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

themadvix

Afternoon all,

Still a germ fest here - my cold hasn't really gone as much as I'd like it to (still coughing and croaky and feeling a bit bleurgh). Still testing negative though. DH is still in bed (WFB today) and still really struggling with breathlessness. Hoping he'll be a bit better by the weekend for BIL's wedding. (Further drama there as MIL was carted off to A&E yesterday - home now and seems to be much better, so probably an abundance of caution by 111 doc who visited her. Not the sort of stress poor BIL needs - this wedding was meant to happen in October 2020, then July 2021... it's been a loooooong time coming.)

I did meet Mum, Sis and Niece at a garden centre yesterday for a wander and a change of scene and company. Didn't buy anything, but did peruse the seeds Allotment lady rang first thing this morning and I'm going to pay and collect my key on Wednesday! It will be good to get in there before the weekend, although with BIL's wedding I doubt much will happen before next week. At least I'll be able to get my head around it a bit more and check out the contents of shed properly. Have been reading up on no-dig and have requested some large sheets of card board from a Freegler for mulching.

I spent a while yesterday making cards for the next two months - March and April are really busy for birthdays and I figure I might be busy with the allotment, so I thought I'd better crack on (that and it is my cousin's birthday tomorrow and I needed to sort her a card out!). I've added tulips to my origami repertoire (which previously was mainly butterflies - no men's cards yet!) and am working on the card for BIL and fiancee (all done whilst watching Father Ted - thanks Cheery!).

MS things:
* Switched water DD to my new Virgin a/c to quality for 5% interest and voucher. Once the switch happens, I should be sorted there
* Clicks done
* S&S submitted
* PA surveys done
* YG survey done and some random cash ones through the app? That's new!
* Cooked - I'm really struggling with everything that is going on at the moment to be inspired about food, but have resisted takeaways. I cooked an actual recipe on Saturday that was OK, and last night I bought some scampi when I was picking up more cold & flu stuff for DH (and I went to the big Tesco instead of the little one to get own brand c&f stuff at a fraction of the price, even though I really didn't fancy it). Tonight we're having shakshuka. There, I've said it - it will be so!

Gratitudes:
* All of our struggles pale into insignificance compared to those of the poor people of Ukraine. It's heartbreaking to watch.
* Allotment on Weds!
* Still negative

Various bits of work keep popping into my inbox, so that's good. There'll be more from my main client, but he's quiet at the minute.

Have a good afternoon all!

Karmacat

Lovely post.  And it's a good idea to go to the allotment before the wedding (poor things, the number of times they've delayed!) so that your daydreams about it can get really detailed  

themadvix

Morning all,

Thanks Karma. 

Woke up with face ache on side where tooth has come out.... so a call to the dentist (who won't see me because of DH's Covid) - am expecting a call back later. Have taken some paracetamol now, which has helped though - enough to be able to get work done and some other jobs. I'm still negative for Covid, but wish this damn cold would leave!

We did not have shakshuka last night - but we had scrambled egg on toast instead. Neither of us are really bothered about food at the moment, which probably isn't helping our recoveries as we're eating a lot of rubbish (not helping the budget, either, but for now I'm not so worried about that).

Moving onto more relevant matters (i.e. stop moaning and get a grip!), I am off to visit yet another new cat client tomorrow evening for the end of the month - it will overlap (just) with another one. This one has already said she'd be looking for someone semi-regularly, which is great. She's within walking distance too, although slightly further away.

MS things:
* Clicks done - won £1 on HW this morning
* PA surveys done
* Work is ticking over with various bits from various clients - and still waiting to hear more from US client about the two much-delayed projects (you can guarantee these will hit the ground as I'm cat-sitting two different cats at the same time in different directions!)

Gratitudes:
* The sun is out and it's meant to be a bit warmer out today
* Paracetamol - I feel much better now it's kicked in
* More cats to cuddle!

Have a good day all - if I feel up to it, I've got a fence post to paint!

themadvix

College beauty salon finally got back to me - I'm booked in for Thursday for a deluxe pedicure (75 minutes), a manicure and eyebrow tidy.... not things I normally do, but a treat before the wedding. And at £22 for the lot (going rate for a pedicure round here is £30), it's a bargain. 

themadvix

Busy day today - just got off a call about a research study beginning 21 March - £70 for that. And main client has given me notice that there may be a big project coming in next week. March is filling up!

ETA: meant to say earlier, donation has been made to the DEC. It doesn't seem enough somehow, but will have to be for now.

rtandon27

Wow Vix - what a great price for your beauty treatments! I'm super envious that you are near a beauty college!

themadvix

Thanks RT, I hope it lives up to expectations. I didn't book an eyelash tint though - bit too close to the wedding if it goes wrong!

I've decided that 10 years is enough waffle for a lifetime, so have moved over here: So close, we can smell mortgage freedom!

Nicki_Sue

It's taken me over a week to read through everything here and get up to date. What a journey @themadvix - I was shouting at you in hindsight, "Don't book America yet - there's a pandemic coming. Stay safe".
Very odd to read across a long period of time but incredibly inspirational. 
Off to jump over to the new diary. 

themadvix

@Nicki_Sue, I’m very impressed you have read all my waffle! It is really weird reading diaries before the pandemic, with it looming, isn’t it?! I hope you were also thinking ‘don’t buy a draughty, gII listed, oil heated large house, there’s a war coming!’ - honestly, I really think we’re had a hugely lucky escape there (DH does not see it the same way!).

Nicki_Sue

@themadvix - Looking at the energy/oil prices right now I'd say it was a very lucky escape. 
It's been fun reading, partly because of similarities - I'm a freelancer, the husband is an employed engineer, I grow our veg, I'm vegan (he's veggie) and we have a cat (plus kids but the cat is more budget-friendly). We're looking to buy our first house soon (very late to the game) so it's been a brilliant read. If it works out, we'll definitely be looking to overpay.