Daydream fund challenge part 4

Davesnave

pink_poppy wrote: »

Hope everyone is well, I'm still reading but haven't had anything interesting to share

I don't think our frantic efforts preparing for the umpteenth coming of Mr Rod really qualify as 'interesting!'

However, we are ready for him......:D

This NC500 looks like it could become very competitive; people racing about, trying to get all their 'experiences' in and stick to the schedule. Wouldn't be for me.

I notice one of the attractions near Inverness is a Clootie (or healing) Well dedicated to one of our local saints, St Boniface. Now, there's an elusive character, hailing from my favourite chip shop town, Crediton.:A

However....I'm afraid we Devonians aren't so good at all this packaging of ancient lore as those who've developed the NC500 itineraries. If you go looking for St Boniface's birthplace, the best you'll do is find a little notice which reads " Near this place St Boniface was born....." :rotfl:

I imagine all those who read that, turn to each other and say, "Yeah, but where, exactly?" :huh::huh:

If the locals had any sense, they'd discover somewhere....and it wouldn't be next to the holy trinity of recycling (see no rubbish, hear no rubbish, talk no rubbish) Oh..... sorry, failed on that one!

https://www.instantstreetview.com/@50.788766,-3.647937,77.71h,-16.53p,2.48z

Chesapeake

Evening all, I've been following your posts but haven't felt up to replying. My car died, bought a new one, hate it! Turns out for someone who is meant to be more intelligent than most of the population I suck at buying cars. With a budget of £750 the field is pretty limited anyway but I ended up with a petrol instead of a diesel and the MOT runs out in 6 weeks, I have identified at least a few hundred quids worth of stuff and it may need a new gearbox to boot! It is drinking fuel like it's going out of fashion and has stupid bucket seats that squeeze my kidneys as they weren't designed for a 6'2" 20 stone bloke (I got weighed at the doctors last week, I've actually lost a bunch of fat as I had to put a new hole in my belt!). The other half has said I am never allowed to buy a car unsupervised ever again!

The good news is that my darling fianc! has started working at the same place as me and the boss offered her £10ph for telesales work! She is also covering the logistics lady while she goes off for 3wks so that will bring in some desperately needed money.

We both quit smoking at the weekend which will save us several hundred quid a month but right now I'd like to punch anything I can reach! I have a perfectly good e-cig which would help if I hadn't lost the charger!

We are trying to sort out our finances and stash away a minimum of £500 per month for the wedding as well as some emergency cash but sod's law means since we booked the venue everything possible has happened to cost us far more than ever before. I know it is only temporary and that sticking to our guns should see everything come out in the wash but it doesn't bloody feel like it!

All I want is some land and some animals and for it to somehow pay the bills!

Davesnave

Swapping cars is always risky, Chesapeake, especially when it has to be done in a hurry. £750 doesn't buy anything wonderful, but something reliable is possible. I use Honest John for ID-ing less troublesome older models, then try to find low mileage, service history and an honest-sounding seller. I'll haggle over easy to spot faults, like poor tyres, but the seller's story and demeanour matter as much as the final price.

Being of a certain age, we now find that the taller types of cars, like MPVs are easier to get in and out of, and you might find that too. Every new car's controls and seats seem a bit odd at first. The most annoying thing we found was a badly-placed clutch pedal, so I bent it into a better position. Worryingly easy! :rotfl:

Mr Rod started well here, but then disappeared when a call came through about his meat from the processing butchers. I was relieved, as it was taking me longer than expected to blast the dodgy rendering off in readiness for him moving outside. Anyway, we're due some rain, so that won't happen today.

Still no sign of a time when I can go fishing! After holding an SDS demo drill all day yesterday, I think my casting arm is cream-crackered anyway. Grrr:mad:

Had quite a good crop of Kentish cobs, but no one is buying them.
The tomatoes are selling, though. I'm not going to bother with peppers again. Even in the polytunnel they don't ripen until now, and then about 1/3 of them go soggy.

Davesnave

Chesapeake wrote: »

We both quit smoking at the weekend which will save us several hundred quid a month....

Missed that first time around. Well done.:A

I had to get a serious health scare before I finally quit, 28 years ago.

The first 3 months are hell, but it gets better. Honestly.

Chesapeake

Cheers Dave, thanks for the encouragement. I panicked a bit as my work lent me a van while I found a new car but the boss is notorious for suddenly deciding that people are taking the !!!! so I was desperate to find something quickly. I am fine with a low slung car as long as the seat goes a long way back! I drove transit vans for 5yrs after passing my test so am very comfortable in that upright position but again a transit isn't exactly an economic commuting vehicle. I was considering asking for a Transit Custom (or a Connect) LWB as a work van/company car next time my pay is up for review as I think they are awesome but wouldn't want to pay for one myself!

It sounds like you are cracking on with the building work, though this weather really can't be helping. It has been howling down here all day, the dog loves water/puddles but gets a bit freaked out by high winds so she has been skittish all day. Its a good day to sit inside by a fire and make plans for better weather haha.

Chesapeake

Davesnave wrote: »

Missed that first time around. Well done.:A

I had to get a serious health scare before I finally quit, 28 years ago.

The first 3 months are hell, but it gets better. Honestly.

I've been smoking on and off for 15yrs but have successfully managed to quit at least three times. One was a year and once was 2.5yrs, just kind of wish I'd stayed quit. My mate wants me to go to rugby training with him so maybe that will be the incentive to see it through apart from the financial benefits.

Davesnave

Chesapeake wrote: »

I drove transit vans for 5yrs after passing my test so am very comfortable in that upright position but again a transit isn't exactly an economic commuting vehicle.

Ford know a thing or two about ergonomics. Our second van was a Transit 150, which was wonderfully comfy and powerful, but when it succumbed to the tin worm, we replaced it with a Merc Sprinter, which was a step back in comfort. Perhaps the Germans don't want people nodding-off at the wheel....;)

Not only that, but despite the image, everything bar the steering wheel comes off in your hand! However, the engine's fantastic, there's 12' of load space and we get about 30mpg.

The rain arrived here late.:D I managed to get a coat of SBR solution on the exposed brickwork as rendering prep and screw the downpipes back before the first drops hit. Meanwhile, Mr Rod managed to dot & dab his way through 10 sheets of plasterboard in the conservatory & porch, so we are ready for plastering now. :j

Fay

Sounds like you really cracked in Dave, well done. I gave up on peppers a while ago as I found the same as you. Even with starting them around New Year's Day with my chillies they took too long and the skin often ended up tough and thick. My toms haven't been great this year, I chose different heritage varieties to try and they weren't as prolific as promised. Not awful, but not great. There is always next year though as I am determined I will have a greenhouse again when I move.

Davesnave

Fay wrote: »

There is always next year though as I am determined I will have a greenhouse again when I move.

I'm sure you can arrange a greenhouse. So much nicer than a polytunnel, and you can still hear the radio in a deluge too!

Yes, there is always next year, which is what I love about gardening. The slate is wiped clean and we feel that we're bound to do better next time!

I was half-listening to someone farming 'Oop norf' on the radio the other day. She was saying how they welcome winter after the hectic, non-stop-ness of their summer months. Whereas people in towns and warmer places need summer to re-charge their batteries, folks living on the land in harsher locations need a period of enforced marking of time. (farmers don't really rest!)

I get that. In another month or so I'll be ready for the short days and a slower pace.

Bought one of these in Morrisons when I nipped into town for some more building materials this morning:

https://www.burncoose.co.uk/site/plants.cfm?pl_id=2639

No warning about possible lack of hardiness, but then it was only £2.

Davesnave

Just sent the following cutting to Radio 4's News Quiz as it was too good to waste. Sadly, I experct I'm one of dozens who will have done the same!

"A Liberal Democrat election candidate faces disciplinary action after sending an explicit image to a female Labour rival.
Dean Stone, who stood in the Great Torrington by-election on Thursday August 31st messaged Labour candidate Siobhan Strode with the bizarre picture.

He contacted the married mum-of-two on Facebook Messenger, wishing her good luck, then asked if there was "anything embarrassing" in her past.

When she told him she was too boring to have any skeletons in the closet, Mr Stone sent her a photo which appears to show him naked and apparently taking part in erotic role play, with the question.: "Your opinion on this then?".

Mrs Strode, who was on a family camping holiday at the time, said she was deeply shocked to receive the picture from someone she barely knew."

:rotfl::rotfl: