Over the Rainbow and Happy Ever After

castlelough

Hi SHS!
Not so much going on here at all - that is the problem! We are far too laid back!!!
In Ireland a horsebox is a trailer I suppose - what you own. The other kind are known as a 'lorry' around here. Funny word. I so rarely hear it used in other contexts! We will be looking for a secondhand one in wtound the same price range as yours. We will probably use it less than you use yours! Still, we have borrowed when we have needed one up to now and the reality is that we have 3 equines and will probably always have horses so we should really buy one of our own!

Must ask dh about the photovoltaics. He is a plumber, but he wouldn't entertain solar panels when we were building the house. I do have a longterm pipedream plan which involves extending this house and changing part of the roof so it would def be worth investigating. Imagine being able to run the Aga for 'free'?!!!

Sounds like you have done a lot more riding than me. I was a one lesson a week girl as a child which reduced to one a month in my teens and one whenever I went travelling abroad when I was an adult. Before I moved to the country I took a half share in somebody else's horse at a yard near me and rode most days. That's where I found my own horse! Since moving to the country I was doing some happy hacking and dh amd I had just been having weekly lessons when I fell pregnant with dd. So am back to square one riding-wise. Haven't been on a horse in 2 years!!!

castlelough

Dying to see the Plops SHS, going to have to check out your blog!

castlelough

NSD today! Resisted the spendthrift and took dd out to look after the hens, say hello to the horses and then off for a long walk in her buggy, did some tidying, cleaning, laundry and cooking. Nothing too exciting on this bank holiday Monday.

Have decided to overpay the CC with the extra €25 per fortnight. Pondered my attitide to the CC whilst walking. I am still in denial. I still don't really see the CC as a problem or as an urgent debt, even though it is the one that is at the highest rate of interest. Must get it sorted for once and for all this year.

On my walk I also spotted 6 cast iron baths being used as water troughs. I have a cast iron slipper bath on my bathroom wishlist! Maybe I should investigate the cost of re-enamelling an old one...

castlelough

Busy few days here. Have had my mum to stay for a couple of days, and now I have brought her home and am here to stay until Sunday. It has been lovely to have another person around to help entertain dd. I treated mum to lunch out on the first day, but after that we had all meals at home and I managed to pick up meat on special offer too, so it really wasn't that much more expensive catering for an extra adult for the few days. Plus she kindly gave me a €50 voucher towards my grocery shop which was very generous of her.


The farrier came and filed my horse's hooves yesterday, €30.


And now that I am in the big smoke I have so much spending temptation all around me.
I forgot to pack tights or socks for dd and she vomitted on the pair she wore today so my first stop is to Next in the morning for those.
Then I am going into the city to help my sister choose a wedding ring, which will probably include a celebratory coffee or glass of bubbly.
I must lodge €30 to my post office savings account too and buy a belated birthday present for my other sister. Have two meet-ups on Saturday which will likely involve the purchase of coffee and cake, and I will be on a fairly tight budget after all that until I get paid next Thursday...

smallholdingsister

The Irish have it right IMHO. That's what I would call them.

I might have done more riding than you but the last time was more 20 years ago than two!

I have just put a photo up on my blog of the Plops on the cross country course looking edible!

Sounds like you are both having a fab time.

castlelough

Oh SHS The Plops is a beauty! With a name like Plops I'm not sure what I was expecting but certainly not a fine-boned pretty pony!

smallholdingsister

Oh thank you!
Her ears and back are insanely long but we love her!

Kittencat

Hi Castle

I've popped over from the Mortgage Free board to say hello.

I've just read your diary and just want to say well done on the little one, it brought back memories. We tried for 9 yrs to have our child. Lots of miscarriages and one was half way through pregnancy. It was a horrid time so I sympathise. We then conceived naturally just as we were having ivf treatment!! Had weekly scans and stitch in my cervix to keep her there, 4 years late she is just amazing. I love motherhood and you forget all the heartache you go through Trying to conceive. I was 39 when she arrived, 42 now so unfortunately she will be an only child, but she will have many friends I'm sure.

Just wanted to add that and to say, stay strong enjoy your little one and good luck getting rid of the debt.
xx

castlelough

Aw thanks Kittencat. It can be a bumpy road to motherhood but so worthwhile once you get here! So sorry to hear of your losses and glad you got your rainbow baby! It isn't too late to go again if you wanted to! . I have decided 44 is the cut-off age for me. Dh's mum had him @41 and his sister @44 (her 4th child) and both my great grandmothers had babies well into their 40s. But it is good to know when you are content with your lot too, and you went through so much to have your daughter.:smileyhea:smileyhea

castlelough

Today started off well. I gained a divine rose patterned china tea and cake set, a pedestal side table and a china plant pot with underdish - all for nothing. My sister and her husband were clearing out his grandmother's house to get it ready for sale and all the above were destined for the skip! So I am thrilled with those.

Ring shopping went well with the other sister! I treated her and mum to lunch/coffee to the tune of €32.45. I also spent €16.50 on tights and socks in Next for dd, but she was running short on these anyway. I can pack away some of the smaller ones now. I also picked up a €30 gift card as a belated birthday present. My impulse buy was €24 on two more cloth nappies that I definitely do not need...but they were on special offer :A. I will examine my stash and see what I can sell on to make up for my splurge.

Tomorrow morning I am meeting the other bridesmaids for coffee and a hen party planning session and then on to another friend's house for more coffee and cake as a group of us are getting together there. Should have a fairly quiet evening at home.

Then on Sunday I am calling to visit my brother and his wife and my little niece so I can't arrive empty handed there either...

Then it's back to the west with my purse tightly closed until payday....