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

Paspatur

I walked 1/2 mile to primary school and 1 mile to secondary school, no option of drop off as my parents did not own a car
My kids walked 1 mile to primary and secondary, only time they were dropped off was if they had medical or dental appointments so outwith normal time
My grandkids live either 1 or 1 and 1/2 miles from school and it is physically impossible to walk unless you want to cross a zoom zoom dual carriageway on foot
My doctor surgery moved and to walk from the bus stop I need to negotiate 50% of the route without pavement
I went for a blood test yesterday (not done at GP since Covid) and 80% of the route had no pavement
My nearest Lidl and Aldi have tiny pedestrian walkways and huge car parks, you actually have to navigate the car park to get to the walkway
How anyone can say they are encouraging walking or use of public transport whilst building shops, hospital departments and schools with no pavements is beyond me
Edinburgher I love entitled tools I usually say entitled gits but prefer yours

themadvix

*Crawls out from under the pile of finished work*

Morning all,

I see I started something with the air pollution and schools thing! Paspatur, you are quite right that things are not built for pedestrians (and I have had similar with my drs surgery - they've joined with another surgery and now expect you to go there for some things - my surgery is in walking distance and this one is not!)

Well all the work got extremely crazy there for a few days, and this is the first time I've done something other than eat, sleep or work since Sunday morning really. Let's be clear, I'm not complaining - it's great to be in demand and actually earning good money,  but it was a bit full on. The problem is, I don't ever say no to my established clients, which can create some issues! However, it's all done now, I've had some great feedback and the pile 'to invoice' is looking pretty healthy. What's more, other clients have been in touch with potential future projects too and, of course, my European client is still sending me the regular project stuff at the moment.

In other news, I still hadn't had my payment from 1P from November (partly due to the ban on my account etc., etc.) so I followed that up and the payment had been rejected. The lovely helpful CS lady recredited my account with the 2500 points (plus 250 for my troubles) and I've now claimed that. Should receive the more recent claim at the end of this month too. I have to say, I am *very* impressed with their assistance - way better than I'd expect from a survey company.

We had a good weekend - clearing the in-laws garage some more on Saturday, then we had very delayed wedding anniversary (June) date night making clay flowerpots with airdried clay - the kit came with everything you needed and instructions and it was really nice to do something different (with Indian takeaway too and cocktails too). As well as work on Sunday, I turned the marmalade kit R'ford had sent me in error into 7 jars of marmalade. A busy but good weekend.

We're out for dinner tonight again as it's our 19 year anniversary of getting together.... it makes us sound so old, but we were only 18 at the time! Nonetheless, it's a looong time! (At least we don't do Valentines!)

I have some work to do today (but there's no rush and I don't intend to do much). Mum, Sis and Niece are coming over later for a cuppa and catch up.... And as I'm typing my European client has just sent me some work! (I've managed to return the bits he's sent on time over the last three days, so he has no idea of the hours I've been working!)

MS things:
* Some lovely free flowers from my Olio friend who did my collection for me yesterday
* I made DH's card to meet my Nothing New in 22 challenge
* Small HW winnings
* 1P and PA surveys this morning
* Free marmalade - will definitely be used as gifts as I'm still working my way through last year's batch (DH doesn't like it)
* Washing is on line (less MS if it blows away though!)

Gratitudes:
* Great feedback from my clients
* Work
* Fresh air this morning.
* A zero-waste deli lunch to look forward to - will head there shortly 

Have a good day all!

Suffolk_lass

themadvix said:

MS things:
* Some lovely free flowers from my Olio friend who did my collection for me yesterday
* I made DH's card to meet my Nothing New in 22 challenge
* Small HW winnings
* 1P and PA surveys this morning
* Free marmalade - will definitely be used as gifts as I'm still working my way through last year's batch (DH doesn't like it)
* Washing is on line (less MS if it blows away though!)

Gratitudes:
* Great feedback from my clients
* Work
* Fresh air this morning.
* A zero-waste deli lunch to look forward to - will head there shortly 

Have a good day all!

Now mopping up coffee where this made me laugh, mid mouthful! 

Good to hear you are so busy

Karmacat

Wow, amazing post, madvix, you're on a roll (interesting to know about 1P too) loving the sense of hanging on to the washing, I hope it didn't travel  

themadvix

Morning all,

Sorry you spilt your coffee SL! Fortunately the washing stayed put... unfortunately I left it out too long and it got showered on, so it's on airers, although probably dry by now.

Had a lovely, if expensive meal out with DH last night. However, mum had sent me some money (because she'd given my sister the same 🙄 - parents! My sister needed it through no fault of her own, I did not) - so some of the meal cost will be taken from that and I'll put the rest towards our trip to America and taking Niece out for her birthday treat, which I need to get booked in! 

I also popped to the deli for my lunch and picked up a few necessary bits in the zero-waste shop. £20 spent, but this should keep us going for a while ( as well as being a delicious lunch). I need to get to Costco, if I can, today for cat chicken. However, I'll wait until after the storm has passed.... that said, it's glorious sunshine here at the moment, albeit a bit windy. The wind died down earlier (and the rain stopped), so I whizzed out for a quick walk around the block. Hopefully I'll get another one in later. I've tidied the garden, laid down the bird table (one of the pieces of slate roof fell off as I did so, so that'll need repairing) and made a flask of hot water, in case the power goes off. Laptop and phone are charged and I'm charging the power bank for the phone just in case. We have a camping stove, but I'm not sure where it is (possibly in the loft) - and plenty of gas, it's in a bag behind me (had been moved to the in-laws ready for impending move, and never made it back into the camping box). Hopefully none of it will be necessary, but I'm mindful of Cheery's experience in storm Arwen.

In the meantime, I still have plenty of work to be getting on with and surveys in my inbox if I get bored. I also need to make a new baby card for our friends, who we are seeing on Sunday.

MS things:
* Clicks done, no HW win today
* Warm cat on my lap, saving on heating!
* Populous has reached payout, so should be receiving a cheque from them soon!
* Loads of PA surveys, including one with a longitudinal bit starting next week - so that should be lucrative

Gratitudes:
* Lovely meal out with DH yesterday
* Good game of Dobble with Mum, Niece and Sister when they called round
* I've at least managed a quick walk outside
* Lovely lunch from deli and chat with the owners
* Ooh, the crocuses are beautiful at the moment too

Have a good day all!

Cheery_Daff

Glad you're prepared, hope you don't need it! 

I've not seen any crocuses yet. Our snowdrops have arrived though, very jolly 😊😊

Karmacat

Yeah, I'm not going out there for love nor money right now.  There are some silver birches opposite me, that wave about in the lightest breeze, but right now the *trunk* of the big solid tree in front of them is also waving around extremely dodgy.  My very lightweight plastic patio table has been upended (I knew that would happen, doh) and that's it.  I think I might make another quick cuppa - can't do without  

themadvix

We have lost four fence panels.. so our back garden, which actually faces the road is now rather open plan… in good news my fairy lights have survived! 

themadvix

 I should add, the gate is still standing, entirely ridiculously!

themadvix

Morning all,

I have terrible toothache today. Started with just a bit of pain when eating a couple of days ago and I tried to get an emergency appointment booked in but dentist said they hasn’t got any and would ring me if they have a cancellation. Pain got much worse later in the evening, so rang 111 who helpfully told me I should see a dentist within 7 days. Didn’t ask how bad the pain was or anything. It comes and goes but when it’s bad it’s agony - the worst pain I’ve ever felt. Sister (ex dental nurse) says it’s probably an infection and has told me to alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen but this just isn’t cutting it. Have cancelled seeing friends tomorrow but the husband (DH’s best man) has offered to come and help with the garden, which is lovely. He’s even managed to get us a concrete breaker 😊