Pay Off Before Lay Off!

Watty1

Love the idea of keeping a tally of items out. I'm far too disorganised for that, but love the idea.

Habibiboo

:wave:
A busy but wet one today! Was up & stripping down the henhouse by 8.30am to get it done before the bad weather set in and all went pretty much to plan, except for my feathered girls who just won't leave me alone to get on with it ... it's like having Aggie and Kim clucking in the background, checking up on my cleaning routine!

Today's MF actions: just a bit of bank shuffling and tiny Tilly tidy.

Today's grey cloud: had a look at prices for new front doors (we'd like one of the double glazed ones that don't look too plastic) but scared myself stupid with the price, so stopped looking! Do need to do something though as stepdaughter couldn't get in twice this weekend, but thankfully I was in each time to rescue her! At least OH can see that it's not just me moaning about the door now!

Today's silver lining: my mum and stepdad popped round with a lovely brass companion set they picked up for £1.50 for me at a bring & buy sale! Brilliant!

Daily declutter: what can I say Watty, I just like the idea of counting the items out ... I'm not sure it'll happen in a very organised way though, I'm bound to forget sometimes!
So, today saw 2 items picked up by a Freecycler, more should go during the week; I also passed a jumper on to stepdaughter, as it's very like the one she's been wearing this weekend but a different colour so I thought she'd like it as I never wear it. Will check on my Fleabay listings shortly to see if anything's sold there (lots finishing today). Have decided to aim for the equivalent of decluttering an item a day for a year, so total so far is 3/365!

Today's simple pleasures: being "chatted" to by my happy hens whilst scrubbing the henhouse. They're not a very cuddly trio but they're very companionable!

Hope everyone's had a good weekend and kept warm and dry!

muddywhitechicken

Habibiboo wrote: »

Today's simple pleasures: being "chatted" to by my happy hens whilst scrubbing the henhouse. They're not a very cuddly trio but they're very companionable!

Nothing beats chatty hens :T
Mr MWC thinks I'm bonkers because I chat back... in both human and chicken... :rotfl:

Habibiboo

:wave:

The final Monday of January ... how did that happen?

Today's MF action: Got this month's mortgage statement through this morning and had a quick check on the account. Although the statement's obviously helpful, it's a bit annoying as they always compile it on the 17th of the month, so it arrives now and doesn't really give a whole month overview, just a calendar month across two half months, which isn't entirely helpful, for example my last MOP isn't showing on it. So, thank goodness for online banking ~ a quick check confirms the MOP is there!
I'm looking forward to making another small OP by the end of the week and getting that end of the month figure so I can see what we've achieved this month!

Today's grey cloud: after my poor step-daughter's troubles with the door this weekend, my key and front door refused to work in harmony for me today when I popped the dogs out during lunch time, result of which was I lost the whole afternoon of work as it took:
* 20 mins of me working on the door before giving up (1.45 - 2.05)
* 20 mins to get through to Mr. H's work to pass on message (he has lost his mobile in the last 2 weeks and can't replace till the end of the month) (2.05 - 2.25)
* 1 hour for Mr. H to arrive and help me get in (3.25).
By which time, dogs and I were freezing ~ no helpful neighbours around as most are at work during day (this is when working from home is not a perk as no-one's around in an emergency). Couldn't really pound the streets to keep warm either as had no way of knowing how long it was going to be for OH to arrive.
Straight into hot bath then PJs by 4 pm but then had to have a little nap in bed with hot water bottle as goosebumps remained throughout bath - cold through to me bones, as me nan used to say ... don't know if it's also the remains of the lurgy but being out in the cold for so long just exhausted me
OH has agreed that situation with door is now urgent. Thankfully he has the knack with it but that's not much help to the rest of us!
For the time being, so I can still take the dogs for a lunchtime run I'll have to come and go from the back, which is possible, but going out the back gate is a bit of a security risk as you can't lock it after you.

Today's silver lining: beetroot soup for tea! Very warming, very MSE and very, well ... purple!

Daily declutter: another bag of bobs picked up by Freecycler = 4/365 items.

Today's simple pleasures: a big black dog to cuddle up to for warmth on the doorstep and a skinny one to give my hand reassuring licks (yes, didn't even have my gloves with me)!

* MWC ~ there's nothing wrong with a little chat with your feathered ones, sometimes it's a good way to work through what's on your mind without getting lots of backchat or unwanted advice ~ or as Mr. H helpfully points out, share things from one bird brain to another!

Hugs to those who need them!

Pearla*Merle

Hellooo! Finally catching up The following will be a bit disjointed but...

Oh dear on the door And the freezing cold "adventure" of today, hope you're all nice and cosy warm now!

You're doing so well with your OPing & decluttering :T

The HMRC stuff sounds perfectly nightmarish Glad to hear they're going to be nice to you about the delay though

Habibiboo wrote: »

Perla*Merle, yes, you're right, stash busting is going good! I try to stay off the computer in the evenings (after about 8pm) otherwise I end up working, so I knit and crochet instead (also stops me snacking as hands are too busy and chocolate makes a mess on the yarn)![/color]

This is something I really need to implement as well. I've been trying Switch Off Sundays, but weekday evenings sounds like a good idea as well, it's so easy for time to just evaporate in the evenings and (apart from MSE), I would much rather be knitting!

Balls used up so far went on making 6 hot water bottle cosies for friends at Xmas. I bought the bottles when they were on sale in the summer (just £2 each) and made a cover for each using different shades of Sirdar Crofter Chunky (love that yarn). Used it last year to make hat and wristlet sets for about 13 family females and still had lots left!

Rest of balls in progress are going on crochet doggy draught excluder for the door between the garage and our kitchen. I've got a thick velvet curtain on the inside of the door (garage side) but need a dutiful doggie to cut the draught that still comes under the door on our side on a windy day! I used to have one but when our boy dog was a bit of an enthusiastic pup, he took rather a shine to my home-made excluder and, well, it just wasn't fit for purpose by the time he's finished!

After that's done, I have to have a stash sort and organise what presents I need to make for upcoming birthdays and match up with what I have.

Love hearing your crafty plans! (& what a great idea on the hot water bottles, I'll be keeping that idea in mind). I had to laugh at the door excluder, we had a similar problem. PS. love the look of the Sirdar yarn *adds to wishlist*

Using it up isn't really a problem, it's not buying any more that I'm not so good at. Although am being amazingly good at mo, despite sale mails from favourite site. At the moment, I haven't got it (hmmm, I know, not catching the eye of the pretend-HMRC-type elephant in the room), so I can't spend it!

So, what's your weapon of choice, P*M, knitting needles, crochet hook or both?
[/COLOR]

Think I might have answered that already in a roundabout way? I'm a knitter, I used to be able to crochet a tiny bit but have completely forgotten it all now. My SIL gave me a kit a few years ago, I really need to crack it open and get back into the way of it. I would utterly love to make granny square blankets, maybe that's a goal for this year!

I find it so hard not to buy more as well, glorious colours and chunky yarn... mmmm. Oh dear, I'd better stop! Or all our MSE plans will disappear into stationary and yarn collections. :rotfl:

PS. Mr T Christmas offsetting/stoozing plan sounds great :T

PPS. You've inspired me to take another long hard look at my CDs/DVDs and see what I can banish to the land of MM!

sleepygirl126

I really feel for you Habiboo......being that cold is absolutely horrendous:eek:

I do feel slightly reassured though that I am not the only person who has disasters like this;)

Habibiboo

:wave:

Well what a wet one, hope everyone's stayed warm and dry today!

Lovely to see you P*M and SleepyGirl, glad to have offered a bit of inspiration on the crafting and decluttering fronts, P*M ~ I'm crocheting a pair of granny square / fingerless gloves for my friend's birthday this week, if I can get them finished in time!

Pleased too, to be able to offer reassurance on the regular muppet-type disaster front SleepyGirl! What can I say, "walking disaster" is my middle name ~ just ask my mum! :rotfl:

Today's MFW action: no spends today, tiny tilly tidy and chased a client for monies owed!

Today's grey clouds: something's happened to my left knee, in the cold of yesterday's front doorstep. I was in a lot of pain with it by bedtime last night and have had to wear a support bandage on it today. Rheumatism? Arthritis? Large black [STRIKE]hot water bottle[/STRIKE] dog too long on my lap, trying to keep warm? Who knows?

Today's silver lining: OH forgot to take his dressing table change with him this morning, breaking the 24 hour rule (after 24 hours it's fair game for the sealed pot)! * satisfied burp from direction of sealed pot *

Daily declutter: small pot of old fridge magnets taken by Freecycler = 5 / 365!

Today's simple pleasures: the smell of a tray of roasting vegetables and jacket potatoes emanating from the kitchen whilst the rain's lashing down outside and the fire's glowing in the living room! I made sure this was the scene for Mr. H to come home to tonight, to make up for yesterday's cold house, dog shaped ice lollies and frozen, grumpy wife!

Pearla*Merle

Hope your knee feels better soon, the cold can absolutely take me out as well I've been thinking for a while that I should just bite the bullet and knit myself some knee pads(!)

Today's simple pleasures sound blissful

gallygirl

Hope you've finally thawed out - I know what you mean about being cold while in a hot bath - shouldn't be possible but I'm the same. Mind you, I can walk down the same street with Mr GG, doing the same thing, usually with me wearing more, my hands will be freezing and his warm. Cold hands warm heart though Habibiboo .

Habibiboo

:wave:

gallygirl wrote: »

Cold hands warm heart though Habibiboo .

Absolutely GG, thanks for stopping by! Although I'm sure your OH will be as glad as mine when the warmer weather comes and we move away from the cold hands season!

P*M - knitted knee pads ~ why didn't I think of that? Sounds like an excellent stashbuster! And you're right, the simple pleasures were just that! Hope your knee's not struggling with this cold snap too!

Today's MFW actions: NSD (despite the best efforts of mail-shots from yarn companies) and another box of CDs loaded to hard-drive and boxed up for MM pick-up tomorrow.

Today's grey cloud: Just the rain clouds, so no dog walk today ~ my lazy boy refused to go up the garden until I made him go up there at approximately 3.30 this afternoon, by which time he was p'ing like a proverbial racehorse!

Today's silver lining: Lots of work done today and knee is feeling quite a bit better ~ support bandage is working wonders, although it makes me feel quite old to be in what was always known in the house of my childhood as "nan's surgical stockings!" I probably need to rinse them and hang them in the most annoying place possible over the bath to complete my metamorphosis though!

Daily declutter: box of old crockery picked up by mosaic making freecycler = 6 / 365

Today's simple pleasures: two dogs toasting by the fire, Metallica on the music player (as OH is out and can't complain about it) and a client who finally paid!

Hope everyone else is OK!