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

Karmacat

Great news - getting another source of your actual work is a really good thing.  We learn this stuff constantly, you have a life, and no one can learn all the different ways at once.  

Enjoy your day  

Kittenkirst

Enjoy your day off

themadvix

Afternoon all,

We had a lovely Easter weekend - saw family (on Saturday, in the freezing cold because the forecast said it would be the best day!), did lots of walking and made a tool store, although it's still a work in progress.

BBQ on Saturday was an absolute bargain - think it cost about £15 for 6 of us, thanks to Olio-collected baps, baguettes (turned into garlic bread) and strawberries. The money spent was on meat (of which there was some leftover, now frozen) and some fancy veggie burgers for me (3/4 of these left too). We did burn quite a bit of wood in the chiminea in an attempt to keep warm, but we'd bought this in December for our Christmas socialising that was then banned (and we burnt scraps too).

On Sunday, DH and I (mainly me, it's been designated as my project) started work on the tool store and this was punctuated by an hourly walk around the block - we did 10 miles in total. My Mum popped up for a cuppa and hot cross bun too and we took her on two walks too! (Inspiration for this is courtesy of Beau Miles on Youtube - his 'Mile an hour' film, although he ran it). We had an intentional takeaway in the evening which we had a 50% off voucher for.

Yesterday we did more on the tool shed, and it now just needs a roof, painting and a door/front (work in progress) - the three simple sides are clad and it has a floor. It looks really good!

MS things:
* £100 randomly added to LISA on Sunday
* Clicks done - I have enough for a £15 voucher from MS rewards now, but don't need anything at the moment, so will keep going for now
* Lunch was broccoli and stilton soup for DH's lunch; mine was leftover bread eggy bread. The broccoli needed eating and the stilton was a present (DH got a cheese box subscription for his birthday). Dinner will be thai prawn curry with tenderstem broccoli/baby spinach - all using stuff we have already

Gratitudes:
* Lovely time with family over the weekend
* DH's support and help with the tool store - bearing in mind that this sort of project is well out of my comfort zone
* Better weather than expected.

Have a good day all!

Cheery_Daff

Gosh, that mile an hour thing sounds interesting, but exhausting, especially paired with the tool shed project! We're you energised by all the walking, or just worn out?? Did you actually get on with the tool shed in between? I'm very impressed if so!

newgirly

That’s a that’s a lot of walking Vix, I’ve not been for a long walk for weeks now 🙄 It nice to catch up with family in the garden again isn’t it, although roll on the Warner weather! 

Kittenkirst

Sounds like you had a great & productive Easter weekend Vix! 

£15 for a barbecue for 6 is a right bargain- Olio can almost always be relied on for bread products from food waste heroes can’t it (Makes me dread to think how much previously must have been wasted if it couldn’t go to charities!). 

Hope the week is going well for you!

themadvix

Morning all,

Cheery it was a bit of both - I was glad that Mum came round to give me a chance to sit down in the afternoon for a bit (to be honest, the heat was probably as much of an issue as the tool-shedding). And we were tired by the evening. The plan had been to do a 'half marathon', which would have required another 3 walks round the block, but after we'd eaten and it was dark we couldn't be bothered! But we made good progress on the tool shed during the day. NG the beauty of it was that we were back home after just a few minutes, with all the comforts that entails - we didn't have to take food or drink with us or think about needing the loo! It was an interesting way to spend the day!

Kittenkirst - I agree about Olio. It does make things much cheaper (and I wouldn't buy strawbs out of season, so they were a real treat), but the amount of waste is shocking! And all in the name of ensuring profit and that the customer has 'choice'. I've noticed a lot more pastries and sweet things on there in the last few days - no doubt because everyone is getting their sugar from Easter chocolate.

Work is quiet at the moment, so Tuesday I continued cladding the tool shed, so three sides are now clad up to almost the roofline. DH collected a small bit of roofing felt from FIL yesterday, so I think we're nearly there (just need to put it all together!). It'll be painted with stuff we've already got so that will save some money. Yesterday I wrote a mammoth list of jobs down and just kept going with them all day, so it was super productive - everything from washing net curtains (and then the windows, which wasn't on the list originally!) to buying and cooking the cats' chicken. I've still got a few bits to do now (and some new ones of course), but I've also got a bit of work to do and I do want to get out to the shed for a bit. Meeting Mum, Sis and Niece for a walk later (wish the sun would come out!).

MS things:
* Clicks done
* PA surveys - several of the big project ones done - I found them quite relaxing! When they've cleared I'll be over £10
* Keeping an eye out for some bread on Olio as we're in need of a loaf and I can't be bothered to bake
* Cancelled next week's veg box. We got a larger one delivered today, have still got plenty in and got some random lamb's lettuce which must have been accidentally added to our box. Unfortunately they swapped asparagus for mushrooms, and I was trying to avoid more mushrooms!
* Used leftover clotted cream to make clotted cream shortbread - delicious! (Recipe on the Rodda website)

Gratitudes:
* Fun family quiz last night - I was quite tired after my busy day, but it revived me
* Smaller size shorts fit (from supermarket), so will be returning the larger ones (although not convinced that this isn't just related to supermarket sizing policies!)
* Happy music on the radio

Have a good day all!

Cheery_Daff

Ooh, well done on the shed! Are you designing this yourselves, or have you got a set plan already? I'm in the market for a (free 😂 ) shed myself this year or next, and wouldn't mind having a go and boshing one together. Just a little upright tool storage box really though, not a walk in shed. 

Sun is out here, hope yours appears soon!

themadvix

That's exactly what ours is Cheery - it's 80 (w) x 60 (d) x 150 (h) cm - smaller than the stuff you can buy, but we needed it to fit in a specific spot. It'll fit my spade, fork, rake, hoe etc. and a few pots during the winter. Gets the stuff off the walls of our utility room, which frankly has its dangerous moments! 'Designed' might be too strong a word, but DH made me draw a picture and work it out myself! Door is as yet to be designed at all though. I did find some plans online, but they were for something much bigger. Can't remember where though, sorry.

You'll note that I'm still sitting at my computer... and we haven't decided what time we're going for a walk yet.... oops. Not much shed going to get done today! Off to put some carrot and lentil soup in the Instant Pot for lunch...

Cheery_Daff

I've got lentil soup for lunch too! 

I'd love to see a picture of your shed when you're done if you're willing to share! I'm most impressed. Also must remember to not get carried away - I have other projects I've been putting off to finish first!