred option for takeaway (Wagamamas) isn't on Uber eats and the local Korean we like 'wasn't available'. DH took pity and paid for Waga's from Deliveroo, so we still have credit with Uber. Drinking Baileys served to negate any desire to order puddings (that and the fact they were a bit naff last time). Will save the credit for another day (and maybe make a crumble tonight - so much rhubarb to use in the freezer and it's already poking its shoots up!). Lovely relaxed evening and finished off with the start of the new series of Death in Paradise. It'll be interesting to see when the remainder of my birthday cards turn up - post seems to be once/twice a week at the moment (presumably staff shortages due to Covid), so there wasn't any yesterday (also means I didn't receive the traditional car tax renewal on my birthday envelope for the first time ever!). 

I have volunteered to work in the vaccine centre that is being set up near us. From the sounds of it it's a ridiculously complicated recruitment process, so we'll see what happens. Only basic admin or marshalling of people, but I figure that if it speeds things up, I will do anything to help! 

Have done a little bit of work this morning and have just found a Spanish lentil soup recipe for lunch in the IP. It looks like a fairly standard set of ingredients, so could be come a regular option. Should go for a run today, but not sure I have the energy. Might just enjoy a nice long walk.

MS things:
* Clicks done
* YG survey to do (when I find my phone - I find they're much easier to do in the app)
* PA surveys - had a bit of a run with these yesterday afternoon after ages of nothing

Gratitudes:
* Yummy (treat) takeaway
* DIP is back (DH's gratitude is that Florence is back )
* Work - not huge amounts but something

Have a good day all!

Karmacat

That's nice to have your preferred takeaway and how lovely to volunteer for the vacc centre, good for you.  
I was glued to DIP as well   I thought Florence was still quite sober compared to how she was - but that's quite realistic.  I like Don Warrington too, pleased to see they used him a bit more, even if temporarily.  In fact, all the cast are really good  
Enjoy your day  

QueenJess

Hiya - finally caught up on your diary.  Seriously struggling for time at the moment, so am behind on most things.
I wanted to ask if you've made much of your own yogurt?  It's been on my "to try" list for ages, but I never seem to get round to it.

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Karma, if there's a way to speed up the vaccinations, I'm all for it! I've not heard anything yet though. I thought Florence was quite quiet too, although I also thought a lot of that was amazement at the DI's behaviour!

QueenJess, I've made yoghurt quite a few times, more recently with varying results, but I think that might be me. Am looking forward to making it in the IP as it's meant to be very straightforward. The motivation for me is dual - it's cheaper (than bought organic yoghurt) and reduces plastic waste. We're been pretty bad at the latter lately, so this should be an easy win.

All continues as normal here.... quietly! One of the bits on Ebay sold for £73 (I think) in the end, so DH has sent the profit to the mortgage. I picked up a loaf and some more croissants from Olio this morning (combined with exercise). Will give Mum a couple of the croissants, but for now they're all in the freezer. Supermarket delivery order has been finalised I think, but I did add a few more bits to it, so not as cheap as I expected. Tbh, if I don't have to go out and get stuff, I'm prepared to pay a little bit more for it at the moment. I do need to go to Costco (probably tomorrow morning) as it's time to sort the cats' chicken out - will get a couple of other bits while I'm there.

We had another takeaway at the weekend as the discount voucher was expiring - Carribbean, which we've not had before and it was excellent - big portions, very hot and delicious. The business normally operates as a food truck at events, so it felt good to support them (and it only cost us £4 of real money, as we'd got the S&S vouchers). Otherwise, I've been using my new toy for cooking and we've been using cupboard ingredients.

MS things:
* Clicks done
* YG survey done
* Small amount of work done
* Potted up supermarket parsley plant to prolong its life

Gratitudes:
* Dry weather, if a little cold, has meant I've got out for a walk/run every day. Am now on week 7 of C25K and running for 25 mins at a time  
* A relaxed weekend
* Nice family video calls

Have a good afternoon all!