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

QueenJess

themadvix said:

Morning all,

QueenJess - it's very easy if you have a cooking thermometer, although there are ways to check the temp if you don't have one. I used this recipe. The key things are to line the tray with paper otherwise it will stick and be a nightmare and to ensure it hits 150 degrees - otherwise it will soften over time and turn into a sticky mess. Not something to do with a baby strapped to you though! DS will love the bicarb effect if he can watch from a safe distance.

Thanks! Just realised I have a digital meat thermometer in the drawer that I never use. I’m sure that should work fine. I’ll add it to the list of things to do if I ever get the time!

I did manage to buy some second hand M&S Xmas tins ages ago and made my own shortbread to fill them as gifts this year. I was pretty impressed with that as I was attempting to look after two children at the time!

I try not to strap her to me unless necessary when out and about as she weighs a ton now!!

themadvix

Evening all,

 We’re just chilling in our free hotel room in Oxford (an apology/thank you after I fed back after a rather mediocre stay in September). So far, *so* much better. And there was bottle of Prosecco waiting for us in our room 😊 I even splashed out on a portion of chips from room service! (Never ordered room service before!)

Dinner and breakfast are included, so we’re enjoying  just chilling as DH has been manic with work lately. We did visit the Christmas market here earlier but it was busy, with lots of people in the way so abandoned that pretty quickly for the relative peace of JL. No money spent shopping though. Stopped at a farm shop for a piece of cake/sausage roll for lunch, but that was a while ago, hence the chips (to soak up the prosecco as much as anything!). Mine was buy a drink, get cake for £1, so a bargain. So a fairly MSE weekend so far!

 It feels like we’re could be heading back into lockdown 😢 so making the most of it, as safely as we can (really want DH to be able to get his booster - and glad I got mine early). 

Karmacat

That sounds a lovely relaxing stay, vix, glad you're enjoying it.  And oh, Oxford!  Love it.

QueenJess

Oxford is lovely. Give me a wave on your way back home from the motorway!

Watty1

Loving the sound of your weekend.   Bargainous (is that really a word) and relaxing too.

themadvix

Afternoon all,

QueenJess, I certainly thought of you as we went back down the motorway! Watty, it certainly was absolutely bargainous as the supplement for DH's dinner was included and they knocked the price of the cocktails off as they took so long making them! So £4.40 for room service and £18 for parking (with free electricity!) and that was it!

Karma, we didn't really see Oxford this time - we did quite a bit of walking and sightseeing when we were there in September, but due to the weather, the crowds and the need for a rest we mainly stayed in the hotel and read. We even left in time to get back for the grand prix yesterday. It was a much needed break though (wish I'd slept better - still exhausted!).

This morning I've done several small bits of work for various clients and unfortunately had to turn down what could have been quite a big project - I just wasn't qualified for it. They may come back to me at a later stage in the process though. I've also posted an RM survey item, prepped another week's worth of survey stuff and collected bananas, lemon and parsley from an Olioer (the latter two for fish pie tonight, which uses up a piece of cod from the freezer and some of the ever-growing pile of potatoes!). Also popped to Sains and got some loo roll and eggs, both discounted via the Smart Shop app - saving £1.45.

Going to the dump later (joy!) and going to make the Christmas present honeycomb too.

MS things:
* Clicks done - had a £5 credit for gaming at the weekend - HW balance back at £4.57 now, so nearly at payout
* Sold an Ebay item - posted this morning. Only a tiny amount of profit, but converts RM-survey-earned stamps to cash
* Listed another 2 tiny items
* TCB on another Christmas present ordered
* Some cashback had been paid, so added to my Reward Wallet finally have enough for a £15 Ubereats voucher - back to real cash from now on!
* PC survey

Gratitudes:
* A lovely stay in Oxford
* Two invitations for next weekend - a cousins catch up on Saturday pm and dinner with our takeaway friends (so yes, delicious food!)
* Brand new bananas from Olio (shocking though  -she had 101 from a new, unopened box, all in perfect condition)

Have a good day all!

ETA: An unexpected project has just arrived!

themadvix

Morning all,

Still working on the unexpected project from yesterday - I expect to finish it today though. DH is operational today, so not in the house. Will either be having beans on toast for lunch or leftover fish pie, depending on whether DH is out tonight or not (fish pie will become dinner if he is).

I've written a few Christmas cards! I'm not sending many this year as I've taken the approach that if I'm seeing the people in December, they aren't getting a card... So far I've written 4 personal ones and all five for my main clients (all bar one have to go abroad, so I *need* to get them in the post today).

MS things:
* Clicks done
* Christmas cat sitting booking received - Christmas Eve to Boxing Day, one visit a day, within walking distance - very happy with that!
* 2 dresses ordered on Vinted/Ebay - so fed up of not having anything nice to wear. Came to about £16 in total and I remembered I've recently set up a clothing fund in my bills account - so the money will come from there. They're both plastic, of course, but it's not new plastic and both will fit in my Guppyfriend bag, so minimal microplastics in the water (this is why I don't have any clothes!) (Nectar points earned from Ebay, but of course I forgot TCB)
* Seem to have been awarded 600 bonus Nectar points for the Christmas thing, so that's good

Gratitudes:
* Blue sky outside
* Christmas cat sitting - it's well paid and quite fun
* I remembered my clothes fund!
* Yummy fish pie last night (if I say so myself!)

Have a good day all!

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Busy morning this morning - Olio collection; sold an item on FB marketplace, so that's gone; and 2 separate trips for Freegle items - enough crackers to go with the ones from last year for Boxing Day (don't ask - I wouldn't have bought them for environmental reasons 🙄) and a bared used board game that Niece will love.

Olio has supplied 4 trays of Mediterranean veg for roasting on BD - all use by so can't give away, but I can freeze!

Have decided I don't want to venture into Manchester city centre tomorrow when we're up there, so the bits I was planning on getting at the Christmas market will have to be got elsewhere (the zero-waste deli hopefully) - but some of those bits need to go with FIL when we get back from Manc as he's seeing BIL on Sunday... so I need to get them today and get everything wrapped. Also need to dip some honeycomb in choc as that's DH's Nan's present and it's her we're visiting in Manchester.  Aaargh....

Lunch now and then onto the to-do list! Also have family quiz tonight and I need to write a round for it - Christmas based general knowledge... Also really need to make a coherent plan for BD food as at the moment I've got tons of idea but they don't necessarily work together! (And then ask people to contribute as appropriate)

MS things:
* FInished project and have done two platform jobs - earnings will contribute to next month now.
* Clicks done - a few pence on HW
* 1P surveys done - at £16 again, but they've not yet paid last lot 🙄
* Free food
* Freegle bits - very pleased with these!

Gratitudes:
* Nice chats with Mum and PIL yesterday
* LFT was negative (and DH is picking up some from work)
* Free food for BD - that's saved me thinking about it!

Have a good afternoon all!

Fortune_Smiles

I have a general knowledge Chrismas Quiz round if you'd like it?

Fortune x

themadvix

 Thanks Fortune, but I’ve only just seen this - I’ve written one now, bit of a mosh mash of things I thought of and stuff found by googling. I do however have 11 mince pies in the freezer thanks to you (annoyingly ran out of mincemeat to do the last one!), so thanks for that tip. 😊