This Time I'm Really Going To Do It

Watty1

Have discovered I can still cook.  Sounds a bit odd I know but in all the drama that has unfold in the last few years I've really fallen into expensive and lazy ways.   The M!ndful Chef meals are great but really that is just open a bag and follow instructions but they have been feeling a little "samey" lately and are expensive.   

As part of the declutter the freezer project and refill with quick meals for me that are heathy and easy (no more expensive takeaways or convenience foods for me) I used up a roll of puff pastry to make a flan.   Now this had been in freezer for some time, but still was fabulous.   Dinner took half an hour(cheese eggs creme fraiche onions and broccoli filling) looked great and served with a green salad was a real show stopper.  Cheap and quick.  

(I'm going to abandon the gluten free idea for now, I think I will focus on gluten free when possible but healthy home cooked foods will suit me better right now).

The VNM was here (Monday is his day off) so we ate together and there are still two portions left.  Tonight is book club so I'll eat one with salad so, again, super quick.    I haven't actually read the book though.  I'm hoping that I can read a summary online. Not quite the spirit of book club but it will be a lovely catch up with those that go and is a free evening out.  (Library provides the books so it really is free).

Gradually I feel I am going out of a fog that has surrounded me lately.

Watty1

The front door is very badly worn but I've not been able to find anyone to quote for it, partly I suspect because it is not a standard size and now I've paid the capital gains tax I'm not actually sure I can afford it just now anyway.

Every year I've thought how cold the tiny hallway is and how it leaks cold gusts into the office.  The door runs to the ceiling so hanging a curtain or a rug not viable as door would not open and the door goes wall to wall (the hallway is only the width and length of the door).

Doom-scrolling I saw an ad for a draught tape that sticks on the door so bought a reel, it arrived today and to my surprise it is fantastic.  The gale that blows through the gap between the door and the frame has been stopped. (Tape sticks to door and has an overlap that fills the gap).

Very happy

Ramouth

You are discovering that you are a capable person who can do more than you thought.  Lovely to see, and something we all need to be reminded of from time to time.

Would you mind adding a link to the door tape?  Our front door comes straight into the living room and is noticeably draughty now it is getting cooler - it would be lovely to fix it.

badmemory

Isn't it amazing what a bit of tape can do.  As for those meals from Mindful Chef.  Well they may be expensive but look at what you have learnt from them.  Would you have remembered you still know how to cook if you had been buying a string of supermarket ready meals, probably not.

Watty1

@Ramouth  This is the tape I used

https://musthaveideas.co.uk/products/seal-n-save

My hallway and so my office are definitely better today..  I am surprised it has worked so well although the gap is so big it has slightly lifted the tape where it should meet the frame so there is a draught rather than the gale that was there before.

Watty1

As I unlocked the back gate this morning I had a wobble as I wondered if I would ever manage here alone.  There is just so much to do but, I came in was surprised by a notification from the bank.   I won £50 on the premium bonds and had missed the notification but the money had just landed.  This is on top of last months win.   Happy Dance.  (I really will get round to reinvesting on the platform, I didn't prioritise that as I didn't expect another win so soon)

In some way I feel the universe is rewarding me with these two wins. Of course they are no where near what I have spent out but when the £50 arrived in my account I felt it was a sign from the universe that all will be well.

Chilli in the slow cooker 6 to 8 servings so dinner tonight and more for the freezer stash and the wood burning stove is alight as it is so cold and rainy here.   Since renovating the stove  and taking advice from others on how to use it, it is fabulous.  The ex and I used it every day but it used to burn through wood at an alarming rate, easily a wheelbarrow through a day.   I'm now using maybe 4 or 5 small logs and a small amount of some kind of coal ovals and it puts out a lovely gentle heat and stays nicely alight whilst burning efficiently enough to keep the glass clean.  

KajiKita

We have pulled out our wood stove from being buried in the wall / alcove and pulled it forward into the room. We are definitely feeling the warmth faster from it after lighting it and we think we are burning less wood too 😊

KK

LadyWithAPlan

ooh a £50 win how nice! The broccoli flan sounds lovely too! I am sure you are coping and all your animals are alive, well fed and happy    Wattydog is happy to have a owner he sees every day I am sure..

I will try that draught excluder.

On the cooking I will be having my 2nd delivery of hello fresh soon but I do prefer my own cooking I think. However its great one does not have to think and portions are probably smaller than if you cooked yourself... I am a big HM soup fan myself

My list of to dos is also huge .. not helped by being away so much! I have a whiteboard where I put all the projects on for the next 3 months and then tick them off when they are done

Watty1

The Hello Fresh is probably a lot like the M/Chef.  I got into it when i just couldn't think so it filled a need and that is ok.   I probably wont stop them but will move to occasional rather than most evenings.

My to do list covers 2 sheets of A3 paper pinned on the office wall.   I'm leaving it there but have decided all I am going to do is sell stuff and the course now.

Watty1

Ah, one other "to do" was to follow up on planning for the barn.  That still is the long term aim.  I went back to my 3 shortlisted planning consultants with my list of questions.  One said my only hope given the circumstances was to argue case law.  That is far too reminiscent of arguing case law with the ex so she is off the list.

The one that was my preferred said he had not heard about any proposed changes to planning law at all.  Now, there has just been a consultation on expanding conversion of agriculture buildings so the fact he had not heard about that was a mark in the against column.  This one was still keen to push for the holiday let (but that was not his idea, it was mine and the final planning consultants idea, he just ran with it).

The third had indeed heard about the changes and advised me to wait until January to see if there any developments as that would be the easiest route if that class is extended.  If not, go with his original idea which was a holiday let.

So, I think my decision is made.  The third was not my preferred choice based on personality but my instinct was the firm had a lot of ideas and creative ideas at that and they were so clear in telling me where I had gone wrong so far, and that all made sense.  They also came up with the holiday let idea and so on balance I have decided to go with this firm.

I have written to the first and said  I have no interest in arguing case law and no confidence in doing so (citing that she had already sent in a piece of evidence to prove a point that was immediately rejected as being in the wrong borough and in this borough would have been turned down as not compliant with the law).   Dealing with her bought about a gut reaction similar to dealing with my solicitor before he got fired so I'm glad to have closed that door.

The second I wrote to and said I would revisit in the new year. I didn't want to completely close the door as the firm really does work in this area and knows the borough council team well.

The third I wrote to, thanked him for suggesting we wait until January and said I would be in touch then. 

So my 2024 Goal is to get planning permission on that barn with a view to moving into it and releasing some kind of capital or income from the house I live in.   (The barn is very close to the stables and the barn and stables have their own entrance so they can be completely seperate)..