The Big Adventure

Goldiegirl

Watty1 wrote: »

Sounds a lovely walk. One to do again and with the possibility of a snack at certain times of year (tsk tsk I know)

I'd have to take any snack with me.... my fence climbing days are over! :rotfl:


Yesterday evening, I had an email from You Gov - with the link to confirm my email address. I'm back in the game :j


What a relief - I didn't want to lose my 3950 points, but apart from that, I like doing the surveys. Now I just have to wait for the next invitation.


Today has been an indoor sort of day, but the annual boiler service has been done, so it has also been a useful sort of day.


Back in 2014, when I really started getting down to planning retirement, I stockpiled some items we used on a regular basis, when my income was higher, so we wouldn't have to buy when our income was lower.


This has been very helpful - we are now getting to the last of the soap, so nearly everything has gone. The only things left from the initial stockpile are the 'just in case' tins. Justin never came round, so I really must use them now. I used a tin of apple pie filling on Sunday, with a crumble mix, and we had a tin of rhubarb with ice cream yesterday.

Our friend is 65 next week, and will be spending his birthday on a cruise ship. We have also cruised on that ship, so we've sent him a card with a photo of the ship on the front, via Moonpig. It was £2.99, which I thought was quite good, plus postage. (I got 45p cashback from £Co.) I have a feeling I'll be doing this again, it was fun to do

Karmacat

Wow, Goldie, Dobbie's have been a pain (good for you for kondo-ing the card!) but everything else you've written over the last few days is absolutely wonderful!

I love the sound of that walk - there are 3 cherry trees on the far side of the rec.ground that I live next to, but a whole **orchard** must be a wonderful thing to see!

And congratulations on getting YouGov to cooperate, that would be an awful lot of money to lose - thats £40! As far as the stockpiling goes, I'm trying to think of all these stamps I bought as a collector as a stockpile - I've used nearly £4 already, unbelievably, I hardly ever send post, and over the last two days I've had to send two big packets. It was great that the stamps were there and waiting, though

misscousinitt

Moonpig is on £co! Must remember that one - thanks Goldie.


MCI

Goldiegirl

Karmacat wrote: »

As far as the stockpiling goes, I'm trying to think of all these stamps I bought as a collector as a stockpile - I've used nearly £4 already, unbelievably, I hardly ever send post, and over the last two days I've had to send two big packets. It was great that the stamps were there and waiting, though

That's a good way to declutter a collection. Most collections have to be sold to make any money, but stamps can be used, as long as they are decimal, of course! It may be years before you need to buy another stamp.


We had a look at online retailers of bedding plants. I think they are good for people who want lots of plants and have green houses so they can 'pot on' and nuture the plants before planting in the garden.


But not so good for us, who just want some immediate colour in the garden, so need ready to plant items.


Also, it seems as if you have to order early to get plants sent to you now. On one site, it seems that an order now would result in a mid June delivery, which is far too long to wait.


I'm still miffed with Dobbie's, so, next week we'll try the garden centre we used to use before Dobbies opened, or maybe B&Q.


Mr Goldie has a loyalty card with the garden centre. There's 10% off for over 60's on Tuesdays, so I suggested to him that he tries to 'revive' the card and get his date of birth added.... but it resulted in 'huffing' (always does when he's asked to do anything financial) so I dropped the idea. A 10% discount is not enough to endure huffing! :rotfl:


He has the over 60's Diamond card for B&Q for Wednesdays, which is an option, but I don't think early to midweek is the best time for plant shopping. The weekend is when the best plants are available, when they are busy. So we may end up not bothering with any discount, on this occasion.


Today's 'getting things done' item was Mr Goldie's 6 monthly dental check.


Even though he was there having additional work done in January, he still had to have a filling today, so that's £53.90 paid out today. The dentist mentioned he may have to have a couple of crowns 'soon'. I think I need to start a 'dentist' savings pot!

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

Poor old Mr G.

I really do think the dentist should be cheaper as the cost puts off the low paid from seeking treatment. It is free if you don't work, so only the rich and the poor can afford it!

Goldiegirl

We are lucky that we have an NHS dentist - I don't think we could afford to be private patients for all treatments.


My 6 monthly check up is next month, I'm determined not to need any fillings!

Karmacat

I have an NHS dentist, and I'm only allowed one visit a year and every time I go, he comments on how good my teeth are. I feel like telling him, yes, because for 20 years, I had six monthly appointments - and each time, I had 15 minutes with a dentist and half an hour with a hygienist. Grrr.

/rant ends!

Goldiegirl

At least we're still allowed appointments every 6 months. But I've never seen a hygienist - I don't even know if they have one


After discovering a local footpath the other day, we decided to explore a couple more yesterday.


We often walk to our nearby shopping centre - it's about 35 minutes each way, and it's a chance to have a free M&S coffee, using our premium club vouchers.


We went to shopping centre, but made a couple of detours, to use footpaths. on the way there we walked through a wooded area, and on the way back it was cross country, going through a couple of fields, coming out near a small village, then only about 15 minutes walk home


We enjoyed it, and will do it again


Today, we've got another thing 'done'.


The chap has been round to cut back the larger shrubs. He originally quoted £160, but only charged £130, as it didn't take as long as he thought. I thought that was good of him.


It's money well spent - it would have taken us for ever, and is very physical work.


That's the last of the 'big' tasks done, for the time being at least.


Just need to get a few flowers for the garden now - we may go to the garden centre tomorrow (not Dobbies!) to see what they've got

misscousinitt

So lovely to be choosing flowers...enjoy!

MCI

Karmacat

It sounds blissful, Goldie, I'm chuffed for you.